Autism:A brain link to autism ♦ Brain differences in premature babies who later develop autism ♦ Scientists find new vessel for detecting autism

Taking antidepressants during pregnancy increases risk of autism by 87 percent Using antidepressants during pregnancy greatly increases the risk of autism, researchers have discovered. The findings are hugely important as six to ten percent of pregnant women are currently being treated for depression with antidepressants.

Scientists find new vessel for detecting autism Evidence of autism may be found in the composition and malfunction of the brain's blood vessels, a team of scientists has found. Their research sheds new light on the causes of autism, which previously had pointed to neurological make-up rather than to the vascular system, and identifies a new target for potential therapeutic intervention.

A brain link to autism Using a visual test that is known to prompt different reactions in autistic and normal brains, researchers have shown that those differences were associated with a breakdown in the signaling pathway used by GABA, one of the brain's chief inhibitory neurotransmitters.

Brain differences in premature babies who later develop autism Extremely premature babies run a much higher risk of developing autism in later childhood, and even during the neonatal period differences are seen in the brains of those who do, research concludes. The findings suggest that environmental factors can lead to autism.

Brain Research: Exploring the mind of a cyberterrorist ♦ How brain architecture leads to abstract thought ♦ Certain antidepressants linked to heightened risk of mania and bipolar disorder

Brain cancer self-organizes into streams, swirls, and spheres Brain cancer is not anarchy, say researchers but highly organized--self-organized. Researchers report that glioma cells build tumors by self-organizing into streams,10-20 cells wide, that obey a mathematically predicted pattern for autonomous agents flowing together. These streams drag along slower gliomas, may block entry of immune cells, and swirl around a central axis containing glioma stem cells that feed the tumor's growth.

Exploring the mind of a cyberterrorist A new study is delving into an aspect of cybersecurity rarely explored before now: the human component.

How brain architecture leads to abstract thought Using 20 years of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from tens of thousands of brain imaging experiments, computational neuroscientists have created a geometry-based method for massive data analysis to reach a new understanding of how thought arises from brain structure.

Certain antidepressants linked to heightened risk of mania and bipolar disorder Taking certain antidepressants for depression is linked to a heightened risk of subsequent mania and bipolar disorder, new research reveals. The strongest association seemed to be for serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs for short, and the dual action antidepressant venlafaxine, the analysis indicated.

Cancer Research:Titanium, gold based compound fights kidney cancer ♦ More precise cancer therapies ♦ Promising drugs turn immune system on cancer

'Remote control' of immune cells opens door to safer, more precise cancer therapies

A molecular "on switch" that allows tight control over the actions of T cells, immune system cells that have shown great potential as therapies for cancer, has been developed by a group of researchers.

Antidepressants plus blood thinners cause brain cancer cells to eat themselves in mice

Antidepressants work against brain cancer by excessively increasing tumor autophagy (a process that causes the cancer cells to eat themselves), new research shows. The scientists next combined the antidepressants with blood thinners -- also known to increase autophagy -- as a treatment for mice with the first stages of human glioblastoma. Mouse lifespan doubled with the drug combination therapy, while either drug alone had no effect.

Promising drugs turn immune system on cancer

A class of experimental drug treatments already in clinical trials could also help the body’s immune system to fight cancer, according to a study

Titanium, gold based compound fights kidney cancer cells

The findings of a new study may provide a new way of treating kidney cancer, opening the potential for more potent and less toxic therapies that would give cancer patients a better quality of life.

Women's Health: Drinking at conception boosts diabetes risk for baby ♦ Benefits, risks of antidepressants during pregnancy ♦ Depressed females have overactive glutamate receptor gene

Depressed females have overactive glutamate receptor gene Numerous genes that regulate the activity of a neurotransmitter in the brain have been found to be abundant in brain tissue of depressed females. This could be an underlying cause of the higher incidence of suicide among women.

Women's immune system genes operate differently from men's A new technology for studying the human body's vast system for toggling genes on and off reveals that genes associated with the immune system toggle more frequently, and those same genes operate differently in women and men.

Drinking at conception boosts diabetes risk for baby, Babies conceived by women who drink alcohol around the time of conception face dramatically increased risks of type 2 diabetes and obesity in early middle age, a study has found.

