Medi watch
Breakthrough for kidney patients
US researchers have grown blood vessels for kidney patients from their own cells - a breakthrough that may lead to a cheap and stable solution to a common dialysis problem. Kidney patients typically have their blood filtered three times a week, requiring the insertion of an artificial 15-20cm bypass, or shunt, which has a high failure rate. Instead, the team from California's Cytograft Tissue Engineering has devised a way to grow shunts from adult cells. Of 10 seriously ill patients in a pilot study, one died and one was withdrawn (both for reasons unrelated to the trial), three grafts failed and the rest lasted up to 12 months, with only one needing minor surgical correction, AFP and AP report.
Stem cells aid MS sufferers
All three multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers in a University of California pilot study showed 'dramatic improvement' after a relatively simple treatment using stem cells from their fat tissue, suggesting a possible way to treat MS and other such diseases for which there's no known cure. The immune systems of MS sufferers attack their nervous system. Unlike existing treatments, stromal vascular fraction and other stem cells appear to limit the immune reaction and even promote the growth of new tissue, healthday.com reports.
Low vitamin D linked to asthma
Low levels of vitamin D may be linked to the severity of asthma in children, say US researchers, based on a study of more than 600 sufferers aged six to 14 in Costa Rica, although there's no clear cause and effect. Almost 30 per cent had insufficient levels of the so-called sunshine drug and spent more time in hospital, did worse in lung-function tests and used more medication, WebMD reports. The Brigham and Women's Hospital team suggests that vitamin D may influence the severity of asthma by affecting the immune system and muscle cells of the airways.
Breastfeeding beats heart disease
Breastfeeding appears to cancel out the longer-term increased risks of heart disease, stroke and diabetes caused by pregnancy, say US researchers, based on a study of about 140,000 women. 'Any breastfeeding was good,' says team leader Eleanor Bimla Schwarz of the University of Pittsburgh. 'But more was better.' Childbearing increases belly fat, regardless of pre-pregnancy weight, and this is a key risk factor in a group of health issues known as metabolic syndrome. Breastfeeding typically reduces belly fat, WebMD reports.
Study shows girls maturing faster
Kids really are growing up faster these days - or girls, at least, are developing breasts and starting their periods sooner, say Danish researchers, who admit they have no idea why. 'We don't know what's happening, and that's what worries us,' says team leader Lise Aksglaede of Copenhagen's Rigshospitalet. The average age when breast growth began for 1,100 girls studied between 1991 and 1993 was 10.88 years, compared with 9.86 years for 995 studied between 2006 and 2008. First menstruation occurred at 13.42 years for the first group and 13.13 for the recent one. The researchers speculate that some environmental factors, such as chemicals with oestrogen-like effects, may be responsible, Reuters reports.
