ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Friday, August 27, 2010
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Analysis of Ashkenazi Jewish genomes reveals diversity, history (August 27, 2010) -- Through genomic analysis, researchers have shown that the Ashkenazi Jewish population is genetically more diverse than people of European descent, despite previous assumptions that Ashkenazi Jews have been an isolated population. In addition, analyses of disease-related genes of higher prevalence in the Ashkenazi Jewish population indicate that only a minority of traits show signs of positive selection, suggesting that most have arisen through random genetic drift. ... > full story
Macrophages: The 'defense' cells that help throughout the body (August 27, 2010) -- The term "macrophage" conjures images of a hungry white blood cell gobbling invading bacteria. However, macrophages do much more than that: Not only do they act as antimicrobial warriors, they also play critical roles in immune regulation and wound-healing. They can respond to a variety of cellular signals and change their physiology in response to local cues. ... > full story
Genetic rarity found: A mutation that restores health (August 27, 2010) -- Errors in the copying of genes during cell division can cause numerous diseases, including cancer. Scientists, however, have unraveled the secrets of a much more rare phenomenon with potential therapeutic implications -- disease-causing genes that show a high frequency of self-repair. ... > full story
Two heads are better than one -- with the right partner (August 27, 2010) -- In the new age of coalition governments, the question of whether two heads are better than one is more relevant than ever. Neuroscientists now show that two heads can be better than one -- but only if you have the right partner. ... > full story
First 3-D atomic view of key genetic processes (August 27, 2010) -- Scientists have created the first 3-D picture of genetic processes that happen inside every cell of our bodies. The picture is the first-ever image of a protein interacting with DNA in its tightly packed "nucleosome" form. The research, which reveals new information about genetic processes, is expected to aid future investigations into diseases such as cancer. ... > full story
Fat serves as cells' built-in pH sensor (August 27, 2010) -- A specific type of fat present in cell membranes also serves as a cellular pH sensor, researchers have discovered. ... > full story
Researchers urge reclassification of traumatic brain injury as chronic disease (August 27, 2010) -- Traumatic brain injury, currently considered a singular event by the insurance industry and many health care providers, is instead the beginning of an ongoing process that impacts multiple organ systems and may cause or accelerate other diseases and disorders that can reduce life expectancy, according to new research. ... > full story
Adulteration of milk products and pet food with melamine underscores weaknesses of traditional methods, experts say (August 27, 2010) -- Recent incidents of adulteration involving infant formula, other milk products and pet food with the industrial chemical melamine revealed the weaknesses of current methods widely used across the domestic and global food industry for determining protein content in foods. The possible utility of alternative existing and emerging methods is the subject of a new paper. ... > full story
Students need help to save money, but don't always know it, study finds (August 27, 2010) -- Students could use help saving more money, but they don't always know it. If they were offered a simple way to do so, would they take it? A new study suggests the answer is no. And the reason is that their very good intentions can give rise to a sense of optimism that leads them to undervalue opportunities that could make it easier to actually achieve a long-term savings goal. ... > full story
Nerve cell production linked to memory in humans (August 26, 2010) -- Production of new nerve cells in the human brain is linked to learning and memory, according to a new study. The research is the first to show such a link in humans. The findings provide clues about processes involved in age- and health-related memory loss and reveal potential cellular targets for drug therapy. ... > full story
Healthy ears hear the first sound, ignoring the echoes, barn owl study finds (August 26, 2010) -- Voices carry, reflect off objects and create echoes. Most people rarely hear the echoes; instead they only process the first sound received. For the hard of hearing, though, being in an acoustically challenging room can be a problem. For them, echoes carry. ... > full story
More research needed on cardiovascular disease in Asian-Americans, experts say (August 26, 2010) -- There are marked differences in heart disease risk and occurrence among Asian-American subgroups, but data on these subgroups is limited, prompting the American Heart Association to call for more research on this fastest-growing racial/ethnic group in the U.S., according to experts in a new statement. ... > full story
