ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Monday, March 1, 2010
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Pinpointing immune system disturbances in celiac disease (March 1, 2010) -- New research has identified four aspects of immune system disturbance which lead to the development of celiac disease. Nearly 40 different inherited risk factors which predispose to the disease have now been identified. These latest findings could speed the way towards improved diagnostics and treatments for the autoimmune complaint that affects 1 in 100 of the population, and lead to insights into related conditions such as type 1 diabetes. ... > full story
Study supports alternative anti-seizure medication following acute brain injury (March 1, 2010) -- A new study supports the use of an alternative medication to prevent seizures in patients who have suffered a life-threatening traumatic brain injury or bleeding stroke. ... > full story
Stroke incidence rising among younger adults, decreasing among elderly (March 1, 2010) -- Stroke, often considered a disease of old age, is declining in the elderly and increasing at younger ages. The percentage of strokes occurring in people under age 45 has grown significantly since the 1990s. ... > full story
Mouse model may provide insight into the schizophrenic brain (March 1, 2010) -- Schizophrenia is an incredibly complex and profoundly debilitating disorder that typically manifests in early adulthood but is thought to arise, at least in part, from pathological disturbances occurring during very early brain development. Now, a new study manipulates a known schizophrenia susceptibility gene in the brains of fetal mice to begin to unravel the complex link between prenatal brain development and maturation of information processing and cognition in adult animals. ... > full story
Easing egg allergies with eggs: Oral immunotherapy study shows it works (March 1, 2010) -- Children with egg allergies who consume increasingly higher doses of egg protein -- the very nutrient they react to -- appear to gradually overcome their allergies, tolerating eggs better over time and with milder symptoms, according to new research. ... > full story
Screening cancer genomes for the driver mutations in tumour suppressor genes (March 1, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a method to find mutations in a class of cancer genes that, when removed, promote cancer. The research goes some way to addressing the challenge of discerning the causative, "driver" mutations from the "passenger" mutations. The team were able to construct signatures associated with deletions in cancer causing tumor suppressor genes. The research also finds that at least one in nine genes can be removed without killing cancer cells in test tubes. ... > full story
Anti-inflammatory signal protein discovered (March 1, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered a protein that is crucial in mediating the anti-inflammatory actions of nuclear lipid receptors. The findings link lipid metabolism and inflammation and open up new possibilities for developing treatments of metabolic diseases associated with inflammation, such as diabetes and atherosclerosis. ... > full story
Campaign to end sale of electronic mosquito repellents (March 1, 2010) -- A campaign to stop the sale of electronic mosquito repellents by major airlines is beginning to bear fruit with the immediate withdrawal of the products from KLM flights. The issue, say experts, is that these electronic repellents, sold to airline passengers, many on their way to malaria endemic countries, just don’t work. ... > full story
Similar advertising strategies used by indoor tanning and tobacco industries (March 1, 2010) -- While the proven negative health consequences of smoking and tanning are undeniable, tobacco and indoor tanning advertisers would like consumers to think otherwise. In fact, a new study comparing the tactics used in advertising tobacco and indoor tanning products found several similarities in how these two industries market unhealthy products. ... > full story
Multiple sclerosis onset: Could mycobacteria play a role? (February 28, 2010) -- A non-pathogenic bacterium is capable to trigger an autoimmune disease similar to the multiple sclerosis in the mouse, the model animal which helps to explain how human diseases work. This is an unprecedented mechanism which could explain how this terrible central nervous system disease starts up in humans. ... > full story
Brown recluse spider is sometimes to blame when anemia strikes (February 28, 2010) -- As spring approaches and people return to outdoor activities, caution should be taken in areas of the country that are home to Loxosceles reclusa, also called the brown recluse spider. A new study found that when patients present with sudden anemia, but the cause is elusive, the brown recluse spider should be part of the differential diagnosis, at least in parts of the nation where the spider is regularly found. ... > full story
