ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Wednesday, November 17, 2010
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Damaged organs linked to change in biochemical wave patterns (November 17, 2010) -- By examining the distinct wave patterns formed from complex biochemical reactions within the human body, diseased organs may be more effectively identified, says a researcher who has developed a model that simulates how these wave patterns are generated. ... > full story
Protein with cardioprotective capabilities during heart attack discovered (November 17, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered a new protein that could be cardioprotective during heart attack, potentially leading to more targeted treatments for patients at risk. ... > full story
Never-smokers fare far better than smokers after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer (November 17, 2010) -- Patients with head and neck cancer who have never smoked have much better survival rates after radiation therapy than patients with a history of smoking, new research has found. ... > full story
Energy drink use may lead to alcohol dependence (November 17, 2010) -- Many adolescents and college students innocently ingest large amounts of energy drinks to stay awake. But, new research shows that energy drink over-use is strongly linked with increased risks of engaging in episodes of heavy drinking and developing alcohol dependence. ... > full story
Bioengineers provide adult stem cells with simultaneous chemical, electrical and mechanical cues (November 17, 2010) -- Bioengineers have achieved the "Triple Crown" of stem cell culture -- they created an artificial environment for stem cells that simultaneously provides the chemical, mechanical and electrical cues necessary for stem cell growth and differentiation. Building better microenvironments for nurturing stem cells is critical for realizing the promises of stem-cell-based regenerative medicine, including cartilage for joint repair, cardiac cells for damaged hearts, and healthy skeletal myoblasts for muscular dystrophy patients. ... > full story
Cancer drug target is promising lead for new TB treatments (November 17, 2010) -- A key enzyme in Mycobacterium tuberculosis that enables the microbe to reproduce rapidly could be a golden target for new drugs against tuberculosis, according to a new study. The human equivalent of this enzyme has been targeted in some cancer treatments as well as in immunosuppressive chemotherapies. Scientists have now shown that inhibiting the same enzyme in M. tuberculosis effectively kills the bacterial cells. ... > full story
Statin RX may be overprescribed in healthy people without evidence of diseased arteries, study suggests (November 17, 2010) -- Rolling back suggestions from previous studies, a new study of 950 healthy men and women has shown that taking daily doses of a cholesterol-lowering statin medication to protect coronary arteries and ward off heart attack or stroke may not be needed for everyone. ... > full story
US scientists significantly more likely to publish fake research, study finds (November 17, 2010) -- US scientists are significantly more likely to publish fake research than scientists from elsewhere, finds a trawl of officially withdrawn (retracted) studies. ... > full story
New treatment for lung cancer shows promise (November 16, 2010) -- A new inhalable dry powder treatment for lung cancer shows a significant increase in survival rates and is far less invasive than current treatment options, which frequently include radiation and surgery. ... > full story
Reducing blood transfusions improves patient safety and cuts costs, study finds (November 16, 2010) -- A study has demonstrated how hospitals can improve patient safety and cut costs by reducing the number of blood transfusions. ... > full story
How do folded structures form? (November 16, 2010) -- What do the convolutions of the brain, the emergence of wrinkles, the formation of mountain chains, and fingerprints have in common? All these structures, albeit very different, result from the same process: the compression of a 'rigid membrane'. Scientists have now shed light on one of the mysteries underlying the formation of such folded structures. This work will make it possible to better understand and thus predict their emergence. ... > full story
Binge drinking in adolescence changes stress response in adulthood (November 16, 2010) -- Alcohol exposure during adolescence alters the body's ability to respond to stress in adulthood, according to new animal research. Because problems regulating stress are associated with behavioral and mood disorders, the findings may indicate that binge drinking in adolescence leads to increased risk of anxiety or depression in adulthood. ... > full story
Size of hippocampus may indicate early dementia (November 16, 2010) -- The size of the part of the brain known as the hippocampus may be linked to future dementia, reveals new research from Sweden. ... > full story
Risk factors that lead to bicycling injuries in city traffic (November 16, 2010) -- The streets of New York City can be dangerous for bicyclists, but they can be especially risky for young adult male bicyclists who don't wear helmets, have too much to drink, or are listening to music through earphones, a group of investigators report. ... > full story
Teenage amphetamine abuse affects adult brain cell function (November 16, 2010) -- Amphetamine abuse during adolescence permanently changes brain cells, according to new animal research. The study shows drug exposure during adolescence, but not young adulthood, altered electrical properties of brain cells in the cortex. ... > full story
Treating heart attack with fat-derived stem cells may be safe in humans (November 16, 2010) -- Treating heart attack patients with regenerative stem cells obtained from their own fat deposits may be feasible and safe, according to a small, first-of-its-kind study. Heart muscle damage in stem cell-treated patients decreased more than half after six months; placebo-treated patients showed no change. Stem cell recipients had a greater increase in heart function, but the difference was not considered significant. ... > full story