Benefits, risks of antidepressants during pregnancy Treating maternal psychiatric disorder with commonly used antidepressants is associated with a lower risk of certain pregnancy complications including preterm birth and delivery by Caesarean section, according to researchers. However, the medications -- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs -- resulted in an increased risk of neonatal problems.

Prenatal Research: Obesity drug has no effect on baby birth weights, ♦ High-fat maternal diet changes newborn heart 'tastebuds'♦ antidepressants may be associated with increased birth defect risk

Some SSRI antidepressants may be associated with increased birth defect risk

Some antidepressants known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) taken during early pregnancy may indeed be associated with an increased risk of birth defects, finds a study.

Obesity drug has no effect on baby birth weights,

Treating obese pregnant women with a diabetes drug does not stop their babies from being born overweight, a study has found. Doctors had hoped that the treatment would help to reduce obesity rates and lower the number of difficult births.

Gene fuels age-related obesity and diabetes

Practically everyone gets fatter as they get older, but some people can blame their genes for the extra padding. Researchers have shown that two different mutations in a gene called ankyrin-B cause cells to suck up glucose faster than normal, fattening them up and eventually leading to the type of diabetes linked to obesity.

High-fat maternal diet changes newborn heart 'tastebuds'

Baby rats whose mothers were fed a high-fat diet had larger than normal hearts with fewer taste receptors for bitter flavours.

Senior Health: Alzheimer's disease works differently in patients with Down Syndrome ♦ Omega-3 supplements help with preclinical Alzheimer's disease ♦ Age-related cognitive decline tied to immune-system molecule

SSRI antidepressants taken for menopausal symptoms may boost bone fracture risk The class of antidepressants known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), taken to curb menopausal symptoms, may boost bone fracture risk.

Alzheimer's disease works differently in patients with and without Down Syndrome A study revealed differences in the way brain inflammation -- considered a key component of AD-- is expressed in different subsets of patients, in particular people with Down syndrome (DS) and AD.

Omega-3 supplements, antioxidants may help with preclinical Alzheimer's disease Here's more evidence that fish oil supplementation and antioxidants might be beneficial for at least some people facing Alzheimer's disease: A new report describes the findings of a very small study in which people with mild clinical impairment, such as those in the very early stages of the disease, saw clearance of the hallmark amyloid-beta protein and reduced inflammation in neurological tissues.

Older patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries less likely to get surgery Older patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries are less likely to receive surgery compared with younger patients and they experience a significant lag between injury and surgery.

Age-related cognitive decline tied to immune-system molecule A blood-borne molecule that increases in abundance as we age blocks regeneration of brain cells and promotes cognitive decline. The molecule in question, known as beta-2 microglobulin, or B2M, is a component of a larger molecule called MHC I, which plays a major role in the adaptive immune system. A growing body of research indicates that the B2M-MHC I complex, which is present in all cells in the body except red blood cells and plasma cells, can act in the brain in ways not obviously related to immunity--guiding brain development, shaping nerve cell communication, and even affecting behavior

Health Research: Major health consequences for severe dental anxiety ♦ Recurrent major depressive disorderassociated with lower bone density♦ Potential new treatment for osteoporosis

Major health consequences for individuals with severe dental anxiety Adults who suffer from severe dental anxiety (DA) are often dissatisfied with their appearance. The dissatisfaction may be associated with poorer oral health, depression and anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) help patients with severe DA.

Recurrent major depressive disorder and use of antidepressants associated with lower bone density A recent study shows that recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) in men is associated with lower bone density. The use of antidepressants was also associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD), but this association was dependent on the person's weight and site of bone measurement.

Potential new treatment for osteoporosis Scientists have identified a new therapeutic approach that, while still preliminary, could promote the development of new bone-forming cells in patients suffering from bone loss.

One in five young venous thromboembolism patients require psychotropic drugs within five years One in five young people who experience a venous thromboembolism (VTE)1 will require psychotropic medication within five years, reveals new research. Young VTE patients were twice as likely to experience mental health problems requiring psychotropic medication as their healthy peers

Research on gonorrhea uncovers new immune system trigger Researchers have uncovered how Gram-negative bacteria -- a broad class of bugs that cause diseases ranging from gonorrhea to diarrhea and pneumonia -- can trigger a reaction from our immune system. This discovery could lead to new therapies and treatments that use the immune system to fight infections instead of antibiotics.

