ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Wednesday, August 11, 2010
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Dying of cold: More heart attacks in cooler weather (August 11, 2010) -- Lower outdoor temperatures are linked to an increase in the risk of heart attacks, according to a new study by scientists in the UK. ... > full story
Molecular imaging identifies high-risk patients with heart disease (August 11, 2010) -- A new study finds that molecular imaging -- a noninvasive imaging procedure -- can identify high-risk patients with potentially life-threatening cardiovascular conditions and help physicians determine which patients are best suited for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy. ... > full story
Stereotyping has a lasting negative impact, new research finds (August 11, 2010) -- Aggression. Over-eating. Inability to focus. Difficulty making rational decisions. New research shows prejudice has a lasting negative impact on those who experience it. ... > full story
Evolutionary surprise: Freedom of neck played major role in human brain evolution, research suggests (August 11, 2010) -- By deciphering the genetics in humans and fish, scientists now believe that the neck -- that little body part between your head and shoulders -- gave humans so much freedom of movement that it played a surprising and major role in the evolution of the human brain, according to neuroscientists. ... > full story
Heart's sounds can help diagnose heart failure, study finds (August 11, 2010) -- A new study concludes that acoustic cardiography, a new technology combining a 12-leed ECG with cardiac acoustic data, can aid physicians in detecting the abnormal third heart sound S3 in the emergency department -- ultimately increasing the accurate diagnosis of acute heart failure in certain subsets of patients. ... > full story
Optical imaging technique for angioplasty (August 11, 2010) -- A new optical imaging technique holds the potential to greatly improve angioplasty, a surgery commonly performed to treat patients with a partially or completely blocked coronary artery that restricts blood flow to the heart. ... > full story
Motion-tracking technology reduces injuries for older adults (August 11, 2010) -- Motion-tracking technology provides images and detailed data that helps patients, physicians and therapists better visualize movements as patients exercise. The visual feedback allows physicians and therapists to monitor recovery and adapt treatment plans, as well as give the patient a better picture of movements that can be dangerous, reducing the chance of future injuries and re-hospitalization. ... > full story
Liability issues limiting recreational use of public school facilities (August 11, 2010) -- Although most public schools have some recreational facilities that could be used outside of regular school hours, concerns over liability have limited their use. In a new study, researchers reviewed the recreational use statues in all 50 states and found that liability protections could be improved, in some cases, with minor legislative changes, consequently opening up school facilities for increased recreational use benefiting the entire community. ... > full story
New insights into how antibodies are made suggests new approach for anti-cancer drug targets (August 10, 2010) -- While investigating how white blood cells known as B cells develop, researchers have discovered that genes from the Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3Ks) family of enzymes are critical in enabling the B cells to produce antibodies in the spleen and lymph nodes. PI3Ks are involved in a diverse range of activities inside cells, generating signalling molecules to control cell growth, proliferation, motility, survival and intracellular trafficking. Faults in these processes can lead to the development of cancer; consequently the PI3Ks are currently among the most hotly pursued drug targets in the pharmaceutical industry. ... > full story
Vitamin B3 as a novel approach to treat fungal infections (August 10, 2010) -- Scientists have identified vitamin B3 as a potential antifungal treatment. Infections by the yeast Candida albicans represent a significant public health problem and a common complication in immunodeficient individuals such as AIDS patients, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and recipients of organ transplants. ... > full story
One in four stroke patients stop taking medication within three months (August 10, 2010) -- A quarter of stroke patients discontinue one or more of their prescribed secondary stroke prevention medications within three months of hospitalization for an acute stroke, according to a new report. ... > full story
Fasting 'feelgood' factor: Holy month of Ramadan reduces volatility in markets, research finds (August 10, 2010) -- A new international study investigating the correlation between the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and stock markets has discovered that the average stock market returns in predominantly Muslim countries were historically almost nine times higher during Ramadan compared to other months of the lunar calendar. ... > full story
Neurochip technology developed: Advances to further brain research of diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's (August 10, 2010) -- Scientists who proved it is possible to cultivate a network of brain cells that reconnect on a silicon chip -- or the brain on a microchip -- have been involved in the development of new technology that monitors brain cell activity at a resolution never achieved before. ... > full story
Improved drug coverage under Medicare associated with increases in antibiotic use (August 10, 2010) -- Antibiotic use appears to have increased among older adults whose prescription drug coverage improved as a result of enrolling in Medicare Part D, with the largest increases for broad-spectrum, newer and more expensive drugs, according to a new report. ... > full story
Human cells can copy not only DNA, but also RNA (August 10, 2010) -- Single-molecule sequencing technology has detected and quantified novel small RNAs in human cells that represent entirely new classes of the gene-translating molecules, confirming a long-held but unproven hypothesis that mammalian cells are capable of synthesizing RNA by copying RNA molecules directly. ... > full story
Distinguishing 'senior moments' from Alzheimer's (August 10, 2010) -- With the help of volunteers aged 18 to 89, researchers have identified for the first time in humans a long-hidden part of the brain called the perforant path. Scientists have struggled for decades to locate the tiny passage, which is believed to deteriorate gradually as part of normal aging and far more quickly due to Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story
New approaches could help defeat HIV (August 10, 2010) -- Drug resistance remains a major problem in combating HIV infection, but a different approach to drug development could be the answer. Current viral inhibitors target the HIV-1 protease function with a competitive mechanism. New research suggests that pharmaceutical companies look at compounds that use an allosteric non-competitive mechanism of inhibition. ... > full story
