ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Friday, August 20, 2010
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Scientists pry new information from disease-causing, shellfish-borne bacterium (August 20, 2010) -- Researchers have uncovered a key weapon in the molecular arsenal the infectious bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. para) uses to kill cells and cause food poisoning in its human host. ... > full story
Cervical cancer: Drug and radiotherapy treatment saves lives, researchers find (August 20, 2010) -- Medical researchers in the UK have made a significant advance in the treatment of cervical cancer. They have demonstrated that the use of a particular drug in collaboration with radiotherapy gives significantly better results than radiotherapy alone. ... > full story
Male scientists regret parenthood decisions more than female counterparts, sociologist finds (August 20, 2010) -- Many scientists in academia bemoan the fact that their lifestyles do not allow them to have as many children as they would like. Surprisingly, male scientists harbor more regrets than female scientists, according to a new sociology study. ... > full story
Genetics underlie formation of body's back-up bypass vessels (August 20, 2010) -- Researchers have uncovered the genetic architecture controlling the growth of the collateral circulation -- the "back-up" blood vessels that can provide oxygen to starved tissues in the event of a heart attack or stroke. ... > full story
New biological find gives consequences for doping offence (August 20, 2010) -- Exercise induces the incorporation of nuclei in muscle fibers that may help the fibers regain size upon retraining after a period of atrophy brought on by muscle disuse, according to a study. Exercise enthusiasts know all too well that strength training of muscles leads to an increase in muscle size that is lost when the training is discontinued; the muscle fibers atrophy because of inactivity. But the mechanism by which previous episodes of training help atrophied fibers regain size relatively soon after retraining has long remained a mystery. ... > full story
Workplace wellness plan saves money over the long-term, new study shows (August 20, 2010) -- A Midwest utility company learned firsthand that it pays to keep healthy employees fit, reaping a net savings of .8 million in employee health and lost work time costs over nine years. ... > full story
Prenatal exposure to pesticides linked to attention problems in children (August 19, 2010) -- Children who were exposed to organophosphate pesticides before birth were more likely to develop attention disorders years later, according to a new study. Researchers linked higher maternal concentrations of pesticide metabolites during pregnancy to greater odds of attention problems in children at age 5. The study adds to a growing body of evidence that organophosphate pesticide exposure can impact human health. ... > full story
Common hypertension drugs can raise blood pressure in certain patients (August 19, 2010) -- Commonly prescribed drugs used to lower blood pressure can actually have the opposite effect -- raising blood pressure in a statistically significant percentage of patients. A new study suggests that doctors could avoid this problem -- and select drugs most suitable for their patients -- by measuring blood levels of the enzyme renin through a blood test that is becoming more widely available. ... > full story
Binge drinking increases death risk in men with high blood pressure (August 19, 2010) -- If you have high blood pressure, binge drinking may severely increase your risk of dying from a stroke or heart disease. In a South Korean study, middle-aged male binge drinkers had a 4- to 12-fold increased risk of fatal cardiovascular event. It is unclear whether the results can be generalized to other populations. ... > full story
With muscle-building treatment, mice live longer even as tumors grow (August 19, 2010) -- In the vast majority of patients with advanced cancer, their muscles will gradually waste away for reasons that have never been well understood. Now, researchers have found some new clues and a way to reverse that process in mice. What's more, animals with cancer that received the experimental treatment lived significantly longer, even as their tumors continued to grow. ... > full story
Breast cancer survivors don't need to be afraid of air travel, study suggests (August 19, 2010) -- A new study indicates certain precautions about the risk of lymphedema for breast cancer survivors are outdated. ... > full story
Brain network links cognition, motivation (August 19, 2010) -- Whether it's sports, poker or the high-stakes world of business, there are those who always find a way to win when there's money on the table. Now, for the first time, psychology researchers are unraveling the workings of a novel brain network that may explain how these "money players" manage to keep their heads in the game. ... > full story
Targeting hit-and-run cancer viruses (August 19, 2010) -- Viruses that can invade host cells, initiate cancer and then flee from their own trail of destruction could be stopped in their tracks, say researchers. ... > full story
Gender bender: Do gender knee implants provide better outcomes? (August 19, 2010) -- A recent study found that 85 women who received a gender-specific implant in one knee and a standard prosthesis in the other knee found no clinical benefits of the gender-specific knee. ... > full story
Six-year-olds with squint less likely to be invited to birthday parties, study suggests (August 19, 2010) -- Six-year-olds with a squint are significantly less likely to be invited to birthday parties than their peers with normally aligned eyes, suggests new research. ... > full story
A cure for HIV could be all in the 'mix' (August 19, 2010) -- Current HIV treatments do not eradicate HIV from host cells but rather inhibit virus replication and delay the onset of AIDS. However, new research has yielded an innovative approach to eliminate HIV in host by targeted killing of only HIV infected cells. This approach if successful could lead into an anti-HIV therapy that will eradicate the virus. ... > full story
Overweight American children and adolescents becoming fatter (August 19, 2010) -- Overweight American children and adolescents have become fatter over the last decade, according to a new study that found adiposity shifts across sociodemographic groups over time and found US children and adolescents had significantly increased adiposity measures such as body mass index, waist circumference and triceps skinfold thickness. The increases in adiposity were more pronounced in some sex-ethnic groups such as black girls. ... > full story
Internet access at home increases the likelihood that adults will be in relationships, study finds (August 19, 2010) -- Adults who have Internet access at home are much more likely to be in romantic relationships than adults without Internet access, according to new research. ... > full story
