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Why should you get a testosterone test?
Date: 2013-04-15 00:00:00

When people think of important blood tests that can help them learn about their health, they probably think of cholesterol and heart disease testing, but there are many more. For example, lab tests can help measure testosterone levels as well, which is a test that men and even some women may want to consider. Testosterone tests can indicate a number of health issues, making education key to ensuring overall well-being.

Taking a testosterone test can identify abnormal levels of the hormone in the blood. While some people think of testosterone as primarily a male hormone, it is also found in small amounts in women and plays a large role in sexual functioning for both genders.

What does the test show?... Full Story

Hormone imbalances can lead to health issues
Date: 2013-08-22 00:00:00

An imbalance of hormones in women can lead to a variety of health issues. These problems can affect women before and after menopause and can be incredibly severe. Many of these issues are due to simple fluctuations in hormone levels that may be helped with diet and exercise. A lab test can reveal if hormone levels are off-balance.

Symptoms... Full Story

Study shows strong link between fast food, Type 2 diabetes
Date: 2013-11-10 00:00:00

A new study has shown that there is a strong link between regular fast food consumption and the development of Type 2 diabetes. Published in the European Journal of Nutrition, the study showed that eating fast food can increase the risk of diabetes by 70 percent, according to lab tests.

Fast food and diabetes ... Full Story

New drug approach could lead to cures for multiple diseases
Date: 2013-12-09 00:00:00

Following research conducted by the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, a new approach to treating misfolded proteins could lead to cures for a wide range of diseases. Lab tests carried out on mice may bring about revolutionary changes in treatment for ailments such as cystic fibrosis and cataracts.

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was led by Michael Conn, Ph.D., former professor of physiology and pharmacology at OHSU. His team looked to discover a new method to fix misfolded proteins and restore them to make cells function correctly. Using male mice incapable of fathering offspring, the researchers were able to cure the mice and perfect the process through lab testing. They believe the same treatment could be used on humans.

"The opportunity here is going to be enormous because so many human diseases are caused by misfolded proteins. The ability of these drugs - called 'pharmacoperones' - to rescue misfolded proteins and return them to normalcy could someday be an underlying cure to a number of diseases," affirmed Conn.

Previously, scientists believed inactive proteins were naturally non functional. But Conn and his team of researchers showed that when the proteins were misfolded, their purpose was rerouted and caused a malfunction. The pharmacoperones are used to correct the routing problem and correctly fold proteins for functioning.

"We expect that these studies will change the way drug companies look for drugs, since current screening procedures would have missed many useful pharmacoperone drugs."

According to Conn, the next step in the process will be clinical trials on humans.

What are misfolded proteins?... Full Story