BOSTON, May 18, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- U.S. medical scientists say they've
found environmental improvements can strengthen the physiological process of
wound healing.
Researchers from the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at
Massachusetts General Hospital and the Boston Shriners Hospital found giving
rats living in isolation the opportunity to build nests led to faster and more
complete healing of burn injuries than was seen in isolation-reared rats without
nest-building materials.
The scientists said they also found evidence that the effect was associated with
altered gene expression in stress-associated structures in the brain.
"These findings are consistent with other animal studies that show how stress
and social deprivation reduce physical well being, but our study is novel in
showing that the detrimental effects on physical health can be reversed by
environmental stimulation" Dr. John Levine, senior author of the paper, said.
The study is reported in the online journal PLoS One.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2009 by United Press International