ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Monday, September 13, 2010
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Long-standing mystery of protein 'quality control' mechanism solved (September 13, 2010) -- Scientists have solved a long-standing mystery of how cells conduct "quality control" to eliminate the toxic effects of a certain kind of error in protein production. The findings may lead to a better understanding of a host of neurodegenerative diseases. ... > full story
Structural defects precede functional decline in heart muscle (September 13, 2010) -- The disruption of a structural component in heart muscle cells, which is associated with heart failure, appears to occur even before heart function starts to decline, according to a new study. The new findings may point to new ways to diagnose or treat heart failure. ... > full story
Lung cancer survival rates improved through use of individualized chemotherapy (September 13, 2010) -- Chemotherapy is the best broad defense against cancer recurrence after surgical resection. However, it is difficult to predict which patients will benefit from which regimen of anticancer drugs, if at all. Building on existing knowledge, a new study has analyzed the usefulness of adjuvant chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer based on the histoculture drug response assay. ... > full story
People want to be asked before sharing genetic data, study finds (September 13, 2010) -- People want to be informed and asked for consent before deciding whether to let researchers share their genetic information in a federal database, according to new research. The study was the first to ask research participants' opinions about the need for informed consent for sharing their own information. ... > full story
Our lungs are 'innately prone' to silicosis and related diseases, new study suggests (September 13, 2010) -- For the nearly 2 million US workers exposed to silica dust each year, a new discovery may help prevent or treat the development of chronic lung diseases related to this exposure. Scientists have now shown that the part of our immune system responsible for keeping airways clean and free of contaminants (innate immunity) can cause inflammation and symptoms of disease. ... > full story
Risk of surgery for Crohn's disease lower than reported in recent studies, new research suggests (September 13, 2010) -- A multi-center study of 854 children with Crohn's disease shows the 5-year cumulative risk of bowel surgery is significantly lower than reported in recent studies. The study also found that children diagnosed between ages 13 and 16 had increased risk of bowel surgery, and a common treatment started at diagnosis did not alter the risk of surgery. ... > full story
Ten minutes could prevent one-third of road deaths, Spanish study finds (September 13, 2010) -- Spanish researchers have calculated the probability of dying in road accidents on the basis of the time taken for the emergency services to arrive. Their conclusions are clear: reducing the time between an accident taking place and the arrival of the emergency services from 25 to 15 minutes would cut the risk of death by one-third. ... > full story
Child's 'mental number line' affects memory for numbers (September 12, 2010) -- As children in Western cultures grow, they learn to place numbers on a mental number line, with smaller numbers to the left and spaced further apart than the larger numbers on the right. Then the number line changes to become more linear, with small and large numbers the same distance apart. Children whose number line has made this change are better at remembering numbers, according to a new study. ... > full story
Blood signatures to diagnose infection (September 12, 2010) -- Coughing and wheezing patients could someday benefit from quicker, more accurate diagnosis and treatment for respiratory infections such as flu, through a simple blood test, according to scientists. ... > full story
Fruit fly gene study leads to new method for understanding brain function (September 12, 2010) -- A team of researchers studying neurobiology in fruit flies has developed a new method for understanding brain function with potential applications in studies of human neurological diseases. ... > full story
People learn new information more effectively when brain activity is consistent, research shows (September 12, 2010) -- People are more likely to remember specific information such as faces or words if the pattern of activity in their brain is similar each time they study that information, according to new research. The finding challenges psychologists' long-held belief that people retain information more effectively when they study it several times under different contexts and, thus, give their brains multiple cues to remember it. ... > full story
Single gene regulates motor neurons in spinal cord (September 12, 2010) -- In a surprising and unexpected discovery, scientists have found that a single type of gene acts as a master organizer of motor neurons in the spinal cord. The finding could help scientists develop new treatments for diseases such as Lou Gehrig's disease or spinal cord injury. ... > full story
Interrupting death messages to treat bone disease (September 12, 2010) -- A surface molecule on bacteria that instructs bone cells to die could be the target for new treatments for bone disease, says a scientist. Blocking the death signal from bacteria could be a way of treating painful bone infections that are resistant to antibiotics, such as those caused by meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. ... > full story
Mexican-Americans with heart rhythm disorder have increased risk for second stroke (September 12, 2010) -- Mexican-American stroke survivors with atrial fibrillation had more than double the risk for a second stroke compared to non-Hispanic white survivors with the disorder, according to a new study. Strokes were more severe among these Mexican-Americans than among non-Hispanic whites; however, researchers found no major differences in death rates between the two groups. Researchers said the findings could help physicians develop strategies to prevent recurrent stroke in Mexican-Americans. ... > full story