Surprise in genome structure linked to developmental diseases (August 19, 2010) -- The genes that are responsible for maintaining each cell type form DNA loops that link control elements for these genes. The DNA loop structure is essential for regulating the activity of cell-type-specific genes and thus maintaining cell state. Problems with the loop structure can cause multiple syndromes and diseases, including Opitz-Kaveggia syndrome, Lujan syndrome, schizophrenia and Cornelia de Lange syndrome. ... > full story
Stress in middle age could contribute to late-life dementia (August 19, 2010) -- Psychological stress in middle age could lead to the development of dementia later in life, especially Alzheimer's disease, reveals research from Sweden. Based on data from a study which followed women for 35 years, this is the first research in Sweden to indicate a link between stress and dementia. ... > full story
Even modest weight gain can harm blood vessels, researchers find (August 19, 2010) -- Researchers have found that healthy young people who put on as little as nine pounds of fat, specifically in the abdomen, are at risk for developing endothelial cell dysfunction. Endothelial cells line the blood vessels and control the ability of the vessels to expand and contract. ... > full story
Drug-eluting stents confirmed safe, effective for long-term use, study suggests (August 19, 2010) -- Researchers have determined that the use of drug-eluting stents improves the long-term clinical outcome for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, commonly known as angioplasty. ... > full story
Headaches in teens tied to overweight, smoking and lack of exercise (August 19, 2010) -- Teens who are overweight, get little exercise or who smoke may be more likely to have frequent headaches and migraines than teens with none of these factors, according to a new study. ... > full story
Study shows gene's role in developing and maintaining cells key for a lifetime of memories (August 19, 2010) -- Researchers have shown that a gene named Prox1 is a key player in normal development of a brain structure crucial for learning and memory and remains active throughout life, nurturing the cells vital for making new memories. ... > full story
Study explains why Alzheimer's drug is both safe and effective (August 19, 2010) -- The drug memantine improves Alzheimer's disease symptoms by blocking abnormal activity of glutamate, a chemical that transmits messages between nerve cells. In a new study, scientists unravel exactly how memantine helps Alzheimer's patients without causing serious side effects. ... > full story
Long-term entecavir therapy reverses fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients (August 19, 2010) -- Researchers have found that patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection who received at least 3 years of cumulative entecavir (antiviral) therapy achieved substantial histologic improvement and regression of fibrosis or cirrhosis. ... > full story
Antidepressant can help treat major depression during perimenopause, menopause, study shows (August 19, 2010) -- An antidepressant can alleviate symptoms of major depression in women experiencing or about to experience menopause, according to a new study. ... > full story
Choosing healthier protein-rich foods instead of red and processed meats may reduce heart disease (August 18, 2010) -- American women who ate more protein-rich foods instead of red meat had a significantly lower risk of developing heart disease, according to a new study. Eating more fresh red meat, processed red meat and high-fat dairy carried an increased risk of heart disease in the study. Women who had two servings per day of red meat compared to those who had half a serving per day had a 30 percent higher risk of developing coronary heart disease. ... > full story
Meningitis research breakthrough could save children’s lives (August 18, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a rapid diagnostic test for meningococcal bacteria that can produce results within an hour. The speed of this new test is a vital factor in the treatment of young children with meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia who become very ill over a short period. ... > full story
Scientists closer to finding what causes the birth of a fat cell (August 18, 2010) -- Just what causes the birth of a human fat cell is a mystery, but scientists using mathematics to tackle the question have come up with a few predictions about the proteins that influence this process. The research is intended to increase understanding of how and why preadipocytes, or pre-fat cells, either lie dormant, copy themselves or turn into fat. ... > full story
Women with osteoporosis suffer more if they have previously broken a bone, say scientists (August 18, 2010) -- An international study of more than 60,000 women has drawn new light on the relationship between osteoporosis and fractures. Scientists call for more to be done to identify and treat patients at the highest risk of fractures. Osteoporosis is more common in women who have fractured bones when they were younger - and they experience a similar loss in health-related quality of life as those with arthritis, lung disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases. ... > full story
Early life influences risk for psychiatric disorders (August 18, 2010) -- For more than a century, clinical investigators have focused on early life as a source of adult psychopathology. Although the hypothesized mechanisms have evolved, a central notion remains: early life is a period of unique sensitivity during which experience confers enduring effects. ... > full story
Vitamin D may treat or prevent allergy to common mold (August 18, 2010) -- Vitamin D may be an effective therapeutic agent to treat or prevent allergy to a common mold that can complicate asthma and frequently affects patients with cystic fibrosis. ... > full story
SSRIs may pack more punch at the cellular level than believed (August 18, 2010) -- A new discovery about selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors suggests that these drugs, used to treat mental health disorders like depression and anxiety, have multiple effects on our cells. Researchers used yeast cells to identify secondary drug targets or pathways affected by SSRIs. Such secondary pathways could help explain why different people taking the same drug can experience different effects, and could also lead to new types of drugs altogether. ... > full story
Men more likely to cheat if they are economically dependent on their female partners, study finds (August 18, 2010) -- The more economically dependent a man is on his female partner, the more likely he is to cheat on her, according to new research. ... > full story
Acupuncture not superior to sham acupuncture in knee osteoarthritis, study finds (August 18, 2010) -- Researchers have determined that patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee who are treated with traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) do not experience any more benefit than those receiving sham acupuncture (placebo). The team did find that the communication style of the acupuncturist could have a significant effect on pain reduction and satisfaction in patients. ... > full story
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