ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Friday, November 5, 2010
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Armed antibody triggers remissions for Hodgkin's lymphoma (November 5, 2010) -- An antibody loaded with an anti-cancer agent produced complete or partial remissions in 38 percent of patients with relapsed or therapy-resistant Hodgkin lymphoma enrolled in a phase I clinical trial, researchers report. ... > full story
Recombination hotspot stacks the DNA deck in finding a new diabetes susceptibility gene (November 5, 2010) -- Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is diagnosed in approximately 70,000 children worldwide per year. Genetics is recognized as playing a significant role in susceptibility to T1D, but outside a handful of genes, a clear understanding of the genetic architecture that underlies T1D has remained elusive. In a new study, scientists have identified a novel gene associated with diabetes in mice, revealing new clues about genomic mechanisms that could underlie T1D susceptibility. ... > full story
Teens of epileptic moms display poor school performance, study finds (November 5, 2010) -- A large population-based study revealed that multiple antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) used by pregnant women to control seizures may cause poor school performance in their teenagers. Researchers confirmed that exposure to AEDs in utero may have a negative effect on neurodevelopment. ... > full story
Single shot of morphine has long lasting effects on testosterone levels, study finds (November 5, 2010) -- A single injection of morphine to fight persistent pain in male rats is able to strongly reduce the hormone testosterone in the brain and plasma, according to a new article. ... > full story
Combining radiation therapy, chemotherapy safely treats head and neck cancer patients, study finds (November 5, 2010) -- Stereotactic body radiotherapy, a radiation therapy procedure pioneered at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute that precisely delivers a large dose of radiation to tumors, may effectively control and treat head and neck cancers when combined with the chemotherapy Cetuximab, according to researchers. ... > full story
More talk, less agreement: Risk discussion can hurt consensus-building on science/technology (November 5, 2010) -- When it comes to public issues pertaining to science and technology, "talking it out" doesn't seem to work. A new study shows that the more people discuss the risks and benefits associated with scientific endeavors, the more entrenched they become in their viewpoint -- and the less likely they are to see the merit of other viewpoints. ... > full story
Nerve cell activity drains stem cell pool in developing brain (November 4, 2010) -- As babies grow, their brain cells develop from a pool of stem cells -- some stem cells continuously divide, replenishing the pool, whereas others morph into mature functioning nerve cells. Now researchers have shown that as the newly formed nerve cells start firing electrical signals, this activity slows down stem cell division, emptying out the stem cell pool in favor of nerve cell formation. ... > full story
Discovery blocks cancer drug's toxic side effect (November 4, 2010) -- A debilitating side effect of a widely used but harshly potent treatment for colon cancer could be eliminated if a promising new laboratory discovery bears fruit. The pre-clinical finding relates to the drug CPT-11, or Irinotecan, a chemotherapeutic agent used against colon cancer and other solid malignancies. It is believed to be the first successful targeting of an enzyme in symbiotic bacteria found in the digestive system. ... > full story
Insufficient vitamin D levels in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients linked to cancer progression and death (November 4, 2010) -- Researchers have found a significant difference in cancer progression and death in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients who had sufficient vitamin D levels in their blood compared to those who didn't. ... > full story
A 'brand' new world: Attachment runs thicker than money (November 4, 2010) -- Can you forge an emotional bond with a brand so strong that, if forced to buy a competitor's product, you suffer separation anxiety? According to a new study the answer is yes. In fact, that bond can be strong enough that consumers are willing to sacrifice time, money, energy and reputation to maintain their attachment to that brand. ... > full story
Method keeps surgically-removed prostate tissue alive and 'working' for week (November 4, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a technique to keep normal and cancerous prostate tissue removed during surgery alive and functioning normally in the laboratory for up to a week. ... > full story
Beneficial effects of testosterone for frailty in older men are short-lived, study finds (November 4, 2010) -- The beneficial effects of six months of testosterone treatment on muscle mass, strength and quality of life in frail elderly men are not maintained at six months post-treatment, according to a new study. ... > full story
Built-in timer for improving accuracy of cost saving paper-strip medical tests (November 4, 2010) -- Scientists are reporting the development of a simple, built-in timer intended to improve the accuracy of paper tests and test strips for diagnosing diseases inexpensively at-home and elsewhere. ... > full story
Food-allergy fears drive overly restrictive diets, study suggests (November 4, 2010) -- Many children, especially those with eczema, are unnecessarily avoiding foods based on incomplete information about potential food-allergies, according to researchers. The food avoidance poses a nutritional risk for these children, and is often based primarily on data from blood tests known as serum immunoassays. Oral food challenges, a definitive test of food allergy, allowed 125 children to restore 325 foods to their diets. ... > full story
