ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Tuesday, August 31, 2010
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New genomic marker for tuberculosis may help identify patients who will develop the disease (August 31, 2010) -- It may soon be possible to identify patients who will develop tuberculosis, as scientists have identified changes in the blood specific to the disease. ... > full story
African-Americans have higher risk for blood clots after receiving drug-coated stent, study finds (August 31, 2010) -- African-American race is a distinct risk factor for developing life-threatening blood clots after receiving a drug-coated stent, according to a new study. ... > full story
New Norwegian earplug solution to a deafening problem (August 31, 2010) -- Some 600 cases of noise-induced hearing impairment are reported by the Norwegian petroleum industry every year. A new, intelligent earplug is now set to alleviate the problem. The international energy company Statoil ASA has led efforts to further develop a combined hearing protection and communication product for use on offshore platforms. The QUIETPRO hearing protection and communication device was originally developed for military use by the Trondheim-based company Nacre AS. The company’s customers include the United States Army, which uses QUIETPRO devices in armoured vehicles. ... > full story
Social isolation worsens cardiac arrest effects on heart regulation (August 31, 2010) -- A new study in mice shows how social support can help minimize some of the worst physical damages to the brain caused by a heart attack. From cell death to depressive symptoms to regulation of the heart, mice that lived with a partner after a heart attack suffered less damage than did similar mice that were housed alone. ... > full story
Stopping colon cancer by activating anti-cancer genes (August 31, 2010) -- Researchers have succeeded in decoding the genetic key that gives particular intestinal cells their identity. With this knowledge of the complex network of genes the researchers now hope to stop colon cancer by activating special anti-cancer genes. ... > full story
Tray bleaching may improve oral health of elderly, special-needs patients (August 31, 2010) -- A tooth-bleaching agent may improve the oral health of elderly and special-needs patients, say dentists. ... > full story
Better treatment of atrial fibrillation and its risks (August 31, 2010) -- The earlier that patients who suffer from atrial fibrillation obtain the correct treatment, the lower is the risk of serious secondary effects such as stroke. New research from Sweden shows that a well-established measurement score can easily assess the risks for this patient group. ... > full story
School-based intervention successfully lowers drinking rates in at risk children (August 31, 2010) -- In an effort to combat these startling findings, researchers in the UK describe a successful personality-based intervention for substance abuse delivered by teachers. ... > full story
People at 'intermediate risk' of heart disease with elevated hsCRP benefit from statin therapy, study suggests (August 30, 2010) -- People at intermediate risk of cardiovascular disease who have high levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein, a blood marker for inflammation, could benefit from cholesterol-lowering therapy even if their cholesterol is already at desirable levels. Data indicates that people with only a 5 percent to 20 percent risk of having heart disease in the next 10 years, but who have high levels of hsCRP could reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by more than 40 percent. ... > full story
Tuning into cell signals that tell where sensory organs will form inside the ear (August 30, 2010) -- Researchers have tracked a cell-to-cell pathway that designates the future location of the ear's sensory organs in embryonic mice. The scientists succeeded in activating this signal more widely across the embronic tissue that forms the inner ear. Patches of sensory structures began growing in spots where they don't normally appear. The results suggest an avenue for further investigation in restoring hearing loss and correcting balance problems from nerve damage in the inner ear. ... > full story
Researchers develop new laboratory cell lines to study treatment for anaplastic thyroid cancer (August 30, 2010) -- To their deep dismay, researchers discovered several years ago that laboratory samples of anaplastic thyroid cancer they were using to help them find new treatments for this lethal disease were probably some other kind of cancer. It quickly became evident that the situation in their lab was common throughout the world. Up to half of the cell lines that were supposed to originate from patients with this rare thyroid cancer were either colon or melanoma cancer. So, with the cooperation of many researchers nationwide, the researchers set out to create a new set of laboratory ATC cells, derived from tumors donated by patients. ... > full story
Over 50? You probably prefer negative stories about young people (August 30, 2010) -- When given a choice, older people prefer to read negative news, rather than positive news, about young adults, a new study suggests. In fact, older readers who chose to read negative stories about young individuals actually get a small boost in their self-esteem, according to the results. ... > full story
Hurts so good: Neural clues to the calming effects of self-harm (August 30, 2010) -- The notion that cutting or burning oneself could provide relief from emotional distress is difficult to understand for most people, but it is an experience reported commonly among people who compulsively hurt themselves. ... > full story
Decongestant use in pregnant women linked to lower risk of preterm birth (August 30, 2010) -- A new study by epidemiologists has found that women who took over-the-counter decongestants during their pregnancies are less likely to give birth prematurely. ... > full story
