ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Friday, December 3, 2010
Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.
Scientists home in on chemicals needed to reprogram cells; Groundbreaking discovery moves field closer to therapeutic applications (December 3, 2010) -- Scientists have made a significant leap forward in the drive to find a way to safely reprogram mature human cells and turn them into stem cells, which can then change into other cell types, such as nerve, heart, and liver cells. The ability to transform fully mature adult cells such as skin cells into stem cells has potentially profound implications for treating many diseases. ... > full story
Personalized diets for elderly after hospitalization decreases mortality rates, study finds (December 3, 2010) -- Intense, individually tailored dietary treatment for acutely hospitalized elderly has a significant impact on mortality, according to a new study by researchers in Israel. ... > full story
Stigma deters those with alcohol disorders from seeking treatment, study finds (December 3, 2010) -- Despite the existence of effective programs for treating alcohol dependencies and disorders, less than a quarter of people who are diagnosed actually seek treatment. In a recent study, researchers report that people diagnosed with alcoholism at some point in their lifetime were more than 60 percent less likely to seek treatment if they believed they would be stigmatized once their status is known. ... > full story
Scientists discover mechanism that turns healthy cells into prostate cancer cells (December 3, 2010) -- A protein that is crucial for regulating the self-renewal of normal prostate stem cells, needed to repair injured cells or restore normal cells killed by hormone withdrawal therapy for cancer, also aids the transformation of healthy cells into prostate cancer cells, researchers have found. ... > full story
Scientists ratchet up understanding of cellular protein factory (December 3, 2010) -- Theoretical biologists are untangling a mystery related to ribosomes -- those enigmatic jumbles of molecules that are the protein factories of living cells. The research could aid in development of new antibiotics used to fight multidrug resistant superbugs such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections) found in many US hospitals. ... > full story
Scientists propose new international cancer effort akin to Human Genome Project (December 3, 2010) -- Scientists are proposing an international effort, on the scale of the Human Genome Project (HGP), to identify all the proteins present in cancer cells. HGP was the international scientific research project that identified and mapped all the genes in humans. Within a decade, they believe, results of the new effort could provide cancer patients with more effective treatments customized to their own biology. ... > full story
Relationship-strengthening class improves life for new families (December 3, 2010) -- Expectant parents who completed a brief relationship-strengthening class around the time their child was born showed lasting effects on each family member's well being and on the family's overall relationships, according to a recent study. ... > full story
New microscopy tracks molecules in live tissue at video rate; scientists push SRS microscopy to new levels of spatial, temporal precision (December 2, 2010) -- A novel type of biomedical imaging, made possible by new advances in microscopy, is so fast and sensitive it can capture "video" of blood cells squeezing through capillaries. The new technique makes possible label-free chemical movies, with streaming footage at the subcellular level, catching video of proteins, lipids, and water within cells. ... > full story
Soya beans could hold clue to treating fatal childhood disease (December 2, 2010) -- Scientists say a naturally occurring chemical found in soy could prove to be an effective new treatment for a fatal genetic disease that affects children. ... > full story
New method for preventing oxidative damage to cells: Findings could lead to enhanced health supplements, progress on Parkinson's (December 2, 2010) -- The discovery of a new method for preventing oxidation in the essential fatty acids of cell membranes could lead to a new class of more effective nutritional supplements and could potentially help combat neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and perhaps Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story
Number of HIV/AIDS cases in sub-Saharan Africa expected to greatly outpace resources (December 2, 2010) -- The number of people infected with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa is projected to far outstrip available resources for treatment by the end of the decade, forcing African nations to make difficult choices about how to allocate inadequate supplies of lifesaving antiretroviral therapy, says a new report. ... > full story
Sleepless soldiers: Study suggests that military deployment affects sleep patterns (December 2, 2010) -- Deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan significantly influenced sleep quality and quantity in a population of 41,225 military service personnel. Participants who completed a follow-up survey during deployment were 28 percent more likely to report having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep than those who had not yet been deployed. The association between deployment status and sleep duration was no longer significant after adjustments for follow-up mental health conditions and combat exposure. ... > full story
Cancer risk from medical radiation may have been overestimated (December 2, 2010) -- The risk of developing radiation-induced cancer from computed tomography may be lower than previously thought, according to a new study. ... > full story
Discovery could shrink dengue-spreading mosquito population (December 2, 2010) -- A team of entomologists has identified a microRNA in female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that when deactivated disrupts the mosquito's blood digestion and egg development -- a discovery that could help control the spread of not only dengue and yellow fever but potentially all vector-borne diseases. ... > full story