New dry powder antibiotic targets tuberculosis, reduces treatment time (November 16, 2010) -- Scientists have developed an inhalable dry powder antibiotic that when used alone or with current treatments may significantly reduce treatment for tuberculosis (TB) and multi-drug resistant TB. ... > full story
Adolescent rats more vulnerable to drug addiction than adults; younger animals consumed more cocaine and worked harder for it than did adults (November 16, 2010) -- Adolescent rats take cocaine more readily than adults, are sensitive to lower doses, and work harder for access to the drug, according to new research. The findings suggest that adolescence is a period of increased vulnerability to drug abuse and addiction. ... > full story
Artificial retina more capable of restoring normal vision; animal study shows including retina’s neural 'code' improved prosthetic (November 16, 2010) -- Researchers have developed an artificial retina that has the capacity to reproduce normal vision in mice. While other prosthetic strategies mainly increase the number of electrodes in an eye to capture more information, this study concentrated on incorporating the eye's neural "code" that converts pictures into signals the brain can understand. ... > full story
New bandages change color if infections arise (November 16, 2010) -- Wounds have to be regularly checked, to make sure any complications in the healing process are detected at an early stage. A new material will make it possible to check wounds without changing the dressing: If an infection arises, the material changes its color. ... > full story
Fat outside of the arteries may be linked to future cardiovascular disease (November 16, 2010) -- Researchers have found that fat around the outside of arteries may lead to the development of cardiovascular disease and could be linked to its onset in individuals with diabetes. ... > full story
Musicians less likely to experience age-related changes in the auditory cortex (November 16, 2010) -- The old adage "use it or lose it" applies to hearing, suggests a new study. Older musicians do not experience certain changes in the auditory cortex -- the part of the brain involved with hearing -- that are associated with aging, according to new research. ... > full story
Stem cell patch may result in improved function following heart attack (November 16, 2010) -- Researchers have found that applying a stem cell-infused patch together with overexpression of a specific cell instruction molecule promoted cell migration to damaged cardiac tissue following heart attack and resulted in improved function in animal models. ... > full story
Surgical instruments left in children rarely fatal, but dangerous, study finds (November 16, 2010) -- Surgical items, such as sponges and small instruments, left in the bodies of children who undergo surgery are quite uncommon and rarely fatal but decidedly dangerous and expensive mistakes, according to a new study. ... > full story
Oxytocin increases advertising’s influence: Hormone heightened sensitivity to public service announcements (November 16, 2010) -- The hormone oxytocin makes people more susceptible to advertising, according to new research. The findings suggest that advertisements may exploit the biological system for trust and empathy. ... > full story
Spleen might be source of damaging cells at spinal cord injury site (November 16, 2010) -- The spleen, an organ that helps the body fight infections, might also be a source of the cells that end up doing more harm than good at the site of a spinal cord injury, new research suggests. Considering the spleen's role in the after-effects of spinal cord injury could change the way researchers pursue potential treatments for these devastating injuries. ... > full story
More fat around internal organs may mean more complications after liver surgery (November 16, 2010) -- The amount of intra-abdominal fat appears to be associated with the risk of complications following major liver surgery, according to a new report. However, appearing overweight or having a high body mass index were not associated with increased post-surgical risks. ... > full story
Mental introspection increases as brain areas begin to act in sync (November 16, 2010) -- Neuroscientists can now show, using functional MRI images, why it is that behavior in children and young adolescents veers toward the egocentric rather than the introspective. ... > full story
Regular exercise reduces large number of health risks including dementia and some cancers, study finds (November 16, 2010) -- Regular exercise can reduce around two dozen physical and mental health conditions and slow down how quickly the body ages, according to a research review summarizing the key findings of 40 papers published between 2006 and 2010. ... > full story
Robo-op marks new world first for heart procedure (November 16, 2010) -- The world's first remote heart procedure, using a robotic arm alongside 3-D mapping, is due to take place. It comes six months after the first ever remote catheter ablation procedure using the Amigo Robotic Catheter System was performed. ... > full story
Smoking among some adults dropped dramatically in past three decades (November 16, 2010) -- Smoking among some adults dropped during the past three decades, with greater decreases among those with higher incomes and more education. Even those who continued to smoke dramatically reduced the number of cigarettes smoked per day. However, young women have started picking up the habit at an earlier age. Four unrelated studies found more results related to smoking's negative effects and the benefit of quitting. ... > full story
Robotic-assisted surgery appears safe for complicated pancreatic procedures (November 16, 2010) -- A study involving 30 patients suggests that robotic-assisted surgery involving complex pancreatic procedures can be performed safely in a high-volume facility, according to a new report. ... > full story
Functional MRI predicts outcome to talk therapy in children with an anxiety disorder (November 16, 2010) -- A brain scan with functional MRI is enough to predict which patients with pediatric anxiety disorder will respond to "talk therapy," and so may not need to use psychiatric medication, say neuroscientists. ... > full story
