Health News: Mission to Mars cosmic ray exposure leads to dementia ♦ Boosting the body's ability to fight urinary tract infections ♦ Benefits seen for lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema

Mission to Mars cosmic ray exposure leads to dementia What happens to an astronaut's brain during a mission to Mars? Nothing good. It's besieged by destructive particles that can forever impair cognition. Exposure to highly energetic charged particles -- much like those found in the galactic cosmic rays that bombard astronauts during extended spaceflights -- cause significant damage to the central nervous system, resulting in cognitive impairments.

US clinics avoiding government oversight of 'stem cell' treatments Clinics across the United States are advertising stem cell treatments that attempt to take advantage of what they perceive as exceptions in FDA regulations, according to bioethicist

Gene variants show potential in predicting rheumatoid arthritis disease outcomes Scientists have identified a new way in which genotyping can be used to predict disease outcomes among sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis

Boosting the body's natural ability to fight urinary tract infections Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common, and widespread antibiotic resistance has led to urgent calls for new ways to combat them. Researchers report that an experimental drug that stabilizes a protein called HIF-1alpha protects human bladder cells and mice against a major UTI pathogen. The drug might eventually provide a therapeutic alternative or complement to standard antibiotic treatment.

Durable benefits seen for lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema The National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) was a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial comparing the efficacy of lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) plus medical management with rehabilitation to medical management plus rehabilitation in patients with severe emphysema. In 2003, the results of NETT demonstrated that LVRS could improve lung function in patients with emphysema, and that the procedure led to improved survival. Yet, adoption of LVRS has been very slow. Now researchers present the results of ten years of’ experience with LVRS for emphysema.