Jumat, 18 Maret 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Friday, March 18, 2011

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Scientists ID possible biomarker to gauge Alzheimer's prognosis, effect of therapies (March 18, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a new biomarker that could help them track how effectively the immune system is able to clear the brain of amyloid beta, which forms the plaques considered one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. The pilot study demonstrates how the immune gene MGAT3, which is essential in clearing amyloid beta, is expressed differently in different Alzheimer's patients. The finding may be useful in providing more highly individualized disease prognoses in the future. ... > full story

Survival matching should be used to allocate donated kidneys to transplant recipients, experts urge (March 18, 2011) -- Providing kidney transplants to patients with the best probability of longer survival would reduce repeat transplant operations and improve life span after kidney transplant. ... > full story

Life expectancy rising in UK and Europe despite obesity epidemic (March 18, 2011) -- Life expectancy in Europe keeps increasing despite the obesity epidemic, with people in Britain reaching an older age than those living in the US, according to an analysis of trends over the last 40 years. ... > full story

Vitamin A plays key role in the human body, study suggests (March 18, 2011) -- In a recently published study mapping the structure and function of the so-called "orphan" nuclear receptor TR4, investigators suggest that vitamin A may play a more direct role than was previously known in certain physiological functions including sperm cell formation and the development of the central nervous system. ... > full story

How breast cell communities organize into breast tissue (March 18, 2011) -- A new study has shown how communities of different types of breast cells self-organize into breast tissue. This work helps explain how the processes of stem cell differentiation and tissue architecture maintenance are coordinated, and might lead to a better understanding of what goes wrong in cancer. ... > full story

Gardening linked to increased vegetable consumption in older adults (March 18, 2011) -- A study of older adults has revealed some interesting nutritional benefits to gardening. Researchers compared fruit and vegetable consumption of older gardeners and non-gardeners, and investigated differences in fruit and vegetable consumption of long-term gardeners compared with newer gardeners. The results suggested that offering gardening "intervention" programs for older adults could be an effective way to improve vegetable and fruit consumption in the population. ... > full story

Experimental philosophy opens new avenues into old questions (March 18, 2011) -- A philosophy professor examines the notions of free will and determinism through test methods used in social sciences. Experimental philosophy can likely help address other conundrums as well. ... > full story

Convenient blood test not as effective for diagnosing diabetes in children, study shows (March 17, 2011) -- Because of rising rates of childhood obesity, more attention is being given to testing children for diabetes. But what's the right test for kids? A new study shows an increasing popular, convenient blood test is not reliable for finding cases of diabetes and pre-diabetes in children. ... > full story

Stroke incidence higher among patients with certain type of retinal vascular disease (March 17, 2011) -- Patients with a disease known as retinal vein occlusion (RVO) have a significantly higher incidence of stroke when compared with persons who do not have RVO, according to a new report. ... > full story

Three in four domestic violence victims go unidentified in emergency rooms, new study shows (March 17, 2011) -- Although nearly 80 percent of female victims of intimate partner violence visit emergency departments for medical complaints, as many as 72 percent are not identified as victims of abuse. Of those who are, very few are offered adequate support, according to new research. ... > full story

Heart damage improves, reverses after stem cell injections in a preliminary human trial (March 17, 2011) -- Researchers have shown in a small study that stem cell therapy can reverse heart damage in patients with enlarged hearts due to heart attacks. The benefit from stem cell injections was up to three times better than that offered by current medical treatments: heart size decreased, scar tissue decreased and heart function improved. The treatment is experimental and needs to be tested in larger trials, but it is promising for heart patients. ... > full story

Daily home dialysis makes 'restless legs' better (March 17, 2011) -- For dialysis patients, performing daily dialysis at home can help alleviate sleep problems related to restless legs syndrome (RLS), according to a new study. Restless legs syndrome is a common and troublesome problem for dialysis patients, affects hemodialysis patients about four times as often as people in the general population. ... > full story

Adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder score high in creativity (March 17, 2011) -- Young adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder showed more creativity compared with those who did not have ADHD, a new study shows. ... > full story

New treatment for thrombosis? (March 17, 2011) -- Scientists have announced a breakthrough in understanding how to control blood clotting which could lead to the development of new treatments and save the lives of thousands of people each year. ... > full story

Why are the elderly so vulnerable to pneunomia? (March 17, 2011) -- Scientists are providing insight into why the elderly are so vulnerable to pneumonia and other bacterial infections. ... > full story

Breastfed children do better at school, study suggests (March 17, 2011) -- Researchers have shown that breastfeeding causes children to do better at school. The study found that as little as four weeks of breastfeeding for a newborn baby has a significant effect on brain development, which persists until the child is at least 14 years old. ... > full story

Scientists create stem cells from schizophrenia patients (March 17, 2011) -- Using skin cells from adult siblings with schizophrenia and a genetic mutation linked to major mental illnesses, researchers have created induced pluripotent stem cells using a new and improved "clean" technique. ... > full story

