ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Thursday, March 24, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Thursday, March 24, 2011

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Even mild stress is linked to long-term disability, study finds (March 24, 2011) -- Even relatively mild stress can lead to long term disability and an inability to work, reveals a large population-based study. ... > full story

New computer-based method to detect epileptic seizures (March 24, 2011) -- Researchers have pioneered a computer-based method to detect epileptic seizures as they occur -- a new technique that may open a window on the brain's electrical activity. ... > full story

Long-term methadone treatment can affect the brain (March 24, 2011) -- Methadone has been used to treat heroin addicts for nearly 50 years. Yet we have surprisingly incomplete knowledge about possible harmful effects from prolonged use. New research shows that methadone affects the brain and impairs the attention of experimental animals. ... > full story

Scientists find a key to maintaining our DNA: Provides new clues in quest to slow aging (March 24, 2011) -- Maintaining the integrity of our DNA is a critical, yet complex part of the aging process. Scientists have discovered how DNA maintenance is regulated, opening the door to interventions that may enhance the body's natural preservation of genetic information. The findings may help researchers delay the onset of aging and disease by curbing the loss or damage of our genetic makeup, which makes us more susceptible to cancers and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's. ... > full story

First look at the full multiple myeloma genome reveals new insights, discoveries (March 24, 2011) -- Scientists have unveiled the most comprehensive picture to date of the full genetic blueprint of multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. ... > full story

Researchers find cardiac pacing helps epilepsy patients with ictal asystole (March 24, 2011) -- Researchers have found that cardiac pacing may help epilepsy patients with seizure-related falls due to ictal asystole, an unusual condition in which the heart stops beating during an epileptic seizure. ... > full story

Psychologists find the meaning of aggression: 'Monty Python' scene helps research (March 24, 2011) -- Bottling up emotions can make people more aggressive, according to new research. The psychologists used a pair of classic movie scenes in their research. They found that subjects who were asked to suppress their emotions and show no reaction to a notoriously disgusting scene in the 1983 film "The Meaning of Life" and another in the 1996 film "Trainspotting" were more aggressive afterwards than subjects who were allowed to show their revulsion. ... > full story

Drug prevents Type 2 diabetes in majority of high-risk individuals (March 23, 2011) -- An oral pill already in wide use prevented Type 2 diabetes in 72 percent of individuals at high risk for the disease, a multicenter study has found. ... > full story

Lung cancer study finds mentholated cigarettes no more harmful than regular cigarettes (March 23, 2011) -- Smokers of mentholated cigarettes are no more likely to develop lung cancer than other smokers, according to a new, very large, prospective study of black and white smokers. In fact, contrary to a popular hypothesis, menthol smokers in this study had a somewhat lower risk of developing and dying from lung cancer than non-menthol smokers. ... > full story

Study finds no association between mercury exposure and risk of cardiovascular disease (March 23, 2011) -- In a new, large-scale study, researchers found no evidence that higher levels of mercury exposure were associated with higher risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, or total cardiovascular disease in two separate studies of US adults. ... > full story

Obese and overweight women, children underestimate true weight, study finds (March 23, 2011) -- Overweight and obese women and children underestimate their body weight, new research finds. Almost half of the mothers with overweight and obese children think that their children's weight is normal. Obese images appear to have become acceptable norms in some families; thereby, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease. ... > full story

Zebrafish model of human melanoma reveals new cancer gene (March 23, 2011) -- Looking at the dark stripes on the tiny zebrafish you might not expect that they hold a potential clue for discovering a treatment for melanoma. Yet melanocytes, the same cells that are are responsible for the pigmentation of zebrafish stripes and for human skin color, are also where melanoma originates. Researchers have now used zebrafish to identify a new gene responsible for promoting melanoma. ... > full story

Bird embryo provides unique insights into development related to cancer and wound healing (March 23, 2011) -- Avian embryos could join the list of model organisms used to study a specific type of cell migration called epiboly, a developmental process involving mass movement of cells as a sheet that is linked with medical conditions that include wound healing and cancer. ... > full story

Time lived with obesity linked with mortality (March 23, 2011) -- Researchers have found the number of years individuals live with obesity is directly associated with the risk of mortality. ... > full story

Does belief in free will lead to action? (March 23, 2011) -- Free will may be an illusion. Yet we persist in believing we are the masters of our fates -- and that belief affects how we act. Think you determine the course of your life and you're likely to work harder toward your goals and feel better about yourself too. Think you don't, and you're likelier to behave in ways that fulfill that prophesy. ... > full story

Youth at risk for obesity show greater brain activity in response to food (March 23, 2011) -- In a novel study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), investigators compared the neural response to food and monetary reward in lean adolescents at risk for obesity relative to lean adolescents not at risk for obesity. Results suggest that the initial vulnerability that gives rise to obesity may be elevated rather than blunted sensitivity of the brain's reward circuitry. ... > full story

