ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Friday, December 17, 2010
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Cell of origin for brain tumors may predict response to therapy (December 17, 2010) -- For patients with glioma, the most common primary brain tumor, new findings may explain why current therapies fail to eradicate the cancer. Scientists have identified for the first time that progenitor rather than neural stem cells underly a type of glioma called oligodendroglioma. ... > full story
Human umbilical cord blood cells found to enhance survival and maturation of key brain cells (December 17, 2010) -- In vitro studies examining the activity of human umbilical cord blood cells (HUCB) on experimental animal models of central nervous system aging, injury and disease, have shown that HUCBs provide a "trophic effect" that enhances survival and maturation of hippocampal neurons, benefiting aging adult hippocampal neurons by increasing their survival, growth, differentiation, maturation and arborization. ... > full story
Snail fever: Scientists pinpoint key defense against parasite infection (December 17, 2010) -- Scientists have made a significant discovery about how the body defends itself against snail fever, a parasitic worm infection common in developing countries. ... > full story
Protein offers new clue to cause and treatment for kidney disease (December 17, 2010) -- Researchers have pinpointed a protein that compromises the kidney's filtering ability, causing nephrotic syndrome, and demonstrated that a naturally occurring precursor of an acid in the body offers potential for treating some forms of the condition. ... > full story
Tennis star's hospitalization for altitude sickness (December 17, 2010) -- Former tennis champion Martina Navratilova was hospitalized for pulmonary edema -- fluid build-up in the lungs -- while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, drawing attention to the high risk of acute mountain sickness (AMS) and high altitude pulmonary edema. ... > full story
Organ size is determined by p53 protein (December 16, 2010) -- In studies conducted on the fruit fly, researchers have revealed that organs have the molecular mechanisms to control their proportions. In this process the protein p53 plays a crucial role. ... > full story
Scientists discover potential strategy to improve cancer vaccines (December 16, 2010) -- A research team has found that the absence of the function of a protein called NLRP3 can result in a four-fold increase in a tumor's response to a therapeutic cancer vaccine. If this finding proves consistent, it may be a key to making cancer vaccines a realistic treatment option. ... > full story
Opioid use associated with increased risk of adverse events among older adults (December 16, 2010) -- Opioids appear to be associated with more adverse events among older adults with arthritis than other commonly used analgesics, including coxibs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, according to a new report. In a second report assessing only opioid use, different types of drugs within the class were associated with different safety events among older patients with non-malignant pain. ... > full story
Mothers' diets have biggest influence on children eating healthy, study suggests (December 16, 2010) -- As health professionals search for ways to combat the rise in obesity and promote healthy eating, new research reveals a mother's own eating habits -- and whether she views her child as a "picky eater" -- has a huge impact on whether her child consumes enough fruits and vegetables. ... > full story
Staph bacteria: Blood-sucking superbug prefers taste of humans (December 16, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered that "staph" bacteria prefer to bind to human hemoglobin -- the oxygen-carrying protein that contains iron -- over hemoglobin from other animals. The findings help explain why staph preferentially infects people and suggest that genetic variations in hemoglobin may make some individuals more susceptible to staph infections. ... > full story
Key information about breast cancer risk and development is found in 'junk' DNA (December 16, 2010) -- A new genetic biomarker that indicates an increased risk for developing breast cancer can be found in an individual's "junk" (non-coding) DNA, according to a new study. ... > full story
Exploring how partners perceive each other’s emotion during a relationship fight (December 16, 2010) -- Some of the most intense emotions people feel occur during a conflict in a romantic relationship. Now, psychologists show that how each person perceives the other partner's emotion during a conflict greatly influences different types of thoughts, feelings and reactions in themselves. ... > full story
Genome code cracked for most common form of pediatric brain cancer (December 16, 2010) -- Scientists have deciphered the genetic code for medulloblastoma, the most common pediatric brain cancer and a leading killer of children with cancer. The genetic "map" is believed to be the first reported of a pediatric cancer genome. ... > full story
Alcoholics beware: Genetic variation linked to liver cirrhosis in Caucasians (December 16, 2010) -- A new study by German researchers found that a variation in the PNPLA3 (adiponutrin) gene was associated with cirrhosis of the liver and elevated transaminase (liver enzyme) levels in alcoholic Caucasians. The risk of cirrhosis in alcoholics in the genetic high risk group might be as high as 25 to 50 percent. ... > full story
Teacher effort is linked to difficult students' inherited traits (December 16, 2010) -- Challenging students take up more of their teachers' time -- and the difference between a tougher student and an easier one appears to be genetic, according to a new study. The study looked at young twins in the UK and asked their teachers how much of a handful they are. ... > full story
