ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Thursday, October 7, 2010
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Neuroscience research may help patients recover from brain injury (October 7, 2010) -- New neuroscience research may hold the potential of helping people who have lost their ability to remember due to brain injury or disease. By examining how we learn and store memories, scientists have shown that the way the brain first captures and encodes a situation or event is quite different from how it processes subsequent similar events. ... > full story
Blood pressure breakthrough holds real hope for treatment of pre-eclampsia (October 7, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered a mechanism which raises blood pressure in pre-eclampsia, a potentially deadly condition which occurs during pregnancy. ... > full story
Vitamin D deficiency rampant in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery, damaging patient recovery (October 7, 2010) -- Almost 50 percent of patients undergoing orthopedic surgery have vitamin D deficiency that should be corrected before surgery to improve patient outcomes, according to a new study. ... > full story
New computer modelling system predicts responses to HIV and AIDS treatments (October 7, 2010) -- HIV-TRePS is a new system that predicts how an HIV patient will respond to different drug regimens, with an accuracy of around 80%. It is free to use, accessed over the Internet, and helps physicians choose the optimum combination of drugs for each patient. ... > full story
Stressed-out mums may worsen their child's asthma (October 7, 2010) -- Mums who are often angry or irritated and those who suppress their emotional expressions can worsen the severity of their children's asthma symptoms, especially when the children are younger. Researchers studied 223 mothers for a year, investigating how their stress levels, coping styles and parenting styles were associated with their 2- to 12-year-old children's disease status. ... > full story
First clinical trial of gene therapy for muscular dystrophy lends insight into the disease (October 7, 2010) -- A clinical trial designed to replace the genetic defect causing the most common form of muscular dystrophy has uncovered an unexpected aspect of the disease. The trial showed that some patients mount an immune response to the dystrophin protein even before they have received the gene therapy. ... > full story
Children, males and blacks are at increased risk for food allergies, study finds (October 7, 2010) -- A new study estimates that 2.5 percent of the United States population, or about 7.6 million Americans, have food allergies. Food allergy rates were found to be higher for children, non-Hispanic blacks, and males, according to the researchers. The odds of male black children having food allergies were 4.4 times higher than others in the general population. ... > full story
Researchers calculate societal costs of five major crimes; Finds murder at .25 million (October 7, 2010) -- A study of 654 convicted and incarcerated murderers calculated the costs to society of five crimes -- murder, rape, armed robbery, aggravated assault and burglary. They estimated murder to cost .25 million. ... > full story
From eye to brain: Researchers map functional connections between retinal neurons at single-cell resolution (October 6, 2010) -- By comparing a clearly defined visual input with the electrical output of the retina, researchers were able to trace for the first time the neuronal circuitry that connects individual photoreceptors with retinal ganglion cells, the neurons that carry visuals signals from the eye to the brain. ... > full story
Breakthrough test rapidly identifies river blindness (October 6, 2010) -- Scientists have developed the first screening method that rapidly identifies individuals with active river blindness, a parasitic disease that afflicts an estimated 37 million people. The test could change the current strategy of mass treatment in areas where river blindness, also known as onchocerciasis, is suspected. ... > full story
New role for master regulator in cell metabolism, response to stress: Clinical implications for obesity, diabetes and cancer research (October 6, 2010) -- Biologists have been studying how AMPK works for several decades and know that once it is activated, AMPK turns on a large number of genes by passing the "make more energy" message through numerous signaling cascades in the cell. What was not known, until now, was that AMPK also works via an epigenetic mechanism to slow down or stop cell growth. ... > full story
Vitamin D supplements do not increase bone density in healthy children, review finds (October 6, 2010) -- Giving vitamin D supplements to healthy children with normal vitamin D levels does not improve bone density at the hip, lumbar spine, forearm or in the body as a whole, according to a new review. ... > full story
MRI may predict continued decline in patients with mild cognitive impairment (October 6, 2010) -- Using advanced MRI and an artificial intelligence technique, researchers in Geneva, Switzerland, have identified a method that may help identify which individuals with mild cognitive impairment will continue to decline, according to a new study. ... > full story
Nano drugs: Insoluble medicines can be made orally available if in nano crystal form (October 6, 2010) -- Researchers in India have demonstrated that producing nanoscopic crystals of a pharmaceutical product can allow the medication to be absorbed by the gut even if the drug is not soluble in water. ... > full story
Maggot art used to educate youngsters (October 6, 2010) -- Typically, most people don't warm up to the idea of handling blow fly larvae, known better as maggots. But for one biologist and entomologist, the wiggling insect larvae are tools that are an integral part of crime scene investigation and, for children, a basic introduction into the life cycle of insects and the valuable role they play in nature. ... > full story
Air pollution alters immune function, worsens asthma symptoms, study finds (October 6, 2010) -- Exposure to dirty air is linked to decreased function of a gene that appears to increase the severity of asthma in children, according to a new study. While air pollution is known to be a source of immediate inflammation, this new study provides one of the first pieces of direct evidence that explains how some ambient air pollutants could have long-term effects. ... > full story
