A new study shows that ratios between males and females affect human longevity. Men who reach sexual maturity in a context in which they far outnumber women live, on average, three months less than men whose competition for a mate isn't as stiff. The steeper the gender ratio (also known as the operational sex ratio), the sharper the decline in lifespan.
"At first blush, a quarter of a year may not seem like much, but it is comparable to the effects of, say, taking a daily aspirin, or engaging in moderate exercise," says Nicholas Christakis, senior author on the study and professor of medicine and medical sociology at Harvard Medical School as well as professor of sociology at Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences. "A 65-year-old man is typically expected to live another 15.4 years. Removing three months from this block of time is significant."
These results are published in the August issue of the journal Demography.
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Praying to God helps to de-stress but only for those who belive in it.
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"Eighty-five percent of the world has some sort of religious beliefs," says Michael Inzlicht, who cowrote the study with Alexa Tullett, both at the University of Toronto Scarborough. "I think it behooves us as psychologists to study why people have these beliefs; exploring what functions, if any, they may serve."
With two experiments, the researchers showed that when people think about religion and God, their brains respond differently—in a way that lets them take setbacks in stride and react with less distress to anxiety-provoking mistakes. Participants either wrote about religion or did a scrambled word task that included religion and God-related words. Then the researchers recorded their brain activity as they completed a computerized task—one that was chosen because it has a high rate of errors. The results showed that when people were primed to think about religion and God, either consciously or unconsciously, brain activity decreases in areas consistent with the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), an area associated with a number of things, including regulating bodily states of arousal and serving an alerting function when things are going wrong, including when we make mistakes.
With two experiments, the researchers showed that when people think about religion and God, their brains respond differently—in a way that lets them take setbacks in stride and react with less distress to anxiety-provoking mistakes. Participants either wrote about religion or did a scrambled word task that included religion and God-related words. Then the researchers recorded their brain activity as they completed a computerized task—one that was chosen because it has a high rate of errors. The results showed that when people were primed to think about religion and God, either consciously or unconsciously, brain activity decreases in areas consistent with the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), an area associated with a number of things, including regulating bodily states of arousal and serving an alerting function when things are going wrong, including when we make mistakes.
Nerve connections regenerated after spinal cord injury.
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(IANS) In a breakthrough study, scientists have successfully achieved regeneration of nerve connections after a spinal cord injury.
UC Irvine, UC San Diego and Harvard University team conducted the study on rodents.
They did this by deleting an enzyme called PTEN (a phosphatase and tensin homolog). PTEN activity is low early during development, allowing cell proliferation.
It then turns on when growth is completed, inhibiting mTOR and precluding any ability to regenerate.
Even a small spinal cord injury can cause paralysis of arms and legs, loss of ability to feel below the shoulders, inability to control the bladder and bowel, loss of sexual function, and secondary health risks including susceptibility to urinary tract infections, pressure sores and blood clots due to an inability to move the legs.
UC Irvine, UC San Diego and Harvard University team conducted the study on rodents.
They did this by deleting an enzyme called PTEN (a phosphatase and tensin homolog). PTEN activity is low early during development, allowing cell proliferation.
It then turns on when growth is completed, inhibiting mTOR and precluding any ability to regenerate.
Even a small spinal cord injury can cause paralysis of arms and legs, loss of ability to feel below the shoulders, inability to control the bladder and bowel, loss of sexual function, and secondary health risks including susceptibility to urinary tract infections, pressure sores and blood clots due to an inability to move the legs.
Thousands of kids misdiagnosed with food allergies
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(IANS) Hundreds of thousands of children are being misdiagnosed with food allergies because of unreliable tests sold online.
Youngsters are being put on unnecessary and restrictive diets, avoiding products containing egg, milk, fish and wheat, which can leave them malnourished.
The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) UK, says doctors are often too quick to dismiss parents' concerns over their child's runny nose or tummy ache - which can be symptomatic of an allergy, reports the Daily Mail.
Unsure what to do, many parents then turn to so-called 'alternative allergy tests' sold by private firms online.
Youngsters are being put on unnecessary and restrictive diets, avoiding products containing egg, milk, fish and wheat, which can leave them malnourished.
The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) UK, says doctors are often too quick to dismiss parents' concerns over their child's runny nose or tummy ache - which can be symptomatic of an allergy, reports the Daily Mail.
Unsure what to do, many parents then turn to so-called 'alternative allergy tests' sold by private firms online.
Keep busy, eat healthily 'to keep dementia at bay'
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Want to stave off dementia? Keep yourself busy and eat healthily, says a new study. Researchers in France have found that keeping brain stimulated, avoiding depression and a healthy diet to reduce the risk of developing diabetes are fundamental in keeping dementia at bay.