Health Research: Alcohol combined with cannabis increases levels of THC in blood ♦ Flood aftermath linked to post-traumatic stress ♦ New model for identifying total hip replacement candidates

Any dose of alcohol combined with cannabis significantly increases levels of THC in blood Cannabis plus alcohol is one of the most frequently detected drug combinations in car accidents, yet the interaction of these two compounds is still poorly understood. A study shows that the simultaneous use of alcohol and cannabis produces significantly higher blood concentrations of cannabis's main psychoactive constituent, THC,

Flood aftermath linked to post-traumatic stress Brisbane flood victims suffered more psychological distress during the rebuilding phase than as waters inundated their homes and businesses. While the flood was frightening on the day, the most difficult aspect was the aftermath including clean-up, rebuilding process and dealing with insurance companies.

Are antidepressants more effective than usually assumed? Many have recently questioned the efficacy of the most common antidepressant medications, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The conclusion that these drugs are ineffective is however partly based on a misinterpretation of the outcome of the clinical trials once conducted to demonstrate their efficacy.

New model for identifying total hip replacement candidates A new model to help doctors and patients decide whether or not to proceed with total hip replacement surgery has been designed. The researchers have also surveyed patient well being after surgery: patients with high education achieve greater outcome scores, while those with antidepressant prescriptions do not.

Homely men who misbehave can't win for losing: Attractiveness influences online daters, jurors Women tolerate an unattractive man up to a point, but beware if he misbehaves. Then they'll easily shun him, researchers report, after finding that a woman's view of a man is influenced by how handsome and law-abiding he is.

Childrens Health: Strategy found for safely prescribing antidepressants to children ♦ High fever: Is it measles or flu? ♦ Childhood maltreatment linked to sleep problems

Researchers hope to improve dental health by changing caregiver's behavior Studies have long associated low-income areas with poor oral health. But dental researchers have sensed that other factors related to income may be at work -- in particular, education level. So they recently investigated how a parent or other caregiver's education level and dental habits affect children's dental health

High fever: Is it measles or flu? A pathologist and infectious disease expert offers symptoms parents should watch for if they suspect their child has the measles.

'Herd immunity' threatened in measles outbreak, pathologist says Spending time with other people is a cure for loneliness. But being a member of a vaccinated community has an important added benefit: preventing the spread of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. The current concern over outbreaks of measles in the United States provides valuable lessons about how vaccinations are effective across a broad community.

Childhood maltreatment linked to sleep problems among adults Adults who experienced multiple incidents of childhood maltreatment were more than two times as likely to have trouble sleeping than their counterparts who were not maltreated during childhood.

Strategy found for safely prescribing antidepressants to children and adolescents Two new strategies to treat depression in young people have been developed for the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class of medications. These strategies incorporate a new understanding of how to mitigate the risk of suicide while on SSRI treatment

Health News:25 salmonella cases linked to raw tuna sushi ♦ EPA: Testing food for common herbicide(Round Up) ♦ PTSD common in ICU Survivors

EPA: Testing food for common herbicide The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering recommending that the federal government sample food products for glyphosate, the most commonly used herbicide in the world and the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup. “Given increased public interest in glyphosate, EPA may recommend sampling

25 salmonella cases probably linked to raw tuna sushi There are 18 confirmed cases of Salmonella Paratyphi in Southern California, including seven in Los Angeles County, four in Orange and Ventura counties, two in Riverside County, and one in Santa Barbara County. Seven other people sickened are from other states but had traveled to the area,

Mindfulness-based therapy an alternative to antidepressants for stopping depression relapse The first ever large study to compare mindfulness-based therapy – structured training for the mind and body which aims to change the way people think and feel about their experiences – with maintenance antidepressant medication for reducing relapse in depression,

New technology may improve management of leading causes of blindness New technology can improve the clinical management of the leading causes of blindness. Optical coherence tomography angiography could largely replace current dye-based angiography in the management of these diseases.

PTSD common in ICU Survivors Nearly one-quarter of ICU survivors suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), new research has found. They also identified possible triggers for PTSD and indicated a potential preventive strategy