Food Research: High fat/low carb diet could combat schizophrenia ♦ Almonds may help augment nutrients in diet ♦Coffee may improve athletic endurance performance

High fat/low carb diet could combat schizophrenia A diet favored by body-builders may be effective in treating schizophrenia, suggest researchers. The ketogenic diet may work by providing alternative energy sources in the form of so-called ketone bodies (products of fat breakdown) and by helping to circumvent abnormally functioning cellular energy pathways in the brains of schizophrenics

Fish oil helps transform fat cells from storage to burning Fish oil transforms fat-storage cells into fat-burning cells, which may reduce weight gain in middle age. Fish oil activates receptors in the digestive tract, fires the sympathetic nervous system, and induces storage cells to metabolize fat.

Coffee may improve athletic endurance performance The caffeine in a morning cup of coffee could help improve athletic endurance.

Almonds may help augment nutrients in diet Eating a moderate amount of almonds each day may enrich the diets of adults and their young children.When parents and children were eating almonds, their Healthy Eating Index increased for total protein foods, seafood and plant proteins and fatty acids, while they ate fewer empty calories

Brain Research: Breakthrough for electrode implants in the brain ♦ Researchers learn how to grow old brain cells ♦ How the brain controls sleep

Researchers learn how to grow old brain cells A new technique allows scientists to study diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's using cells from human patients. Historically, animal models -- from fruit flies to mice -- have been the go-to technique to study the biological consequences of aging, especially in tissues that can't be easily sampled from living humans, like the brain. Over the past few years, researchers have increasingly turned to stem cells to study various diseases in humans.

Breakthrough for electrode implants in the brain For nearly nine years, researchers at Lund University have been working on developing implantable electrodes that can capture signals from single neurons in the brain over a long period of time - without causing brain tissue damage. They are now one big step closer to reaching this goal.

Blood clotting protein triggers immune attack on brain\ A single drop of blood in the brain is sufficient to activate an autoimmune response akin to multiple sclerosis, new research shows. This is the first demonstration that introduction of blood in the healthy brain is sufficient to cause peripheral immune cells to enter the brain, which then go on to cause brain damage.

How the brain controls sleep Neuroscientists have discovered a brain circuit that can trigger small regions of the brain to fall asleep or become less alert, while the rest of the brain remains awake. The researchers believe this may help the brain consolidate new memories by coordinating slow waves between different parts of the brain, allowing them to share information more easily.

Schizophrenia symptoms linked to features of brain's anatomy? Using advanced brain imaging, researchers have matched certain behavioral symptoms of schizophrenia to features of the brain's anatomy. The findings could be a step toward improving diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia

Brain Research:Hint of increased brain tumor risk five years before diagnosis ♦ Detect early brain damage from hypertension ♦ Potential for treatment of schizophrenia

Hint of increased brain tumor risk five years before diagnosis Changes in immune function can occur as long as five years before the diagnosis of a brain tumor that typically produces symptoms only three months before it is detected.

New imaging technique detects early brain damage from hypertension Some people with high blood pressure also have early signs of brain damage, a new imaging technique has found. The damage is linked to difficulties in certain cognitive skills, decision-making, and the ability to regulate emotions. Researchers suggest physicians should start to consider potential brain damage as they treat patients with high blood pressure.

Parkinson's disease: Everyday activity more beneficial than occasional strenuous exercise Parkinson’s patients often become sedentary because of motor symptoms such as gait, balance problems or falls. However, new research finds that non-exercise physical activity, more than occasional trips to the gym, is linked to less severe motor symptoms.

Repairing the brain: Two genes unlock potential for treatment of schizophrenia Research has linked the abnormal behavior of two genes (BDNF and DTNBP1) to the underlying cause of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a devastating mental disorder that affects nearly 1 percent of the total human population. These findings have provided a new target for schizophrenia treatment.