Body mass index and thrombogenic factors in newly menopausal women (August 30, 2010) -- A study of a subset of women in the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study suggests that as BMI increases, so do platelet reactivity and thrombogenic microvesicles and activated protein C in the blood -- all of which contribute to the formation of atherothrombosis and associated cardiovascular events. ... > full story
Parenting style: Italians strict, French moderate, Canadians lenient (August 30, 2010) -- Canadian teenagers enjoy more freedom than French and Italian peers, according to a new study. The investigation examined how parents fashion emotional bonds and exert behavioral control with adolescents. ... > full story
Diagnostic blood test can identify rare lung disease (August 30, 2010) -- Researchers have found that a certain blood test can successfully identify lymphangioleiomyomatosis in some patients, eliminating the need for surgical lung biopsy to make a diagnosis. ... > full story
Eye movements reveal readers' wandering minds (August 30, 2010) -- It's not just you -- everybody zones out when they're reading. Scientists recorded eye movements during reading and found that the eyes keep moving when the mind wanders -- but they don't move in the same way as they do when you're paying attention. ... > full story
First genetic link to common migraine exposed (August 30, 2010) -- Researchers have found the first ever genetic risk factor associated with common types of migraine. The team found that patients with the DNA variant have a significantly greater risk for developing migraine and suggest that an accumulation of a chemical known as glutamate in nerve cell junctions in the brain may play a key role in the initiation of migraine attacks. The research opens the door for new studies into migraine in humans. ... > full story
System uses electrical trickery on the brain to induce realistic spaceflight effects (August 30, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a system that can safely induce the sensory and mobility disturbances astronauts often experience when returning to Earth, making it an excellent operational training tool. The Galvanic vestibular stimulation system delivers small amounts of current to a person's vestibular nerve, mimicking sensorimotor disturbances that can affect an astronaut's ability to walk and stand and impact their ability to land a spacecraft. ... > full story
Amphetamine use increases risk of aortic tears in young adults, study suggests (August 30, 2010) -- Young adults who abuse amphetamines may be at greater risk of suffering a tear in the main artery leading from the heart. ... > full story
How information is coded in the brain: New theory about signal propagation (August 30, 2010) -- For more than fifty years, the neuroscience community has been engaged in an intensive debate on how information is coded in the brain and transmitted reliably from one brain region to the next. Mutually exclusive coding systems have been proposed and are being energetically supported. Scientists in Germany have now demonstrated that earlier studies were based on rather extreme propositions. ... > full story
New genetic risk factor for Lou Gehrig's disease identified (August 30, 2010) -- Biologists and neuroscientists have identified a new genetic risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. ... > full story
'Biosensors' on four feet detect animals infected with bird flu (August 30, 2010) -- Blood hounds, cadaver dogs, and other canines who serve humanity may soon have a new partner -- disease detector dogs -- thanks to an unusual experiment in which scientists trained mice to identify feces of ducks infected with bird influenza. The proof-of-concept study may pave the way for development of "biosensors on four feet" that warn of infection with influenza and other diseases. ... > full story
More than 20,000 sledding injuries each year, according to new study (August 30, 2010) -- Although sledding is a popular winter pastime, it can unfortunately lead to serious injury. A new study found that from 1997-2007, an estimated 229,023 children and adolescents younger than 19 years were treated in US hospital emergency departments for sledding-related injuries -- an average of more than 20,000 cases each year. ... > full story
Hair color, socioeconomic status among risk factors for recurring basal cell carcinoma (August 30, 2010) -- Patients who receive a diagnosis of the skin cancer basal cell carcinoma at a younger age -- along with those who have red hair, a higher socioeconomic status and a cancerous lesion on their upper extremities -- appear to be at higher risk of developing multiple cancers and require closer follow-up, according to a new study. ... > full story
Cinnamon extracts may reduce risk of diabetes and heart disease, study suggests (August 30, 2010) -- A water soluble extract of cinnamon, which contains antioxidative compounds, could help reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and heart disease, a new study suggests. ... > full story
Hyperspectral imaging speeds detection of Campylobacter (August 30, 2010) -- A type of high-tech imaging can be used to distinguish the foodborne pathogen Campylobacter from other microorganisms as quickly as 24 hours after a sample is placed on solid media in a Petri dish, according to a new study. ... > full story
Study contradicts reports of problems with blood-thinner (August 30, 2010) -- New findings contradict earlier reports that people with a certain genetic make-up don't benefit from the blood-thinner clopidogrel, also known as Plavix. ... > full story
Socioeconomic status predicts survival of Canadian cancer patients (August 30, 2010) -- A new analysis finds that cancer patients from poorer communities have a greater chance of dying prematurely than individuals from more affluent backgrounds even though cancer stage at time of diagnosis is similar across socioeconomic groups. ... > full story
Patients with diabetes may need fewer medications after bariatric surgery (August 30, 2010) -- Bariatric surgery appears to be associated with reduced use of medications and lower health care costs among patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study. ... > full story