Novel way to study human inflammatory disease (February 28, 2010) -- A new study shows mice infected with the bacteria salmonella develop clinical signs consistent with a deadly and poorly understood human inflammatory disease, a finding that may lead to new therapies. ... > full story
Lab on a chip: Ordinary cotton thread used to stitch together low-cost microfluidic analytical device (February 28, 2010) -- In a world first, the researchers have used ordinary cotton thread and sewing needles to literally stitch together the uniquely low-cost microfluidic analytical device, which is the size of a postage stamp and allows scientists to carry out chemical analyses of minute fluid samples, such as blood and urine. ... > full story
Regular exercise reduces patient anxiety by 20 percent, study finds (February 28, 2010) -- The anxiety that often accompanies a chronic illness can chip away at quality of life and make patients less likely to follow their treatment plan. But regular exercise can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety, a new study shows. ... > full story
Babies, even when premature, 'see' with their hands (February 28, 2010) -- Even premature babies at 33 weeks post-conceptional age, about 2 months before term (40 gestational weeks), are capable of recognizing and distinguishing two objects of different shapes (a prism and a cylinder) with their right or left hands. ... > full story
Novel compound found effective against avian influenza virus (February 28, 2010) -- A novel compound is highly effective against the pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus, including some drug-resistant strains, according to new research. ... > full story
Oil droplets can navigate complex maze (February 28, 2010) -- Call them oil droplets with a brain or even "chemo-rats." Scientists have developed a way to make simple oil droplets "smart" enough to navigate through a complex maze almost like a trained lab rat. The finding could have a wide range of practical implications, including helping cancer drugs to reach their target and controlling the movement of futuristic nano-machines, the scientists say. ... > full story
Stents as good as surgery for clogged carotid arteries, study suggests (February 28, 2010) -- The CREST trial that compared traditional surgery with less-invasive stenting to clear dangerously clogged carotid arteries in the neck is being called "seminal and robust." ... > full story
Does the devil really wear Prada? The psychology of anthropomorphism and dehumanization (February 28, 2010) -- People talk to their plants, pray to human-like gods, name their cars, and even dress their pets up in clothing. We have a strong tendency to give nonhuman entities human characteristics (known as anthropomorphism), but why? A new report examines the psychology behind anthropomorphism. ... > full story
Gene-based stem cell therapy specifically removes cell receptor that attracts HIV (February 28, 2010) -- Researchers have successfully removed CCR5 -- a cell receptor to which HIV-1 binds for infection but which the human body does not need -- from human cells. Individuals who naturally lack the CCR5 receptor have been found to be essentially resistant to HIV. ... > full story
Choking is a leading cause of injury and death among children (February 28, 2010) -- Choking is a leading cause of injury and death among children, especially those younger than 4 years of age. The majority of choking-related incidents among children are associated with food, coins and toys. ... > full story
HIV drug that protects a fetus should be avoided for one year after childbirth, researchers say (February 28, 2010) -- A new study found that while nevirapine works well to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, a single dose of nevirapine in infected pregnant women can trigger resistance to some forms of the AIDS-drug cocktail (antiretrovirals). This nevirapine-induced resistance fades after about 12 months and no longer hinders the cocktail, UAB researchers say. ... > full story
Video games may help combat depression in older adults (February 28, 2010) -- New research suggests a novel route to improving the symptoms of subsyndromal depression (SSD) in seniors through the regular use of "exergames" -- entertaining video games that combine game play with exercise. In a pilot study, the researchers found that use of exergames significantly improved mood and mental health-related quality of life in older adults with SSD. ... > full story
Detailed insight into failing heart cells gained using new nano technique (February 27, 2010) -- Researchers have been able to see how heart failure affects the surface of an individual heart muscle cell in minute detail, using a new nanoscale scanning technique. The findings may lead to better design of beta-blockers, the drugs that can slow the development of heart failure, and to improvements in current therapeutic approaches to treating heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. ... > full story
