Operations for the treatment of obesity began to carry out through the mouth

December 11, 2009

Operations for the treatment of obesity began to carry out through the mouth
American and European surgeons are experiencing how to conduct operations to reduce the stomach through the mouth. Such access by the intervention, aimed at combating obesity, leaves no cosmetic defects.

With gastroscopy, introduced through the esophagus, stomach superimposed surgical staples in such a way that it formed a thin channel, slowing the passage of food. This patient feel full after taking small amounts of food and lose weight.

Doctors called the preliminary results of 200 operations in the U.S. and 100 in Europe are promising. After about 18 months after the intervention the mean weight loss of patients was 45 percent. According to the surgeon Nishi Gregg (Gregg Nishi) of the Medical Center Sidars-Sinai, only one operation was complicated by perforation of the esophagus, the more serious complications were observed.

The new operation was another achievement of technology NOTES (Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery – Endoscopic surgery through natural openings). Today in the world with the help of this technology has successfully removed the appendix, gall bladder and kidney through the vagina, through the mouth performed appendectomy and biopsies of the pancreas.

Influenza! How often do we hear

Influenza! How often do we hear

Influenza is a contagious respiratory disease caused by a flu virus. This disease is one of the groups of acute respiratory infections. Is the nature of the spread of epidemics. The influenza virus is divided into three categories A, B, C. category A, B belong to the same genus as category C completely to another. Each category has its own structure of influenza which is determined by the hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). Influenza A class has a property to be changed while in natural conditions. Influenza has the form of a sphere with a diameter of 80-120 nm, the center of the RNA fragments that are in the lipoprotein shell on the surface there are processes in the form of spikes consisting of hemagglutinin (H) and of neuraminidase (N). When injected into the human body of its resistance to influenza is determined by the amount worked out by anti-bodies on such substances (H), (N). Accordingly, the more spikes, the harder the body will resist.

The virus is airborne droplets. Most adults are susceptible to this disease. In an infected person becoming sick with influenza will last at most 3-5 days. This virus has the nature of the spread of epidemics. Epidemics of influenza A class of repeated approximately every 2 years, the class of flu in time in 4 years with respect to P then the type of character is rare and isolated cases of people with very low immunity.

The nature of epidemics often gets the virus in the autumn winter season. The distribution and frequency of influenza from the fact that it changes in natural conditions which are most susceptible class AA team considered a huge risk of children and the elderly, future moms, people with diseases of the heart, lungs, people with kidney failure.

Influenza has been known since the late 16 th century, some statistics. Year Distribution
1889-1890 Heavy epidemic
1900-1903 Moderate epidemic
1918-1919 Heavy pandemic (Spanish flu)
1933-1935 Average epidemic
1946-1947 Average epidemic
1957-1958 Heavy pandemic (Asian flu)
1968-1969 Moderate pandemic (Hong Kong Flu)
1977-1978 Average pandemic
1995-1996 Heavy pandemic

Statins may help prevent stroke

Statins may help prevent stroke
Greek researchers have shown that the appointment of statin patients discharged from hospital after the first stroke reduces the risk of recurrence of stroke within 10 years and improves survival.

Sotirios Giannopoulos (University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Greece) and colleagues conducted a retrospective analysis 794 patients who had the first stroke, in which data were available 10 years of observation. Within 10 years, 14.1% of patients developed recurrent stroke, and 28,2% – have died. After being discharged from hospital 23% of patients were assigned to one or another statin, and 77% did not receive statins. Patients treated with statins, the frequency of relapses was significantly lower than in patients not taking statins (7.6% and 16,3%).
Regressinny analysis showed that statins reduced the risk of recurrence of stroke by 15%. In addition, patients taking statins, the risk of death within 10 years after th

Found a cure for skin cancer

November 13, 2009

Found a cure for skin cancer
Scientists have developed a new drug that helps in the treatment of the most deadly types of skin cancer, including the most recent stages.

Malignant melanoma – one of the fastest growing types of cancer. Main reason for it – the solar radiation. According to the results of preliminary tests, the drug while still under development and which bears the name of PLX4032 (R7204), can provide a long life expectancy.

Pharmaceutical companies Roche and Plexxikon announced the results of their research at the annual convention of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. PLX4032 (R7204) finds and destroys tumor cells carry the mutation type BRAF, which is present in 60% of malignant melanomas. This can help not only reduce the number of malignant tumors, but also slow the spread of cancer.

Clinical trials

Currently, only 5% of people live more than two years after the appearance of metastases. In the first phase of a clinical study in 16 patients receiving the drug PLX4032 (R7204) was found to decrease proliferation of tumor cells by at least 30%.

On average, these patients have stopped the cancer cells to spread about half a year, while more than half of the tumors were markedly reduced. Representatives of the companies Roche and Plexxikon reported that they are going to conduct a more extensive clinical trials to determine how toxic the drug may be and what should be its optimal dose.