In fact, with no cure for the debilitating disease, the researchers claim that the focus should be on the best ways to avoid it.
The latest study in France of 1,500 people found better education would cut new cases by about 18 per cent over the next seven years. But eliminating the main genetic risk factor would lead only to a seven per cent cut in new cases during the same period, the 'Daily Express' reported.
In fact, with no cure for the debilitating disease, the researchers claim that the focus should be on the best ways to avoid it.
The latest study in France of 1,500 people found better education would cut new cases by about 18 per cent over the next seven years. But eliminating the main genetic risk factor would lead only to a seven per cent cut in new cases during the same period, the 'Daily Express' reported.
Quit-smoking drug linked to suicides
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Many smokers who take pills to quit the habit have developed suicidal tendency and at least 15 have committed suicide while on medication since 2008, Australian drug-control authority has said.
Hundreds of people have considered killing themselves while taking the popular quit-smoking pill Champix and 15 have in fact committed suicide, the statistics show.
In an update sent to doctors, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said 206 "suicide-related events" and 15 suicides had been linked to the drug, which has been prescribed more than a million times since becoming available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme two and a half years ago, The Age reported.
Hundreds of people have considered killing themselves while taking the popular quit-smoking pill Champix and 15 have in fact committed suicide, the statistics show.
In an update sent to doctors, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said 206 "suicide-related events" and 15 suicides had been linked to the drug, which has been prescribed more than a million times since becoming available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme two and a half years ago, The Age reported.
New wonder drug to help lose weight.
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(Deccan Chronicle)
The claim
A compound called Lorcaserin helps overweight people lose about five per cent of their body weight with few side effects.
The facts
According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, while the weight reduction owing to Lorcaserin is modest, the drug could have fewer side effects than others.
The drug acts on a specific subset of receptors for the chemical messenger serotonin. These receptors play a role in satiety, the feeling of fullness. “This is the first tailor-made molecule to target receptors involved in producing satiety and reducing caloric intake,” said Arne Astrup, a physician at the University of Copenhagen.
Several weight-loss drugs have been pulled from the market or abandoned in late-stage development because of dangerous side effects. Lorcaserin, however, was designed to target a subset of serotonin receptors called 5-HTC2, and as it targets brain receptors specifically, Lorcaserin has very few side effects.
The claim
A compound called Lorcaserin helps overweight people lose about five per cent of their body weight with few side effects.
The facts
According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, while the weight reduction owing to Lorcaserin is modest, the drug could have fewer side effects than others.
The drug acts on a specific subset of receptors for the chemical messenger serotonin. These receptors play a role in satiety, the feeling of fullness. “This is the first tailor-made molecule to target receptors involved in producing satiety and reducing caloric intake,” said Arne Astrup, a physician at the University of Copenhagen.
Several weight-loss drugs have been pulled from the market or abandoned in late-stage development because of dangerous side effects. Lorcaserin, however, was designed to target a subset of serotonin receptors called 5-HTC2, and as it targets brain receptors specifically, Lorcaserin has very few side effects.
Sisters act like balm to the soul: study
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A new study has shown that growing up with at least one girl sibling protects against feeling "lonely, unloved, guilty, self-conscious and fearful" – in fact, affectionate siblings of either sex have positive influences irrespective of their age, gender or difference in the number of years.
However, a sister prevents depression more than a brother because girls are better at listening to problems of others and are more likely to take on a caring role, say the scientists.
The study of 400 families also established that sibling affection plays a bigger influence than parenting, the Daily Express reported.
Lead scientist Laura Padilla-Walker of Brigham Young University was quoted as saying, "Siblings matter more than parents in terms of being kind to others and being generous.
However, a sister prevents depression more than a brother because girls are better at listening to problems of others and are more likely to take on a caring role, say the scientists.
The study of 400 families also established that sibling affection plays a bigger influence than parenting, the Daily Express reported.
Lead scientist Laura Padilla-Walker of Brigham Young University was quoted as saying, "Siblings matter more than parents in terms of being kind to others and being generous.
Blood transfusion can raise heart attack risk
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Recent studies suggest a blood transfusion during surgery increases the patient's risk of death, particularly from heart attacks or strokes and of serious illnesses, such as pneumonia and cancer of the lymph glands.
The risk, however, is not linked to contaminated blood infecting them with deadly viruses. Instead, scientists are investigating two possible causes, reports the Daily Mail.
One is that donated blood, instead of boosting a sick person's ability to ward off infection, might leave their immune system unable to resist attacks by bacteria and viruses, according to the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
The risk, however, is not linked to contaminated blood infecting them with deadly viruses. Instead, scientists are investigating two possible causes, reports the Daily Mail.