Health News: Knee and Hip Replacements May Be Bad for the Heart ♦ A single cocaine dose lowers perceptions of sadness and anger ♦ Testosterone changes brain structures

Testosterone changes brain structures in female-to-male transsexuals Brain imaging shows that testosterone therapy given as part of sex reassignment changes the brain structures and the pathway associated with speech and verbal fluency. This result supports research that women in general may deal with speech and interaction differently than men.

Clinical trial shows first treatment for ‘emotional flatness’ associated with schizophrenia Results of a clinical trial seem to show the first effective treatment for the negative symptoms – withdrawal, lack of emotion, and apathy – associated with schizophrenia.

Psychotic patients distinguished from controls while watching movie Alice in Wonderland Researchers using fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) have found that even first-episode psychotic patients process information differently from a control group. To ensure both groups experienced the same brain stimuli, the measurements were taken while the subjects watched a movie, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.

Knee and Hip Replacements May Be Bad for the Heart Contrary to recent reports, researchers found that osteoarthritis patients who had total knee or hip joint replacement surgery, known as arthroplasty, were at increased risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction) in the early postoperative period. However, findings indicate that long-term risk of heart attack did not persist, while the risk for venous thromboembolism -- blood clot in veins and lungs -- remained years after the procedure

A single cocaine dose lowers perceptions of sadness and anger A single dose of cocaine can interfere with the ability to recognize negative emotions such as anger and sadness.

Brain Research: Brain structure reveals ability to regulate emotions ♦ Source of debilitating memory loss ♦ New insights into the circuitry of PTSD

Source of debilitating memory loss in people with psychosis discovered As disabling as its delusions and hallucinations, psychosis' devastating toll on memory arises from dysfunction of frontal and temporal lobe regions in the brain that rob sufferers of the ability to make associative connections, a study has found, pinpointing potential target areas for treatments to help the more than 3.2 million Americans for whom medication quells the voices and visions, but not the struggle to remember.

Scientists identify schizophrenia's 'Rosetta Stone' gene  A breakthrough reveals gene's influence in a vulnerable period of the brain's development. Researchers hope it could offer a therapeutic target for reversing the disease. There is 'strong evidence' that subtle changes early on in life can lead to 'much bigger' effects in adulthood.

New insights into the circuitry of PTSD, mild traumatic brain injury Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) can have devastating consequences. Both are associated with high rates of disability and suicide, and although they are separate conditions, they commonly co-occur. For example, a soldier who has developed PTSD as a result of a traumatic experience may have also sustained a brain injury during that experience.

Brain structure reveals ability to regulate emotions People diagnosed with a personality disorder may find it difficult to function in society due to difficulties in regulating emotions -- but also healthy individuals differ in how often they become irritated, angry or sad. Scientists have published a study where they show that the affected brain areas in people with a clinical diagnosis are also affected in healthy individuals.

Health News: Candy poisons over 1000 Philippine kids ♦ In India, 3 of 4 companies adulterating, misbranding food go unpunished ♦ Rare genetic mutations occur more often in schizophrenia patients

In India, 3 of 4 companies adulterating, misbranding food go unpunished Adulterated food can cause cancer, insomnia and other neurological problems, and adulteration is a growing concern across India Three of every four companies found guilty of misbranding or selling adulterated food products get away without any punishment

Candy poisons over 1000 Philippine kids Hundreds of school kids have fallen sick after eating candy in several towns in the southern Philippines, officials say. About 1,350 elementary and high school students were treated in hospitals in nine towns overnight in the province of Surigao del Sur on Friday. They complained of stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and headaches.

Rare genetic mutations occur more often in  schizophrenia patients A new study adds to the understanding of the genetic architecture of schizophrenia. Past research has shown the impact of commonly occurring genetic variants on a person's risk of developing schizophrenia. This new study focused instead on rare coding mutations that affect protein function. It found that patients with schizophrenia have a higher-than-normal share of these mutations.

Out-of-pocket health costs tied to antimicrobial resistance Many government-run public health systems in developing countries have instituted copayments for visits to clinics and prescription drugs. However, the study's authors found evidence to suggest that such policies are associated with increased antimicrobial resistance, likely because high out-of-pocket costs have prompted low-income patients to turn to the black market or informal clinics for antibiotic and antiparasitic drugs.

