Health (General) – Newsletter for February 1, 2011

Can’t quit smoking? Blame it on faulty brain receptor

LONDON – Do you know why it is so fiendishly difficult to quit smoking – because of a faulty receptor in the brain.

It can lead to an uncontrollable desire to smoke, thanks to the defect in a receptor protein normally activated by nicotine, which curbs the desire for yet more of the drug. … Original source on Gaea Times at : Can’t quit smoking? Blame it on faulty brain receptor.

New probiotic can treat irritable bowels

WASHINGTON – Probiotics – bugs thought to be healthy for the host organism – found in yogurt have shown promise in combating bowel disorders, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, scientists say.

A genetically tweaked version of a probiotic in yogurt and cheese seems to act effectively against the diseases, which can cause weight loss, … Read more »».

Boys infect boys with swine flu: Study

WASHINGTON – A new study of how swine flu spread in a primary school during the 2009 pandemic has revealed that boys predominantly pass on flu to other boys and girls to girls.

The results also suggest that flu transmission is most intensive between children of the same class, but that sitting next to an … Original source on Gaea Times at : Boys infect boys with swine flu: Study.

New probiotic fights inflammatory bowel diseases

WASHINGTON – Northwestern Medicine researchers say that a genetically tweaked version of a common probiotic found in yogurt and cheese may be an effective therapy for inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

It may also prove to be useful in colon cancer, another disease triggered by inflammation.

The researchers deleted a gene …. Original article  : New probiotic fights inflammatory bowel diseases.

Pill to repair damaged hearts ‘just 5 years away’

LONDON – A major research programme involving experts in Scotland has suggested that a pill to repair damaged hearts could be a reality in as little as five years.

Researchers are looking at both stem-cell research and biotechnology, which they hope to use to make damaged hearts as easy to repair as broken bones, reports the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Pill to repair damaged hearts ‘just 5 years away’.

Former French President Chirac rubbishes reports he is suffering from Alzheimers

PARIS – Former French President Jacques Chirac, who faces trials over corruption, has denied reports that he is suffering from Alzheimers.

The weekly Journal du Dimanche had earlier quoted a friend of Chirac as saying that he is facing memory loss problems, and added that his wife Bernadette feared he had Alzheimers, The Telegraph reports. …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Former French President Chirac rubbishes reports he is suffering from Alzheimers.

Labrador can sniff out bowel cancer even in early stage

WASHINGTON – Dogs can sniff out bowel cancer, even in its early stages, in breath and stool samples with 95 percent accuracy, scientists say. They used a specially trained Labrador retriever to demonstrate the findings.

The findings suggest that chemical compounds for specific cancers circulate throughout the body, which opens up the prospect of developing [..] Read the original article: here.

Childhood obesity comes from unhealthy lifestyle: Study

WASHINGTON – In a new study, researchers found that children who are obese were more likely to consume school lunch instead of a packed lunch from home and spend two hours a day watching TV or playing a video game.

The study was conducted by the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center and includes 1,003 Michigan 6th … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Childhood obesity comes from unhealthy lifestyle: Study.

US judge declares Obama administration’s health care overhaul as ‘unconstitutional’

LONDON – A Florida judge has taken the initiating step of declaring the Obama administration’s health care overhaul as ‘unconstitutional’ after rendering his support to 26 states that sued to block it, saying that Americans should be not be compelled to buy health insurance.

U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson slammed Congress for compelling nearly all US …. Original article  : US judge declares Obama administration’s health care overhaul as ‘unconstitutional’.

Blame habits for childhood obesity, not heredity

WASHINGTON – Lifestyle and not genes are to be blamed for obesity in kids, a survey has revealed.

Children become obese when they eat more school meals, watch more TV and exercise less than their healthy peers, says the survey of 1,003 sixth graders in a school-based health programme in the US.
The results … Read more »».