Medi watch
Damaged cells now repairable
Two teams of US researchers have worked out how to make damaged nerve cells repair themselves. The breakthroughs by teams at the Children's Hospital Boston and San Francisco-based Genentech, which both entail turning off certain molecules, may eventually lead to new treatments for spinal cord and brain injuries. Damaged nerve fibres in these areas don't regenerate, because certain proteins and chemicals block regrowth, although it's not clear why. By turning off different blockers, the teams triggered significant cell regeneration, Reuters reports.
Functioning brain tissue grown
Meanwhile, Japanese researchers have created functioning human brain tissue from embryonic stem cells, raising hopes that regenerative therapy may eventually be used to cure a wider range of diseases. The Riken research institute team created tissue of the cerebral cortex, which formed into structures similar to those seen in fetuses. The cultivated tissue looks like tiny mushrooms about 2mm in diameter, AFP reports
Cancer risk low for migraine sufferers
Women who suffer from migraines may be at lower risk of breast cancer, say US researchers, based on analyses of two studies involving more than 3,400 postmenopausal women. Reduced hormone levels appear to be the link, says team leader Christopher Li of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle, although migraine drugs may also be a factor. Women with a history of migraine had about 32-33 per cent lower risk of breast cancer, WebMD reports.
Peanuts linked to allergy protection
Infants who've been exposed to peanuts - through baby food, breast milk or in the womb - may be better protected from allergy, say British researchers, based on comparative studies of more than 10,500 Jewish children from Britain and Israel. The King's College London team found that peanut allergy was 10 times higher among the British children with no major differences between the two groups other than that almost 70 per cent of Israeli children had eaten peanuts by nine months, compared with 10 per cent in Britain. The Israeli mothers also ate more peanuts during pregnancy, Reuters reports.
Park areas keep the poor healthy
Living near parks and green areas is good for your health if you're poor, say University of Glasgow researchers who analysed death records, income data and locations for some 366,000 people in England. Rich people typically live longer, but the difference in death rates between the two groups in places with lots of recreational space was half that in the least green areas, AFP reports.
Green tea prevents diabetes
A key antioxidant in green tea may help slow or even prevent type 1 diabetes, say US researchers, based on studies of mice bred to develop the disease. Those given the antioxidant in their water were significantly less likely to become diabetic, says team leader Stephen Hsu of the Medical College of Georgia. Green tea contains several antioxidants that have been shown to curb inflammation and prevent cell death, Reuters reports.
