ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Thursday, November 25, 2010
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New imaging technique accurately finds cancer cells, fast (November 25, 2010) -- The long, anxious wait for biopsy results could soon be over, thanks to a new tissue-imaging technique. Researchers have demonstrated the novel microscopy technique, called nonlinear interferometric vibrational imaging, on rat breast-cancer cells and tissues. It produced easy-to-read, color-coded images of tissue, outlining clear tumor boundaries, with more than 99 percent confidence -- in less than five minutes. ... > full story
How some melanoma tumors evade drug treatment: Critical gene involved in melanoma growth (November 25, 2010) -- Researchers have unearthed one of the key players behind drug resistance in melanoma. The findings point to a new potential drug target, and also lay the foundation for a generalized approach to identify the molecular underpinnings of drug resistance in many forms of cancer. ... > full story
Combining aerobic and resistance training appears helpful for patients with diabetes (November 25, 2010) -- Performing a combination of aerobic exercise and resistance training was associated with improved glycemic levels among patients with type 2 diabetes, compared to patients who did not exercise, according to a new study. The level of improvement was not seen among patients who performed either aerobic exercise or resistance training alone. ... > full story
People who donate to religions are more likely to punish selfish behaviour, new study finds (November 25, 2010) -- When subconsciously exposed to religious ideas and concepts, religious people are far more likely to actively punish those they believe are acting selfishly and unfairly, a new study has revealed. ... > full story
Stem cells from amniotic fluid: Reprogrammed amniotic fluid cells can generate all types of body cells (November 25, 2010) -- High hopes rest on stem cells: one day, they may be used to treat many diseases. To date, embryos are the main source of these cells, but this raises ethical problems. Scientists have now managed to convert amniotic fluid cells into pluripotent stem cells. These amniotic fluid-derived iPS cells are hardly distinguishable from embryonic stem cells. However, they "remember" where they came from. ... > full story
A cancer cell's beginning reconstructed in a test tube (November 25, 2010) -- Scientists recreate the very first step by which a normal cell transforms itself into a cancer cell. They have identified factors in the very first step of the process and reconstituted this first step in the test tube. ... > full story
Cellular mechanisms leading to immune response in airway epithelium (November 25, 2010) -- Researchers have demonstrated that commensal species of the genus Neisseriae are low inducers of human airway epithelial cell responses as compared to the pathogenic species. ... > full story
Drug resistance mechanisms identified in most common form of melanoma (November 24, 2010) -- Researchers have found that melanoma patients whose cancers are caused by mutation of the BRAF gene become resistant to a promising targeted treatment through another genetic mutation or the overexpression of a cell surface protein, both driving survival of the cancer and accounting for relapse. The study could result in the development of new targeted therapies to fight resistance once the patient stops responding and the cancer begins to grow again. ... > full story
Late-preterm babies at greater risk for problems later in childhood, study finds (November 24, 2010) -- Late-preterm babies -- those born between 34 and 36 weeks -- are at an increased risk for cognitive and emotional problems, regardless of maternal IQ or demographics, according to new research. ... > full story
Gene linked to ADHD allows memory task to be interrupted by brain regions tied to daydreaming (November 24, 2010) -- Neuroscientists say brain scans show that a gene nominally linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder leads to increased interference by brain regions associated with mind wandering during mental tasks. ... > full story
An answer to a longstanding question: How HIV infection kills T cells (November 24, 2010) -- Researchers appear to have an explanation for a longstanding question in HIV biology: how it is that the virus kills so many CD4 T cells, despite the fact that most of them appear to be "bystander" cells that are themselves not productively infected? That loss of CD4 T cells marks the progression from HIV infection to full-blown AIDS, explain the researchers who report their findings in studies of human tonsils and spleens. ... > full story
Sensory detection and discrimination: Neural basis of rapid brain adaptation revealed (November 24, 2010) -- Researchers have determined the biological basis of your brain's ability to quickly switch from detecting an object moving in your direction to determining what the object is: neurons located at the beginning of the brain's sensory information pathway changing their level of simultaneous firing. ... > full story
Less invasive method for determining stage of lung cancer shows benefits (November 24, 2010) -- A comparison of two strategies to determine the stage of suspected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) finds that the less invasive method is more effective at identifying a type of lung cancer that has spread, and may result in a reduction of unnecessary surgical procedures and associated adverse effects for certain patients. ... > full story
Retirement reduces tiredness and depression, study finds (November 24, 2010) -- Retirement leads to a substantial reduction in mental and physical fatigue and depressive symptoms, finds a new study. However, the research also concludes that retirement does not change the risk of major chronic illnesses such as respiratory disease, diabetes and heart disease. ... > full story
Chronic high cholesterol diet produces brain damage (November 24, 2010) -- A chronic high fat cholesterol diet in rats is linked to pathologies similar to Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story
