Life, Health and Enjoyment

Sniffer dogs could be used for the early detection of lung cancer, according to new research published in the European Respiratory Journal. Sniffer dog training. (Credit: Image courtesy of European Lung Foundation) The study, carried out by researchers from Schillerhoehe Hospital in Germany, is the first to find that sniffer dogs can reliably detect lung cancer. Lung cancer is the second most frequent form of cancer in men and women across Europe with over 340,000 deaths per year. It is also the most common cause of death from cancer worldwide. The disease is not strongly associated with any symptoms and early detection is often by chance. Current methods of detection are unreliable and scientists have been working on using exhaled breath specimens from patients for future screening tests. This method relies on identifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are linked to the presence of cancer. Although many different technological applications have been developed, thi...

A scientist at the Gladstone Institutes has discovered how a gene known as SIRT3 contributes to a suite of health problems sweeping across America, offering new insight into how to combat these potentially fatal conditions. An image showing how fat molecules (shown in red) are stored in normal cells (left), vs. cells in which the SIRT3 gene was switched off. In cells with an inactive SIRT3 gene, fats can't break down properly, increasing one's risk for health problems associated with the metabolic syndrome. (Credit: Image courtesy of Gladstone Institutes)                                                                     Over time, this build-up can lead to obesity, high blood pressure and insulin resistance.  In a paper being published August 18 in Molecular Cell, Gladstone Senior Investigator Eric Ve...

European Medicines Agency Recommends New Malaria Treatment For Approval The European Medicines Agency has recommended the approval of Eurartesim, from Sigma-tau Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite S.p.A., a fixed combination product consisting of dihydroartemisinin and piperaquine phosphate. Eurartesim is intended for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in adults, children and infants aged 6 months or over and weighing 5 kg or more. Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in 2009, malaria caused nearly 800,000 deaths, mostly among African children. The disease is present in over 100 countries and threatens half of the world's population. Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite causing the most lethal type of human malaria has become resistant to many conventional treatments in most parts of the world. Over the past decad...

BANGKOK: A vaccine for dengue fever could be a reality by 2015 - bringing relief to countries like Thailand where the disease strikes millions each year. For the estimated 220 million people infected annually, dengue fever starts with only a small mosquito bite. Two million children a year develop a potentially deadly form of the disease. More than 70 per cent of the world's population at risk for dengue fever live in ASEAN countries, and the month of June is peak dengue season. Dengue has become an epidemic due to unprecedented population growth, lack of effective mosquito control, and unchecked urbanization. Health consequences aside, families are often faced with the economic burden of treatment. In Thailand's Ratchaburi province which has some of the highest incidences of dengue in the Kingdom, Sanofi Pasteur and Mahidol University are spearheading the world's first efficacy trial for a dengue vaccine. So far, there is reason for hope. "Its really q...

Cutting back on sleep, even for a little while, may have a dramatic effect on men's testosterone levels. A preliminary new study shows a week of sleep loss lowered testosterone levels by up to 15% in group of healthy young men. Researchers say low testosterone levels can negatively affect men's health in a variety of ways, in addition to affecting sexual behavior. For example, very low testosterone levels or testosterone deficiency is associated with low energy, reduced libido, poor concentration, and fatigue. Testosterone is also critical to building muscle mass and strength and bone density. Testosterone levels naturally decline in men aged 40 and over by about 1% to 2% per year. Sleep Affects Testosterone Levels In the study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers compared testosterone levels in a group of 10 healthy young men after a week of normal sleep and a week of sleep loss. In the first week, the participants slept eight...

A medicine used to treat asthma may also be a fat-burning drug, new research suggests. When taken in pill form, the drug known as formoterol boosted fat burning while preserving protein metabolism, thus maintaining muscle mass, says researcher Paul Lee, MD, PhD, of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and an endocrinologist at St. Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, Australia. "Fat burning was increased up to 25%," he says of his study results. "But the amount of protein burned is less [than without the pill].'' That could be good news for people trying to shed fat and for people who have noticed an age-related decline in muscle mass, he says. "It can promote a loss of fat while preventing the inevitable loss of muscle," Lee tells WebMD. Lee presented his findings Saturday at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Boston. Two experts in obesity treatment who reviewed the findings say the research is promising. However, they also say t...