Medical Portal

It is known, that pregnant women frequently have voracious appetite, and it is not a cause for anxiety. Nevertheless, recently scientific have established that pregnancy can lead to development of the uncontrollable gluttony syndrome which can remain for the rest of the life.
The examination of 100 thousand pregnant Norwegians has shown that during pregnancy the probability of disease development raises sharply.

Authors of the research from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the American University of Northern Carolina consider that representatives of lower socio-economic layers of the society are especially subject to gluttony attacks, and they should receive corresponding consultations first of all. Results of the research are published in Psychological Medicine magazine.

Attacks of uncontrollable gluttony differ from the increased appetite, frequently noticed during pregnancy, by the amount of food which the woman can eat for during one meal.

The majority of young people who constantly listen to Mp3 players are at risk of hearing loss.
This is the opinion of the scientists from British Royal National Institute of Deafness (RNID). According to the researchers, almost half from examined young people listens to music more than 1 hour per day, and one quarter - more than 21 hours per week. Scientists have revealed that 72 persons from 110 British listen to music as loud as 85 decibels. Meanwhile the World Health Organization claims that influence of such noise at such level for one hour can lead to hearing loss.
Brian Lumb, RNID executive director considers, that “it is very easy in street conditions to turn up the loudness to a dangerous point”. “If people can hear music from your headphones on distance in one meter, you harm to your hearing”, - has added he.
The figures received during the research disturb scientists, especially taking into account many millions sales of Mp3 players worldwide. Researchers accuse manufacturers of musical players that they do not paste precise and clear warnings.
In order to prevent development of deafness scientists from Royal National Institute of Deafness advise to buy special filters for headphones which do not let the noise through and, thus, remove necessity to turn up the sound.

Illinois University has received the grant in 9,6 million dollars for five years allocated to study autism by National Institutes of Health, and also for creation Autism Center of Excellence.
Now this university is one of 5 institutions financed by the state. Autism Center will be engaged in development of programs and their introduction, on studying genetic, biochemical, physiological, behavioral processes at autism. Scientists plan to reveal reasons and develop the potential treatment of this ailment characterized by isolation, poverty of emotions, purposeful retreat from life. Doctor Edwin Cook, the professor of psychiatry, director of Neurology Laboratory and director of Autism Center has noted, that the autism is a huge problem, both for patients, and for members of their families as it is accompanied by periodically arising fits of anger and alarm.
For the present time there are no medical actions which can equally influence all patients.
Earlier researches have shown that SSRI medical products are effective enough at this condition, however not all patients mark positive dynamics at treatment by these medications.

The British and American scientists have found out interconnection between zinc content in organism and development of eye illness, degeneration of yellow spot. The more is zinc content in an organism, the more is probability of development of this disease. Besides, zinc in connection with antioxidants can lead to development of blindness.
This opening is especially significant in view of that fact, that preparations with the zinc content are frequently recommend to patients with the weakened immune system, for improvement of its condition. Thus, improving immune system, zinc at the same time can cause a degeneration of a yellow spot.

Scientists from the Maastricht University identified the genetic mutation causing propensity to the excessive use of alcoholic drinks, informs magazine Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. In opinion of researchers headed by Esther van den Wildenberg, mutation affects structure of so-called mu-opioid receptor of the cells connecting beta-endorphin.
This substance called also «hormone of happiness», has anesthetizing action, and is generated in a human brain (in particular, during use of alcohol and other stimulators).
Scientists have settled that at presence of gene mutant variant or «G allele» the receptor connects beta-endorphin more strongly, than in case of more widespread «A allele». It appeared that carriers of G allele had considerably more expressed bent for alcohol, than A allele carriers. Scientists have also found out, that the men carrying G allele, much more often than others had experience of the use of narcotic preparations.
The new data can be used for revealing of the people having increased propensity to alcoholism development, and also for creation of new medical products, believes Esther van den Wildenberg.

Lancet Magazine has published results of the grandiose epidemiological research which have proved connection between immunodeficiency and cancer diseases.

7 researches of HIV-positive patients have been included in the meta-analysis (number of participants - 444172), conducted in the USA, Australia, Scotland, Italy, Switzerland and England, and 5 researches which have included recipients of transplants (number of participants - 31977), and conducted in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Austria and Canada. At these two groups of absolutely different patients with common immunodeficiency (in the first case - infectious, in the second - artificial) scientists found out frequency of development of 33 kinds of cancers.
It appeared that presence of immunodeficiency raises sickness rate of 28 kinds of cancer. The cancer “probably connected” to a virus of papilloma was 5-28 times more often. However frequency of the most widespread epithelial cancers (such as breast cancer) at researched did not differ from average on the population. Researchers consider that the role of immune system in prevention of many kinds of cancers is more significant, than it was considered earlier.

The intensive ultrasonic radiation directed at a malignant tumor and causing its vibration can be an effective method of cancer treatment, informed press release of Durham University, Northern Carolina. At such influence immune system of the patient starts actively to destroy a tumor and its metastasizes.
Results of the work carried out by engineers and oncologists at Duke University have been published in Journal of Translational Medicine. Zhenlin Hu was at the head of the research, now he is working at the Second military-medical university in Shanghai.
High-intensity focused ultrasound, HIFU, is already used for treatment of tumors in Europe, USA and China. However till now scientists used such intensity which destroys cancer cells by warming them up.
Basic difference of the American researchers’ work in that that the focused ultrasound causes only vibration of a tumor, breaking integrity of cells’ membranes. Thus the cellular contents containing set of antigens, go in a bloodstream. The immune system distinguishes these antigens and produces a clone of corresponding antineoplastic lymphocytes, which distinguish and destroy both the basic tumor and its metastasises.
If results of the experiment will prove to be true at people, the given technique can effectively treat cancer without operative treatment. It is especially important at treatment of patients with metastasises in such important organs as brain and lungs.

Pigments anthocyanins, responsible for blue and violet coloration of vegetables, fruit and berries, hinder development of colon cancer. That was stated by scientists from University of Ohio at an annual meeting of the American chemical society.
Researchers headed by Monika Justy have tested anticancer properties of extracts from the various products rich for anthocyanins and conducted a number of tests on rats suffering from colon cancer.
It was found out, that addition of these substances reduced symptoms of colon cancer development at rats by 60%-70 % in comparison with control group.
Results of research testify that anthocyanins’ pigments can protect from some tumors of gastrointestinal tract. However researchers are not ready yet to recommend to patients specific anticarcinogenic fruit or vegetables, said Justy.