Coffee and a sweet treat to think better? Caffeine and glucose combined improves the efficiency of brain activity (November 24, 2010) -- The combination of caffeine and glucose can improve the efficiency of brain activity, according to a recent study in which functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to identify the neural substrate for the combined effects of these two substances. ... > full story
Binge drinking may lead to higher risk of heart disease (November 24, 2010) -- Belfast's binge drinking culture could be behind the country's high rates of heart disease, according to a new study. ... > full story
Getting lost in buildings: Architecture can bias your cognitive map (November 24, 2010) -- Some people are better than others at navigating their worlds. Differences among people that include spatial skills, experience, and preferred strategies for wayfinding are part of what determines whether people get lost in buildings -- and psychological scientists could help architects understand where and why people might get lost in their buildings, according to the authors of a new article. ... > full story
Heating nanoparticles to kill tumor cells (November 24, 2010) -- Magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) is a promising new cancer treatment that essentially "fries" cells inside tumors. Nanoparticles are heated, cancer cells die with no adverse effects to the surrounding healthy tissue. ... > full story
For your teeth, Thanksgiving dinner is a real food fight (November 24, 2010) -- If you're lucky, it will all be kisses and hugs around the Thanksgiving dinner table, with friends and family gathered about, and puppies at your feet waiting for table scraps. But peace won't reign within the confines of the oral cavity; your meal will enable Streptococcus mutans to launch one of its biggest assaults of the year on your tooth enamel. But dinner also offers some leads on new ways to stop cavities. ... > full story
Age estimation from blood has immediate forensic application (November 24, 2010) -- Scientists have devised a method that would allow them to estimate the age of crime suspects or missing persons from blood collected at the scene of a crime. In principle, the new profiling method could be put to immediate practical use by law enforcement, according to researchers. They have already begun the required validation of the test, which is designed to assure that quality standards are met. ... > full story
Why do people behave badly? Maybe it's just too easy (November 24, 2010) -- Many people say they wouldn't cheat on a test, lie on a job application or refuse to help a person in need. But what if the test answers fell into your lap and cheating didn't require any work on your part? If you didn't have to face the person who needed your help and refuse them? Would that change your behavior? ... > full story
Battle of the sexes: Researchers change 'femaleness' or 'maleness' of fruit flies (November 24, 2010) -- Researchers found that they could change the "femaleness" or "maleness" of fruit flies, providing windows on the sensory and behavioral cues underlying aggressive behavior in these animals. ... > full story
Environmental toxin may play important role in multiple sclerosis: Hypertension drug possible treatment (November 24, 2010) -- Researchers have found evidence that an environmental pollutant may play an important role in causing multiple sclerosis and that a hypertension drug might be used to treat the disease. ... > full story
Salmonella test makes food safer, reduce recalls (November 24, 2010) -- Earlier this year, an outbreak of salmonella caused by infected eggs resulted in thousands of illnesses before a costly recall could be implemented. Now researchers have created a new test for salmonella in poultry and eggs that will produce faster and more accurate results than most currently available tests. The new test could have prevented the contaminated eggs from being shipped to stores. ... > full story
Genomic 'markers' may head off thousands of thyroid surgeries (November 24, 2010) -- Doctors are beginning to use a genomic approach to evaluating suspicious thyroid nodules. The test could eliminate the need for tens of thousands of unnecessary thyroid surgeries every year. ... > full story
Plant-derived scavengers prowl the body for nerve toxins (November 24, 2010) -- A biochemist has shown that human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), a so-called bioscavenging molecule, can be produced synthetically -- from plants. Further, researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of plant-derived BChE in protecting against both pesticide and nerve agent organophosphate poisoning. ... > full story
Perceptual training improves vision of the elderly, research finds (November 24, 2010) -- Elderly adults can improve their vision with perceptual training, according to a new study that has implications for the health and mobility of senior citizens. ... > full story
Cancer: Thermotherapy as a chemotherapy alternative? (November 24, 2010) -- Using hyperthermia, engineering researchers unveiled a new method to target and destroy cancerous cells. The treatment uses hyperthermia to elevate the temperature of tumor cells, while keeping the surrounding healthy tissue at a lower degree of body heat. The investigators used both in vitro and in vivo experiments to confirm their findings. ... > full story
Too much of a good thing: Important mechanism in hormone-sensitive breast cancer uncovered (November 24, 2010) -- In two out of three breast tumors, extraordinarily high levels of the estrogen receptor ERalpha are found. Scientists have now uncovered a mechanism which causes this overproduction. This result might contribute to developing new strategies for fighting the most frequent type of cancer affecting women. ... > full story
Dealt a bad hand: Pathological gamblers are also at risk for mental health disorders (November 24, 2010) -- Pathological gamblers are risking more than their money, they are also three times more likely to commit suicide than non-betters. A new study has shown these gamblers are also plagued by personality disorders. ... > full story
