Growing up is mandatory; growing old is optional

            NEW YORK - Education may be the real fountain of youth. Scientists continue to find those whose minds are engaged in active education live longer and stave off memory loss and lethargy. Studies on the effects of ongoing learning on aging have been conducted for decades. New studies by "health economists" seem to support 3rd Century BC philosopher Aristotle, who said: "Education is the best provision for old age." Columbia University grad student Adriana Lleras-Muney did her dissertation on research by three health economists who found investing in long-term education yielded greater anti-aging effects than good medical care. Study by Princeton University 's Anne Case showed "each additional year of schooling for U.S. men is tied to an 8% reduction in mortality, consistent with many European countries.

            ROCKVILLE , MD - MedWatch, the Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified asthmatic patients and healthcare professionals of new reports of serious and life-threatening allergic reactions in patients after treatment with Xolair. Usually, these reactions occur within two hours of receiving a Xolair subcutaneous injection. However, these new reports include patients who had delayed anaphylaxis - with onset two to 24 hours or even longer - after receiving Xolair treatment. Anaphylaxis may occur after any dose of Xolair (including the first dose), even if the patient had no allergic reaction to the first dose. Healthcare professionals who administer Xolair should be prepared to manage life-threatening anaphylaxis and should observe Xolair-treated patients for at least two hours after Xolair is given. Patients under treatment with Xolair should be informed fully about signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, their chance of developing delayed anaphylaxis following Xolair treatment, and how to treat it when it occurs. Read the complete Safety summary at www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2007/safety07.htm#Xolair.

            BERGAMO , ITALY - In diabetics with hypertension, ACE inhibitors cut the risk of diabetes-related kidney disease, independent of lowering blood pressure, says a study in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. "Our results clearly show an ACE inhibitor should always be used in patients with high blood pressure and diabetes, even when they have no evidence of renal or cardiovascular disease," said lead author, Dr. Piero Ruggenenti, of Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research. The BErgamo NEphrologic DIabetes Complications Trial (BENEDICT) had 1,204 patients with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. At the start, no patient had any signs of kidney disease. They were assigned randomly to treatment with an ACE inhibitor, another type of blood pressure drug called a calcium channel blocker, an ACE inhibitor with a calcium channel blocker, or a placebo. Rates of microalbuminuria - small amounts of albumin protein in urine, the first sign of diabetic kidney disease - were compared between groups. Patients taking the combined treatment had the greatest reduction in blood pressure and were less likely to require more drugs to keep blood pressure under control.

            BOSTON - MedPage Today disclosed the brain's serotonin system has multiple defects in babies who die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), scientists say. The finding appears to pin down the underlying vulnerability that makes some infants susceptible to SIDS when they encounter some outside stress, while others aren’t, said Dr. David Paterson, of Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School , and colleagues, in the Journal of the American Medical Association. "We provide strong evidence SIDS is a biological problem, and the brainstem serotonin system is a good place to focus continued research efforts," Dr. Paterson said. He and his team found significant differences in the number and density of serotonergic neurons in the medulla oblongata, plus in the density of one of the major serotonin receptors. Specifically, compared to controls, SIDS babies: Had significantly higher serotonergic neuron count, had a significantly higher density of serotonergic cells, had a significantly lower density of 5-HT1A receptor binding sites.

            MEMPHIS , TN - Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital showed in a mouse model a new, locally-applied treatment for eye cancer retinoblastoma that not only greatly cuts the size of the tumor, but also does so without the side effects common with standard chemotherapy. It appears to be suitable for certain forms of breast, lung, prostate, and colon cancer, and is simple enough for widespread use in countries with limited resources. A report was in the journal Nature. Retinoblastoma occurs in about 5,000 young children worldwide each year, arising from the immature retina, which is the part of the eye responsible for detecting light and color. The cancer is fatal if left untreated. The new treatment holds promise for a simpler, more effective and less toxic treatment for retinoblastoma that would eliminate the need for the current, complex therapy, said senior author Dr. Michael Dyer, a Pew Scholar and associate member of the St. Jude Dept. of Developmental Neurobiology. The treatment is based on a discovery by Dr. Dyer’s lab that overturned a widely-held belief about the process of apoptosis (cell suicide) in retinoblastoma. The St. Jude team proved not only that the p53 pathway was activated in early-stage retinoblastoma, but also that excessive levels of a molecule called MDMX blocked it from triggering apoptosis in more advanced tumors.

            SAN FRANCISCO - Reuters Health noted a tiny electrical implant may someday restore partial sight to millions of patients blinded by Age-related Macular Degeneration ( AMD ), U.S. scientists said. In early human clinical testing, the device is in a class of "smart" prostheses that link with the brain and nervous system to restore function lost to disease or injury, scientists stated at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting. Similar electrical stimulation devices have been used for deafness, and scientists are developing others for bladder control and movement for spinal cord injury patients. The artificial retina is designed to replace the brain photoreceptor cells charged with capturing and processing light. "We [expect] this technology will help patients who lost their sight through [ AMD ]," said Dr. Mark Humayun, University of Southern California ophthalmology professor. An early version in six patients fared far better than makers expected, allowing people blinded for years to tell between simple objects, such as a cup, plate, and knife. The device is a tiny camera mounted on a pair of glasses that sends data to the implant attached to the outside of the eyeball with a cable running to the retina in back of the eye. Patients wear a pager-sized transmitter on their belt to process and power the device.