Tag bbc news

Cellular 'shipping' wins Nobel Prize

Three scientists have won the Nobel Prize for medicine or physiology after discovering how cells precisely transport material. James Rothman and Randy Schekman, both from the US, and Thomas Sudhof, from Germany, shared the prize. They found the way "vesicles" act like a fleet of ships transporting their goods to the exact destination. It is crucial for the way the brain communicates, the release of hormones and parts of the immune system. The billions of cells which make...

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Deleted genes 'offer autism clues'

The discovery of "missing" genes could help scientists understand how autism develops, a study suggests. US researchers looked at the genetic profiles of more than 431 people with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and 379 without. They found those with an ASD were more likely to have just one copy of certain genes, when they should have had two. UK experts said genetic factors were one promising area of research into the causes of autism. About 1% of the population...

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Genepeeks firm to offer 'digital baby' screen for sperm donors

A service that digitally weaves together the DNA of prospective parents to check for potential disease in thousands of "virtual babies" is set to launch in the US by December. New York start-up Genepeeks will initially focus on donor sperm, simulating before pregnancy how the genetic sequence of a female client might combine with those of different males. Donors that more often produce "digital children" with a higher risk of inherited disorders will be filtered...

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Exercise 'can be as good as pills'

 Exercise can be as good a medicine as pills for people with conditions such as heart disease, a study has found.   The work in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) looked at hundreds of trials involving nearly 340,000 patients to assess the merits of exercise and drugs in preventing death.   Physical activity rivalled some heart drugs and outperformed stroke medicine.   The findings suggest exercise should be added to prescriptions, say the...

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Anti-depressants 'linked to type 2 diabetes'

People prescribed anti-depressants should be aware they could be at increased risk of type 2 diabetes, say UK researchers. The University of Southampton team looked at available medical studies and found evidence the two were linked. But there was no proof that one necessarily caused the other. It may be that people taking anti-depressants put on weight which, in turn, increases their diabetes risk, the team told Diabetes Care journal. Or the drugs themselves may interfere with...

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'Sugar gel' helps premature babies

A dose of sugar given as a gel rubbed into the inside of the cheek is a cheap and effective way to protect premature babies against brain damage, say experts. Dangerously low blood sugar affects about one in 10 babies born too early. Untreated, it can cause permanent harm. Researchers from New Zealand tested the gel therapy in 242 babies under their care and, based on the results, say it should now be a first-line treatment. Their work is published in The Lancet. Sugar...

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Ballet dancers' brains 'adapt to spins'

Ballet dancers develop differences in their brain structures to allow them to perform pirouettes without feeling dizzy, a study has found. A team from Imperial College London said dancers appear to suppress signals from the inner ear to the brain. Dancers traditionally use a technique called "spotting", which minimises head movement. The researchers say their findings may help patients who experience chronic dizziness. Train hard Dizziness is the feeling of movement...

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Tooth decay hits quarter of five-year-olds, survey suggests

 More than a quarter of five-year-olds in England have tooth decay, although the number is down, a survey suggests.   The analysis by Public Health England looked at data from 133,000 dental examinations across the country, covering 21% of five-year-olds.   It suggested 27% of all five-year-olds had tooth decay, down from 30% in a 2008 survey.   The British Dental Association (BDA) said there remained a "deep chasm" between the best and worst...

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Skin drug shows 'promising' results on type 1 diabetes

 A drug that was used to treat a skin disorder has shown signs of being able to treat aspects of type 1 diabetes.   A small trial on US patients suggests that alefacept helps the body produce its own insulin, which is key for people with type 1 diabetes.   Type 1 diabetes affects around 400,000 people in the UK.   Researchers said the drug could be better than other treatments because it protects the immune system - but more research was needed.   The...

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'Needle risk' over beauty treatments

 A health watchdog is concerned that people having beauty treatments like Botox could be at risk of infection from dirty needles.   The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence says growing numbers of people are injecting tanning agents, dermal fillers and Botox at home and in salons, and some are lax about hygiene.   Sharing needles can spread blood-borne diseases like HIV and hepatitis C.   Nice is updating its advice for England and Wales...

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