Inflammation is associated with lower intelligence and premature death (September 12, 2010) -- Inflammation is associated with lower intelligence and premature death, according to scientists. “Those with low-grade inflammation performed more poorly on standardized intelligence tests, even after excluding those with signs of current illness. Inflammation also predicted an increased risk of premature death,” said the lead researcher. ... > full story
Harmful amyloid interferes with trash pickup for cells in Alzheimer's disease (September 12, 2010) -- Scientists have identified a way that amyloid beta, the protein that accumulates in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, interferes with the ability of cells to get rid of debris and have also identified a way that amyloid itself may be discarded, a new study has found. ... > full story
IV drips can be left in place, study shows (September 12, 2010) -- Small intravenous devices (IVDs) commonly used in the hand or arm do not need to be moved routinely every 3 days. A randomized controlled trial comparing regular relocation with relocation on clinical indication found that rates of complications were the same for both regimens. ... > full story
Aging drug users are increasing and facing chronic physical and mental health problems (September 12, 2010) -- Health and social services are facing a new challenge, as many illicit drug users get older and face chronic health problems and a reduced quality of life. UK researchers interviewed people aged 49 to 61 in contact with voluntary sector drug treatment services. The study, plus wider research, suggest that older people who continue to use problematic or illegal drugs are emerging as an important, but relatively under-researched, international population. The problem is international, with US and European figures suggesting the number of people with addiction problems will at least double by 2020. ... > full story
Cancer deaths fall in European Union, but prevention still lags behind (September 12, 2010) -- Although overall mortality from cancer is decreasing in the European Union, its incidence increased by almost 20 percent, from 2.1 million new cases in 2002 to 2.5 million in 2008, says a special issue of the European Journal of Cancer on cancer prevention. The current economic crisis threatens to affect cancer incidence in a number of areas, researchers say. ... > full story
Misfolded neural proteins linked to autism disorders (September 11, 2010) -- Scientists have identified misfolding and other molecular anomalies in a key brain protein associated with autism spectrum disorders. ... > full story
New study singles out factors linked to cognitive deficits in type 2 diabetes (September 11, 2010) -- Older adults with diabetes who have high blood pressure, walk slowly or lose their balance, or believe they're in bad health, are significantly more likely to have weaker memory and slower, more rigid cognitive processing than those without these problems, according to a new study. ... > full story
Energy drinks may give young sports teams an edge, study says (September 11, 2010) -- Consuming energy drinks during team sports could help young people perform better, a new study suggests. ... > full story
Appetite hormones may predict weight regain after dieting (September 11, 2010) -- Many people have experienced the frustration that comes with regaining weight that was lost from dieting. According to a new study, the levels of appetite hormones in the body prior to dieting may serve as a predictor of weight regain after dieting. ... > full story
Computer models suggest treatments for fractures that won't heal (September 11, 2010) -- New models, reinforced by in vivo experimentation, show why 5-10 percent of bone fractures don't heal properly, and how these cases may be treated to restart the healing process. Results of the model may benefit the aging population in which the occurrence of bone fractures is expected to rise substantially in the near future. ... > full story
Mental maturity scan tracks brain development (September 11, 2010) -- Five minutes in a scanner can reveal how far a child's brain has come along the path from childhood to maturity and potentially shed light on a range of psychological and developmental disorders, scientists have shown. ... > full story
Drug holds promise to halt debilitating condition of diabetes (September 11, 2010) -- A recently developed drug has the potential to stop a debilitating condition of diabetes that often leads to pain in the extremities and even amputations, researchers have found. ... > full story
New model may simplify high-dose radiosurgery planning (September 11, 2010) -- There is yet no straightforward way to determine the optimal dose level and treatment schedules for high-dose radiation therapies such as stereotactic radiation therapy, which is used to treat brain and lung cancer, or for high-dose brachytherapy for prostate and other cancers. Radiation oncology researchers may have solved the problem with a new mathematical model called the Generalized LQ (gLQ) Model that encompasses all dose levels and schedules. ... > full story
Brain mechanism linked to relapse after cocaine withdrawal (September 11, 2010) -- Addictive drugs are known to induce changes in the brain's reward circuits that may underlie drug craving and relapse after long periods of abstinence. Now, new research uncovers a specific neural mechanism that may be linked to persistent drug-seeking behavior and could help to guide strategies for development of new therapies for cocaine addiction. ... > full story
Function found for Alzheimer's protein (September 10, 2010) -- In people with Alzheimer's, the brain becomes riddled with clumps of protein, forming what are known as amyloid plaques. Now, new research appears to have found a function for the amyloid precursor protein (APP for short) that yields the prime ingredient in those plaques. ... > full story
Neurons: Faster than thought and able to multiply (September 10, 2010) -- Using computer simulations of brain-like networks, researchers from Germany and Japan have discovered why nerve cells transmit information through small electrical pulses. The process not only allows the brain to process information much faster than previously thought, but also single neurons are already able to multiply, opening the door to more complex forms of computing. ... > full story