Child abuse declines nationally in U.S. in spite of economic deterioration, study finds (August 26, 2010) -- Child abuse declined nationally in the United States in 2008 compared to 2007, according to a new report. Sexual abuse declined 6 percent, physical abuse 3 percent and neglect 2 percent. ... > full story
Toward safer foods for human consumption with anthrax protection (August 26, 2010) -- An antibacterial enzyme found in human tears and other body fluids could be applied to certain foods for protection against intentional contamination with anthrax, scientists say. ... > full story
Fat distribution plays a role in weight loss success in patients at risk of diabetes (August 26, 2010) -- Why is it that some people lose weight and body fat when they exercise and eat less and others don't? Researchers say MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy can provide the answer -- and help predict who will benefit from lifestyle changes. ... > full story
'Legacy of Katrina' report details impact of stalled recovery on mental health status of children (August 26, 2010) -- Five years after Hurricane Katrina and the flooding of New Orleans caused the evacuation of 1.5 million Gulf Coast residents, substantial consequences from this prolonged displacement have resulted in widespread mental health issues in children living in the region, and 60 percent of children -- as many as 20,000 -- displaced by Katrina either have serious emotional disorders behavioral issues and/or are experiencing significant housing instability. ... > full story
Use the common cold virus to target and disrupt cancer cells? (August 26, 2010) -- A novel mechanism used by adenovirus to sidestep the cell's suicide program could go a long way to explain how tumor suppressor genes are silenced in tumor cells and pave the way for a new type of targeted cancer therapy, researchers report. ... > full story
A moment on the lips, a year on the hips (August 26, 2010) -- A short period of excess food consumption can have long term effects on your body weight and fat storage even after the initial weight is lost. A new study has found that a four-week episode of increased energy intake and decreased exercise can cause increased weight and fat mass more than two years later when compared to control individuals. ... > full story
Supplement produces a 'striking' endurance boost (August 26, 2010) -- Taking a dietary supplement to boost nitric oxide in the body can significantly boost stamina during high-intensity exercise. The study has important implications for athletes, as results suggest that taking the supplement can allow people to exercise up to 20 percent longer and could produce a 1-2 percent improvement in race times. ... > full story
Early diagnosis of degenerative brain disorders: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy can distinguish between neurological diseases in patients without clear symptoms (August 26, 2010) -- A team of American scientists claims that a new method of testing for neurological diseases could provide doctors with a rapid and noninvasive method of diagnosing degenerative disorders. The research reveals that magnetic resonance spectroscopy can distinguish between different disorders in patients, allowing earlier diagnosis. ... > full story
Federal school lunches -- but not breakfasts -- linked to childhood obesity, research finds (August 26, 2010) -- Children who eat school lunches that are part of the U.S. federal government's National School Lunch Program are more likely to become overweight, according to new research. Yet children who eat both the breakfast and lunch sponsored by the federal government are less heavy than children who don't participate in either, and than children who eat only the lunch, says an economist. ... > full story
Insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes linked to plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease (August 26, 2010) -- People with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes appear to be at an increased risk of developing plaques in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to new research. ... > full story
How the brain shifts between sleep/awake states under anesthesia (August 26, 2010) -- An estimated 25 million patients per year in the U.S. undergo surgeries using general anesthesia, but scientists have only been able to hypothesize how anesthetics interact with the CNS. Now, researchers have established in animal models that the brain comes in and out of a state of induced unconsciousness through different processes. ... > full story
Advanced melanoma: New targeted therapy successful in more than 80 percent of patients (August 26, 2010) -- Use of an experimental targeted drug to treat metastatic melanoma tumors with a specific genetic signature was successful in more than 80 percent of patients in a phase 1 clinical trial. Results of the trial of PLX4032, an inhibitor of a protein called BRAF that is overactive in more than half of all melanomas, appear in a new study. ... > full story