Blocking the critical structure that lets cancer cells move -- their feet (December 16, 2010) -- Scientists now know that some cancer cells spread, or metastasize, throughout the body the old-fashioned way -- by using their feet. But researchers have discovered a way to short-circuit their travels by preventing the development of these feet, called invadopodia. This discovery is even more important because preventing the development of these "feet" also eliminates the action of proteins present in the feet that burn through intact tissue and let cancer cells enter new cells. ... > full story
Garlic could protect against hip osteoarthritis (December 16, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that women who consume a diet high in allium vegetables, such as garlic, onions and leeks, have lower levels of hip osteoarthritis. ... > full story
Powerful biomarker panel for the early detection of breast cancer discovered (December 16, 2010) -- Using a new, powerful method for rapidly screening molecules associated with disease, proteomics experts have identified a broad panel of 28 early predictors, or biomarkers, that may one day aid in the early diagnosis of breast cancer. ... > full story
E-cigs less dangerous than traditional cigarettes, researcher claims (December 16, 2010) -- In a new report that bucks the concerns raised by the Food and Drug Administration, a researcher concludes that electronic cigarettes are much safer than real cigarettes and show promise in the fight against tobacco-related diseases and death. ... > full story
New discoveries make it harder for HIV to hide from drugs (December 16, 2010) -- Microbiologists and biochemists reveal new findings that shed light on how HIV eludes treatment by mutating. His discoveries provide clues into HIV's mechanisms for resisting two main families of drugs. ... > full story
Rapid diagnostic test for common type of pneumonia developed (December 16, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a technique that can diagnose a common type of pneumonia within minutes, potentially replacing existing tests that can take several days for results. The researchers detected Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which causes atypical or "walking pneumonia," in true clinical samples with over 97 percent accuracy using a recently-developed nanotechnology-based platform. ... > full story
Earthworms absorb discarded copper nanomaterials present in soil (December 16, 2010) -- The manufacturing of nanomaterials has been steadily on the rise in the medical, industrial, and scientific fields. New research has determined that earthworms could absorb copper nanoparticles present in soil. ... > full story
The key to being attractive (and looking healthy)? A good night's sleep (December 16, 2010) -- If you want to look attractive and healthy, the best thing you can do is get a good night's sleep, finds new research. ... > full story
Ventilation changes could double number of lungs available for transplant (December 16, 2010) -- Simple changes to how ventilators are used could almost double the number of lungs available for transplants, according to a new study. ... > full story
New combo lung cancer therapy improves survival over single-line treatment (December 16, 2010) -- A combination therapy for treating cancer showed improved survival rates in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to results presented from a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial. ... > full story
Sleep experts warn Santa Claus of health risks of flying all night (December 16, 2010) -- Every year Santa Claus and his team of elves and reindeers stay awake for days and nights so he can deliver presents to children all over the world for Christmas – but he could be putting his and their health at risk. Sleep experts discuss the pros and cons of Santa’s ‘all-nighter'. ... > full story
Feast, famine and the genetics of obesity: You can't have it both ways (December 16, 2010) -- In addition to fast food, desk jobs, and inertia, there is one more thing to blame for unwanted pounds -- our genome, which has apparently not caught up with the fact that we no longer live in the Stone Age. ... > full story
Dolphin by-catch includes genetic relatives (December 16, 2010) -- A new study provides insight for the conservation of small cetaceans by demonstrating that Franciscana dolphins accidentally entangled in fishing nets include genetic relatives, or mother-offspring pairs. ... > full story
Link between cholesterol compound and multiple sclerosis unlikely, researchers say (December 16, 2010) -- New research findings indicate that compounds called oxysterols are not present in any significant amount in multiple sclerosis patients, contradicting a previous study that suggested that some of these cholesterol metabolites were associated with MS and could be used as diagnostic tools in the clinic. ... > full story
Submerging your feet in alcohol will not get you drunk (December 16, 2010) -- New research explodes the Danish myth that it is possible to get drunk by submerging your feet in alcohol. ... > full story
Sticking to dietary recommendations would save 33,000 lives a year in the UK (December 16, 2010) -- If everyone in the UK ate their "five a day," and cut their dietary salt and unhealthy fat intake to recommended levels, 33,000 deaths could be prevented or delayed every year, reveals new research. ... > full story
Vitamin D and parathyroid hormone levels may not affect cardiovascular mortality (December 16, 2010) -- There is burgeoning public interest in possible wide-ranging health benefits from vitamin D, including cardiovascular health. Investigators have now found that there was no independent association between serum levels of vitamin D or parathyroid hormone and cardiovascular mortality in this prospective study, the first in a population of older community-dwelling adults with a low prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and a broad range of kidney function. ... > full story
