AAAS News: Letter on Resuming Avian Flu Transmission Research

At the start of 2012, the US National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity recommended restricting the publication of results from research on H5N1 avian influenza virus. This was with regards to previous developments on the H5N1 virus leading to a discovery for the generation of the virus to be made transmissible to mammals.

The experiment involved ferrets who acquired the virus, previously almost exclusive only to birds, through respiratory droplets. There was concern that this discovery may lead to the virus affecting humans.

Based on rare cases of humans contracting H5N1, there is a 59% chance of mortality once the disease is contracted. To put this into perspective, the Spanish Flu in 1918 that killed an estimated 50 to 100 million people the world over, only had a mortality rate of just 2%.

The National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity is a panel of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. It was decided by the panel that the research behind H5N1 poses a significant health and security threat. They recommended restricting the publication of results from research on H5N1 avian influenza virus, leading to the generation of viruses that are more transmissible in mammals.

In January 2012, influenza researchers from around the world announced a voluntary pause on any research involving H5N1 influenza viruses which may lead to it being more transmissible in mammals.

H5N1 Controversy One Year Later

Correspondence signed by 40 influenza virus researchers and jointly published in Science and Nature this week announces that the voluntary pause on certain types of H5N1 avian influenza research should end in countries where the aims of this moratorium have been met and authorities have reached decisions about how best to conduct such work safely.

Non-Surgical Treatment for Neurofibromatosis Type 2 Being Developed

By identifying a new group of growth factor receptors that signal to brain tumors, researchers are confident that they may discover a non-surgical treatment for Neurofibromatosis Type 2.

Neurofibromatosis Type 2 or NF2 is a disorder that causes multiple tumors to develop that affect the nervous system. These tumors are non-cancerous and are called vestibular schwannomas or acoustic neuromas.

There are two types of Neurofibromatosis; Type I and Type II. In type 1 (NF1), the tumors are called neurofibromas and can be found mainly on the skin. NF1 is often considered a skin condition but can carry complications such as learning disabilities, bone problems and nerve tumors inside the body.

NF1 is the most common of the two types affecting 1 in 2,500 people.

Despite having the same name, NF1 and NF2 are two separate conditions and have different causes and symptoms.

Neurofibromatosis Type 2 is the rarest of the two but the most dangerous. Tumors in NF2 start growing on the nerves responsible for hearing and balance. Tumors may also develop on the nerves running down the spine and on the coverings of the brain.

NF2 is caused by a misprint of a gene on Chromosome 22. This misprint can be either inherited from a parent or as a new mutation of the gene. Parents with NF2 has a 50% chance of passing on the misprinted gene to their children.

Research Into How Common Cat Parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, Enters The Human Brain

Researchers have discovered how the common cat parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, enters the human brain and affect the hosts behavior.

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most prevalent parasitic infections in the world. It is estimated that thirty to fifty percent of the world's population is infected.

In the US, it is estimated that sixty million have toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasmosis is caused by the parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. It is passed on through humans mostly through cats but can also be transmitted through raw uncooked meat and vegetables harboring the parasite or through contaminated water.

Few manifest symptoms of Toxoplasmosis because of the immune system that keeps it at bay. People with weak or compromised immune systems as well as pregnant women are at risk of acquiring it. In the case of pregnant women, they can also infect their unborn child with the parasite.

Countries Using High Fructose Corn Syrup Have 20% More Prevalence of Diabetes

Researchers have found a link between the use of high fructose corn syrup in a country's food source and the spread of type 2 diabetes.

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are made from corn syrup. The syrup contains glucose (a simple sugar) which is then converted to another more sweeter type of sugar, fructose. Both glucose and fructose are simple sugars that are sweet, colorless, and odorless.

HFCS are commonly used as a sweetener in commercially available foods and beverages. Soda, cereals, candies, and bread are some of the food that use HFCS.

HFCS in food and drinks is said to be one of the major reasons for the rise of obesity in children.

Shear Thinning Hydrogels Developed For Cancer Treatment

Graphic: Christine Daniloff

Gels that can be injected into the body, carrying drugs or cells that regenerate damaged tissue, hold promise for treating many types of disease, including cancer. However, these injectable gels don’t always maintain their solid structure once inside the body.

