ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Monday, November 29, 2010
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Potential new target for treating triple negative breast cancer identified (November 29, 2010) -- Scientists believe they may have found a new target for treating triple negative breast cancer -- one of the more difficult breast cancers to treat successfully and for which there is no targeted therapy at present. New research shows that TNBC cells respond to compounds that disrupt the signaling processes of another receptor, EGFR, high levels of which are expressed in TNBC. ... > full story
Scientists learn more about how kidneys fail and how new drugs may intervene (November 29, 2010) -- Scientists are learning more about how protein gets in the urine when the kidneys begin to fail and how a new drug blocks it. ... > full story
Tobacco: Out of sight, out of mind? (November 29, 2010) -- Putting tobacco out of sight in shops can change the attitude of young people to smoking, while not hitting retailers in the pocket, researchers have discovered. ... > full story
Brain tissue loss in people with Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment (November 29, 2010) -- People with Alzheimer's disease exhibit striking structural changes in the caudate nucleus, a brain structure typically associated with movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, a new study has found. ... > full story
Iron compounds synthesized to combat tuberculosis (November 29, 2010) -- Researchers have synthesized two iron compounds that inhibit the in vitro growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis. Due their low level of toxicity in mammal cells, the compounds could be used in the future as therapeutic agents and hospital disinfectants. ... > full story
Era of personalized oncology: New strategies for cancer drug development urgently needed, experts say (November 29, 2010) -- Millions of cancer patients worldwide may soon be able to receive more effective, personalized treatments for their disease, thanks to developments in the understanding of cancer biology, experts say. ... > full story
Dogs have bigger brains than cats because they are more sociable, research finds (November 28, 2010) -- Over millions of years dogs have developed bigger brains than cats because highly social species of mammals need more brain power than solitary animals, according to a new study. ... > full story
Cholesterol drug shows benefits for kidney patients, study suggests (November 28, 2010) -- A combination drug that lowers levels of 'bad' cholesterol in the blood can benefit people with chronic kidney disease and is safe, a new study suggests. ... > full story
Why are we getting fatter? Seeking a mysterious culprit (November 28, 2010) -- Researchers suggest there are multiple, still undiscovered causes for obesity, based observations of weight gain in controlled groups of animals that has no single explanation, such as diet or activity level. ... > full story
Danger of cancerous tissue development in chromosomal abnormalities (November 28, 2010) -- New research arouses a cautionary warning in the growing field of the development of stem cells as a means for future treatment of patients through replacement of diseased or damaged tissues by using the patient’s own stem cells. The research indicates a possible danger of cancerous tissue development in the use of such cells. ... > full story
Sensory stimulation protects against brain damage caused by stroke (November 28, 2010) -- Mild sensory stimulation given soon after the first symptoms of a stroke can prevent a large area of the brain from becoming damaged, a new animal study shows. If applicable to humans, these findings could potentially help protect vulnerable brain tissue in patients with stroke. ... > full story
Same face may look male or female, depending on where it appears in a person's field of view (November 28, 2010) -- Neuroscientists have made the surprising discovery that the brain sees some faces as male when they appear in one area of a person's field of view, but female when they appear in a different location. ... > full story
Fatal blood clot genetic risk identified (November 28, 2010) -- Researchers can now better identifying people at risk of developing potentially fatal blood clots that can lead to heart attack. ... > full story
Molecular switch controls neuronal migration in the developing brain (November 28, 2010) -- Researchers have identified key components of a signaling pathway that controls the departure of neurons from the brain niche where they form and allows these cells to start migrating to their final destination. ... > full story
A decade of refinements in transplantation improves long-term survival of blood cancers (November 28, 2010) -- A decade of refinements in marrow and stem cell transplantation to treat blood cancers significantly reduced the risk of treatment-related complications and death, according to new research. ... > full story
Pre-injury exercise may mitigate the effects of traumatic brain injury in mice (November 28, 2010) -- Being physically fit before a traumatic brain injury (TBI) might improve recovery, preliminary findings suggest. After TBI, mice bred for running behavior exhibited smaller brain lesions and engaged in more extensive post-injury activity than did mice that had been sedentary before the injury. ... > full story
Diabetes drug could work against Alzheimer's, animal study suggests (November 27, 2010) -- The diabetes drug metformin has an effect against one of the main causes of the Alzheimer's disease, according to new research in animal models. ... > full story
