Formula for long life
Drinking in moderation plus keeping active equals the formula for keeping heart disease at bay, say researchers at the University of Southern Denmark. People who didn’t drink and weren’t active had a 30 to 49 percent higher risk of developing heart disease than people who drank, exercised or did both. Among heavy drinkers the risk of disease was similar to non-drinkers’.
Abnormal heartbeat
Researchers at Institute of Sports Medicine and Science in Rome say they have identified an abnormal heartbeat pattern in young athletes that makes some of them vulnerable to severe heart disease later in life. The report comes amid intense debate in the United States about whether to screen athletes for potential cardiac problems. Though the aberration does help identify potential problems, only a small percentage of those with it go on to develop heart trouble. The researchers said the finding should just lead to “clinical prudence and caution.”
New use for hair protein
A protein found in human hair shows promise for promoting the regeneration of nerve tissue and could lead to a new treatment option when nerves are cut or crushed from trauma, according to scientists from Wake Forest University. Animal studies show that the protein keratin was able to speed nerve regeneration and improve nerve function compared with current options.
Drug boosts healing
A drug originally used to treat iron poisoning can significantly boost the body’s own ability to heal and regrow injured bones, according to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The researchers injected the drug deferoxamine into injured mouse bones. The drug triggered the growth of new blood vessels, which in turn kicked off bone regrowth and healing. This could provide better treatment of bone fractures and bone disease.