Marathon runners can suffer allergic reactions (March 17, 2011) -- As almost 40,000 runners get set to take part in this year’s London Marathon, a new study has found that one in three will suffer from allergies after the event. Researchers have shown how far symptoms such as itchy eyes, a runny nose and congestion can be attributed to allergic reactions. ... > full story

Psychological impact of Japan disaster will be felt 'for some time to come' (March 17, 2011) -- The psychological impact of natural disasters such as the Japan earthquake can be revealed in the way people inherently respond to unpredictable situations, according to a psychology expert. ... > full story

New laser technique opens doors for drug discovery (March 17, 2011) -- Researchers have demonstrated that a new laser technique can be used to measure the interactions between proteins tangled in a cell's membrane and a variety of other biological molecules. These extremely difficult measurements can aid the process of drug discovery. ... > full story

Gene therapy reverses symptoms of Parkinson's disease (March 17, 2011) -- A gene therapy called NLX-P101 dramatically reduces movement impairment in Parkinson's patients, according to results of a Phase 2 study. The approach introduces a gene into the brain to normalize chemical signaling. ... > full story

Comparison of wiping away bacteria with disinfectant wipes or a tissue moistened with saline (March 17, 2011) -- If you have time to quickly swipe your pager or cell phone three times, that would be your best bet to get rid of most of the bacteria. And a simple tissue moistened with saline would do the trick. But if you only have time for a single swipe of a 'dirty' phone -- you'd be better off reaching for a disinfectant wipe. ... > full story

Developing a universal flu vaccine? (March 17, 2011) -- A vaccine that helps against all types of influenza -- for several years? If all goes right for one Norwegian company, such a vaccine could exist within a few years. ... > full story

Breaking the mucus barrier unveils cancer cell secrets (March 17, 2011) -- Measuring the mechanical strength of cancer cell mucus layers provides clues about better ways to treat cancer, and also suggests why some cancer cells are more resistant to drugs than others, according to new research. Healthy tissues naturally secrete mucus to protect against infection. Cancer cells, however, produce far more mucus than healthy cells. ... > full story

Does your name dictate your life choices? (March 17, 2011) -- What's in a name? Letters. And psychologists have posited that the letters -- particularly the first letter of our names -- can influence decisions, including whom we marry and where we move. The effect is called "implicit egotism." ... > full story

Omalizumab relieves seasonal asthma attacks in youth, study finds (March 17, 2011) -- A drug that targets the antibody immunoglobulin E, a key player in asthma, nearly eliminated seasonal increases in asthma attacks and decreased asthma symptoms among young people living in inner city environments, a clinical trial has found. ... > full story

Improving the infant gut ‘microbiome’ (March 17, 2011) -- While next-generation sequencing-based research of gut microbiomes will ultimately benefit all members of the population, to date there has been a particular emphasis on investigating and, where necessary, altering the microbiota present in the gut of the elderly, infants and obese individuals. For example, evidence exists that early colonization of the infant gastrointestinal tract by microbes is crucial for the overall health of the infant. ... > full story

'Pre-baby blues' due to lack of support from partner, study finds (March 17, 2011) -- Pregnancy is meant to be a joyous time however some women experience overwhelming "baby blues" before the birth of their child. Anxiety and depression during pregnancy can result in premature birth, or low birth weight, and impact the child's health even into early school years. New research shows that a bad relationship with their husband or partner is the strongest predictor of maternal emotional distress. ... > full story

Some blind people 'see' with their ears, neuropsychologists show (March 17, 2011) -- Neuropsychologists compared the brain activity of people who can see and people who were born blind, discovering that the part of the brain that normally works with our eyes to process vision and space perception can actually rewire itself to process sound information instead. ... > full story

New therapy found for rare lung disorder (March 17, 2011) -- Researchers have found that the FDA-approved drug sirolimus, used primarily to prevent rejection in organ transplant patients, stabilized lung function in women with lymphangioleiomyomatosis. ... > full story

Altered gene protects some African-Americans from coronary artery disease (March 17, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered that a single alteration in the genetic code of about a fourth of African-Americans helps protect them from coronary artery disease, the leading cause of death in Americans of all races. ... > full story

Current U.S. juvenile treatment methods for violent offenders costly, ineffective, researcher finds (March 17, 2011) -- Multisystemic therapy is more effective in the lives of troubled youth and costs less than the current US juvenile treatment methods, experts say. ... > full story

Sexual plant reproduction: Male and female parts 'talk' in the same way as do cells in your brain (March 17, 2011) -- Scientist have discovered that pollen, the organ that contains the plant male gametes, communicate with the pistil, their female counterpart, using a mechanism commonly observed in the nervous system of animals. ... > full story