Reliable culture of human embryonic stem cells (November 27, 2010) -- Human embryonic stem cells have enormous potential for use in pharmaceutical development and therapeutics; however, to realize this potential there is a requirement for simple and reproducible cell culture methods that provide adequate numbers of cells of suitable quality. ... > full story
Being faced with gender stereotypes makes women less likely to take financial risks (November 27, 2010) -- Last year Nicholas Kristof declared in his New York Times column what banks need to fix their problems: Not just a bailout, but also "women, women, and women." Women are generally thought to be less willing to take risks than men, so he speculated that banks could balance out risky men by employing more women. Stereotypes like this about women actually influence how women make financial decisions, according to a new study. ... > full story
Severe asthma more prevalent than thought, related to pronounced nasal symptoms (November 27, 2010) -- People with multi-symptom asthma more often have night-time awakenings due to asthma-symptoms, a sign of severe asthma. Researchers have shown that asthma with multiple symptoms is more highly prevalent than previously suggested, comprising 20- 25% of all asthmatics. ... > full story
Finger-trap tension stabilizes cells' chromosome-separating machinery (November 27, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered an amazingly simple way that cells stabilize their machinery for forcing apart chromosomes. ... > full story
Epilepsy: Women need specific treatment, experts say (November 27, 2010) -- Doctors treating female epilepsy patients have to take account of the specific hormonal situation in women. Such an approach can often reduce the limitations imposed by the disease, according to experts. ... > full story
Elderly to outnumber children by 2050 in most parts of world (November 27, 2010) -- In just a few decades, there will be more elderly people than children in most parts of the world (with the exception of Africa). Media reports on the world's aging population tend to focus on pensions and care for the elderly. But other changes could be just as important. What will happen to family life, for example? And what will the relationship between the generations be like when so many of us live longer and have fewer children? ... > full story
Growth-factor gel shows promise as hearing-loss treatment (November 26, 2010) -- A new treatment has been developed for sudden sensorineural hearing loss, a condition that causes deafness in 40,000 Americans each year, usually in early middle-age. Researchers describe the positive results of a preliminary trial of insulin-like growth factor 1, applied as a topical gel. ... > full story
Female fish -- and humans? -- lose interest when their male loses a slugfest (November 26, 2010) -- If you see your special someone lose a competition, your subconscious may start whispering, "He's a loser," even as you insist your love is unaffected, according to researchers studying African cichlid fish. When female cichlids saw a favored suitor lose a fight with another male, the females showed marked changes in relatively primitive parts of their brains. Humans have those same primitive brain areas, suggesting we may subconsciously react in much the same way. ... > full story
Weather affects children's injury rate: Each 5-degree temperature rise boosts kids' hospital admissions for serious injury by 10 percent (November 26, 2010) -- Every 5 degree Celsius rise in maximum temperature pushes up the rate of hospital admissions for serious injuries among children, reveals one of the largest studies of its kind. ... > full story
Erythromycin A produced in E. coli for first time: Biosynthetic breakthrough paves way for other pharmaceuticals (November 26, 2010) -- For the first time, researchers have made the antibiotic erythromycin A, and two variants, using E. coli as the production host. This is a cost-effective way to make erythromycin A and new drugs to combat antibiotic resistant pathogens. The E. coli host also offers next-generation engineering opportunities for other products with complex biosynthetic pathways. ... > full story
Tightwads and spendthrifts: A Black Friday tradition (November 26, 2010) -- Every year about this time, on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving that traditionally begins the holiday shopping season, early-morning consumers stand in long lines eager to purchase some sought after prize. From the outside, it looks as if these holiday shoppers can't wait to plunk down their cash, but researchers say consumers often behave differently than they would ideally like to behave. ... > full story
More protein, less refined starch important for dieting, large study shows (November 26, 2010) -- If you want to lose weight or avoid gaining weight, you should cut down on finely refined starch calories such as white bread and white rice and instead eat a diet that is high in proteins with more lean meat, low-fat dairy products and beans, large scale study suggests. ... > full story
New tool detects Ebola, Marburg quickly, easily (November 26, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a simple diagnostic tool that can quickly identify dangerous viruses like Ebola and Marburg. The biosensor, which is the size of a quarter and can detect viruses in a blood sample, could be used in developing nations, airports and other places where natural or man-made outbreaks could erupt. ... > full story
No link between mold growth and development of asthma and allergy, Scandinavian study finds (November 26, 2010) -- A recent study in Norway shows that there is no link between mold-spore concentrations in the indoor air and development of asthma and allergy among children. ... > full story
