2010 was a busy year for health and genetics researchers, with new advances in understanding metabolism, Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, and arthritis. Work also emphasized the importance of personalized medicine, and new genetic markers that predict disease. Here is a list of the top ten health research news items from the last year. 23andMe has released… [Continue Reading]
Top 10 Most Interesting Findings in Genetics and Health Research in 2010
January 12, 2011 By 1 Comment
Garlic and Onions Protect Women Against Osteoarthritis
December 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Osteoarthritis causes severe pain, and is common in older adults. New research suggests that a healthy diet rich in vegetables from the allium family, which includes garlic, onions, and leeks, is associated with fewer signs of osteoarthritis in women’s hip joints. Researchers at King’s College London and the University of East Anglia have discovered that… [Continue Reading]
New Research on How Abscisic Acid, Found in Plants, Reduces Inflammation and Regulates Immunity
December 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Scientists have discovered that a plant compound called abscisic acid has therapeutic effects on several conditions, including inflammation and diabetes. New work published now sheds light on the mechanism through which this compound can act. Abscisic acid can bind a protein in our bodies that helps regulate metabolism and the immune system, but in a… [Continue Reading]
Superantigens Target Our Immune Cells in Multiple Ways to Cause Disease
November 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment
A new high-profile research report has shed new light on how bacterial toxins affect our immune system. When people are exposed to these toxins, their immune systems go into overdrive, which can cause symptoms of food poisioning, toxic shock syndrome, and potentially even autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis. Scientists have determined the structure of the… [Continue Reading]
Homeopathic Consultations Can Reduce Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
November 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
New evidence that homeopathic consultations can reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis has been revealed by scientists. In a study published today in the journal Rheumatology, researchers found that arthritis patients significantly benefited when they received homeopathy alongside conventional treatment over a period of 6 months, but this improvement was due to homeopathy’s consultation process… [Continue Reading]
Sugar Sweetened Soft Drinks Increase Risk of Gout
November 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Women who consume fructose-rich beverages, such as sugar-sweetened soft drinks and orange juice, are at an increased risk for gout, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlanta. Gout is a painful and potentially disabling form of arthritis that has been recognized since ancient times. Initial… [Continue Reading]
Large Study Shows Tai Chi Relieves Arthritis Pain
November 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment
In the largest study to date of the Arthritis Foundation’s Tai Chi program, participants showed improvement in pain, fatigue, stiffness and sense of well-being. Their ability to reach while maintaining balance also improved, said the study’s lead author Leigh Callahan. “Our study shows that there are significant benefits of the Tai Chi course for individuals… [Continue Reading]
Molecule Discovery Has Implications for Osteoarthritis
October 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Researchers have discovered that lubricin, a synovial fluid glycoprotein, reduces wear to bone cartilage. The research has implications for the treatment of sufferers of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, the degenerative joint disease. It mostly affects cartilage, the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they meet to form… [Continue Reading]
Compound in Broccoli Blocks Enzymes in Osteoarthritis
September 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Scientists are launching a groundbreaking new project to investigate the benefits of broccoli in the fight against osteoarthritis. Initial laboratory research has found that a compound in broccoli called sulforaphane blocks the enzymes that cause joint destruction in osteoarthritis – the most common form of arthritis. Broccoli has previously been associated with reduced cancer risk… [Continue Reading]
Innovative Way to Detect Osteoarthritis Developed
August 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment
NYU researchers have developed an innovative way to look at the development of osteoarthritis in the knee joint-one that relies on the examination of sodium ions in cartilage. Their work may provide a non-invasive method to diagnose osteoarthritis in its very early stages. The concentration of sodium ions, which are distributed in the body, is… [Continue Reading]