Light technology to combat hospital infections (November 16, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a pioneering lighting system that can decontaminate air and exposed surfaces in hospitals and other clinical environments. The technology decontaminates the air and exposed surfaces by bathing them in a narrow spectrum of visible-light wavelengths, known as HINS-light. ... > full story
New blood test may help predict heart failure in apparently healthy older adults (November 16, 2010) -- Researchers report that a new, highly sensitive investigative blood test may help predict the risk of heart failure and cardiovascular death much earlier than previously possible in older people who do not have symptoms of heart failure. The test for troponin T, a marker for heart failure, detected levels 10 times lower than previous tests in two-thirds of people without symptoms age 65 or older. ... > full story
Adapted MRI scan improves picture of changes to the brain (November 16, 2010) -- Standard MRI scans have so far been unable to produce satisfactory images of nerve bundles. However, this is now possible using an MRI technique called Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). A researcher in the Netherlands has succeeded in improving the DTI method, enabling him to produce more accurate images of the damage that radiotherapy and chemotherapy cause in young leukemia patients. ... > full story
Small assist device used in emergency case as twin, heart booster pumps for first time in US (November 16, 2010) -- Medical researchers recently implanted a patient with two of the smallest experimental ventricular assist devices currently available for study in humans. ... > full story
Tests show bright future for gadonanotubes in stem cell tracking (November 16, 2010) -- Gadonanotubes are beginning to show positive results. A new study has determined GNTs are effective in helping doctors track stems cells through the body by making them 40 times better than standard contrast agents used in magnetic resonance imaging. Contrast agents help doctors spot signs of disease or damage in MR images. ... > full story
Video game-based therapy helps stroke patients recover study (November 16, 2010) -- Repeated exercise, even in a virtual environment, helped stroke patients improve arm and hand function, according to a new human study of an interactive video game-based therapy. ... > full story
More evidence that melanoma does not conform to the cancer stem cell model (November 15, 2010) -- Researchers have determined that most types of melanoma cells can form malignant tumors, providing new evidence that the deadliest form of skin cancer does not conform to the increasingly popular cancer stem cell model. ... > full story
Most heart attack patients are not taking preventive medications, study finds (November 15, 2010) -- Despite a high frequency of cardiac risk factors, patients without known coronary artery disease presenting with acute heart attacks, or ST-elevated myocardial infarction, are rarely on primary prevention medications, according to new study. ... > full story
Modern humans mature more slowly than Neanderthals did, analysis of teeth suggests (November 15, 2010) -- A sophisticated new examination of teeth from 11 Neanderthal and early human fossils shows that modern humans are slower than our ancestors to reach full maturity. The finding suggests that our characteristically slow development and long childhood are recent and unique to our own species, and may have given early humans an evolutionary advantage over Neanderthals. ... > full story
Umbilical cord cells may treat arthritis, studies suggest (November 15, 2010) -- Umbilical cord stem cells may be useful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Animal and in vitro experiments have shown that mesenchymal stem cells taken from umbilical cord blood can suppress inflammation and attenuate collagen-induced arthritis. ... > full story
Healthy lifestyle has bigger impact on cardiovascular health than genetics, studies show (November 15, 2010) -- Is cardiovascular health in middle age and beyond a gift from your genes or is it earned by a healthy lifestyle and within your control? Two large studies confirm that a healthy lifestyle has the biggest impact on cardiovascular health. ... > full story
Danger of combining warfarin with herbal and dietary supplements revealed (November 15, 2010) -- Herbal and dietary supplements are popular. People claim they make their joints feel better, their bones stronger and their hearts healthier. But a recent study shows that many of these people may not realize their favorite supplement, mixed with prescription medications, may be putting their lives in danger, especially if they are taking warfarin -- a blood-thinning medication commonly prescribed to patients living with atrial fibrillation to lower their risk of stroke. ... > full story
Performing blood counts automatically (November 15, 2010) -- If a blood count is abnormal, a medical laboratory scientist has to manually perform a differential blood count analysis. This costs time and money. A computer-assisted blood cell analysis system has recently been launched on the market and does just this. ... > full story
Stomach hormone can fuel or suppress rats’ sugar cravings: Chemical associated with appetite also activates the brain’s pleasure center (November 15, 2010) -- Researchers have found that rats either seek out sweets or lose interest, depending on the action of a stomach hormone called ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of many chemicals in the body that tell the brain when to trigger hunger or fullness. ... > full story
Iron in coronary artery plaque is a marker of heart attack risk, say researchers (November 15, 2010) -- Plaque in a heart artery looks threatening, but cardiologists know that many of these buildups will not erupt, dislodge and block a vessel, causing a heart attack that can be fatal. Some will, however, and the challenge is to figure out atherosclerotic plaque that is dangerous and treat or remove it. ... > full story
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