Both companies also hope to develop a process of testing for the diagnosis of patients with melanoma-type BRAF in the early stages of its development.

Fighting obesity: two in one

Role of autoimmune processes in the implantation

Role of autoimmune processes in the implantation
In the United States conducted a scientific and experimental work on the process of implantation, when the interaction of the blastocyst with the uterine epithelium. Identified several immune factors that negatively affect the process of implantation.

The study was conducted on a group of women who received the desired pregnancy through IVF treatment. Antiphospholipid antibodies are frequently detected in this group of women, but judging by this study, these antibodies did not affect the number of live births, the frequency of abortion. Antitireodnye antibodies also detected in women of reproductive age, but the frequency rate of successful implantation and pregnancy termination is not changed in women with normal thyroid function. The presence of antinuclear antibodies may be a sign of latent autoimmune zaboevaniya, but the presence of low titer of these antibodies also did not affect the outcome of implantation. Antisperm antibodies, when present, usually occur in women impaired fertility when they are in high titer in the plasma, in the mucous membranes. Antisperm antibodies are often combined with ovarian hypofunction. Thus, in the process of implantation is the interaction of two genetically different immune tissues. In the process of implantation of local and systemic immune factors, cytokines, growth factors may interact with adhesion molecules and other proteins, glycoproteins, peptides.

Friendly people have more nerve cells

November 9, 2009

Friendly people have more nerve cells
British and Finnish psychologists and neuroscientists have found that people prone to a more warm and friendly relations of two sections of the brain contains more nerve cells than normal. The researchers hope that their discovery will help find ways to treat schizophrenia and autism.

The subjects who were recruited psychologists, passed a psychological test, which required them to answer questions about how they tend to establish friendships and to show positive emotions towards others. Then the researchers scanned the brains of volunteers using the imager – to obtain data on the size of various structures and compare them with test results.

Scientists have found that is located directly above the eye sockets of the orbitofrontal cortex and the striatum, the structures located deep within the brain, the more friendly people and contained more nerve cells. The main functions of the two structures are known – the orbitofrontal cortex, in particular, previously associated with self-control. And the striatum is involved in planning movements, and behavior associated with rewards. Under this behavior, scientists involve activities in which a person receives something or other reward: from praise to cash prizes or other tangible prize.

Communication as a jewel

Neuroscientists from the University of Cambridge and the University of Oulu (Finland) believe that it is the link the striatum with a sense of reward may explain the pattern detected by them. In their view, due to the friendliness, including the emotional benefits that a person receives in the process of communication.

Friendly people like to communicate, and their brain evaluates communication as a reward. “It is remarkable that we found parts of the brain provide not only an award for communication”, said Graham Murray, Head of Research – “These structures are related with satisfaction from the very simple things: eating, drinking and sex. It is about the brain structures that have emerged from more distant ancestors of the human species, and we believe that their study will enable us to understand how there were more complex phenomena such as sentimentality or affection. ”

The structure of the brain and friendliness – what comes first, the scientists do not yet know

The researchers stressed that they found pattern does not mean that it is an increase in any of the brain, makes people more friendly. It is possible that on the contrary, the very behavior has changed the structure of the brain (in principle such an effect is possible: even demonstrated an impact on the size of different parts of the brain meditation), in addition friendliness or empathy are too complex to be associated with any one area of the brain.

Nevertheless, the results of the scientists may already be useful in studying a number of psychiatric illnesses. When autism or schizophrenia, the ability to establish contacts with other people severely disrupted, and at least partial communication disorders with changes in brain structure may help to find new ways to treat these diseases.

Against a stomach ulcer will help the amino acid glutamine

Against a stomach ulcer will help the amino acid glutamine
Almost 20 years ago, it was found that the bacteria called Helicobacter Pylori is responsible for stomach ulcers. Since then, antibiotics have become the main way to combat bacterial infection that affects approximately six percent of the world’s population, as well as the main cause of stomach cancer.

But today, the bacteria become increasingly resistant to antibiotics. American researchers Medical Center Beth Israel Deaconess and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found an alternate method of prophylaxis against gastric ulcers: they believe that the amino acid glutamine to be helpful against damage to the stomach bacteria. According to gastroenterologists, glutamine supplement in the diet will protect the stomach from the effect of H. PYLORI, which weakens the mucous membranes and affects the work of cells, causing an excessive immune response is ineffective against the infection. Glutamic supplements will prevent the development of gastritis and conditions that lead to cancer, doctors believe.

