Found a new virus responsible for severe brain damage

New virus responsible for severe brain damage , scientists have found in Vietnam .
According to them, the new virus is to blame for the emergence of new infections and zoonoses.
The virus has been identified in patients with acute brain infection .
It was isolated in 28 of 644 patients with infection of the brain. The results showed that the virus was not detected in patients with brain diseases that are non-infectious nature.
Infectious diseases of the brain and central nervous system , often fatal. Even in case of recovery patients remain profound disabilities.
Infectious diseases of the brain is caused by a number of bacterial, parasitic , fungal and viral agents . Most clinical practice are not able , however, to identify the pathogen , although a full range of current diagnostic methods . The lack of reliable data on the etiology of cerebral infections greatly complicates the organization and carrying out of preventive and therapeutic measures to combat these dangerous infectious diseases.
Scientists at the Vietnam Department have attempted to tests given to new virus working name CyCV-VN. The virus was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with an infectious lesion with an unknown etiology .
Using the latest technology , the group of scientists identified a completely new virus , confirming that it belongs to the type previously unknown viruses.
The virus was not detected in blood samples of patients , but is present in 8 out of a total of 188 samples from the faeces of healthy infants studied . The virus is also defined in more than half of the fecal samples of pigs and chickens.
The evidence to support that this is another example of zoonotic infections. The discovery of the virus in stool samples of animals and humans clearly shows that the mode of transmission of the virus from animals to humans is primarily fecal- oral route.
Identification of the virus in the cerebrospinal fluid is an extraordinary phenomenon, but can not completely exclude the possibility of non- pathogenic properties.
" To establish the role of the virus in the development of severe brain infection further studies are needed ," the researchers say .
Currently , they conduct more research on the virus to a specialized laboratory using serological diagnostic tests to detect serum antibodies against the virus.

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The bacteria that cause periodontal disease, increasing the risk of rheumatoid arthritis

The bacteria that cause periodontal disease, increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, the results of research by scientists from India.
The study was published in the journal "Analysis of the rheumatic diseases ." Study Indian researchers have found that gum diseases ( periodontal disease ) are four times more common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
The study authors , led by Dr. Damodar Potikuri confirm the assumption that the immune response to microorganisms that cause inflammatory gum disease in people with a genetic predisposition may act trigger factor RA.
The factor RA is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that affects the synovial membrane of joints. In the pathogenesis of RA Exogenous some play an important role . It is well known that smoking increases the risk of RA , and is capable of enhancing the production of antibodies against the protein residues (ACB), which are markers of early RA.
The theory that periodontal disease may affect the pathogenesis of RA is based on the fact that bacteria have an enzyme capable of synthesizing peptidyl- arginine, which is involved in the formation of periodontal peptides and provides the basis for the development of an immune response .
In previous studies, scientists have turned their attention to the prevalence of periodontal disease among patients with RA, receiving modified antirheumatic drugs (MAP).
Participants in this study were divided into two groups: The first group were 91 patients with RA, and in the second - 93 healthy subjects . In the study , researchers looked for rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF) and assess the state of the pockets of the roots of the teeth.
The study authors noted that the research was not possible to identify the relationship between the ACB and RA. This , they say, suggests that patients with chronic gum disease may develop a more severe form of RA or resistance to MAP.
Scientists will continue to study in order to establish more data on the relationship between the bacteria that cause periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis

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Discovered a genetic factor responsible for stress

Scientists discover new genetic factors that lead to stress and depression.
It is known that mental depression is a disorder with a complex mechanism of formation . One of the main risk factors associated with its development are stressful events and genetic predisposition.
In many scientific sources often discussed issue is the connecting link between stress and depression . Only a few of those who have experienced stress , then developed a depressive disorder . However, until recently been poorly understood genetic factors that influence susceptibility to stress.
The new systematic review of a group of scientists from the UK, led by Dr. Georgina Hosand assessed the effect of the polymorphism of the gene encoding a neurotrophic factor for stressful events .
The main function of this protein in the body is to support neuronal survival , the growth and formation of new synapses . Increase its activity observed in depressed patients undergoing psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy , not only to improve memory and learning , but also reduces the symptoms of this disease.
Variations of BDNF gene also resulted in vulnerability to stress . For a more detailed study of this question , the researchers analyzed the results of relevant studies published up to the end of last year. Examined in detail 22 studies involving a total participation of 14,233 volunteers in them.Generally, meta-analysis has shown that there is a significant correlation between the stressful events or variations of BDNF gene on persons with depression .
The results obtained according to scientists suggest that there are some individuals ' genetic vulnerability to the negative experience. "
The authors of the study also indicated that the BDNF gene may contain an impressive number of polymorphisms , which may also be involved in the formation of a depression in adverse environmental conditions .

