ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Friday, June 27, 2008
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Seniors With Type 2 Diabetes May Experience Memory Declines Immediately After Eating Unhealthy Meal (June 27, 2008) -- Adults with type 2 diabetes who eat unhealthy, high-fat meals may experience memory declines immediately afterward, but this can be offset by taking antioxidant vitamins with the meal, according to new research from Baycrest. ... > full story
Mechanism Explains Calcium Abnormalities In Alzheimer's Brain (June 27, 2008) -- A new study uncovers a mechanism that directly links mutations that cause early onset Alzheimer's disease with aberrant calcium signaling. The research, published by Cell Press in the June 26 issue of the journal Neuron, provides exciting molecular insights into the pathology of AD and may lead to new treatment strategies. ... > full story
Breakthrough In Plant Medicine Production (June 27, 2008) -- Researchers have succeeded in further unraveling and manipulating the glycosylation of proteins in plants. The scientists expect that this knowledge will allow plants to be applied more often in the production of therapeutic proteins, an important type of medicine. ... > full story
Researchers Study Hidden Homicide Trend (June 27, 2008) -- Gun-related homicide among young men rose sharply in the United States in recent years even though the nation's overall homicide rate remained flat, according to a new study. Between 1999 and 2005, homicide involving firearms increased 31 percent among black men ages 25 to 44 and 12 percent among white men of the same age. ... > full story
Morbid Thoughts Whet The Appetite (June 27, 2008) -- Can watching TV news or crime shows trigger overeating? According to new research, people who are thinking about their own deaths want to consume more. ... > full story
Toxic Key To Alzheimer’s Disease Memory Loss Identified (June 27, 2008) -- Using new scientific techniques, scientists have unlocked the cascade of molecular events that lead to Alzheimer's disease. The scientific findings published in Nature Medicine suggest a potential new target for the development of drug therapies to fight the irreversible and degenerative disease which affects some 29.8 million people worldwide. ... > full story
Identification Of A Tumor Suppressor Gene Associated With Patient Outcome In Neuroblastoma (June 27, 2008) -- Expression of the CHD5 gene is frequently down-regulated in neuroblastomas, and patients whose tumors lacked CHD5 expression were more likely to have shorter event-free and overall survival compared with patients whose tumors expressed CHD5, according to a study in the June 24 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. ... > full story
Disclosure Of Organ Transplant Risks: A Question Of When, Not If (June 27, 2008) -- Physicians and bioethicists are calling for a new, more standardized way for patients in need of organ transplants to be informed of the risks they face. If adopted, their policy recommendations could promote greater equity in how organs are allocated while restricting patients' abilities to "cherry-pick" the best organs. ... > full story
Low Childhood IQ Linked To Type Of Dementia (June 26, 2008) -- Children with lower IQs are more likely decades later to develop vascular dementia than children with high IQs, according to new research in Neurology. ... > full story
Bedsharing And Bassinets: Two New Studies Assess The Risks (June 26, 2008) -- Even though more than 45 percent of infants between the ages of 0-2 months use bassinets, little is known about bassinet safety. In 2005, the American Academy of Pediatrics revised its recommendations for a safe infant sleep environment, suggesting a separate but nearby sleeping arrangement. Two studies soon to be published in the Journal of Pediatrics evaluate the frequency of bedsharing and the potential risk factors of bassinet use. ... > full story
The High Cost Of Low Status: Feeling Powerless Leads To Expensive Purchases (June 26, 2008) -- Feeling powerless can trigger strong desires to purchase products that convey high status, according to new research. In a study that may explain why so many Americans who are deeply in debt still spend beyond their means, authors found that research subjects who were asked to recall times when someone else had power over them were willing to pay higher prices for status-symbol items. ... > full story
Computer Scientist Turns His Face Into A Remote Control That Speeds And Slows Video Playback (June 26, 2008) -- A computer science Ph.D. student can turn his face into a remote control that speeds and slows video playback. The proof-of-concept demonstration is part of a larger project to use automated facial expression recognition to make robots more effective teachers. ... > full story
