ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Tuesday, March 16, 2010
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Studies reveal substantial increases in non-melanoma skin cancers (March 16, 2010) -- Both new diagnoses and a history of non-melanoma skin cancer appear to have become increasingly common, and the disease affects more individuals than all other cancers combined, according to two new reports. ... > full story
Diabetes' link to eating disorders explored (March 16, 2010) -- Diabetics, under the gun to better manage their disease by controlling their food intake and weight, may find themselves in the sticky wicket of needing treatment that makes them hungry, researchers said. ... > full story
Palpable breast cancers are more common in women not undergoing annual mammography (March 16, 2010) -- New research findings indicate that some breast cancers continue to be detected as a palpable lump rather than being found through mammographic screening. Patients who presented with palpable tumors -- those detected as a result of breast complaint or during examination -- had larger tumors and were at a more advanced stage at diagnosis. ... > full story
Trauma of war doubles asthma risk among civilians (March 16, 2010) -- Living through the trauma of war seems to increase the risk of developing asthma, suggests new research. ... > full story
One gene lost = one limb regained? Scientists demonstrate mammalian regeneration through a single gene deletion (March 16, 2010) -- The absence of a single gene, called p21, confers a healing potential in mice long thought to be reserved only for creatures like flatworms, sponges, and some species of salamander: regeneration. Researchers demonstrate that mice that lack the gene can regenerate lost or damaged tissue, suggesting that such an ability may be granted to mammals by blocking the effects of p21. ... > full story
Neuroimaging study describes Alzheimer's disease-like changes in elderly people without the disease (March 16, 2010) -- Researchers have related the findings that are emerging from PET-PIB imaging to changes in the function of brain circuits. ... > full story
Researchers uncover new data about protein function in Joubert syndrome (March 16, 2010) -- Researchers in Ireland have gained new understanding of the role played by the cilial protein Arl13b in Joubert syndrome (JS), a rare disorder characterized by developmental delay, mental retardation, and low muscle tone, among other symptoms. ... > full story
Young Britons see significantly more smoking in movies than US peers (March 16, 2010) -- Young Britons see significantly more on-screen smoking in movies than their US peers, finds new research. ... > full story
Freshwater polyp hydra genome sequenced: Survey finds genes linked to Huntington's, Alzheimer's (March 15, 2010) -- An international team of scientists have sequenced the genome of Hydra, a freshwater polyp that's been a staple of biological research for 300 years. ... > full story
Plaque on CT scan is strong predictor of heart disease, worse long-term outcomes (March 15, 2010) -- The presence of plaque on an abdominal CT scan is a strong predictor of coronary artery disease and mortality, according to a new study. Researchers found that patients are nearly 60 percent at risk of having coronary artery disease when the CT scan showed very high levels of abdominal aortic calcium, commonly known as plaque. High levels of the abdominal aortic calcium also increased their risk of dying, researchers say ... > full story
Crowded houses: Why our peripheral vision may not be as random as we think (March 15, 2010) -- As you read this, you may notice that the word directly in front of you is clear, but all the surrounding words are hard to make out. For most people, this effect is not a problem. However, for millions of people worldwide with eye disease, it can make everyday tasks such as reading or recognizing friends a challenge. Researchers have made new insights into this process. ... > full story
'Tommy John' elbow reconstruction 95 percent successful with grown teen pitchers, study says (March 15, 2010) -- A new study has found that 95 percent of skeletally mature high school pitchers were satisfied with their "Tommy John" elbow reconstruction surgery. Almost as many (94.7 percent) returned to competitive baseball. ... > full story
Researchers solve a molecular mystery in muscle (March 15, 2010) -- Despite widespread interest in insulin-like growth factors, key details about how these potent molecules work on muscle cells have been lacking. Researchers have now cleared up a longstanding mystery about the workings of IGFs. The team's findings could lead to new treatments for muscle-wasting diseases and new ways of preventing the muscle loss that accompanies aging. ... > full story
Oscillations at odds in the heart (March 15, 2010) -- Researchers show that a classical biological oscillator, the glycolytic oscillator, may increase damage to the heart during acute loss of oxygen (anoxia), and as may occur during ischemia. ... > full story
Chinese medicine societies reject tiger bones ahead of CITES conference (March 15, 2010) -- WWF and TRAFFIC welcome a World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies statement urging its members not to use tiger bone or any other parts from endangered wildlife. ... > full story
Wealth buys health -- even in China (March 15, 2010) -- A new study from North Carolina State University shows that rich people tend to be healthier than poor people in China - a trend also seen in the US. However, there is one key difference. In China, the overall health gap across generations is getting narrower -- and it's getting wider in the US. ... > full story
Better genetic test for autism? Chromosomal microarray analysis picks up more abnormalities than current tests (March 15, 2010) -- A large study from Children's Hospital Boston and the Boston-based Autism Consortium finds that a genetic test that samples the entire genome, known as chromosomal microarray analysis, has about three times the detection rate for genetic changes related to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) than standard tests. ... > full story
