Protein found in brain cells may be key to autism

Scientists have shown how a single protein may trigger autistic spectrum disorders by stopping effective communication between brain cells.

The team from Duke University in North Carolina created autistic mice by mutating the gene which controls production of the protein, Shank3.

The animals exhibited social problems, and repetitive behaviour - both classic signs of autism and related conditions.

The Nature study raises hopes of the first effective drug treatments.

Autism is a disorder which, to varying degrees, affects the ability of children and adults to communicate and interact socially.

While hundreds of genes linked to the condition have been found, the precise combination of genetics, biochemistry and other environmental factors which produce autism is still unclear.

Each patient has only one or a handful of those mutations, making it difficult to develop drugs to treat the disorder.

Shank3 is found in the synapses - the junctions between brain cells (neurons) that allow them to communicate with each other.

The researchers created mice which had a mutated form of Shank3, and found that these animals avoided social interactions with other mice.

They also engaged in repetitious and self-injurious grooming behaviour.

Brain circuits When the MIT team analysed the animals' brains they found defects in the circuits that connect two different areas of the brain, the cortex and the striatum.

Healthy connections between these areas are thought to be key to effective regulation of social behaviours and social interaction.

The researchers say their work underscores just what an important role Shank3 plays in the establishment of circuits in the brain which underlie all our behaviours.

Lead researcher Dr Guoping Feng said: "Our study demonstrated that Shank3 mutation in mice lead to defects in neuron-neuron communications.

"These findings and the mouse model now allow us to figure out the precise neural circuit defects responsible for these abnormal behaviours, which could lead to novel strategies and targets for developing treatment."

It is thought that only a small percentage of people with autism have mutations in Shank3, but Dr Feng believes many other cases may be linked to disruptions to other proteins that control synaptic function.
If true he believes it should be possible to develop treatments that restore synaptic function, regardless of which protein is defective in a specific individual.

Carol Povey, director of the National Autistic Society's Centre for Autism, said: "Animal research can help advance our understanding or the role of genetics and their influence on behaviour, however it is only a small part of the picture when it comes to understanding autism.

"Human brains are far more complex than those of other mammals, and it is believed that a variety of factors are responsible for the development of the condition."
Source :: bbc.co.uk

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Sleep patterns affect weight loss

Managing sleep and stress levels can help in the battle against obesity, according to scientists in the US.

People getting too little or too much sleep were less likely to lose weight in a six month study of 472 obese people.

Their report in the International Journal of Obesity showed that lower stress levels also predicted greater weight loss.

A UK sleep expert said people need to "eat less, move more and sleep well".

Approximately a quarter of adults in the UK are thought to be clinically obese, which means they have a Body Mass Index greater than 30.

Nearly 500 obese patients were recruited for the first part of a clinical trial by the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in the US.

For six months they had to eat 500 fewer calories per day, exercise most days and attend group sessions.
Weight loss
 
The authors report that "sleep time predicted success in the weight loss programme".

People with lower stress levels at the start also lost more weight.

The researchers added: "These results suggest that early evaluation of sleep and stress levels in long-term weight management studies could potentially identify which participants might benefit from additional counselling."

Dr Neil Stanley, from the British Sleep Society, said the sleep community had been aware of this for a while, but was glad that obesity experts were taking notice.

"We've always had the eat less move more mantra. But there is a growing body of evidence that we also need to sleep well", he said.

"It's also true that if you're stressed, then you're less likely to behave, you'll sit at home feeling sorry for yourself, probably eating a chocolate bar."

Dr David Haslam, chair of the National Obesity Forum, said: "It's a great idea to find predictors of who will respond to therapy, if this is a genuine one."

Source :: bbc.co.uk

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Diet of Fruits, Healthy and More Fresh

Basically, sunber fruits contain vitamins and minerals that are good for the body. In addition, fruits were menagandung lots of fiber and supporting components for health.

Therefore, it is not wrong if you eat the fruits are strongly encouraged to maintain fitness and body fitness. And, it never hurts also when many people are choosing fruit as a snack to the diet.

Diet program that is safe for the body can be carried out with a diet of fruits and vegetables fresh. Here are the fruits that are useful to support a diet of fruit.

Apple
Apples contain many antioxidant compounds that are useful for health. Apples contain pectin fiber, and carbohydrates that are very useful for the body. Moreover, apples also contain flavanols that are believed as anticancer and anti-inflammatory. Apples also contain vitamin C, although less in number than citrus fruit.

Strawberries
Strawberry fruit contain antioxidant compounds, namely ellagic acid. According to studies, ellagic acid was shown to prevent tumor growth in lung, and breast.

