Health News for September 21, 2007

Controlling the size of organs may help prevent cancer: Study
Johns Hopkins researchers have described how the body organs can grow uncontrollably huge and become cancerous, when a chemical chain reaction that controls the growth of organs in living beings ranging from insects to humans is perturbed. ANI

Talking on mobile for an hour a day can trigger hearing loss
An ear, nose and throat specialist from India has cautioned that using cellular phone for more than an hour a day can be damaging for a persons hearing ability. ANI

Genetic secrets of devastating human parasite revealed
An international team of researchers has discovered several genetic secrets about Brugia malayi (B. malayi), one of the worlds most debilitating human parasites, which is responsible for the disfiguring disease elephantiasis. ANI

Deficits in brain activation found in pedophilia patients
A new study has found that pedophiles - adults who are sexually attracted to children - have reduced activation of the hypothalamus, a brain region involved in regulating physiologic arousal and hormone release. ANI

Harnessing cell death protein may help prevent cancer, stroke, and Alzheimers
A new study has shown that harnessing a powerful protein called SRP-6 that can potentially halt necrosis -a chaotic, irreversible pathway to cell death - may prevent cancer, stroke, and other neurological diseases like Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases. ANI

Flu virus migrates globally during summer off-season
Biologists have revealed that the influenza A virus does not lie dormant during summer but migrates globally and mixes with other viral strains before returning to the Northern Hemisphere as a genetically different virus. ANI

Smart insulin nanostructures pass feasibility test on animal models
A smart particle insulin release system that detects spikes in glucose and blood sugar levels, and releases insulin to counteract them has shown promising results in feasibility tests on animal models. ANI

New target to axe heart problems triggered by air pollutants
An animal study at Northwestern University in Chicago has shown how exposure to particulate matter leads to accelerated blood clotting and thrombosis, which can in turn cause heart attacks and stroke. ANI

Mechanism that helps in coping with stress also boosts cancer
A new research has revealed that heat-shock factor 1 (HSF1) that helps in coping with environmental stresses, including heat and toxic exposures, also gives cancerous tumors a boost. ANI

Washing hands with soap and warm water is the best way to fight C.difficile
According to a new study, the most effective way health care workers can eliminate Clostridium.difficile bacteria, one of the most difficult bacteria to combat, from their hands is by washing them with soap and warm water. ANI

Americans blindly follow health advice from the Internet
A large number of US citizens are blindly following health and nutrition advices available on the Internet, according to a new survey. ANI

Secondhand smoke exposure at home may weaken teens academic performance
According to a new study, teens who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home are at a very high risk of failing in a test at school. ANI

Abusive boyfriends force teenage girlfriends into pregnancy: Study
A study has shed more light on adolescent partner violence by finding that getting a girlfriend pregnant is one way abusive boyfriends use to extend their control over them. ANI

Study finds new links between calorie restriction and longevity
Scientists may now have a new clue about how calorie restriction prolongs life, by finding that certain genes may be the link between calorie restriction and cell survival. ANI

Hair follicles may be key to boosting red blood cell production
A new study has found that hair follicles could hold the key for producing red blood cells safely and easily. ANI

Brain system that acts as remote control for fat metabolism identified
A new study has revealed that a system in the brain already known to regulate food intake also acts as a direct remote control for the way fat is stored and metabolised in the body. ANI

Key to longevity in fruit flies lies in just 14 brain cells
A team of scientists have found that increasing the lifespan of fruit flies lies in decreasing the protein p53 in just 14 insulin-producing cells. ANI

Genetic variation makes kicking the butt more difficult
People who find it excessively difficult to quit smoking can now blame their genes for not being able to kick the butt, for a new study has found that a genetic variation affects smoking cessation treatment. ANI

Low vitamin D levels linked to increased hip fracture risk in women
Women with low levels of Vitamin D levels are at an increased risk of hip fracture, a new study has found. ANI