A recent research made by a team of scientists at Rockefeller University in New York lead to a great discovery that might be the first step in finding an effective cure for insomnia. The experiment developed on fruit flies revealed that those carrying a mutation in the protein slept two thirds less than normal and also had much shorter lifespans.

“Sleep is a fundamental behaviour in all animals, and it is poorly understood from a scientific standpoint. This work gives us several new clues about how sleep is controlled at the molecular level, and could prove useful in understanding and treating sleep disorders,” Dr Nicholas Stavropoulos, of Rockefeller University in New York, said.

Researchers cloned and tested the gene, known as insomniac, in more than 20,000 fruit flies and discovered a new mechanism by which sleep is regulated. They used an infrared beam to detect when the flies nodded off and detected those with the variant slept for an average of just 317 minutes a day instead of the typical amount of 927 minutes. The flies with mutations also snoozed for shorter periods, slept and woke more frequently, and lived only about two thirds as long as others.

“The results showed a dramatic loss of both the duration of the flies  sleep and their ability to remain asleep after they dozed off. But what’s especially interesting is the insomniac gene may function through homeostatic mechanisms. These are distinct from the well-studied circadian clock pathways linked to sleep, and have an effect on the body regardless of the time of day,” Stavropoulos said.

By eliminating the gene from neurons, the dissimilarity disappeared and the resulting animals slept poorly but lived just as long. “This suggests reduced sleep can be ‘uncoupled’ from reduced lifespan, supporting the idea some disruptions of sleep do not effect overall health, at least as far as lifespan is concerned,” Dr Stavropoulos added.

Millions of researchers are working on projects to find alternative methods to prolong our life. The latest results of numerous experiments revealed that the secret to a longer life is to starve yourself on alternate days. This ritual will boost the functioning of your brain and you’ll be able to shed extra pounds in the quickest way. The National Institutes for Aging from the US revealed that the latest researches analyzed the organism of animals provided with the minimum amount of calories to survive. The results showed that these animals were able to live twice as long as the ones who had consumed a generous amount of food on a daily basis.

The experiment was also used in the case of humans and the results are similar. Moreover a low-calorie diet can also keep the brain in top shape and could also protect our circulatory system from aging and disorders like Alzheimer’s.

According to Mark Mattson, head of the laboratory of neurosciences at the NIA and professor of neuroscience at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, “Dietery energy restriction extends lifespan and protects the brain and cardiovascular system against age-related disease,”. He also stated to the Sunday Times, “We have found that dietary energy restriction, particularly when administered in intermittent bouts of major caloric restriction, such as alternative day fasting, activates cellular stress response pathways in neurones,”.

During the experiments mice were separated into two groups. Some of them were provided with generous meals on a daily basis, others would consume a meal only on alternate days. Then their brains were examined by scientists and it became obvious that the brain functioning of mice on the low-calorie diet was much better.

Specialists also conducted experiments with humans who decided to starve themselves for a few days in order to fight against disorders like cancer. According to the results of numerous experiments healthy cells which are furnished with less food can enter a survival mode  and will resist the severe damages caused by chemotherapy and stress. We’re looking forward to see how these experiments will change the perspective of people and scientists on weight loss.

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Resistant bacterial strains are becoming an increasing problem for both the general population and the pharmaceutical industry which requires large investments for solving the problem without necessarily gaining enough profit comparative to the effort required. However, nature can help solve some of the problems. Jes Gitz Holler from the University of Copenhagen has discovered a compound that seems to be effective in treating yellow staphylococci, which typically don’t respond to normal treatment.

“I have discovered a natural substance in a Chilean avocado plant that is active in combination treatment with traditional antibiotics. Resistant bacteria have an efflux pump in their bacterial membrane that efficiently pumps out antibiotics as soon as they have gained access. The identified natural substance inhibits the pumping action, so that the bacteria’s defence mechanisms are broken down and the antibiotic treatment allowed to work,” explained Jes Gitz Holler.

The extracts gathered by the scientist lowered MIC value ( a value that states the minimum value for which antibiotics inhibit bacterial growth) 8 times, an astounding result. All this is done by targeting the efflux-inhibitor mechanism. The scientist plans to improve the efficiency by devising a synthetic compound in order to lower costs and protect the rainforest at the same time.