Sonar System For The Blind (June 26, 2008) -- Animals use echolocation for hunting and navigation, but visually impaired humans also employ echolocation as part of their orienting repertoire while navigating the world. There are a few rare individuals who can echolocate very well without assistance. However, researchers at Boston University have developed a prototype device that can enhance auditory cues while navigating an environment. ... > full story
Multiple Regions Of Chromosome 8 Found To Be Associated With Different Cancers (June 26, 2008) -- A recently discovered, but not yet understood, section of chromosome 8, called 8q24, may contain at least five distinct regions that are associated with different cancers, according to a study in the June 24 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. ... > full story
Are You A Different Person When You Speak A Different Language? (June 26, 2008) -- People who are bicultural and speak two languages may actually shift their personalities when they switch from one language to another, according to new research. ... > full story
Nerve Cells Derived From Stem Cells And Transplanted Into Mice May Lead To Improved Brain Treatments (June 26, 2008) -- Scientists have genetically programmed embryonic stem cells to become nerve cells when transplanted into the brain, according to a new study. The research, an important step toward developing new treatments for stroke, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurological conditions showed that mice afflicted by stroke showed therapeutic improvement following transplantation of these cells. None of the mice formed tumors, a major setback in prior attempts at stem cell transplantation. ... > full story
Umbilical Cord Blood Cell Transplants May Help ALS Patients (June 26, 2008) -- Researchers transplanted human umbilical cord blood cells into mouse models with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to determine which of three dose strength levels -- low, moderate and high -- delayed symptom progression and increased lifespan. Moderate strength doses of HUCB cells proved most effective and may have provided a neuroprotective effect for motor neurons through active involvement of the cells in modulating the host immune inflammatory system response. ... > full story
NSAID Use Not Associated With Reduction In Melanoma Risk (June 26, 2008) -- The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is not associated with a reduction in the risk of melanoma, according to the results of a large cohort study in the June 24 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. ... > full story
One Step Closer To Green Chemistry And Improved Pharmaceuticals (June 26, 2008) -- The end of dangerous chemical compounds in our homes? Cheap and environment friendly production of biofuel? Efficient design of medicines against cancer, Alzheimer's and AIDS? The solution to these challenges has come one step closer after researchers have solved an important piece of the puzzle behind how proteins are shaped. ... > full story
High Rates, Rising Costs Of Alcohol And Drug Disorders In Hospitalized Patients Shown (June 26, 2008) -- Fourteen percent of patients admitted to the hospital have alcohol/drug abuse and addiction disorders, costs for which have risen sharply in recent years, according to a new study. ... > full story
Ovarian Cancer's Specific Scent Detected By Dogs (June 26, 2008) -- New research explored whether ovarian cancer has a scent different from other cancers and whether working dogs could be taught to distinguish it in its different stages. Ovarian cancer has a high mortality rate, primarily due to late diagnosis. Researchers found that early-stage and low grade ovarian cancers emit the same scent as advanced tumors. ... > full story
Salutary Pizza Spice: Oregano Helps Against Inflammations (June 26, 2008) -- Oregano doesn't only give a pizza its typical taste. Researchers have discovered that this spice also contains a substance which, amongst other qualities, appears to help cure inflammations. The researchers administered its active ingredient -- known as beta-caryophyllin (E-BCP) - to mice with inflamed paws. In seven out of ten cases there was a subsequent improvement in the symptoms. E-BCP might possibly be of use against disorders such as osteoporosis and arteriosclerosis. ... > full story
Intestinal Proteins May Be Effective Anti-Tumor Antigens (June 26, 2008) -- Mice immunized with an intestinal protein developed fewer lung and liver metastases following injection with colon cancer cells than unvaccinated animals, according to a study in the June 24 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. ... > full story
Complementary Medicines Can Help Mild Depression And Premenstrual Syndrome, But Report Warns Not All Products Are Harmless (June 26, 2008) -- Many people use "alternative" or complementary products because they see them as a more gentle form of medicine. Not all dietary supplements and 'alternative' products are harmless though; a new report urges consumers to be more critical of health claims. ... > full story