Imaging study sheds light on neural origins of baby talk (August 10, 2010) -- Neural processing in the brains of parents talking to their babies may reveal secrets about early stages of language acquisition in infants, according to new research that shows for the first time that experience, gender and personality affect how parents process the speech they use when addressing infants. ... > full story
Brain fitness programs may help frail elderly walk faster, study suggests (August 10, 2010) -- Computerized brain fitness programs are known to help seniors improve their memory and focus. Now a new study has found preliminary evidence that such programs may help frail seniors walk faster, potentially preventing disability and improving quality of life. ... > full story
College undergrads study ineffectively on computers, study finds: Students transfer bad study habits from paper to screen (August 10, 2010) -- Despite the prevalence of technology on college campuses, a new study indicates that computers alone can't keep students from falling into the same old weak study habits. ... > full story
Larger waist associated with greater risk of death (August 10, 2010) -- Individuals with a large waist circumference appear to have a greater risk of dying from any cause over a nine-year period, according to a new report. ... > full story
Brain rhythm predicts ability to sleep through a noisy night (August 10, 2010) -- Ever wonder why some people can sleep through just about anything, while others get startled awake at each and every bump in the night? People who have trouble sleeping in noisy environments often resort to strategies like earplugs or noise-canceling headphones that muffle the sound, but a new study may lead to ways to block disturbing sounds within the brain. ... > full story
Computerized warning system alerts doctors to medications that could harm elderly patients (August 10, 2010) -- Adverse drug events occur in an estimated 40 percent of all hospital patients and can be the result of inappropriate medications being ordered. For elderly patients, this can pose a serious risk of complications. Now, a study shows that CPOE systems can help. ... > full story
'Lap-band' weight loss surgery in very obese adults improves mental health, study finds (August 10, 2010) -- One year after weight loss surgery with laparoscopic gastric banding, extremely obese adults demonstrate not only better physical health but also improved psychological health, a new study shows. ... > full story
New strategy to fix a broken heart: Scaffold supports stem cell-derived cardiac muscle cells (August 10, 2010) -- Engineers and physicians have built a scaffold that supports the growth and integration of stem cell-derived cardiac muscle cells. The scaffold supports the growth of cardiac cells in the lab and encourages blood vessel growth in living animals. ... > full story
'Magnetic' solution to identify and kill tumors (August 10, 2010) -- Scientists are developing a new way to destroy tumors with fewer side effects and minimal damage to surrounding tissue. The innovative method uses heat to kill the tumor cells but leaves surrounding healthy tissue intact. Using specific biomarkers attached to individual tumors, the mixture of nano-particles and antibodies locates and binds to the tumor itself. ... > full story
Aggressive control of cardiac risk factors might not benefit all patients with diabetes (August 10, 2010) -- A mathematical model suggests that aggressively pursuing low blood pressure and cholesterol levels may not benefit, and could even harm, some patients with diabetes, according to a new study. ... > full story
Brain responds same to acute and chronic sleep loss, research finds (August 10, 2010) -- Burning the candle at both ends for a week may take an even bigger toll than you thought. ... > full story
Brain's wiring: More like the Internet than a pyramid? (August 10, 2010) -- Neuroscientists have traced circuits in part of the rat brain and find no sign of a top-down hierarchy. The distributed network of the Internet may be a better model, they say. ... > full story
More cancer-fighting power: Mouse with highly effective components of the human immune system (August 10, 2010) -- Researchers have modified T cell receptors, the antenna-like structures of T cells, to make them more potent against cancer. This modification is the precondition for the immune system to destroy cancer cells. The researchers developed a mouse with a whole repertoire of human T cell receptors with the aim of utilizing them in the future for targeted immunotherapy in patients. ... > full story
EEG predicts response to medication for schizophrenia (August 10, 2010) -- Engineering and health sciences researchers have applied machine learning to EEG patterns and successfully predicted how patients with schizophrenia would respond to clozapine therapy. ... > full story
Three biomarkers in spinal fluid appear helpful to classify patients with Alzheimer's disease (August 10, 2010) -- A "signature" consisting of three biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid was present in 90 percent of patients who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease but also was found in more than one-third of cognitively normal older adults, according to a new report. ... > full story
Pilot study supports adolescent diabetes patients through personalized text messages (August 10, 2010) -- A recent study examined weekly, customized text messages to remind adolescent diabetes patients about their personal treatment activities. An increase in overall treatment adherence and improved blood glucose levels was found. ... > full story
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
Clinical trials abroad: Making non-English language consent forms readable (August 10, 2010) -- The first study to look at simplified English-language consent forms translated into another language calls into question the common belief that a translated consent form meets readability standards. ... > full story
Clinical trials: Comprehension unaffected by simplified consent forms or payment, study finds (August 10, 2010) -- Informed consent is an ethical cornerstone in research with humans. Yet some studies suggest that volunteers often don't understand key aspects of the research. Recent efforts aim to improve informed consent by using simpler consent forms. A new study refutes two common assumptions: that the length and complexity of forms affect comprehension and that people who are paid to enroll in research may be "blinded by money" and thus ignore key details of the study. ... > full story
Cross-cultural perspective can help teamwork in the workplace (August 10, 2010) -- In this era of globalization, many companies are expanding into numerous countries and cultures. But they should not take a "one size fits all" approach to their business and management styles. As the authors of a new article point out, people in different cultures think about work in different ways. Being aware of the cultural environment that their coworkers come from may help people work together better. ... > full story
Regional protocols improve quality of care for aortic dissection patients (August 10, 2010) -- Using a standardized protocol within a regional health network, a multidisciplinary acute aortic dissection program resulted in a 43 percent reduction in time to diagnosis for all AAD patients over the course of five years, according to a new study. ... > 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
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