ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Monday, January 17, 2011
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Researchers can predict your video game aptitude by imaging your brain (January 16, 2011) -- Researchers report that they can predict "with unprecedented accuracy" how well you will do on a complex task such as a strategic video game simply by analyzing activity in a specific region of your brain. ... > full story
Measles virus plays role in Paget's disease of bone, researchers say (January 16, 2011) -- A gene from the measles virus plays a key role in the development of Paget's disease of bone, according to new research. These findings confirm a long-held speculation that the childhood infection is an environmental trigger for the disease and reveal how the viral gene contributes to the development of its characteristic bone lesions. ... > full story
99% of pregnant women in US test positive for multiple chemicals including banned ones, study suggests (January 16, 2011) -- The bodies of virtually all US pregnant women carry multiple chemicals, including some banned since the 1970s and others used in common products such as non-stick cookware, processed foods and personal care products, according to a new study. ... > full story
Inverse benefits due to drug marketing undermine patient safety and public health, study finds (January 16, 2011) -- Drugs that pharmaceutical companies market most aggressively to physicians and patients tend to offer less benefit and more harm to most patients -- a phenomenon described as the "inverse benefit law," according to new research. ... > full story
Researchers discover way to halt lung inflammation in animal models (January 16, 2011) -- Acute inflammation of the lung is a poorly recognized human disease that develops in surprising and unexpected ways. However, an answer to halting lung inflammation may have been discovered, thanks to new research. ... > full story
Molecular rationale for combining targeted agents to treat breast cancer (January 16, 2011) -- A new study provides a rational for treating breast cancer by combining two kinds of targeted agents, one that inhibits an overactive, cancer-causing signaling pathway in cancer cells and one that reverses changes that silence genes that normally prevent cancer. Both types of agents are currently available and being evaluated individually in clinical trials. ... > full story
Next-generation hospital design can improve health -- and save money (January 16, 2011) -- Larger hospital rooms with plenty of natural light and artwork may seem like luxuries, but new research shows that these and other design features can improve patient care and reduce health care expenses. They are among the elements of the "Fable hospital," an ideal health care facility conceived by leaders in health care and design. Elements of the Fable hospital are being adopted on the ground today, with the imperative to improve quality and value. ... > full story
Why coffee protects against diabetes (January 15, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a possible molecular mechanism behind coffee's protective effect against type 2 diabetes. ... > full story
Bioactive compounds in berries can reduce high blood pressure (January 15, 2011) -- Eating blueberries can guard against high blood pressure, according to new research. ... > full story
Skin provides Australia's first adult stem cells for rare genetic disease (January 15, 2011) -- Scientists have developed Australia's first adult induced pluripotent stem cell lines using skin biopsies from patients with the rare genetic disease Friedreich's ataxia. ... > full story
Universities miss chance to identify depressed students, study finds (January 15, 2011) -- One out of every four or five students who visits a university health center for a routine cold turns out to be depressed, but most centers miss the opportunity to identify these students because they don't screen for depression, according to new research. About 2 to 3 percent of these depressed students have had suicidal thoughts or are considering suicide. Depression screening is easy and must be done for every health center student, researchers said. ... > full story
Tinnitus is the result of the brain trying, but failing, to repair itself (January 15, 2011) -- Tinnitus appears to be produced by an unfortunate confluence of structural and functional changes in the brain, say neuroscientists. ... > full story
Cancer survivors likely to experience pain at some point in care (January 15, 2011) -- More than 40 percent of cancer survivors experience cancer pain since their diagnosis and many have current cancer-related chronic pain, according to new research. The study provides new insight on issues facing the growing number of US cancer survivors. ... > full story
Early development of anti-HIV neutralizing antibodies (January 14, 2011) -- New findings are bringing scientists closer to an effective HIV vaccine. Researchers report findings showing new evidence about broadly-reactive neutralizing antibodies, which block HIV infection. ... > full story
Population-wide reduction in salt consumption recommended (January 14, 2011) -- The American Heart Association today issued a call to action for the public, health professionals, the food industry and the government to intensify efforts to reduce the amount of sodium (salt) Americans consume daily. ... > full story
Taking more steps every day can help ward off diabetes (January 14, 2011) -- Simply taking more steps every day not only helps ward off obesity but also reduces the risk of diabetes, finds a new study. ... > full story
Airborne pathogens can induce mad cow disease, new findings suggest (January 14, 2011) -- Airborne prions are also infectious and can induce mad cow disease or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disorder, new findings suggest. Researchers recommend precautionary measures for scientific labs, slaughterhouses and animal feed plants. ... > full story