Land on your toes, save your knees (October 6, 2010) -- Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are a common and debilitating problem, especially for female athletes. ... > full story
New class of objects encoded within the genome: Non-coding RNA molecules function similar to gene enhancer elements (October 6, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered the ability of long non-coding RNA (ncRNA), encoded within our genome, to promote gene expression. The researchers believe these long ncRNA molecules may represent so-called gene enhancer elements -- short regions of DNA that can increase gene transcription. While scientists have known about gene enhancers for decades, there has been no consensus about how these enhancers work. ... > full story
Sociologist ties childhood bullying traits to adult anti-social behavior (October 6, 2010) -- Is an adult with a history of childhood bullying more likely to be homeless, a compulsive liar, or someone who scams another person out of money? According to a new study, the numbers indicate just that. ... > full story
Fattening pollutants? Chemicals in mother’s blood contribute to child’s obesity, study suggests (October 6, 2010) -- Babies whose mothers had relatively high levels of the chemical DDE in their blood were more likely to both grow rapidly during their first 6 months and to have a high body mass index (BMI) by 14 months, according to scientists. DDE, an endocrine disruptor, is a by-product of the pesticide DDT. ... > full story
Anti-tumor drugs tested by microfluidic device (October 6, 2010) -- A prototype device developed in Hong Kong will allow laboratory researchers to non-invasively test drugs for their ability to kill tumors by subjecting cancerous cells with different concentration gradients. ... > full story
Psychologist finds 'shocking' impact on name recall (October 6, 2010) -- Psychologists have found a way to improve the recall of proper names. In a recent study, she found that electric stimulation of the right anterior temporal lobe of the brain improved the recall of proper names in young adults by 11 percent. ... > full story
Powerful free radical causes lung damage from oxygen therapy (October 6, 2010) -- The most toxic free radical appears responsible for much of the lung damage that can result from oxygen therapy in the critically ill or injured, researchers report. Within just a few days, ventilators and oxygen chambers used to significantly increase oxygen levels can also dramatically increase levels of peroxynitrite, an oxidant powerful enough to break down DNA and cause proteins to malfunction, researchers say. ... > full story
Gem of an idea: A flexible diamond-studded electrode implanted for life (October 6, 2010) -- Researchers are building implants made of diamond and flexible polymer that are designed to identify chemical and electrical changes in the brain of patients suffering from neural disease, or to stimulate nerves and restore movement in the paralyzed. The implant would last for life and, capable of both stimulating and monitoring nerves, save space. ... > full story
Deep brain stimulation may help patients with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (October 6, 2010) -- Using electrodes to stimulate areas deep within the brain may have therapeutic potential for patients with obsessive compulsive disorder that is refractory to treatment, according to a new report. ... > full story
Brain cell communication: Why it's so fast (October 6, 2010) -- Billions of brain cells are communicating at any given moment. Like an organic supercomputer, they keep everything going -- from breathing to solving riddles. And "programming errors" can lead to serious conditions, such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Now researchers have described just how nerve cells are capable of transmitting signals practically simultaneously. ... > full story
Fish oil linked to increased risk of colon cancer in mice (October 6, 2010) -- Fish oil -- long encouraged by doctors as a supplement to support heart and joint health -- induced severe colitis and colon cancer in mice in new research. The research supports establishing a dose limit for docosahexaenoic acid, one of the omega-3 fatty acids present in fish oil, particularly in people suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases. ... > full story
Umbilical cord blood not suitable for assessing allergy risk (October 6, 2010) -- For years, hospitals and researchers have been testing blood samples from the umbilical cords of newborn babies to assess the risk of allergy. Now a study has revealed that the biomarker in the blood that indicates the risk factor for allergy often comes from the mother rather than her baby. ... > full story
Depression during pregnancy increases risk for preterm birth and low birth weight (October 6, 2010) -- Clinical depression puts pregnant women at increased risk of delivering prematurely and of giving birth to below-normal birth weight infants. The likelihood of premature birth is even higher for depressed women living in poverty in the United States or in developing nations. Ideally, pregnant women across the socioeconomic spectrum should be checked for clinical depression and treated appropriately. ... > full story
For cardiac arrest CPR performed by laypersons, chest compression-only may lead to better outcomes (October 6, 2010) -- In a comparison of outcomes in Arizona for out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for cardiac arrest performed by bystanders, patients who received compression-only CPR were more likely to survive to hospital discharge than patients who received conventional CPR or no CPR, according to a new study. ... > full story
Children with idiopathic new-onset epilepsy: Study confirms favorable long-term prognosis (October 6, 2010) -- A study conducted by researchers in the Netherlands confirmed that children with idiopathic new-onset epilepsy have a significantly higher rate of remission than those with remote symptomatic epilepsy. ... > full story
