Medical Portal

WebMD informs that nicotinic dependence vaccine, created by Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, has successfully passed clinical trials.

The preparation appeared to be effective enough as vaccine NicVAX is based on stimulation of antibodies development, which binds molecules of nicotine in blood. Nicotine, as it is, can not overcome hematoencephalic barrier and penetrate into brain tissues that makes smoking less attractive.

In the research, conducted in nine medical centers in various cities of USA, participated about three hundred smokers who for six months have been given four or five injections of this vaccine (one group) or placebo (the second group).

During this treatment and in the following 6 months participants of an experiment were constantly observed by physicians. For this period gave up smoking 16 % from the group, which was given big dozes of a vaccine, 14 more % of volunteers, who were given lower dozes of vaccine, and only 6 % from the control group, who took placebo.

In the nearest future American scientists are going to conduct more tests to reveal side-effects.

The research conducted by the Dutch scientists has shown, that 13 % of healthy people after 45 years have “silent” cerebral affection, including asymptomatic insults, aneurysms and tumors, informs New England Journal of Medicine.

Aad van der Lugt and his colleagues from Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam have studied brain condition of 2000 healthy people with the help of magnetic resonance imaging procedure.

By results of the research 7,2 % of volunteers had an asymptomatic insult, informed scientists. Other most widespread finds were brain aneurysms (1.8 % the person) and innocent tumors (1,6 %).

Meanwhile, asymptomatic insults double risk of weak-mindedness development and three times increase risk of the subsequent insults, informed Lugt. At that he has noted, that there are no treatment which would allow to reduce this risk.

Making comments on the new data, experts from the USA have noted that they did not expect to see so high percentage of the latent brain pathologies. Nevertheless, they are against introduction of the obligatory MRI- brain screening, as it can cause «unnecessary anxiety», while the majority of revealed pathologies can not be treated.

The group of scientists headed by professor Paul Zak from Claremont University (California) has revealed during research, that magnanimity of the person depends only on a level of oxytocin in a brain, writes Telegraph.

During the research experiment volunteers have been offered to share the money with a stranger, but before it scientists gave oxytocin or placebo to volunteers.

In the result it appeared that those people, who received oxytocin before the experiment, gave to strangers 80% more money, than those who were given placebo. Therefore scientists have drawn a conclusion that people with increased oxytocin content in a brain more often give alms, subscribe for the charitable purposes and are ready to render unselfish aid.

Group of scientists from Californian University headed by Richard Meties has created the device which allows to prevent headache after drinking of red wine.

Action of the small device is based on determination of level of so-called aromatic amines (components of red wine which are formed during the aging or fermentation). These components, in opinion of many experts, can cause headaches, occasional raise blood pressure and other unpleasant symptoms.

Therefore scientists have created the device which can accurately determine level of aromatic amines in a drink within five minutes. As a result of its testing it appeared, that the least level of these substances is contained in beer. Maximum histamine amount was revealed in saki. At the same time red wine featured the highest level of thiramine, however in different sorts of wine level of aromatic amines differed essentially.

Now researchers try to miniaturize the new device to the sizes of a pocket computer, so that people could take it in restaurant and test favorite wines for toxic amines content.

The group of British scientific from Food Researches Institute has studied influence of one of the flavonoids compounds - quercitine and has come to a conclusion, that the food rich in flavonoids, reduces risk of development of cardiovascular diseases.

This substance is aplenty found in onions, apples, tea, wine and many other products. Therefore scientists have decided to study its influence on an organism of the person, taking into account those facts, that quercitine is very fast metabolized in a bowels and a liver and it cannot be found in blood.

It appeared, that formed from quercitine compounds help to avoid the chronic inflammation, which leads to a thickening of arteries’ walls, i.e. rescue from heart and vascular diseases. Therefore new research once again proves necessity and efficiency of a fruit-vegetable diet.

The use of alcohol blended with energy drinks, containing caffeine (such as Red Bull), is very dangerous, testify results of the special research conducted by British and American scientists.

Researchers have questioned 4271 students of the US universities, quarter of whom within a month prior to a questioning used a cocktail from vodka and such drink.

It was found out, that people who drink such cocktail are twice more predisposed to the traumas received in a state of alcoholic intoxication. Besides fans of vodka with Red Bull become more often victims of sexual violence in a state of intoxication.

The founder of the Drug addiction treatment center Life Works Don Serratt compares effect from blending of vodka with energy drink to effect from blending of cocaine and heroin. The stimulating energy drink and relaxing alcohol, in his opinion, make “rather dangerous cocktail”.

Research also has shown, that people drinking Red Bull with vodka use 36 percents more alcohol at a heat.

Group of researchers from the Royal University in Belfast and university of Leeds has created a new material - biological cement which will facilitate a life to patients with heavy fractures and traumas of a backbone.

The new biological material, according to founders, is able to heal and restore an organism of the patient as a whole. Besides it, new cement will facilitate work of surgeons, and all other doctors too, as operations will be easier and faster, and time for recovery and cost of treatment will decrease.

According to one of the founders, this cement can be delivered to a place of fracture with the help of a simple injection, at that the biological material on its properties is close to the chemical compounds present in a bone tissue of the person.

In the nearest future the team of scientists plans to develop other materials, which are maximum close on their properties to natural. Besides it, developers want to add biological agents to cement, which will promote healing of fractures by an organism.

Is dairy produce useful or its benefit is exaggerated? Do cheese, milk and yoghurts help to grow thin?

Researches have shown that the daily use of dairy products (1 yoghurt, 1 glass of low-fat milk and 15 g cheese) helps to burn fats and reduce weight. The Dutch scientists have proved that products rich in calcium also promote weight reduction.

All this is right, but it does not mean that you can eat everything, wash down with milk or yoghurt, and at the same time not to put on weight. If you want to grow thin, keep up what you eat, calories and fats, and include dairy products in the diet.

If you are predisposed to skin eruptions, hormones contained in store milk, can only worsen the situation. In that case, you can buy home milk.

One of researches has shown that, contained in milk calcium and vitamin D, reduce risk of breast cancer. Mineral complexes do not have similar action. However, concerning the efficiency of risk reduction and the necessary amount of dairy products, scientists can tell nothing today and need the further researches.

How milk influences cardiovascular system
The saturated fats in a whole milk raise level of “bad” cholesterol, hence, the less them in milk - the better for heart. Experts advise to keep to fat-free dairy products.

The group of scientists from university in Tucson (Arizona) has conducted researches and found out that HIV strain which is most distributed in the USA, Europe, Latin America, Japan and Australia, for the first time has been brought from Haiti in 1969, most likely, by one person.

Researchers have studied blood samples of 117 HIV-INFECTED people and on the basis of these data made a family tree of the HIV-1 strain (group M, subtype B), from which suffers the population of the developed countries.

Also, in opinion of the scientists, the human immunodeficiency virus has been brought by one person, but who it was, they didn’t mange to know.

The head of the research group, Professor Michael Vorobey said that the information on a territorial origin of a virus can help with AIDS treatment. Therefore scientists try to track and study the early past of the virus.

Beginning from the end of the 1970s AIDS has turned to one of the main problems of a mankind. According to the World Health Organization, about 50 million people on the planet are HIV infected, but the majority of them live in Africa.