Dolphin cognitive abilities raise ethical questions, says Emory neuroscientist (February 27, 2010) -- Many modern dolphin brains are significantly larger than those of humans and second in mass to the human brain when corrected for body size, says a scientist. Some dolphin brains exhibit features correlated with complex intelligence, including a large expanse of neocortical volume that is more convoluted than that of humans, extensive insular and cingulated regions, and highly differentiated cellular regions. This has ethical and policy considerations. ... > full story
Rapid image analysis method helps diagnose Alzheimer's disease (February 27, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a method for analysing MR images (MRI) in just a few minutes when diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. The accuracy of the analysis is comparable to manual measurements made by skilled professionals, which are currently considered the most reliable method for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. The accurate and rapid analysis method is well suited for clinical use. ... > full story
Warning: Immigrating to North America may foster smoking in children (February 27, 2010) -- Moving to Canada could be hazardous for the health of young immigrants. A new study has found that over time, immigrant children from multiethnic, disadvantaged, inner-city neighborhoods are up to 3.5 times more likely to smoke. The findings are important since an estimated 45,000 school-aged children immigrate to Canada with their parents each year. ... > full story
Increasing neurogenesis might prevent drug addiction and relapse (February 27, 2010) -- Researchers hope they have begun paving a new pathway in the fight against drug dependence. Their hypothesis -- that increasing the normally occurring process of making nerve cells might prevent addiction -- is based on a rodent study demonstrating that blocking new growth of specific brain nerve cells increases vulnerability for cocaine addiction and relapse. ... > full story
Flower power may reduce resistance to breast cancer drug tamoxifen (February 27, 2010) -- Combining tamoxifen, the world's most prescribed breast cancer agent, with a compound found in the flowering plant feverfew may prevent initial or future resistance to the drug, say researchers. The finding provides new insight into the biological roots of that resistance, and also tests a novel way to get around it. ... > full story
Computer simulation of protein malfunction related to Alzheimer's disease (February 27, 2010) -- Researchers created a computer modeling of the structural malfunctioning of the ApoE4 protein when it enters into contact with the amyloid beta molecule, the main cause of Alzheimer's disease. The research supports experimental evidence that links ApoE4 with this pathology and opens up new exploration possibilities in understanding and fighting against the disease. ... > full story
Others may know us better than we know ourselves, study finds (February 27, 2010) -- Humans have long been advised to "know thyself," but new research suggests we may not know ourselves as well as we think we do. While individuals may be more accurate at assessing their own neurotic traits, such as anxiety, it seems friends, and even strangers, are often better barometers of traits such as intelligence, creativity and extroversion. ... > full story
Gene signature may improve colon cancer treatment (February 27, 2010) -- A gene signature, first identified in mouse colon cancer cells, may help identify patients at risk of colon cancer recurrence, according to a recent study. The findings could help personalize treatments for colon cancer -- the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States -- by identifying patients most likely to benefit from chemotherapy. ... > full story
Lack of morning light keeping teenagers up at night (February 27, 2010) -- The first field study on the impact of light on teenagers' sleeping habits finds that insufficient daily morning light exposure contributes to teenagers not getting enough sleep. ... > full story
A primer on migraine headaches (February 27, 2010) -- Migraine headache affects many people and a number of different preventative strategies should be considered, according to a new article. ... > full story
Many adult diseases sprout in poverty, molecular sociologist says (February 27, 2010) -- The roots of many adult diseases sprout in poverty and other burdens on the socially disadvantaged. A self-described molecular sociologist recently talked about the effects such environmental stressors have on the brain and in turn other organ systems. ... > full story
