Body | Page 4994 | Science Codex

Black patients with chronic pain less likely to have obesity assessed

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — At the intersection of two U.S. health epidemics – obesity and chronic pain – researchers from the University of Michigan Health System found black patients with chronic pain were less likely to have their weight or body mass index (BMI) recorded, even though they are at higher risk for having obesity when compared with their white counterparts.

This new study also revealed that obesity is related to greater disability and poorer functioning, over and above the impact of a person's pain level.

Why are T cells tolerant to hepatitis B virus?

The level of PD-1 expression has been proved by recent studies to be positively correlated with the extent of HBV-specific T cell impairments. However, the degree of T cell exhaustion which affects the disease statuses of hepatitis B patients has so far been only evaluated in restricted and small groups of patients between those with established chronicity and subjects with acute HBV infection. Besides, whether levels of PD-1 expression on T cells differ between acute exacerbation of hepatitis B and chronic HBV infected patients is still unknown.

Seeds of optimism in Iraq's mental health provision

University of Leicester psychiatrist Dr Mohammed Al-Uzri flies to Iraq on 15th October for the third National Conference on Mental Health which aims to help to develop mental health strategy for the next five years.

Dr Mohammed Al-Uzri, a Consultant Psychiatrist and Honorary Senior Lecturer with the University of Leicester Medical School, works principally through the Royal College of Psychiatrists, where he chairs the Iraq Subcommittee.

Dr Al-Uzri goes with the knowledge that the work he and colleagues from around the world have done is beginning to bear results.

Obese teenagers face higher metabolic syndrome risk in South America than Europe

Obese teenagers are much more likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome - which can lead to heart disease – if they live in Brazil than Italy, according to a study in the October issue of IJCP, the International Journal of Clinical Practice.

Researchers from the two countries looked at more than 500 obese teenage boys and girls to see if there was any difference in metabolic syndrome, an increasing worldwide problem where fat deposits lead to thickening and hardening of artery walls, increasing the risk of heart disease.

Researchers continue to find genes for type 1 diabetes

Genetics researchers have identified two novel gene locations that raise the risk of type 1 diabetes. As they continue to reveal pieces of the complicated genetic puzzle for this disease, the researchers expect to improve predictive tests and devise preventive strategies.

Larger labs report kidney function routinely

Labs that conduct the highest number of routine blood tests are more likely than others to report estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), an important measure of kidney function that can identify early kidney disease, according to a survey funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The work is reported in the October issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.

Efavirenz-based initial therapies associated with better outcomes in HIV-infected adults

A study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that HIV-infected patients taking the antiretroviral drug efavirenz were more likely to adhere to treatment and less likely to experience virologic failure and death compared to patients taking nevirapine. Nevirapine is the most frequently prescribed drug for patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, where the study was conducted. The study is published in the October 18, 2008 issue of the journal AIDS.

Researchers uncover world's oldest fossil impression of a flying insect

MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, Mass. - While paleontologists may scour remote, exotic places in search of prehistoric specimens, Tufts researchers have found what they believe to be the world's oldest whole-body fossil impression of a flying insect in a wooded field behind a strip mall in North Attleboro, Mass.

Resveratrol prevents fat accumulation in livers of 'alcoholic' mice

BETHESDA, Md. (Oct. 14, 2008) − The accumulation of fat in the liver as a result of chronic alcohol consumption could be prevented by consuming resveratrol, according to a new study with mice. The research found that resveratrol reduced the amount of fat produced in the liver of mice fed alcohol and, at the same time, increased the rate at which fat within the liver is broken down.

People lacking vital antioxidants and exposed to sunlight more likely to develop AMD

People who lack essential antioxidants, and who have high levels of sunlight exposure, have a higher risk of developing advanced macular degeneration (AMD), according to a study published today in the journal Archives of Ophthalmology. AMD is the leading cause of poor vision in the UK.

How to diagnose and treat spontaneous colonic perforation?

Spontaneous perforation of the colon is defined as a sudden perforation of the normal colon without any diseases such as tumor external injury. It is rare, often misdiagnosed and has a high mortality rate. A group led by Huai-Kun Ni from Fuding City Hospital of China investigated the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of spontaneous perforation of the colon, and this will be published on July 28, 2008 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

Is endocan a novel marker of colorectal cancer?

Endocan, previously called endothelial cell specific molecule-1 (ESM-1), is over expressed in human tumors, and its serum levels are elevated in late-stage lung cancer and experimental tumor, as measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay or by immunohistochemistry. mRNA level of endocan is also recognized as one of the most significant molecular signatures with a poor prognosis of several types of cancer including lung cancer.

Does hypertriglyceridemia aggravate the episodes of severe acute pancreatitis?

HTG is a common clinical problem but rare cause of pancreatitis. It was reported that HTG is independently associated with the severity of AP and plays a role in the aggravation of acute necrotizing pancreatitis patients. However, the role of HTG in modulating disease course of

A research article to be published on July 28, 2008 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology addresses this question. The research team led by Prof. Xia from West China Hospital of Sichuan University investigated the effect of admission HTG on the episodes of SAP.

Extreme nature helps scientists design nano materials

Scientists are using designs in nature from extreme environments to overcome the challenges of producing materials on the nanometre scale. A team from the UK's John Innes Centre, the Scripps Research Institute in California and the Institut Pasteur in Paris have identified a stable, modifiable virus that could be used as a nanobuilding block.

Primary care records improve public health information

Gaining a fuller and more accurate picture of trends in the most important disease risk factors is now possible, thanks to a project between the NHS Information Centre and QResearch®.

The Public Health Indicators summary reports on trends in obesity, smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol and ethnicity using anonymous data taken from the health records of more than four million patients.