ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Monday, November 8, 2010
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MRI may help determine time of stroke onset (November 8, 2010) -- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain could expand the number of stroke patients eligible for a potentially life-saving treatment, according to a new study. ... > full story
Study sheds light on cancer-causing gene regulation (November 8, 2010) -- Researchers have uncovered the genes that regulate MDM2, an oncogene that, in turn, regulates the tumor suppressor protein p53. But instead of an on-off switch for MDM2, the team found what looks like a dimmer switch, suggesting a more complicated signaling pathway that is sensitive to a changing environment. ... > full story
'e-Learning' report shows online professional development aids teachers and students (November 8, 2010) -- Teachers who completed extensive online professional development showed improvement in their knowledge and skills, which translated into modest learning gains for their students, according to a five-year study involving more than 300 teachers and 7,000 students in 13 states. ... > full story
Why proper nutrition is so vital in fighting infection (November 8, 2010) -- Researchers in Canada may be able to explain why proper nutrition is so vital in fighting infection. They have discovered an amino acid, called arginine, is required to let the body know that it's being attacked by an infection. ... > full story
Obesity and diabetes: Immune cells in fat tissue explain the link (November 8, 2010) -- Inflammation-causing cells in fat tissue may explain the link between obesity and diabetes, researchers in Australia have shown. ... > full story
Estrogen not associated with lung cancer incidence and mortality among postmenopausal women, study finds (November 8, 2010) -- Use of estrogen alone did not increase lung cancer mortality in postmenopausal women, according to a new study. ... > full story
Detecting depression in caretakers of mentally ill adults (November 8, 2010) -- A diagnostic test of eight short questions can be used to detect depressive thinking patterns that lead to clinical depression in women who care for an adult family member with a serious mental illness. ... > full story
New player in innate immunity? Class of biomolecules triggered in response to respiratory virus infection (November 7, 2010) -- For the first time, scientists have discovered that long, non-protein coding RNAs produced in a mammal's cells during a respiratory virus attack may influence the outcome of infection. Researchers used new techniques to read a cell's library of RNA transcripts, which reflects gene activity and changing conditions inside and outside the cell. Scientists can now catalog and compare the appearance and activity of long, non-protein coding RNAs during an infection. Distinctive activity rates are linked to fatal infection. ... > full story
Controlling bone formation to prevent osteoporosis (November 7, 2010) -- Recent data have suggested that the imbalance between bone formation and bone destruction that causes osteoporosis is a result of a decrease in formation of bone forming osteoblast cells from mesenchymal cells upon aging. New research in mice provides insight into this decrease and might provide new avenues of research for those developing approaches to treat age-related osteoporosis. ... > full story
Any athlete suspected of having concussion should be removed from play, neurologists say (November 7, 2010) -- The American Academy of Neurology is calling for any athlete who is suspected of having a concussion to be removed from play until the athlete is evaluated by a physician with training in the evaluation and management of sports concussion. ... > full story
Simple blood test may diagnose deadly Niemann-Pick type C disease (November 7, 2010) -- A fatal genetic disorder that frequently takes years to diagnose may soon be detectable with a simple blood test, researchers report. For patients with Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease, the test will make it possible to begin treatment earlier, when it is more likely to improve quality of life and to further extend lives. ... > full story
Vulnerable brain region may be central to progression of Alzheimer's disease (November 7, 2010) -- New research is helping to unravel the events that underlie the "spread" of Alzheimer's disease (AD) throughout the brain. The research follows disease progression from a vulnerable brain region that is affected early in the disease to interconnected brain regions that are affected in later stages. The findings may contribute to design of therapeutic interventions as targeting the brain region where AD originates would be simpler than targeting multiple brain areas. ... > full story
Precisely targeted radiation controls sinus cancer with fewer side effects (November 7, 2010) -- Treating paranasal sinus cancer with three-dimensional radiation that conforms to the shape of the tumor -- a technique that minimizes side effects such as severe dry mouth and vision problems -- is safe and effective, new research shows. ... > full story
Specialization builds trust among Web users (November 7, 2010) -- If you name it, they will use it, according to researchers who investigated how people perceive the trustworthiness of online technology. In an experiment, participants said they trusted websites, recommendation-providing software and even computers labeled to perform specific functions more than the same Internet tools with general designations. ... > full story
Looking older than your age may not be a sign of poor health (November 7, 2010) -- Even though most adults want to avoid looking older than their actual age, new research shows that looking older does not necessarily point to poor health. The study found that a person needed to look at least 10 years older than their actual age before assumptions about their health could be made. ... > full story
