health study corner

It's known that people with high blood pressure have increased levels of the enzyme lysyl oxidase (LOX), but it has not been clear if LOX actually contributes to heart disease. Now, a new research report appearing online in  The FASEB Journal helps answer this question by showing that LOX does negatively affect heart function in mice. "Our data suggest that drugs preventing the increase of LOX in the heart will be interesting for the treatment of heart disease," said Cristina Rodriguez, researcher at the Catalan Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Barcelona, Spain. "LOX is also increased in other diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and certain types of cancers. Eventually, we hope to develop treatments to benefit patients with increased LOX across all of these diseases." To test the effects of increased amounts LOX in the heart, Rodríguez and colleagues used four groups of mice: 1) normal mice, 2) normal mice treated with a drug that enhances bl...

Difficulties in initiating or sustaining sleep at middle-age are related to an elevated danger of dementia, in accordance with a brand new research from the College of Japanese Finland. The 20-year follow-up research was carried out amongst 2,682 males collaborating the Kuopio Ischaemic Coronary heart Illness Examine. The research individuals had been aged 42‒60 years on the baseline examinations in 1984‒1989. Shorter or longer sleep than 7-7.5 hours associated independently with an elevated danger of lung most cancers after well being behaviour, resembling smoking, was taken account of. Moreover, a relationship between greater serum copper ranges and quick sleep length was noticed. Throughout sleep, the physique's vitality is allotted to mobile restore, immune capabilities, neuronal plasticity of the mind, and reminiscence consolidation. The necessity of sleep is particular person and differs in the course of the lifespan. For adults, the beneficial sleep length is 7 to 9 ...