MIT chemical engineers have now designed an injectable gel that responds to the body’s high temperature by forming a reinforcing network that makes the gel much more durable, allowing it to function over a longer period of time.

The research team, led by Bradley Olsen, an assistant professor of chemical engineering, described the new gels in a recent issue of the journal Advanced Functional Materials. Lead author of the paper is Matthew Glassman, a graduate student in Olsen’s lab. Jacqueline Chan, a former visiting student at MIT, is also an author.

Reduction In Cyst Growth For Patients With Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Using Tolvaptan

A clinical study shows that a drug therapy involving Tolvaptan resulted in a 50% reduction in cyst growth for patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD).

Polycystic Kidney Disease or PKD is a hereditary kidney disease that causes the kidneys to be filled up with cysts. Over time, the kidneys get larger and larger. This generally results in kidney failure.

People with PKD experience kidney pain, bleeding, infections and high blood pressure. It also may cause the appearance of cysts in the liver and the weakening of blood vessels in the brain which can result in an aneurysm.

8% of Childhood Asthma Attributed To Traffic and Roadway Related Pollution

Asthma is a chronic and long term medical condition that causes the passageways of to the lungs to swell and narrow affecting breathing. Asthma has no cure but can be self managed.

Patients affected by asthma experience difficulty in breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath, tightening of the chest, and coughing. The passageways called bronchioles are inflammed which restricts the airflow into and out of the lungs. The inflammation is aggravated by mucus production and the tightening of muscles in the bronchial tree. This reduces the airflow and causes a wheezing sound from the patient as he tries to breath in enough air into the lungs.

People with asthma have oversensitive bronchioles. Certain substances called "Asthmatic triggers" irritate these airways which in turn start an asthma attack. These triggers are mostly external in nature such as chemicals, dust, mold and mildew, house dust mites, pollen, animal fur, cigarette smoke. Chest infections such as the common cold also can trigger an asthma attack. In some cases, even taking aspirin can cause an episode.

Although there is no cure for asthma, it is easily managed through the asthma medication. Inhaled steroids prevent the swelling of the airways and also quick acting bronchodilators which are also inhaled, mitigate the symptoms when an attack happens.

Avoiding places where asthma triggers are prevalent greatly helps in controlling the disease.

Near-roadway air pollution a major contributor to asthma in Los Angeles County, USC research finds

Research conducted at the University of Southern California (USC) indicates that at least 8 percent of the more than 300,000 cases of childhood asthma in Los Angeles County can be attributed to traffic-related pollution at homes within 75 meters (a little less than 250 feet) of a busy roadway.

The study also indicates that previous estimates of childhood asthma exacerbation related to air pollution may have underestimated the true burden of exposure on society. The research was published online Sept. 24, 2012, in Environmental Health Perspectives and was conducted in collaboration with the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and Sonoma Technology, Inc. The study focused on the Los Angeles basin.

Countryside Folk More Likely To Be More Obese Than City Dwellers

Obesity is a condition where the person has too much body fat. It is usually associated with the weight of the person but certain factors such as a high bone density, extra muscle mass or water in the system may contribute to the weight gain.

Using the Body Mass Index (BMI) is a general way to gauge obesity. It is calculated by dividing the person's kilogram weight by the square of the meter height (kg/m²). A BMI of 25 to below 30 is considered overweight. A BMI of 30 and above is obese, a BMI of 40 or higher is qualified as morbid obesity.

Obesity is caused when the person regularly takes in more calories from food than the body needs. Unused calories is converted into fat by the body for later use as energy. Factors such as lack of physical activity, lifestyle, or overeating may lead to continuous calorie intake that results in obesity.

The main treatment for obesity is daily exercise and proper diet. A proper diet addresses the calorie intake and while exercise regulates the burning of calories. Other treatments for obesity are gastric surgery and medicine that reduce appetite or inhibit fat absorption.

Obesity more common among rural residents than urban counterparts, study finds

A new study finds that Americans living in rural areas are more likely to be obese than city dwellers. Published in the National Rural Health Association's Fall 2012 Journal of Rural Health, the study indicates that residential location may play an important role in the obesity epidemic.

Led by researchers at the University of Kansas, the study analyzed data collected by the National Center for Health Statistics and is the first in more than three decades to use measured heights and weights. Previous studies have relied on self-reported data, which typically underestimate the prevalence of obesity.

