ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Tuesday, August 10, 2010
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Plasma beta-amyloid levels associated with cognitive decline (August 10, 2010) -- High plasma levels of beta-amyloid -- protein fragments associated with Alzheimer's disease when they accumulate in the brain -- appear to be associated with faster cognitive decline even in those who do not develop dementia, according to a new report. ... > full story
Proton pump inhibitors are a risk factor for C. difficile reinfection, study finds (August 10, 2010) -- Clostridium-difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) is the most common cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea. Although initial response rates to specific antibiotic therapy exceed 90 percent, 10-30 percent of patients experience disease recurrence. Risk factors influence CDAD recurrence are not yet fully understood. A research group in Korea investigated the risk factors for CDAD recurrence. Advanced age, serum albumin levels less than 2.5g/dL and use of PPIs were found to be significant risk factors for CDAD recurrence. ... > full story
Demographic disparities found among children with frequent ear infections (August 10, 2010) -- Research has documented that ethnic and socioeconomic disparities exist among patients with conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Now, a new study has found disparities among children suffering from repeated ear infections. ... > full story
Respiratory symptoms more reliable indicator of H1N1, not fever alone (August 10, 2010) -- New research shows that individuals with mild H1N1 infection may go undetected using standard diagnostic criteria, according to a new study. The study concludes that coughing or other respiratory symptoms are more accurate in determining influenza infection than presence of a fever. ... > full story
New 'dentist' test to detect oral cancer will save lives (August 10, 2010) -- A new test for oral cancer, which a dentist could perform by simply using a brush to collect cells from a patient's mouth, is set to be developed by researchers. ... > full story
Factors associated with rate of visual field change in patients with glaucoma identified (August 10, 2010) -- Patients with glaucoma appear to have more rapid visual field change if they are older or if they have abnormal levels of anticardiolipin antibody (an antibody directed against a certain protein in the body), according to a new report. Reducing intraocular pressure -- the pressure within the eyeball -- modestly in these patients appears to ameliorate the rate at which they experience declines in visual field. ... > full story
Smaller hospitals can provide safe and high-quality surgical care comparable to larger counterparts, study finds (August 10, 2010) -- Smaller, rural hospitals may be quicker and more efficient at implementing surgical safety initiatives than their larger, urban counterparts, and are capable of providing a standard of surgical care that is at par with major hospitals that provide a comprehensive array of care services, according to an 18-month series of studies. ... > full story
Scientists map all mammalian gene interactions (August 9, 2010) -- In one of the first efforts of its kind, researchers have taken mammalian genome maps, including human maps, one step further by showing not just the order in which genes fall in the genome but which genes actually interact. The findings will help researchers better understand which genes work together and shed light on how they collaborate to help cells thrive or die. ... > full story
Brain pathways linking social stress and inflammation identified (August 9, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that how your brain responds to social stressors can influence the body's immune system in ways that may negatively affect health. ... > full story
Electrical activity in developing brain influences choice of neurotransmitter (August 9, 2010) -- Cascades of genetic signals determine which neurotransmitter a brain cell will ultimately use to communicate with other cells. Now a pair of reports have shown for the first time that electrical activity in these developing neurons can alter their chemical fate -- and change an animal's behavior -- by tweaking this genetic program. ... > full story
Lubricating the knee cartilage after anterior cruciate ligament repair may prevent osteoarthritis (August 9, 2010) -- While anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries can often be corrected through surgery, they can lead to increased risk of developing degenerative joint diseases, including osteoarthritis. The fluid in the knee joint, which lubricates the cartilage, is impacted by the trauma of the injury and begins to deteriorate. A new study identifies options for restoring that lubrication to potentially prevent development of OA. ... > full story
Corporal punishment of children remains common worldwide, studies find (August 9, 2010) -- Spanking and other forms of corporal punishment of children are still common in the US and worldwide, despite bans in 24 countries. ... > full story
What makes a good egg and healthy embryo? Zinc discovery may help in future fertility treatments (August 9, 2010) -- Scientists and fertility doctors have long tried to figure out what makes a good egg that will produce a healthy embryo. It's a critical to know which eggs isolated from a woman will produce the best embryos and ultimately babies. New research reveals eggs need a tremendous dose of zinc to reach maturity and be ready for fertilization -- a finding that may ultimately help physicians assess the best eggs for fertility treatment. ... > full story
New methods, new math speed detection of drug-resistant malaria (August 9, 2010) -- Researchers developed techniques to quickly identify evolution of drug resistance in strains of malaria. Their goal is to enable the medical community to react quickly to inevitable resistance and thereby save lives while increasing the lifespan of drugs used against the disease. ... > full story
Compact microscope a marvel: Matches performance of expensive lab gear in diagnosing TB (August 9, 2010) -- New research shows that a portable, battery-operated fluorescence microscope, which costs 0, stacks up nicely against devices that retail for as much as ,000 in diagnosing signs of tuberculosis. ... > full story