Number of child diarrhea deaths can be halved with current interventions, experts say (March 23, 2011) -- Deaths from diarrhea -- a major killer of young children in poor countries -- could be almost halved if already available interventions such as breastfeeding, hand washing with soap and improved household water treatment were widely implemented, according to experts. ... > full story

Interest in toys predicts effectiveness of autism treatment in toddlers (March 23, 2011) -- Toddlers who played with a limited number of toys showed more improvement in their communication skills following parent-guided treatment than those receiving other community-based treatments. The report is the first to examine this autism treatment -- called Hanen's More Than Words -- for children younger than two showing early signs of an autism spectrum disorder. ... > full story

Fiber intake associated with reduced risk of death (March 23, 2011) -- Dietary fiber may be associated with a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular, infectious and respiratory diseases, as well as a reduced risk of death from any cause over a nine-year period, according to a new article. ... > full story

Spinal cord processes information just as areas of brain do, research finds (March 23, 2011) -- Recent research mapping the function and information processing of the spinal cord could improve treatment for spinal cord injuries. ... > full story

Metabolic abnormalities in obese teens may relate to poor diets (March 23, 2011) -- Obese teens may feel healthy, but blood tests reveal inflammation, insulin resistance and high homocysteine levels, metabolic abnormalities that heighten heart disease risk. Both obese and normal weight teens in the study did not eat enough fresh produce, fiber or dairy products, which resulted in deficiencies in important nutrients. ... > full story

Reports of domestic violence rise 10 percent after NFL upsets, study finds (March 23, 2011) -- Calls to the police reporting men's assaults on their wives or intimate partners rose 10 percent in areas where the local National Football League team lost a game they were favored to win, according to a new analysis of 900 regular-season NFL games reports. Researchers suggest that unexpected disappointment may underlie the loss of control and violent behavior. ... > full story

Bees could reveal key to dementia (March 23, 2011) -- Scientists have succeeded in reversing the aging process in the bee brain -- findings which she believes may bring hope to people with dementia. ... > full story

Pre-conception and early pregnancy iron deficiency harms brain (March 23, 2011) -- A mother's iron deficiency early in pregnancy may have a profound and long-lasting effect on the brain development of the child, even if the lack of iron is not enough to cause severe anemia, according to a new study. ... > full story

Load up on fiber now, avoid heart disease later (March 23, 2011) -- A new study shows a high-fiber diet could be a critical heart-healthy lifestyle change young and middle-aged adults can make. ... > full story

Chicken soup for the soul: Comfort food fights loneliness (March 23, 2011) -- Mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, meatloaf ... they may be bad for your arteries, but according to an upcoming study, they're good for your heart and emotions. The study focuses on "comfort food" and how it makes people feel. ... > full story

Nanomodified surfaces seal leg implants against infection (March 23, 2011) -- Researchers have created nanoscale surfaces for implanted materials that mimic the contours of natural skin. The surfaces attract skin cells that, over time, are shown to build a natural seal against bacterial invasion. The group also created a molecular chain that allows an implant surface to be covered with skin cell-growing proteins, further accelerating skin growth. ... > full story

Good news for meat lovers: Most ready-to-eat meat products contain very few cancerous compounds, study finds (March 23, 2011) -- Researchers have shown that ready-to-eat meat products -- such as pepperoni, deli meats and hot dogs -- are relatively free of carcinogenic compounds. ... > full story

Discovery in liver cancer cells provides new target for drugs (March 23, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a novel mechanism in gene regulation that contributes to the development of a form of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Currently, there is virtually no effective treatment for HCC, and this breakthrough identifies a promising new target for therapeutic intervention. ... > full story

Think you'll ace that test? Think again, then start studying (March 23, 2011) -- We hold many beliefs about memory -- for instance, if you study more, you learn more. We are also constantly making judgments about particular instances of learning and remembering -- I'll never forget this party! That was easy to understand. I'll ace it on the test. ... > full story

Scientists grow personalized collections of intestinal microbes (March 23, 2011) -- Scientists have shown they can grow and manipulate personalized collections of human intestinal microbes in the laboratory and pluck out particular microbes of interest. The research sets the stage for identifying new probiotics and evaluating in preclinical trials whether microbe transplants can restore the natural balance of intestinal bacteria in "sick" microbial communities. ... > full story

Pre-eclampsia: Genetic errors linked to life-threatening pregnancy disorder (March 23, 2011) -- Scientists have identified genetic errors in women with autoimmune diseases that increase the risk of pre-eclampsia, a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs in 10 percent of all pregnancies. ... > full story