A smart use for wisdom teeth: Making stem cells (September 10, 2010) -- A new study shows that wisdom teeth contain a valuable reservoir of tissue for the creation of stem cells; thus, everyone might be carrying around his or her own personal stem-cell repository should he or she ever need some. ... > full story
Perceived life-threat affects mental health, Swedish research finds finds (September 10, 2010) -- Feeling like your life is in danger during an accident or disaster can have long-term negative effects on health -- whether or not the threat to your life was real, according to research on the experiences and mental health of Stockholm residents who survived the 2004 Tsunami in the Indian Ocean. A few simple questions to survivors early on could help health care personnel identify those in need of extra support and follow-up, according to the researcher behind the thesis. ... > full story
New neurological deficit behind lazy eye identified (September 10, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a new neurological deficit behind amblyopia, or "lazy eye." Their findings shed additional light on how amblyopia results from disrupted links between the brain and normal visual processing. ... > full story
World's first transcontinental anesthesia: Researchers pioneer anesthetics via videoconferencing (September 10, 2010) -- Videoconferences may be known for putting people to sleep, but never like this. A team from McGill University's Department of Anesthesia achieved a world first on August 30, 2010, when they treated patients undergoing thyroid gland surgery in Italy remotely from Montreal, Canada. ... > full story
Researchers analyze impact of chemical BPA in dental sealants used in children (September 10, 2010) -- Researchers have found that bisphenol A (BPA) released from some plastic resins used in pediatric dentistry is detectable in the saliva after placement in children's mouths. ... > full story
Music on prescription could help treat emotional and physical pain (September 10, 2010) -- New research into how music conveys emotion could benefit the treatment of depression and the management of physical pain. Using an innovative combination of music psychology and leading-edge audio engineering the project is looking in more detail than ever before at how music conveys emotion. ... > full story
Diet-induced obesity accelerates leukemia, study shows (September 10, 2010) -- The first study to demonstrate that obesity can directly accelerate the progression of acute lymphoblastic leukemia has been conducted. ... > full story
Conditional small RNA molecules can kill cancer cells and leave healthy cells alone (September 10, 2010) -- In a recent study, researchers demonstrated that conditional small RNA molecules can effectively kill lab-grown human brain, prostate and bone cancer cells in a mutation-specific manner. The treatment separates the "diagnosis" and "treatment" aspects of chemotherapy, so a cell is killed if -- and only if -- it is diagnosed with a mutation. ... > full story
Use of medication for insomnia or anxiety may increase mortality risk, study suggests (September 10, 2010) -- Taking medications to treat insomnia and anxiety increases mortality risk by 36 percent, according to a new study. ... > full story
Effects of population aging have been exaggerated, new analysis suggests: More appropriate retirement ages? (September 10, 2010) -- Due to increasing life-spans and improving health many populations are "aging" more slowly than conventional measures indicate. Scientists have developed new measures of aging that take disability and longevity into account. Their results give policymakers new tools to better determine the economic cost of an aging population and set more appropriate retirement ages. ... > full story
Frog skin may provide antimicrobial peptides effective against multidrug-resistant infections (September 10, 2010) -- Antimicrobial peptides from the skin of frogs may protect against life-threatening, multidrug-resistant infections such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, say researchers from Italy. ... > full story
Keeping stem cells from changing fates (September 10, 2010) -- Researchers have determined why certain stem cells are able to stay stem cells. A recent study reveals that an enzyme that changes the way DNA is packaged in cells allows specific genes to be turned on and off, thereby preventing a stem cell from becoming another cell type. ... > full story
Brain needs to remember faces in three dimensions (September 10, 2010) -- In our dynamic 3-D world, we can encounter a familiar face from any angle and still recognize that face with ease, even if the person has, for example, changed his hair style. This is because our brain has used the 2-D snapshots perceived by our eyes (like a camera) to build and store a 3-D mental representation of the face, which is resilient to such changes. This is an automatic process that most of us are not consciously aware of, and which appears to be a challenge for people with a particular type of face-blindness, suggests new research. ... > full story
Critical 'traffic engineer' of the nervous system identified (September 10, 2010) -- Scientists have identified a critical enzyme that keeps traffic flowing in the right direction in the nervous system, and the finding could eventually lead to new treatments for conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. ... > full story
Limiting harmful acrylamide: Lactic acid bacteria to lower risk of cancer (September 10, 2010) -- A small research-based Norwegian company has developed a method to reduce the formation of the carcinogenic compound acrylamide during industrial production of potatoes and coffee. International food giants are paying attention. ... > full story
Biofeedback for your brain? (September 10, 2010) -- There is new evidence that people can learn to control the activity of some brain regions when they get feedback signals provided by functional magnetic resonance brain imaging (fMRI). ... > full story
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
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