Health News for September 6, 2007

Cabinet approves health insurance scheme for unorganised sector workers
The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for launching of the health insurance scheme for the workers in the unorganised sector. ANI

Cholera threat continues to loom large in Orissa
The situation in Orissas cholera-hit tribal belt continues to remain grim, with the disease death toll rising to over 100, and the sick toll being an estimated 2000 people. ANI

Increased sugary drinks intake may be behind insulin resistance
The increase in the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages over the last several decades may be responsible for insulin resistance, a precursor to Type 2 diabetes, a new study has suggested. ANI

Brains timescale depends on the nature of the visual stimulus
A team of Harvard bioengineers and brain scientists have studied the way the brain rapidly and precisely encodes natural visual events that occur on a slower timescale. ANI

Study identifies little engine in cell that scans for DNA damage
A new study has revealed that there exists inside each cell a little engine called RNA polymerase which scans the cell for DNA damage. ANI

Doctors gender may hamper early diagnosis of heart disease in women
A new study has revealed that a doctors gender may hamper early diagnosis of heart disease in women. ANI

New methods may help rehab fried-food-loving couch dwellers
Deep-fried crunchy chicken tenders, fried ground beef hamburger, a bag of Oreos or potato chips. All these savories sound scrumptious, but in reality, they can prove lethal for health. Now, a new research study has come up with innovative ways in a bid to rehab fried-food-loving couch dwellers ANI

Food additives may make children hyperactive
UK researchers have warned that children may develop hyperactive behaviour if their diets contain food additives. ANI

The adult brain can change, confirms study
Scientists have for long debated whether the adult brain has the ability to change like the childs brain. Now, a new study has confirmed that this does indeed happen. ANI

Bacteria ideal agent for cancer treatment
A team of researchers have found that bacteria that survive in oxygen-starved environments in tumours are ideal agents to successfully deliver gene therapy based anti-cancer treatments. ANI

Scientists reveal the Holy Grail of hearing
Scientists have revealed that humans get the ability to hear as a result of a Rube Goldberg-style process, wherein sound vibrations entering the ear shake and jostle a successive chain of structures until they are converted into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. ANI

Mobile phones a danger for ventilators, pacemakers in hospital rooms
A research suggests that mobiles should be kept at least one meter away from hospital beds because they can cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) that may interrupt, obstruct, or otherwise degrade or limit the effective performance of critical care equipment. ANI

Study shows promise for faster-acting anti-depressants
The findings of a new study have shown promise for the development of faster-acting anti-depressants. ANI

Study examines environmental stress link in heart disease, diabetes
A new study has examined how environmental stress contributes to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. ANI

Potential mechanism of memory loss in Alzheimers found
Researchers at the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease (GIND) and Baylor College of Medicine have uncovered a potential mechanism behind the impairment of neurological functions in Alzheimers disease. ANI

Gene knock-out mouse model gives molecular clues to breast cancer
University of Cincinnati researchers say that new insights into the role of oestrogen receptor in mammary gland development may help understand the molecular origin of breast cancer. ANI

Silent seizures behind spells of increased confusion in Alzheimers patients
A new study has found that mice genetically engineered to have Alzheimers disease suffer silent seizures which may occur due to cellular changes. ANI

Removing indoor moulds may help keep asthma at bay
A new Cardiff University study has revealed that removing indoor moulds improves the condition of asthmatic patients. ANI