Christie Befort, Ph.D., assistant professor of preventive medicine and public health at the University of Kansas Medical Center, believes there may be two significant reasons why rural residents are more likely to be overweight: cultural diet and physical isolation.

New Observation On Beta Cells Opens Avenue To New Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

Insulin is a hormone used by the body to regulate glucose levels (blood sugar). The hormone helps the body use or store the blood sugar it gets from food.

Without insulin, the cells are not able to access the calories inside the glucose. Diabetes is a disease where the body has problems in maintaining its glucose levels in the blood. This happens because of one of two things, there is either too little or no insulin produced or that the body is resisting the insulin

Insulin is produced by the pancreas. When the pancreas stops making insulin, this is known as Type 1 diabetes. This means that beta cells, cells in the pancreas that stores and releases insulin in the body, are not functioning properly or has been destroyed. Generally, Type 1 diabetes is considered an autoimmune disorder because the immune system mistakes the beta cells as harmful and start attacking it.

Type 2 diabetes is caused when the body does not respond to its own insulin. This is known as insulin resistance. Around 95% of people who suffer diabetes are Type 2 diabetes. This can be acquired, in addition of it being a hereditary condition, through obesity.

Study explains decrease in insulin-producing beta cells in diabetes

Scientists generally think that reduced insulin production by the pancreas, a hallmark of type 2 diabetes, is due to the death of the organ's beta cells. However, a new study by Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers shows that beta cells do not die but instead revert to a more fundamental, undifferentiated cell type. The findings suggest that strategies to prevent beta cells from de-differentiating, or to coax them to re-differentiate, might improve glucose balance in patients with type 2 diabetes. The study, conducted in mice was published today in the online edition of the journal Cell.

"The prevailing theory is that the death of beta cells is responsible for the decline in insulin production in type 2 diabetes," said study leader Domenico Accili, MD, professor of Medicine and the Russell Berrie Foundation Professor at CUMC. "But when you look at a diabetic pancreas, you find very few, if any, dead beta cells. So, the organ dysfunction is out of proportion with the number of dead cells. Nobody has had a plausible explanation for this."

Study Reiterates Position That Ginkgo Biloba Has No Significant Effect Against Alzheimer's Disease

Ginkgo biloba is a herb that comes from the Ginkgo tree, one of the oldest living species of trees in the world. The tree has no close living relatives. Just like the Coelacanth, Ginkgo is a living fossil since the species is similar to discovered fossilized remains.

Ginkgo supplements are among the most popularly used herbal medication. It is traditionally used to treat blood disorders and enhance memory. Lab studies have shown that ginkgo improves blood circulation by dilating blood vessels and reducing the stickiness of blood platelets.

Ginkgo also contains flavonoids and terpenoids, chemicals that have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants gets rid of and minimizes the damage caused by substances called free radicals. Free radicals causes the aging process, some cancers (according to studies), cardiovascular diseases, and athritis.

Ginkgo biloba extract come from the leaves which are used in herbal medicines. It is advised that people who take pharmaceutical blood thinners such as warfarin or coumadin should consult with their doctor before taking Ginkgo biloba extracts. Ginkgo biloba has anti-coagulant properties that prevents coagulation (clotting) of blood.

Ginkgo biloba extract does not prevent Alzheimer’s dementia

The study examined whether a twice-daily dose of 120 mg standardised ginkgo biloba extract – derived from the leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree – affected the number of participants who were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, compared with those who took a placebo. The randomised, double-blind trial took place over five years, involving 2854 people in France who were 70 years old or over, and who had presented to their primary care physician with memory complaints.

1406 patients were given the ginkgo biloba extract, and 1414 given a placebo, designed to have a similar taste and appearance to the ginkgo biloba pills. Over five years, researchers used standard tests to assess the patients' memory, cognitive function and dementia status.

After five years, 61 (4%) participants in the ginkgo biloba group had been diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease, compared with 73 (5%) participants in the placebo group. The difference was not statistically significant, and the researchers also found no significant difference between the groups in the number of participants who had died or had a stroke.

The study appears to confirm the findings of a 2009 trial which took place in the USA* and showed similar results. Together, the results suggest that use of ginkgo extract by elderly people who complain of memory loss will not significantly affect the likelihood of diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

High Doses of Vitamin D Stimulates Recovery In Patients With Tuberculosis

Most people treated with tuberculosis can recover from the disease without any permanent damage.
Credit: PubMed Health

Pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious lung disease caused by bacterial infection. TB is an infection that is primarily in the lungs and does not spread to other tissues or organs.

TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). It is a bacteria that travels through air droplets from a cough or sneeze of a person who has TB. A TB infection may lay dormant for years and can stay inactive although for some, it can reactivate into full blown tuberculosis.

Treatment of tuberculosis involves curing the infection. This calls for a combination of drugs to be taken by the patient. The most commonly used medication are Isoniazid, Rifampin, Pyrazinamide, and Ethambutol.

Most people treated with tuberculosis can recover from the disease without any permanent damage.

Although the primary stage of TB usually does not manifest any symptoms, signs of the presence of tuberculosis may include:

• Presence of mucus or blood when coughing
• Excessive sweating
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Weight Loss
• Breathing difficulty
• Chest pain
• Wheezing

High doses of Vitamin D help tuberculosis patients recover more quickly

For decades before antibiotics became generally available, sunshine was used to treat tuberculosis, with patients often being sent to Swiss clinics to soak up the sun's healing rays. Now, for the first time scientists have shown how and why heliotherapy might, indeed, have made a difference.

A study led by researchers at Queen Mary, University of London, conducted in collaboration with the Medical Research Council's National Institute for Medical Research, has shown that high doses of vitamin D, given in addition to antibiotic treatment, appear to help patients with tuberculosis (TB) recover more quickly.

The research, which will be published online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA (PNAS), is the first to investigate the effect of vitamin D on the immune responses of patients receiving treatment for an infectious disease. The findings indicate that high doses of the vitamin can dampen down the body's inflammatory response to infection, enabling patients to recover faster, with less damage to their lungs.

In addition to stimulating recovery in TB patients, the authors say their results suggest that vitamin D supplementation might help patients recover better from other diseases such as pneumonia.

Dr Adrian Martineau, senior lecturer in respiratory infection and immunity at the Blizard Institute, part of Queen Mary, University of London, who led the research, said: "These findings are very significant. They indicate that vitamin D may have a role in accelerating resolution of inflammatory responses in tuberculosis patients. This is important, because sometimes these inflammatory responses can cause tissue damage leading to the development of cavities in the lung. If we can help these cavities to heal more quickly, then patients should be infectious for a shorter period of time, and they may also suffer less lung damage.

Study Suggest Cats Can Cause Suicidal Behavior and Mental Illness In Women

Toxoplasmosis is an infection due to a single cell parasite, Toxoplasma gondii.

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention consider toxoplasmosis to be a leading cause of death attributed to foodborne illness in the United States. They estimate that more than 60 million people in the U.S. carry the Toxoplasma parasite. Few manifest symptoms since the body's immune system prevents the parasite from causing illness but a person with a compromised immune system or a newly infected pregnant woman is at high risk in acquiring the disease.

Severe toxoplasmosis can cause damage to the brain, eyes, and other organs. It can develop from an acute Toxoplasma infection or reactivated from a prior infection. Severe cases are more likely in individuals who have weak immune systems, though occasionally, even persons with healthy immune systems may experience eye damage from toxoplasmosis.

The CDC considers toxoplasmosis as one of the Neglected Parasitic Infections, a group of five parasitic diseases that have been targeted by CDC for public health action.

Study: Women infected with common parasite have increased risk of attempting suicide

Women infected with the Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) parasite, which is spread through contact with cat feces or eating undercooked meat or unwashed vegetables, are at increased risk of attempting suicide, according to a new study of more than 45,000 women in Denmark. A University of Maryland School of Medicine psychiatrist with expertise in suicide neuroimmunology is the senior author of the study, which is being published online today in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

"We can't say with certainty that T. gondii caused the women to try to kill themselves, but we did find a predictive association between the infection and suicide attempts later in life that warrants additional studies. We plan to continue our research into this possible connection," says Teodor T. Postolache, M.D., the senior author and an associate professor of psychiatry and director of the Mood and Anxiety Program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He also serves as research faculty at the University of Maryland Child and Adolescent Mental Health Innovations Center and is a senior consultant on suicide prevention for the Baltimore VA Medical Center.

About one-third of the world's population is infected with the parasite, which hides in cells in the brain and muscles, often without producing symptoms. The infection, which is called toxoplasmosis, has been linked to mental illness, such as schizophrenia, and changes in behavior.

