ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Thursday, November 4, 2010
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Sweet discovery raises hope for treating Ebola, Lassa, Marburg and other fast-acting viruses (November 4, 2010) -- When a team of European researchers sought to discover how a class of antiviral drugs worked, they looked in an unlikely place: the sugar dish. A new research report suggests that a purified and modified form of a simple sugar chain may stop fast-acting and deadly viruses, such as Ebola, Lassa, or Marburg viruses, in their tracks. ... > full story
Juvenile arthritis: Etanercept helps restore normal growth in children with, study finds (November 4, 2010) -- Researchers observed a statistically significant increase in mean height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) percentiles in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who were treated with etanercept or etanercept plus methotrexate (MTX). JIA patients treated with MTX alone did not display an increase in growth percentiles. ... > full story
Levels of coumarin in cassia cinnamon vary greatly even in bark from the same tree (November 4, 2010) -- A "huge" variation exists in the amounts of coumarin in bark samples of cassia cinnamon from trees growing in Indonesia, scientists are reporting in a new study. That natural ingredient in the spice may carry a theoretical risk of causing liver damage in a small number of sensitive people who consume large amounts of cinnamon. ... > full story
Does adolescent stress lead to mood disorders in adulthood? (November 4, 2010) -- Stress may be more hazardous to our mental health than previously believed, according to new research. A series of studies have found there may be a link between the recent rise in depression rates and the increase of daily stress. ... > full story
Positive well-being to higher telomerase: Psychological changes from meditation training linked to cellular health (November 4, 2010) -- Positive psychological changes that occur during meditation training are associated with greater telomerase activity, according to researchers. The study is the first to link positive well-being to higher telomerase, an enzyme important for the long-term health of cells in the body. ... > full story
Lactobacillus reuteri good for health, Swedish study finds (November 4, 2010) -- There is a great deal of interest in the impact of lactic acid bacteria on our health. Now a new study from Sweden shows that the occurrence of Lactobacillus reuteri in the body promotes health. ... > full story
Prognostic markers for prostate cancer patients who receive radiation after surgery (November 4, 2010) -- Removal of the prostate gland often eradicates early-stage cancer. But patients whose cancer has spread may need to follow up with what is known as salvage radiation therapy. Researchers have now determined a better way to monitor outcomes after this procedure. ... > full story
Language intervention provides educational benefits for pre-school children (November 4, 2010) -- A preschool language intervention program can significantly improve the educational lives of children with poorly developed speech and language skills, according to new research by psychologists in the UK. ... > full story
New lymphoma therapy may be more effective with fewer side effects (November 3, 2010) -- Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is a type of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that accounts for approximately 40 percent of lymphomas among adults. If left untreated, it is fatal. The existing treatments have a cure rate that is slightly over 50 percent but destroy healthy cells along with the cancer cells. Researchers have now found a combination therapy that is more effective than traditional treatments and is able to kill the cancer cells without harm to surrounding tissues. ... > full story
'Bouncy' cell membranes behave like cornstarch and water, researchers find (November 3, 2010) -- Mix two parts cornstarch and one part water. Swirl your fingers in it slowly and the mixture is a smoothly flowing liquid. Punch it quickly with your fist and you meet a rubbery solid -- so solid you can jump up and down on a vat of it. It turns out that cell membranes behave the same way. ... > full story
Prostate cancer's multiple personalities revealed: Secondary mutations that make some variations of prostate cancers more lethal (November 3, 2010) -- Scientists have taken an important step toward a better understanding of prostate cancer by uncovering evidence that it is not one disease, as previously believed, but rather several factors which can be measured and, in the future, destroyed by targeted therapy. ... > full story
Half of those travelling internationally not aware of potential health risks, study finds (November 3, 2010) -- A recent study found that 46 percent of travelers to resource-limited countries -- where they may be exposed to diseases like malaria, typhoid, dengue fever and hepatitis -- did not seek health advice or vaccinations prior to departure. ... > full story
Exposure of humans to cosmetic UV filters is widespread, study finds (November 3, 2010) -- An investigation by Swiss researchers and colleagues demonstrates for the first time that internal exposure of humans to cosmetic UV filters is widespread. ... > full story
81 percent of hospital patients at high risk for sleep apnea, study finds (November 3, 2010) -- Eighty-one percent of hospital patients are at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea, a new study has found. The findings suggest that hospitals should consider giving patients a five-minute screening test to identify those who are at high risk. ... > full story
New retinal implant enables blind people to see shapes and objects (November 3, 2010) -- Researchers in Germany have developed a retinal implant that has allowed three blind people to see shapes and objects within days of the implant being installed. One blind person was even able to identify and find objects placed on a table in front of him, as well as walking around a room independently and approaching people, reading a clock face and differentiating seven shades of gray. The device represents an unprecedented advance in electronic visual prostheses and could eventually revolutionize the lives of up 200,000 people worldwide who suffer from blindness as a result of retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease. ... > full story
