New Study Links Pupil Dilation to Sexual Orientation

Scientists from Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York, have conducted a new study in which they researched if the dilation of the pupil at the sight of attractive people is related to sexual orientation. In order to achieve the results, scientists used specialized infrared lens that measured the dilation of the pupil from study participants that were watching erotic movies. The results of the study were positive, researchers reporting that the pupils of the participants dilated the most when videos which they found attractive were shown, ranging from homosexual to heterosexual.

The findings of the study were published on the 3rd of August in the scientific journal PLoS ONE. Precedent studies used more primitive methods, such as genital arousal measuring or just through questioning the participants about their sexuality.

Gerulf Rieger, the lead author of the study said that ” We wanted to find an alternative measure that would be an automatic indication of sexual orientation, but without being as invasive as previous measures. Pupillary responses are exactly that.”, whilst adding that through the use of this new technology scientists are able to explore the sexual orientation of patients who wouldn’t normally participate in the precedent studies, which are considered more invasive.

Pupil Dilation

This new study is considered to add significant information to the field of sexuality research. According to the study, the pupils of heterosexual men dilated when erotic videos showing women, however, the pupils of heterosexual women dilated when watching erotic videos showing both sexes. The result of the study confirms precedent studies that suggested that the sexuality of women is different.

Furthermore, the current study brings new information regarding male bisexuality. Previous research has suggested that most bisexual men base their sexuality on romantic issues rather than sexual identity. However, opposite to this claim, the results of this study show that bisexual men have shown pupil dilations during sexual videos of both women and men.

“We can now finally argue that a flexible sexual desire is not simply restricted to women “ some men have it, too, and it is reflected in their pupils,” says Ritch C. Savin-Williams, the co-author of the study and a professor at Cornell.

The researchers are confident that their new measure will aid in understanding these groups better and point to a range of sexualities that has been ignored in previous research.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Available This Month For Sale

Today we have some good news for the Galaxy Note 10.1 enthusiasts, as the company announced their new S-Pen device will be available and ready to ship for your homes starting with August for the WiFi version and all the 3G models. For the LTE version, it looks like we will have to wait a little bit more, maybe until the end of this year. The actually choice you will be faced to make will be between a WiFi only model, an Wi-Fi plus 21Mbps HSPA+ 3G model or a WiFi model that also packs LTE, but as I told you for the 4G enabled device you will have to wait a little bit more.

The new model will provide 10.1″ screen with a resolution of 1280×800 pixels, but beyond this specification that we are accustomed with, we can say that the Galaxy Note 10.1  hardware is a significant leap forward from previous generations of tablets. The heart of this tablet is a powerful processor Exynos 4 Quad (Exynos 4412) clocked at 1.4 GHz, the same that is used for the Galaxy S III terminal, and not a dual-core one, as we all would have thought. and is assisted by a memory capacity of 2GB RAM and internal storage of 16, 32 or 64GB which can be extended of course using a MicroSD card.

Besides these awesome specs the, Galaxy Note 10.1 aslo brings the wireless dual-band 802.11 a / b / g / n  with MIMO support module, theHSPA + quad-band, Bluetooth 4.0 module, GPS with GLONASS, an MHL connector and two cameras, a main one with a 5MP resolution and a 1.9 MP one for the front.  The tablet will have 262 x 180 x 8.9 mm, weighing 600 grams and includes a battery with a capacity of 7000mAh. The only detail that up to this point remains unknown is the price tag.

And last but not least, finnaly we also have an official YouTube video of the Galaxy 10,1 Note that details the tablet’s interface a little bit, including the multi-screen function that uses the stylus.

Researchers Discovered A Specific Peptide That May Block The Hepatitis C Virus Entry

According to a study led  by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH), infection with hepatitis C may benefit from a new treatment. Researchers have discovered a new target that could block the virus from entering the liver. The discovery started with an earlier finding that reveals that apolipoprotein E forms complexes with hepatitis C virus. It appears that these complexes (hEP) prevents the virus to bind to other hepatocytes. Therefore, if the virus can not bind to hepatocytes, the infection does not occur. Also, researchers have found that an important role in fighting hepatitis C infection  is the length of peptide hEP. Shorter sequences are unable to protect the body from infection.

HCV

Hepatitis C is an RNA virus belonging to the flaviviridae family. Transmission of infection is mande mainly through the parenteral route (blood transfusions), and less through sexual or maternal-fetal route. Seroconversion after infection occurs later, after about 100 days. Infection with hepatitis C is a public health problem, because approximately 60-70% of those infected with HCV develop chronic hepatitis. It is important to note that those with chronic hepatitis C have an increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis C virus has very high replication rate which causes genomic variability. And therefore treatment of chronic hepatitis C or cirrhosis is difficult.