Strawberries also known as a traditional medicine which is believed to contain antibacterial that can be used as a cleaner in the digestive system. Besides all, strawberries also contain lots of vitamin C.

Banana
Bananas contain vitamin B which is very useful for serotonin in the brain. Serotonin can reduce pain, suppress appetite, make sense of relaxation, and reduce tension.
As a traditional medicine, bananas were believed to cure ulcer disease. In the banana also contained a lot of carbohydrates and rich in potassium. Meanwhile, vitamin C is contained in only a few bananas.

Melon
Melons contain high sugar and lycopene are useful as anticancer. Melon also contains carotenoids that can protect cells from damage. Carotenoids can be converted into vitamin A by the body.

Orange
In phytochermical contained in citrus fruits that act as antioxidants. Oranges also as a source of pectin which is useful for lowering blood pressure. In addition, even oranges contain vitamin C that a lot.
Mango
Mangoes contain antioxidants that can protect against many types of cancer. Mangoes also includes rich fruits that contain vitamin C and fiber.

Wine
Wine proven to improve heart health, anticancer, antibacterial, and contains antioxidants. Meanwhile, the content of vitamin C contained in grapes is very low.

Pineapple
Pineapples are believed to help the digestive process, preventing sinusitis, and urinary tract infections. Pineapple is also a source of vitamin C is high.
Source :: Anneahira

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Types of Narcotics

Narcotics are substances or drugs derived from a type of plant or not plant, either in the form of semi-synthesis and synthesis. For example, marijuana is better known as marijuana, coca flower, cocaine, opium is classified as narcotics according to Law. RI no. 22 of 1976.

Marijuana
Cannabis known as cannabis sativa was originally used to treat mild poisoning. The materials used to form the leaves, stems, and seeds, but always abused in its usage.
Many people mengkosumsi type of drug is a way to suck, as do people smoke cigarettes, but there are also people who enter into the food for the food was delicious.

Mentally addictive and thought to be slow, and pecandunya seem silly because that substance affects concentration and memory and thinking skills to decrease. Often a user searches for drugs in order to obtain maximum satisfaction / optimal even though they face a very serious risk.

The effects of marijuana addict, among others:

1. Rejoice too much, if provoked laughter will be laughing to excess / prolonged, although nothing is funny.
2. Feeling confident not care about the environment.
3. Appetite increased, whereas if you work lazy, so the body becomes emaciated
4. High ego feels itself needs exceeded.
5. There is no sense of decorum inside or outside the home.
6. His eyes glazed, glaring red, blurred vision and stagger
7. When you are alone having hallucinations / menghayal, a lot of sweat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and sometimes insomnia

Morphine (Narcotics)
Morphine is a derivative of opium made from poppy sap mixing with other chemicals, so semi-synthetic nature. Morphine is the active ingredient of opium. In the medical world, this substance is used to reduce pain at the time to do surgery / operation.
The effects of morphine include:

• It can suppress the nervous system activity
• Slowing the breathing and heart rate
• Zoom in blood vessels
• Decrease the eyeball
• Interfering with the work of organs like heart, liver, lungs, kidneys and intestines.

Heroin
Heroin is a derivative of morphine which have had a chemical process. At first, heroin is used for the treatment of morphine dependence, but later proved that even more severe heroin addiction.

Cocaine
The effects of cocaine use will cause paranoia, hallucinations and decreased self-confidence. Users of these drugs will damage the nervous system in the brain, in addition to aggravate the respiratory system, excessive use of extremely dangerous and can lead to death.
Source :: Anneahira

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For Wind Not Discard smells

Leftover food stored too long in the colon can produce foul smelling gases. 

 Discard the wind is a very common activity, and healthy. Even so, you may feel embarrassed when to dispose of the wind caught in the middle of many people, much less noise and odor. 

Discard the wind is a natural activity that occurs due to consumption of foods that cause excessive gas formation in the body. 

While the bad smell that comes out when someone throw the wind, could be due to a number of factors. One of them is too long because the rest of the food stored in the large intestine, which in turn produce foul smelling gases. 

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Sneezing for Environmental Hazards

If inhaled an hour, the amount of virus is sufficient to trigger infection.

According to a recent report published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, a single sneeze could contaminate a room for a period of more than one hour.

Researchers from Virginia Tech, the United States to analyze air samples from three pieces of the aircraft, the waiting room at a health clinic, and three treatment rooms. As a result, half of the air samples obtained contain contaminated air particles flu virus.

"From an average, one cubic meter of air sampled was recorded containing more than 16 thousand flu virus particles," said Linsey Marr, head of the team of researchers from Virginia Tech, as quoted from MedIndia, Monday, February 7, 2011.

