Martes, 08 de Junio de 2010
New system developed for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease
This new system has enhanced successful early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease up to 90% through computer images, which is an important progress. The results obtained from this study have been published in the journals Information Sciences (2010), Neuroscience Letters (2009) and Electronics Letters (2009).
Researchers of the University of Granada have developed a new computer program that allows early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease through processed images. This new system has enhanced successful early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s (...)
Lunes, 24 de Mayo de 2010
Researchers have validated a new test for assessing children’ and teenagers’ fitness to prevent morbidity
Researchers from the University of Granada have concluded that either being overweight or being too thin can affect negatively teenagers’ health. For the purpose of this study, 3,000 Spanish teenagers, 3,500 European teenagers and an additional sample of 126 teenagers from Granada were analysed.
This research was developed by Dr. Enrique Garcia Artero, from the Department of Physiology of the University of Granada, and coordinated by Professor Manuel J. Castillo Garzón. To carry out this project, (...)
Lunes, 17 de Mayo de 2010
Researchers achieve to 'reprogram' stem cells with human heart tissue, which might improve treatments for heart disease
Spanish researchers have employed for the first time adult cells extracted from human heart tissue to turn stem cells from adipose tissue into cardiac myocytes. At present, the use of stem cells in heart disease treatments is one of the most common practices. However, working with stem cells involves many difficulties.
Spanish researchers have employed for the first time adult cells extracted from a human heart to turn stem cells from adipose tissue into cardiac myocytes. (...)
Lunes, 10 de Mayo de 2010
About 94% of breastfeeding mothers do not follow a proper diet
A study conducted at the University of Granada revealed that breastfeeding mothers do not fulfil the recommended diary intake of fat, vitamins A, E and iron. Additionally, their consumption of proteins exceeded the recommended intake. To develop this study, the researcher collected 100 milk samples from 34 breastfeeding mothers from the provinces of Granada and Almeria
The study conducted at the University of Granada revealed that 94% of nursing mothers did not follow a proper diet, (...)
Jueves, 10 de Diciembre de 2009
New reliable method based on patients’ gait helps to diagnose fibromyalgia
Currently, this condition is diagnosed solely by exerting pressure at the tender points, in accordance with the diagnostic criteria of the ACR –the American College of Reumathology–, so it is easy to misinterpret the results. A research conducted at the University of Granada revealed that multidisciplinary and sport therapies are a good alternative to alleviate the symptoms of this syndrome.
A researcher from the University of Granada has designed a reliable method that –combined with the (...)
Viernes, 04 de Diciembre de 2009
Spanish scientists create artificial human skin with optimised biomechanical properties by tissular engineering
A biomaterial fibrin-agarose complexe was used to generate the artificial skin that was later grafted on to athymic nude mice. Optimal skin development, maturation and functionality results were obtained. This finding could be useful in developing new treatment approaches for dermatological pathologies.
Scientists from the University of Granada, Spain, have generated artificial human skin by tissular engineering basing on agarose-fibrin biomaterial. The artificial skin was grafted onto mice, and optimal development, maturation and functionality results were (...)
Martes, 24 de Noviembre de 2009
Scientists achieve early diagnosis of ocular pathologies such as keratitis and age-related macular degeneration
Researchers from the UGR have provided an early diagnosis of certain ocular diseases that are very common today, such as age-related macular degeneration and keratitis, by applying an existing optical technique that, nevertheless, had never before been used for this purpose.Scientists from the UGR have studied the image quality in subjects affected by one of these two pathologies, finding a greater amount of ocular aberrations and a higher level of scattering (term associated with the (...)
Viernes, 20 de Noviembre de 2009
New gene discovered that increases the effectiveness of drugs used to fight cancer and allows a reduction in dosage
Researchers at the University of Granada have found a suicide gene, called 'gene E', which leads to the death of tumour cells derived from breast, lung and colon cancer, and prevents their growth. The importance of this new gene is that its use to fight cancer can reduce the potent drugs that are currently used, so that could mean more effective treatment for cancer.This research was conducted by Ana Rosa Rama Ballesteros, from the Department (...)
Jueves, 12 de Noviembre de 2009
Frequent consumption of certain types of fish during pregnancy and early childhood associated with poorer cognitive performance of children
Children who eat fish more than 3 times per week show a worse performance in the general cognitive, executive and perceptual-manipulative areas. Those with higher levels of exposure to mercury show a generalised delay in cognitive, memory and verbal areas. Mercury is a contaminant found especially in oily fish and canned fish and to a lesser extent in white fish.This conclusion emerges from research conducted at the University of Granada, which warns of the need (...)
Jueves, 08 de Octubre de 2009
A research work proves that role-playing games improve the attitude of Secondary students towards Physical Education
A research work performed at the University of Granada (Spain) has proved that role-playing games have a very positive effect on the knowledge and habits of physical and sports practice from a health viewpoint in students of Secondary Education, as their practice can make that exercise and healthy life habits are more attractive for teenagers.To conduct this work, its authors prepared an intervention program, based on a role-playing game and carried out from the area (...)