Essential ingredients of supportive sibling relationships (August 9, 2010) -- Many moms and dads say the toughest part of parenting is keeping the peace when their kids squabble and bicker. But making an end to conflict your primary focus is a mistake, according to experts. ... > full story
Prosthesis with information at its fingertips: Hand prosthesis that eases phantom pain (August 9, 2010) -- The pain of losing a body part is twofold, as patients not only suffer from wound pain. Often they are also affected by so called phantom pain. Unlike bodily wounds which will eventually heal, phantom pain often lasts for years and sometimes a lifetime. Now scientists in Germany have modified conventional hand prostheses in order to reduce phantom pain after an underarm amputation. ... > full story
Biochemist proposes worldwide policy change to step up daily vitamin D intake (August 9, 2010) -- An expert in vitamin D proposes worldwide policy changes regarding people's vitamin D daily intake amount in order to maximize the vitamin's contribution to reducing the frequency of many diseases, including childhood rickets, adult osteomalacia, cancer, autoimmune type-1 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity and muscle weakness. ... > full story
How blocking the 'Programmed Death 1' protein may treat or prevent sepsis and severe infection (August 9, 2010) -- Scientists have made an important discovery that could lead to new drugs that reduce the severity of blood infections leading to sepsis. New research shows how interfering with the function of the cell membrane protein called "Programmed Death 1" improves survival in a clinically relevant model of severe infection. ... > full story
People think immoral behavior is funny -- but only if it also seems benign (August 9, 2010) -- What makes something funny? Philosophers have been tossing that question around since Plato. Now two psychological scientists think they've come up with the formula: humor comes from a violation or threat to the way the world ought to be that is, at the same time, benign. ... > full story
Inhibiting prostate cancer without disturbing regular body processes (August 9, 2010) -- A kinase is a type of enzyme the body uses to regulate the functions of the proteins required for cell growth and maintenance, and researchers have discovered that one in particular plays a key role in developing prostate cancer. ... > full story
Familial link found in rare childhood leukemia (August 9, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered a direct link between an inherited genetic mutation, a set of developmental abnormalities and a rare form of childhood leukemia called juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, or JMML. The study demonstrates a new familial link in JMML and has significant implications, the researchers say, for improving the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. ... > full story
Competing for a mate can shorten lifespan (August 9, 2010) -- Men who reach sexual maturity in a context where males outnumber females don't live as long as men whose numbers roughly equaled females' and faced less competition for a mate. ... > full story
In breakthrough, nerve connections are regenerated after spinal cord injury (August 9, 2010) -- Researchers for the first time have induced robust regeneration of nerve connections that control voluntary movement after spinal cord injury, showing the potential for new therapeutic approaches to paralysis and other motor function impairments. ... > full story
Bariatric surgery in diabetic adults improves insulin sensitivity better than diet, study finds (August 9, 2010) -- Gastric bypass surgery improves type 2 diabetes by other mechanisms in addition to weight loss and does so better than a low-calorie diet despite achieving equal weight loss, a new study finds. ... > full story
Genetic differences that make some people susceptible to meningitis revealed in major new study (August 9, 2010) -- Genetic differences that make some people susceptible to developing meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, and others naturally immune, are revealed in a new study of over 6,000 people. The research is the largest ever genetic study of meningitis and septicaemia caused by meningococcal bacteria. ... > full story
Doctors not strongly encouraging HPV vaccine to girls of certain age; National guidelines not closely followed, survey finds (August 9, 2010) -- The vast majority of pediatricians and family physicians nationally are offering the human papillomavirus (also called HPV) vaccine, though fewer physicians are strongly encouraging it for 11- to 12-year-old girls as recommended by national guidelines, according to a survey. ... > full story
New anti-viral drug shows promise for dramatic improvement in hepatitis C treatment (August 9, 2010) -- Adding a direct acting anti-viral drug to the standard treatment regimen for hepatitis C significantly increases the cure rate in the most difficult to treat patients, according to a new study. ... > full story
Genome study identifies genetic variant linked to TB susceptibility in Africans (August 9, 2010) -- Scientists have identified a genetic variant which increases susceptibility to tuberculosis in African populations using a technique known as a genome-wide association study. This is the first novel disease variant to be identified using this technique in Africans and demonstrates that such studies are viable in African populations, which have a high degree of genetic diversity. ... > full story
Autism: Lack of evidence for antidepressants, study concludes (August 9, 2010) -- Antidepressants commonly prescribed to people with autistic spectrum disorders cannot be recommended based on current evidence, a new study concludes. Despite some evidence of benefits in adults diagnosed with autism, they say there is no evidence for any benefits associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in children, who may suffer serious adverse effects as a result of taking the drugs. ... > full story
