ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Wednesday, February 16, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Wednesday, February 16, 2011

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New study finds no cognitive impairment among ecstasy users (February 16, 2011) -- In contrast to many prior studies, ecstasy users in a new study showed no signs of cognitive impairment attributable to drug use: ecstasy use did not decrease mental ability. ... > full story

Atomic model of tropomyosin bound to actin (February 16, 2011) -- New research sheds light on the interaction between the semi-flexible protein tropomyosin and actin thin filaments. The study provides the first detailed atomic model of tropomyosin bound to actin and significantly advances the understanding of the dynamic relationship between these key cellular proteins. ... > full story

Alcohol's disruptive effects on sleep may be more pronounced among women (February 16, 2011) -- Researchers have known for decades that alcohol can initially deepen sleep during the early part of the night but then disrupt sleep during the latter part of the night; this is called a "rebound effect." A new study of the influence of gender and family history of alcoholism on sleep has found that intoxication can increase feelings of sleepiness while at the same time disrupt actual sleep measures in healthy women more than in healthy men. ... > full story

Good diets fight bad Alzheimer's genes: Diets high in fish oil have a beneficial effect in patients at risk, researcher says (February 16, 2011) -- Recent research suggests that a diet high in omega-3 oils and low in cholesterol can significantly reduce the negative affects of the APOE4 gene, which is an indicator of Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story

Designing new molecular tools to study the life and death of a cancer cell (February 16, 2011) -- Basic and translational research on cancer, and development of new cancer therapeutics, has focused on different aspects of cancer cellular function. One area of focus is the life and death of a cancer cell. In a new study, scientists have developed new synthetic molecules as models to study the structural and functional role of the proline residue and tetrapeptide sequence important for the regulation of cancer cell apoptosis by the XIAP protein. ... > full story

One third of us have tried dating websites with middle-aged suitors using them most (February 16, 2011) -- A new study suggests that nearly one in three of us who use the internet have visited online dating sites. An international survey of 24,000 men and women who are presently online found that just six per cent had gone to dating websites in 1997 but by 2009, 30 per cent of the sample had tried them with 15 per cent finding their current partner that way. ... > full story

Mental retardation gene provides insights into brain formation (February 15, 2011) -- Scientists have uncovered new clues to memory and learning by exploring the function of a single gene, and at the same time, have provided insights into a form of human mental retardation. ... > full story

Active wound healing can accelerate tumor formation, study finds (February 15, 2011) -- Processes that are involved in active wound healing can lead to an increased risk for basal cell carcinoma in the skin, according to a new study. ... > full story

New malaria vaccine depends on … mosquito bites? (February 15, 2011) -- The same menace that spreads malaria -- the mosquito bite -- could help wipe out the deadly disease, according to researchers working on a new vaccine. ... > full story

Method of DNA repair linked to higher likelihood of genetic mutation (February 15, 2011) -- Accurate transmission of genetic information requires the precise replication of DNA. Errors in DNA replication are common and nature has developed several cellular mechanisms for repairing these mistakes. Mutations, which can be deleterious (development of cancerous cells), or beneficial (evolutionary adaption), arise from uncorrected errors. Researchers report that a method by which cells repair breaks in their DNA, known as break-induced replication, is up to 2,800 times more likely to cause genetic mutation than normal DNA synthesis. ... > full story

You are what you app: Choice of smartphone applications define your computing style (February 15, 2011) -- The applications you add to your smartphone can label you as a specific "appitypes," says a professor of science and technology studies. ... > full story

'Healthy' patients at high risk of cardiac death identified (February 15, 2011) -- The way the heart responds to an early beat is predictive of cardiac death, especially for people with no conventional markers of cardiovascular disease, according to new research. ... > full story

Obesity and knee osteoarthritis shorten healthy years of life (February 15, 2011) -- Due to obesity and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, Americans over the age of 50 will together lose the equivalent of 86 million healthy years of life, concluded researchers who investigated the potential gains in quality and quantity of life that could be achieved averting losses due to obesity and knee OA. ... > full story

Why problem drinking during adolescence is never a 'phase' (February 15, 2011) -- The Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI) is widely used to assess adolescent drinking-related problems. Researchers used adolescent RAPI scores to(examine diagnoses of alcohol dependence during young adulthood. More drinking-related problems experienced at age 18 were associated with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence at age 25, and this predictive(association was stronger in females than males. ... > full story

Molecular link between reproduction in yeast and humans (February 15, 2011) -- A novel study draws a completely unexpected link between reproductive proteins in humans and proteins involved in fertilization in invertebrates, as well as mating between haploid cells in yeast. Because human and yeast are separated by 1 billion years of evolution, these findings may have important implications for our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying sex, and how they originated. ... > full story