Gestational diabetes: Blood sugar levels once considered normal are not safe for baby, mother (February 27, 2010) -- Two to three times more pregnant women may soon be diagnosed and treated for gestational diabetes, based on new measurements for determining risky blood sugar levels for the mother and her unborn baby, according to a new study. Blood sugar levels that were once considered in the normal range are now seen as causing a sharp increase in the occurrence of overweight babies, early deliveries, cesarean section deliveries and potentially life-threatening preeclampsia. ... > full story
Mechanism for Frank-Ter Haar syndrome discovered (February 27, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered that TKS4, a protein implicated in cancer metastasis, also plays a significant role in Frank-Ter Haar syndrome, a rare fatal disorder. ... > full story
Stress raises risk of mental decline in older diabetics, study shows (February 27, 2010) -- Stress raises the risk of memory loss and cognitive decline among older people with diabetes, research suggests. Researchers have studied more than 900 men and women aged between 60 and 75 with type-2 diabetes, which tends to be common after the age of 40. They found that brain function slowed in participants with higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. ... > full story
New cancer treatment gives hope to lymphoma and leukemia patients (February 26, 2010) -- Cancer researchers have high hopes for a new therapy for patients with certain types of lymphoma and leukemia. ... > full story
Good parenting triumphs over prenatal stress (February 26, 2010) -- A mother's nurture may provide powerful protection against risks her baby faces in the womb, according to a new article. The research shows that fetuses exposed to high levels of stress hormone -- shown to be a harbinger for babies' poor cognitive development -- can escape this fate if their mothers provide them sensitive care during infancy and toddler-hood. ... > full story
The pig and its pancreas: A unique model for a common disease (February 26, 2010) -- The incidence of diabetes is rising worldwide. Using genetic engineering techniques in pigs, scientists at in Germany have created a new model of this metabolic disorder, which recapitulates many features of the disease, and promises to contribute significantly to improvements in diagnosis and therapy. ... > full story
Hypnosis can help control pain among women with metastatic breast cancer (February 26, 2010) -- Hypnosis can help alleviate the pain and suffering experienced by women being treated for breast cancer, according to a new study. ... > full story
Smoking significantly increases risk of aneurysm in people with certain genes (February 26, 2010) -- Researchers have confirmed three gene changes that raise the risk that a blood vessel in the brain will weaken and balloon out (aneurysm), creating a life-threatening chance of rupture. Smoking, the biggest risk factor for brain aneurysm, is five times more dangerous in people with these gene variations. However, a second study on the same population notes that most people with aneurysm die of cancer or heart problems. ... > full story
Scanning for skin cancer: Infrared system looks for deadly melanoma (February 26, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a noninvasive infrared scanning system to help doctors determine whether pigmented skin growths are benign moles or melanoma, a lethal form of cancer. ... > full story
New study casts doubt on link between chronic fatigue syndrome and human retrovirus XMRV (February 26, 2010) -- A new study casts doubt on recent claims that a human retrovirus known as XMRV is linked to chronic fatigue syndrome or ME (myalgic encephalitis). ... > full story
How to make French fries with less acrylamide (February 26, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a technique to to reduce acrylamide in French fries on an industrial scale. Acrylamide is a product that may cause cancer and was discovered in various foods. ... > full story
Why symptoms of schizophrenia emerge in young adulthood (February 26, 2010) -- In reports of two new studies, researchers say they have identified the mechanisms rooted in two anatomical brain abnormalities that may explain the onset of schizophrenia and the reason symptoms don't develop until young adulthood. Both types of anatomical glitches are influenced by a gene known as DISC1, whose mutant form was first identified in a Scottish family with a strong history of schizophrenia and related mental disorders. ... > full story
Exploiting the body's own ability to fight a heart attack (February 26, 2010) -- Scientists trying to find a way to better help patients protect themselves against harm from a heart attack are taking their cues from cardiac patients. The work on "ischemic preconditioning" mirrors a perplexing curiosity that physicians have long observed in their patients: When faced with a heart attack, people who have had a previous one oftentimes fare better than patients who have never had one. ... > full story
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