HEALTH TRENDS

Researchers identify main genes responsible for asthma attacks in children

An international team spearheaded by researchers from the University of Copenhagen has identified the genes that put some children at particularly high risk of serious asthma attacks, including one not previously suspected of being implicated in the disease.

In the long term, these new findings are expected to help improve treatment options for the disease, which represents a high cost for families and society alike.

"Our results show that asthma attacks requiring young children to be hospitalised are usually genetically related. Genes play a far greater role in children with asthma than in adults," noted Klaus Bnnelykke, MD, PhD.

"By screening children's DNA, we've discovered that a gene called CDHR3, which was previously unassociated with the disease, plays a key role for the development of asthma, particularly in the very early years of life. Our study supports the theory that asthma is not just a single disease, but a complex of several sub-types that should be genetically mapped and understood individually if we are to prevent and treat the disease properly in future."

The researchers have studied the genes of 1,200 young children aged between two and six who had been hospitalised several times because of severe asthma attacks, and compared them with 2,500 healthy people.

Energy drinks can change the way your heart beats - study

Energy drinks appear to cause more forceful heart contractions, and those with irregular heartbeat may want to avoid them altogether, caution researchers.

A team from the University of Bonn in Germany imaged the hearts of 17 people an hour after they had an energy drink containing caffeine and taurine, with findings showing more forceful heart contractions after the drink, especially in the left ventricle, which is the chamber of the heart that pumps blood around the body.

"Until now, we haven't known exactly what effect these energy drinks have on the function of the heart," noted researcher Dr Jonas Dorner in a statement.

"The amount of caffeine is up to three times higher than in other caffeinated beverages like coffee or cola."

Caffeine levels in some energy drinks range from about six milligrams to 242 milligrams per serving, and some containers have more than one serving. By comparison, an 8-ounce/236.5 ml cup of coffee has about 100 milligrams.

"There are many side effects known to be associated with a high intake of caffeine including rapid heart rate, palpitations, rise in blood pressure and, in the most severe cases, seizures or sudden death," Dorner stated.

A recent report in the journal Pediatrics found that up to 50 per cent of adolescents and young adults in the United States drink energy drinks on a regular basis.