Tricyclic anti-depressants linked to increased risk of heart disease (December 2, 2010) -- Research that followed nearly 15,000 people in Scotland has shown that a class of older generation anti-depressant is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study showed that tricyclic anti-depressants were associated with a 35 percent increased risk of CVD, but that there was no increased risk with the newer anti-depressants such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). ... > full story
Propensity for one-night stands, uncommitted sex could be genetic, study suggests (December 2, 2010) -- So, he or she has cheated on you for the umpteenth time and their only excuse is: "I just can't help it." According to researchers, they may be right. The propensity for infidelity could very well be in their DNA. ... > full story
Genetic switch for determining gender identified; Gene linked to so-called 'intersex' families (December 2, 2010) -- An international team of researchers has identified a gene that appears to be an important switch in determining whether the biological program for the development of gender will go according to plan, or if, when mutated, will cause a glitch in the program. ... > full story
Major step toward first biological test for autism (December 2, 2010) -- Researchers have developed the best biologically based test for autism to date. ... > full story
Botulinum toxin A creates muscle weakness and atrophy following long term use, study suggests (December 2, 2010) -- A new study found animals injected with Botulinum toxin A experienced muscle weakness and atrophy far from the site of injection. The research raises some important questions about the long-term therapeutic use of Botox. ... > full story
Reaching 100 years of age may be more about attitude and adaptation than health history, study finds (December 2, 2010) -- Researchers have provided new clues on surviving to be 100 years old, finding that how we feel about ourselves and our ability to adapt to an accumulation of challenging life experiences may be as or more important than health factors. ... > full story
Perinatal bisphenol-A exposure may affect fertility (December 2, 2010) -- A ubiquitous environmental chemical may impair female reproductive capacity, according to a new study. Fertility decreased over time in female mice that had been exposed during fetal and neonatal development to doses of bisphenol-A that were comparable to human environmental levels. ... > full story
Recurrent miscarriage raises heart attack risk fivefold in later life, study finds (December 2, 2010) -- Recurrent miscarriage increases a woman's chance of having a heart attack fivefold in later life, new research indicates. ... > full story
Loud snoring and insomnia symptoms predict the development of the metabolic syndrome (December 2, 2010) -- A new study finds that loud snoring and two common insomnia symptoms -- difficulty falling asleep and unrefreshing sleep -- each significantly predicted the development of the metabolic syndrome. The study emphasizes the importance of screening for common sleep complaints in routine clinical practice. ... > full story
Longevity breakthrough: Scientists 'activate' life extension in worm, discover mitochondria's metabolic state controls life span (December 2, 2010) -- If you think life's too short, then you're not alone. Scientists set out to find what it would take to live a very long life and they made important discoveries that bring longer life spans much closer to reality. A new study describes how scientists "activated" life extension in the roundworm C. elegans, and in the process, discovered a new metabolic state correlating with long life. ... > full story
Ideal body mass index identified in new study; Overweight and obesity associated with increased risk of death (December 2, 2010) -- A study looking at deaths from any cause found that a body mass index between 20.0 and 24.9 is associated with the lowest risk of death in healthy non-smoking adults. Investigators also provided precise estimates of the increased risk of death among people who are overweight and obese. Previous studies that examined the risks from being overweight were inconclusive, with some reporting only modestly increased risks of death and others showing a reduced risk. ... > full story
Long-term exposure to pesticides may be linked to dementia (December 2, 2010) -- Long-term exposure to pesticides may be linked to the development of dementia, new research suggests. ... > full story
New psychology theory enables computers to mimic human creativity (December 2, 2010) -- A mathematical model based on psychology theory allows computers to mimic human creative problem-solving, and provides a new roadmap to architects of artificial intelligence. ... > full story
Gene duplication detected in depression; Finding points to disruptions in brain signaling networks (December 2, 2010) -- A large genetic study of people with major depression has found that a duplicated region of DNA on chromosome 5 predisposes people to the disorder. The gene involved plays an important role in the development of nerve cells, adding to evidence that disruptions in neurotransmission networks form a biological basis for depression. ... > full story
Plant clock gene also works in human cells (December 2, 2010) -- A gene that controls part of the "tick tock" in a plant's circadian clock has been identified. And not only is the plant gene very similar to one in humans, but the human gene can work in plant cells -- and vice versa. ... > full story
Inflammatory bowel disease can cause post traumatic stress, say doctors (December 2, 2010) -- The inflammatory bowel disorder Crohn's disease produces its own variant of post traumatic stress, new research indicates. ... > full story
Fountain of youth in your muscles? Researchers uncover muscle-stem cell mechanism in aging (December 2, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered how endurance exercise, like jogging or spinning classes, increases the number of muscle stem cells, enhancing their ability to rejuvenate old muscles. The finding could lead to a new drug to heal muscles faster. ... > full story
Report sets new dietary intake levels for calcium and vitamin D to maintain health and avoid risks associated with excess (December 2, 2010) -- Most Americans and Canadians up to age 70 need no more than 600 international units (IUs) of vitamin D per day to maintain health, and those 71 and older may need as much as 800 IUs, says a new report from the U.S. Institute of Medicine. The amount of calcium needed ranges, based on age, from 700 to 1,300 milligrams per day, according to the report, which updates the nutritional reference values known as Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for these interrelated nutrients. ... > full story