Teen drunkenness levels converge across cultures, by gender (October 6, 2010) -- In the past decade, cultural and gender-based differences in the frequency of drunkenness among adolescents have declined, as drunkenness has become more common in Eastern Europe and among girls and less common in Western countries and among boys, according to a new report. ... > full story
'Paradign shift' in how physicians treat peripheral artery disease (October 6, 2010) -- A balloon angioplasty device that sucks up dangerous plaque debris could trigger a "paradign shift" in how physicians treat peripheral artery disease. ... > full story
Study examines ICU outbreak of staph aureus with resistance to methicillin and linezolid (October 6, 2010) -- An outbreak of infection due to linezolid and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LRSA) in 12 intensive care unit patients in Spain was associated with transmission within the hospital and extensive usage of the antibiotic linezolid, often used for the treatment of serious infections, with reductions in linezolid use and infection-control measures associated with resolution of the outbreak, according to a new study. ... > full story
Web-based creativity: Can working in virtual communities be more effective than face-to-face cooperation? (October 6, 2010) -- Common sense and experience would suggest that people are more creative when they work together in a face-to-face environment. But, as remote working and online interactions become more and more commonplace, there is growing evidence that working in virtual communities and using online tools together can be even more effective in some areas than face-to-face cooperation. ... > full story
Experts advocate realigning type 2 diabetes treatments with disease's natural history (October 6, 2010) -- A new consensus statement published in the September 2010 issue of the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism finds that the increasing recognition that beta-cell failure occurs much earlier and severely than commonly believed suggests that regular glycemia screening, early identification of patients at metabolic risk and prompt and aggressive intervention deserves greater emphasis. ... > full story
Growth factor essential to epicardial cell function: Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) plays role in heart regeneration (October 5, 2010) -- In research that one day may lead to the discovery of how to regenerate tissue damaged by heart disease, researchers have identified PDGF as a key factor in the proliferation and transformation of epicardial cells, one type of cell that surrounds heart muscle and contributes to vessels. ... > full story
Limited number of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes cause most invasive pneumococcal disease (October 5, 2010) -- Contrary to current thinking, the group of serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae responsible for most invasive pneumococcal disease worldwide is conserved across regions, according to new research. ... > full story
Is your job making you fat? Study links office work with obesity (October 5, 2010) -- Working nine-to-five may be the way to make a living, but it may be padding more than the wallet. According to a new study, office-workers have become less active over the last three decades and this decreased activity may partly explain the rise in obesity. Their findings may have health implications for the millions of people toiling behind their desks. ... > full story
Thirst for excitement is hidden in your genes (October 5, 2010) -- Sensation seeking -- the urge to do exciting things -- has been linked to dopamine, a chemical that carries messages in your brain. For a new study, scientists analyzed genes in the dopamine system and found a group of mutations that help predict whether someone is inclined toward sensation seeking. ... > full story
Low testosterone linked to Alzheimer's disease (October 5, 2010) -- Having low testosterone may put older men at risk for Alzheimer's disease, a new study finds. The researchers say the next step is to conduct a large study on testosterone to treat Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story
Researchers pool data to search for genetic risks in heart disease (October 5, 2010) -- Scientists analyzing pooled data from all published whole-genome studies of heart attack and coronary artery disease (CAD) has found multiple genetic mutations, including one that increases heart attack risk by 29 percent. The collective gene data could provide 10 times more subjects and controls than the largest CAD study to date. ... > full story
Top reasons for Facebook unfriending (October 5, 2010) -- Researchers have found the top reasons for unfriending on Facebook. Just like an office party, talking about religion and politics is risky. ... > full story
Newly discovered DNA repair mechanism (October 5, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered a fundamentally new way that DNA-repair enzymes detect and fix damage to the chemical bases that form the letters in the genetic code. ... > full story
Mice with human body's defenses (October 5, 2010) -- Therapeutic antibodies can be an efficient alternative when common drugs do not work anymore. However, antibodies obtained from blood of animals such as mice could not be used: The human immune system recognizes them as foreign and rejects them. Scientists have now succeeded in developing a promising approach to solve this problem. ... > full story
MicroRNA that may allow for better control cholesterol levels in blood identified (October 5, 2010) -- Scientists have identified an important microRNA that may allow us to better control cholesterol levels in blood. Their study found that the microRNA miR-33, may be key to controlling HDL, or "good" cholesterol levels. ... > full story
Neanderthals had feelings too, say researchers (October 5, 2010) -- New research by archaeologists in the UK suggests that Neanderthals belied their primitive reputation and had a deep seated sense of compassion. ... > full story
New language identified in remote corner of India; One of thousands of endangered tongues around world (October 5, 2010) -- Linguists reporting from a National Geographic expedition to India's remote northeast corner have identified a language completely new to science. ... > full story
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