Scientists have made unexpected conclusions about arthritis. As it turned out a genetic mutation that increases the risk of arthritis was found. According to India Today, it appeared in the Ice Age and protected our ancestors from frostbite. Approximately half of Europeans have a variant of this GDF5 gene. It doubles the risk of arthritis development and takes about 1 centimeter in growth. The Africans have less of this variant. It was also identified in Neanderthals and Denisovan.
American scientists from the University of Texas made a breakthrough in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. According to News.com.au, they used a virus-deliverer introducing special genes. These genes are responsible for the production of insulin in the pancreas. The virus loaded with these genes was successfully tested in mice.
Previous studies have shown that Parkinson's disease is associated with hypertension. In addition, scientists said that some drugs lowering blood pressure, reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease. Experts from Great Britain and Italy have decided to find out whether the markers of Parkinson's disease are different in people with hypertension and without it, Zee News reports.
Some believe that IVF is associated with decreased intelligence in children. However, experts from India say that children, conceived by means of reproductive technologies including IVF, have no differences in their level of cognitive development compared to those children who were conceived naturally, The Indian Express reports.
Specialists from the University of South Florida have carried out a study in mice. The researchers have found that CyP40 enzyme protected the neurons of the experimental animals. It also relieved rodents of cognitive impairment and disintegrated the alpha-synuclein protein deposits associated with Parkinson's disease, Zee News reports.
A new study performed by the scientists of Helmholtz Munich Center has shown that infections occurred during the first year of life may cause celiac disease (gluten intolerance) at a later age. Most of all, the risk is increased due to GI infections, Zee News reports.
Scientists from the Columbia University Medical Center have confirmed the hypothesis that in Parkinson's disease, the body's immune system attacks its own healthy tissues. So, probably, the drugs that suppress immunity might help people suffering from Parkinson's disease, Zee News reports.
Scientists from the National Institutes of Health of the United States have found that glutamine supplements (one of the 20 standard amino acids involved in the protein) prevent the reactivation of herpes simplex virus (HSV). Currently, there are no remedies for HSV-1 and HSV-2 causing oral and genital herpes, UPI.com reports.
Johnson & Johnson has carried out a second phase of testing of its experimental drug against the influenza virus. The studies have shown that the drug significantly reduced the viral exposure to people with influenza. The code name of the drug is Pimodivir. The major task is to help patients who are resistant to treatment by standard methods, as well as patients hospitalized with influenza
Stanford University has designed a new technique that will be capable to restore the heart after a heart attack in the short term. According to BBC, scientists suggest to introduce bacteria that produce oxygen as a result of photosynthesis. Currently, the method was tested in rats. So, if a thrombus blocks a vessel, the heart experiences the oxygen starvation due to disturbed blood flow. But when a single-celled cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus capable of photosynthesis was implanted, it is possible to remove carbon dioxide and saturate the muscle cells in the heart with oxygen and sugar simultaneously.