ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Wednesday, October 27, 2010
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Following lifestyle tips could prevent almost a quarter of bowel cancer cases, study suggests (October 27, 2010) -- Almost a quarter of colorectal (bowel) cancer cases could be prevented if people followed healthy lifestyle advice in five areas including diet and exercise, says a new study. ... > full story
What can country of birth tell us about childhood asthma? (October 27, 2010) -- Researchers have pooled data from five epidemiological studies to investigate the prevalence of asthma in children in two Boston neighborhoods. Among children born in the United States, low socioeconomic status and exposure to mice and cockroaches were both associated with increased risk of asthma. Neither association was present in children born outside of the US. ... > full story
Genetic variations linked with worse outcomes with use of antiplatelet drug for cardiac procedures (October 27, 2010) -- An analysis of data from previously published studies indicates that use of the antiplatelet drug clopidogrel for patients who have common genetic variants of a certain gene and are undergoing a procedure such as coronary stent placement have an associated increased risk for major adverse cardiovascular events, particularly development of blood clots in stents, according to a new study. ... > full story
Sleep disturbances show clear association with work disability (October 27, 2010) -- Sleep disturbances increase the risk of work disability and may slow the return to work process. This is especially true in cases where work disability is due to mental disorders or musculoskeletal diseases. ... > full story
Risk of cancer due to radiation exposure in middle age may be higher than previously estimated (October 27, 2010) -- Contrary to common assumptions, the risk of cancer associated with radiation exposure in middle age may not be lower than the risk associated with exposure at younger ages, according to a new study. ... > full story
How H1N1 differs from other viruses as a respiratory illness (October 27, 2010) -- The 2009/2010 Influenza A (H1N1) is one of several viruses responsible for respiratory-related infections. A new study examined patients with viruses and found distinguishing characteristics of the H1N1 virus in how it affects respiratory illness. ... > full story
Haptoglobin as an early serum biomarker of virus-induced type 1 diabetes in rats (October 27, 2010) -- Type 1 diabetes is a multifactorial disease of complex etiology characterized by the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells. In addition to genetic susceptibility, it is generally accepted that environmental factors such as virus infection may play important roles in triggering disease. The recent availability of novel immunomodulatory therapies that may preserve residual beta cell mass in new onset diabetics has generated a demand for noninvasive testable biomarkers that can identify the development of the autoreactive process before it becomes clinically apparent. ... > full story
Sensitivity to bodily symptoms of anxiety may make a difference in treatment in heart patients, study suggests (October 27, 2010) -- Levels of anxiety sensitivity may be important in choosing medical treatment for patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation, researchers report. ... > full story
High resting heart linked to shorter life expectancy in stable heart disease patients, study suggests (October 26, 2010) -- If you are a person who already has stable heart disease, how fast your heart beats at rest can predict your risk of dying, not only from heart disease but all other causes, researchers say. ... > full story
WHO pesticide regulations should be based on toxicity in humans, not rats, experts say (October 26, 2010) -- Current WHO pesticide classifications are based on toxicity in rats, but basing regulation on human toxicity will make pesticide poisoning less hazardous and prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths globally without compromising agricultural needs, according to a new study. ... > full story
School attendance, refusal skills combat smoking risk in youth (October 26, 2010) -- New research is examining the unique differences in adolescent tobacco use among Asians and other groups to provide specific recommendations for prevention and treatment. The study found that youths who frequently were absent from school were more likely to smoke or engage in health-risk behaviors. Asian Americans who have parents and other family members that smoke are more likely to smoke. The findings also indicate that demonstrating refusal to smoke is related to non-smoking in teens. ... > full story
Scented consumer products shown to emit many unlisted chemicals (October 26, 2010) -- Even "green" fragranced products give off many chemicals that are not listed on the label, including some that are classified as toxic. A study of 25 of the most popular scented products showed they emit 133 different chemicals, of which only two are listed anywhere. ... > full story
Consuming polyunsaturated fatty acids may lower the incidence of gum disease (October 26, 2010) -- Periodontitis, a common inflammatory disease in which gum tissue separates from teeth, leads to accumulation of bacteria and potential bone and tooth loss. In a new study, researchers found that dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids like fish oil, known to have anti-inflammatory properties, shows promise for the effective treatment and prevention of periodontitis. ... > full story
Older people advised that taking an afternoon nap can lead to more active lives (October 26, 2010) -- Older people should not feel guilty about napping during the day if it allows them to keep active and busy when they are feeling less tired, new research reveals. ... > full story
Key molecules in multiple myeloma identified (October 26, 2010) -- New research links three molecules to a critical tumor suppressor gene that is often turned off in multiple myeloma. The findings might offer a new strategy for treating this incurable disease and perhaps other blood cancers. The study suggests that re-activating the three molecules triggers expression of the P53 tumor suppressor gene. This slows the growth and leads to the death of myeloma cells and could provide a new strategy for treating the disease. ... > full story
