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Clean air has a positive effect on life expectancy
September 9, 2009
Clean air has a positive effect on life expectancy
Reducing air pollution contributed to an increase in the average of five months of life expectancy of people in dozens of American cities over the past two decades, writes The Washington Post, citing figures from the study.
Researchers from Brigham Young University and Harvard came to this conclusion based on the change in air quality and life expectancy for the period from 1980 to 2000 in 51 U.S. city, including Washington. Taking into account the impact on life expectancy of other factors, such as changes in population, income and education, as well as migration and smoking, they concluded that clean air contributes significantly to the increase in life expectancy.
Thus, the first time scientists have documented the relationship between air quality and long life, says author Juliet Eylperin.
The researchers concluded that the whole country, life expectancy of citizens has increased from 1980 to 2000 an average of 2.72 years? and five months of this period due to improved air quality.
“Our investments paid off,” – noted the study’s lead author Arden Pope, an epidemiologist and professor of economics at Brigham Young University. He added that reducing pollution in major cities has become “a major, nationwide, a natural experiment.”
Lead harms the work of the brain
Lead harms the work of the brain
Exposure to lead results in cognitive problems and disrupts the brain. Researchers examined the health of nearly two thousand men working in factories for the production of batteries and lead acid batteries.
Emphasis on the analysis of neuro-cerebral activity, including psychomotor functions, spatial and executive, as well as learning skills and memory. Most workers had levels of lead in blood is much higher than the norm. Accumulation of lead in the body led to violations of the cognitive – the longer a person subjected to the influence of substances in the workplace, the worse the function of his brain, doctors have noticed.
Especially harmful lead affected the brain function of men older than 55 years, accelerating the aging of the brain and damaging the area, responsible for addressing specific cognitive tasks. However, according to American doctors, young men were also vulnerable to the adverse effects of lead. In addition to damage to the hippocampus and frontal cortex – the main area that controls memory and learning – lead also increases the risk of hypertension. Hypertension in turn also reduces cognitive abilities. Professions associated with the manufacture of semiconductors, ceramics, welding and soldering and includes some construction work, are at risk of negative effects of lead entering the body through the air and the skin, an expert of the University of Pittsburgh.
Found gene aging brain
Found gene aging brain
Canadian scientists from the University of Montreal and Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, and their American colleagues at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory made a big step towards opening the treatment of neurological diseases and develop drugs slow down the aging brain.
Experts have discovered a gene that controls the normal and pathological aging of neurons in the central nervous system – the gene Bmi1. Mutation of this gene greatly accelerates the process of dissolution of Neurosciences in the brain and loss of nerve cells in the eyes. Laboratory tests on mice showed that neurons in the retina and cerebral cortex functioning properly is at work found gene Bmi1. This gene also prevents the activation of p53 and the path accumulation of free radicals, leading to the advancement of brain disorders.
The main risk factor for diseases such as macular degeneration, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, is old age. Many physicians seek to better understand the causes of these diseases, but few studies have focused on the consideration of the basic molecular mechanisms that control the aging of Neurosciences in the human body. Now geneticists have shown that Bmi1 is a direct regulator of cellular aging brain and retina due to its protective properties against harmful free radicals. Doctors hope that in the future be able to unravel the genome coding for neuronal damage.
Discovered a gene predisposition to heart disease
Discovered a gene predisposition to heart disease
60 million people worldwide are carriers of genetic mutation, which almost inevitably lead to the development of their heart disease.
According to a study published in the journal Nature Genetics, carry such a mutation is about 4% of the population of the Indian subcontinent. The risk of these people have heart disease about seven times higher than that of the holders of the healthy gene.
According to representatives of the international team of scientists who conducted the study, is extremely rare to find so common genetic disorder, which has, moreover, is so unpleasant consequences.
Heart disease – the main cause of mortality in the world, especially in India, where the problem in the coming years will be even more acute.
According to the World Health Organization estimates that by 2010 about 60% of all people suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system, will be living in India.
Incorrect protein
For the first time scientists have discovered a gene mutation responsible for the production of a protein MYBPC3 (it is contained exclusively in heart tissue), five years ago in two Indian families whose members suffered from cardiomyopathy – a disease which leads to the defeat of the heart muscle.
For a more comprehensive study was drawn 800 patients suffering from heart disease in the control group included 700 volunteers. His results showed that the genetic mutation of this kind are fairly common and occurs approximately every hundredth person.
The risk of developing diseases associated with the cardiovascular system, in carriers of a mutant gene jumping seven times, which means almost inevitable occurrence of the disease.
Under laboratory conditions, researchers have demonstrated that heart cells, carries the mutation, which falls 25 letters of the genetic code that produces a defective protein MYBPC3, which violates the structure of cardiac muscle.
According to scientists, people younger organism successfully coped with the “breakdown” and restoring the proper structure of the protein.
However, in adulthood, this mechanism starts to work worse and worse, which leads to the development of cardiovascular disease.
How to outwit the evolution
Chris Tyler-Smith, a member of the British Institute, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute believes that this genetic mutation, likely, probably arose roughly 30 thousand years ago,
Unlike most other negative genetic mutations, which are disappearing as a result of evolution, this has been successful in spreading, as most of its consequences affect human health only after his children were born.
“Usually, mutations or widespread, but it does not have a significant impact on health, or, conversely, have, but not so widespread – he said. – Surprisingly the combination of such a significant impact on health and the spread of such a high” .
According to him, in principle, very easy to test young people in the presence of mutations. But the problem is that effective methods of treatment has not been found and all that the doctor may advise the holders of a mutant gene – a healthy lifestyle.
