By Corey Binns Since last April, 19 cancer patients whose liver tumors hadn’t responded to chemotherapy have taken an experimental drug. Within weeks of the first dose, it appeared to work, by preventing tumors from making proteins they need to survive. The results are preliminary yet encouraging. With a slight redesign, the drug might work for hundreds of diseases, fulfilling the promise that wonder cures like stem cells and gene therapy have failed to deliver. The biotech company Alnylam announced in June that its drug ALN-VSP cut off blood flow to 62 percent of liver-cancer tumors in those...

The lives of 10,000 patients could be saved each year by a “breakthrough pill”, according to the Daily Express. The news story comes from a study that looked at whether a drug called ivabradine could help prevent deaths or hospital admissions due to chronic heart failure. This relatively common condition occurs when the heart is no longer able to pump enough blood to meet the demands of the body. The study found that over an average of 23 months, patients taking the drug experienced fewer cardiovascular deaths or hospital admissions with worsening heart failure than people taking an inactive...

For years, the myth has been spread that chocolate is a diet buster and absolutely has to be removed from your diet to lose weight. Whether you’re a chocoholic or just indulge from time to time, you should know that today’s research into chocolate is now connecting its consumption to lower weight. While moderation is still key, eating dark chocolate on a daily basis is more likely to result in weight loss than weight gain. Those conducting the studies still don’t have conclusive answers for “why” chocolate helps, but here are three theories that might explain. People Have a Sweet...

Internet Addiction: Signs You Need to Shut Down Video Description: We all love the internet, but could a favorite pastime turn into a full blown addiction? Experts say â??yes,â?? internet addiction is real, and life can be very lonely for the internet addict. Luckily, addiction treatment works! #vtk_hg_span a{text-decoration:underline;}#vtk_hg_span a,#vtk_hg_span{font-size:11px;color:#000;}#vtk_hg_span{float:left;line-height:11px;margin:0;clear:both;color:#000;background:#fff;width:474px;height:13px;} View more Other Addictions Videos from Mental.HealthGuru.com

Drinking water before meals can help people to lose weight, says a US study. Scientists from Virginia found that slimmers can lose an average of 5lb extra if they drink two glasses of water three times a day before meals. They tested the theory on 48 older adults, split into two groups, over 12 weeks. While drinking water can make you feel full on zero calories, say researchers, too much water can also lead to serious health problems. The researchers presented their findings at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston. All adults who took part in the study were aged 55 to...

Pills that eliminate jet lag and bring manic depression under control could be developed, after scientists found a drug which alters the body clock. Certain types of obesity could also be tackled using new drugs which could reset malfunctioning body clocks. All can be caused by problems with what biologists call our ‘circadian rhythms’, which determine not just sleep-wake cycles but also our metabolism. Now a team of British and American scientists have found a drug which can slow down, kick start and reset the body clocks of mice. It does this by altering a key enzyme which controls...

By Kate Kelland, Reuters Scientists have found that vitamin D influences more than 200 genes, including ones related to cancer and autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis — a discovery that shows how serious vitamin D deficiency can be. Worldwide, an estimated one billion people are deficient in vitamin D, and a team of scientists from Britain and Canada said health authorities should consider recommending supplements for those at most risk. “Our study shows quite dramatically the wide-ranging influence that vitamin D exerts over our health,” said Andreas Heger of the Functional...

Experts tell you what you need to know in the wake of a massive recall By Jenifer Goodwin (HealthDay News) — If you’re like millions of Americans, the recent news of a massive egg recall due to salmonella contamination has probably made you refrain from ordering “sunny side up” the past couple of weeks. But now some time has passed, and you’re starting to crave an omelette. So you’re wondering: Is it safe to eat the eggs languishing in your fridge or are you inviting a bout of vomiting and stomach cramps? The first thing to do is to check the carton for the...

Hepatitis E is, for many poor and developing countries, a real concern that still takes thousands of lives each year. But the end of the deadly disease may be in sight. According to France24, Chinese scientists have now confirmed that tests show a new Hepatitis E vaccine works with absolute accuracy and is ready to be unveiled. The E strain of Hepatitis is a more recently discovered one, and has only been in medical books for a few decades; but like other types of Hepatitis, its high transmission rate has made it a devastatingly widespread illness, and one that does still kill in areas without...

California scientists, boosted by stem cell research funding enabled by Proposition 71, are aiming for clinical trials involving gene therapy through bone marrow transplants. Clad in a yellow gown, blue foot covers, hair net, face mask and latex gloves, Paula Cannon pushed open the door to the animal room. “I hate this smell,” she said, wrinkling her nose. The stink came from scores of little white mice scurrying about in cages. Some of the cages were marked with red biohazard signs, indicating mice that had been injected with HIV. Yet, in some of the animals — ones with a small genetic...