Why brain has limited capacity for repair after stroke: New drug target identified (November 3, 2010) -- A new study offers insights into a major limitation in the brain's ability to recover function after a stroke and identifies a promising medical therapy to help overcome this limitation. ... > full story
New protein critical for mitochondria discovered (November 3, 2010) -- Researchers in Spain have discovered a new protein in the fruit fly that is crucial for mitochondria. The removal of SLIMP in these flies leads to aberrant mitochondria and loss of metabolic capacity, thus causing death. ... > full story
Scientists uncover a genetic switch that turns immune responses on and off (November 3, 2010) -- A new finding explains what causes some genes to go out of control. Researchers have identified a "cellular switch" that controls the flow of information from chemical signals outside of the cell to genes in the cell nucleus. When the switch is turned off, the information pathway it controls hyper-activates, making it a possible drug target for many conditions such as cancer, severe immune deficiencies, autoimmune diseases and allergies. ... > full story
Novel needle technology paves way for simultaneous tissue sampling and cancer treatment (November 3, 2010) -- A novel technology promises to reduce the risk of tumor spread and bleeding associated with fine-needle biopsy in suspected cancer. The technology is called Anti-Seeding, and has been clinically tested in breast cancer on a small scale in Sweden during a one year period. The researchers will now move forward with larger studies in other cancers, and are also working to develop the technology to enable treatment of some cancers in parallel with the needle diagnostic procedure. ... > full story
Fly study uncovers molecular link between obesity and heart disease (November 3, 2010) -- Researchers show that obesity-induced heart disease can be prevented by reducing the activity of TOR, a nutrient-sensing protein that regulates molecular circuits involved in growth, metabolism and lifespan. ... > full story
Volunteering can benefit those with functional limitations, study finds (November 3, 2010) -- Volunteering is known to provide health benefits to the person doing the volunteering. Now, a new study finds that older adults with functional limitations (trouble conducting daily tasks like cooking meals) in particular appear to reap the benefits from helping others. ... > full story
Gastric bypass alters sweet taste function; Finding could lead to safer treatments for morbid obesity (November 3, 2010) -- Gastric bypass surgery decreases the preference for sweet-tasting substances in obese rats, a study finding that could help in developing safer treatments for the morbidly obese, according to researchers. ... > full story
Zebrafish's neural circuit prevents it from biting off more than it can chew (November 3, 2010) -- With a new technology, have been able to follow entire populations of retinal and brain cells in their test animal: the zebrafish larva, and solve some of the mysteries of its neural circuit that underlies its vision. ... > full story
Macrophage protein has major role in inflammation (November 3, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that a multi-tasking protein called FoxO1 has another important but previously unknown function: It directly interacts with macrophages, promoting an inflammatory response that can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes. ... > full story
Brain's ability to selectively focus, pay attention diminishes with age, study finds (November 3, 2010) -- A new study shows that the brain's ability to selectively filter unattended or unwanted information diminishes with age, leaving older adults less capable of filtering out distracting or irrelevant information. ... > full story
Compound in daffodils targets brain cancer (November 3, 2010) -- When looking for new ways to treat aggressive brain cancers, an international team of scientists turned a new leaf and "discovered" the lowly daffodil. A new research study offers hope that a natural compound found in daffodil bulbs, called narciclasine, may be a powerful therapeutic against biologically aggressive forms of human brain cancers. ... > full story
Cancer drug linked to quantum dots increases drug uptake, reduces inflammation (November 3, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a novel technology using quantum dots that is expected to have major implications for research and treatment of tuberculosis, as well as other inflammatory lung diseases. ... > full story
Tamiflu is more effective at relieving flu symptoms than a combination of tamiflu and relenza, study finds (November 3, 2010) -- In adults with seasonal influenza A virus infection, the combination of the drugs oseltamivir (tamiflu) and zanamivir (relenza) is less effective than oseltamivir monotherapy and not significantly more effective than zanamivir monotherapy, according to a new study. ... > full story
Why are people with stroke more likely to die if hospitalized on a weekend? (November 3, 2010) -- People admitted to the hospital on a weekend after a stroke are more likely to die compared to people admitted on a weekday, regardless of the severity of the stroke they experience, according to new research. ... > full story
Mouse model confirms mutated protein's role in dementia (November 3, 2010) -- A team of scientists has created a new mouse model that confirms that mutations of a protein called beta-synuclein promote neurodegeneration. The discovery creates a potential new target for developing treatments of diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. ... > full story
Mediterranean diet helps control cholesterol: Adding monounsaturated fats to a low-cholesterol diet can further improve levels (November 3, 2010) -- The addition of monounsaturated fat to a cholesterol-lowering dietary portfolio in patients with mild to moderate elevated cholesterol levels increased HDL by 12.5 percent and lowered LDL levels by 35 percent, found a new study. ... > full story
Hepatitis C study shows superior viral cure rate (November 3, 2010) -- For patients with the most common form of hepatitis C being treated for the first time, the addition of an investigational hepatitis C-specific protease inhibitor called telaprevir to the current standard therapy markedly improved their sustained viral response (SVR or viral cure) rate. ... > full story