Individuals with partial hearing loss may benefit from hybrid cochlear implant (January 14, 2011) -- Hearing loss can affect anyone, at any time. But it can be especially frightening for someone who suddenly starts to lose hearing during adulthood. A new study is investigating the effectiveness of a new cochlear implant device that aims to restore hearing for individuals with high-frequency hearing loss and functional low-frequency hearing. ... > full story
Driving simulators help older adults improve their road skills (January 14, 2011) -- Older drivers could benefit from training programs that put them behind the wheel -- in a driving simulator, with an observer who helps them develop their skills, according to a new article. ... > full story
Microbes in our gut regulate genes that control obesity and inflammation (January 14, 2011) -- If you are looking to lose weight in the coming year, you may need help from an unexpected place: the bacteria in your gut. That's because scientists have discovered that the bacteria living in your intestines may play a far more significant role in weight loss and gastrointestinal problems than ever imagined. ... > full story
New therapies for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease identified (January 14, 2011) -- A new study reveals underlying causes for the degeneration of synapses in Alzheimer's disease and identifies promising pharmaceutical solutions for the devastating condition. ... > full story
Risks associated with second-hand smoke in cars carrying children (January 14, 2011) -- While the evidence is incomplete there is enough available to support legislation against letting people smoke in cars with children, according to a new article. ... > full story
Suicide risk greater for people living at higher elevations, study finds (January 14, 2011) -- Twenty years of mortality data from counties across the United States led to the striking discovery that living at higher altitudes may be a risk factor for suicide, according to a provocative study. ... > full story
Genetically modified chickens that don't transmit bird flu developed; Breakthrough could prevent future bird flu epidemics (January 14, 2011) -- Chickens genetically modified to prevent them spreading bird flu have been produced by researchers in the UK. ... > full story
Room light before bedtime may impact sleep quality, blood pressure and diabetes risk (January 14, 2011) -- Exposure to electrical light between dusk and bedtime strongly suppresses melatonin levels and may impact physiologic processes regulated by melatonin signaling, such as sleepiness, thermoregulation, blood pressure and glucose homeostasis. ... > full story
New drug protects against blood clots following hip replacement surgery, study suggests (January 14, 2011) -- Scientists have shown that a new drug is more effective and easier to use than current medicines in the prevention of blood clots following hip replacement surgery. ... > full story
Rotational motion in living cells: New tool for cell research may help unravel secrets of disease (January 14, 2011) -- Advancements in understanding rotational motion in living cells may help researchers shed light on the causes of deadly diseases, such as Alzheimer's, according to researchers. ... > full story
Virus might fight brain tumors better if armed with bacterial enzyme, study shows (January 14, 2011) -- New research shows that oncolytic viruses, which are engineered to destroy cancer cells, might be more effective in treating deadly brain tumors if equipped with an enzyme that helps them penetrate the tumor. The enzyme removes sugar chains that branch from proteins that fill the narrow spaces between cells. By cutting away these branches, the enzyme clears a path that enables the virus to spread through the tumor. ... > full story
New light shed on river blindness parasite (January 14, 2011) -- Scientists have found how a parasitic worm in cattle, similar to that which causes river blindness in humans, survives due to bacteria that protect it from the body's immune system. ... > full story
Why PSA levels reflect prostate cancer progression (January 14, 2011) -- Researchers who have been studying prostate cancer cells for decades now think they know why PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels reflect cancer progression. ... > full story
Is 'breast only' for first six months best? (January 14, 2011) -- Current guidance advising mothers in the UK to exclusively breast feed for the first six months of their baby's life is being questioned by child health experts. ... > full story
'Longevity' protein SIRT1 may ward off precursor to prostate cancer (January 14, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered new evidence that suggests the "longevity" protein SIRT1, known for its life-spanning effects in different species, can inhibit the development of a known precursor to prostate cancer, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. ... > full story
Deep genomics: In the case of DNA, the package can be as important as its contents, new work with fruit flies reveals (January 14, 2011) -- The modENCODE project is a massive ongoing effort to map all the elements in model organisms that affect whether genes are silenced or expressed. The research is part of the burgeoning new field of epigenetics and the eventual goal in the words of the Washington University team leader is "to put flesh on the bones" of the Human Genome Project. ... > full story
Baby-led weaning is feasible but could cause nutritional problems for minority of infants (January 14, 2011) -- Most babies can reach out for and eat finger food by six to eight months, according to a study of 602 children from north-east England. But baby-led weaning -- babies feeding themselves solid foods, rather than being spoon fed purees -- could lead to nutritional problems for the small number of children who develop later than average. That is why researchers recommend combining self-feeding with solid finger food with traditional spoon feeding. ... > full story