Gain and loss in optimistic versus pessimistic brains (August 9, 2010) -- Our belief as to whether we will likely succeed or fail at a given task -- and the consequences of winning or losing -- directly affects the levels of neural effort put forth in movement-planning circuits in the human cortex, according to a new brain-imaging study by neuroscientists. ... > full story
Discovery may aid remission of ulcerative colitis (August 9, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a specific chemical that may trigger remission in patients with ulcerative colitis. ... > full story
Popular diabetes drugs associated with fractures in type 2 diabetic patients, study finds (August 9, 2010) -- Postmenopausal women with diabetes taking thiazolidinediones (TZDS), including rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, may be at increased risk for fractures, according to a new study. Men with diabetes taking both loop diuretics and TZDs may also be at increased risk of fractures. ... > full story
Mental health outcomes in children in foster care improved with mentoring, skills development (August 9, 2010) -- Incorporating mentoring and group skill-building intervention programs for children in foster care may help improve mental health outcomes in this population, according to a new report. ... > full story
New approach to Alzheimer’s therapy (August 9, 2010) -- Researchers have shown that the ADAM10 protein can inhibit the formation of beta-amyloid, which is responsible for Alzheimer's disease. ADAM10 acts like a pair of molecular scissors to cut the protein from which beta-amyloid is formed, effectively preventing the formation of beta-amyloid. This makes ADAM10 a key molecule in Alzheimer's therapy. ... > full story
Scientists post lower speed limit for cell-signaling protein assembly (August 9, 2010) -- The apparently random self-assembly of molecular threads into the proteins that make the body work is far less frantic than previously thought, scientists say. That discovery could be a key to help unlock the nature of some diseases. How proteins spontaneously "fold" from wiggling chains of amino acids into a wide variety of functional -- or malfunctioning -- 3-D molecules is one of the biggest mysteries in biochemistry. ... > full story
Whole breast irradiation guidelines released (August 9, 2010) -- The American Society for Radiation Oncology has released evidence-based guidelines to define appropriate fractionation of whole breast irradiation (WBI), finding that hypofractionated WBI is effective for many patients with early-stage breast cancer. ... > full story
'Path of mental illness' follows path of war, 20 years after conflict ends (August 9, 2010) -- Researchers assessed the geographical distribution of the long-term burden of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a region of Liberia and report that the prevalence of PTSD remains high nearly two decades after the principal conflict there and five years after war in Liberia ended entirely. Particularly interesting was the geographic distribution of PTSD. Investigators found that certain villages in the region had a much higher prevalence of PTSD than did others. ... > full story
Telemedicine for maintaining health of oil rig workers (August 9, 2010) -- Without hands-on access to doctors and hospitals, oil rig workers who become sick or injured increasingly rely on telemedicine "visits" with physicians and specialists on land, a trend explored in detail in a new article. ... > full story
Not all kidney patients treated equal: Differences in care for patients beginning on dialysis (August 9, 2010) -- Kidney disease patients insured by some federally sponsored national health care organizations are more likely to undergo an important predialysis procedure than patients with other types of insurance, according to a new study. The results may provide insights into ways to improve kidney-related care for patients before they go on dialysis. ... > full story
Protein that shuttles RNA into cell mitochondria discovered (August 8, 2010) -- Researchers have uncovered a role for an essential cell protein in shuttling RNA into the mitochondria, the energy-producing "power plant" of the cell. ... > full story
Alzheimer's disease: Some cells more prone to death (August 8, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered that hyperploid neurons, which have greater than the normal number of chromosomes, are more prone to cell death in Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story
Death dance reveals secrets of apoptosis in dissociated human embryonic stem cells (August 8, 2010) -- Researchers in Japan have unraveled the mystery of why human embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis) when cultured in isolation. By unlocking the potential of cell therapy techniques, the discovery promises new hope to sufferers of debilitating degenerative diseases. ... > full story
Rushing too fast to online learning? Outcomes of Internet versus face-to-face instruction (August 8, 2010) -- A new study suggests simply putting traditional classes online may have negative consequences, especially for lower-performing and minority students. ... > full story
Light shed on triglyceride metabolism (August 8, 2010) -- New findings are offering new leads as to why some people might suffer from high levels of triglycerides. High triglycerides are a risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. They can also lead to inflammation of the pancreas, the researchers said. ... > full story
Surgery better than radiation, hormone treatments for some prostate cancer, study shows (August 8, 2010) -- Surgery for localized prostate cancer offers a significantly higher survival rate than either external-beam radiation or hormonal therapies, according to a new study. ... > full story
Tests help predict falls in Parkinson's disease (August 8, 2010) -- A group of tests may help predict which people with Parkinson's disease are more likely to fall, according to a new study. ... > full story
Key mechanism in brain's computation of sound location identified (August 7, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a mechanism the brain uses to help process sound localization. Their findings focus on how the brain computes the different arrival times of sound into each ear to estimate the location of its source. ... > full story
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