Study raises concern about ability of tests to predict fertility (October 26, 2010) -- The method used to assess infertility in at-home tests might not be the best for identifying which women will have trouble getting pregnant, according to new research. ... > full story
MicroRNAs dictate the Epstein-Barr virus' elaborate waiting game, cancer formation (October 26, 2010) -- Epstein-Barr virus is a champion hider, and has been linked to many diseases that affect people long after the initial infection takes place, including some forms of cancer. Scientists describe how viral microRNA allows EBV to hide within cells and evade the immune system. The scientists believe their findings may one day enable physicians to flush EBV out of hiding, allowing a healthy immune system to rid the body of the virus. ... > full story
Women's choices, not abilities, keep them out of math-intensive fields (October 26, 2010) -- The question of why women are so underrepresented in math-intensive fields is a controversial one. Two psychological scientists have reviewed all of the evidence and concluded that the main factor is women's choices -- both freely made, such as that they'd rather study biology than math, and constrained, such as the fact that the difficult first years as a professor coincide with the time when many women are having children. ... > full story
'Reaper' protein strikes at mitochondria to kill cells (October 26, 2010) -- Many billions of cells in the human body kill themselves every day, as the old and decrepit make way for the new and healthy. This process of programmed cell death, called apoptosis, is crucial in early development and in the routine maintenance of life. New research indicates a technique that could allow for highly efficient, targeted killing of problematic cells such as those that drive the uncontrolled growth of tumors. ... > full story
Discovery opens new window on development, and maybe potential, of human egg cells (October 26, 2010) -- Egg cells hold the key to many mysteries about reproduction, and knowing about the genetic makeup of individual eggs is important in fertility treatment. A new method of looking at genetic material egg cells discard offers a way to learn more about individual eggs without destroying them. ... > full story
Plant stem cells could be fruitful source of low-cost cancer drug (October 26, 2010) -- A popular cancer drug could be produced cheaply and sustainably using stem cells derived from trees, a new study suggests. ... > full story
How do beauty product ads affect consumer self esteem and purchasing? (October 26, 2010) -- Ads featuring beauty products actually lower female consumers' self-esteem, a new study has found. ... > full story
Anti-cholesterol drugs could help stave off seizures, research suggests (October 26, 2010) -- Statins, the family of drugs used to lower cholesterol, might also reduce the risk of epileptic seizures in people with cardiovascular disease, according to a new statistical study by a drug safety expert in Canada. The findings could provide the basis for randomized, controlled clinical trials to test the efficacy of the drugs as anti-epileptic medication. ... > full story
Pregnancy outcome affected by immune system genes (October 26, 2010) -- Research sheds new light on genetic factors that increase susceptibility to and provide protection from common disorders of pregnancy, specifically recurrent miscarriage, pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction. ... > full story
Heavy smoking in midlife may be associated with dementia in later years (October 26, 2010) -- Heavy smoking in middle age appears to be associated with more than double the risk for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia two decades later, according to a new study. ... > full story
Immune cells deploy traps to catch and kill pathogens (October 26, 2010) -- A new study reveals that two enzymes help immune cells deploy pathogen-killing traps by unraveling and using the chromatin (DNA and its associated proteins) contained in the cells' nuclei to form defensive webs. The study appears online on Oct. 25 in the Journal of Cell Biology. ... > full story
Mouse brain seen in sharpest detail ever (October 26, 2010) -- The most detailed magnetic resonance images ever obtained of a mammalian brain are now available to researchers in a free, online atlas of an ultra-high-resolution mouse brain. The interactive images in the atlas will allow researchers worldwide to evaluate the brain from all angles and assess and share their mouse studies against this reference brain in genetics, toxicology and drug discovery. ... > full story
Substantial consumption of fluoride increases chance of mild fluorosis, research finds (October 26, 2010) -- Young children who consume substantial amounts of fluoride through infant formula and other beverages mixed with fluoridated water or by swallowing fluoride toothpaste have an increased chance of developing mild enamel fluorosis, according to new research. However, experts say, children can continue using fluoridated water and fluoride toothpaste because fluoride has been proven to prevent tooth decay, and mild fluorosis does not negatively affect dental health or quality of life. ... > full story
Blood pressure checks performed by barbers improve hypertension control in African-American men (October 26, 2010) -- Neighborhood barbers, by conducting a monitoring, education and physician-referral program, can help their African-American customers better control high blood pressure problems that pose special health risks for them, a new study shows. ... > full story
Chemotherapy plus radiation prevents bladder cancer recurrences, study finds (October 26, 2010) -- Adding chemotherapy to radiation therapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer allows 67 percent of people to be free of disease in their bladders two years after treatment. This compares to 54 percent of people who receive radiation alone, according to the largest randomized study of its kind. ... > full story
Unexpected findings of lead exposure may lead to treating blindness (October 26, 2010) -- Some unexpected effects of lead exposure that may one day help prevent and reverse blindness have been uncovered. A new study suggests that lead, or a new drug that acts like lead, could transform human embryonic retinal stem cells into neurons that would be transplanted into patients to treat retinal degenerations. ... > full story