Approximately 3% of the world population is infected with virus C, meaning 170 million individuals and more than half of them develop chronic hepatitis. Tianyi Wang, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, GSPH, and the study's lead author, says:” New antiviral drugs are urgently needed to treat HCV infection independently, or in combination with current therapies.”

The treatment of patients infected with virus C is based on a combination of interferon and ribavirin. Ribavirin is a nucleoside analogue with direct antiviral activity and interferon alpha 2a is an antiviral drug that helps fight the virus infection. Interferon alpha has several advantages over the standard interferon, such as constant absorption and continuous suppression of the virus. It should be noted however that not all patients can benefit from ribavirin-interferon combination therapy. There are some patients excluded from treatment with interferon, such as those with neurological diseases, mental diseases, uncontrolled diabetes, autoimmune diseases, severe chronic diseases (heart failure, respiratory failure) and those aged over 65. Also, there are patients who do not respond to treatment or relapse. This is due to the persistence of virus in areas inaccessible to the immune system. Also an important role in viral persistence is genetic variability of hepatitic C virus (there are 6 main types of hepatitis C virus and many other subtypes).

Charcot Marie Tooth Disease

Charcot Marie Tooth disease (CMT) is a diverse group of hereditary neuropathies, initially included as the hereditary sensory and motor neuropathies. The disease has several subtypes with different modes of transmission, recessive or dominant, with different penetrance.  CMT is characterized by inherited neuropathies without known metabolic derangements. Is divided  in four types, Charcoth Marie Tooth type 1 (CMT 1) and Charcoth Marie Tooth type 2 (CMT 2) belong to the group of neurological impairment with neuronal demyelination. Charcot Marie Tooth type 3 (CMT 3) or Dejerine-Sottas disease and Charcot Marie Tooth type 4 (CMT 4) are included in the group of recessive hereditary neuropathies, which are sever demyelinating neuropathy, with onset in childhood.

Charcot Marie Tooth Disease Symptoms

Charcot Marie Tooth type 1 (CMT 1)

It is the most common form of disease, affecting 1 in 2,500 individuals, with an autosomal dominant transmission. The main signs of the disease are the distal paralysis of the legs which are visible from the first decade of life. Paralysis begins distal to the foot, then progressing to the lower third of the thigh, resulting in the characteristic stork leg or inverted champagne bottle appearance of the leg. Pes cavus (high-arch foot) could be the first sign of the disease. Paresis may also occur in the upper limb, with onset in small muscles of the hand, and later in the evolution of the disease, paralysis may spreads to the lower third of the forearm.

Charcot Marie Tooth Disease

Sensory disorders are present and are characterized by polyneuritc symptoms without paraesthesia. Reflexes become diminished, and Achilles reflexe abolition occurs early in the evolution of the disease. In 30% of patients with CMT1 nerves are hypertrophic. Electrophysiological characteristic appearance of disease is a marked decrease of nerve conduction velocity at a speed of 30-40 m / sec in the upper limbs and at a speed of 10-20 m / sec in the lower limbs. Sural nerve biopsy is showing onion bulb formation hypertrophy and a density reduction of myelin fibers.

Charcot Marie Tooth type 2 (CMT2)

CMT 2 is less common than CMT 1 and the onset of the disease occurs in the second or third decade of life, and in rare cases CMT 2 may debut at old age. Paralysis are the first manifestations of the disease, being bilateral and symmetrical. Sensory disorders are present and are characterized by polyneuritic symptoms, being symmetrical, bilateral and with a distal onset. Achilles reflex is abolished. The disease has a slow, long evolution and nerve conduction velocity is normal. Cerebrospinal fluid has a normal quantity of protein. Sural nerve biopsy shows axonal loss, demyelination and onion bulb formation hypertrophy is less frequent.

Charcot Marie Tooth type 3 (CMT 3) or Dejerine-Sottas disease

CMT 3 has a recessive autosomal transmission. Peripheral neuropathy presents aspects similar to those of CMT 1, symptoms to which is added ataxia. Nerve conduction velocity is lower than in CMT 1, less than 12 m / sec, and the amount of protein in cerebrospinal fluid is increased. Nerve biopsy reveals marked onion bulb formation hypertrophy and hypomyelination of nerve fibers.

Charcot Marie Tooth type 4 (CMT 4)

CMT 4 is an autosomal recessive sensorymotor neuropathy, with a familial character.