The latest report revealed by Save the Children organization sheds light on the fact that Malnutrition Affects 1 in 4 Children Globally. This condition can lead to undeveloped brains and other severe damages in the organism of children. No less than 300 kids die from this condition every hour. According to Huffingtonpost childhood malnutrition is a “silent killer” which is often neglected due to the controversies and debates related to HIV/AIDS or malaria.

The increasing food prices force families to juggle with their budget which can lead to the reduction of food purchasing. The Press Association also claimed that one-third of the parents around the world confessed that their children don’t benefit of the necessary amount of food. Justin Forsyth as the chief executive of the Save the Children organization stated that, “Every hour of every day, 300 children die because of malnutrition, often simply because they don’t have access to the basic, nutritious foods that we take for granted in rich countries,”.

The recent report done by Save the Children names a few factors that could generate the appearance of this severe social problem, “climate change, volatile food prices, economic uncertainty, the global health worker shortage and demographic shifts.”. Huffingtonpost reveals the 6 steps offered by the organization to solve the problem, “investing in direct interventions, increasing the number of health workers, investing in social protections against poverty, supporting female and small-scale farmers, and building up international political leadership.”.

The Global Hunger Index from last year revealed that countries like Congo, Burundi, Comoros, Swaziland and also Ivory Coast have higher malnutrition rates than in earlier decades. There are other countries who succeeded in finding solutions to combat the increase of hunger. These countries are: Malaysia, Mexico, Kuwait and Turkey. Malnutrition is definitely has the highest rate in Africa. According to the report 60 million children suffer from this condition.

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People who struggle with unbearable headaches will definitely do everything to get rid of this unfortunate condition. The latest health news reports claim that Botox reduces migraine pain. Numerous clinical researches demonstrated the miraculous effect of this method in order to minimize the discomfort caused by this world-wide-known disorder. It seems that Botox is good not only for wrinkles but also for other painful conditions which ruin the life and mood of people. Migraine is actually generated by the overactive nerve impulses which also contribute to excessive muscle contractions. According to specialists the pure version of botulinum toxin A or Botox can reduce the nerve impulses and will actually slow down or stop the contractions.

The latest review done by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence reveals that it is important to conduct more researches until they approve NHS funding in spite of the fact that about 2 years ago Botox was already licensed as a migraine treatment. Joanna Hamilton-Colclough as the director of the ‘Migraine Action’ organization claimed that Botox treatments changed her whole life, “I’ve been able to work without a headache and sleep properly for the first time,[...] We don’t think the treatment is expensive when you take into account the cost to the economy from people needing time off work for migraines, and to the NHS from A&E treatment.”. (MarieClaire).

Migraine expert, Professor Anne MacGregor also said that, “It’s not a blanket treatment but it might be appropriate for a small number of patients.”.

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As researchers are studying stem cells more and more in depth, new potential applications are constantly being uncovered. It appears that heart damage repair is one promising possibility, according to researcher Eduardo Marban from Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in Los Angeles. The researcher has treated 17 patients with stem cell therapy. 50% of the patients saw a reduction of their scars. Furthermore, the therapy also encouraged new cell growth.

While some might question whether this type of research should be carried due to its ethical implications, it is encouraging to know that the researcher conducting the experiment has decided to use only adult stem cells due to his strong Catholic backgrounds. Fox News reports the statements made by him and his wife also a scientist: “For me, that we could develop a treatment that was not ethically problematic, that was consistent with the Hippocratic Oath and the tenets of Catholicism, was very gratifying. We not only get a unique chance to do good, but we do it without trampling on anyone’s ethical principles.”

“I am a strongly believing and practicing Catholic,” Linda Marban stated. “When I believe in God the most is when I look at a chart of cell signaling. When you see all those millions and billions of processes that we don’t even begin to really understand, there is no way some higher power didn’t generate that.”

The repertoire of mental illnesses is growing rapidly. According to the latest health news  Shyness and Grieving Will Be Classified As Mental Illnesses. The new diagnostic manual will reconsider the case of people who struggle with these conditions and creates a new category for them. The revised Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) will offer medical diagnoses for sex abusers and serial rapists called “paraphilic coercive disorder” which could serve as the perfect excuse for their behavior and a chance to escape prison.

American Psychiatric Association (APA) will publish the manual containing numerous descriptions and criteria for diagnosing different mental illnesses. In spite of the strong positive reputation of these manuals a large group of health specialists signed a petition to revise and reorganize the fifth edition of this manual. Peter Kinderman as the head of Liverpool University’s Institute of Psychology and a highly acclaimed clinical psychologist claimed that, “The proposed revision to DSM … will exacerbate the problems that result from trying to fit a medical, diagnostic system to problems that just don’t fit nicely into those boxes”.

