Medical News from epgonline.org

Discovery explains why H1N1 virus cannot spread as effectively as seasonal flu

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:00:02 GMT

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US, have revealed why the swine flu virus is unable to spread as effectively as seasonal flu. Scientists discovered that the H1N1 virus has a surface protein that is unable to...

Gene expressions may help understanding of JIA, experts say

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:00:02 GMT

Scientists working at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), US, have announced a new genetic discovery that could lead to improved treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Currently, physicians are only able to...

Smoking can trigger migraines, Spanish study concludes

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:00:02 GMT

Smokers are more likely to suffer from migraine attacks than people who don't indulge in the habit, the findings of a new study have revealed. Research carried out by scientists working at the neurology department of the University...

Mice could hold key to understanding non-motor Parkinson's symptoms

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:00:02 GMT

Genetically-modified mice can reproduce many of the non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease, new research has found. Scientists working at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, US, engineered a number of mice so that they...

Poor sleep in women with postnatal depression linked to depression

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:00:03 GMT

Postpartum women with insomnia may be more likely to suffer from depression, new findings have suggested. A study published in the SLEEP journal concludes that women with postnatal depression may be "aggravating" sleep which is already adversely affected,...

Researchers could develop kidney disease treatment following discovery

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:00:03 GMT

A new discovery could lead to the improved diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease, researchers have suggested. Scientists at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), US, have identified target antigen PLA2R in patients with the disease, which is...

Peptide nanoparticles could offer improved meningitis treatment

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:00:02 GMT

Doctors could soon be able to treat bacterial meningitis more effectively thanks to engineered nanoparticles. Scientists at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Singapore, have developed novel peptide nanoparticles to be used against drug-resistant bacteria and fungal infections....

Treatment combination could benefit hepatitis C patients

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:00:02 GMT

Hepatitis C patients could benefit from a new combination of treatments, researchers have suggested. Scientists at St Louis University, US, discovered that combining interferon and ribavirin can help hepatitis C patients who have not responded to previous treatment....

Insomnia is particularly severe among war veterans

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:00:02 GMT

War veterans suffering from insomnia and post-deployment adjustment disorders have symptoms as severe as those with chronic insomnia. This is according to research from the University of Pittsburgh, US, which showed that veterans involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom...

Research could pave the way for new arthritis treatments

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:00:02 GMT

A new treatment for rheumatoid arthritis could be developed following a discovery by scientists at Imperial College London, UK. It was revealed that a signal molecule made by the body is responsible for triggering the body's immune system...

Teenagers are using less contraception, study suggests

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:00:02 GMT

The progress made in terms of contraceptive use among teenagers has stalled, a new study has suggested. Findings made in the Changing Behavior Risk for Pregnancy Among High School Students in the United States report discovered that the...

Enzyme helps to destroy mutated protein associated with Parkinson's

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:00:02 GMT

A naturally-occurring enzyme in the brain has been discovered which helps to destroy the most common cause of inherited Parkinson's disease. Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center, US, found that the enzyme contributes to the annihilation of a...

People who are civically engaged may be less likely to suffer from asthma

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:00:02 GMT

Areas with restaurants, cultural hubs and entertainment facilities may have lower rates of asthma among their populations compared to areas where residents are less likely to be out-and-about. This is the conclusion of new US research published in...

Omacetaxine offers hope to CML patients

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:00:02 GMT

A new drug being developed by ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals could offer hope to people suffering from chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Following a study looking at the potential of omacetaxine in patients with T315I-positive CML, it was announced that the...

GIST patients at heightened risk of further tumours

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:00:01 GMT

Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) patients are at an increased risk of second, non-GIST malignancies, researchers have reported. Scientists speaking at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology said GIST patients should be examined on a...

Cystic fibrosis patients could benefit from new treatment

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:00:05 GMT

A new therapy that increases airway hydration could benefit cystic fibrosis patients, researchers have said. Scientists from Parion Sciences, US, have pioneered the aerosol-based treatment, which is capable of preventing the build-up of mucus. It uses GS-9411, an...

Stroke linked to decreased sexual desire in both men and women

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:00:01 GMT

The impact of a stroke on an individual's sexual desire has been highlighted by a new study which appears in the latest edition of the Journal of Clinical Nursing. According to the Northern Ireland-based researchers, a stroke can...

Alzheimer's biomarker could help ensure treatment starts earlier

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:00:01 GMT

Research conducted at the Sahlgrenska Academy, Sweden, suggests it is possible to detect Alzheimer's disease earlier than previously thought. A study which appears in the medical journal Lancet Neurology shows it is possible to spot a biomarker known...

Scientists assess ways to measure treatment intensity in hypertension care

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:00:05 GMT

A study designed to compare and contrast the different measures of treatment intensity in hypertension care has concluded that some are more effective than others. Research from Boston University shows that, when compared with two other methods, blood...

Ageing test could provide insight into drug and transplant treatment

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:00:01 GMT

A blood test which can measure the rapidity of the body tissue ageing process could also help to predict how well the tissues will respond to surgery and drug treatments. Research conducted at the University of North Carolina...

New drug could improve rheumatoid arthritis treatment

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:00:01 GMT

A study has pointed to the efficacy of a new drug for rheumatoid arthritis treatment, potentially paving the way for a change in approach when it comes to dealing with the disease. Research presented at the European League...

Periodontitis linked to rheumatoid arthritis

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:00:01 GMT

Rheumatoid arthritis has a significant impact on oral health, research presented at the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark, shows. According to the study, over half (56 per cent) of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers...

New Alzheimer's test could improve diagnosis

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:00:01 GMT

A new mental agility test could provide a more accurate indication of whether a patient is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. In an effort to aid the diagnosis process, doctors currently ask patients to complete a mini mental-slate examination...

Cholesterol discovery could lead to development of new treatments

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:00:01 GMT

Assessing levels of a form of cholesterol could help to provide an insight into heart attack risk, a study suggests. Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows people with higher levels of a type...

Alzheimer's disease indicator could pave way for improved treatments

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:00:01 GMT

A new Alzheimer's indicator has been discovered by scientists in Japan which could lead to the development of novel treatments for the disease. The research, which appears in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine, shows a peptide in cerebrospinal...

Meditation proves successful insomnia treatment

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:00:02 GMT

Practicing meditation can prove an effective treatment for people suffering from insomnia, it has been revealed. Research due to be presented at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies suggests meditation helps insomnia patients improve...

Insomnia raises risk of mortality in males, study suggests

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:00:14 GMT

Men suffering from insomnia or who sleep for less than six hours per night are at an increased risk of mortality. This is according to research published today (June 8th) at Sleep 2009, the 23rd annual meeting of...

New drug could be effective at fighting advanced melanoma

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:00:14 GMT

Skin cancer patients could benefit from the development of a new drug to treat malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of the disease. Healthcare company Roche said that phase one results from tests on PLX4032 suggest that it...

Statins may have negative consequences for MS patients, findings suggest

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:00:20 GMT

A widely prescribed drug may have negative impacts in people suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS), new findings have suggested. Researchers at McGill University, Canada, discovered during a trial involving mice that statins, which are commonly used to lower...

SmartPill could benefit UC patients, researchers suggest

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:00:25 GMT

A new electronic diagnostic tool could benefit patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis (UC), researchers have said. It has been discovered that patients who swallow the SmartPill, which is capable of taking measurements as it travels through...