Stop the bleeding: New way to restore numbers of key blood-clotting cells (October 26, 2010) -- Platelets are cells in the blood that have a key role in stopping bleeding. Thrombocytopenia is the medical term used to describe the presence of abnormally low numbers of platelets in the blood. Platelet transfusion is used to treat several causes of thrombocytopenia, but there is a shortage of donors. However, researchers have now identified a potential new approach to platelet replacement therapy that circumvents the problem of donor shortage. ... > full story
Peace of mind closes health gap for less-educated, study finds (October 26, 2010) -- Psychological well-being is powerful enough to counteract the pull of socioeconomic status on the long-term health of the disadvantaged, according to a new study. ... > full story
Radiation therapy improves painful condition associated with multiple sclerosis, study finds (October 26, 2010) -- Stereotactic radiation is an effective, long-term treatment for trigeminal neuralgia: a painful condition that occurs with increased frequency in patients with multiple sclerosis. Radiation is noninvasive and has less negative side effects than other treatments, according to the longest follow-up in a study of its kind. ... > full story
Molecular guardian of cell's RNA identified (October 26, 2010) -- When most genes are transcribed, the nascent RNAs produced are not quite ready to be translated into proteins -- they have to be spliced first, where non-coding sequences are removed and the remaining coding sequences are joined to form a final mRNA. U1, a splicing component, has a second, equally important role in gene expression: To enable sequences to be read out into their transcripts in their entirety, rather than prematurely stopped. ... > full story
Pathway drives spread of pediatric bone cancer (October 26, 2010) -- Researchers have identified an important signaling pathway that, when blocked, significantly decreases the spread of pediatric bone cancer. ... > full story
Better transparency needed on medical journals' competing interests, experts say (October 26, 2010) -- Journals need to develop policies to handle the inevitable competing interests that arise when they publish papers that may bring them reprint revenue or increase their impact factors, experts say in a new article. ... > full story
Benefit of exercise in patients with hypertension has been insufficiently investigated, experts say (October 26, 2010) -- There are many good reasons to ensure sufficient exercise in everyday life. However, advising patients with increased blood pressure (hypertension) to exercise regularly is often regarded as a specific medical measure aiming to reduce the increased risk of late complications. But whether more exercise actually helps to avoid illnesses related to hypertension or at least delay their onset has been insufficiently investigated. In order to provide better advice to patients with hypertension, informative clinical studies are therefore needed, according to a new report. ... > full story
Cardiac wakeup call for Canadian kids: Poor sleep patterns and lack of proper sleep could be threatening thousands of adolescents with premature heart disease and stroke (October 26, 2010) -- Poor sleep patterns and lack of proper sleep could be threatening thousands of Canadian adolescents with premature heart disease and stroke, warns a pediatric cardiologist. ... > full story
Why does lack of sleep affect us differently? Study hints it may be in our genes (October 25, 2010) -- Ever wonder why some people breeze along on four hours of sleep when others can barely function? It may be in our genes, according to new research. ... > full story
Listeria clever at finding its way into bloodstream, causing sickness (October 25, 2010) -- Pathogenic listeria tricks intestinal cells into helping it pass through those cells to make people ill, and, if that doesn't work, the bacteria simply goes around the cells, according to a new study. ... > full story
Statin use associated with statistically significant reduction in colorectal cancer (October 25, 2010) -- A systematic review of the medical literature supports the hypothesis that statins, cholesterol-lowering drugs used to prevent cardiac problems, are associated with reduced risk of colon and rectal cancers. A comprehensive analysis included 22 scientific studies with more than 2.5 million combined participants. ... > full story
Aspirin use associated with lower risk of cancer death for men with prostate cancer (October 25, 2010) -- Men with prostate cancer who take anticoagulants like aspirin in addition to radiation therapy or surgery may be able to cut their risk of dying of the disease by more than half, according to a large study. The study involved more than 5,000 men with localized cancer whose disease had not spread beyond the prostate gland. ... > full story
Exercising in the heat may improve athletic performance in cool and hot conditions, study suggests (October 25, 2010) -- Turning up the heat might be the best thing for athletes competing in cool weather, according to a new study by human physiology researchers. ... > full story
Genetic markers offer new clues about how malaria mosquitoes evade eradication (October 25, 2010) -- An international team of researchers reports the development and first use of a high-resolution microarray that features 400,000 genetic markers for the malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, providing a vastly clearer picture of how the insect adapts to human interventions. The SNP array offers a powerful new tool to international efforts to eradicate the disease-carrying mosquito. ... > full story
Fighting wrinkles with lasers scientifically unraveled (October 25, 2010) -- Laser pulses enable skin rejuvenation, as research in the Netherlands has shown. Laser treatment introduces heat into the skin. Under the influence of heat shocks of 45°C, skin cells produce more collagen. This is the protein that gives the skin its firmness and elasticity. ... > full story
Common anxiety disorders make it tougher to quit cigarettes (October 25, 2010) -- Researchers may have pinpointed a reason many smokers struggle to quit. ... > full story
Increasing the efficiency of stem cells (October 25, 2010) -- A new technique for increasing the survival rates of human embryonic stem cells promises to revolutionize their use in drug discovery and therapy. ... > full story
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