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Durian Benefits: Cleans Blood

Farmers South-East Asia, and the audience of tropical fruits to his knees and then claim that durian fruit is without equal. European tourists call it the King of Fruits. Sharp fragrance, so the new person would begin to taste the fear infestation. But, once he tries, will be addicted to then cause problems. As European tourists who sometimes blocked entry hotel room, because the best hotel refused to allow their guests to bring durian into the room. The price of other fruits too, the best and expensive. 

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The Importance of Diabetes Research Millitus

The study of diabetes mellitus is a very important and urgent. Especially with the advent of the fact that diabetes mellitus was not only affect adults. But the disease also affects children and adolescents. 

The results of diabetes mellitus discovered, that the disease was previously considered a hereditary disease was not completely correct. The fact is that diabetes mellitus can affect anyone and at any age. 

Also do not recognize the social and economic status. Does the patient from among the people are, or those who come from middle class and the weak economy.

There are Two Types of Diabetes Mellitus
Actually diabetes mellitus can be divided into two types. Namely diabetes mellitus type one and type two diabetes mellitus. A patient with diabetes mellitus type one or abbreviated DM 1 this, usually under attack at the age of twenty. 

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How Easy Healthy Diet

Familiarize healthy diet is often considered difficult by most people. In fact, a simple key to a healthy diet is eating a variety of food. This is important because of the variety of food will provide nutritional intake also varies. 

Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes are foods rich in carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals and low in fat and cholesterol free. Other nutrients derived from processed low-fat products such as meat poultry and fish. Balance also between calories in with calories out. 

Healthy Diet Guide 

Here are the steps that can be used as a guide for a healthy diet.

• Eat foods that contain lots of fiber, among which are fruits, vegetables, beans, and wheat based products. These food groups contain carbohydrates "good", nutritious, low calorie and filling. 

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Tricks For Young Children lured Vegetables

Young people tend to live an unhealthy diet. A lot of fat, some vegetable. 

Be proud if you have olive skin. Based on research by a team from St Andrews and Bristol University, UK, yellow-skinned people look more healthy and attractive.
Research studying the relationship between skin color and its appeal involving 40 volunteers of Caucasian-looking Scotland.
The study also found that skin color can be influenced carotenoid or yellow pigment in some fruits and vegetables. Carotenoids play an important role to make skin look yellowish.
Ian Stephen, one of the scientists involved in research, hope, the results of this study will open a new strategy to encourage young children to eat more fruits and vegetables. Yellow skin exotica campaign is expected to encourage young people fond of fruits and vegetables.

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Types of Skin Diseases

There are different strains of infectious and dangerous diseases, like dengue fever, measles, smallpox, AIDS, and others. There is also a disease that is inherited, not contagious but dangerous as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and others. 

However, the discussion this time not of a contagious and dangerous disease, nor is it about the disease is not contagious and dangerous. We will discuss about the infectious disease is not contagious and that can often afflict us at any time, but the disease is not dangerous. Although not dangerous, but this disease can be very disturbing to you. These kinds of skin disease is not dangerous, but very annoying. 

Panu 

Nobody wants to suffer from tinea versicolor. In addition to white skin, itching, and smell, plus it is very disturbing. Anyway diseases that come out of the standard of beauty. Imagine, the itching bite will make you scratch panu. Once scratched, will adorn the white color of our skin. 

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10 Foods Introduction to Sleep

Difficult to close my eyes? The problem is probably not from your eyes but from what you eat. Eating the right foods before bed can make people more quickly and sleep soundly. Here are some foods that could be a good lunch before welcoming a beautiful dream. 

1. Almonds
Magnesium is not only invited sleepiness but also makes the muscles more relaxed. Protein also keeps blood sugar levels during sleep, and change the adrenaline of the active cycle to break the cycle. 

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Best Exercise For Busy Workers

Spend some time amid bustle for a little exercise. 
 
Habit of spending a lot of time just to sit in office chair can cause back pain. If this is allowed to continue, over time can be torture in itself. Activities at work and at home you would be disrupted. 

To prevent back pain, you are advised to spend some time in the middle of busy schedules to lie down for a few minutes each day. 

When lying down, you need to do some physical movement that aims to strengthen the back muscles. Run this exercise slowly. This can be a simple way, yet very effective. But, if this exercise actually causes pain, stop immediately, quoted from page Methods Of Healing. 

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Happy Family Tips

Wealthy families, a lot. Illustrious family, too much. Not to mention the other families who labeled harmonious, educated, and planning. However, how many a happy family? 

