23 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
A Link Between Autism and Autoimmunity?The first large-scale study on a possible link between parents with autoimmune diseases and children with autism has yielded some surprising results. The research, which emerged following a study of nearly 3,000 mothers of autistic children, was conducted at New Yorkâs Center for Autoimmune and Musculoskeletal Disorders at the Feinstein Institute. The study was able to show that roughly one in ten...... Read More
19 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
About Half of Fibromyalgia Patients Exhibit Nerve DamageA new study on a group of patients with fibromyalgia (a common syndrome that causes, among other symptoms, chronic and sometimes debilitating pain) showed that roughly half of the patients were found to have a type of nerve damage known as SFPN. Small fiber polyneuropathy, or SFPN, consists mainly of damage to nerve fibers in the skin. The study might provide some insight into the possible causes...... Read More
18 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
Prevent Prostate Cancer with Broccoli and Antimalarial MedicationA new study from the University of Pittsburgh suggests a combination of a phytochemical in broccoli and a malaria drug could lower prostate cancer rates. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, watercress, and cabbage have the phytochemical sulforaphane, which is thought to help lower prostate cancer risk. When tested, researchers found that it works to prevent early-stage but not late-stage prostate...... Read More
16 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
Memory Tests Identify Alzheimer’s Risk at Early AgeResearchers from Cornell University and the Institute for Human Neuroscience have created a test to distinguish between healthy aging and cognitive decline due to Alzheimerâs disease years before symptoms appear. Memory abilities donât necessarily decline with age. The team looked at two kinds of memory, reconstructive and recollective. Reconstructive memory is recalling a word or event by putting...... Read More
13 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
Could Having Worms Help Prevent Diabetes?Industrialized nations might be too clean. The âhygiene hypothesisâ suggests that decreased exposure to microbes and certain worms in industrialized areas could lead to incompletely developed immune regulation that controls specific inflammatory responses. These uncontrolled inflammatory responses are the culprit in leading to autoimmune disorders such as type-1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis,...... Read More
12 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
Lupus Discovery May Hold Key to Better TreatmentScripps Institute scientists have identified a series of specific cellular events that appear to be integral to the way lupus develops. The findings suggest that blocking this cellular pathway may be the secret to developing a truly effective way to battle the disease. Systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, is an autoimmune disorder that affects tens of millions of people worldwide. More common in...... Read More
11 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
Lab-Grown Brains?Left mostly to their own devices, a group of intrepid human stem cells at Viennaâs Austrian Academy of Science knitted themselves into tissue with a variety of brain structures and specialized groups of neurons. In essence, they created a BB-sized neural ball reminiscent of a nine-week-old fetus brain. And while the clumps of tissue are still a far cry from the complexity of a fully developed human...... Read More
10 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
Is Copper Causing Alzheimer’s?According to a recent study from the University of Rochester Medical Centerâs Neurosurgery Department, copper seems to be one of the main environmental factors to trigger the onset and progression of Alzheimerâs disease. The results of the study point to the accumulation of toxic proteins within the brain, which are prevented from escaping -- thanks, in large part, to the accumulation of copper. It...... Read More
06 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
Brain Cancer Drugs Delivered by ‘Electrojet’Researchers at Penn State are figuring out a way to deliver drugs in uniform capsules as an easier and more controlled method of brain cancer treatment. Brain cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in the world. Typical treatment includes invasive tumor resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy treatment targeting brain tumors is difficult because drugs donât easily cross the...... Read More
05 Sep, 2013 | by Labroots
Could a Blood Marker Predict Suicidal Tendencies?Deciding on those in most need for immediate help, when it comes to suicidal ideations, has been a difficult task for physicians. Knowing who needs the most assistance has always been dependent upon self-reported systems and concerned family members. All too often, patients are less than forthcoming about their emotional and mental states. But now, thanks to a study that discovered elevated levels...... Read More