Bacteria help infants digest milk more effectively than adults (November 24, 2010) -- Infants are more efficient at digesting and utilizing nutritional components of milk than adults due to a difference in the strains of bacteria that dominate their digestive tracts. Researchers now report on genomic analysis of these strains identifying the genes that are most likely responsible for this difference. ... > full story
For HIV-positive patients, delayed treatment a costly decision (November 24, 2010) -- HIV-infected patients whose treatment is delayed not only become sicker than those treated earlier, but also require tens of thousands of dollars more in care over the first several years of their treatment. ... > full story
Hormone's crucial role in two anemic blood disorders (November 24, 2010) -- A hormone made by the body may be a potential therapeutic tool for the treatment of two anemic blood disorders -- beta-thalassemia and hemochromatosis. ... > full story
Monitoring wear-and-tear in helicopters, and also in hips, knees and ankles, too (November 24, 2010) -- A new technique, "bio-ferrography," can better diagnose diseases, determine drug efficacy, and ascertain the condition of orthopedic implants in our own fragile bodies, according to an expert. ... > full story
Depression may be both consequence of and risk factor for diabetes (November 24, 2010) -- Diabetes appears to be associated with the risk of depression and vice versa, suggesting the relationship between the two works in both directions, according to a new report. ... > full story
Atypical femoral fractures and long-term bisphosphonate use: New position paper (November 24, 2010) -- A new position paper on "atypical" subtrochanteric fractures in association with long-term treatment with bisphosphonates examines available evidence which indicates that the proven benefits of bisphosphonate treatment clearly outweigh the relatively low risk of these rare, atypical fractures. More epidemiological research and well-designed studies are needed to define and characterize atypical fractures and to learn about other risk factors in patients who have suffered these fractures. ... > full story
Human creativity may have evolved as a way for parents to bond with their children (November 23, 2010) -- Evidence from Disneyland suggests that human creativity may have evolved not in response to sexual selection as some scientists believe but as a way to help parents bond with their children and to pass on traditions and cultural knowledge, a new study suggests. ... > full story
Excess fructose may play role in diabetes, obesity and other health conditions (November 23, 2010) -- More and more people have become aware of the dangers of excessive fructose in diet. A new review on fructose indicates just how dangerous this simple sugar may be. ... > full story
Stability is first step toward treating ALS (November 23, 2010) -- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that eventually destroys most motor neurons, causing muscle weakness and atrophy throughout the body. There is no cure and the current treatment has only a moderate effect on the march of the disease, which typically kills within three to five years. Scientists now report an innovative approach to treating the most common form of familial ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. ... > full story
Aerobic exercise may reduce excessive cocaine use (November 23, 2010) -- Aerobic exercise may protect against binge-like patterns of cocaine use, suggests a new study. Rats allowed access to running wheels self-administered less cocaine than did rats that were not. ... > full story
Discovery halts breast cancer stem cells (November 23, 2010) -- Breast cancer stem cells, the aggressive cells thought to be resistant to current anti-cancer therapies and which promote metastasis, are stimulated by estrogen via a pathway that mirrors normal stem cell development. Disrupting the pathway, researchers were able to halt the expansion of breast CSCs, a finding that suggests a new drug therapy target. The study was done in mice. ... > full story
Upper-class people have trouble recognizing others' emotions (November 23, 2010) -- Upper-class people have more educational opportunities, greater financial security, and better job prospects than people from lower social classes, but that doesn't mean they're more skilled at everything. A new study finds surprisingly, that lower-class people are better at reading the emotions of others. ... > full story
High alpha-carotene levels associated with longer life (November 23, 2010) -- High blood levels of the antioxidant alpha-carotene appear to be associated with a reduced risk of dying over a 14-year period, according to a new report. ... > full story
Heart health: Implanted devices as effective in 'real world' as in clinical trial settings (November 23, 2010) -- Survival rates for patients with implanted defibrillators and resynchronization devices in the general population are similarly high as rates in clinical trial settings. Remote monitoring of the devices over a network is linked to improved survival odds. ... > full story
Fighting antibiotic-resistant bacteria by treating municipal wastewater at higher temperatures (November 23, 2010) -- New findings by civil engineering researchers show that treating municipal wastewater solids at higher temperatures may be an effective tool in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. ... > full story
Eyeblink conditioning may help in assessing children with fetal alcohol exposure (November 23, 2010) -- Children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) are extremely difficult to diagnose, as well as treat. But new research indicates that eyeblink conditioning may provide a better model for assessing and diagnosing FAS in children. ... > full story
New sleep cycle discovery explains why fatty diets during pregnancy make kids obese (November 23, 2010) -- The link between sleeping and obesity is drawn tighter as a new research shows that what your mother ate when she was pregnant may make you obese or overweight by altering the function of genes (epigenetic changes) that regulate circadian rhythm. ... > full story
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