ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Monday, October 25, 2010
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Discovery of taste receptors in the lungs could help people with asthma breathe easier (October 25, 2010) -- Taste receptors in the lungs? Researchers have discovered that bitter taste receptors are not just located in the mouth but also in human lungs. What they learned about the role of the receptors could revolutionize the treatment of asthma and other obstructive lung diseases. ... > full story
Gene mutation reveals new cause of rare neurological diseases (October 25, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered a new cause of spastic ataxia, and believe this cause is also a trigger for other mitochondrial diseases – neurological disorders that can lead to serious coordination, growth, visual, speech, and muscle defects. ... > full story
Childhood cancer survivors face long-term risk of GI complications, study finds (October 25, 2010) -- People treated for cancer when they were children have a higher-than-average risk of gastrointestinal problems -- some mild, some quite severe -- in the years following treatment, according to a new study. ... > full story
Parent-only treatment may be equally effective for children who are obese (October 25, 2010) -- New research indicates that parent-only treatments for childhood obesity work equally as well as plans that include parents and child, while at the same time more cost effective and potentially easier for families. ... > full story
Peripheral induction of Alzheimer's-like brain pathology in mice (October 25, 2010) -- Pathological protein deposits linked to Alzheimer's disease and cerebral amyloid angiopathy can be triggered not only by the administration of pathogenic misfolded protein fragments directly into the brain but also by peripheral administration outside the brain, according to a new study. ... > full story
Malaria research begins to bite: Molecular switches pinpointed in control of malaria parasite's life cycle (October 25, 2010) -- Scientists have pin-pointed the 72 molecular switches that control the three key stages in the life cycle of the malaria parasite and have discovered that over a third of these switches can be disrupted in some way. Their research is a significant breakthrough in the search for cheap and effective vaccines and drugs to stop the transmission of a disease which kills up to a million children a year. Until now little has been known about the cellular processes involved in the development of this deadly disease. The research involved the very first comprehensive functional analysis of protein kinases in any malaria parasite. It is also the largest gene knock-out study in Plasmodium berghei -- a malaria parasite infecting rodents. ... > full story
Virtual colonoscopy option could improve colorectal cancer screening rates, patient survey suggests (October 25, 2010) -- Providing computed tomography colonography -- otherwise known as virtual colonoscopy -- as an alternative to conventional colonoscopy could improve colorectal cancer screening rates, according to a new study. ... > full story
Parents experience difficulty with consent process in pediatric cancer trials, study suggests (October 25, 2010) -- Compared with adult cancer patients, parents of children with cancer were more likely to be dissatisfied with the informed consent process for participating in clinical trials, according to a new study. ... > full story
Even turtles need recess: Many animals -- not just dogs, cats, and monkeys -- need a little play time (October 24, 2010) -- Seeing a child or a dog play is not a foreign sight. But what about a turtle or even a wasp? Apparently, they play, too. New psychology research defines "play" in people and also in species not previously thought capable of play, such as fish, reptiles and invertebrates. ... > full story
Vitamin E in front line of prostate cancer fight (October 24, 2010) -- Survival rates of men with prostate cancer might soon be increased with a new vitamin E treatment which could significantly reduce tumor regrowth. ... > full story
Swine flu variant linked to fatal cases might disable clearing mechanism of lungs, study suggests (October 24, 2010) -- A variant of last year's pandemic influenza linked to fatal cases carried a mutation that enabled it to infect a different subset of cells lining the airway, according to new research. The study suggests that the mutant virus could have impaired the lungs' ability to clear out germs. The researchers said the findings highlight the potential for deadlier strains of flu to emerge and spread. ... > full story
New vision correction options for baby boomers (October 24, 2010) -- Researchers have reported results of clinical research on new presbyopia treatments now available in Europe, and possibly available soon in the United States. ... > full story
Candy culture: Cashing in on Halloween (October 24, 2010) -- The average American will spend .28 on Halloween this year. Second only to costumes, candy eats up the largest chunk of this budget with American families spending an average of each Halloween on confections. When trick-or-treating entered the American scene in the 1920s, neighbors gave children items like apples, pastries, breads and even money. So why, 40 years later, are there billion in candy sales each Halloween? How has food marketing taken over this tradition? ... > full story
Mathematical model helps marathoners pace themselves to a strong finish (October 24, 2010) -- Most marathon runners know they need to consume carbohydrates before and during a race, but many don't have a good fueling strategy. Now, one dedicated marathoner has taken a more rigorous approach to calculating just how much carbohydrate a runner needs to fuel him or herself through 26.2 miles, and what pace that runner can reasonably expect to sustain. ... > full story
Major component in turmeric enhance effect of chemotherapy drug in head and neck cancer (October 24, 2010) -- Curcumin, the major component in the spice turmeric, when combined with the drug cisplatin enhances the chemotherapy's suppression of head and neck cancer cell growth, researchers have found. ... > full story