Hearing loss associated with development of dementia (February 15, 2011) -- Older adults with hearing loss appear more likely to develop dementia, and their risk increases as hearing loss becomes more severe, according to a new article. ... > full story

Gene that regulates immune system linked to preeclampsia (February 15, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered that the placentas of women who suffer preeclampsia during pregnancy have an overabundance of a gene associated with the regulation of the body's immune system. ... > full story

Many consumers believe 36 months is longer than 3 years (February 15, 2011) -- Consumers often have a distorted view when they compare information that involves numbers, according to a new study. ... > full story

Genetic evidence that antioxidants can help treat cancer (February 15, 2011) -- Researchers have genetic evidence suggesting the antioxidant drugs currently used to treat lung disease, malaria and even the common cold can also help prevent and treat cancers because they fight against mitochondrial oxidative stress -- a culprit in driving tumor growth. ... > full story

Obese women may be less likely to develop glaucoma (February 15, 2011) -- Obesity may be associated with higher eye pressure and a decreased risk of open-angle glaucoma in women but not men, according to a new article. ... > full story

Calorie labeling has no effect on teenagers' or parents' food purchases, study finds (February 15, 2011) -- A new study challenges the idea that calorie labeling has an effect on the purchasing behavior of teenagers or what parents purchase for their children. ... > full story

Earliest humans not so different from us, research suggests (February 15, 2011) -- New research suggests that "behavioral modernity" is a flawed concept. In truth, early humans were not much different from us, an archaeologist argues. ... > full story

How p53 is inactivated in cancerous cells, allowing tumors to grow (February 15, 2011) -- One of the most important genes in the human genome is called p53 and its function is to suppress tumors, according to a team of researchers. They discovered the mechanism by which p53 is inactivated in cancerous cells, allowing tumors to grow. ... > full story

Vegans' elevated heart risk requires omega-3s and B12, study suggests (February 15, 2011) -- People who follow a vegan lifestyle -- strict vegetarians who try to eat no meat or animal products of any kind -- may increase their risk of developing blood clots and atherosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries," which are conditions that can lead to heart attacks and stroke, study suggests. ... > full story

Two pesticides -- rotenone and paraquat -- linked to Parkinson's disease, study suggests (February 15, 2011) -- New research shows a link between use of two pesticides, rotenone and paraquat, and Parkinson's disease. People who used either pesticide developed Parkinson's disease approximately 2.5 times more often than non-users. ... > full story

Women with eating disorders draw a different picture of themselves than women without, study suggests (February 15, 2011) -- Women suffering from anorexia or bulimia draw themselves with prominently different characteristics than women who do not have eating disorders and who are considered of normal weight, suggests a new study. ... > full story

Abnormal control of hand movements may hint at ADHD severity in children (February 15, 2011) -- Measurements of hand movement control may help determine the severity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, according to two new studies. ADHD is a brain disorder characterized by impulsiveness, hyperactivity, such as not being able to sit still, and inattention or difficulty staying focused. ... > full story

Most stroke patients not getting clot-busting treatment in timely manner (February 15, 2011) -- Less than one-third of stroke patients treated with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) received the clot-busting drug within 60 minutes or less of their arrival. A hospital arrival-to-treatment initiation time known as "door-to-needle" of 60 minutes or less for tPA treatment is associated with lower risk of death for acute ischemic stroke patients. ... > full story

Don't blame the pill for estrogen in drinking water (February 15, 2011) -- Contrary to popular belief, birth control pills account for less than 1 percent of the estrogens found in the nation's drinking water supplies, scientists have concluded in an analysis of studies published on the topic. Their report suggests that most of the sex hormone -- source of concern as an endocrine disruptor with possible adverse effects on people and wildlife -- enters drinking water supplies from other sources. ... > full story

Stroke takes 'enormous toll' on Hollywood stars (February 15, 2011) -- Stroke and cardiovascular disease have exacted an enormous toll on Hollywood stars. Researchers investigated the frequency and impact of stroke among best actor and best actress Oscar nominees from 1927 through 2009. ... > full story

An early step in Parkinson's disease: Problems with mitochondria (February 15, 2011) -- For the last several years, neurologists have been probing a connection between Parkinson's disease and problems with mitochondria, the miniature power plants of the cell. Now researchers have found that a protein called MEF2D, which helps brain cells withstand stress and toxins, also plays an unexpected role inside mitochondria. MEF2D's ability to keep mitochondria well tuned appears to be especially sensitive to impairment in Parkinson's disease. ... > full story

Estrogen reduces breast cancer stem cells and aggression in breast cancer, study suggests (February 15, 2011) -- Estrogen can reduce the risk of breast cancer. Their work shows that estrogen is capable of reducing the number of breast cancer stem cells, which may explain the lower aggression of the tumor and, as a consequence, the possibility of a better prognosis. ... > full story