Gene discovered for newly recognized disease in Amish children (March 15, 2010) -- The gene for a newly recognized disease has been identified thanks to the determination of an Amish father and physicians who specializes in disorders of the Amish. The identification of the new multisystem autoimmune disorder and the recessive gene that causes it have just been published ... > full story
Interventional radiology: Zapping uterine fibroids with heat from high-energy sound waves (March 15, 2010) -- There's a new interventional radiology tool showing promise in the treatment of uterine fibroids: magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS), a minimally invasive treatment that uses high-energy ultrasound waves to generate heat at a specific point to destroy uterine fibroid tissue and relieve symptoms. ... > full story
Confidence is key to gauging impressions we make (March 15, 2010) -- The gift of "seeing ourselves as others see us" comes in handy when judging how we've made a first impression. Yet many come away with little or no clue about how that first impression was perceived. A new study suggests confidence is a key indicator of how well we've assessed impressions left behind. ... > full story
Unlocking the opium poppy's biggest secret: Genes that make codeine, morphine (March 15, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered the unique genes that allow the opium poppy to make codeine and morphine, opening the door to alternate methods of producing these effective painkillers either by manufacturing them in a lab or controlling the production of these compounds in the plant. ... > full story
Body's anticipation of a meal can be a diabetes risk factor (March 15, 2010) -- Alterations in our response to the taste or smell of food may be another culprit responsible for Type 2 diabetes, according to scientists who have identified the specific mechanism in human specimens and in mice. ... > full story
Minimally invasive sports hernia repair may get athletes 'back in the game' faster, study says (March 15, 2010) -- A new minimally invasive sports hernia repair gets athletes back in the game 3 times faster than the traditional repair, according to a new study. Sports hernias were often difficult to diagnose and prior to this new repair had a lengthy rehabilitation time. ... > full story
New insight on how fast nicotine peaks in the brain (March 15, 2010) -- Nicotine takes much longer than previously thought to reach peak levels in the brains of cigarette smokers, according to new research. ... > full story
Pancreatic cancer study reveals mechanism initiating disease, in mice (March 15, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered how a mutated gene known as Kras is able to hijack mouse cells damaged by acute pancreatitis, putting them on the path to becoming pancreatic cancer cells. ... > full story
'Microtentacles' on tumor cells appear to play role in how breast cancer spreads (March 15, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that "microtentacles," or extensions of the plasma membrane of breast cancer cells, appear to play a key role in how cancers spread to distant locations in the body. Targeting these microtentacles, which are linked to a protein called "tau," might prove to be a new way to prevent or slow the growth of these secondary cancers, the scientists say. ... > full story
Inner workings of the inflammatory response to Leishmaniasis (March 15, 2010) -- The secret world of inflammation is slowly being revealed by the application of advanced techniques in microscopy, as shown in a new study. Researchers used 2-photon microscopy to identify how killer T lymphocytes behaved when they enter sites of inflammation caused by the parasite Leishmania donovani, and which infected cells they were able to recognize. ... > full story
Free hormonal contraception halved termination rate, Norwegian study finds (March 15, 2010) -- Free hormonal contraception was offered for a year to young women in two Norwegian cities. The result was that the abortion rate in the trial cities was halved. ... > full story
Psychopaths' brains wired to seek rewards, no matter the consequences (March 15, 2010) -- The brains of psychopaths appear to be wired to keep seeking a reward at any cost, new research finds. The research uncovers the role of the brain's reward system in psychopathy and opens a new area of study for understanding what drives these individuals. ... > full story
New cancer drug screening technique more closely mirrors reality (March 15, 2010) -- Improving on traditional screening tests for potential anti-cancer drugs, scientists have developed a laboratory technique that more closely simulates the real-world conditions in which tumor cells mingle with the body's normal cells. ... > full story
Vitamin D and calcium interplay explored (March 15, 2010) -- Increasing calcium intake is a common -- yet not always successful -- strategy for reducing bone fractures. But a new study underscores the importance of vitamin D and its ability to help the body utilize calcium. The study also may explain why increasing calcium alone isn't always successful in dealing with this problem. ... > full story
Hospices rarely deactivate defibrillators in patients, survey finds (March 15, 2010) -- Researchers have found that patients admitted to hospice care who have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) are rarely having their ICDs deactivated and are receiving electrical shocks from these devices near the end of life. ... > full story
Caution urged in reducing blood pressure in patients with diabetes, coronary disease (March 15, 2010) -- Systolic blood pressure levels between 130 and 140 appear to be the most healthful for patients with both diabetes and coronary artery disease, according to new findings. ... > full story