Protein preserves delicate balance between immune response and host (November 7, 2010) -- The immune system possesses a highly effective arsenal of cellular and chemical weapons that stand ready to defend us from harmful pathogens. However, these same mechanisms that are designed for protection can sometimes wreak havoc on our own body. Now, new research provides insight into the mechanisms that regulate natural checks and balances that optimize the immune response against potential threats while preserving host tissues. ... > full story
Lasofoxifene reduces breast cancer risk in postmenopausal osteoporotic women (November 7, 2010) -- Lasofoxifene statistically reduced the overall risk of breast cancer, as well as ER positive invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with low bone density, according to a new study. ... > full story
Screening test validated for depression in adolescents (November 7, 2010) -- Doctors know teen depression is common but have lacked a reliable screening test. Now report the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 item) screens well for major depression in adolescents. ... > full story
'Nano-drug' hits brain-tumor target: Unique triggering device delivers antitumor drugs (November 6, 2010) -- Employing new drug-engineering technology that is part of an advanced science called nanomedicine, a research team has created a "nanobioconjugate" drug that may be given by intravenous injection and carried in the blood to target the brain tumor. It is engineered to specifically permeate the tumor cell wall, entering endosomes, mobile compartments within cells. ... > full story
PET scans reveal estrogen-producing hotspots in human brain (November 6, 2010) -- A new study demonstrated that a molecule "tagged" with a radioactive form of carbon can be used to image aromatase, an enzyme responsible for the production of estrogen, in the human brain. The research uncovered that the regions of the brain where aromatase is concentrated may be unique to humans. ... > full story
Math professor illuminates cellular basis of neural impulse transmission (November 6, 2010) -- A new mathematical model shows that the calcium current through an N-type channel is larger than calcium channels that are not involved in synaptic transmission, contrary to the currently accepted channel conductance hierarchy. ... > full story
'Prima donna' protein doesn't work well in pairs (November 6, 2010) -- Bioengineers have found that the workhorse proteins that move cargo inside living cells behave like prima donnas. These molecular-scale machines called kinesin are two-legged mechanical motor proteins. Using an especially sensitive set of tools, scientists measured the pulling power of kinesin both singly and in pairs. It seems that kinesins don't work well together -- in part because they are so effective on their own. ... > full story
Self awareness can help people navigate rocky seas of relationships (November 6, 2010) -- Knowing something about the way you communicate attraction says something about challenges you might have had in your past dating life, says a researcher. Hopefully, this awareness can help people avoid those mistakes and succeed in courtship. ... > full story
DNA fingerprinting traces global path of plague (November 6, 2010) -- Scientists have traced major plague pandemics such as the Black Death back to their roots using DNA fingerprinting analysis. ... > full story
Breakthrough in cancer vaccine research (November 6, 2010) -- Researchers hope to revolutionize cancer therapy after discovering one of the reasons why many previous attempts to harness the immune system to treat cancerous tumors have failed. ... > full story
Luminous cells from jellyfish could diagnose cancers deep within human body (November 6, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a process that uses the luminous cells from jellyfish to diagnose cancer tumors deep within the human body. The researchers have used an altered form of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) so that it shows up as red or blue, rather than its original green. Color is important in disease diagnosis, as most colors in the spectrum are rapidly absorbed, and tumors deep within the body become invisible. ... > full story
Illnesses, injuries greatly increase chances of older adults developing new or worsening disability (November 6, 2010) -- In a study examining the factors that play a role in an older adult's transition to disability, intervening illnesses and injuries that led to hospitalization or activity restriction were associated with worsening functional ability, especially among those who were physically frail. ... > full story
X-ray crystallography reveals structure of precursor to blood-clotting protein (November 6, 2010) -- Using state-of-the-art robotic and x-ray crystallographic equipment, researchers have revealed for the first time the molecular structure of the zymogen, or inactive, form of a blood-clotting enzyme. ... > full story
Compulsive eating and the holiday season can lead to serious weight gain (November 6, 2010) -- Dealing with extended family, increased commitments and even celebratory occasions can cause a compulsive overeater to gain too much weight during the holiday season. ... > full story
Helical CT scans reduce lung cancer mortality by 20 percent compared to chest X-rays, study finds (November 6, 2010) -- A national study of more than 53,000 current and former heavy smokers has demonstrated that helical CT scanning reduced lung cancer deaths by 20 percent compared to using chest X-rays. ... > full story
X-rays offer first detailed look at hotspots for calcium-related disease (November 6, 2010) -- Using intense X-rays, researchers have determined the detailed structure of a key part of the ryanodine receptor, a protein associated with calcium-related disease. Their results pinpoint the locations of more than 50 mutations that cluster in disease "hotspots" along the receptor and offer insights into how the mutations might cause the receptor to malfunction. ... > full story
Timing is everything in combination therapy for osteoporosis (November 6, 2010) -- The adult human skeleton undergoes constant remodeling, with new bone forming at sites that have been broken down by a precise process called resorption. During remodeling, skeletal stem cells are recruited to resorption sites and directed to differentiate into bone-forming cells. ... > full story
