http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. The scents which permeate our health spas from aromatic essential oils may provide more benefits than just a sense of rest and well-being. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-short-term-exposure-essential-oils-lowers.html Cardiology Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:28:16 EST news273403658 Contrary to popular thought, regular exercise before and during pregnancy could have beneficial effects for women that develop high blood pressure during gestation, human physiology professor Jeff Gilbert said, summarizing a new study by his research team that appears in the December issue of Hypertension, a journal of the American Heart Association. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-benefits-pregnancies-high-blood-pressure.html Health Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:06:47 EST news272300798 Resveratrol, a compound found commonly in grape skins and red wine, has been shown to have several beneficial effects on human health, including cardiovascular health and stroke prevention. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has discovered that the compound can make prostate tumor cells more susceptible to radiation treatment, increasing the chances of a full recovery from all types of prostate cancer, including aggressive tumors. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-compound-grapes-red-wine-key.html Cancer Sat, 10 Nov 2012 05:46:31 EST news271748770 There's no question that our ability to remember informs our sense of self. Now research published in Clinical Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, provides new evidence that the relationship may also work the other way around: Invoking our sense of self can influence what we are able to remember. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-self-imagination-memory-healthy-memory-impaired-individuals.html Psychology & Psychiatry Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:50:21 EST news271522110 'Social medicines' are beneficial to the health and wellbeing of individuals and the population. By combining social and biological information from UK Longitudinal studies (life-course studies) researchers have identified that the more 'social medicines' you have, the better your physical and mental health. These include a stable family life, stress free childhood, alcohol free culture for young people, secure and rewarding employment, positive relationships with friends and neighbours, and a socially active old age. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-explore-benefits-social-medicines.html Health Tue, 06 Nov 2012 08:10:01 EST news271411064 (Medical Xpress)—In many pathologies of the nervous system, there is a common event - cells called microglia are activated from surveillant watchmen into fighters.  Microglia are the immune cells of the nervous system, ingesting and destroying pathogens and damaged nerve cells. Until now little was known about the molecular mechanisms of microglia activation despite this being a critical process in the body. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-role-microglial-cells-defenders-fighters.html Neuroscience Tue, 16 Oct 2012 07:13:08 EST news269590368 Companionship has the potential to reduce pain linked to nerve damage, according to a new study. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-social-contact-ease-pain-nerve.html Medical research Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:18:28 EST news269525901 A study by researchers from Emory University and Indiana University found that the beneficial effects daily exercise can have on the regeneration of nerves also require androgens such as testosterone in both males and females. It is the first report of both androgen-dependence of exercise on nerve regeneration and of an androgenic effect of exercise in females. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-role-androgens-testosterone-nerve.html Neuroscience Mon, 15 Oct 2012 12:00:03 EST news269499339 Donor lungs are usually flushed and preserved at cold temperatures before transplantation. The cold temperature reduces tissue decomposition, but can also result in degradation of the organ and a longer transplantation process. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-portable-lung-perfusion-device-revolutionise.html Surgery Tue, 09 Oct 2012 18:30:01 EST news269021334 A research report appearing in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology helps explain how specific immune cells, called macrophages, accumulate triglycerides to support their function. Because a characteristic finding in atherosclerosis is the accumulation of fat in macrophages in the arterial wall, understanding how macrophages accumulate triglycerides may lead to new approaches toward slowing or stopping the development of atherosclerosis. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-macrophage-accumulation-triglycerides-yields-insights.html Medical research Mon, 01 Oct 2012 11:42:52 EST news268310550 If a mother exercises during her pregnancy, will that benefit her children? Researchers at the University of Kentucky have initiated studies to look into the idea: a group from the UK Graduate Center for Nutritional Sciences has received a $100,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to study whether maternal exercise during pregnancy can lead to a reduced risk of cancer in offspring. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-pregnancy-offspring-cancer.html Cancer Sat, 29 Sep 2012 05:18:27 EST news268114701 Press releases and news stories reporting the results of randomized controlled trials often contain "spin"—specific reporting strategies (intentional or unintentional) emphasizing the beneficial effect of the experimental treatment—but such "spin" frequently comes from the abstract (summary) of the actual study published in a scientific journal, rather than being related to misinterpretation by the media, according to French researchers writing in this week's PLOS Medicine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-media-scientific-articles.html Other Tue, 11 Sep 2012 17:00:02 EST news266597717 Gaining new insight to managing sodium balance and blood pressure, investigators at the University of Houston (UH) College of Pharmacy believe their work may identify future therapeutic targets to control hypertension. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-aging-kidneys-key-high-blood.html Medical research Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:28:01 EST news265476470 Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) can occur due to sneezing, coughing, exercising or even laughing and happens because the pelvic floor muscles are too weak causing leakage when the bladder is put under pressure. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine shows that a new technique, using stem cells isolated from amniotic fluid, can regenerate damaged urethral sphincter muscles and prevent pressure incontinence in mice. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-stem-cell-therapy-stress-urinary.