Gender gap in physics exams reduced by simple writing exercises, study finds (November 26, 2010) -- Women are underrepresented and on average perform more poorly than men in introductory physics. But a recent study finds that this gap arises predominantly from differential preparation prior to college and psychological factors, rather than differences in ability. ... > full story
New insight into the cause of common dementia (November 26, 2010) -- Researchers have found a clue as to how some people develop a form of dementia that affects the brain areas associated with personality, behavior and language. ... > full story
Promising new multiple sclerosis treatment under development (November 26, 2010) -- Successfully treating and reversing the effects of multiple sclerosis, or MS, may one day be possible using a drug originally developed to treat chronic pain, according to experts. ... > full story
High BMI in childhood linked to greater heart disease risk in adolescence (November 26, 2010) -- Children who have a high body mass index (BMI) between 9 and 12 years of age are more likely to have high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood insulin levels (all risk factors for developing heart disease) by the time they reach adolescence, according to a new study. ... > full story
US death rate from congenital heart defects continues to decline (November 26, 2010) -- Deaths from congenital heart defects continue a decades-long decline in the United States. The rates of death were consistently higher among blacks compared to whites. ... > full story
Do 'traffic lights' in the brain direct our actions? Delayed inhibition between neurons identified as possible basis for decision making (November 26, 2010) -- In every waking minute, we have to make decisions -- sometimes within a split second. Neuroscientists in Germany have now discovered a possible explanation how the brain chooses between alternative options. The key lies in extremely fast changes in the communication between single nerve cells. ... > full story
How cannabis suppresses immune functions: Cannabis compounds found to trigger unique immune cells which promote cancer growth (November 26, 2010) -- Immunologists studying the effects of cannabis have discovered how smoking marijuana can trigger a suppression of the body's immune functions. The research reveals why cannabis users are more susceptible to certain types of cancers and infections. ... > full story
Understanding aging by studying reproduction (November 26, 2010) -- Do examples of rejuvenation exist in nature? Yes, during reproduction! For the first time, scientists have managed to visualize, in the model organism C. elegans, the sudden “rejuvenation” of oocytes just before fertilization. This work opens new avenues for understanding aging and the diseases that are associated with it. ... > full story
Proton-pump inhibitors and birth defects: Some reassurances, but more needed, warns epidemiologist (November 26, 2010) -- Despite the reassurances about the use of proton-pump inhibitors during pregnancy based on a new study, an epidemiologist believes that further studies are needed. ... > full story
How people perceive sour flavors: Proton current drives action potentials in taste cells (November 25, 2010) -- Tart cranberry sauce is part of Thanksgiving, and a new study reveals a surprising mechanism for how we perceive sourness: a proton current in taste cells. ... > full story
Using a patient's tumor to form vaccine: Dendritic cell vaccine induces immune responses in patients (November 25, 2010) -- A new process for creating a personalized vaccine may become a crucial tool in helping patients with colorectal cancer develop an immune response against their own tumors. This dendritic cell vaccine was used after surgical resection of metastatic tumors to try to prevent the growth of additional metastases. ... > full story
Jet-lagged and forgetful? It's no coincidence: Memory, learning problems persist long after periods of jet lag (November 25, 2010) -- Holiday travel can leave people cranky and tired, in part because of jet lag, the result of your body's internal clock being out of synch with your current time zone. For chronic travelers, it's more than a passing annoyance, however. A new study shows that chronic jet lag can cause long-term brain changes that lead to memory and learning problems for at least a month after return to a normal schedule. ... > full story
Being a 'good sport' can be critical to maintaining lifelong physical activity (November 25, 2010) -- It's never fun riding the bench -- but could it also make you less likely to be physically active in the future? ... > full story
Restoring gene for cancer protein p53 slows spread of advanced tumors, biologists find (November 25, 2010) -- In a new study, cancer biologists show that restoring the protein p53's function in mice with lung cancer has no effect early in tumor development, but restoring the function later on could prevent more advanced tumors from spreading throughout the body. ... > full story
Breastfeeding while taking seizure drugs may not harm child's IQ, study suggests (November 25, 2010) -- There's good news for women with epilepsy. Breastfeeding your baby while taking your seizure medication may have no harmful effect on your child's IQ later on, according to a new study. ... > full story
Haiti cholera outbreaks: Experts urge US to create emergency cholera vaccine stockpile for humanitarian use (November 25, 2010) -- In the wake of devastating cholera outbreaks in refugee camps in earthquake-wracked Haiti, a group of leading experts has urged the United States to create an emergency stockpile of cholera vaccines for future humanitarian use. ... > full story
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
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