One is that donated blood, instead of boosting a sick person's ability to ward off infection, might leave their immune system unable to resist attacks by bacteria and viruses, according to the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
Trick the Brain to shed weight.
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Being a little smart may help you lose weight! The brain can be tricked into shedding weight by eating high satiety, low-calorie foods like apples, bananas and grapes.
For instance, eating an apple before your meal can make you feel more satisfied from your food, says a Daily Mail report.
Apples are about 25 per cent air and, as they're digested, they produce the hormone GLP-1, which sends satiety signals to the brain.
For instance, eating an apple before your meal can make you feel more satisfied from your food, says a Daily Mail report.
Apples are about 25 per cent air and, as they're digested, they produce the hormone GLP-1, which sends satiety signals to the brain.
Calcium pills 'increase' risk of heart attack
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By Emma Wilkinson Health reporter, BBC News
Calcium supplements taken by many older people could be increasing their risk of a heart attack, research shows.
The study, in the British Medical Journal, said people who took supplements were 30% more likely to have a heart attack.
Data from 11 trials also suggested the medicines were not very effective at preventing bone fractures.
Almost 3m people in the UK are thought to have osteoporosis and many take calcium pills to prevent fractures.
Calcium supplements taken by many older people could be increasing their risk of a heart attack, research shows.
The study, in the British Medical Journal, said people who took supplements were 30% more likely to have a heart attack.
Data from 11 trials also suggested the medicines were not very effective at preventing bone fractures.
Almost 3m people in the UK are thought to have osteoporosis and many take calcium pills to prevent fractures.
Snake venom may cure heart disease,cancer.
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Japanese scientists have claimed that a number of toxins found in snake venom could help develop new therapies for chronic diseases like heart attack, stroke and cancer.
The scientists, who reported their findings in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, said that inhibiting a protein found on the surface of blood cells known as platelets may combat both irregular blood clotting and the spread of certain cancers throughout the body.
"The finding that platelets not only play a role in blood clotting but also in the development of vessels that allow tumours to flourish was quite unexpected and paves the way for new research on the role or roles of platelets," said Ms Katsue Suzuki-Inoue, the associate professor at the University of Yamanashi.
The scientists, who reported their findings in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, said that inhibiting a protein found on the surface of blood cells known as platelets may combat both irregular blood clotting and the spread of certain cancers throughout the body.
"The finding that platelets not only play a role in blood clotting but also in the development of vessels that allow tumours to flourish was quite unexpected and paves the way for new research on the role or roles of platelets," said Ms Katsue Suzuki-Inoue, the associate professor at the University of Yamanashi.
Sea snail saliva could help in severe pain treatment
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Scientists have developed what they claim could be the most potent treatment for severe pain – as potent as morphine.
A sea snail’s saliva contains chemicals that help the slow-moving creatures catch prey.
These chemicals are injected into passing prey with hypodermic-needle-like teeth that shoot from their mouths like harpoons.
Scientists already have transformed one of these chemicals into a pain-reliever for humans, but it has to be injected directly into the spinal cord, limiting its use.
A sea snail’s saliva contains chemicals that help the slow-moving creatures catch prey.
These chemicals are injected into passing prey with hypodermic-needle-like teeth that shoot from their mouths like harpoons.
Scientists already have transformed one of these chemicals into a pain-reliever for humans, but it has to be injected directly into the spinal cord, limiting its use.
Don't eat for two, pregnant women advised.
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The traditional advice that expectant mothers should 'eat for two' is dangerous, says a report by a British government health watchdog.
The watchdog, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), says it has been forced to speak out against the common advice to prevent an obesity crisis among mothers-to-be.
In a report released Wednesday, NICE suggests that pregnant women should do at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day such as a brisk walk, swimming or cycling, according a Daily Mail report.
Almost half of expectant mothers are overweight or obese, putting themselves at much higher risk of fatal health conditions such as blood clots, miscarriages and stillbirths, according to the latest statistics.
The watchdog, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), says it has been forced to speak out against the common advice to prevent an obesity crisis among mothers-to-be.
In a report released Wednesday, NICE suggests that pregnant women should do at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day such as a brisk walk, swimming or cycling, according a Daily Mail report.
Almost half of expectant mothers are overweight or obese, putting themselves at much higher risk of fatal health conditions such as blood clots, miscarriages and stillbirths, according to the latest statistics.
Mobiles have 18x more bacteria than toilet handle.
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The average mobile phone carries 18 times more potentially harmful germs than a flush handle in a men's toilet, tests have revealed.
One of the phones in the test had such high levels of bacteria that it could have given its owner a serious stomach upset.
The findings from a sample of dozens of phones by Which? magazine suggest 14.7 million of the 63 million mobiles in use in Britain today could be potential health hazards, reports the Daily Mail.
