ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Friday, September 10, 2010
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New hot spot for genesis of signaling neurons in adult brain (September 10, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that, during early adulthood, the brain produces new excitatory neurons, and that these neurons arise from non-neuronal support cells in an area of the brain that processes smell. ... > full story
New dual recognition mechanism discovered in tuberculosis (September 10, 2010) -- One third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which leads to tuberculosis (TB), a leading cause of death worldwide. A new discovery offers hope for new approaches to the prevention and treatment of TB. ... > full story
Basic physical capability can predict mortality in later life (September 10, 2010) -- People who are better at simple physical acts such as gripping, walking, rising from a chair and balancing on one leg are more likely to live longer, according to a new study. ... > full story
High stress hormone levels linked to increased cardiovascular mortality (September 10, 2010) -- High levels of the stress hormone cortisol strongly predict cardiovascular death among both persons with and without pre-existing cardiovascular disease, according to a new study. ... > full story
Chopping and changing in the microbial world: How mycoplasmas – the simplest bacterial pathogens – stay alive (September 10, 2010) -- Pathogenic bacteria have evolved a variety of mechanisms to avoid being killed by the immune systems of the humans and animals they invade. Among the most sophisticated is that practiced by mycoplasmas, which regularly change their surface proteins to confuse the immune system. Recent work has revealed surprising new details of the way they do so and at the same time raised important evolutionary questions. ... > full story
Promising treatment for metastatic melanoma 'fast tracked' by FDA (September 10, 2010) -- A recent study offers new hope for a promising treatment for metastatic melanoma. Ipilimumab is the first drug shown in randomized, placebo-controlled trials to improve survival in stage IV melanoma. ... > full story
Diagnostic errors 'greatest threat to patient safety in hospitals,' claims senior UK doctor (September 10, 2010) -- Diagnostic errors are the most important causes of avoidable harm to patients in hospitals, warns a senior doctor in the UK. ... > full story
Simplified heart-risk guideline may miscalculate risk for millions (September 9, 2010) -- A method that is widely used to predict the risk of a major coronary event may over- or underestimate risk for millions of Americans, according to a new study. ... > full story
In order to save biodiversity, society's behavior must change, leading conservationists warn (September 9, 2010) -- Conservation scientists and practitioners have come together to advocate a fundamental shift in the way we view biodiversity. They argue that unless people recognize the link between their consumption choices and biodiversity loss, the diversity of life on Earth will continue to decline. ... > full story
Pediatric vaccine stockpile policies need to be revisited, researcher says (September 9, 2010) -- Vaccine manufacturers and public health decision-makers need to collaborate in a more efficient and effective manner not only to reduce the likelihood of supply shortages for pediatric vaccines but also to maximize community immunity, a researcher argues. ... > full story
How mycobacteria avoid destruction inside human cells (September 9, 2010) -- Researchers have identified ten factors that help Mycobacterium tuberculosis avoid destruction inside host cell phagosomes. Two of the genes identified by high-throughput visual screening of 11,000 mutant mycobacteria are involved in the synthesis of acyltrehalose-containing glycolipids. These glycolipids prevent maturation of the host cell phagosome and may be a target for novel antimycobacterial drugs. ... > full story
Scope-severity paradox: Inflicting greater harm judged to be less harmful, study finds (September 9, 2010) -- Joseph Stalin once claimed that a single death was a tragedy, but a million deaths was a statistic. New research validates this sentiment, confirming large-scale tragedies don't connect with people emotionally in the same way smaller tragedies do. ... > full story
Strategy discovered to prevent Alzheimer's-associated traffic jams in the brain (September 9, 2010) -- Amyloid beta proteins, widely thought to cause Alzheimer's disease, block the transport of vital cargoes inside brain cells. Scientists have discovered that reducing the level of another protein, tau, can prevent amyloid beta from causing such traffic jams. ... > full story
Improvement in prediction of blood clots in cancer patients (September 9, 2010) -- For cancer patients, who have an increased risk of developing venous thromboembolism due to a hyperactive blood coagulation system, there is now an enhanced risk model to predict their chance of developing blood clots, according to a recent study. ... > full story