Factors affecting prescription pain reliever misuse identified People who misuse prescription pain relievers all have one thing in common, researchers have discovered: a history of recent illicit drug use. Researchers also determined that adults aged 50 and above were more likely to acquire pain relievers through more than one doctor, whereas younger individuals were more likely to acquire them from friends, relatives or drug dealers

Brain Research: Brain abnormalities in people with schizophrenia identified ♦ Smartphones may be detrimental to learning process ♦ Memory, thinking ability keep getting worse for years after a stroke

Memory, thinking ability keep getting worse for years after a stroke A stroke happens in an instant. And many who survive one report that their brain never works like it once did. But new research shows that these problems with memory and thinking ability keep getting worse for years afterward -- and happen faster than normal brain aging

Smartphones may be detrimental to learning process A yearlong study of first-time smartphone users has found that users felt smartphones were actually detrimental to their ability to learn. The research reveals the self-rated impact of smartphones among the users.

Brain abnormalities in people with schizophrenia identified Structural brain abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia have been identified by researchers, providing insight into how the condition may develop and respond to treatment

S100B protein in diagnosing intracranial hemorrhage in some patients with mild head injury Researchers have examined elderly patients and adult patients receiving antiplatelet therapy who had presented with mild head injury to see if levels of S100B protein could help identify whether intracranial bleeding was present. If there was no indication of intracranial hemorrhage, the patients would not need additional testing or hospitalization.

Health Research: Light fixture kills bacteria safely ♦ Endogenous proteins as anti-inflammatory agents ♦ New strategies for combating chronic kidney disease,

Light fixture kills bacteria safely, continuously A new light fixture uses Continuous Environmental Disinfection technology to continuously kill harmful bacteria linked to hospital acquired infections (HAIs). The technology behind the Indigo-Clean™ inactivates a wide range of microorganisms that are known causes of HAIs, including MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), C.difficile and VRE (Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus).

Endogenous proteins as anti-inflammatory agents In autoimmune diseases and immune pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis or organ rejection, inflammatory processes take place in the body, triggered by its own immune system. New research is concentrating on a special protein that is thought to play an important role in controlling excessive immune reactions.

Long-acting antipsychotic medication may improve treatment for schizophrenia An injectable drug given every two weeks works better than a daily pill for those who have been recently diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Medically complex patients with Type 2 diabetes could benefit from seeing a specialist soon People recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and who have other serious chronic health issues have less heart disease and lower death rates if they see an endocrinologist within one year of diagnosis.

New strategies for combating chronic kidney disease, other long-term conditions New strategies for using electronic health records (EHRs) to treat patients with chronic kidney disease have been outlined by investigators. Their recommendations may help clinicians and hospitals better manage individual patients with chronic conditions and identify groups of patients most likely to benefit from different treatment strategies.

Health News: Inject able electronics:♦ Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder may share genetic roots with creativity ♦ Whole genome sequencing found to rapidly enhance infection control

Tool can accurately predict risk of death within on year after admission to hospital A recently developed tool can accurately predict the risk of death for patients within one year after admission to hospital using routinely collected data.

Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder may share genetic roots with creativity Genes linked to creativity could increase the risk of developing schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, according to new research. Genetic risk scores were examined in a sample of 86,292 individuals from the general population of Iceland. Creative individuals were defined as those belonging to the national artistic societies of actors, dancers, musicians, visual artists and writers

Inject able electronics: New system holds promise for basic neuroscience, treatment of neuro-degenerative diseases An international team of researchers has developed a method for fabricating nanoscale electronic scaffolds that can be injected via syringe. Once connected to electronic devices, the scaffolds can be used to monitor neural activity, stimulate tissues and even promote regenerations of neurons.

Virus evolution and human behavior shape global patterns of flu movement The global movement patterns of all four seasonal influenza viruses are illustrated in new research, providing a detailed account of country-to-country virus spread over the last decade and revealing unexpected differences in circulation patterns between viruses.

