'Master switch' linked to obesity

Scientists have found that a gene linked to diabetes and cholesterol is a "master switch" that controls other genes found in fat in the body, and say it should help in the search for treatments for obesity-related diseases.

In a study published in the journal Nature Genetics, the British researchers say since fat plays an important role in peoples' susceptibility to metabolic diseases like obesity, heart disease and diabetes, the regulating gene could be target for drugs to treat such illnesses.

"This is the first major study that shows how small changes in one master regulator gene can cause a cascade of other metabolic effects in other genes," says Tim Spector of King's College London, who led the study.

Scientists have already identified a gene called KLF14 as being linked to type 2 diabetes and cholesterol levels, but until now they did know what role it played.

In the new study, researchers find a link between the KLF14 gene and the levels of many other distant genes found in fat tissue, showing that KLF14 acts as a master switch to control these genes.

In a report of their study, the researchers explain that other genes found to be controlled by KLF14 are linked to a range of metabolic traits, including body mass index, obesity, cholesterol, insulin and glucose levels.

Time to clear out medicine cabinet

A home medicine cabinet should be cleaned out once a year and all medicines discarded that are either unusable or no longer needed, notes Erika Fink, president of Germany's Federal Chamber of Pharmacists.

"If a medicine's expiry date has passed, it must not be used even if it looks unobjectionable," she warns.

Even when stored properly, with time medicines undergo changes that are seldom outwardly visible. Active ingredients can break down after the use-by date, making medicines' normal dosages too weak. Some medicines that are kept too long can form toxic by-products or become tainted by germs.

Syrups and drops generally keep only a few weeks after being opened, so the date of opening should be recorded. They should be discarded after the advised period of safe use. Bandages and dressings, too, should be replaced after their expiry date because they could become unsterile and cause infections in open wounds.

Ideally, medicines should be kept in their original package with their information leaflet.

The best place for a home medicine cabinet, she says, is the living room or a bedroom because humidity there is lower than in the kitchen or a bathroom. In households with children, the cabinet should be lockable.

In addition to prescription drugs for family members, a home medicine cabinet should contain medications for acute ailments such as pain or diarrhea. Other key items include wound dressings such as gauze bandages and compresses as well as a clinical thermometer and tweezers.

Tai chi is good, but how good?

A review of medical studies gave the thumbs-up on Monday to tai chi as a way of preventing falls and improving mental health in the elderly, but does not confirm other claims made for the Chinese martial art.

British and South Korean researchers looked at 35 assessments of tai chi found in English-language, Chinese and Korean databases.

There was "convincingly positive" evidence that, among the elderly, practicing tai chi helped sense of balance and boosted psychological well-being.

However, the sport "seems to be ineffective" for treating the symptoms of cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, the authors say.

The evidence was contradictory as to whether tai chi improved high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, muscle strength, osteoporosis and other conditions.

Many studies were flawed because they had a poor design or were at high risk of bias. For instance, they enrolled only small numbers of volunteers or lacked an adequate "control" group to ensure a fair comparison.

The overview was conducted by Lee Myeong-soo of the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine in Daejeon, and Edzard Ernst of the University of Exeter, southwestern England.

It appears in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, published by the British Medical Association.

Tai chi entails regular practice of deep breathing and relaxation techniques, combined with slow and gentle movements.

DPA-Reuters