SIDS spikes on New Year's Day (December 15, 2010) -- Not a happy holiday thought, but an important one: The number of babies who die of SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, surges by 33 percent on New Year's Day. The suspected reason? Alcohol consumption by caretakers the night before. ... > full story
Heart disease, stroke deaths continue to fall but costs remain high (December 15, 2010) -- America is winning a battle against heart disease and stroke mortality, but is still losing the war, according to the American Heart Association. ... > full story
Proximity of authors leads to better science (December 15, 2010) -- Through analyzing the locations of authors of academic papers, researchers have determined that physical proximity of collaborators, especially between the first and last author, correlates with how widely the paper is cited. ... > full story
Multitude of genetic regions key to embryonic stem cell development identified (December 15, 2010) -- More than 2,000 genetic regions involved in early human development have now been identified. The regions, called enhancers, are responsible for triggering the expression of distant genes when embryonic stem cells begin to divide to form the many tissues of a growing embryo. ... > full story
Plasma therapy: An alternative to antibiotics? (December 15, 2010) -- Cold plasma jets could be a safe, effective alternative to antibiotics to treat multi-drug resistant infections, according to a new study. ... > full story
Epstein-Barr: Scientists decode secrets of a very common virus that can cause cancer (December 15, 2010) -- About 90 percent of people are infected at some time in their lives with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), usually with no ill effects. But individuals with compromised immune systems, such as people with organ transplants or HIV infection, have a greater risk of cancer occurring because of this virus. Scientists have discovered a pathway that infected cells use to root out EBV infections, a finding that has implications for understanding the human response to cancer-causing viruses in general. ... > full story
Preteen conduct problems lead to teenage serious violence and delinquency, study suggests (December 15, 2010) -- Conduct disorders in preteens are predictive of eventual teenage serious violent and delinquent behavior, according to a new study. ... > full story
Compound derived from curry spice is neuroprotective against stroke and traumatic brain injury (December 15, 2010) -- A synthetic derivative of the curry spice turmeric dramatically improves the behavioral and molecular deficits seen in animal models of ischemic stroke and traumatic brain injury. Two new studies suggest that the novel compound may have clinical promise for these conditions, which currently lack good therapies. ... > full story
Breast inflammation is key to cancer growth, researchers say (December 15, 2010) -- It took 12 years and a creation of a highly sophisticated transgenic mouse, but researchers have finally proven a long suspected theory: Inflammation in the breast is key to the development and progression of breast cancer. In a new study, the scientists report they can now definitively show that an inflammatory process within the breast itself promotes growth of breast cancer stem cells responsible for tumor development. ... > full story
Missing molecules hold promise of therapy for pancreatic cancer: Lost microRNAs put brakes on tumors (December 15, 2010) -- By determining what goes missing in human cells when the gene that is most commonly mutated in pancreatic cancer gets turned on, scientists have discovered a potential strategy for therapy. ... > full story
'Aha' effect: New hypothesis seeks to explain the pleasures of insight (December 15, 2010) -- The sudden appearance of a solution through insight -- the famous 'aha' effect -- is a peculiar phenomenal experience that people have when they solve a problem. Researchers have now put forward a new hypothesis that integrates the known features of insight experiences into a unitary framework. ... > full story
Robot arm improves performance of brain-controlled device (December 15, 2010) -- The performance of a brain-machine interface designed to help paralyzed subjects move objects with their thoughts is improved with the addition of a robotic arm providing sensory feedback, a new study finds. ... > full story
Nanoscale gene 'ignition switch' may help spot and treat cancer (December 15, 2010) -- In a proof of principal study in mice, scientists have shown that a set of genetic instructions encased in a nanoparticle can be used as an "ignition switch" to rev up gene activity that aids cancer detection and treatment. ... > full story
Increased BPA exposure linked to reduced egg quality in women (December 15, 2010) -- A small-scale study has identified the first evidence in humans that exposure to bisphenol A may compromise the quality of a woman's eggs retrieved for in vitro fertilization. ... > full story
Positive mood allows human brain to think more creatively (December 15, 2010) -- People who watch funny videos on the Internet at work aren't necessarily wasting time. According to new research, they may be taking advantage of the latest psychological science -- putting themselves in a good mood so they can think more creatively. ... > full story
Novel memory-enhancing mechanism in brain (December 15, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a novel mechanism in the brain that boosts memory. Scientists found that a small protein called neuropeptide S can strengthen and prolong memories of everything from negative events to simple objects. ... > full story
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