New risk score tool more accurately predicts patients' risk for cardiac disease and death, study finds (March 15, 2010) -- By combining patients' Framingham Risk Score with new Intermountain Risk Score, researchers found that they were 30 percent more likely to correctly determine a woman's risk, and 57 percent more likely to determine a man's risk for a cardiovascular problem or death within 30 days of an angiography. ... > full story
Hutterite study: Vaccinating children for flu may help prevent transmission, protect those who are not vaccinated (March 15, 2010) -- Immunizing children and adolescents with inactivated influenza vaccine resulted in reduced rates of influenza in their community compared to a similar community in which children did not receive the vaccine, suggesting that vaccinating children may help prevent transmission of the virus and offer protection for unimmunized community residents, according to a new study of Hutterite communities. ... > full story
Intensive blood pressure, combined lipid therapies do not help adults with diabetes, study finds (March 15, 2010) -- Lowering blood pressure to normal levels -- below currently recommended levels -- did not significantly reduce the combined risk of fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular disease events in adults with type 2 diabetes who were at especially high risk for cardiovascular disease events, according to new results. ... > full story
Donating kidney does not appear to significantly increase long-term risk of death (March 15, 2010) -- An analysis of outcomes for live kidney donors in the US over a 15 year period finds they have similar long-term survival rates compared to healthy individuals who were not kidney donors, according to a new study. ... > full story
One-page questionnaire is effective screening tool for common psychiatric disorders (March 15, 2010) -- A one-page, 27-item questionnaire that is available free online is a valid and effective tool to help primary care doctors screen patients for four common psychiatric illnesses, a new study concludes. ... > full story
Curriculum on unhealthy substance use recommended for internal medicine residents (March 15, 2010) -- Educational leaders believe teaching the subject of unhealthy substance use must be incorporated into internal medicine residency training and can be done within existing teaching venues. The findings represent a national model for addressing this issue for internal medicine residents. ... > full story
Why surprises temporarily blind us (March 14, 2010) -- New research reveals for the first time how our brains coordinate two different types of attention and why we may be temporarily blinded by surprises. ... > full story
Stem cell research shows promise for tissue-engineered vascular grafts (March 14, 2010) -- Researchers are the first to fully characterize a special type of stem cell, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) that exist in circulating blood, to see if they can behave as endothelial cells in the body when cultured on a bioengineered surface. The results show promise for a new generation of tissue-engineered vascular grafts which could improve the success rate of surgery for peripheral arterial disease. ... > full story
A sporting chance for active total knee replacement patients (March 14, 2010) -- Total knee arthroplasty patients may be able to participate in high-impact sports without increasing risk of early implant failure, according to a new study. ... > full story
Different fat types can help or hinder obese girls' bone health (March 14, 2010) -- Obese teenage girls with a greater ratio of visceral fat (fat around internal organs) to subcutaneous fat (fat found just beneath the skin) are likely to have lower bone density than peers with a lower ratio of visceral to subcutaneous fat, according to a new study. ... > full story
Discovery of cellular 'switch' may provide new means of triggering cell death, treating disease (March 14, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered a previously unknown cellular "switch" that may provide researchers with a new means of triggering programmed cell death, findings with implications for treating cancer. ... > full story
Designer nano luggage to carry drugs to diseased cells (March 14, 2010) -- Scientists have succeeded in growing empty particles derived from a plant virus and have made them carry useful chemicals. The external surface of these nano containers could be decorated with molecules that guide them to where they are needed in the body, before the chemical load is discharged to exert its effect on diseased cells. The containers are particles of the Cowpea mosaic virus, which is ideally suited for designing biomaterial at the nanoscale. ... > full story
Quantum dots spotlight DNA-repair proteins in motion (March 14, 2010) -- Repair proteins appear to efficiently scan the genome for errors by jumping like fleas between DNA molecules, sliding along the strands, and perhaps pausing at suspicious spots, say researchers who tagged the proteins with quantum dots to watch the action unfold. ... > full story
New tool for operations on people with severe or profound auditory loss (March 14, 2010) -- Engineers and doctors have designed a new tool for operating on the inner ear with maximum precision, reducing the possibility of damage to the auditory function during the surgery. This is the first micromanipulator specifically for operations involving cochlear and middle ear implants, of which about a hundred are carried out in this hospital annually. ... > full story
Scientists identify key protein from mitochondria in energy regulation (March 14, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered a new mechanism that governs this pathway and in the process identified a novel potential therapeutic target for controlling fat metabolism. ... > full story
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