Electrical brain stimulation improves math skills, researchers show (November 4, 2010) -- By applying electrical current to the brain, researchers have shown that they could enhance a person's mathematical performance for up to six months without influencing their other cognitive functions. ... > full story
Gene identified for spread of deadly melanoma (November 4, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a gene linked to the spread of melanoma of the eye. Although more research is needed, the researchers say the discovery is an important step in understanding why some tumors spread and others don't. Metastasis is the most common cause of death in cancer patients. ... > full story
Five-year results show keyhole bowel cancer surgery as safe and effective (November 4, 2010) -- Laparoscopic or "keyhole" surgery is a safe, effective way of removing bowel tumors and should be offered to all patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer, according to new research. ... > full story
Americans less healthy than English, but live as long or longer, study finds (November 4, 2010) -- Older Americans are less healthy than their English counterparts, but they live as long or even longer than their English peers, according to a new study. Researchers found that while Americans aged 55 to 64 have higher rates of chronic diseases than their peers in England, they died at about the same rate. And Americans age 65 and older -- while still sicker than their English peers -- had a lower death rate than similar people in England. ... > full story
Specific changes in the brain associated with sleep deprivation described in new study (November 4, 2010) -- Researchers have published the most systematic study to date of the effects of sleep deprivation on gene expression in the brain. The findings have implications for improving the understanding and management of the adverse effects of sleep deprivation on brain function. ... > full story
Intentional swallowing of foreign bodies and its impact on the cost of health care (November 4, 2010) -- A new study from Rhode Island Hospital found that 33 individuals were responsible for 305 cases of medical intervention to remove foreign bodies that were intentionally swallowed, resulting in more than million in estimated hospital costs. ... > full story
Higher medication spending doesn't indicate better prescribing quality, study finds (November 4, 2010) -- Medicare patients in regions that spend the most on prescription medications are not necessarily getting better quality care, according to a new study of spending practices. The findings reveal great variation across the country in both drug spending and the rate of inappropriate prescriptions for the elderly. ... > full story
Asthma drug prevents spread of breast cancer, study finds (November 4, 2010) -- A drug commonly used in Japan and Korea to treat asthma has been found to stop the spread of breast cancer cells traditionally resistant to chemotherapy, according to a new study. ... > full story
Multifocal contact lenses may reduce vision for night driving (November 4, 2010) -- A new study suggests that older adults who wear multifocal contact lenses to correct problems with near vision, a very common condition that increases with age, may have greater difficulty driving at night than their counterparts who wear glasses. Age-related problems with near vision, medically termed presbyopia, usually occurs after the age of 40 and results in the inability to focus on objects up close. ... > full story
Investigation raises concerns about the post-approval surveillance of medical devices (November 4, 2010) -- A British Medical Journal investigation raises concerns about the ability of the US Food and Drug Administration to monitor the ongoing safety of medical devices through post-approval surveillance. ... > full story
Stone Age humans needed more brain power to make big leap in tool design (November 4, 2010) -- Stone Age humans were only able to develop relatively advanced tools after their brains evolved a greater capacity for complex thought, according to a new study that investigates why it took early humans almost two million years to move from razor-sharp stones to a hand-held stone axe. ... > full story
Successful aging in the Amish: Researchers discover new genetic factors (November 4, 2010) -- Avoiding disease, maintaining physical and cognitive function, and continuing social engagement in late life are considered to be key factors associated with what some gerontologists call "successful aging." While conducting studies of Amish families in Indiana and Ohio, a group of researchers began to notice that a significant number of people over age 80 in these communities demonstrated the three main factors associated with successful aging. ... > full story
Parental infertility and cerebral palsy in children born spontaneously or after IVF/ICSI (November 4, 2010) -- Doctors have known for some time that children born after some fertility treatments are at increased risk of cerebral palsy. However, it was not known whether this risk was due to the treatment itself, the higher frequency of preterm or multiple births, or a mechanism associated with couples' underlying infertility. Now, new research indicates that underlying infertility is not the main reason for the increased risk seen in IVF/ICSI children. ... > full story
Study finds links between high schoolers' hopes, educational attainment (November 4, 2010) -- It turns out that the high school guidance counselor was right. Students who have high aspirations and put thought into their futures during their high school years tend to reach higher levels of educational attainment, according to a recent study. ... > full story
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
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