Today's children do engage in active play: UK study (March 17, 2011) -- New research from the UK suggests that promoting active play in children's leisure time could increase the physical activity of today's children, but that such strategies might need to be tailored according to gender. ... > full story

Neuro signals study gives new insight into brain disorders (March 16, 2011) -- Research into how the brain transmits messages to other parts of the body could improve understanding of disorders such as epilepsy, dementia, multiple sclerosis and stroke. Scientists have identified a protein crucial for maintaining the health and function of the segment of nerve fibers that controls transmission of messages within the brain. ... > full story

More insight into Sensenbrenner syndrome (March 16, 2011) -- Dutch researchers have found a new gene for Sensenbrenner syndrome. The mutation adds support to the hypothesis that defects in ciliar transport are the cause of the disease. ... > full story

Zooming in on the weapons of Salmonella (March 16, 2011) -- Bacteria like salmonellae infect their host cells by needle-shaped extensions which they create in large numbers during an attack. Scientists have now employed recently developed methods of cryo-electron microscopy and have been able to clarify the structure of this infection apparatus on the near-atomic scale. The exact knowledge of the needles' building plan may help to develop substances that interfere with its function and thus prevent infection. ... > full story

'Ivory wave' may be new legal high after 'miaow miaow' (mephedrone) ban (March 16, 2011) -- A new legal high has emerged that seems to be replacing the banned substance mephedrone or "miaow miaow," warns a critical care paramedic in a new article. ... > full story

Pig model of cystic fibrosis improves understanding of disease (March 16, 2011) -- Using a newly created pig model that genetically replicates the most common form of cystic fibrosis, researchers have now shown that the CF protein is "misprocessed" in the pigs and does not end up in the correct cellular location. This glitch leads to disease symptoms, including gastrointestinal abnormalities and lung disease in the pigs, which mimic CF in humans. ... > full story

How common immune booster works: Research may lead to new and improved vaccines (March 16, 2011) -- Alum is an adjuvant (immune booster) used in many common vaccines, and researchers have now discovered how it works. ... > full story

Why some microbial genes are more promiscuous than others (March 16, 2011) -- While most organisms get their genes from their parents, bacteria also regularly pick up genes from more distant relatives. This ability to "steal" snippets of DNA from other species is responsible for the rapid spread of drug resistance among disease-causing bacteria. A new study of more than three dozen species - including the microbes responsible for pneumonia, ulcers and plague -- settles a longstanding debate about why bacteria are more likely to steal some genes than others. Bacteria are more likely to adopt 'loner' genes than genes that are well-connected, the study finds. ... > full story

Improving risk/benefit estimates in new drug trials (March 16, 2011) -- It's all too familiar: researchers announce the discovery of a new drug that eradicates disease in animals. Then, a few years later, the drug bombs in human trials. Now, two medical ethicists argue that this pattern of boom and bust may be related to the way researchers predict outcomes of their work in early stages of drug development. ... > full story

New 'dissolvable tobacco' products may increase risk of mouth disease (March 16, 2011) -- The first study to analyze the complex ingredients in the new genre of dissolvable tobacco products has concluded that these pop-into-the-mouth replacements for cigarettes in places where smoking is banned have the potential to cause mouth diseases and other problems. ... > full story

New way to test cancer drugs (March 16, 2011) -- A scientist's nanopolymer would make it easier and cheaper for drug developers to test the effectiveness of a widely used class of cancer inhibitors. He created the 'pIMAGO nanopolymer' that can be used to determine whether cancer drugs have been effective against biochemical processes that can lead to cancer cell formation. ... > full story

Brain injuries rise sharply in minor hockey after bodychecking rules relaxed, Canadian study shows (March 16, 2011) -- Minor league hockey players in the Atom division are more than 10 times likely to suffer a brain injury since bodychecking was first allowed among the 9- and 10-year-olds. ... > full story

Parental monitoring of opposite-gender child may decrease problem drinking in young adults (March 16, 2011) -- Young adults whose parents monitor their social interactions may be less likely to display impulsive behavior traits and to have alcohol-related problems, a new study suggests. The level of monitoring is linked to parenting style, and the link is stronger with the parent of the opposite gender. ... > full story

Laser beam makes cells 'breathe in' water and potentially anti-cancer drugs (March 16, 2011) -- Shining a laser light on cells and then clicking off the light-makes the cells "breathe in" surrounding water, providing a potentially powerful delivery system for chemotherapy drugs, as well as a non-invasive way to target anti-Alzheimer's medicines to the brain. ... > full story

Does selenium prevent cancer? It may depend on which form people take (March 16, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting that the controversy surrounding whether selenium can fight cancer in humans might come down to which form of the essential micronutrient people take. It turns out that not all "seleniums" are the same -- the researchers found that one type of selenium supplement may produce a possible cancer-preventing substance more efficiently than another form of selenium in human cancer cells. ... > full story


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