Liver defect likely cause of DHA deficiency in Alzheimer's patients, UCI study finds (September 9, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that markedly depleted amounts of an omega-3 fatty acid in brain tissue samples from Alzheimer's patients may be due to the liver's inability to produce the complex fat, also contained in fish-oil supplements. ... > full story
Chronic drinking increases levels of stress hormones, leading to neurotoxicity (September 9, 2010) -- Alcohol consumption, withdrawal, and abstinence can all raise stress hormones in humans and animals. A review has described how stress hormones called glucocorticoids are associated with neurotoxicity during abstinence after withdrawal from alcohol dependence. Glucocorticoid receptor antagonism may therefore represent a pharmacological option for recovery. ... > full story
Self-administered vaccine patch may protect against potentially pandemic flu viruses (September 9, 2010) -- A self-administered patch containing tiny microneedles may effectively deliver influenza virus-like particles through the skin and protect against potentially pandemic flu viruses such as H5N1. ... > full story
Why the biological clock? Aging reduces centromere cohesion, disrupts reproduction, biologists discover (September 9, 2010) -- Biologists studying human reproduction have identified what is likely the major contributing factor to the maternal age-associated increase in aneuploidy, the term for an abnormal number of chromosomes during reproductive cell division. ... > full story
These dendritic cells are fishy, but that's a good thing (September 9, 2010) -- Scientists have identified dendritic antigen-presenting cells in zebrafish, opening the possibility that the tiny fish could become a new model for studying the complexities of the human immune system. ... > full story
Adults demonstrate modified immune response after receiving massage, researchers show (September 9, 2010) -- Researchers have reported people who undergo massage experience measurable changes in their body's immune and endocrine response. Although there have been previous, smaller studies about the health benefits of massage, the new study is believed to be the first systematic study of a larger group of healthy adults. ... > full story
New compound safely reduces plaques in mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (September 9, 2010) -- A team of scientists has synthesized hundreds of new compounds with the potential of reducing the production of the A-beta 42 peptide, a primary component of Alzheimer's disease. In mouse models, one tested compound specifically reduced levels of A-beta 42, which is believed to be responsible for the destruction of neurons, but left other essential enzymatic activities in the brain unaffected. ... > full story
Muscle wasting in cancer does not spare the heart (September 9, 2010) -- The wasting disease associated with some cancers that is typically seen affecting skeletal muscles can also cause significant damage to the heart, new research in mice suggests. Before now, cachexia, characterized by muscle wasting and dramatic weight loss, was believed to spare the heart. But a new study shows that the condition reduces heart function and changes the heart muscle structure in mice with colon cancer. ... > full story
Decision-making deficits related to driving under the influence are often undetected (September 9, 2010) -- Driving under the influence of alcohol is a major public health problem. New findings show that people who had relapsed to DUI have subtle deficits in their decision-making abilities. These deficits tend to go undetected through conventional neuropsychological testing. ... > full story
Parents report a widely prescribed antibiotic is effective for fragile X treatment (September 9, 2010) -- One of the antibiotics most commonly prescribed to treat adolescent acne can increase attention spans and communication and decrease anxiety in patients with fragile X syndrome, according to a new study. ... > full story
Molecular gatekeeper of arthritis identified: Removal of key protein leads to initiation of disease (September 9, 2010) -- Elimination of a molecular gatekeeper leads to the development of arthritis in mice, scientists report. The newly discovered gatekeeper is a protein that determines the fate -- survival or death -- of damaging cells that mistakenly attack the body's own tissues and lead to autoimmune disorders. Better understanding how arthritis develops will offer scientists an opportunity to explore new treatments for patients who have not had success with current therapies. ... > full story