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Chinese scientists have developed a vaccine against bird flu

Gene bird flu vaccine developed Chinese scientists.

Already been implemented and the first tests on animals.

"Work on the creation of such a vaccine started immediately after the onset of the disease," informed by the Centre to control the spread of infectious diseases in Shanghai.

Since the beginning of 2014 the number of people infected with the bird flu in China has exceeded 100.

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Changes in blood pressure in middle age increases the risk of stroke

Changes in blood pressure in middle age increases the risk of stroke and heart attack , according to U.S. researchers , led by Dr. Donald Lloyd of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago , USA.
Notwithstanding the fact that the globally decreased mortality from cardiovascular disease, they are still the leading cause of death and disability . In this regard , the international scientific medical community is constantly developing new efficient methods for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease , to change the situation.
On this occasion, the researchers conducted a study in which investigated the effect of changes in blood pressure (BP) in middle age and relationship to the risk of cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction (MI) , stroke).
The study involved 61,585 men and women selected a database of cardiovascular risk . The average age of volunteers in the base period was 41 years . Have conducted periodic measurements of their blood pressure before their 55th anniversary. Participants were under full medical supervision until the first cardiovascular events , death, or 95 years.
In the study, the researchers have identified several new facts.
First , the risk of cardiovascular events in men was 52.5% and for women - 39.9% . Second, changes in blood pressure in middle age are directly related to the risk of cardiovascular events . In about 70 % of men with high blood pressure in middle age is a real danger of stroke or myocardial infarction before their 85th birthday , according to medics.
In this study used a completely new approach to determine the risk of cardiovascular events . Previously it was believed that the dependence of the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is only linear - high blood pressure and thus a greater risk of stroke and myocardial infarction.According to Donald Lloyd , elevated blood pressure at an early age and fluctuations in its middle age significantly contribute to the risk of cardiovascular events in life. People with these problems should take preventive measures to reduce the risk of stroke and myocardial infarction.
Prevention can include healthy, balanced diet combined with exercise , weight control , and if necessary - the timely allocation of antihypertensive drugs.

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Iron deficiency alter brain structure

Iron deficiency changes the structure of the brain, according to scientists from the University of California , USA.
Their studies show that maintaining proper levels of iron in the blood plays an important role in the formation and functioning of the central nervous system.
Iron deficiency in childhood leads to cognitive impairment , while adults has been associated with the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.
It is known that increasing the concentration of transferrin in the blood as a result of increased production in the liver, can be a marker of a low intake of iron.Head of the research group, Paul Thompson and his colleagues at the University of California , USA, showed that the level of transferrin in the blood of adolescents are closely associated with changes in brain structures of micro and macro level in adulthood. In addition , American scientists have identified a set of genes responsible for both transferrin levels and the development of brain structures - it is entirely possible.
It is expected that this discovery will help to clarify the mechanism by which iron ions affect cognitive functions , processes of formation of the nervous system and neurodegeneration .A group of scientists led by Paul Thompson has studied 615 healthy young siblings, including twins ( average age is 23 years). All participants performed a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In 574 of them made ​​and further investigation by the method used diffusion tensor imaging (DTV).
This method is based on determining the diffusion of water molecules in the myelin sheath of the axon of a nerve cell , to assess the state of brain pathways. All participants in the study is to determine the level of transferrin in serum.In the analysis of MRI and DTV were revealed following models: in adults , teens who had higher levels of transferrin, significant differences were observed in brain structures. It has been determined to reduce the amount of nuclei in the parietal - temporal region of the cerebral hemispheres , and to a lesser extent in the cortex of the frontal region .
Meanwhile, hippocampus , globus pallidus , and midbrain sudden increase in volume . During the study it was found that some of the specific gene variants HFE, are associated with a reduction in the structural integrity of the roads in the brain which affect the levels of transferrin in blood. However, none of the participants , there was no cognitive impairment or other symptoms of neurological diseases.
To elucidate the mechanisms of this relationship, further studies are needed , the researchers say . And until that happens , the researchers recommend carefully monitored to have enough iron in the diet of children and adolescents, whose brains are still in the process of maturation and is therefore extremely vulnerable.

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