Intensive Monitoring and Control of Blood Glucose Levels in Type 2 Diabetes Does Not Lower Risk of Kidney Failure

The first goal of diabetes treatment is to eliminate the symptoms and stabilize blood glucose levels. The ongoing goals are to prevent long-term complications and prolong life. The primary treatment for type 2 diabetes is exercise and diet.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. 95% of diabetes cases in adults are of this kind. It is associated with obesity, being inactive, and having a family history of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes means that the body has insulin resistance; the fat, liver, and muscle cells do not respond correctly to insulin. Insulin is needed to move blood sugar (glucose) into cells, where it is stored and later used for energy. If this doesn't happen, the glucose starts to build up to high levels in the blood. This is called hyperglycemia.

If left untreated, hyperglycemia can cause damage to nerves, blood vessels, and other body organs. Chronic hyperglycemia injures the heart, even in patients without a history of heart disease or diabetes. It is also strongly associated with heart attacks and death in subjects with no coronary heart disease or history of heart failure.

As a precaution, people with diabetes constantly monitor their blood sugar levels.

Aggressively controlling glucose levels may not reduce kidney failure in Type 2 diabetes

Yale School of Medicine researchers have found that intensively controlling glucose (glycemic) levels in type-2 diabetes patients may not reduce the risk of kidney failure. The study, which is a review of data from seven clinical trials, is published in the May 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

To test the hypothesis that aggressive glycemic control can prevent renal disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, first author Steven G. Coca of Yale and colleagues searched available medical literature and evaluated seven randomized trials involving 28,065 adult patients who were monitored for two to 15 years.

Rapid and Proper Therapy for Treating Diabetic Foot Infections Can Prevent Amputations

Patients with diabetes not only have to monitor their glucose levels but also take extra attention to taking care of their feet. Foot infections are the most common problem with diabetic people.

Infections are difficult to treat. Diabetes complicates the microvascular circulation which decreases blood circulation and slows down healing of the infected area. Also, nerves in the body are damaged because of high blood sugar levels. This is known as diabetic neuropathy. Because of neuropathy, local trauma or pressure on the feet are not felt by the patient.

This is why appointments for diabetes care are not complete without a thorough foot examination.

Diabetic foot complications are the most common cause of lower extremity amputations. Fifty percent of patients who had a foot amputated die within five years. Guidelines released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) suggests that most amputations can be prevented with proper care.

To best address the condition, the guidelines further note that a multi-disciplinary team, including infectious diseases specialists, podiatrists, surgeons and orthopedists be at hand to diagnose and treat the infection.

Correct treatment of common diabetic foot infections can reduce amputations

Diabetic foot infections are an increasingly common problem, but proper care can save limbs and, ultimately, lives, suggest new guidelines released by the IDSA.

Poor treatment of infected foot wounds in people with diabetes can lead to lower extremity amputation, and about 50 percent of patients who have foot amputations die within five years – a worse mortality rate than for most cancers. But about half of lower extremity amputations that aren't caused by trauma can be prevented through proper care of foot infections, note the new IDSA diabetic foot infections guidelines, which are being published today in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Because people with diabetes often have poor circulation and little or no feeling in their feet, a sore caused by a rubbing shoe or a cut can go unnoticed and worsen. As many as one in four people with diabetes will have a foot ulcer – an open sore – in their lifetime. These wounds can easily become infected. Unchecked, the infection can spread, killing soft tissue and bone. Dead and infected tissue must be surgically removed, which, if the infection is extensive, can mean amputation of the toe, foot, or even part of the leg. Nearly 80 percent of all nontraumatic amputations occur in people with diabetes – and 85 percent of those begin with a foot ulcer.

Colonoscopy And Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Can Be Used To Detect Early Stages of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that affects movement, muscle control, and balance in a person. It is characterized by episodes of tremors (shaking) of the body.

Parkinson's is more predominant in people over fifty years old. Patients with Parkinson's also experience escalating symptoms of tiredness, pain, depression, and constipation as the disease progresses. The disease worsens over time.

The disease happens when brain cells that produce dopamine are destroyed in certain parts of the brain stem, particularly the crescent-shaped cell mass known as the substantia nigra. Nerve cells in this area send out fibers to tissue located in both sides of the brain. There the cells release essential neurotransmitters that help control movement and coordination.