Laser Surgery Probe Targets Individual Cancer Cells (June 26, 2008) -- Mechanical engineers have developed a laser "microscalpel" that destroys a single cell while leaving nearby cells intact, which could improve the precision of surgeries for cancer, epilepsy and other diseases. ... > full story
Food Scientists Confirm Commercial Product Effectively Kills Bacteria In Vegetable Washwater (June 26, 2008) -- Research conducted by food science faculty at the University of Idaho and Washington State University indicate that a commercially available fruit and vegetable wash, when used in a food-manufacturing setting, can dramatically decrease the number of disease-causing organisms in produce-processing washwater. That could reduce by manyfold the potential for cross-contamination within the water by such "gram-negative" bacteria as Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7. ... > full story
Different Type Of Colon Cancer Vaccine Reduces Disease Spread, Scientists Show (June 26, 2008) -- Taking advantage of the fact that the intestines have a separate immune system from the rest of the body, scientists have found a way to immunize mice against the development of metastasis. They have shown that mice immunized with an intestinal protein developed fewer lung and liver metastases after injection with colon cancer cells than did controls. The work may portend the development of a different kind of cancer vaccine that may help prevent recurrence. ... > full story
Women Have Not Adapted To Casual Sex, Research Shows (June 26, 2008) -- The sexual and feminist revolutions were supposed to free women to enjoy casual sex just as men always had. The negative feelings reported by women after one-night stands suggest that they are not well adapted to fleeting sexual encounters. ... > full story
Second Genetic Risk Factor For Late-onset Alzheimer's Disease Found (June 26, 2008) -- Researchers have discovered the second, strong genetic risk factor for developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease, according to a new report in the June 27 issue of the journal Cell. ... > full story
New Invention Effectively Kills Foodborne Pathogens In Minutes (June 26, 2008) -- Researchers have developed an effective technology for reducing contamination of dangerous bacteria on food. The new antimicrobial wash rapidly kills Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 on foods ranging from fragile lettuce to tomatoes, fruits, poultry products and meats. It is made from inexpensive and readily available ingredients that are recognized as safe by the US Food and Drug Administration. ... > full story
New Glaucoma Procedure Aims To Prevent Further Eye Damage (June 26, 2008) -- Patients with glaucoma have a new treatment option known as the Trabectome. The minimally invasive procedure, which is available at Mayo Clinic and takes about 20 minutes, is designed to decrease pressure within the eye and stabilize the vision. ... > full story
Idle Computers Offer Hope To Solve Cancer's Mysteries Through Grid Computing Project (June 26, 2008) -- A biomedical engineering professor is using a concept called "grid computing" to allow the average person to donate idle computer time in a global effort to fight cancer. ... > full story
Neuroscientists Discover A Sense Of Adventure (June 26, 2008) -- Wellcome Trust scientists have identified a key region of the brain which encourages us to be adventurous. The region, located in a primitive area of the brain, is activated when we choose unfamiliar options, suggesting an evolutionary advantage for sampling the unknown. It may also explain why rebranding of familiar products encourages to pick them off the supermarket shelves. ... > full story
New Study Opening New Route For Combating Viruses (June 26, 2008) -- A unique technique for analyzing the function of microRNAs has led to the discovery of a new mechanism by which viruses evade the human immune system. This discovery has important implications for human intervention in the battle between viruses and humans. ... > full story
A Prickly Problem: Hedgehog Signaling In Heart's Blood Vessels (June 26, 2008) -- New data, generated by David Ornitz and colleagues, at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, have indicated a crucial role for signaling pathways that involve the protein sonic hedgehog in maintaining the blood vessels that supply the mouse heart and keep it beating. ... > full story
Viruses Hitch A Ride In The Cell (June 26, 2008) -- Viruses can travel around cells they infect by hitching a ride on a microscopic transport system, according to new research. Cells are exposed to foreign DNA and RNA and it is understood that some of this genetic material can be integrated into the host genome. Using modern microscopic techniques, scientists have been able to see how virus DNA is transported in the cell. ... > full story