Whole genome sequencing found to rapidly enhance infection control Whole genome sequencing can quickly isolate the specific strain of bacteria causing an outbreak, identify the source of contamination, and enable rapid infection prevention to stop the spread of infection, according to a study. The findings are based on the examination of an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an Australian neonatal unit

Brain Research: Predict people at risk of schizophrenia ♦ Game changer for Parkinson's ♦ Breaking through the blood-brain barrier

Hacked Kinect controller game changer for Parkinson's Microsoft's Kinect games controller has been hacked by researchers to relieve one of the most distressing symptoms of Parkinson's - freezing of gait. Many patients are afflicted by freezing of gait when suddenly, in mid-stride, the muscles freeze and they are left unable to move forward or they simply fall over.

Breaking through the blood-brain barrier The bacteria that sneak past the brain's defenses to cause deadly bacterial meningitis are clever adversaries. New research investigates the molecular tricks bacteria use to convince their host that they are harmless and cause

First cancer-promoting oncogenes discovered in rare brain tumor of children and adults Researchers have identified three genes that play a pivotal role in the brain tumor choroid plexus carcinoma, a discovery that lays the groundwork for more effective treatment of this rare, often fatal cancer

Advanced MRI scans could help predict people at risk of schizophrenia Scientists have long known that the symptoms of schizophrenia are partly explained by disordered connectivity in the brain. Now new scanning methods that map the wiring of the brain could provide a valuable new tool to predict people at risk of schizophrenia, according to a new study

Brain Research: Potential cause of schizophrenic symptoms ♦ Tracking defects caused by brain tumor mutation ♦ Locating the brain's SAD center

Potential cause of schizophrenic symptoms identified Researchers believe they have discovered an abnormality in the schizophrenic brain that could be responsible for many of the disease's symptoms and could provide a drug target for therapeutic treatments.

Tracking defects caused by brain tumor mutation yields insight to advance targeted therapy Scientists have gained ground toward developing more targeted therapies for the most common childhood brain tumor. The findings involve the DDX3X gene. In 2012, other work highlighted DDX3X as a promising focus for efforts to develop targeted therapies against medulloblastoma. Such treatments target the genetic mistakes that give rise to the brain tumor’s four subtypes.

It doesn't take a brain injury to have headache, dizziness and cognitive impairment

Researchers have provided an explanation for why many people with even very trivial head injuries, or even injuries to other parts of their bodies, experience incapacitating post-concussion like syndromes.

Locating the brain's SAD center Biologists have known that variations in the amount of sunlight a person receives and her or his circadian clock play a role in the disorder. They have also proposed that the neurotransmitters serotonin and melatonin may be involved. However, they have not yet identified the underlying neurobiological mechanisms responsible. Biologists have now localized the seasonal light cycle effects that drive seasonal affective disorder to a small region of the brain called the dorsal raphe nucleus.

Brain Research: Popular electric brain stimulation reduced IQ ♦ Scientists reconcile three unrelated theories of schizophrenia ♦ Study examines incidence of concussion in football.

Study examines incidence of concussion in youth, high school, college football A slight majority of concussions happened during youth football games but most concussions at the high school and college levels occurred during practice.

Scientists reconcile three unrelated theories of schizophrenia A new study in mice links three previously unrelated hypotheses about the causes of schizophrenia, a debilitating mental disorder that affects how people think, act and perceive reality. The new findings may eventually lead to treatment strategies targeted for the underlying causes of schizophrenia.

Popular electric brain stimulation method used to boost brain power is reduced IQ scores Using a weak electric current in an attempt to boost brainpower or treat conditions has become popular among scientists and do-it-yourselfers, but a new study shows that using the most common form of electric brain stimulation had a statistically significant detrimental effect on IQ scores.

3-D models of neuronal networks reveal organizational principles of sensory cortex Researchers have  reconstructed the neuronal networks that interconnect the elementary units of sensory cortex. The scientists say that this study marks a major step forward to advance the understanding of the organizational principles of the neocortex.