Scientists crack molecular code regulating neuronal excitability (March 23, 2011) -- A key question in protein biochemistry is how proteins recognize "correct" interaction partners in a sea of cellular factors. Nowhere is that more critical to know than in the brain, where interactions governing channel protein activity can alter an organism's behavior. A team of biologists has recently deciphered a molecular code that regulates availability of a brain channel that modulates neuronal excitability, a discovery that might aid efforts to treat drug addiction and mental disorders. ... > full story

Periocular treatment improves eye comfort and quality of life for patients with facial paralysis (March 23, 2011) -- Patients with facial paralysis who underwent surgical treatment for a condition that leaves them unable to completely close their eyes reported improvement in comfort around the eyes and overall quality of life, according to a new study. ... > full story

The killer within: A novel bacterial suicide mechanism (March 23, 2011) -- The zeta toxins are a family of proteins that are normally present within various pathogenic bacteria and can mysteriously trigger suicide when the cells undergo stress. Researchers in Germany have now found the mechanism underlying this programmed bacterial cell death. ... > full story

The importance of clarifying language in mathematics education (March 23, 2011) -- The way in which teachers and textbooks use language and different metaphors in mathematics education determines how pupils develop their number sense, according to new research from Sweden. ... > full story

Hippocampal volume and resilience in posttramatic stress disorder (March 23, 2011) -- The hippocampus, a brain region implicated in memory and interpreting environmental contexts, has been the focus of a controversy in post-traumatic stress disorder. A new study has found that larger hippocampal volume is associated with recovery of PTSD. ... > full story

Chikungunya: The key role of 'innate immunity' (March 23, 2011) -- Chikungunya is transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. The disease is spreading in the world and periodically sparks new outbreaks. Blood analyses conducted during the 2007 Gabonese epidemic recently showed the key role of innate immunity, the organism's first line of defense, in the clinical course of the infection. Control of the disease thus closely depends on the underlying configuration of each patient's immune system. ... > full story

'New' welfare reforms in UK hark back to Victorians, historian argues (March 23, 2011) -- A historian draws parallels between past and present medical negligence in the UK. ... > full story

Europe-wide survey reveals priorities for end-of-life care (March 23, 2011) -- A survey of over 9,000 people in seven different countries across Europe has shown that the majority would want to improve the quality of life in the time they had left, rather than extend it. The survey reveals attitudes across Europe for dealing with serious illnesses such as cancer, and issues raised when caring for a close friend of relative in the last few months of life. ... > full story

Two new targets for melanoma therapies (March 23, 2011) -- Zebrafish don't get sunburns, but they can get skin cancer -- at least those fish that have been engineered to model the often deadly human cancer. Researchers have used the zebrafish model to discover two new melanoma-promoting proteins that could be targets for therapy. ... > full story

US Institute of Medicine recommends standards to achieve reliable clinical practice guidelines (March 23, 2011) -- Two new reports from the US Institute of Medicine recommend standards to enhance the quality and reliability of these important tools for informing health care decisions. ... > full story

Hydrocortisone therapy for trauma patients associated with reduced hospital-acquired pneumonia risk (March 22, 2011) -- Patients admitted to a hospital with major trauma and treated with the steroid hydrocortisone were less likely to be diagnosed with hospital-acquired pneumonia than patients who received placebo, according to a new study. ... > full story

Elderly victims of abuse often use alcohol or drugs, study says (March 22, 2011) -- Victims of severe traumatic elder abuse are more likely to be female, suffer from a neurological or mental disorder, and to abuse drugs or alcohol, according to new research. ... > full story

Stress affects the balance of bacteria in the gut and immune response (March 22, 2011) -- Stress can change the balance of bacteria that naturally live in the gut, according to new research. ... > full story

Protein associated with allergic response causes airway changes in asthma patients (March 22, 2011) -- Changes that occur in the airways of asthma patients are in part caused by the naturally occurring protein interleukin-13 (IL-13) which stimulates invasion of airway cells called fibroblasts, according to a new study. The study is the latest effort by researchers to better understand the processes that are involved in airway remodeling that can cause breathing difficulties in patients with asthma. ... > full story

Feeling angry? Say a prayer and the wrath fades away, study suggests (March 22, 2011) -- Saying a prayer may help many people feel less angry and behave less aggressively after someone has left them fuming, new research suggests. A series of studies showed that people who were provoked by insulting comments from a stranger showed less anger and aggression soon afterwards if they prayed for another person in the meantime. ... > full story

Forensics: Overweight people really are big-boned (March 22, 2011) -- One of the blind spots in forensic science, particularly in identifying unknown remains, is the inability of experts to determine how much an individual weighed based on his or her skeleton. New research moves us closer to solving this problem by giving forensic experts valuable insight into what the shape of the femur can tell us about the weight of an individual. ... > full story