Automated Microfluidic Device Reduces Time To Screen Small Organisms For Genetic Studies (June 26, 2008) -- Genetic studies on small organisms such as worms and flies can now be done more quickly using a new microfluidic device. The new "lab-on-a-chip" can automatically position, image, determine the phenotype of and sort small animals, such as the worm Caenorhabditis elegans that is commonly used for biological studies. ... > full story
New Cardiovascular Score Developed To Improve Heart Attack And Stroke Detection (June 26, 2008) -- A new and more accurate method of assessing people at risk from cardiovascular disease is set to improve national diagnosis rates and identify those at risk among black and minority ethnic groups. ... > full story
Cellular Annoyance: Annoying Mobile Communications Abroad (June 26, 2008) -- The results of a multinational survey to be published in the International Journal of Mobile Communications reveals some surprises about cell phone use that have implications for organizations that rely on mobile communications. The study was undertaken by Robert Nickerson and Brenda Mak of San Francisco State University working with Henri Isaac of the University Paris-Dauphine. ... > full story
Hurried Doctor Visits May Leave Patients Feeling Forgetful (June 26, 2008) -- Have you ever been whisked through a doctor's visit, and afterward were unable to remember what the doctor said? A University of Rochester Medical Center study disclosed that doctors don't often take the steps necessary to help patients recall medical instructions. ... > full story
How Ritalin Works In Brain To Boost Cognition, Focus Attention (June 25, 2008) -- Stimulant medications such as Ritalin have been prescribed for decades to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and their popularity as "cognition enhancers" has recently surged among the healthy, as well. ... > full story
Athletes Susceptible To Antibiotic-resistant Staph Infections (June 25, 2008) -- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly referred to as MRSA, is a type of staph that causes infections resistant to a class of common antibiotics that includes methicillin, penicillin, amoxicillin and oxacillin. While MRSA infections were traditionally associated with extended hospital stays, they are now becoming more common in everyday life. In fact, this newer form of MRSA known as community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) can affect otherwise healthy individuals without any recent healthcare-related issues -- raising fears that the infection can strike anyone, anywhere or anytime. ... > full story
Automated MRI Technique Assists In Earlier Alzheimer's Diagnosis (June 25, 2008) -- An automated system for measuring brain tissue with magnetic resonance imaging can help physicians more accurately diagnose Alzheimer's disease at an earlier stage according to a new study. ... > full story
Eczema In Infancy May Be Linked To Cat Ownership In Those With A Specific Gene Mutation (June 25, 2008) -- A gene mutation and cat exposure at birth may increase a child's risk of developing eczema during their first year according to a study in PLoS Medicine. Researchers studied the association between mutations in the filaggrin gene and exposure to environmental factors with the development of eczema. ... > full story
Severe Retinal Hemorrhaging Is Linked To Severe Motor Vehicle Crashes (June 25, 2008) -- The severity of retinal hemorrhaging for young children in motor vehicle crashes is closely correlated to the severity of the crash, according to a new study by researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Retinal hemorrhages occur when the blood vessels lining the retina rupture, resulting in bleeding onto the surface of the retina. ... > full story
Electromagnetic Interference From Some Identification Devices May Pose Hazards To Medical Equipment (June 25, 2008) -- The use of radio frequency identification devices appears to have the potential to cause critical care medical equipment to malfunction, according to a new study. ... > full story
Kids Connect Alcohol Odors With Mom's Emotions (June 25, 2008) -- How children respond to the smell of alcoholic beverages is related to their mothers' reasons for drinking, according to a new study. When asked to choose between the odor of beer and an unpleasant odor, children of mothers classified as 'escape drinkers' were more likely than children of non-escape drinkers to choose the unpleasant odor. Young children dislike beer smell when moms drink to escape. ... > full story
Simple Ultrasound Exam May Predict Osteoporosis Risk (June 25, 2008) -- An ultrasound exam of the heel may be able to predict if a woman is at heightened risk for fractures due to osteoporosis, according to a new multicenter study. ... > full story
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