People whose hair has turned white because of illness or extreme stress are being offered hope that scientists may be able to reverse the process. Researchers from Manchester University and Lubeck University, in Germany, used a molecule to stimulate the pigment responsible for hair colour. But they said the technique still had to be tested on humans and would not reverse the natural greying process. However, experts said the development was an encouraging breakthrough.

The research team recreated a naturally-occurring molecule called K(D)PT, which is very similar to the hormones in the body that stimulate the hair pigment melanin. The researchers took hair follicles from six women aged between 46 and 65 and mimicked two conditions which can turn hair white - a skin disease known as alopecia areata and stress-related disorder telogen effluvium.  They found that, once treated with K(D)PT, the amount of melanin in the follicle increased significantly.

Lead researcher Dr Ralf Paus said the melanin stimulation suggested the technique could be used as an "anti-greying agent".  But he warned it was still early days and it was not known if it could be used to restore hair to its full colour.

Nina Goad, of the British Association of Dermatologists, said: "It's important to note that this is laboratory research and not yet ready for use on patients. "However, while the research is still at a very early stage, these findings could potentially pave the way for new therapies that restore colour to white hair. "At the moment, this research only applies to people whose hair has turned white following illness, but this is an important step for such patients."

Copyright BBC Health News Friday 14th November 2008

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7727320.stm 

US scientists may have uncovered a reason why heart attacks and strokes occur most often in the early hours. The Emory University team say daily rhythms in the activity of cells that line blood vessels may be key. They found the activity of these cells was at its lowest ebb in the early hours of the morning. The study, presented to an American Heart Association conference, suggests this might make blood vessels less able to relax, raising the risk of problems.

Cells called endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from the bone marrow are thought to play an important role in maintaining the lining of the blood vessels. These cells are essentially stem cells that help replace the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels at the site of an injury, and build new vessels at sites deprived of adequate blood supply. The Emory team looked to see whether cell activity, and the properties of the blood vessels changed at different times of the day. They tested 12 healthy middle aged volunteers every four hours throughout a 24-hour period. Both the ability of the blood vessels to relax and EPCs' ability to grow peaked at midnight, while cell numbers peaked at 2000. After that all three measures began to fall away.

Lead researcher Dr Ibhar Al Mheid said: "The lining of our vessels appears to function better at night. "Endothelial function is particularly depressed in the early morning hours." Dr Al Mheid said the results suggested that control was linked to daily, or circadian, rhythms in the brain.

Ellen Mason, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "It has been known for a long time that the number of people having heart attacks seems to peak in the mornings, and researchers continue to try to better understand the mechanisms in the body that could cause this to occur. "What is known is that we all have circadian rhythms, an internal body clock, and that this causes alterations in the biochemistry of our body. "As this study is small, it is important that continuing research looks into how the lining of blood vessels may be affected as we come into the day from the night." 

Copyright BBC Health News Tuesday 11th November 2008 07:55

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7719564.stm

Just one in nine parents of obese or overweight children believe their child has a weight problem, a poll suggests. Health Secretary Alan Johnson said the government survey of nearly 1,200 parents showed many were in denial. The findings were revealed as he unveiled the next steps being taken in the government's public health drive.

Some of the biggest names in the food industry, including Tesco, have signed up to the Change4Life campaign. The measures will be introduced in 2009. The initiatives have been developed following the government's obesity strategy, which was published in January. They have been designed to encourage a "lifestyle revolution" by getting people to exercise more, eat better and live more healthily. Nearly a quarter of adults and a fifth of children are obese, according to the latest figures. But the Department of Health survey of nearly 1,200 parents found only 11.5% recognised weight as an issue when their children were overweight or obese. Parents were also found to underestimate how much unhealthy food they bought and used snacks as rewards, to appease conflict or relieve boredom.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson said: "The message that we received from parents was clear - we recognise that obesity is a big problem, but it's not our problem." He said the solution was not "finger-wagging or lecturing" but being supportive and helpful. He said that was why supermarket chains and manufacturers were being brought on board.

Tesco and Asda have signed up to offer promotions on healthy food, which could include cut-price fruit and vegetables. And Kellogg's will be investing £100,000 in breakfast clubs and £240,000 in swimming programmes. The Advertising Association is promising that its members will provide £200m of free promotional activity over the next four years. This will be kick-started by an advertising campaign featured on ITV early next year encouraging people to adopt healthy lifestyles.

Advertising Association chief executive Baroness Peta Buscombe said: "Businesses must be part of the solution to tackling obesity in the UK. "By harnessing the immense talents in this country in advertising, marketing and media, we believe we can make a real difference and bring about real change." The Change4Life campaign announcement comes a day after the government announced the nine areas that are to share a £30m pot to become "healthy towns".

Copyright BBC Health News Tuesday 11th November 00:29

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7720398.stm

Cells have been successfully engineered in the laboratory to overcome one of HIV's most effective defence mechanisms, say researchers. The immune system cells, created by UK and US scientists, can lock on to HIV, even after it has mutated to throw them off the scent. It is hoped the Nature Medicine study could lead to a more effective way of tackling HIV infection. Tests on people with advanced HIV may start next year.

Most viruses can be "cleared" by the body's own defences, partly due to cells called "killer T-cells", which learn to recognise the intruder and eliminate it. However, HIV's power stems from its ability to mutate rapidly to evade detection and destruction. The project underway at the Universities of Cardiff and Pennsylvania, in partnership with an Oxford-based biotech company, involves the creation "souped-up" T-cells with the ability to recognise and attack more of these mutated forms. To do this, the scientists attach extra versions of the "T-cell receptor", the part of the cell responsible for scanning and removing infected cells, which have been preset to identify various HIV mutations. In laboratory studies, the modified T-cells were able to destroy HIV cells in a laboratory cell culture.

Professor Andy Sewell, from Cardiff, said that he hoped that in humans, the effect would be equally devastating to the virus. "In the face of our engineered assassin cells, the virus will either die or be forced to change its disguises again, weakening itself along the way. "We'd prefer the first option but I suspect we'll see the latter. Even if we do only cripple the virus, this will still be a good outcome, as it is likely to become a much slower target and be easier to pick off. "Forcing the virus to a weaker state would likely reduce its capacity to transmit within the population and may help slow or even prevent the onset of AIDS in individuals."

Dr Ade Fakoya, from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, said that the work essentially amounted to an "enhanced detection" system to detect HIV as it lay hidden in cells. However, he warned that it might not be a suitable strategy for everyone with HIV. "It is very interesting basic research and as such really does contribute to our knowledge of what might work as a immunological treatment strategy. It is early days in the search for an effective immune based treatment for HIV. One limitation however is that the immunological assassins generated by this technology are done using a specific part of the receptor of the active cells. "The genetic make up of these receptors do vary with different racial populations."

Garry Brough, from the HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust, described the research as "potentially very good news for people living with HIV".

Copyright BBC Health News Monday 10th November 10:11

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7716449.stm