Insomnia :: Many insomniacs turn to valerian and melatonin to help them sleep
A study published in the July 1 issue of the journal SLEEP finds that large segments of the US population use valerian or melatonin to treat their insomnia.
Medicine
Multiple Sclerosis :: New clue why MS affects African-Americans differently than Caucasians
Differences in immune systems have been found in African Americans with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to Caucasians, possibly offering a clue why African Americans experience more disability with MS than Caucasians, according to a study published in the July 3, 2007, issue of Neurology?, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Video Game :: Study examines video game play among adolescents
On school days, teen boys who play video games appear to spend less time reading and teen girls who play video games appear to spend less time doing homework than those who do not play video games, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Overall, video game players did not spend less time than non-video game players interacting with parents and friends.
Migraine :: Teenagers from low income families at greater risk of migraine
Teenagers from low income households with no family history of migraine are more likely to suffer migraine than children from upper income families, according to a study published in the July 3, 2007, issue of Neurology?, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Anemia :: Recombinant Hemojuvelin protein – a treatment option for anemia
In the July 2 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Jodie Babitt and colleagues from Harvard Medical School show that administration of a recombinant form of the protein hemojuvelin (HJV) to mice was able to mobilize iron stored in the spleen to the blood, thereby increasing serum iron levels. This protein or other compounds that modulate this signaling pathway may be useful in treating anemia.
Tuberculosis :: Neutrophils stand guard against tuberculosis infection
In the July 2 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Adrian Martineau, Robert Wilkinson, and colleagues from the Wellcome Trust Center for Research in Clinical Tropical Medicine in London report that the activity of white blood cells known as neutrophils is one reason why some individuals exposed to the infectious bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis resist developing evidence of tuberculosis (TB) infection for longer than their peers.
Heart Attack :: Blood protein offers clues to heart attack in seemingly healthy people
We?ve all wondered how a seemingly healthy person can actually be at high risk for heart disease or a heart attack. Now researchers have uncovered a new clue to this mystery. The culprit: myeloperoxidase (MPO), a protein secreted by white blood cells that both signals inflammation and releases a bleach-like substance that damages the cardiovascular system.
Weight Loss :: Effect of dietary counseling for weight loss
A new study of published literature that reported the effect of dietary counseling for weight loss finds that, on average, dietary counseling has resulted in weight loss of approximately 6 percent of initial body weight (approximately 10-15 pounds) after one year, compared with people not involved in formal weight loss programs.
Migraine :: Impact of family income on prevalence of migraine in adolescents
Adolescents from low-income families are much more likely to suffer from migraine headaches than teens from wealthier households, according to researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.
Multiple Sclerosis :: Antibody linked to MS significantly higher in spinal fluid of blacks
An antibody frequently used as a diagnostic marker for multiple sclerosis (MS) is present at greater levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of blacks with MS than Caucasians with the disease.