Change in how paramedics use oxygen could reduce deaths (October 24, 2010) -- A change to the way paramedics use oxygen when treating patients with chronic lung disease could cut the death rate in these cases by up to 78 percent, according to a new study. ... > full story
Generous paupers and stingy princes? Power and consumer spending (October 24, 2010) -- How do people decide how much to spend on purchases for themselves versus others? A new study says it all depends on how powerful we feel at the moment of choice. ... > full story
Dad's weight and diet linked to offspring's risk of diabetes (October 24, 2010) -- Medical researchers have for the first time shown a link between a father's weight and diet at the time of conception and an increased risk of diabetes in their offspring. The finding is the first in any species to show that paternal exposure to a high-fat diet initiates progression to metabolic disease in the next generation. ... > full story
Simple blood test helps predict chronic kidney disease (October 24, 2010) -- Measuring three biomarkers in a single blood sample may improve physicians' ability to identify patients at high risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a new study. ... > full story
Adiponectin shows potential in blocking obesity-related carcinogenesis (October 24, 2010) -- Researchers investigated the role between adiponectin and leptin in obesity-related carcinogenesis. Their findings suggest that the protein hormone adiponectin has potential for inhibiting the oncogenic actions of leptin, namely in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and could offer a promising therapy for the disease. ... > full story
Cash is healthier? Credit and debit increase impulsive food purchases (October 24, 2010) -- People are more likely to buy unhealthy foods when they pay using credit or debit cards, according to a new study. ... > full story
'Lubricin' molecule discovered to reduce cartilage wear (October 23, 2010) -- A team of researchers in North Carolina has discovered that lubricin, a synovial fluid glycoprotein, reduces wear to bone cartilage, a result that has implications for the treatment of osteoarthritis. ... > full story
Efforts underway to rescue vulnerable bananas, giant swamp taro, other Pacific Island crops (October 23, 2010) -- Hoping to save the vulnerable varieties of bananas painted by the artist Paul Gauguin, rare coconuts, and 1,000 other unique varieties of staple fruit and vegetable crops across the Pacific, crop specialists from nine islands have launched a major effort to preserve the indigenous diversity of foods that are deemed critical to combating diet-related health problems. ... > full story
Factor boosting leukemia's aggressiveness identified (October 23, 2010) -- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells survive and thrive not just by their own innate wiles, but by also acquiring aid and support from host cells in their surrounding environment. In a new study, researchers identify a particular relationship that can promote notably aggressive leukemias and lymphomas. ... > full story
Authoritarian behaviour leads to insecure people, Spanish study finds (October 23, 2010) -- Researchers have identified the effects of the way parents bring up their children on social structure in Spain. Their conclusions show that punishment, deprivation and strict rules impact on a family's self esteem. ... > full story
Risk gene for severe heart disease discovered (October 23, 2010) -- A common variant of the cardiovascular heat shock protein gene, HSPB7, was found to increase risk for dilated cardiomyopathy by almost 50 percent. ... > full story
First implanted device to treat balance disorder developed (October 23, 2010) -- A University of Washington Medical Center patient is the world's first recipient of a device that aims to quell the disabling vertigo associated with Meniere's disease. The clinicians who developed the implantable device hope that success in a 10-person surgical trial of Meniere's patients will lead to exploration of its usefulness against other common balance disorders that torment millions of people worldwide. ... > full story
Risk markers for Alzheimer’s disease (October 23, 2010) -- Many proposed drugs for Alzheimer’s disease have been tested, but have not proved good enough. The reason could be because they have been tested on patients who have already developed dementia. At this point it could be too late to start medication, because the disease is now believed to begin decades before a patient displays clear symptoms. So how can we identify the patients who do not yet have Alzheimer’s, but who are at high risk of developing the disease? ... > full story
Airbags reduce risk of kidney injury in car crashes, study finds (October 23, 2010) -- Occupants in motor vehicles with airbags are much less likely to suffer kidney or renal damage in a crash than are occupants in vehicles without airbags, according to a new study. ... > full story
Origin of immune cells in the brain discovered: Could lead to new treatments for degenerative brain diseases, autoimmune disorders (October 23, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that microglia, the immune cells that reside in the brain, have a unique origin and are formed shortly after conception. It was previously thought that microglia originated at the same time as macrophages, which are other immune cells that are thought to develop at birth. This groundbreaking discovery has the potential to lead to future treatments of degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. ... > full story
Progress in the development of new Parkinson’s drugs (October 23, 2010) -- The side effects of the standard medication for Parkinson's disease have long been a preoccupation of brain researchers. Now a researcher in Sweden has presented new findings that provide hope of more effective medication for those who suffer from the nerve cell disease. ... > full story
Partners who had powerful faces in college lead profitable law firms, study finds (October 23, 2010) -- Law firms are more profitable when they are led by managing partners who have faces that look powerful, according to a new study. ... > full story