Consumers will pay more for goods they can touch (September 9, 2010) -- We've all heard the predictions: e-commerce is going to be the death of traditional commerce; online shopping spells the end of the neighborhood brick-and-mortar store. While it's true that online commerce has had an impact on all types of retail stores, it's not time to bring out the wrecking ball quite yet, says a team of researchers. ... > full story
Potential new drug for neurodegenerative disease identified (September 9, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered a small molecule that helps human cells discard disfigured proteins, such as those that may be involved in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative ailments. ... > full story
Computer-based video analysis boosts data gathering in behavioral studies (September 9, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a computer-based system that can learn how to identify behaviors of interest and then analyze many hours of video. ... > full story
How insulin stimulates fat cells to take in glucose (September 9, 2010) -- Using high-resolution microscopy, researchers have shown how insulin prompts fat cells to take in glucose in a rat model. By studying the surface of healthy, live fat cells in rats, researchers were able to understand the process by which cells take in glucose. Next, they plan to observe the fat cells of people with varying degrees of insulin sensitivity, including insulin resistance-considered a precursor to type 2 diabetes. These observations may help identify the interval when someone becomes at risk for developing diabetes. ... > full story
Research on team loyalty yields new insight into 'die-hard' fandom (September 9, 2010) -- There's a reason why some sports fans are referred to as "die-hards" -- even after they move away, their loyalty to their hometown team endures, according to new research. ... > full story
New class of peptides may protect against septic shock (September 9, 2010) -- A new class of peptides may neutralize the endotoxin that causes sepsis, offering a new therapeutic strategy against an often lethal systemic bacterial infection. ... > full story
Micro-RNA determines malignancy of lung cancer (September 9, 2010) -- A small RNA molecule determines whether or not lung cancer cells grow invasively and metastasize, according to researchers in Germany. Moreover, they found out that the following is true also for patients with non-small cell lung cancer: The less micro-RNA is produced by tumor cells, the higher the tumor's tendency to metastasize. ... > full story
Reading food labels, combined with exercise, can lead to weight loss, study finds (September 9, 2010) -- Nutritional science and food marketing has become so sophisticated in recent decades that a trip to the supermarket can require a complete nutritional re-education. The average consumer needs to be on guard against preservatives, added fat, colorings, and calories, false advertising, and sophisticated but misleading labels. Although guidelines for the information of food labels have gotten a bad rap in recent years, a new study suggests that observing them may lead to weight loss, especially for women entering their middle years. ... > full story
European Union could create incentive for new drug treatments, experts propose (September 9, 2010) -- Drug companies may be more willing to develop treatments for neglected diseases including malaria, tuberculosis and leishmanaiasis if the European Union would adopt a "priority review voucher" reward system, according to a U.S. business professor and a Spanish policy expert. ... > full story
Joint replacement: New clinical guidelines for diagnosing periprosthetic joint infections of the hip and knee (September 9, 2010) -- A periprosthetic joint infection occurs when bacteria or other foreign organisms enter the wound during or at any point following joint replacement surgery, sometimes even years after surgery. Research indicates that periprosthetic infection, also known as "septic failure," is the leading cause of total knee replacement revision (25 percent) and the second-leading cause of total hip replacement revision (15 percent) in the U.S. ... > full story
Massachusetts health reform fails the disadvantaged, study finds (September 9, 2010) -- A new study looking at the effects of the 2006 Massachusetts Health Reform on access to care, health status and ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in healthcare, shows that the legislation has led to improvements in insurance coverage as well as a decline in financial barriers to care. However, to date, it has not increased people's access to a personal physician or improved their self-rated health. Neither has it reduced healthcare inequalities between ethnic or income groups. ... > full story
Insulin may reduce several inflammatory factors induced by bacterial infection (September 8, 2010) -- Treating intensive care patients who develop life-threatening bacterial infections, or septicemia, with insulin potentially could reduce their chances of succumbing to the infection, if results of a new preliminary study can be replicated in a larger study. ... > full story
