Breast Cancer Possible: A New Treatment for Aggressive Breast Cancer By Jane Farrell article Experts have found a process that fuels triple negative breast cancer, the most aggressive form of the illness, and that could lead to new treatments. The researchers, from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and Georgia Regents University, discovered that a protein that fuels an inflammatory pathway does not turn off in breast cancer. The failure to turn off leads to an increase in cancer stem cells. The protein, SOCS3, is highly expressed in normal cells but until now has been undetectable in triple-negative breast cancer.
_ Poor Sleep = Better Dream Recall By Jane Farrell article Researchers have pinpointed an area in the brain that may be linked to why some people recall more dreams than others. In a study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, investigators linked the difference between “high dream recallers” and “low dream recallers” to an area of the brain called the temporo-parietal junction. Increased activity in that area, which acts as an information-processing hub, might promote intermittent waking throughout the night. And that, in turn, makes dreams easier to recall.
_ How Does Your Medicine Work? By Jane Farrell article Medicines can enter the body in many different ways, including through an inhaler, a skin patch, a pill or a hypodermic needle. As drugs make their way through the body, many steps happen along the way. Understanding how medicines work in your body can help you learn why it is important to use medicines safely and effectively. In this section on taking medicines, we’ll focus on medicines you take by mouth, since those are the most common. Entering and Circulating in the Body
_ Exercise Picking the Right Pedometer By Jane Farrell article Walking can help pave the way to fitness. But are you taking enough steps to get results? Using a pedometer can help you set and achieve fitness goals. A pedometer can offer motivation and accountability. See how to choose and use a pedometer — it can be a powerful reminder that every step counts on the path toward better health. Choosing a pedometer
_ New Depression Treatments On the Horizon By Jane Farrell article New research into the physiological causes of depression could eventually yield treatments beyond common antidepressants like Prozac and Zoloft. According to the research, published in Current Psychiatry, treatments on the horizon include new medications, electrical and magnetic stimulation of the brain and long-term cognitive behavioral therapy for stress management.
_ Resveratrol: A New Discovery By Jane Farrell article Resveratrol is already believed to have a number of health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease and fighting the effects of aging. Now, scientists have made an additional discovery about a protein, linked to resveratrol, that keeps cells healthy over a long period of time. Investigators led by researchers from Northwestern University discovered that the protein SIRT1, which is activated by resveratrol, regulates another protein, (heat shock factor 1 (HSF1), keeping it active.
The Myth of Mental Illness By Jane Farrell blog A new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is due out next year and there is renewed discussion about what constitutes a “mental illness.” One of the world’s leading psychiatrists is questioning the very concept of mental illness. “In non-psychiatric circles mental illness all too often is considered to be whatever psychiatrists say it is,” Dr. Z tells us. “The need to re-examine the problem of mental illness is both timely and pressing.
_ Exercising Before Joint Surgery By Jane Farrell article By the Cleveland Clinic Replacing worn body parts has become pretty common today. Of course, none of us are The Six Million Dollar Man of 1970s TV fame, and if you’re facing major joint surgery like hip or knee replacement or reconstruction, you may be concerned about what happens after the surgery. In thinking about what to expect from the recovery process, you may wonder how quick your recovery will be or how much pain you’ll experience.
_ The ΓÇ£Golden HourΓÇ¥ for Surviving a Stroke By Jane Farrell article An 8-year trial at the University of California-Los Angeles found that with the help of paramedics in the field, intravenous medications can frequently be administered to stroke victims within the "golden hour" during which they have the best chance to survive and avoid debilitating, long-term neurological damage. However, the same study found that giving stroke patients intravenous magnesium within an hour of the onset of symptoms does not improve stroke outcomes. Dr.
_ Marriage Happy Couples Can Resolve Fights By Jane Farrell article Just in time for Valentine’ s Day 2014, Baylor University psychologist Keith Sanford, Ph.D. reports that being critical, angry, and defensive isn't always a bad thing for couples having a big disagreement — provided they are in a satisfying relationship. In that case, they likely will have a "big resolution" regardless of how negative they were during the discussion, according to his study, published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.
_ Pain Management Sedation Not Always Necessary Before Diagnostic Procedure By Jane Farrell article When it comes to treating chronic pain, sedation may not always be the best choice before the actual procedure, according to new research. “Sedation doesn’t help, but it does add expense and risk,” says study leader Steven P. Cohen, M.D., a professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. “In some places, every patient is being sedated. Our research shows it should be used very sparingly.”
Laughter as a Catharsis for Grief By Jane Farrell blog Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards — Søren Kierkegaard Even when we are grieving, there are some things in life that can make us laugh. I’ve listened to clients who have a sense of guilt if they are having fun or are laughing rather than crying. Both crying and laughing are a catharsis for our emotions, all of which need to be expressed so that we heal.
_ A New Way to Zap Hot Flashes By Jane Farrell article A newly developed program can help women fight obesity and reduce health risks in just five visits, according to a new study. The finding was published in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). The pilot program, called WAIPointes (WAI stands for "who am I"), is also reimbursed by insurance. The authors of the article said WAIPointes, which lasts six months, helped women stay engaged with their goals of reducing menopausal symptoms and maintaining healthy lifestyle changes.
_ Exercise How to Do Yoga the Right Way By Jane Farrell article Editor’s Note: Yoga, once practiced by only a few people, is a growth industry in the U.S. According to recent statistics, 15 million American adults practice yoga, a mind-body technique that combines physical and mental aspects. It can be beneficial in a number of ways, including increasing flexibility, battling lower back pain and providing peace of mind.
Vision Health Exercise Could Help with Age-Related Macular Degeneration By Jane Farrell article Here’s an additional benefit of being active: Moderate aerobic exercise could help slow the progression of retinal degenerative diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The results of the animal study were published in The Journal of Neuroscience. One of the leading causes of blindness in older people, AMD is caused by the death of light-sensing nerve cells in the retina called photoreceptors.
Breast Cancer The Mammogram Controversy Continues By Jane Farrell article Annual mammograms for women aged 40-59 don’t reduce the death rate from breast cancer, according to a new study. The study, published on bmj.com, also said that 22 percent of breast cancers detected via mammogram were over-diagnosed—meaning that the cancers that were found were ones that would not cause symptoms or death. The findings are fueling an ongoing debate about the benefits of mammograms.
_ Adding Up Empty Calories By Jane Farrell article Most of us have heard the phrase empty calories. We know that they’re not a good thing, but how much do you know about what empty calories are, exactly, and how many are in foods you may eat daily? Here, from the experts at the site choosemyplate.gov, a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is what you need to know: Solid fats and added sugars add calories to food but few or no nutrients. For this reason, the calories from solid fats and added sugars are often called empty calories.
_ Lactic Acid May Help Crucial Brain Functions By Jane Farrell article Researchers have uncovered a previously unknown mechanism in the body that regulates a hormone that is essential for a number of crucial functions, including the control of blood pressure.