He also reveals that the new edition, “will pathologise a wide range of problems which should never be thought of as mental illnesses.[...] Many people who are shy, bereaved, eccentric, or have unconventional romantic lives will suddenly find themselves labeled as mentally ill,[...]It’s not humane, it’s not scientific, and it won’t help decide what help a person needs.”

There are also other interesting new mental illnesses included in the manual like: “gambling disorder”,  when a person“performs deliberate actions to annoy others”, “internet addiction disorder” or “oppositional defiant disorder”.

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The Year of the Dragon has blessed a Chinese family with a baby boy weighing 15.52 pounds (7kg). Baby Chun Chun was born in a hospital in Xinxiang city, Henan, to a 29 year old mother which apparently has given birth to a baby girl before but she weight a healthy 8 pounds.

According to DailyMail the baby boy’s mother stated that she felt that her pregnancy is special as she saw her baby belly growing slightly larger than with her previous pregnancy. She said that:
“I clearly felt that my body was more clumsy than when I had been pregnant with my daughter. My belly was bigger than it was then. I guessed the baby would be between 4.5 and 5kg. I never expected to hear that he weighs 7 kg (15 pounds).”

Chun Chun, who is twice the weight of a normal child could now hold the record for being the country’s heaviest babies. His father, Han Jingang, stated that he is delighted that his son was born healthy and that he is a ‘dragon’ baby. He said:
“My wife was not different from other pregnant women. She ate and drank normally as she should. But she’s given birth to such a big, fat son. Today is the first day of spring in the Chinese calendar and he’s a ‘dragon baby’. I feel very happy.”

Both baby and mother are doing well. The heaviest baby ever recorded being born weighed 10.8kgs (23lbs) and was born in 1879 in Ohio, but died shortly after.

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Scientific studies revealed that  two glasses of wine a day triples the risk of moth cancer. The latest TV adverts will show a message which warns people that the consumption of more than the recommended amount of alcohol can lead to serious health problems.

Health specialists claim that women are allowed to drink three units whereas men no more than four units of wine or beer in order to avoid cancer. Ads from Change4Life will offer a presentation on the consequences of drinking more than two 250ml glasses of wine. If people decide to ignore this warning, they may face high blood pressure, high risks for heart disease and mouth cancer.

Sticking to the ideal amount of alcohol per day can save you from different problems. The TV campaign will encourage the keeping of alcohol-free days which are essential for a flawless health condition. Chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davis stated that, “Drinking too much is a major public health issue.[...]This campaign highlights how easy it can be to use a glass of wine or beer to unwind at the end of a busy day, but these drinks stack up and can increase your risk of high blood pressure, cancer or liver disease.”. People who join the campaign will be able to use an online calculator to figure out how much they are drinking.

According to health secretary, Andrew Lansley,”It’s crucial we support people to know about how drinking too much poses risks to their health and how they can take control of their drinking. It can be easy to slip into the habit of having a few extra drinks each day, especially when drinking at home. But there can be serious health risks. Don’t let drinking sneak up on you.[...]Change4Life is a fantastic, well-known campaign that has already helped a million families around the country. I want to expand it beyond eating well and moving more, so people look after themselves and really do live longer.”.

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Depression has been recognized as an illness for a long time now, however diagnosis has been widely dependent on the symptoms the patients have described. This could soon change as scientists are currently working on a method to recognize the illness by taking a simple blood test. It appears that there are specific bio-markers that could signal serious cases of depression.

These bio-markers are associated with inflammation, neuron development and stress response changes. Such variables will be scored on a scale to determine whether the subject test is likely to suffer from depression. A pilot study that included a group of 36 depressed patients and 43 healthy individuals has been conducted and the results were quite accurate as the test signaled 90% of the patients that were diagnosed with depression.

Options about the new method are divided as usual. On the one hand, supporters claim that this method could take the guess work out of the process of diagnosis by analyzing biological patterns rather than subjective descriptions of people who might try to hide the fact that they are suffering from the disease due to the perceived stigma associated with the condition. On the other hand, it is believed that relying solely on such test could affect patients that are depressed yet still manage to score low on these markers, which could depress these patients even more.