Public support for HPV vaccine wanes when linked to controversy, study finds; Public opinion about other vaccines remains unchanged (November 6, 2010) -- In a new paper, researchers found that attendant controversy resulted in diminished public support for legally mandating the HPV vaccine. ... > full story
Nanoshells provide golden 'touch' in killing breast tumors (November 5, 2010) -- Using tiny gold "nanoshells" to deliver just a little heat to breast tumor cells already treated with radiation boosts the killing potential of the treatment -- not just shrinking the tumor but killing the cancer stem cells, said researchers. ... > full story
Junior ice hockey study uncovers alarming concussion rates (November 5, 2010) -- A study on Canadian junior ice hockey uncovers alarming head injury/concussion data and trends that raise many questions about the safety and well being of teenagers and young adults who participate in this popular sport. ... > full story
Wayward DNA-repair enzyme implicated in Friedreich's ataxia (November 5, 2010) -- Scientists have taken a step closer to understanding the cause of Friedreich's ataxia, a debilitating neurological condition that affects tens of thousands of people worldwide, and so far has no cure. ... > full story
Parents' effort key to child's educational performance (November 5, 2010) -- Parents' efforts towards their child's educational achievement is crucial -- playing a more significant role than that of the school or child, new research shows. ... > full story
Hard work improves the taste of food, study shows (November 5, 2010) -- It's commonly accepted that we appreciate something more if we have to work hard to get it, and a new study bears that out, at least when it comes to food. The study seems to suggest that hard work can even enhance our appreciation for fare we might not favor, such as the low-fat, low calorie variety. ... > full story
Extreme form of pregnancy-related morning sickness could be genetic (November 5, 2010) -- Research that traced both the maternal and paternal family histories of women with hyperemesis gravidarum -- an extreme form of pregnancy-related morning sickness that hospitalizes 60,000 pregnant women each year -- suggests not only that the condition could be genetic but that women with sisters who had HG could have a more than 17-fold risk of experiencing the debilitating condition too. ... > full story
Small protein changes may make big difference in natural HIV control (November 5, 2010) -- Tiny variants in a protein that alerts the immune system to the presence of infection may underlie the rare ability of some individuals to control HIV infection without the need for medications. An international research team has found that differences in five amino acids in a protein called HLA-B are associated with whether or not HIV-infected individuals can control viral levels with their immune system only. ... > full story
Air pollution exposure increases risk of severe COPD (November 5, 2010) -- Long term exposure to low-level air pollution may increase the risk of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to researcher s in Denmark. While acute exposure of several days to high level air pollution was known to be a risk factor for exacerbation in pre-existing COPD, until now there had been no studies linking long-term air pollution exposure to the development or progression of the disease. ... > full story
Headgear, mouth guards have little or no impact on reducing concussions in rugby players, study finds (November 5, 2010) -- Existing headgear and mouth guards have limited or no benefit in reducing concussions in rugby players, according to a Canadian neurosurgeon. ... > full story
Promising target for new pancreatic cancer treatments discovered (November 5, 2010) -- For almost three decades, scientists and physicians have known that a gene called the KRAS oncogene is mutated in virtually all pancreatic cancers, making it an important target for scientists looking for a way to stop the growth of pancreatic cancer tumors. Medical researchers have now narrowed the focus of this scientific quest to a protein called RGL2. ... > full story
Fly stem cells on diet: Scientists discovered how stem cells respond to nutrient availability (November 5, 2010) -- Researchers have revealed that stem cells can sense a decrease in available nutrients and respond by retaining only a small pool of active stem cells for tissue maintenance. When, or if, favorable conditions return, stem cell numbers multiply to accommodate increased demands on the tissue. ... > full story
CT screening of former, current smokers reduces lung cancer deaths, study finds (November 5, 2010) -- A large national US study finds that screening current or former heavy smokers with a CT scan can reduce deaths from lung cancers by 20 percent. One potential reason for the reduction is that the scan can pick up tumors at an early stage. ... > full story
Handedness and language-related disorders: Gene discovery supports link (November 5, 2010) -- Scientists have identified a genetic variant which influences whether a person with dyslexia is more skilled with either the left or right hand. The finding identifies a novel gene for handedness and provides the first genetic evidence to support a much speculated link between handedness and a language-related disorder. ... > full story
Human-specific evolution in battling bugs and building babies (November 5, 2010) -- Researchers have described qualitative killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor differences, acquired after humans and chimpanzees separated 6 million years ago and mainly a consequence of innovation in the human line. These differences open up an exciting avenue for explaining the differential susceptibility of humans and chimpanzees to devastating infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria. ... > full story
Investigating possible link between menstrual periods and ovarian cancer (November 5, 2010) -- Scientists in the UK are investigating a possible link between women's menstrual periods and ovarian cancer. A current theory suggests that the constant injury and repair caused by ovulation may play an important role in causing cancer of the ovaries. ... > full story
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