Banana plantain fibers could treat Crohn's disease, research suggests (August 26, 2010) -- Scientists have found that soluble fibers found in plantain, a type of large banana, could be used to treat patients with Crohn's disease. ... > full story
Gene therapy to treat epilepsy a step closer (August 26, 2010) -- Current antiepileptic drugs have many side-effects, among others slowing down brain activity, which in turn reduces patients’ ability to react. These side-effects could be eliminated if genes that counteract seizures could be introduced into the brain. New research from Sweden shows promising results in animal experiments. ... > full story
Buzz off: Popular insect repellents pack a powerful 'one-two' punch (August 26, 2010) -- Fire up the citronella-scented tiki torches, and slather on the DEET: Everybody knows these simple precautions repel insects, notably mosquitoes, whose bites not only itch and irritate, but also transmit diseases such as West Nile virus, malaria and dengue. Now, scientists have discovered what it is in the bugs' molecular makeup that enables citronellal (the aromatic liquid used in lotions, sprays and candles) and DEET, to deter insects from landing and feeding on you. ... > full story
Applying stem cell technology to liver diseases (August 26, 2010) -- Great excitement greeted the discovery a few years ago that certain cells from mice and humans could be reprogrammed to become inducible pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) as they hold promise for cell replacement therapy and modeling human disease. Two independent research groups have now shown that both possibilities are true for iPS cell-derived liver cells known as hepatocytes. ... > full story
Sad mothers have small babies, rural Bangladesh study finds (August 26, 2010) -- Clinical depression and anxiety during pregnancy results in smaller babies that are more likely to die in infancy, according to new research. The study, which focused on women living in rural Bangladesh, provides the first finding of its kind in a non-Western population. The research indicates that mental health issues are likely to be a primary contributor to infant mortality and poor child health, above poverty, malnutrition or low socio-economic status. ... > full story
BPA and testosterone levels: First evidence for small changes in men (August 26, 2010) -- Researchers have for the first time identified changes in sex hormones associated with bisphenol A exposure in men, in a large population study. BPA is a chemical commonly used in food and drink containers. ... > full story
Waiting for the right moment: Bacterial pathogens delay their entry into cells (August 26, 2010) -- Pathogens make themselves feel at home in the human body, invading cells and living off the plentiful amenities on offer. However, researchers reveal an opposite strategy used to ensure infection success. Pathogens can actually delay their entry into cells to ensure their survival. Upon cell contact, bacteria trigger a local strengthening of the cellular skeleton with the aid of signalling molecules, allowing them to remain outside the cell. The researchers also show that this strategy, unknown until now, is used by certain intestinal pathogens as well. ... > full story
Gene involved in Fuchs corneal dystrophy is found (August 26, 2010) -- A research team has found a gene likely responsible for Fuchs corneal dystrophy, an inheritable genetic disorder and leading cause of corneal transplant operations. ... > full story
Doctors' religious beliefs strongly influence end-of-life decisions, study finds (August 26, 2010) -- Atheist or agnostic doctors are almost twice as willing to take decisions that they think will hasten the end of a very sick patient's life as doctors who are deeply religious, new research suggests. ... > full story
Structural basis for autism disorders (August 26, 2010) -- There is still much that is unknown about autism, but a psychologist has completed a six-year study of brain tissue that, for the first time, provided physical evidence of short-range over-connectivity in the outer layer of the brain's cortex in those with autism. ... > full story
Copy number variation found to cause rare kidney disease (August 26, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a rare form of kidney disease linked to a genetic mutation in the innate immune system. So far, the disease, which the researchers have named CFHR5 nephropathy, has been identified in over one hundred people, all of whom are of Cypriot descent, including some living in the UK. Symptoms include blood in the urine – both microscopic and, occasionally, visible – and progressive kidney malfunction. ... > full story
Mothers abused by partners see decline in mental health even after relationship ends (August 26, 2010) -- Even after leaving a violent or controlling relationship, the mental health of mothers may actually get worse before it gets better, a new study suggests. Researchers found that in the two years after the end of an abusive relationship, mothers showed poorer mental health, became more depressed and maintained high levels of anxiety. In those areas, they were no better off than women who stayed in abusive relationships. ... > full story