Hygiene expert Jim Francis, who carried out the tests, said, "The levels of potentially harmful bacteria on one mobile were off the scale. That phone needs sterilising."
One of the phones in the test had such high levels of bacteria that it could have given its owner a serious stomach upset.
The findings from a sample of dozens of phones by Which? magazine suggest 14.7 million of the 63 million mobiles in use in Britain today could be potential health hazards, reports the Daily Mail.
Hygiene expert Jim Francis, who carried out the tests, said, "The levels of potentially harmful bacteria on one mobile were off the scale. That phone needs sterilising."
Unborn baby saves mom's life by kicking in womb!
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You may call it a miracle -- a baby saved his mother's life before he was even born just by kicking in the womb only to alert doctors of a tumour inside.
Mother-to-be 26-year-old Claire feared she was losing him 18 weeks into the pregnancy. But, doctors discovered the "miscarriage" was actually a tumour of the womb -- which her unborn son had kicked free, the 'News of the World' reported.
Claire was advised to have an abortion immediately so her cancer could be treated. But she said: "I couldn't end my baby's life when he had just saved mine.
Mother-to-be 26-year-old Claire feared she was losing him 18 weeks into the pregnancy. But, doctors discovered the "miscarriage" was actually a tumour of the womb -- which her unborn son had kicked free, the 'News of the World' reported.
Claire was advised to have an abortion immediately so her cancer could be treated. But she said: "I couldn't end my baby's life when he had just saved mine.
New pills shrink cancer tumours by half .
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cientists at a British laboratory have developed two pills which can halt the spread of skin cancer by shrinking deadly tumours by half.
Scientists at the GlaxoSmithKline drugs firm say the pills - which could be available within three years - will improve the length and quality of life for those with malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, the Daily Mail reported.
Malignant melanoma is the "most quickly rising" cancer in Britain, with around 10,000 new cases and 2,000 deaths each year. Rates have doubled in the last two decades, because of excessive tanning by British people on holidays to hot countries.
Scientists at the GlaxoSmithKline drugs firm say the pills - which could be available within three years - will improve the length and quality of life for those with malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, the Daily Mail reported.
Malignant melanoma is the "most quickly rising" cancer in Britain, with around 10,000 new cases and 2,000 deaths each year. Rates have doubled in the last two decades, because of excessive tanning by British people on holidays to hot countries.
Post-dinner tipple cuts health risks in elderly
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Now say cheers! A peg or two of alcohol after dinner can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and dementia in elderly people, claim scientists.
Research shows that elderly people who take one or two drinks a day have up to 30 percent lower mortality rates than teetotallers. And the best time to enjoy a tipple is after a meal, when it can be absorbed by the food rather than making the drinker feel light-headed.
According to Daily Mail, researchers at the University of Western Australia studied the effects of regular drinking on about 25,000 people over 65.
Research shows that elderly people who take one or two drinks a day have up to 30 percent lower mortality rates than teetotallers. And the best time to enjoy a tipple is after a meal, when it can be absorbed by the food rather than making the drinker feel light-headed.
According to Daily Mail, researchers at the University of Western Australia studied the effects of regular drinking on about 25,000 people over 65.
'People insecure in relationships prone to heart attacks'
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People who don't feel secure about their relationships may be at a greater risk of suffering from heart attacks and a host of other health problems, a new study has claimed.
Researchers at the Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada, found that relationship uncertainties, known as "insecure attachment", are associated with higher risk for a number of health conditions, including stroke, heart attack and high blood pressure.
"The study suggests that attachment is associated with these fairly concrete and negative health outcomes," said lead researcher Lachlan McWilliams.
Researchers at the Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada, found that relationship uncertainties, known as "insecure attachment", are associated with higher risk for a number of health conditions, including stroke, heart attack and high blood pressure.
"The study suggests that attachment is associated with these fairly concrete and negative health outcomes," said lead researcher Lachlan McWilliams.
Brain scans may help find your ideal job
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Neuroscientists will soon be able to pinpoint your talents by just looking at the landscape of your mind.
They are slowly mapping the brain so they can match particular areas to particular skills and knowledge, reports The Telegraph.
The so-called "psychometric assessments" could also show how good you are with your hands and whether you have any "super talents".
The latest research by the University of California scanned the brains of more than 6,000 volunteers and compared the brain map with the results of battery of eight cognitive tests to see if there was a correlation between brain and aptitude.
They are slowly mapping the brain so they can match particular areas to particular skills and knowledge, reports The Telegraph.
The so-called "psychometric assessments" could also show how good you are with your hands and whether you have any "super talents".
The latest research by the University of California scanned the brains of more than 6,000 volunteers and compared the brain map with the results of battery of eight cognitive tests to see if there was a correlation between brain and aptitude.
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