Washington, Aug 27 (ANI): An olive leaf extract can lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure in patients with mild hypertension, according to a new study.

According to the study, taking 1000mg of EFLA943 can help do the trick.

These findings came from a 'Twins' trial, in which different treatments were given to identical twins.

By doing this, researchers could increase the power of their data by eliminating some of the uncertainties caused by genetic variations between individual people.

The research is published in the latest edition of Phytotherapy Research.

Hypertension is one of the most common and important disease risk factors imposed by the modern lifestyle. Many people would therefore benefit from finding ways of reducing blood pressure. Experiments in rats had previously indicated that olive leaf extract could be one way of achieving this goal.

To test this in humans, researchers from Switzerland and Germany conducted a pilot trial with 20 identical (monozygotic) twin pairs who had an increased blood pressure. ndividuals were either given placebo capsules or capsules containing doses of 500mg or 1000mg of olive leaf extract EFLA943.

Pairs of twins were assigned to different treatments. After the subjects had taken the extract for eight weeks researchers measured blood pressures as well as collecting data about aspects of life-style.

"The study confirmed that olive leaf extract EFLA943 has antihypertensive properties in humans," says one of the co-authors, Cem Aydogan, General Manager, Frutarom Health.

"This works showed that taking a 1000mg dose has substantial effects in people with borderline hypertension," says Aydogan. (ANI)

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Washington, Aug 27(ANI): Reducing uric acid levels may lower blood pressure in adolescents with high pressure, according to a new study.

Since high blood pressure is usually associated with high uric acid levels, some researches have suggested that elevated uric acid may be one cause of high blood pressure.

But since elevated uric acid levels in high blood pressure could be the result of several factors, high uric acid levels are not currently considered a true risk factor for hypertension.

Now, the latest study, which is published in the Aug. 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, tested whether treatment with allopurinol would reduce blood pressure in 30 11- to 17-year-olds who had high uric acid levels and newly diagnosed high blood pressure.

Daniel I. Feig, of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and his colleagues randomly assigned the participants to receive either allopurinol or a placebo twice a day for four weeks.

After the four weeks, they took no therapy for two weeks. For the final four weeks of the study, the participants received whichever therapy - aallopurinol or placebo - they had not received during the first four weeks.

Allopurinol was associated with a significant decrease in blood pressure.

In fact, 20 of the 30 participants achieved normal blood pressure levels while taking the allopurinol, whereas only one of the 30 achieved normal blood pressure while taking the placebo.

The researchers hope that this study may lead to new treatments for people with high blood pressure. (ANI)

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London, Aug 27 (ANI): Researchers have found all the signs of autism in a strain of noisy laboratory mice that are used to diagnose human beings, a finding that may help them study the complicated genetics of the disorder.

For the study, Maria Luisa Scattoni of the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and colleagues, separated baby mice of different laboratory strains from their mothers.

They found that the pups, which had not yet opened their eyes, made noises aimed to bring their mother back.

These ultrasonic sounds, too low for the human ear to detect, come in 10 different types, from clicking to pure tones.

In the study, most mice used all 10 categories but the vocabulary of one strain, called BTBR, was limited to four calls, focusing on 'harmonics' that contain multiple, simultaneous sounds, like guitar strings plucked together.

BTBR mice also called louder and for longer periods of time.

"This is similar to what others have found in autistic infants," New Scientist quoted Scattoni, as saying.

Autistic 'human' babies with language problems lead them to hum and grunt for extended periods, and squeal loudly and inappropriately. These babies may also cry for extended periods.

Previous studies from the same group have shown that these mice also show the two other symptoms normally used to diagnose human autism, repetitive behaviour and restricted social interaction.

"BTBR is the first [mouse strain] to have all three," said Scattoni.

Most mice used to study autism are transgenic, their DNA contains an extra human gene thought to be involved in the disease.

However, Mady Hornig of Columbia University in New York, said that BTBR mice have been used in laboratories for years, and may provide a more naturalistic tool to study the interaction of the 10 to 15 genes thought to be involved in autism.

"We can begin to understand how the genetic mechanisms may all be working together," she said. (ANI)

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Washington, Aug 27 (ANI): Women who don't drink coffee can still get as much buzz and heart benefits from a cup as regular drinkers, according to a new research.

To reach the conclusion, researchers at University of Alberta in Edmonton compared how 10 women who drank caffeine daily and 10 "caffeine-naive" women who drank less than two servings per week matched up in heart rate, blood pressure, alertness and the ability to perform a tough mental test after drinking a 350-milliliter-sized coffee.

"The take-home message for women is that whether you are hooked on caffeine or not, if you need a boost coffee improves your mental alertness and can have a calming affect on your heart rate," said Michael Kennedy, a professor in exercise physiology in the University of Alberta's Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, lead author on the study.

"In addition, a large coffee has more than enough caffeine to see these changes," he added.

The study subjects were aged 18 to 37.

After eating a normal breakfast, participants were asked to drink a cup of regular coffee containing approximately 140 milligrams of caffeine. After allowing 50 minutes for the absorption of the caffeine, participants in both groups were required to complete two word tasks.

Heart rate, blood pressure and alertness were monitored before and after the test.

Of some concern, noted Kennedy, is that baseline blood pressure taken before the groups digested the caffeine was significantly higher in the habituated coffee drinkers. This indicates that there may be some long-term cardiovascular adjustment to digesting caffeine on a daily basis," said Kennedy, adding that though the sample was small, the results were statistically and clinically significant.

"For people at risk for high blood pressure, if you're a habituated coffee drinker, reducing your caffeine intake would be an effective way of potentially reducing your blood pressure," Kennedy added. (ANI)

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