Health Highlights: Feb. 2, 2009
Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:
Manganese, Defective Genes Linked to Parkinson's Disease: Study
The metal manganese may contribute to Parkinson's disease when defective genes interact to boost its toxicity, a study suggests.
Manganese, which is naturally present in the human body, is stored mainly in the liver and kidneys. It's an essential trace nutrient in nearly all forms of life but is also a known risk factor for Parkinson's.
The researchers conducted experiments on yeast cells and found that manganese toxicity caused by excessive levels of a protein called alpha-synuclein was greatly reduced in the presence of another protein called ATP13A2, Agence France Pressereported.
Yeast cells that lacked ATP13A2 were more sensitive to manganese. It's believed that ATP13A2 plays a role in transporting metal molecules, especially manganese. The researchers duplicated their findings in laboratory-grown rat neurons. The study was published in the journal Nature Genetics.
Susan Lindquist, of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Cambridge, Mass., and colleagues said their findings suggest that people with mutations in the genes that encode these two proteins may be particularly vulnerable to manganese poisoning, AFP reported.
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New Technique May Provide Early Osteoarthritis Diagnosis
A minimally invasive microscopic technique could provide an early diagnosis of osteoarthritis so that patients can take steps to protect their cartilage, Swiss researchers say.
Their experimental "atomic force microscope" involves tapping on the surface of a joint with a tiny tip that responds to stiffness. This technique could give up to six months of warning to people prone to the disease, Agence France Presse reported.
The research was published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
There are no treatments to slow or stop cartilage loss in people with osteoarthritis, caused by an erosion of the cartilage between joints and a decrease in the fluid that lubricates joints. But the researchers said an early diagnosis of the disease would enable patients to begin cartilage-conserving measures such as exercising or losing weight, AFP reported.
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Driving With the Flu or a Cold Can Be Hazardous
It's long been established that drinking and driving don't mix, but a study by a British insurance company shows that it's almost as bad to drive if you have a severe cold or the flu.
According to BBC News, Lloyds TBS Insurance conducted a study, using 50 healthy adults and 50 with colds, stress and headaches. The participants were put through a driving hazard simulator. The results showed that drivers with colds were 11 percent slower in their reaction time, about the same as drinking a double shot of hard liquor.
An additional study indicated that those with colds and flu had to add 3.3 feet to their stopping distance if traveling at 30 MPH.
Duncan Vernon, road safety manager at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, told BBC News: "People need to be honest with themselves about their ability to drive safely. A heavy cold, for example, can have symptoms that include a headache, blocked sinuses, sneezing and tiredness, and these can impair a driver's mood, concentration, reactions and judgment."