Charcot Marie Tooth Disease

Charcot Marie Tooth Disease Diagnosis

Imaging studies, like ultrasonography and MRI are useful in the diagnosis of CMT 1, but should be corroborated with elctromyography and nerve conduction study. MRI of the lower limb is useful in the assessment of patients with Chracot Marie Tooth neuropathies.

Electromyography and nerve conduction study are useful in diagnosis of demyelinating types of Charcot Marie Tooth disease such as CMT 1, showing a diffuse and uniform slowing of nerve conduction. Characteristic for CMT 1 is a marked decrease of nerve conduction velocity at a speed of 30-40 m / sec in the upper limbs and at a speed of 10-20 m / sec in the lower limbs, associated with compound motor action potential and amplitude of at least 0.5 millivolts. In Dejerine-Sottas disease (CMT 3) nerve conduction velocity is less than 10 m / sec, associated with congenital hypomyelination.

Genetic tests are available for some types of Charcot Marie Tooth disease. Approximately 70-80% of CMT 1 is caused by alteration of the PMP-22 gene, located on chromosome 17. Genetic alteration can be identified by pulsed field gel electrophoresis and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH).

Nerve biopsy is indicated only in cases of diagnosis dilemma. In CMT 1, are observed few myelinated fibers, and intramuscular nerves are surrounded by a rich connective tissue. Myelin is atrophic along the fibers and lamellar sheaths present concentric hypertrophy. Formation of the typical onion bulb is noted. In CMT 2, axonal degeneration is present. In Dejerine-Sottas disease, demyelination with thinning of the myelin sheath is a characteristic of the disease.

Charcot Marie Tooth Disease

Charcot Marie Tooth Disease Treatment

Charcot Marie Tooth dose not dispose of a treatment which can reverse or slow the natural disease process, because non of the current drugs can correct myelin abnormalities, prevent its degeneration, or prevent axonal degeneration.

Patients must be evaluated and treated symptomatically by a team that includes a neurologist, physiatrist, orthopedic surgeon, physical therapist and a occupational therapist.

Pain is one of the most sever symptom of the disease and therefore should be combated. Musculoskeletal pain may be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and neuropathic pain may be treated with to tricyclic antidepressants or antiepileptic drugs, such as carbamazepine or gabapentin.

Orthopedic surgical interventions are required in order to correct pes cavus , scoliosis and other joint deformities. Orthopedic surgical procedures are represented by:

• Interventions on soft tissue (plantar fascia release, tendon release or transfer);
• Osteotomy (metatarsal, midfoot, calcaneal);
• Joint stabilizing (triple arthrodesis).

Cystic Fibrosis Patients Susceptible To Chronic Respiratory Infection Due To Gene Mutation

Researchers at the University of Washington have made new findings on cystic fibrosis. The survey, published July 8 in Nature Genetics, points out that cystic fibrosis patients are more susceptible to chronic respiratory infections due to mutations in  DCTN4 gene.

Cystic fibrosis is a congenital disease caused by mutation of a gene located on long arm of chromosome 7. The most common mutation, F508, leads to the absence of a phenylalanine residue in position 508 of CFTR protein. CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) causes an abnormality in chloride and sodium transportation through the epithelium. The result of this anomaly lies in the viscous secretions of the exocrine glands. Therefore, patients suffering from cystic fibrosis often have COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Also, patients suffer from  respiratory infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacterium. Usually, this bacteria affects mainly immunodeprived patients. Chronic infections during cystic fibrosis patients is associated with poor quality of life and even with low life expectancy.

Lung Cystic Fibrosis

Recently, researchers found that patients with cystic fibrosis who are more susceptible to infection with Pseudomonas have a mutation in a gene called DCTN4. DCTN4  gene encodes dynactin 4, a protein with bacterial clearance role. Researchers found that cystic fibrosis patients who were susceptible to infection  had at least one mutation in the  DCTN4 gene.
This discovery was made by sequential DNA analysis of 91 patients, namely by exome sequencing. Mary J. Emond, the lead author of the report published July 8 in Nature Genetics, said that they did not seek this particular gene during their study. This gene was detected after the statistical analysis of data collected from the 91 patients. Of the 91, a number of 43 patients were suffering from early respiratory infections, unlike the other 48  who have not yet developed any chronic respiratory infection. Subsequently, researchers examined data comparing results with another group of 1322 participants.

Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common genetic syndromes that reduce life expectancy in whites. This disease is characterized by abnormal exocrine gland secretion in the entire body. Earliest sign is meconium ileus, which is due to the obstruction of ileum due to viscous meconium. There is also a chronic bronchial obstruction that not only cause frequent respiratory infections but also damage the  pulmonary circulation and causes right ventricular hypertrophy. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency leads to steatorrhea stools, that is fatty stools.   Cystic fibrosis is  not a curable  disease, treatment is only symptomatic.