Suicide rate among young women veterans more than twice that of civilians (December 2, 2010) -- Young women veterans are nearly three times as likely as civilians to commit suicide, according to new research. ... > full story
New findings detail how a virus prepares to infect cells (December 2, 2010) -- Researchers have learned the atomic-scale arrangement of proteins in a structure that enables a virus to invade and fuse with host cells, showing precisely how the structure morphs with changing acidity to initiate infection. ... > full story
Insomnia after myocardial infarction: Heart and brain appear to be closely connected (December 2, 2010) -- The heart and the brain appear to be even more closely connected than previously imagined. The damaging effects of myocardial infarction are apparently not confined to the heart, but also affect the brain. In fact, infarction seems to cause neuron loss at the level of the brainstem, which leads to insomnia, notably paradoxical insomnia. ... > full story
Drug-like compound stops thyroid overstimulation in early studies (December 2, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a compound that prevents overproduction of thyroid hormone, a finding that brings scientists one step closer to improving treatment for Graves' disease. In Graves' disease, the thyroid gland never stops. Thyroid-stimulating antibodies bind to receptors, activating them to keep the thyroid hormone coming and coming -- like a broken traffic light stuck on green -- and causing the body problems in regulating energy, controlling other hormones and maintaining cells throughout the body. ... > full story
One third of LGBT youth suffer mental disorders, Chicago study finds (December 2, 2010) -- One-third of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth have attempted suicide in their lifetime -- a prevalence comparable to urban, minority youth -- but a majority do not experience mental illness, according a new Chicago study. ... > full story
Updated guidelines include new research, advances in stroke prevention (December 2, 2010) -- Those who make healthy lifestyle choices can lower risk of first time stroke by 80 percent compared to those who don't make such changes, according to updated guidelines. And emergency department visits are a critical opportunity to identify and begin interventions for patients at high risk for stroke, the guidelines state. ... > full story
E. coli outbreak in Connecticut caused by raw milk consumption (December 2, 2010) -- In a recent study, researchers describe a 2008 E. coli outbreak associated with consuming raw milk from the same farm, despite the farm's adherence to regulatory standards. ... > full story
Loss of species large and small threatens human health, study finds (December 1, 2010) -- The loss of biodiversity -- from beneficial bacteria to charismatic mammals -- threatens human health. That's the conclusion of a new study by scientists who study biodiversity and infectious diseases. ... > full story
New gene for childhood cancer neuroblastoma is discovered (December 1, 2010) -- Pediatric cancer researchers have identified variations in a gene as important contributors to neuroblastoma, the most common solid cancer of early childhood. The researchers found that common variants in the LMO1 gene increase the risk of developing an aggressive form of neuroblastoma, and also mark the gene for continuing to drive the cancer's progression once it forms. ... > full story
CT best at uncovering drug mule payload, study finds (December 1, 2010) -- According to a study, the best way to detect cocaine in the body of a human drug courier, known as a mule, is through computed tomography. ... > full story
Retinal nerve function may be key to early glaucoma detection (December 1, 2010) -- Catching glaucoma as early as possible-before it destroys the optic nerve-is vital to preventing vision loss. Now a research team has shown that a test that measures the functionality of the eye's retinal nerve cells may be a key to early detection. Eventually, the test may also help evaluate how well glaucoma treatments are working. ... > full story
Death certificates confirm non-HIV-attributable diseases cause increase in deaths of people living with HIV/AIDS in US (December 1, 2010) -- During the decade since the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy, or 1996-2006, mortality among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) sharply decreased in the United States. So, too, did the percentages of PLWHA deaths attributable to AIDS-defining illnesses, just as there was a marked increase in the percentage of deaths attributable to heart, kidney and liver disease. ... > full story
Bone marrow stromal stem cells may aid in stroke recovery (December 1, 2010) -- Scientists have determined that bone marrow stromal stem cells may aid in stroke recovery. The study examining the effects of a systematic administration of either rat (allogenic) or human (xenogenic) bone marrow stem cells (MSC) administered to laboratory rats one day after their simulated strokes found "significant recovery" of motor behavior on the first day. ... > full story
What to do if you are bitten by a snake (December 1, 2010) -- Should you be the victim of a snakebite, the best thing you can do is get to a hospital as quickly as possible, according to a new review article. ... > full story
Researchers show an oncolytic virus switches off cancer cell surival signal (December 1, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a mechanism by which specific viruses acting as oncolytic agents can enter and kill cancer cells. This finding could help lead to the development of more targeted treatments against many types of cancer. ... > full story
Pray tell: Americans stretching the truth about church attendance (December 1, 2010) -- A new study finds that Americans are much more likely to exaggerate their attendance at religious services than are people in many other countries. ... > full story
Copyright 1995-2010 © ScienceDaily LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of use.
|
 To update/change your profile click here  |
