Clinical Research

Two new articles examine the theory of "fetal programming" and their effect on racial health disparities. The studies, published in American Journal of Human Biology, suggest that the higher rates of hypertension and cardiovascular disease present in African Americans may be a consequence of low birth weights, and that these low birth weights may be a result of social rather than genetic factors. It is well-established that the nutritional and psychological state of a pregnant mother can influence whether her child will later develop cardiovascular disease as an adult. Nutrients and hormones…

According to a report by the UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation in 2000, patients are exposed to about 200 times more ionizing radiation than medical workers. In some countries, this figure can be nearly 500 times. In the quest to discover the root of illnesses, patients have to undergo an increasing number of scans and tests that may involve the use of ionising radiation to detect the source and scope of an ailment. However, this practice could also put patients at risk. "There has been concern that new technologies are not providing the amount of patient protection…

What's the worst that could happen after eating a slice of pepperoni pizza? A little heartburn, for most people. But for up to a million women in the U.S., enjoying that piece of pizza has painful consequences. They have a chronic bladder condition that causes pelvic pain. Spicy food -- as well as citrus, caffeine, tomatoes and alcohol-- can cause a flare in their symptoms and intensify the pain. It was thought that the spike in their symptoms was triggered when digesting the foods produced chemicals in the urine that irritated the bladder. However, researchers from Northwestern University's…

Listen to me. These starved little mice could save your life. Recently, an article appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a prestigious scholarly journal, about fasting and chemotherapy. The author, Dr. Valter Longo, studied mice that were denied food for two days (but had ready access to water) or had eaten normally. The two groups were then given a high dose of chemotherapy (three times the maximum allowable dose in humans.) The fasted mice survived and experienced few side effects from the toxic levels of the chemotherapy drug. Almost half of the mice…

I. INTRODUCTION The histological structures of the mucous membrane of the small intestine. The micro-circulation of blood of the mucous membrane of the small intestine. The lymphatic circulations of mucous membrane of the small intestine. The sympathetic innervation of the intestinal uvulas. The sympathetic stimulation and micro-circulations of the mucous membrane of the small intestine. The model of the circulation of the mucous membrane of the small intestine in rabbits. Calculation of the flow of blood toward segments of circulation. The…

Researchers have identified two new genes – and confirmed the role of a third gene – associated with increased risk of higher levels of uric acid in the blood, which can lead to gout, a common, painful form of arthritis. Combined, the three genetic variations were associated with up to a 40-fold increased risk in developing gout. The findings suggest that genetic testing could one day be used to identify individuals at risk for gout before symptoms develop, as well as determine who might benefit from medications to prevent the development of gout. The genes were identified using data from…

Roses (genus Rosa) encompass over 100 known species. Cultivated for their fragrance and beauty, roses historically have been the center of much praise. Poets have dedicated odes to their beauty,  they have been desired by centuries of gardeners and are one of the most universal symbols, often representing love and life. As the phrase goes, sometimes you do have to “stop and smell the roses.” Although you may think that this is just a fancy way of saying take some time to enjoy life, perhaps we have dismissed roses for too long. Seriously, you should pay more attention to those roses.…

Dogs are often called "man's best friend," and rightly so because they never tell us we are wrong or interrupt us when we talk, are they are always happy to see us when we arrive home. Some dogs take friendship to a whole other level by pulling us 1,100 miles in a race under the harshest conditions. Since dogs became domesticated 15,000 years ago, they have worked with and lived next to humans, which may account for the special bond. While each of the 400 breeds and varieties have their fans, only racing sled dogs stand out as the ultra-athlete canine. Racing sled dogs are best known for…

High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States. The American Heart Association estimates that high blood pressure affects approximately one in three adults in the US. Genetics and a diet of foods high in fat and saturated with salt underlie the resulting 73 million people suffering from hypertension in the US. As a result, they have a greatly increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, atherosclerosis, eye damage and stroke. These complications can result in permanent organ damage and death. Blood pressure is intricately linked to salt…

It used to be that 'eating like a pig' was an insult. A new scientific finding may put that old saying to rest. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medical Institute have successfully suppressed the appetite of pigs by removing the blood vessel that allows secretion of that pesky ghrelin hormone. “There's no major surgery," says Aravind Arepally, M.D., of the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, using a new-ish procedure called GACE (gastric artery chemical embolization). In this procedure, blood vessels connecting the stomach and the fundus are disintegrated by a chemical known as sodium…