Researchers observe the moment when a mind is changed Researchers studying how the brain makes decisions have recorded the moment-by-moment fluctuations in brain signals that occur when a monkey making free choices has a change of mind. This basic neuroscience discovery will help create neural prostheses that can withhold moving a prosthetic arm until the user is certain of their decision, thereby averting premature or inopportune movements.

Health News: Petition launched to remove Propyl Paraben from food ♦ Working up a sweat: It could save your life ♦ re-engineered to improve surgery outcomes

Petition launched to remove Propyl Paraben from food  Propyl paraben is the latest focus in the debate concerning additives that are “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS. The overall concern of the Environmental Working Group and other food safety advocates is that ingredients get defined as GRAS without pre-market review and approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .

Working up a sweat: It could save your life  Physical activity that makes you puff and sweat is key to avoiding an early death, a large study of middle-aged and older adults has found. The researchers followed 204,542 people for more than six years, and compared those who engaged in only moderate activity (such as gentle swimming, social tennis, or household chores) with those who included at least some vigorous activity (such as jogging, aerobics or competitive tennis)

New blood signature analysis may help diagnose Parkinson’s disease earlier  A new blood test may more accurately identify blood signatures, or biomarkers, for Parkinson's disease, according to a new study. While biomarkers -- such as bad cholesterol level in the case of heart disease -- hasten diagnoses by offering accurate measures of disease progression, there are currently no fully validated biomarkers for Parkinson's disease.

Discovery of communication link between brain areas implicated in schizophrenia  An inhibitory connection between two brain areas has been discovered in mice that can control the timing of information flow into PFC. This insight may help explain what goes wrong in schizophrenia and indicate a path to new treatments.

Common drug is re-engineered to improve surgery outcomes  A gas molecule has been attached to protamine sulfate by a research team, creating a new nitric oxide generator that could potentially reduce bleeding complications during surgery. During open-heart procedures, physicians administer large doses of a blood-thinning drug called heparin to prevent clot formation. When given too much heparin, patients can develop complications from excessive bleeding. A common antidote is the compound protamine sulfate, which binds to heparin to reverse its effects.

Health News: CFIA suspends Costco Canada’s license to import fish ♦ Rocket science improve kidney dialysis ♦ Detecting cyanide poisoning in 70 seconds + more

CFIA suspends Costco Canada’s license to import fish  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has suspended Costco Canada’s license to import fish into that country. According to a March 13 announcement, the license suspension was effective Feb. 26, 2015. The agency determined that adequate controls for food safety were not being implemented Continue Reading

How rocket science may improve kidney dialysis  Software from the aerospace industry has allowed an interdisciplinary team of U.K. researchers to design Arteriovenous Fistulae with better, less unnatural flow patterns, which may reduce failure rates and improve clinical outcomes for patients with kidney failure who require dialysis. Continue Reading

Detecting cyanide poisoning in 70 seconds  A victim of cyanide poisoning can die within 30 minutes. The diagnostic test to determine cyanide exposure takes 24 hours. Two chemists have developed a prototype that can detect exposure to cyanide in 70 seconds via a blood sample. Continue reading

Finger lengths may indicate risk of schizophrenia in males  Research suggests that the ratio of the lengths of the index finger and the ring finger in males may be predictive of a variety of disorders related to disturbed hormonal balance. Continue Reading

A breakfast of champions for diabetics For people with type-2 diabetes, blood sugar surge,  glucose spikes after meals, can be life threatening, leading to cardiovascular complications. A new study demonstrates a new way to suppress deadly glucose surges throughout the day by eating a high-caloric breakfast and a more modest dinner Continue Reading

Targeting Health Risks in Early Stages of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a severe, disabling brain disorder. People with schizophrenia may have hallucinations, seeing or hearing things that aren't there. They may believe other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. These episodes of psychosis (losing touch with reality) can lead affected people to become withdrawn or agitated.

New findings highlight opportunities to improve the health of people with severe mental illness.

People with schizophrenia have significantly higher rates of premature death than the general population. Cardiovascular illness and obesity-related cancers are the leading causes. However, little is known about how these cardiovascular risk factors develop during the course of the disorder.

The Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode project was launched by NIH’s National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to develop ways to treat the early stages of schizophrenia and change the course of disease. A team led by Dr. John Kane of Hofstra North Shore-Long Island Jewish School of Medicine studied nearly 400 people with a first episode of schizophrenia. All were between 15 and 40 years old, with an average age of 24 years. Patients were enrolled from 34 community-based clinics across 21 states. Results appeared in the October 8, 2014, issue of JAMA Psychiatry.

In people with first-episode psychosis, the obesity rate was similar to that of the general population. However, smoking and metabolic syndrome (conditions that raise the risk for cardiovascular illness) were much more common. Rates of dyslipidemia (an abnormal amount of blood fats, such as cholesterol and triglycerides) and pre-hypertension were at levels typically found in people 15 to 20 years older. The researchers also found that treatment with antipsychotic medications was associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome.

Together, these results suggest that the increased health risks of people with first episode psychosis are due to an interaction of mental illness, unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, and antipsychotic medications. The findings highlight opportunities to improve the health of people with severe mental illness. For example, despite the high rates of smoking in this group, no patients received nicotine replacement or medical interventions for smoking.

“We need to routinely educate patients about healthy lifestyle behaviors, monitor physical health, choose lower risk treatments whenever possible, and manage issues as they arise,” says Dr. Christoph Correll, who led the analysis. “Without a combined physical and mental health care approach, we miss major opportunities to improve psychiatric as well as medical health in patients with schizophrenia and other severe conditions.”

Increased health risks linked to first-episode psychosis

Many patients with psychosis develop health risks associated with premature death early in the course of their mental illness, researchers have found.

“Our results strongly suggest that clinicians need to pay much more attention to promoting physical health in people with severe mental illness”

Christoph Correll, M.D - Lead author

Patients with schizophrenia are already known to have higher rates of premature death than the general population. The study found that elevated risks of heart disease and metabolic issues such as high blood sugar in people with first episode psychosis are due to an interaction of mental illness, unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and antipsychotic medications that may accelerate these risks.

Patients entered treatment with significant health concerns – including excess weight, smoking, and metabolic issues – despite an average age of only 24 years. The study identifies key opportunities for health care systems to improve the treatment of such patients with first episode psychosis. The research was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health.

Christoph Correll, M.D., of The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Hofstra North Shore-Long Island Jewish School of Medicine, New York, and colleagues, report their findings on Oct. 8, 2014 in JAMA Psychiatry.

The study is among the first of several to report results from the Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE) project, which was developed by NIMH to examine first episode psychosis before and after specialized treatment was offered in community settings.

The researchers studied nearly 400 individuals between the ages of 15 and 40 with first episode psychosis, who presented for treatment at 34 community-based clinics across 21 states.

The frequency of obesity was similar to the same age group in the general population. However, smoking and metabolic syndrome (a combination of conditions including obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and abnormal blood fats, such as cholesterol and triglycerides) were much more common. Frequencies of dyslipidemia (an abnormal amount of blood fats, such as cholesterol and triglycerides) and prehypertension in this relatively young group of study participants were at least as high as rates typically found in people 15-20 years older.

Notably, treatment with antipsychotic medication, even after brief exposure (participants’ average exposure was 47 days), was associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, which is a major risk for future cardiovascular illness.

Researchers concluded that people with first episode psychosis need address the full range of needs. Patients need early interventions for psychiatric illness, lower-risk antipsychotic medications, routine monitoring, and smoking cessation programs to improve health and reduce healthcare expenditures 1.

“Our results strongly suggest that clinicians need to pay much more attention to promoting physical health in people with severe mental illness,” said lead author Christoph Correll, M.D. “We need to routinely educate patients about healthy lifestyle behaviors, monitor physical health, choose lower risk treatments whenever possible, and manage issues as they arise. Without a combined physical and mental health care approach, we miss major opportunities to improve psychiatric as well as medical health in patients with schizophrenia and other severe conditions.”