Lung Cancer Growth Reduced To Half By Max Planck Researchers

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research in Bad Nauheim and Justus Liebig University Giessen, have made further progress in the treatment of lung cancer. Scientists were able to reduce tumor growth in mice by 50% by blocking PDE 4(phosphodiesterase). Angiogenesis is one of the most studied targets of anticancer treatment. For tumor cells to grow and form a tumor mass, they need a blood supply provided by blood vessels that circulate oxygen and nutrients. Growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) is triggered by the hypoxia, ie oxygen shortage. Also, growth of blood vessels is achieved by different signaling  messengers (cAMP, cGMP).

Lung Tumor

Bevacizumab, for example, an angiogenesis inhibitor, is one of the drugs that are used to treat metastatic cancer. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody which inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). Basically, it was approved by the FDA for the treatment of metastatic colon cancer. Then it  was accepted for treatment of other cancers such as lung cancer, renal cancer and glioblastoma multiforme.

PDE is an enzyme that degrades certain compounds in signaling messengers, like cAMP and cGMP. There are several types of phosphodiesterases, some of which generate cAMP (PDE 4, 7, 8), others that generate cGMP (PDE 5, 6, 9). Some can hydrolyze both cAMP and cGMP (PDE 1, 2, 3, 10, 11). Because it is involved in growth of blood vessels that nourish tumors, researchers thought to inhibit PDE 4 to prevent tumor growth. Thus, they blocked PDE 4 in 10 cell lines that  are responsible for most lung cancers. By inhibiting PDE4, PDE4 is activated for a longer time and this will determine an increased  amount of cAMP in cells. cAMP in turn phosphorylate proteins (protein kinase A, protein kinase C) and triggers a whole cascade of cellular events.

After the experiment, the researchers found that cell division in cells treated with inhibitor of PDE 4 was significantly reduced. Then researchers implanted human tumor tissue in mice that were then treated with PDE 4 inhibitor. The result was positive in the sense that tumor dimensions were reduced by approximately 50%. The researchers noted that PDE4 inhibition has led not only to reduced blood vessel growth but also reduced tumor cell division.

Werner Seeger, Director of the MPI and Medical Director of the JLU Giessen University Hospital, said:  “We were able to show that PDE4 plays an important regulation function in cell division in lung tumours and in the development of blood vessels in cancer”. He also added that this discovery is the starting point for possible future treatments for lung cancer among  chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Hypertensive Patients Who Exercise

Researchers at the Institute of Population Health Science, National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan, found that exercise reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with arterial hypertension. The fact that exercise should be part of our daily work in order to lead a healthy life is already a well-known fact, but now researchers conducted a prospective study and found that exercise reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with hypertension. They found that physical inactivity is equivalent to an increase in blood pressure with 40-50mmHg, which means a significant increase of the cardiovascular risk.

The study, which had a  prospective design, was conducted on 434,190 individuals followed for 12 years. Researchers have processed the data and found that 54% of individuals were inactive, 22% had a low physical activity and 24% had moderate activity. Then results were compared by analysing the  active and the inactive group. “This study is the first to quantify the impact of exercise on the risk profile of people with high blood pressure. “said CP Wen, Institute of Population Health Science, National Health Research Institute, Taiwan.

Hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor with a growing incidence. WHO defines hypertension as a systolic blood pressure over 140mmHg and diastolic above 90mmHg. Hypertension is the leading cause of death  in the world through its consequences. It is estimated that globally affects approximately one billion individuals. The appearance and progression of hypertension involves a number of environmental factors related to lifestyle such as obesity, hyperinsulinemia, sedentary,  alcohol, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, hyperuricemia. Many of these factors are confounding and act together, such as physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes,  which along with high blood pressure lead to metabolic syndrome.

Inactivity is an important predictor of cardiovascular mortality. Therefore doctors recommend moderate-intensity physical activity, lasting at least 30-40 minutes daily, such as running, walking, swimming. Physical activity has many benefits, so it should be part of the lifestyle of each individual:  it helps regulate metabolism, fight obesity, strengthens bones, reduces stress, prevents diabetes and heart disease etc..

Once diagnosed, high blood pressure should be treated. Otherwise, it  can lead to cardiovascular complications and early death. Along with indications of a healthy lifestyle (smoking cessation, weight loss, exercise), patients with hypertension have to undergo medical treatment. Pharmacological treatment is varied and adapted according to the patient needs. Antihypertensive agents include thiazide diuretics, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors and so on. All these drugs can be used alone or in combination, noting that each class has advantages and limitations and the therapeutic strategy should be adjusted to patient’s condition.

