Health News for April 4, 2008

Virtual gaming cannot replace real exercise: Fitness expert
Virtual gaming or video games may have been accepted as an accessible way of involving sedentary kids in physical activity but a fitness expert suggests that it cannot be a replacement for real exercise. ANI

Alcohol intake may increase blood pressure more than previously thought
Researchers at the University of Bristol have suggested that alcohol intake may elevate blood pressure more than previously thought. ANI

Scientists identify long-life genes in 100-year-old humans
Researchers at New York-based Yeshiva University say that they have identified gene variants that enable some people to live longer. ANI

Targeting non-malignant cells around cancer could stop tumour growth
Researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center have found that targeting and killing the non-malignant cells that surround and support a cancer can cease tumour growth, paving the way for new treatments against cancers resistant to standard therapy. ANI

New genetic marker for breast cancer identified
Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and the National Cancer Institute have discovered a new genetic marker for breast cancer which could help doctors detect the disease and help further research. ANI

Study shows promising results for lazy eye treatment in adults
New evidence, based on a 2006 laboratory study and a novel clinical trial by researchers in the U.S. and China, has suggested a simple and effective therapy for amblyopia, or lazy eye. ANI

Scientists develop small molecule that promises potential cancer drug
University of Michigan researchers claim to have made a small molecule which is effective at inhibiting the interaction between the tumour suppressor protein p53 and another protein that inactivates p53 in cancer. ANI

Study sheds light on gene variants that may raise risk of anxiety disorders
A collaborative study in the US has uncovered perhaps the strongest evidence yet linking variation in a particular gene with anxiety-related traits. ANI

Aromatherapy might help relax, but it wont make you healthy
Adding expensive and touted scented oils in bath tub might help light up your mood, but it wont do much for your health, says a new study. ANI

Female sex hormone protects against hearing loss in both sexes
The female sex hormone, estradiol helps in protecting against hearing loss in females and males, says a new study conducted on mice. ANI

Coming up, slimming pills for tighter tummies
Trying hard to shed the pot belly but still in vain? Well, good news for you, for University College London scientists have identified two cell proteins that can offer a future drug target against weight gain, by preventing the stomach from expanding. ANI

Psychological distress, not depression, may boost stroke risk
A new study, conducted by researchers at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, has found that psychological distress, not depression, may increase the risk of stroke. ANI

Low testosterone levels linked to depression in older men
A new study has shown that older men with lower free testosterone levels in their blood appear to have higher prevalence of depression. ANI

People with less tear production more likely to get dry eye syndrome after LASIK surgery
A new study has found that people with a certain low level of tear production are more likely to develop chronic dry eye syndrome after LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis), laser refractive surgery to correct near- and far-sightedness, than those with more plentiful tears. ANI

Depression boosts death risk for heart attack patients years after attack
A team led by researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has found that depression raises risk of death for heart attack patients years after attack. ANI

Cutting TV, PC time could curb childhood obesity
Researchers at the University of Buffalo suggest that reducing kids TV and computer time by half can cut obesity risk in children. ANI

Early diagnosis of dementia, Alzheimers brings relief, not depression
Early diagnosis of Alzheimers and dementia brings relief to patients rather than pushing them into depression, says a new study. ANI

Testosterone could protect against anorexia and bulimia
Researchers at the Michigan State University (MSU) have suggested that testosterone plays a crucial role in protecting people against eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. ANI

How a recently identified gene disrupts normal heart rhythm
An international team of researchers has for the first time found out how variants of a specific gene called CAPON can disrupt normal heart rhythm. ANI

Study on rare syndrome sheds light on obesity, blood pressure
Researchers focussing on the rare genetic disorder Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS), have identified a clue to show how resistance to the hormone leptin might disrupt the brain signals that tell the body when to stop eating. ANI

Scientists uncover protein that fights immunodeficiency
A team of researchers from the US and Canadian has uncovered how a protein in some peoples DNA guards them against killer infections like HIV. ANI

Scientists confirm link between runners high and endorphins
German researchers have confirmed the age-old hypothesis that chemicals naturally released in the brain, called endorphins, are the reason why prolonged jogging raises peoples spirits. ANI

Second ingredient in cigarette smoke that delays bone healing identified
US researchers have identified a second ingredient in cigarette smoke that delays bone healing after fractures. ANI