Dopamine is used by the brain to help control muscle movement. Without this chemical, the nerve cells in the brain cannot properly send and receive signals. This leads to the loss of muscle function.

Colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy may be used to predict Parkinson's

Two studies by neurological researchers at Rush University Medical Center suggest that, in the future, colonic tissue obtained during either colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy may be used to predict who will develop Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder of aging that that leads to progressive deterioration of motor function due to loss of neurons in the brain that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter essential to executing movement.

Currently, Parkinson's disease afflicts almost 5 million people worldwide. It is projected that by 2030, Parkinson's disease will affect over 10 million individuals.

A protein called alpha-synuclein is deposited in cells of the brain of patients with Parkinson's disease and is considered a pathologic hallmark of the disorder. These protein aggregates form Lewy bodies, a characteristic structure seen in Parkinson's disease brains at autopsy. Identification of the role of alpha-synuclein aggregation in neuronal dysfunction and death has broadened understanding of how Parkinson's disease develops and introduced a valuable tool for tracking its progress.

CKD-EPI Equation For Calculating GFR More Efficient And Improved Method For Assessing Kidney Disease

The kidneys are organs in the body that filter waste out of the blood.

There are two kidneys in the human body. They can be found located behind the abdomen, on the left and right side. The kidneys are about the size of a fist (4 to 5 inches long) and has a bean-like shape.

The kidneys filter the blood and removes wastes which are sent to the urinary bladder. The kidneys excrete wastes such as urea and ammonium, producing urine. They also reabsorb water, glucose, and amino acids. The kidneys also produce hormones including calcitriol, erythropoietin, and the enzyme renin.

Doctors look at the Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) to assess renal (kidney) function. GFR is the flow rate of filtered fluid through the kidney. It estimates how much blood passes through the tiny filters in the kidneys, called glomeruli, per minute. The simplified formula for calculating GFR is:

The CKD-EPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) formula for calculating GFR was published in May 2009. It was developed as a more accurate formula than the MDRD (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease) formula.

A better method for diagnosing kidney disease

Assessing glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using kidney filtration markers in blood is the standard means for determining kidney function, diagnosing kidney disease and measuring its progression. A higher filtration rate indicates healthy kidney function, while a lower rate points to various stages of kidney disease. A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that the new CKD-EPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) equation for calculating GFR is a better predicator of risk for kidney disease and death compared to the most widely used method. The findings suggest that switching to the CKD-EPI equation for calculating GFR could focus efforts more efficiently, and improve assessment of patient future risk and treatment of kidney disease. The study is published in the May 9 edition of JAMA.

GFR is calculated using a patient's age, sex, race and serum creatinine level, which is a measure of a molecular waste product in blood. More than 92 percent of labs in the U.S., use the MDRD Study equation developed in 1999 to estimate GFR. The test is conducted more than 300 million times per year. The CKD-EPI equation uses the same data as the MDRD Study equation to estimate GFR.

New Developments On Glioblastoma: Cheaper Medication and Clues On Movement and Mechanism of Brain Cancer Cells

Grade IV Glioblastome Multiforme (GBM) is the most deadliest of brain cancers around. Unfortunately it is also the most popular of the gliomas. A glioma is a tumor that starts in the brain or the spine. These gliomas are categorized into grades. From grade I (least advanced disease — best prognosis) to grade IV (most advanced disease — worst prognosis).

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a group of tumors that arises from the glia, which are non-neuronal cells that maintain homeostasis. These form myelin, and provide support and protection for neurons in the brain within the central nervous system (CNS).

A patient diagnosed with GBM is given 12 to 18 months to live.

Research yields new clues to how brain cancer cells migrate and invade

Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered that a protein that transports sodium, potassium and chloride may hold clues to how glioblastoma, the most common and deadliest type of brain cancer, moves and invades nearby healthy brain tissue.

The findings, reported in the journal PLoS Biology, also suggest that a cheap FDA-approved drug already on the market could slow movement of glioblastoma cells, and contain their spread.

"The biggest challenge in brain cancer is the migration of cancer cells. We can't control it," says study leader Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, M.D., an associate professor of neurosurgery and oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "If we could catch these cells before they take off into other parts of the brain, we could make malignant tumors more manageable, and improve life expectancy and quality of life. This discovery gives us hope and brings us closer to a cure."