New Medical Device Warns Patients Of Impending Heart Attack

Researchers have developed a new implantable medical device that alerts people when a heart attack is ‘around the corner’ . The device, created by Mary Carol Day and Christopher Young, is under clinical trials and uses both acoustic, vibration and visual signals to alert people regarding a possible heart attack. Currently, there are many  implantable medical devices, such as left ventricular assist like device (LVAD), pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD s). Pacemakers and ICDs are used to treat arrhythmias, which means abnormal beats of heart. LVAD improves heart pump function.

Creating a device that alerts people about a  heart attack patients may save lives. Even though most people know the symptoms of a myocardial infarction ( constrictive chest pain that does not respond to nitroglycerin, radiation possible in the left shoulder, back or jaw, sweating, anxiety), however many patients arrive at hospital too late sometimes. Moreover, there are situations in which the patient feels no pain and only symptom may be shortness of breath, as patients with diabetes. Arrival at the hospital as soon as possible after the onset of stroke is extremely important.

AngelMed Guardian

The new device, called AngelMed Guardian ®, is extremely useful for patients with cardiovascular disease and risk of myocardial infarction. Even if this kind of devices have been created so far, none have used the combination of  acoustic, visual and vibration signals. In addition, it was found that the auditors based only on signals such as those implanted in the heart defibrillators may not always help because patients sometimes do not hear the alarm. Author Mary Carol Day says that this device has two major advantages. First, this device is implanted, that is it can not be forgotten. The second is that the device is also vibratile, warning patient of stroke whether he wears warm clothes or does not hear very well.

As a medical device, this is fixed in the upper left chest, and has the size of a pacemaker. In fact, the entire device is composed of two parts, one part which is implanted in the chest, and another part resembling a pager that alerts the patient when necessary. The device was designed to send two types of alarms, depending on the seriousness of the event. The first is an emergency alarm and warn the patient he can have a heart attack, and the second is a minor emergency and tells the patient to consult a physician within 24 hours. The results are promising so far. In studies of elderly patients, they could make the difference between the two types of emergencies. They also said they were satisfied with the quality warnings. The author added that in case the device is approved by FDA, it will probably need some changes in order to improve the quality of the interaction between the patient and the system.

Cancer Diagnosis Linked To Higher Risk Of Suicide And Heart Attack

According to a study  conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and published in The New England Journal of Medicine, people who find they have cancer  have higher rates of suicide and cardiovascular disease. The suicide rate and cardiovascular disease among cancer patients are due to depression and negative emotions that usually accompany such diagnoses. Moral and emotional support from family is extremely important in such cases. Psychological stress of such a diagnosis has sometimes serious consequences such as suicide or increased risk of coronary heart disease. Moreover, the mental state of the cancer patient can modulate his body reaction to treatment.

Cancer Diagnosis

The study was conducted on a sample of six million Swedish patients aged over 30 years, between 191 and 2006. Of these, over 500,000 have been diagnosed with cancer. The most common was prostate cancer, breast, colorectal, lymphatic or hematopoietic, lung and central nervous system cancer. Besides the six main categories, a special category was the highly fatal cancer group such as prostate cancer, esophagus and liver.
The results of the study have shown a higher rate of suicide and cardiovascular disease among individuals diagnosed with cancer than among those without cancer. The relative risk of suicide decreased with time from the moment of diagnosis. The greatest risk was in the first week after diagnosis, followed by the period of 12 weeks from diagnosis. Also the scientists registered the highest risk for cancers of the esophagus, liver and pancreas followed by breast cancer. Even if risk decreases with time since diagnosis, the risk still remains high in the first year, which applies to all types of cancer.

It is very important to note that the incidence rate of suicide was higher among patients with preexisting psychiatric illness. However, the relative risk of suicide after cancer diagnosis was higher among patients without coexisting psychiatric pathology. The same trend was observed among cases with cardiovascular disease. Incidence rate of cardiovascular disease was higher among patients with preexisting pathology, but the relative risk was higher among patients without previous cardiovascular problems.

Therefore, the patient’s psychological stress in finding the diagnosis of cancer may influence not only the treatment compliance, but can have serious consequences such as increased risk of cardiovascular disease and even suicide. This risk is of course higher for aggressive cancers such as esophagus, liver, pancreas. Also, the risk of suicide is greatest during the first week after diagnosis.”Our study may, we hope, lead to improvements in the care of newly diagnosed cancer patients and hopefully diminish the risk of stress-related disease and death,” says Dr Fang Fang.