Glutamine is found in many foods, including beef, chicken, fish, eggs, dairy products and some fruits and vegetables. Experiments have shown that glutamate blocks bacterial cell death, completely reversing the process of gastric lesions in the production of ammonia by bacteria. Amino acid stimulates the detoxification of ammonia in the stomach, reducing its concentration and prohibiting cell damage, demonstrated by clinicians who have observed the action of glutamine in the body of laboratory mice for 20 weeks. With supplements substance in the animals there was a decrease of inflammation and activity of inflammatory cytokines.

The device copes with severe asthma without drugs

The device copes with severe asthma without drugs
American scientists tested an experimental device that uses thermal energy to relieve bronchospasm in patients with severe bronchial asthma, intractable medical treatment.

As shown by one of the last stages of clinical trials, the use of Alair System – is the name of the device – a 32% reduced the incidence of severe asthma attacks and 84% of patients reduced the number of requests for emergency medical help.

In addition, patients who were treated by this device rarely took sick and miss school, and days free from asthma symptoms, they were more than those who received placebo.

The test results were presented at the 105-th international conference of the American Thoracic Society, held in San Diego (California, USA) from 15 to 20 May 2009

The principle of the Alair System is as follows: in the respiratory tract is introduced thin tube through which the high-frequency pulses are fed, heating and destroying the excess muscle tissue of the bronchioles, which prevents them from narrowing and obstruction. The procedure called bronchial thermoplastic and an outpatient.

“In bronchial asthma in the wall of the bronchioles, there are too many smooth muscle fibers, which promote the development of seizures, – explains study leader Dr. Mario Castro of the University. George Washington at St. Louis (Missouri, USA). – Our mission – to reduce their numbers” .

To participate in clinical trials, Dr. Castro and his colleagues have invited 297 patients with severe bronchial asthma from 30 hospitals in 6 countries. Two-thirds of all participants received 3 sessions of bronchial thermoplastics, the other represented the control group, in which during the procedure rf pulses were made.

Within a year after the procedure, scientists monitored the condition of patients. In 79% of subjects who passed the experimental treatment, the condition improved. According to Dr. Castro, improvement was noted in the control group, but its severity was not statistically significant. “This is a very important advance in the treatment of bronchial asthma, – said Dr. Castro, – to this day not much we can help these patients.

All patients enrolled in clinical trials, constantly taking a combination of drugs for inhalation of corticosteroids and b-agonists long-acting, but it did not give them much relief. Could also help immunomodulator omalizumab, intended for the treatment of allergic bronchial asthma, but not all patients the cause of asthma in allergy.

This fall, Alair System expects FDA approval. In Europe, bronchial thermoplastic already approved.

Found genes associated with menopause

October 22, 2009

Found genes associated with menopause
An international team of scientists have discovered genes that determine the time of onset and decline of reproductive functions in women. According to researchers, this discovery may help develop techniques for the treatment of certain disorders of reproductive ability of an organism, or related diseases such as breast cancer and osteoporosis, the authors are confident of the five independent papers published in the journal Nature Genetics.

As experts note, the duration of the reproductive period of women still remains unresolved scientific questions, the answers to which can be obtained by examining a range of factors – from individual genetic characteristics of an organism to environmental conditions and lifestyle, nutrition, health and others. In this context, the timing of puberty and menopause in women are important parameters which, in particular, allow to draw conclusions about the likelihood of developing age-related diseases such as osteoporosis or breast cancer.

All groups, including research teams from the UK, USA, Iceland, the Netherlands and Australia, came to similar conclusions. Scientists analyzed data about the most common variations in DNA among thousands of women living in different parts of the world, and compared them with data on age and time of occurrence of a reproductive phase.

Thus, four out of five research teams found that variations in DNA in the gene LIN28B lead to a change in the onset of first menstruation, called menarche. How LIN28B affect the timing of menarche, scientists still unknown. This gene is responsible for the synthesis of protein, which in turn controls the amount and ratio of other proteins synthesized by cells of the body.

Some previous work has shown that LIN28B somehow influences the growth of man, so the authors of works suggest that their finding may partly explain why the girls into early puberty, usually have a small increase, compared to those who have first menstrual cycle comes to a later age.

In addition, the Icelandic group of scientists have discovered genes associated with menopause. The age at which women experience this stage of development, ranging from 40 to 60 years. With Kari Stefansson of the Icelandic company eCODE Genetics, showed the presence in the genome of human genes are pushed or otherwise accelerate the manifestation of menopause for two years.

But one group of scientists, led by Ken Ong from the Medical Research Council of the epidemiological service in Cambridge, Britain, managed to find DNA variations affecting menarche and located in the chromosomes of several other genes associated with breast development in girls and brittle voice in boys.

Last week it was reported that during the comparative analysis of the gene related to breast and milk, seven groups of mammals – a cow, platypus, opossum, dogs, mice, rats and humans, scientists have concluded: the common ancestor of these groups existed the Earth about 160 million years ago.

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