Deep inside the ear, specialized cells called hair cells detect vibrations in the air and translate them into sound. Ten years ago, Stefan Heller, PhD, professor of otolaryngology at the Stanford University School of Medicine, came up with the idea that if you could create these cells in the laboratory from stem cells, it would… Continue reading
Month: May 2010
All about amino acids
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. The body has twenty different amino acids that act as these building blocks. Nonessential amino acids are those that the body can synthesize for itself, provided there is enough nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen available. Essential amino acids are those supplied by the diet, since the human… Continue reading
New effective bipolar and schizophrenia drug
The FDA has approved a new drug called Saphris to treat schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder in adults. “Mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder can be devastating to patients and families, requiring lifelong treatment and therapy,” Thomas Laughren, MD, director of the division of psychiatry products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and… Continue reading
Are aging is related with nutrition
Aging Americans will make up an unprecedented proportion of the population as the 78 million baby boomers reach age 50. The baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, will first reach age 65 in 2011, transforming the 35 million people over age 65 in 2000 to an estimated 69 million by 2030. With improved… Continue reading
Use of more fish oil may fight against psychosis
Twelve weeks of fish oil pills made teens at high risk of psychosis much less likely to become psychotic for at least one year. The finding comes from a placebo-controlled clinical trial that enrolled 81 young people — average age 16 — teetering on the brink of psychosis. A year after entering the study, 11… Continue reading
Good or bad is to sleep with your pet on your bed
When Ingrid and Shea Armour brought their new Weimaraner puppy, Cooper, home in August 2006, they were determined to keep him off their bed. So they bought a dog crate, with a bed and fluffy blankets to ensure he had a warm, comfy place to sleep. Cooper, however, had other ideas. The first night he… Continue reading
Diet from Asia
Definition The Asian diet is an ancient and time honored way of eating. For thousands of years people of the Asian world have eaten a diet based on plant foods such as rice, vegetables, and fresh fruits. Unlike Western diets, meat is rarely the main dish of any meal but rather an accent and flavor… Continue reading
What’s the safer alternative of laser eye surgery?
A new type of procedure for correcting short-sightedness could be safer than laser eye surgery, according to a new Cochrane Systematic Review. The study also shows that patients prefer the new procedure, despite there being little difference between the two in terms of improving vision. Myopia or short-sightedness is a condition where the eye focuses… Continue reading