ACCURATE WAY TO PREDICT THE AGE WHEN WOMEN WILL HIT THE MENOPAUSE DEVELOPED

Accurate Way to Predict the Age When Women Will Hit the Menopause Developed
Iran - Researchers have developed a way of accurately predicting when women will hit the menopause using a simple blood test. The average difference between the predicted age and the actual age that the women in their study reached the menopause was only a third of a year, and the maximum margin of error was between three and four years.

The project was presented at a conference in Rome on fertility and could be used outside laboratories, but if it proves effective on a wider panel. This would allow women to discover early on in their reproductive life what their expected age at menopause will be, so that they can plan when to start a family through the measurement of the rate of hormone anti-Mullerian (AMH) in the blood. In the trial, researchers at the University of Medical Sciences Shahid Beheshti have a blood test to a group of 266 women aged 20-49 years every three years to measure their hormone AMH.

Scientists have therefore established a statistical model to identify AMH levels at different ages that would predict if women were likely to have an early menopause (before the age of 45). She found that, for instance, AMH levels of 4.1 ng/ml or less predicted early menopause in 20-year-olds, AMH levels of 3.3 ng/ml predicted it in 25-year-olds, and AMH levels of 2.4 ng/ml predicted it in 30-year-olds.

In contrast, AMH levels of at least 4.5 ng/ml at the age of 20, 3.8 ngl/ml at 25 and 2.9 ng/ml at 30 all predicted an age at menopause of over 50 years old. The researchers found that the average age at menopause for the women in their study was approximately 52.

They concluded: "Our findings indicate that AMH is capable of specifying a woman's reproductive status more realistically than chronological age per se. Considering that this is a small study that has looked at women over a period of time, larger studies starting with women in their twenties and following them for several years are needed to validate the accuracy of serum AMH concentration for the prediction of menopause in young women."

Story Source:
Provided by European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

BLOOD PRESSURE VARIES WITH SOCIAL STATUS

Blood Pressure Varies With Social Status
France - A study by a team of Inserm Unit 707 and the Center for Preventive and Clinical Investigations of Paris shows that the more educated a person, but his district of residence, the lower blood pressure will be.

The study involved 7292 people aged 30 to 79 years, between March 2007 and February 2008 in Paris and its suburbs. She tried to target the social variations in health, including coronary diseases and their risk factors. He had already been shown that hypertension is more common in disadvantaged populations. But the study has pushed the analysis further.

Researchers are also interested in the education of the person and his parents, his profession, his state of unemployment, income, his financial stress, the tenure of housing, level of development country of birth, among others. In comparing all these factors, they noted a strong correlation between blood pressure, education level and the individual's home neighborhood.

Known causes of hypertension are the consumption of tobacco and alcohol use, overweight and obesity, lack of physical activity. Researchers have therefore included these cases in their analysis and showed that body mass index was higher by a factor widely implicated in hypertension. Obesity explain nearly half of the links between hypertension and education level of the neighborhood.

BLOOD GENETICALLY MODIFIED TO CREATE RARE BLOOD

Blood Genetically Modified To Create Rare Blood
France - Researchers from the French Blood Alps-Mediterranean could change one blood group through gene transfer. A breakthrough that will perhaps eventually to produce samples of rare blood.

Their work used the blood group system Kidd / JK as a model, a blood group among the 30 known, particularly critical in the field of blood transfusion.

While for certain blood groups as ABO, it is possible to obtain blood samples with any combination of antigens, the total lack of group antigens Kidd / JK on the surface of red blood cells particularly rare.

The strategy combines the technology of gene transfer, RNA interference and in vitro generation of red blood cells. Using vectors for gene transfer derived from HIV, the work of this French team showed it is possible to genetically modify stem cells from umbilical cord blood by inducing suppression of the expression of a gene (SLC14A1) that encodes the protein Kidd / JK.

These genetically modified cells are grown in the laboratory to generate red blood cells are tested using techniques routine laboratory blood. These tests show that these red cells have the same characteristics as those of a donor rare Jk null.

This type of blood sample "artificial" could be used in diagnostic laboratories of blood groups as reference sample. Many developments are still needed to devise an industrial development that could lead to regular use. These works still represent a first step towards the creation of rare blood samples used in diagnostic tests conducted in the field of blood safety.

A NEW TECHNIQUE OF MAGNETIC DETOXIFICATION OF BLOOD

A New Technique Of Magnetic Detoxification Of Blood
South Korea - Researchers at the Jinju National University have discovered a new way to rid the blood of some metal.

A team of researchers has identified a receiver that attaches securely and only lead in the body. She has designed a magnetic nanoparticle containing a nickel alloy, equipped with this receiver. By injecting these particles into the bloodstream and then performing dialysis to remove particulate matter and lead with a magnet, the blood is thoroughly cleaned.

Lead poisoning, lead infection, can cause memory loss, anemia, and even paralysis. Detoxification magnetic early and safe, because hemoglobin is not affected by magnetic fields. Tests on human blood are very satisfactory.

The magnetic approach could now look to other types of particles in the blood. The radioactive toxins, cholesterol, alcohol and even drugs could thus be eliminated from the blood, they are associated with good nanoparticle.

THE SILVER NANOPARTICLES TO PREVENT BLOOD CLOTS

The Silver Nanoparticles To Prevent Blood Clots
India - The team of Dr. Dash of Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi has discovered an alternative to aspirin and other anticoagulants in preventing the formation of blood clots. A discovery size in the treatment of coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Their study involves particles of silver which is about 1/50,000th the diameter of a human hair — that are injected into the bloodstream.

Although the silver nanoparticles have already shown their antibacterial properties, the team of Dr. Dash noted in laboratory tests their ability to prevent clotting. To Dr. Dash, this discovery is innovative because the properties of silver nanoparticles were previously unknown.

The nanoparticles have indeed the capacity to prevent the cohesion of platelets and thus the formation of blood clots. Tests have shown that injection of these silver nanoparticles could be reduced by nearly 40% rate of bleeding without apparent side effects.

A blood clot located in a vein or artery can cause a heart attack or embolism or a stroke if the clot migrates to the lungs or brain.

The silver nanoparticles are already used as an antibacterial agent in some toothpastes, socks absorbing odors or filtration systems water.

ALL UNIVERSAL DONOR BLOOD

All universal donor blood
A discovery by an international research team can convert any blood group O, group "universal donor" blood can be transfused to patients of any blood type. It also group whose reserves are less important.

Two molecules, called "enzymes glycosidases" were identified in bacteria by the team at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark) directed by Henrik Clausen. These enzymes can convert groups A, B and AB to group O.

The ABO system
Blood groups are defined by the ABO system, ie the presence on the surface of red blood cell antigen "A", "B" or "AB" (These antigens are structures based sugar, galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine). The O does none of these antigens. That absence of antigen, which allows blood type O to be transfused to anyone. The transfusion of incompatible blood can have severe consequences or even death.

The enzymes cleave these discoveries antigens A and B. Trials are now needed to see if such blood is safe and functional.

2500 bacteria and fungi screened
The Danish team has screened more than 2,500 bacteria and fungi (mushrooms) to finally get their hands on bacteria Bacteroides fragilis and Elizabethkingia meningosepticum that produce enzymes glycosidases capable of achieving cleavage of antigens A and B.

The ZYMEQUEST company based in the Boston area (USA) worked with the Danish team and is responsible for conducting tests cliniqes to ensure that the blood product and is safe and functional.

Sources:
BBC Health