Common blood changes not independent predictor of adverse outcomes for kidney disease patients, study finds (August 26, 2010) -- Fluctuations in blood composition that often arise from commonly used therapies among kidney disease patients are not an independent predictor of adverse outcomes for European hemodialysis patients, according to a new study. The results suggest that although hemoglobin variability is common in kidney disease patients, it does not appear to increase their likelihood of dying early. ... > full story
Freeze or run? Not that simple: Scientists discover neural switch that controls fear (August 25, 2010) -- Scientists have identified the specific type of neurons that determine how mice react to a frightening stimulus, showing that deciding whether or not to freeze in fear is a more complex task for our brains than we realized. ... > full story
Cold salt water reduces damage in heart attack patients (August 25, 2010) -- Treating heart attack patients with hypothermia reduces the amount of heart damage by more than one third after balloon angioplasty. Researchers in Sweden have released the results of a study showing that the amount of heart damage in heart attack patients whose body temperature was lower than 35 degrees C (95 degrees F) was reduced by more than one third after they were treated with balloon angioplasty to open their clogged heart vessel. ... > full story
Antiviral gene helps suppress jumping of AIDS viruses between host species (August 25, 2010) -- The human AIDS viruses originated as viruses of apes and monkeys, respectively, yet little is known about whether or how these invaders adapted to the new genetic "environment" encountered in humans. One group of host genes, collectively known as restriction factors, is thought to influence the ability of such viruses to move between different primate species. ... > full story
New test allows individualized profiles of cigarette smoking (August 25, 2010) -- A test for one of the thousands of chemicals in cigarette smoke has the potential for more accurately estimating smokers' mouth level exposure and may have applications for developing custom-tailored quitting approaches for the more than 43 million people in the United States who still smoke, and hundreds of millions elsewhere, scientists report. ... > full story
Spouses do not grow more alike, study finds (August 25, 2010) -- Contrary to popular belief, married couples do not become more similar over time, according to new research. ... > full story
Seeing the world with new eyes: Biosynthetic corneas restore vision in humans (August 25, 2010) -- A new study from researchers in Canada and Sweden has shown that biosynthetic corneas can help regenerate and repair damaged eye tissue and improve vision in humans. The results are from an early phase clinical trial with 10 patients. ... > full story
New mechanism of memory formation discovered (August 25, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered a mechanism that plays a critical role in the formation of long-term memory. The findings shed substantial new light on aspects of how memory is formed, and could lead to novel treatments for memory disorders. ... > full story
Microneedle, quantum dot study opens door to new clinical cancer tools (August 25, 2010) -- Researchers have developed extremely small microneedles that can be used to deliver medically-relevant nanoscale dyes called quantum dots into skin -- an advance that opens the door to new techniques for diagnosing and treating a variety of medical conditions, including skin cancer. ... > full story
Up to one in four patients reports more physical problems a year after surgery than before (August 25, 2010) -- Fifteen percent of patients experience more pain, physical and emotional problems a year after surgery than before their operation and 24 percent have less vitality, according to a study of over 400 patients. Twelve months after their operation, 17 percent also reported greater pain, 14 percent said their functional abilities had reduced and 16 percent had poorer mental health. ... > full story
Major moral decisions use general-purpose brain circuits to manage uncertainty (August 25, 2010) -- Scientists have found that humans can make difficult moral decisions using the same brain circuits as those used in more mundane choices related to money and food. The results suggest that complex moral decisions need not rely on a specific "moral sense." ... > full story
Migraine sufferers have higher risk of dying from heart disease and stroke, research finds (August 25, 2010) -- Individuals who suffer from migraines with aura (temporary visual or sensory disturbances before or during a migraine headache) are at a higher risk of dying from heart disease or stroke, according to new research. ... > full story
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