Common gene version optimizes thinking — but with a possible downside

Most people inherit a version of a gene that optimizes their brain’s thinking circuitry, yet also appears to increase risk for schizophrenia, a severe mental illness marked by impaired thinking, scientists at the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have discovered. The seeming paradox emerged from the first study to explore the effects of variation in the human gene for a brain master switch, DARPP-32. more  

Second gene discovered for recessive form of brittle bone disease

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions have found a second genetic defect that accounts for previously unexplained forms of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a disorder that weakens bones, sometimes results in frequent fractures and is sometimes fatal. more

Osteogenesis imperfecta overview

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disorder characterized by bones that break easily, often from little or no apparent cause. There are at least four recognized forms of the disorder, representing a range of severities. For example, a person may have just a few or as many as several hundred fractures in a lifetime. more  

Scientists learn the origin of rogue B cells

Doctors have long wondered why, in some people, the immune system turns against parts of the body it is designed to protect, leading to autoimmune disease. Now, researchers at the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), in collaboration with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, have provided some new clues into one likely factor: the early development of immune system cells called B cells. more

MRI tops CT in early stroke diagnosis  

Patients who arrive at the emergency room with the symptoms of a possible stroke—like sudden numbness, confusion and severe headaches—need a quick and accurate diagnosis to get the right treatment. A new study suggests that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) gives a more accurate early assessment of stroke than the more commonly used computed tomography (CT) imaging technique. MRI was especially effective in identifying patients with acute ischemic stroke, who can benefit from swift treatment with clot-busting interventions. more

Vitamin D3 provides skin with protection from harmful microbes  

A study by researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine shows that fluctuations in Vitamin D3 levels control the body’s innate immune response, affecting a skin wound’s ability to heal. more

Erectile dysfunction from bike riding

Research suggests that riding a bike for long periods can cause temporary erectile difficulties, explains What to Do about Erectile Dysfunction, a new report from Harvard Medical School. The risk appears highest among men who cycle more than three hours a week. more

© RAmEx Ars Medica,Inc. All rights reserved.