Publication: Health Tips Weekly
Study identifies cause of glaucoma | |
Subscribe FREE to Health Tips Weekly by clicking here.
HEALTH TIPS WEEKLY - Thursday, April 3, 2008
"News That Keeps You Healthy"
------------------------------------------------------------
You can discuss this issue or any other topic in the new
Health Tips forum. Check it out here...
Health Tips Forum
------------------------------------------------------------
Study identifies cause of glaucoma
HOUSTON, -- U.S. scientists said they have discovered a rec-
eptor's role as a cause of certain eye diseases, including
glaucoma. The researchers at the Texas A&M University's Ins-
titute of Biosciences and Technology said their finding
might lead to development of new eye disease treatments. "G-
protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) regulate a variety of
physiological functions, from vision, olfaction, taste and
reproductive biology to cardiovascular functions," said Pro-
fessor Mingyao Liu, senior author of the study. "GPCRs are
the largest membrane receptor family in the human genome.
Our study focuses on Gpr48, a new hormone receptor in ani-
mals and humans." The scientists found Gpr48 plays an impor-
tant role in anterior segment development and is also key in
various physiological functions throughout the body. Dele-
tion of the Gpr48 receptor in mice resulted in various forms
of anterior segment dysgenesis, including microphthalmia
(small eyes), iris hypoplasia (underdeveloped iris), iridio-
corneal angle malformation (irregular angle of the iris and
cornea), cornea dysgenesis (clouding of the cornea) and cat-
aracts. Future research could validate Gpr48 as a potential
therapeutic target, Liu said. The research is to appear in a
future issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences and is currently available at the journal's Web
site.
------------------------------------------------------------
TOUGH TOOLS LED TORCH FLASHLIGHT
Normal Price: $9.99
DEAL PRICE: $4.99
Don't let the size fool you... This amazing little flashlight
uses nine of the brightest led bulbs available and is one of the
most energy efficient types of flashlights available today! With
its compact size and light weight design makes it really handy
and portable. It's perfect for camping, travel, boating, home
emergency kits, or even walking the dog! Colors may vary.
FEATURES:
- Waterproof - 100,000 hour LEDs - Safety Bell
- 10 mile visibility... - 120 foot effective range
- Anti-shock structure - Takes 3 AAA Batteries (INCLUDED)
Save more when you buy two or more.
Order one (1) for just $4.99
SAVE $2.00 and get two (2) for $7.98
SAVE $3.00 and get three (3) for $11.97
SAVE $4.00 and get four (4) for $15.96
TOUGH TOOLS LED TORCH FLASHLIGHT
------------------------------------------------------------
First database of oral microbiome created
BETHESDA, Md., -- U.S. government researchers said they have
started the first comprehensive database of the microbes
that inhabit human mouths. The scientists from the National
Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research -- part of the
National Institutes of Health -- are compiling the first
comprehensive database of the approximately 600 distinct
micro-organisms known to live in the mouth. The researchers
said their free online compendium called the Human Oral Mic-
robiome Database provides detailed biological entries for
each species and an extensive catalog of the thousands of
genes that the microbes express. "The HOMD fills a critical
research need," said NIDCR director Dr. Lawrence Tabak. "The
oral microbiome is extremely rich in data, and HOMD becomes
the essential search engine for scientists to view and retr-
ieve this information, generate novel hypotheses, make comp-
utational discoveries and ultimately develop more biologic-
ally sound therapies to control oral diseases." The site,
managed by scientists at the Forsyth Institute in Boston and
King's College London in Britain is located at
http://www.homd.org.
New way to film blood vessels created
UPPSALA, Sweden, -- Swedish scientists have developed a new
method of filming and also directing blood vessel cells so
they move in accordance with targeted signals. Researchers
at Uppsala University said the method can also be used to
study how migration of cancer cells and nerves can be cont-
rolled. "Our study shows that a simple gradient from a sig-
nal protein is sufficient to tell the blood vessel cell in
which direction it is to move. We have also been able to
show that the form of the gradient governs the way in which
the cell moves," said Irmeli Barkefors, a postgraduate stu-
dent at Uppsala University. The researchers are now develop-
ing the method further in order to study targeted migration
in complicated organ culture systems, whereby interaction
between different cell types can be studied. "The method can
basically be adapted to facilitate study of all types of
cells. It is particularly important to study the mechanisms
that determine whether or not cancer cells spread," said
Johan Kreuger, who has been heading the project. The find-
ings are to appear in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
------------------------------------------------------------
The Johnny Carson Show DVD Collection (3 DVD's)
Retail Price: $39.99
DEAL PRICE: $24.99
This three-volume collector's treasure will thrill any TV fan
and will have one and all rolling on the floor with laughter.
Grab one at this low price while you can. It's over five (5)
hours of Johnny Carson entertainment! This one-of-a-kind
collection is on 3 DVDs which includes:
Disc 1: Two original episodes of the 1955 'The Johnny Carson
Show', A very funny 1958 comedy quiz show with Johnny and Ed
McMahon, and the hilarious clip of Jack Benny and Johnny in
an unforgettable stand-up comedy routine.