It seems increasingly less happy family day. How come?
Many cases of murder, quarrels, and the trial involving his own family going on around us. Son kills mother, a mother kills her children, husband to burn his wife, the wife mutilated her husband, and so forth. 

This world feels chaotic and beautiful no longer seen. In fact, it may be no longer beautiful to be occupied so many people decided to end her life by suicide. Naudzubillahi dzaalik min. 

When asked the cause of all the chaos, emerged the articles are not acceptable reasoning. Only because of crying, the father bear the fruit of his heart is still slamming the toddler. Just because a thousand dollars cash, a parking willing to kill his fellow worker parking. Symptoms do this? 

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Pamper Skin With Vitamin C Injection

Which woman does not want to look beautiful? All women in the world certainly very concerned with beauty of the face. One way to beauty is to rejuvenate the facial skin. 

Rejuvenate facial skin to keep skin does not mean rapid aging. Examples of signs of facial aging such as skin becomes dry and become wrinkled. Symptoms of aging is certainly very disturbing for all the women who always want to look beautiful. 

Many ways to rejuvenate the facial skin, ranging from natural to unnatural. One way of facial skin rejuvenation is bustling done by many women is by injection of vitamin C. 

What is Vitamin C Injection
One vitamin that has an important role in the health of the body is vitamin C. The benefits of vitamin C. The most famous is the increase endurance, but it is also very useful vitamin for healthy skin. 

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Babies 'Twins' Difference mother

They were born almost simultaneously, from the same sperm, different egg, the uterus is also different. 

They call it 'twiblings': two children who were born almost simultaneously, from the same male sperm, the egg woman is different, too different womb. 
Both kids 'twin' was born after his parents, Michael Callahan and Melanie Thernstrom, undergo reproduction program.
The boy came from Michael's sperm and fertilized eggs from two female donors who never published his identity. 
Fertilization in the laboratory reproduction. Once successful, the fetus is deposited into the uterus two pregnant women substitute (surrogate mother). 

How was taken after Melanie experiencing reproductive problems and difficult pregnancy. Together with her husband, Melanie six times failed to undergo IVF. Various reproductive therapy also failed because the eggs problematic.

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You Are Best!

Hmm maybe you often hear "Do not judge the book from its cover". Yes! was not wrong, if we should not judge someone just by appearance alone.

Let's say you go into a shop in department stores, if you do not look cool, in general pramuniaganya will ignore you, or even watching you as if you will steal something from there. Different story if you really keep your appearance, the clerk will give leeway to you, pamper and serve you like a queen. 

Actually there is no wrong side. The clerk is entitled to suspect, because providing services and keeping the goods to be sold is their responsibility. What if they are not too concerned about the goods to be sold, if it is lost or damaged goods, yet they also are going to bear it. 

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10 Steps to Brighten Life With Loving Yourself

We now live in a world that often shows what can and should be done. There are some people who are too imposing their opinions. Some of us are so affected by it so that it is hard to hear our own conscience. 

Do the following, so you can develop confidence, show your true self, and stop hating myself. 

1. Stop worrying about other people's opinions 

Stop worrying about the opinions and reactions of others about your life. Start asking yourself, "When I make a decision, whether I too think about other people's opinions or what I feel?" Give yourself the chance to occupy the first position. 

2. Do it, because you want to do 

Dispose of mind that you do something because they have to do it. All things will be running perfectly if diniati with desire, not necessity. 

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5 Risk Body tattooing

You are a fan of tattoos? If the art of body painting is one of your favorite, be sure to equip yourself with a variety of information around him. Moreover, if you're a beginner who want to experiment.  

Tattoos are permanent will exist forever in certain parts of the body that you want to paint a picture or writing, sign character ourselves.  

This option is entirely a personal right, but it could not hurt to understand well the risks.
Tattoos can cause skin infections or other complications. More specifically, this is the risk of tattoo:  

* Allergies Colored tattoos, especially red, can cause allergic skin reactions in the form. In effect, the skin will feel itchy at the tattooed body part. Allergies are not only of the moment, but can last for years after your body tattooing. 

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More Healthy in the Year 2011

New Year 2011 has arrived, this time for you to enter a new phase. Early years is a good time to make plans and make it happen, especially in the field of health. What are the resolutions that can be made for more healthy and happy in this 2011? 

Diet and nutrition - If you include workers who are busy and have a poor diet, eating smoothies every day is an easy and delicious way to eat more fruit. 

- Want to live a healthier diet? At dinner, imagine your plate divided into four sections. Two sections must contain fruits and vegetables, one portion containing the protein and the rest contain carbohydrates. 

- Do the little things but big benefit, such as eating one serving of fruit and vegetables every day or stop adding salt in cooking. 

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