Those who suffer from chronic sinus disease may have their allergies to blame, according to a new study.
According to research found in the Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, when patients with chronic sinus disease were exposed to allergens, their symptoms got worse. X-ray and ultrasound images revealed that allergies might be to blame for the condition.
Scientists say they have found proof that another “bad” type of cholesterol contributes to heart disease.
Unlike the well-known LDL cholesterol, lipoprotein(a) or Lp(a) cannot be controlled by cutting down on dietary fats or taking a statin drug.
But researchers say high levels do not carry the same risk as LDL.
And other drugs might work to minimise its effects, they told the New England Journal of Medicine. Read the rest of this entry »
Scientists have shown how a family of “limpet-like” proteins play a crucial role in repairing the DNA damage which can lead to cancer.
They hope the finding could pave the way for a new type of drug which could help kill cancer cells, and promote production of healthy replacements.
The proteins seem to have a remarkable ability to zero in on damaged areas.
The breakthrough, uncovered independently by two teams, appears in the journal Nature. Read the rest of this entry »
US scientists believe they have uncovered one of the mechanisms that enables the brain to form memories.
Synapses – where brain cells connect with each other – have long been known to be the key site of information exchange and storage in the brain.
But researchers say they have now learnt how molecules at the site of the synapse behave to cement a memory.
It is hoped the research, published in Neuron, could aid the development of drugs for diseases like Alzheimer’s. Read the rest of this entry »
While an alkaline diet may help lower blood pressure, a new protein has been discovered that can help prevent hypertension.
Researchers from the University of Iowa indicated that the protein channel ASIC2 helps trigger sensors in blood vessels to keep blood pressure in check. When ASIC2 is not present in the body, the brain never receives the message that hypertension is occurring.
Study head Dr. Frank Abboud indicates that blood pressure can rise in an instant when something is making an individual frustrated or angry, and the sensors alert the brain to calm the nerve system down immediately. Read the rest of this entry »
A new study has found a derivative of cholesterol is necessary for brain cell formation.
Researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute say tests on mice prove that the formation of dopamine-producing neurons during brain development is dependent on the activation of a specific receptor in the brain by an oxidized form of cholesterol called oxysterol.
Dopamine-producing nerve cells play an important part in many brain functions and processes, from motor skills to reward systems and dependency. They are also the type of cell that die in Parkinson’s disease. Read the rest of this entry »