Disc 2: Johnny's very first TV show, 'Carson's Cellar', Johnny
in 'Do You Trust Your Wife', and Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner
with Johnny in 'Timex All-Star Comedy Show'.
Disc 3: Johnny's commercial bloopers, Johnny with Celebrity
children and an insightful biography of Johnny.
Get more info or order by visiting:
The Johnny Carson Show DVD Collection (3 DVD's)
------------------------------------------------------------
Changing anti-depressants may be effective
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., -- U.S. psychiatrists say they've found
depressed people not responding to an anti-depressant should
switch to a different type of medicine. Researchers from
Harvard, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of
Pennsylvania pooled results from four studies that examined
people whose depressive symptoms didn't respond to treatment
with a type of anti-depressant called a selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI. Fluoxetine (Prozac), citalo-
pram (Celexa) and sertraline (Zoloft) are frequently used
SSRIs, the scientists said. Some patients who didn't respond
were switched to another SSRI, while others were switched to
a different class of anti-depressant medicines, such as ven-
lafaxine (Effexor) or buproprion (Wellbutrin or Zyban). Har-
vard Professor Dr. George Papakostas, one of the study's
authors, said the results showed switching from a selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitor to a drug with a different
mechanism of action was found to be slightly more effective
and slightly less-well tolerated than switching to another
SSRI drug. The study appears in the journal Biological
Psychiatry.
Study: Synthetic estrogens may be harmful
NEW HAVEN, Conn., -- U.S. scientists say they have deter-
mined why synthetic estrogens, such as found in some plast-
ics, can hurt a developing fetus. Yale School of Medicine
researchers said previous studies showed exposure to the
synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol, or DES, alters the
expression of HOXA10 -- a gene necessary for uterine devel-
opment -- and increases the risk of cancer and pregnancy
complications in female offspring. In the new study, the
team studied DNA from the offspring of 30 pregnant mice
injected with DES. They found changes in certain regions of
the HOXA10 gene persisted into adulthood, indicating expo-
sure to DES and similar substances results in lasting gen-
etic memory. "We found HOXA10 protein expression was shif-
ted to the bottom portion of the uterus in the female off-
spring," said Dr. Hugh Taylor, a Yale professor who led the
study. "We also found increased amounts of the enzyme res-
ponsible for changes in the DNA. Rather than just changing
how much of the protein is there, DES is actually changing
the structure of the HOXA10 gene. The study that included
Jason Bromer and Jie Wu was recently presented in San Diego
during the annual scientific meeting of the Society for
Gynecologic Investigation.
------------------------------------------------------------
SET OF TWO 5" FLAMELESS ON/OFF PILLAR CANDLES
Normal Price: $19.99 each
DEAL PRICE: $14.99 for a Set of Two Candles
It looks like a regular candle, it flickers like a regular
candle, but it is so much easier and safer!
No heat, no melted wax to clean up. This is perfect for use
outside because the "flame" won't blow out, and perfect for
inside events because there is no danger or mess. Use it alone
or in your favorite holder or sconce. The light flickers exactly
like a wick flame. 5" tall, 3" diameter. A neat idea for your
kid's or teen's room where you might not want an open flame. Take
it with you on your travels to make hotel rooms feel like home.
This battery operated LED flickering pillar candle can be used
anywhere you would use a regular pillar candle, and many places
you wouldn't. To see a picture or order visit:
SET OF TWO 5" FLAMELESS ON/OFF PILLAR CANDLES
------------------------------------------------------------
AIDS drug boosts heart attack risk
SAN FRANCISCO, -- A European study suggests that patients
who take the popular AIDS drug abacavir nearly doubled their
risk of heart attack. The findings, published in the journal
Lancet, have prompted a U.S. Food and Drug Administration
review of the anti-viral medication, the San Francisco
Chronicle said Wednesday. The University of Copenhagen study
of more than 33,000 HIV-infected patients in North America,
Europe and Australia showed that patients taking abacavir
had a 90 percent greater chance of developing a heart att-
ack. The risk of heart attack increased by 49 percent in
patients taking the drug didanosine. The FDA said an effort
is under way to evaluate the overall risks and benefits of
abacavir and didanosine. "Until this evaluation is complete,
healthcare providers should evaluate the potential risks and
benefits of each HIV-1 anti-retroviral drug their patients
are taking, including abacavir and didanosine," the agency
said in an online statement. A federal panel this year rec-
ommended that abacavir, combined with the anti-viral 3TC
and sold as Epzicom, be considered a preferred choice for
patients taking AIDS drugs for the first time, the newspaper
said.
------------------------------------------------------------
Health Tips and Info From EVTV1.com Health Related Videos
************************************************************
ARCHIVES: Health Weekly Archives
------------------------------------------------------------
End of HEALTH TIPS WEEKLY Copyright 2008 by NextEra Media.
All rights reserved.
 E-Mail this issue
Subscribe FREE to Health Tips Weekly by clicking here.
|