Slight change in wind turbine speed significantly reduces bat mortality (November 3, 2010) -- Since turbine towers and non-spinning turbine blades do not kill bats, some scientists have proposed shutting off or reducing the usage of wind turbines during peak periods of migration in the late summer and early fall months when bat activity and fatalities are highest. In a study online today, researchers examined the effects of changes in wind turbine speed on bat mortality during the low-wind months of late summer and early fall. ... > full story
Shift work linked to higher risk of work injury, Canadian study finds (November 3, 2010) -- Canadians who work night and rotating shifts are almost twice as likely to be injured on the job than those working regular day shifts, according to a new study. ... > full story
How some brain cells hook up surprises researchers: The untold secret life of the humble microglia (November 3, 2010) -- Immune cells known as microglia, long thought to be activated in the brain only when fighting infection or injury, are constantly active and likely play a central role in one of the most basic, central phenomena in the brain -- the creation and elimination of synapses. The finding catapults the humble microglia cell from its well-recognized duty of protecting the brain to direct involvement in creating the cellular networks at the core of brain behavior. ... > full story
DHA 'fish oil' supplements do not seem to slow cognitive, functional decline in Alzheimer's disease (November 3, 2010) -- Patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) who received supplementation with the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid, believed to possibly reduce the risk of AD, did not experience a reduction in the rate of cognitive and functional decline, compared to patients who received placebo, according to a new study. ... > full story
Study points to genetic link in apnea of prematurity: Life-threatening breathing disorder affects 50 percent of premature infants (November 3, 2010) -- New research suggests that heredity may play a strong role in determining an infant's susceptibility to apnea of prematurity (AOP) and could lead to the development of more effective treatments and screening methods. ... > full story
Global map of the sickle cell gene supports 'malaria hypothesis' (November 2, 2010) -- At a global scale, the sickle cell gene is most commonly found in areas with historically high levels of malaria, adding geographical support to the hypothesis that the gene, while potentially deadly, avoids disappearing through natural selection by providing protection against malaria. ... > full story
Liver hormone is a cause of insulin resistance (November 2, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a hormone produced and secreted by the liver as a previously unknown cause of insulin resistance. The findings suggest a new target for the treatment of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, the researchers say. ... > full story
Antibody locks up West Nile's infection mechanism (November 2, 2010) -- Researchers have learned the structure that results when an antibody binds to the West Nile virus, neutralizing the virus by locking up its infection mechanism. The information could help scientists develop a vaccine against the mosquito-borne disease. ... > full story
Veterans with bipolar disorder may have increased risk of suicide (November 2, 2010) -- Veterans diagnosed with any psychiatric illness appear to have an elevated risk of suicide, and men with bipolar disorder and women with substance abuse disorders may have a particularly high risk, according to a new study. ... > full story
How brain is wired for attention (November 2, 2010) -- Researchers have uncovered a wiring diagram that shows how the brain pays attention to visual, cognitive, sensory, and motor cues. The research provides a critical foundation for the study of abnormalities in attention that can be seen in many brain disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, and attention deficit disorder. ... > full story
BPA levels in US foods 1,000 times less than limits, study finds (November 2, 2010) -- For the first time in the United States, researchers are reporting in a peer-reviewed scientific journal detection of Bisphenol A (BPA) in fresh and canned food as well as food wrapped in plastic packaging. The amounts, however, were almost 1,000 times lower than the "tolerable daily intake" levels set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). ... > full story
Black raspberries may prevent colon cancer, study finds (November 2, 2010) -- Black raspberries are highly effective in preventing colorectal tumors in two mouse models of the disease, according to a new study. ... > full story
Secondary infections were a major cause of death during 1918 flu pandemic, research finds (November 2, 2010) -- Secondary infections with bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, which causes pneumonia, were a major cause of death during the 1918 flu pandemic and may be important in modern pandemics as well, according to a new article. ... > full story
Genetic elements influencing risk of type 2 diabetes identified (November 2, 2010) -- Researchers have captured the most comprehensive snapshot to date of DNA regions that regulate genes in human pancreatic islet cells. The study highlights the importance of genome regulatory sequences in human health and disease, particularly type 2 diabetes. ... > full story
Daily dose of beet juice promotes brain health in older adults (November 2, 2010) -- Researchers for the first time have shown that drinking beet juice can increase blood flow to the brain in older adults -- a finding that could hold great potential for combating the progression of dementia. ... > full story
Severely injured should go directly to trauma center, new research shows (November 2, 2010) -- Severely injured patients should be transported directly from the scene of an accident to a trauma center, even if it means bypassing a closer hospital, according to new research that shows this results in a nearly 25 percent lower death rate. ... > full story
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