New anti-clotting drug added to recommendations for treating irregular heartbeat (February 15, 2011) -- A new anti-clotting drug, dabigatran, is added to recommendations for treating atrial fibrillation. Dabigatran is an alternative to the anti-clotting drug warfarin. Previous recommendations for warfarin still stand. ... > full story

Magnesium sulfate may offer protection from cerebral palsy, study suggests (February 15, 2011) -- The use of magnesium sulfate (Mg) significantly reduced the neonatal brain injury associated with maternal inflammation or maternal infection in rats. ... > full story

Few physicians refer patients to cancer clinical trials (February 15, 2011) -- A small proportion of adult cancer patients participate in clinical trials in part due to a low level of physician referrals, according to an new study. ... > full story

Preterm birth clinic attendence leads to major reduction in infant disability (February 15, 2011) -- Researchers have found that when women at high risk for preterm birth participated in a preterm birth prevention clinic, more women delivered full term babies and there were fewer cases of infant morbidity. ... > full story

Moderate-to-heavy alcohol intake may increase risk of atrial fibrillation (February 14, 2011) -- Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm). Its name comes from the fibrillating (i.e., quivering) of the heart muscles of the atria, instead of a coordinated contraction. The result is an irregular heartbeat, which may occur in episodes lasting from minutes to weeks, or it could occur all the time for years. ... > full story

Use of alcohol-free antibacterial mouth-rinse is associated with decrease in preterm birth (February 14, 2011) -- The use of non alcohol antibacterial mouth-rinse containing cetylpyridinium chloride decreases the incidence of preterm birth, a new study suggests. ... > full story

Total cooperation among people is not viable, Spanish study finds (February 14, 2011) -- A situation where a majority of people cooperate never happens. This is due to the fact that a significant number of individuals never cooperate and if they do it is in response to the decision of their neighbors to cooperate or not, or a result of their mood at the time, according to a new study by researchers in Spain. ... > full story

Not so fast: Differences in the first embryonic cell lineage decision of mammals (February 14, 2011) -- New research shows that all not mammals are created equal. In fact, this work shows that the animals most commonly used by scientists to study mammalian genetics -- mice -- develop unusually quickly and may not always be representative of embryonic development in other mammals. The study identifies significant differences in the timing of cell fate commitment during mouse and cattle embryonic development and raises important strategic implications for the generation of embryonic stem cells. ... > full story

Quest for designer bacteria uncovers a 'Spy' (February 14, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a molecular assistant called Spy that helps bacteria excel at producing proteins for medical and industrial purposes. ... > full story

Early signs of heart disease in preadolescent children with type 1 diabetes (February 14, 2011) -- Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with diabetes. Patients with type 1 diabetes have a 200 percent to 400 percent greater chance of developing cardiovascular disease than those without diabetes. Researchers have now discovered that the early signs of cardiovascular disease are likely to manifest before the onset of puberty in many children with diabetes. ... > full story

Working toward automating sedation in intensive care units (February 14, 2011) -- Researchers are one step closer to their goal of automating the management of sedation in hospital intensive care units. They have developed control algorithms that use clinical data to accurately determine a patient's level of sedation and can notify medical staff if there is a change in the level. ... > full story

United Kingdom is a nation of happy couples, study finds (February 14, 2011) -- Whether you are married or cohabiting with your partner, the vast majority of couples in the UK are happy in their relationship. Initial findings show that around 90 percent of individuals who are living with a partner are happy with their relationship. ... > full story

Jumping genes: Tumor microvesicles reveal detailed genetic information (February 14, 2011) -- The same research team that first discovered tumor-associated RNA in tiny membrane-enclosed sacs released into the bloodstream by cancer cells has now found that these microvesicles also contain segments of tumor DNA, including retrotransposons -- also called "jumping genes" -- that copy and insert themselves into other areas of the genome. ... > full story

Pesticide-free method takes a bite out of mosquito-borne disease (February 14, 2011) -- Two strategies to control mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever, are reducing mosquito population sizes or replacing populations with disease-refractory varieties. Scientists have modeled a genetic system that may be used for both, without the use of pesticides. ... > full story

Playtime helps bind generations (February 14, 2011) -- A new study has confirmed an old adage: A family that plays together stays together. Researchers examined the ways grandparents can maintain close ties with their adult grandchildren. True to the old maxim, recreation emerged as the glue sealing intergenerational bonds. ... > full story

Mummy remains show false toes helped ancient Egyptians walk (February 14, 2011) -- Two artificial big toes -- one found attached to the foot of an ancient Egyptian mummy -- may have been the world's earliest functional prosthetic body parts, says the scientist who tested replicas on volunteers. ... > full story