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 20 Aug 2012 20:00:01 EST news264694337 Compounds in cocoa may help to reduce blood pressure, according to a new systematic review in The Cochrane Library. The researchers reviewed evidence from short-term trials in which participants were given dark chocolate or cocoa powder daily and found that their blood pressure dropped slightly compared to a control group. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-cocoa-compounds-blood-pressure.html Health Tue, 14 Aug 2012 19:00:04 EST news264166490 (Medical Xpress) -- Massage is purported to have an array of benefits, including alleviating symptoms of depression, anxiety, back pain, asthma, fatigue, and even HIV. A new study shows there are sustained, cumulative beneficial effects of repeated massage therapy. The effects persist for several days to a week, and differ depending on the frequency of sessions. Results of the study were reported on line in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-frequent-massage-sessions-boost-biological.html Health Wed, 08 Aug 2012 06:54:27 EST news263625555 Epileptic fits are like thunderstorms raging in the brain: Nerve cells excite each other in an uncontrolled way so that strong, rhythmic electrical discharges sweep over whole brain regions. In the wake of such a seizure, the nerve cells are severely affected, and permanent damage is possible. The glia, a class of cells that surround the neurons in the brain, was long suspected to contribute to the damaging effects of epilepsy. Quite the opposite is the case, as the team of Prof. Dr. Carola Haas from the Bernstein Center and Dr. Matthias Kirsch from the Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Freiburg shows for the first time. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-astrocytes.html Neuroscience Tue, 07 Aug 2012 15:28:41 EST news263572108 Higher levels of physical activity were related to lower risk of death in patients with diabetes, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-physical-death-patients-diabetes.html Diabetes Mon, 06 Aug 2012 16:12:16 EST news263487916 (Medical Xpress) -- Experts have long since determined the recommended daily amounts of certain nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, but the numbers for nutrients like fiber have proven more difficult to nail down. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-future-fiber-children-nutrient.html Health Mon, 30 Jul 2012 08:55:00 EST news262857292 A novel technique for measuring tiny, rapid-fire secretions in the brains and mouthparts of fruit flies (drosophila) is providing insights into the beneficial effects of eating less — information that ultimately could help people suffering from neuromuscular disorders. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-low-calorie-diet-effects-brain-mouthpart.html Medical research Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:35:02 EST news261664494 (HealthDay) -- Although the evidence is limited, nonnutritive sweeteners (NNS) have a potential role to play in facilitating reduction of added sugar intake, as long as they do not cause a compensatory increase in energy intake, according to a new scientific statement issued by the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association and published online July 9 in Circulation. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-nonnutritive-sweetener-role-sugar-intake.html Health Tue, 10 Jul 2012 09:00:01 EST news261127965 Strawberries, the traditional summer treat associated with Wimbledon could be serving up some unexpected health benefits. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-strawberries-protein-cardiovascular-disease.html Health Thu, 05 Jul 2012 10:07:43 EST news260701654 Fruit flies on dietary restriction (DR) need to be physically active in order to get the lifespan extending benefits that come from their Spartan diet. If the same axiom holds true in humans, those practicing caloric restriction in hopes of living longer need to make sure they eat enough to avoid fatigue. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-physical-reap-benefits-dietary-restriction.html Medical research Mon, 02 Jul 2012 12:00:02 EST news260448824 Patients with vascular disease are at higher risk of suffering a further event or death. Treatment of vascular risk factors by nurse practitioners is proven to be very effective in reducing this risk although treatment goals are often not reached and it is costly and time-consuming. Previous studies did not show clear beneficial effects but this study looks at one year effect in a relatively large group of patients. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-online-treatment-beneficial-heart-disease.html Cardiology Tue, 12 Jun 2012 18:30:02 EST news258721668 (HealthDay) -- Cycled lighting (CL) during neonatal care reduces an infant's fussing and crying behavior at 5 and 11 weeks' corrected age and correlates with a trend toward higher motor activity during daytime and improved weight gain, compared with dim lighting (DL) conditions, according to a study published online June 11 in Pediatrics. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-neonates-behavior-outcomes.html Pediatrics Mon, 11 Jun 2012 13:34:27 EST news258640457 (Medical Xpress) -- People who practice mindfulness meditation learn to accept their feelings, emotions, and states of mind without judging or resisting them. They simply live in the moment. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-long-term-meditation-brain.html Psychology & Psychiatry Thu, 24 May 2012 08:21:40 EST news257066494 During the six years following the withdrawal of the analgesic co-proxamol in the UK in 2005, there was a major reduction in poisoning deaths involving this drug, without apparent significant increase in deaths involving other analgesics. These are the findings of a study by Keith Hawton of the University of Oxford, UK and colleagues and published in this week's PLoS Medicine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-fall-deaths-involving-painkiller-co-proxamol.html Medications Tue, 08 May 2012 17:00:04 EST news255711866 Dietary restriction has already been shown to extend the lives of laboratory animals, but recent research suggests the beneficial effects of eating less may extend to improved recovery from surgery and better resistance to disease. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-calories-surgery.html Health Tue, 08 May 2012 08:29:47 EST news255684579 (Medical Xpress) -- Antidepressive drugs reduce the mortality rate of schizophrenic patients, while treatment with bensodiazepines greatly increases it, especially as regards suicide. Giving several antipsychotics simultaneously, however, seems to have no effect at all. This according to a new study examining different drug combinations administered to patients with schizophrenia. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-suicides-antidepressive-treatment-schizophrenia.html Psychology & Psychiatry Tue, 08 May 2012 06:20:57 EST news255676847 Omega-3 fatty acid supplements were not associated with beneficial effects on disease activity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, according to a report of a randomized controlled trial published Online First by Archives of Neurology. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-omega-fatty-acids-beneficial-effects.html Neuroscience Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:00:12 EST news253810802