Tests to assess Down syndrome created (August 30, 2010) -- The Arizona Cognitive Test Battery can quickly assess the cognitive abilities of persons with Down syndrome. It gives clinicians and other researchers a tool to help determine the life trajectory of those with the genetic disorder as well as aid in the development of treatments. ... > full story
Lifting the veil of secrecy surrounding development of new medicines (August 30, 2010) -- An unlikely effort is underway to lift the veil of nearly total secrecy that has surrounded the process of developing new prescription drugs for the last century. The upheaval in traditional practice would make key data available to college students, university professors, and others in an open, collective process. ... > full story
Factors which predict alcohol use after liver transplantation identified (August 30, 2010) -- Patients who receive a liver transplant due to alcoholic liver disease need to demonstrate periods of abstinence and often attend addiction treatment before transplantation. However, alcohol use disorders can recur, as can other diseases requiring transplantation, and thus alcohol use after liver transplantation is not uncommon. ... > full story
Liver cells created from patients' skin cells (August 28, 2010) -- By creating diseased liver cells from a small sample of human skin, scientists have now shown that stem cells can be used to model a diverse range of inherited disorders. The researchers' findings will hopefully lead to new treatments for those suffering from liver diseases. ... > full story
Mumps vaccine coverage should be improved, study finds (August 28, 2010) -- Although immunity to mumps is high in the United States, mumps vaccine coverage must be maintained and improved to prevent future outbreaks, according to a new study. ... > full story
Exposure to low doses of BPA alters gene expression in the fetal mouse ovary (August 28, 2010) -- A new study finds that exposure of pregnant female mice to the endocrine-disrupting chemical bisphenol A may produce adverse reproductive consequences on gene expression in fetal ovaries as early as 12 hours after the mother has first been exposed to the chemical. ... > full story
Anguish of romantic rejection may be linked to stimulation of areas of brain related to motivation, reward and addiction (August 28, 2010) -- Breaking up really is hard to do, and a recent study found evidence that it may be partly due to the areas of the brain that are active during this difficult time. ... > full story
Medicine reaches the target with the help of magnets (August 28, 2010) -- If a drug can be guided to the right place in the body, the treatment is more effective and there are fewer side-effects. Researchers in Sweden have now developed magnetic nanoparticles that can be directed to metallic implants such as artificial knee joints, hip joints and stents in the coronary arteries. ... > full story
Surgical robot could be used for long-distance regional anesthesia (August 28, 2010) -- An existing surgical robot could be used to perform complex regional anesthesia procedures -- in theory, allowing expert anesthesiologists to perform robot-assisted procedures from remote locations, according to a new study. ... > full story
Scientists unveil structure of adenovirus, the largest high-resolution complex ever found (August 28, 2010) -- After more than a decade of research, scientists have pieced together the structure of a human adenovirus -- the largest complex ever determined at atomic resolution. ... > full story
Fluoride in water prevents adult tooth loss, study suggests (August 28, 2010) -- Children drinking water with added fluoride helps dental health in adulthood decades later, a new study finds. ... > full story
Sodium MRI gives new insights into detecting osteoarthritis (August 28, 2010) -- Researchers have developed an innovative way to look at the development of osteoarthritis in the knee joint -- one that relies on the examination of sodium ions in cartilage. ... > full story
How badly does it hurt? Research examines the biomedical diagnosis of pain (August 28, 2010) -- Sociology research investigates the challenges of patients experiencing pain symptoms that don't visibly turn up on any test. ... > full story
Baby's first full diaper can reveal mother's smoking (August 27, 2010) -- Meconium, the dark and tarry stools passed by a baby during the first few days after birth, can be used to determine how much the mother smoked, or if she was exposed to tobacco smoke during pregnancy. Researchers measured tobacco smoke metabolites in meconium samples from 337 babies, finding that they correlated well with reported smoke exposure and other markers of tobacco smoke exposure. ... > full story
Rectal cancer rates are rising in young individuals, analysis finds (August 27, 2010) -- A new analysis has found that while colon cancer rates have remained steady over the past several decades among people under the age of 40, rectal cancer rates are increasing in this population across races and in both sexes. ... > full story
Autism and schizophrenia: Family history may not always be a good indicator (August 27, 2010) -- Family history may not be a good predictor of the presence of mutations predisposing to autism or schizophrenia, a new study suggests. The findings show how new or de novo gene mutations -- alterations of the cell's DNA -- play a role in these devastating conditions. ... > full story
Moms who don't breastfeed more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, study finds (August 27, 2010) -- Mothers who did not breastfeed their children have significantly higher rates of type 2 diabetes later in life than moms who breastfed, a new study finds. Twenty-seven percent of mothers who did not breastfeed developed type 2 diabetes and were almost twice as likely to develop the disease as women who had breastfed or never given birth. ... > full story
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