Protein injection shows promise in lowering elevated triglycerides (October 22, 2010) -- A protein injection reduced high triglyceride levels in one type of genetically engineered mice, a new study has found. The approach might help people with similar genetic alterations that cause very high triglycerides. ... > full story
Succimer found ineffective for removing mercury (October 22, 2010) -- Succimer, a drug used for treating lead poisoning, does not effectively remove mercury from the body, according to new research. Some families have turned to succimer as an alternative therapy for treating autism. ... > full story
70-year-olds smarter than they used to be, Swedish study finds (October 22, 2010) -- Today's 70-year-olds do far better in intelligence tests than their predecessors. It has also become more difficult to detect dementia in its early stages, though forgetfulness is still an early symptom, reveals new research from Sweden, based on the H70 study. ... > full story
Skin cancer linked to loss of protein that hooks skin cells together (October 22, 2010) -- In a new study, researchers have implicated the lack of a protein important in hooking our skin cells together in the most common variety of skin cancer. ... > full story
Scorpion has welcome sting for heart bypass patients (October 22, 2010) -- A toxin found in the venom of the Central American bark scorpion (Centruroides margaritatus) could hold the key to reducing heart bypass failures, according to new research. ... > full story
Positive social traits trump bad health habits, new study finds (October 22, 2010) -- Many studies have documented the dangers of the traditional negative physical risk factors on health -- excessive smoking, drinking and being overweight. But far less research has focused on less-tangible, positive influences -- the protective role of psychological and social supports. ... > full story
Putting a bull's-eye on the flu: Detailing influenza's structure for drug targeting (October 22, 2010) -- Beating the flu is already tough, but it has become even harder in recent years -- the influenza A virus has mutated so that two antiviral drugs don't slow it down anymore. Reporting their findings in Science, researchers from Florida State and Brigham Young universities move closer to understanding why not, and how future treatments can defeat the nasty bug no matter how it changes. ... > full story
Natural killer cells may limit inflammation in the central nervous system (October 22, 2010) -- Scientists have recently made discoveries about a type of cell that may limit inflammation in the central nervous system -- a finding that could have important implications in the treatment of brain disorders such as multiple sclerosis. ... > full story
Forensic scientists use postmortem imaging-guided biopsy to determine natural causes of death (October 22, 2010) -- Researchers found that the combination of computed tomography, postmortem CT angiography and biopsy can serve as a minimally invasive option for determining natural causes of death such as cardiac arrest, according to a new study. ... > full story
Estrogen replacement therapy speeds ovarian cancer growth, new study reports (October 22, 2010) -- Estrogen therapy used by menopausal women causes a type of ovarian cancer to grow five times faster, according to a new study. The effect of ERT was shown in mouse models of estrogen receptor positive(ER+) ovarian cancer, which accounts for about 60 percent of all human ovarian cancer cases. ... > full story
Spotting suspicious moles (October 22, 2010) -- Most of the spots on our skin are perfectly harmless moles, collections of cells called melanocytes. But occasionally, these melanocytes turn cancerous, creating the potentially deadly skin tumor melanoma. Scientists have now developed a new technique that aims to help doctors distinguish melanomas from harmless moles using high-resolution snapshots of suspicious spots. ... > full story
Obsessing over strep throat in kids: Research links obsessive-compulsive disorder to common childhood illness (October 22, 2010) -- While scientists have speculated on a link between obsessive-compulsive disorder and childhood infections like strep for more than two decades, a psychology researcher in Israel has now scientifically demonstrated that strep can lead to brain dysfunction and OCD. The breakthrough could lead to new drugs for treating OCD, and may in the future prevent the psychiatric disorder altogether. ... > full story
Younger brains are easier to rewire -- brain regions can switch functions (October 22, 2010) -- Neuroscientists offer evidence that it is easier to rewire the brain early in life. The researchers found that a small part of the brain's visual cortex that processes motion became reorganized only in the brains of subjects who had been born blind, not those who became blind later in life. ... > full story
Key difference in how TB bacteria degrade doomed proteins (October 22, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered a key difference in the way human cells and Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, which cause TB, deliver unwanted proteins to their respective cellular recycling factories. This critical difference may help scientists design new anti TB drugs. ... > full story
Taking a closer look at plaque (October 22, 2010) -- Scientists are using the technique of Raman spectroscopy to study two common dental plaque bacteria, Streptococcus sanguis and mutans. The relative balance of the two may be an indicator of a patient's oral health and risk for tooth decay -- Streptococcus sanguis is associated with "healthy" plaque, while mutans is associated with tooth decay. ... > full story
Teaching kids to work through trauma (October 22, 2010) -- A child who grows up in the midst of political conflict, such as war or terrorism, can exhibit severe emotional scars. But certain qualities, which psychologists call "resilience factors," can help overcome this adversity. Psychologists have developed a program to help children develop these resilience factors and avoid the psychological disabilities that may arise from stress. ... > full story
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