The aging of the brain responsible sugar
Increased blood sugar levels, a normal sign of aging, affects the work of the hippocampus – the area of the brain, which is crucial for learning and memory. Scientists believe that it is too high blood glucose levels associated with cognitive dysfunction in old age.
It is assumed that the regulation of substances in the body will help prevent age-related decline in memory. At the same time, neurologists noticed that the excercises stabilize the concentration of glucose and, consequently, improve brain function.
Research at Columbia University / United States / showed that physical activity strengthens the part of the brain associated with aging by controlling blood sugar. Such conclusions were made after analysis of the functions of the hippocampus in 240 healthy people about 80 years. It is known that damage to the hippocampus develops Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive problems. Doctors argue that maintaining optimal blood sugar levels and the implementation of regular physical exercise can effectively prevent a cognitive disorder and to support brain activity in old age.
High levels of phosphate in the diet lead to the development of lung cancer
High concentrations of inorganic phosphate in the diet, which is contained in various products, including meat, cheese, beverages and bakery products, promotes the development of cancerous tumors in the lungs and predisposes people to disease, oncologists have discovered the Korean National University of Seoul.
The study showed that increased intake of phosphate greatly stimulates the activity of cancer cells and specific signaling pathways in the lung tissues of mice, giving the normal cells with malignant properties.
Phosphate – one of the most important nutrients for the body, which can activate some signals. As established scientists analyzed lung tissue of rodents, the high content of substances in the cells leads to changes in signaling pathways and, consequently, the formation of dangerous symptoms of the disease. Recently, inorganic phosphates are often added to food products as a food additive, to arrest the moisture and improve the texture of products. Doctors warn that high levels of component in the daily diet / about 1000 mg per day / contribute to the growth of tumors in the lungs.
Rapid social changes lead to the death of men
Scientists from the London School of Hygiene analyzed the effects of abrupt social changes that have occurred in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, male life expectancy.
As they note, from 91 th to 94th years of male mortality in Russia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia – that is, in countries where privatization was carried out as quickly as possible – has grown by 42%. In Albania, Croatia, Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia, where privatization was carried out in stages, and social protection systems were more developed, the mortality rate, on the contrary decreased by 10%. According to scientists, owing to sudden social changes upwards of a million men of working age.
Surgical questionnaire reduces mortality and complications after operations on the third
Surgical questionnaire reduces mortality and complications after operations on the third
Using a simple surgical questionnaire drawn up by the World Health Organization (WHO), can significantly reduce mortality and complications during and after the operation. Such conclusions were drawn from the international study involving surgical teams from eight countries and the WHO, reports New England Journal of Medicine.
The study, which lasted for a year, were involved in eight hospitals located in Toronto, Seattle, London, New Delhi, Amman, Auckland, Manila and Ifakare (Tanzania). In total, attended by 7688 patients who underwent abdominal operation. Surgical questionnaire was used in about half the cases, the remaining patients were included in the control group. Mortality and postoperative complications were taken into account within 30 days after the operation.
It was found that when using the standard questionnaire severe postoperative complications decreased by about one-third – from 11 percent to 7 percent. Postoperative mortality decreased almost twice – from 1,5 percent to 0,8 percent. At the same time in countries with different levels of income per capita reduction in complications was roughly the same, the researchers reported.
Surgical questionnaire drawn up by experts from WHO, is one page, and on its completion requires only a few minutes. The document consists of three parts, which should be filled at various stages of the operation: immediately before the introduction of a patient in anesthesia, before skin incision, as well as at the end of the operation – before the patient being taken away from the operating room. Replying to questions, members of the surgical team several times and confirm the name of the patient’s name, the name of the operation and the operating intervention, allergic history of the patient, as well as anticipated blood loss. In addition, keep records of swabs, needles and instruments involved in the operation. To view a sample questionnaire can be surgical WHO website.
According to scientists, the use of the questionnaire makes it more safe conduct of anesthesia, provides the necessary measures to prevent infectious complications, and improves communication among members of the surgical team. There are already four countries – Britain, Ireland, Jordan and the Philippines – have declared their intention to make use of surgical questionnaire required.
American scientists invented insulin cud
American scientists invented insulin cud
Researchers at Syracuse University (New York, USA) under the leadership of Robert Doyle are going to patent the new “dosage form” of insulin – insulin gum, said the magazine New Scientist.
Currently, patients with diabetes receive insulin through injections, which involve a number of inconveniences. That is why scientists around the world are working to create a more patient-friendly dosage form of insulin. Inhalation form of insulin, approved in the United States in 2006, was later withdrawn from sale because of the excessively high cost. And when trying to create a tablet form of drugs, scientists are faced with several challenges: insulin easily destroyed by enzymes of the digestive system and is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream.
Robert Doyle and his colleagues have found an original way to solve the problem. To create a «edible» forms of insulin, they have decided to use a unique mechanism of transport of vitamin B12 in the human body. This vitamin is associated with protein gaptokorrinom, which is secreted by cells of the salivary glands. In such a complex is protected from destruction in the aggressive environment of the stomach. In the small intestine vitamin B12 separated from gaptokorrina and attached to another protein – biermerin that allows vitamin is easily absorbed from the intestine into the bloodstream.
The scientists decided to «attached» insulin molecule to vitamin B12, to use it as a guide. Preliminary tests conducted on rats have shown that this technique actually works.
According to Doyle, the rats received a complex of insulin with vitamin B12 in liquid form, but the people the best way of introducing drugs to use chewing gum. In the process of chewing a large amount of saliva, which contains the necessary drugs for the binding of gaptokorrina, he added.