Structure for three intrinsically disordered proteins determined (September 8, 2010) -- A research team has determined the structure for three proteins in a class known as intrinsically disordered proteins. The findings are important because they show how these proteins fold with the regulator protein phosphatase-1, which must happen for biological instructions to be passed along. ... > full story
Novel sensing mechanism discovered in dendritic cells to increase immune response to HIV (September 8, 2010) -- Dendritic cells are the grand sentinels of the immune system, standing guard 24/7 to detect foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria, and bring news of the invasion to other immune cells to marshal an attack. These sentinels, however, nearly always fail to respond adequately to HIV, the virus causing AIDS. Now scientists have discovered a sensor in dendritic cells that recognizes HIV, spurring a more potent immune response by the sentinels to the virus. ... > full story
Does the impact of psychological trauma cross generations? (September 8, 2010) -- In groups with high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as the survivors of the Nazi Death Camps, the adjustment problems of their children, the so-called "Second Generation", have received attention by researchers. Studies suggested that some symptoms or personality traits associated with PTSD may be more common in the Second Generation than the general population. It has been assumed that these trans-generational effects reflected the impact of PTSD upon the parent-child relationship rather than a trait passed biologically from parent to child. ... > full story
New gene for memory identified in fruit fly; May shed light on human neurological disorders (September 8, 2010) -- Scientists have identified a new gene that is required for memory formation in Drosophila, the common fruit fly. The gene may have similar functions in humans, shedding light on neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease or human learning disabilities. ... > full story
Twins are intriguing research subjects for biometircs researchers (September 8, 2010) -- Researchers are examining how iris discrimination performs in twins to confirm prior claims that biometrics is capable of differentiating between twins. ... > full story
Why chromosomes never tie their shoelaces (September 8, 2010) -- Researchers shed light on a paradox that has puzzled biologists since the discovery of telomeres, the protective tips of chromosomes: while broken chromosome ends generated by DNA damage (such as radiation or cigarette smoke) are quickly joined together, telomeres are never tied to each other, thus allowing for the correct segregation of the genetic material. ... > full story
It's good to gossip -- but be nice! (September 8, 2010) -- Gossipers feel more supported and positive gossip -- praising somebody -- may lead to a short-term boost in gossipers' self-esteem, according to new research. ... > full story
Brain cells -- not lack of willpower -- determine obesity, study finds (September 8, 2010) -- An international team of scientists has discovered the reason why some people who eat a high-fat diet remain slim, yet others pile on the weight. The study found that a high-fat diet causes brain cells to become insulated from the body preventing vital signals, which tell the body to stop eating and to burn energy, from reaching the brain efficiently. ... > full story
Scientists make leap forward in early detection for Alzheimer's and cancer (September 8, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a new strategy for quicker and more precise detection of biomarkers -- proteins which indicate disease. The work could pave the way for new tools to detect early stages of Alzheimer's and cancer at the molecular level. ... > full story
Questioning the safety of certain 'healthful' plant-based antioxidants (September 8, 2010) -- Scientists are calling for more research on the possibility that some supposedly healthful plant-based antioxidants -- including those renowned for their apparent ability to prevent cancer -- may actually aggravate or even cause cancer in some individuals. Their recommendation follows a study in which two such antioxidants -- quercetin and ferulic acid -- appeared to aggravate kidney cancer in severely diabetic laboratory rats. ... > full story
Personality predicts cheating more than academic struggles, study shows (September 8, 2010) -- Students who cheat in high school and college are highly likely to fit the profile for subclinical psychopathy -- a personality disorder defined by erratic lifestyle, manipulation, callousness and antisocial tendencies, according to new research. These problematic students cheat because they feel entitled and disregard morality, the study found. ... > full story
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