Spin Labeled Fluorene Compounds - Molecules That Can Aid In Prevention And Delay of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's is a brain disease that damages the normal, healthy functions of the brain. It is caused when protein fragments called plaques and tangles stick together to form the Alzheimer's protein. This protein then starts to kill brain cells starting at the hippocampus and ultimately destroying the whole brain.

Alzheimer's disease affects around 5.1 million people in the United States. It is usually a disease affecting the elderly. The disease starts by affecting memory functions then killing cells that affect various brain functions.

After destroying the part of the brain that affects balance and mobility, the disease finally affects the area where breathing and heart functions are controlled. The disease is slow usually taking eight to ten years from start to finish. Currently, there is no cure for this progressive and deadly brain disease.

UC Davis researchers create molecule that blocks pathway leading to Alzheimer's disease

UC Davis researchers have found novel compounds that disrupt the formation of amyloid, the clumps of protein in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease believed to be important in causing the disease's characteristic mental decline. The so-called "spin-labeled fluorene compounds" are an important new target for researchers and physicians focused on diagnosing, treating and studying the disease.

The study, published today in the online journal PLoS ONE, is entitled "The influence of spin-labeled fluorene compounds on the assembly and toxicity of the Aβ peptide."

"We have found these small molecules to have significant beneficial effects on cultured neurons, from protecting against toxic compounds that form in neurons to reducing inflammatory factors," said John C. Voss, professor of biochemistry and molecular medicine at the UC Davis School of Medicine and the principal investigator of the study. "As a result, they have great potential as a therapeutic agent to prevent or delay injury in individuals in the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease, before significant damage to the brain occurs."

Daily Exercise And Physical Activity May Reduce Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

Dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. Alzheimer's disease (AD), is one type of dementia that gradually gets worse over time. It affects memory, thinking, cognition, and behavior.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive brain disease that destroys memory and cognitive skills by damaging the normal and healthy functions of the brain.

AD is caused when protein fragments called plaques and tangles stick together to form the Alzheimer's protein. This protein then starts to kill brain cells starting at the hippocampus and ultimately destroying the whole brain (See video).

Get moving: Daily exercise may reduce Alzheimer's disease risk at any age

Daily physical exercise may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, even in people over the age of 80, according to a study published in the online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

"The study showed that not only exercise but also activities such as cooking, washing the dishes and cleaning are associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease," said study author Aron S. Buchman, MD, with Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. "These results provide support for efforts to encourage physical activity in even very old people who might not be able to participate in formal exercise but can still benefit from a more active lifestyle."

For the study, a group of 716 people with an average age of 82 wore an actigraph, a device that monitors activity, on their non-dominant wrist continuously for 10 days. All exercise and non-exercise was recorded. They also were given annual tests during the four-year study that measured memory and thinking abilities. During the study, 71 people developed Alzheimer's disease.

Brain Cancer Vaccine, Heat Shock Protein Peptide Complex 96 (HSPPC-96) , Against Glioblastoma Multiforme Proves Effective

A glioma is a tumor that starts in the brain or the spine. The most common place a glioma starts is the brain. Gliomas are categorized into grades. From grade I (least advanced disease — best prognosis) to grade IV (most advanced disease — worst prognosis). A grade IV glioma is called Glioblastoma multiforme and it is the most aggressive.

Unfortunately, grade 4 gliomas are the most common with human.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a group of tumors that arises from the glia. The glia are non-neuronal cells that maintain homeostasis, form myelin, and provide support and protection for neurons in the brain_ within the central nervous system (CNS).

Patients with GBM die of their disease within 1 year and there is no long term survival of the disease. Because of this, scientists and doctors have focused a lot of time and effort in combating GBM. They have studied the disease and hopefully may find an effective cure and therapy.

Brain cancer vaccine proves effective

With help of patient groups, phase 2 clinical trial paves way for testing therapy that combines cancer vaccine with the drug Avastin

A new brain cancer vaccine called HSPPC-96 or Heat Shock Protein Peptide Complex 96, tailored to individual patients by using material from their own tumors has proven effective in a multicenter phase 2 clinical trial at extending their lives by several months or longer. The patients suffered from recurrent glioblastoma multiforme—which kills thousands of Americans every year.