Popular sleep medicine puts older adults at risk for falls, cognitive impairment (January 13, 2011) -- Adults who take one of the world's most commonly prescribed sleep medications are significantly more at risk for nighttime falls and potential injury, according to a new study. ... > full story
Private room intensive care units associated with lower infection rates (January 13, 2011) -- Converting hospital intensive care units to private rooms is associated with a reduction in the rate at which patients acquire infections, according to a new study. ... > full story
Writing about worries eases anxiety and improves test performance (January 13, 2011) -- Students can combat test anxiety and improve performance by writing about their worries immediately before the exam begins, according to a new study. Researchers found that students who were prone to test anxiety improved their high-stakes test scores by nearly one grade point after they were given 10 minutes to write about what was causing them fear. ... > full story
Overexpression of repetitive DNA sequences discovered in common tumor cells (January 13, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered massive overexpression of satellite repeats -- certain DNA sequences that do not code for proteins -- in some common tumor cells, findings that may improve knowledge of tumor development and lead to a novel cancer biomarker. ... > full story
Bisphenol A may have role in ovarian dysfunction (January 13, 2011) -- A recent study found higher bisphenol A (BPA) levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome compared to controls. Furthermore, researchers found a statistically significant positive association between male sex hormones and BPA in these women suggesting a potential role of BPA in ovarian dysfunction. ... > full story
Neuroscientists explain 'Proustian effect' of small details attached to big memories (January 13, 2011) -- Neuroscientists have uncovered why relatively minor details of an episode are sometimes inexplicably linked to long-term memories. ... > full story
Courtship affects gene expression in flies, study finds (January 13, 2011) -- Biologists have made an important step toward understanding human mating behavior by showing that certain genes become activated in fruit flies when they interact with the opposite sex. Their research shows that courtship behaviors may be far more influenced by genetics than previously thought. In addition, this new understanding as to why and how these genes become activated within social contexts may also lead to insight into disorders such as autism. ... > full story
Measles virus, a weapon against cancer? (January 13, 2011) -- Scientists believe that modified measles viruses can be "re-targeted" to attack only tumor cells, and thus transformed into a powerful new therapy for cancer. ... > full story
More breaks from sitting are good for waistlines and hearts (January 13, 2011) -- It is becoming well accepted that, as well as too little exercise, too much sitting is bad for people's health. Now a new study has found that it is not just the length of time people spend sitting that can make a difference, but also the number of breaks that they take. Plenty of breaks, even if they are as little as one minute, seem to be good for people's hearts and their waistlines. ... > full story
Drug reduces the increase in fear caused by previous traumatic experiences in mice (January 13, 2011) -- Living a traumatic experience favors the persistence of fear associated with an aversive stimulus, known as fear conditioning. Scientists in the US and Spain have now found that such an effect, in mice, can be suppressed with a single dose of 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone, a type of flavonoid which boosts the ability to acquire new emotional behaviors. Researchers believe that the drug could also be used as an effective treatment of post-traumatic stress, panic and phobia disorders in humans. ... > full story
New measure trumps high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in protecting against heart disease (January 13, 2011) -- A new study shows that a different metric, a measure of HDL function called cholesterol efflux capacity, is more closely associated with protection against heart disease than HDL cholesterol levels themselves. Findings from the study could lead to new therapeutic interventions in the fight against heart disease. ... > full story
New microscope records firing of thousands of individual neurons in 3-D (January 13, 2011) -- Neuroscientists have collaborated with physicists to develop a non-invasive, ultra high-speed microscope that can record the firing of thousands of individual brain cells -- neurons -- as they communicate or miscommunicate with each other. ... > full story
New method will triple amount of genetic information from newborn blood spot screenings (January 13, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a method that can yield more information from archived newborn blood that has implications for a vast array of research, including population health studies and answering questions about diseases in infants and children. ... > full story
Energy drinks don't blunt effects of alcohol, study finds (January 13, 2011) -- While marketing efforts that encourage mixing caffeinated "energy" drinks with alcohol often try to sway young people to believe that caffeine will offset the sedating effects of alcohol, a new study has found that the addition of caffeine to alcohol -- mixing a caffeinated drink with vodka, for example -- has no effect on enhancing performance on a driving test or improving sustained attention or reaction times. ... > full story
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