UCI psychologist shows memory manipulation may lessen appeal of certain unhealthy treats
Most dieters know that the mind is a powerful force in the battle of the bulge; but a new study led by psychologist Elizabeth Loftus shows that the malleable nature of human memory might be used to help people avoid certain fattening foods.
In the first study to show false memories have potential to curb appetites for fattening treats, Loftus’ research team found that people can b
University of Queensland researchers are using traditional Chinese exercises to combat the growing problem of diabetes.
In a study that is believed to be the first in the world to evaluate the effectiveness of Qigong and Tai Chi to combat the disease, PhD student Liu Xin has developed a series of exercises to reduce the risk of progression to Type 2 diabetes.
The exercises target risk factors, including high blood pressure and high blood glucose levels, by focusing part
RoboLase technology may one day not only bridge laboratories but also allow physicians to perform medical procedures from distant locations
In an effort to combine sophisticated laser and Internet technologies, scientists in Australia have successfully performed laser surgery and “optical trapping” in a Southern California laboratory via the Internet.
The scientists used a new Internet-based laser scissor-and-tweezers technology called RoboLase, demonstrating the poten
New research into muscle contraction will give scientists a better understanding of bladder problems and pain during childbirth.
Professor Susan Wray, who heads the UK’s top rated Department of Physiology, and Dr Ted Burdyga, are studying muscles in the wall of the ureter, which connects the kidney to the bladder, to understand how muscles respond to signals in the body telling them to contract or relax. Their research, supported by the Medical Research Council, is published in
A medication used to ease symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, also is helpful in treating people with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), according to a pilot study at Yale School of Medicine.
Although the study included only 13 patients, the preliminary results are promising for persons who have found no relief using other medications and cognitive behavioral therapy, said the first author, Vladimir Coric, M.D., assistan
Swedish meta-analysis of 47 scientific studies finds clear patterns across thousands of people who went on to be diagnosed with the disease
By combing through dozens of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) studies, psychologists have gained a clear picture of cognitive problems in people who will develop the degenerative brain disease. The meta-analysis reveals that people can show early warning signs across several cognitive domains years before they are officially diagnosed, confirmi
In a groundbreaking population-based study, researchers in Mayo Clinic Cancer Center found that new onset of hyperglycemic diabetes in adults age 50 or older may be a signal of underlying pancreatic cancer. The risk of developing the cancer within three years after a new diagnosis of diabetes is eight times higher than for the average same-age individual. The findings will be published in the Aug. 1 issue of Gastroenterology.
“Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect until it is in an adva
Maintaining lifestyle top of men’s list when choosing a prostate cancer therapy
Despite wanting to avoid undesirable side effects, nearly half of men with prostate cancer do not have enough information on the lifestyle impact of treatments
Nearly nine out of 10 healthy men say maintaining their lifestyle is the main priority if they had to receive a hormonal treatment for locally advanced prostate cancer, according to a new study.1 In reality, nearly half of men feel th
Findings call for radical change in treatment for the disease, researchers say
Mayo Clinic researchers have found that the cause of chronic sinus infections lies in the nasal mucus — the snot — not in the nasal and sinus tissue targeted by standard treatment. The findings will be published in the August issue of Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and are available online at www.us.elsevierhealth.com/jaci .
Possible ’early warning system’ for heart problems
By using sound waves Mayo Clinic researchers have described subtle changes in the motion of the heart that are measurable by ultrasound and may improve understanding of heart function, and possibly be a noninvasive aid in predicting impending heart damage including heart attacks. The study could also contribute to optimal adjustment of cardiac pacemakers or perhaps better design of artificial hearts. The findings, publish
Scientists at the MUHC have made progress in understanding what causes migraines. The research, published in the newissue of the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), reveals how gene mutations known to cause a form of inherited migraine – the kind that cause debilitating headaches and light flashes known as auras – target a cellular process involved in brain cell communication. “A number of mutations have been shown to result in familial migraines,” says Dr. Rhoda Blos
Patients who are delirious during hospitalization one year later had 13 percent fewer days of survival during the following year when compared to patients without delirium, according to a study published this month in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Delirium is a frequent problem for hospitalized older patients with consequences ranging from increased morbidity and mortality, persistent functional decline and increased and costlier hospital stay to higher rates of nursing ho
Study examines occurrence of knee pain with pain at other joints and its effect on physical function and mental health
Joint pain, especially in the knees, is a common complaint in older patients and can impact quality of life. A team of researchers recently set out to examine how often knee pain is accompanied by pain elsewhere in the body and whether the presence of multiple joint pain affects older patients’ general health and psychological status. Their findings, publ
New study finds improvement of fibromyalgia symptoms with few side effects
The mechanism of fibromyalgia, a chronic illness characterized by muscle pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances, is unknown and medications used to treat it (such as antidepressants, antiepileptics, muscle relaxants, antiinflammatories, sedative hypnotics, pain relievers and nutriceuticals) have had limited success. New research findings indicate that the pain associated with this disease may be due to abno
Inhaling CO prevents transplant rejection in mice, say U-M scientists. Could become part of future treatment regimen for organ transplant patients
Could become part of future treatment regimen for organ transplant patients. Carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas that kills thousands of Americans every year, could turn out to be a life-saver for patients recovering from organ transplants, strokes or heart attacks, according to new research from the University of Michigan Cardiovascular
Doctors and other carers often overlook some important aspects of outcome amongst patients who have suffered head injuries, according to a new study published today in BMC Family Practice. The researchers interviewed patients who had suffered head injuries and highlight areas of outcome of importance to patients that are currently often overlooked by health care professionals. According to the authors, consideration of these areas may help to understand the effects of head injury and they suggest sev
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