Life | Page 40 of 133 | SpiritIndia.com

DNA :: Exploring the dark matter of the genome

“Junk DNA” is what biologists used to call heterochromatin, the highly repetitive, gene-poor DNA concentrated near the centromeres and telomeres of chromosomes. With the publication of version 5.1 of the genome of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, led by scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and their colleagues, the term “junk” will be heard less often. Heterochromatin, it appears, is crucial to genome maintenance and cell biology.

Ovarian Cancer :: Hormone therapy offers new hope for ovarian cancer patients

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have shown that hormone therapy can extend life in ovarian cancer patients, giving women a new alternative to chemotherapy.

Lupus :: Treatment with Belimumab showed improvement in symptoms in 46 percent of lupus patients at 52 weeks

Treatment with belimumab resulted in a sustained improvement of systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity in 46 percent of patients at week 52, according to a novel combined responder index in results presented today at EULAR 2007, the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Barcelona, Spain.

Healthcare :: Stress hits young cancer docs

In a survey of 401 oncology registrars, 102 scored above the threshold for possible psychiatric morbidity and more than one in ten showed clinically important levels of depression. The main reasons cited include being over-stretched, keeping up-to-date with knowledge, fear of making mistakes, talking with distressed relatives, and poor senior support and team relations.

Rheumatoid Arthritis :: Obesity adds to the quality of life burden of rheumatoid arthritis

The global obesity epidemic was issued with a further health warning today — that obesity exacerbates the quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. New data presented at EULAR 2007, the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Barcelona, Spain, shows that RA in obese patients is associated with worse quality of life outcomes on four key levels: pain, fatigue, physical function and overall utility scores.

Depression :: Neurosurgeon receives award for research for treatment of depression

Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center today announced that James McInerney, M.D., associate professor of neurosurgery, and director of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery, Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine, in collaboration with Elana Farace, Ph.D., neuropsychologist, associate professor of neurosurgery and director of clinical research, will receive the New Investigator Award for their research in vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy at the New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit (NCDEU) meeting on Monday, June 11, in Boca Raton, Florida.

Parkinson’s Disease :: Blood pressure drug may help stall Parkinson’s disease

Gloria E. Meredith, Ph.D., collaborated with D. James Surmeier, Ph.D. and other scientists at Northwestern University to study the drug, Isradipine, and its possible effects on Parkinson?s disease.

Breast Cancer :: Simple steps make breast cancer survivors eager to exercise

Simple steps, like giving breast cancer survivors an exercise workbook or step pedometer, can improve their quality of life and fatigue levels.

Smoking :: Sleep deprivation can lead to smoking, drinking

Sleep loss or disturbed sleep can heighten the risk for adolescents to take up smoking and drinking, two habits that may prove to be detrimental to their health, according to a research abstract that will be presented Tuesday at SLEEP 2007, the 21st Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS).

Brain :: Rochester brain expert recognized for lifetime contributions

An internationally known expert on what is perhaps the most amazing structure in the universe ? the human brain ? has been recognized by his peers for his contributions to our knowledge about the brain and the diseases that affect it.