ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Wednesday, July 2, 2008
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Resuscitation Technique After Brain Injury May Do More Harm Than Good (July 2, 2008) -- The current standard practice of giving infants and children 100 percent oxygen to prevent brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation may actually inflict additional harm, researchers have found. ... > full story
Population-based Approach Needed To Reduce Obesity In United States (July 2, 2008) -- Population-wide approaches are key for preventing obesity. Preventing excess weight gain needs to be easier, more socially acceptable and personally rewarding for the average person. A broad range of policy and environmental change strategies must target the spectrum of influences on food access and intake and physical activity. ... > full story
Violence Declines With Medication Use In Some With Schizophrenia (July 2, 2008) -- Some schizophrenia patients become less prone to violence when taking medication, but those with a history of childhood conduct problems continue to pose a higher risk even with treatment, according to a new study. ... > full story
Life-extending Protein Can Also Have Damaging Effects On Brain Cells (July 2, 2008) -- Proteins widely believed to protect against aging can actually cause oxidative damage in mammalian brain cells, according to a new report in Cell Metabolism. The findings suggest that the proteins can have both proaging and protective functions, depending on the circumstances, the researchers said. ... > full story
Integrins As Receptors Give Insight Into Rotavirus And Diarrhea (July 2, 2008) -- Eleven years ago, scientists discovered the first viral enterotoxin, rotavirus NSP4, a toxic protein that affects the intestines, causing diarrhea. The next step was to find the cellular receptor on intestinal cells through which the enterotoxin interacts to cause diarrhea. ... > full story
Toys And Technology For Rehabilitation In Cerebral Palsy Patients (July 2, 2008) -- What began as a college course project to design therapeutic toys has resulted in the first toys of their kind, designed as therapy for children with cerebral palsy. ... > full story
Flaws Found In Hospital Barcoded Technology May Lead To Errors With Patient Medication (July 1, 2008) -- In the first study of its kind, researchers studied how hospital nurses actually use bar-coded technology that matches the right patient with the right dose of the right medication. The surprising result is that the design and implementation of the technology, which is often relied upon as a "cure-all" for medication administration errors, is flawed, and can increase the probabilities of certain errors. Hospital patients, on average, are subject to one medication administration error a day. ... > full story
Delaying Childbirth Is Associated With Impaired Contraction Of The Uterus And Rising Rates Of Cesarean Section (July 1, 2008) -- Impaired contraction of the uterus (womb) may play a part in the association of advancing maternal age with increased cesarean rates. Researchers analyzed a large Scottish data base to characterize the association between maternal age and outcome of labor, specifically looking at what proportion of the increase in primary cesarean rates could be attributed to changes in maternal age distribution. ... > full story
New 'Everyday Cognition' Scale Tracks How Older Adults Function In Daily Life (July 1, 2008) -- As more adults age into the high-risk period for cognitive impairment, clinicians need simple and reliable methods to identify where they may have problems in everyday life that reveal underlying changes in the brain. A new, carefully validated questionnaire called Everyday Cognition, when filled out by someone who knows an older adult well, can sensitively evaluate the performance of everyday activities that reflect basic mental functioning, according to a report in Neuropsychology. ... > full story
Sunburn Alert: UVB Does More Damage To DNA Than UVA (July 1, 2008) -- As bombs burst in air this July 4, chances are that sunburn will be the red glare that most folks see -- and feel. But unfortunately, even when there is no burn, the effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays can have deadly consequences. Thanks to new research scientists now know why UVB light is more likely to cause skin cancer than UVA light. ... > full story
Experts Examine Challenges Of Split Liver Transplantation (July 1, 2008) -- Can split liver transplantation reliably yield grafts for two adults? Experts consider this question alongside new findings about the procedure. ... > full story
Love Thy Neighbor? States That Lower Drinking Age Hurt Others (July 1, 2008) -- States currently considering reducing the drinking age aren't doing their neighbors any favors. While opponents contend that dropping the minimum legal drinking age from 21 to 18 or 19 will lead to more alcohol-related teen traffic deaths in those affected states, a University of Michigan researcher says that lowering the age requirement will cause fatal crash rates to increase in neighboring states, as well. ... > full story
More Severe Bone Infections, Health Complications In Children Linked To MRSA, Researchers Find (July 1, 2008) -- The emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus as a major pathogen has led to more complications and longer hospital stays for children with acute bone infections. ... > full story
Shiitake Mushrooms May Improve Human Immune Function, Especially If Grown On Old Oak Logs (July 1, 2008) -- Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) mushrooms are good for you--and shiitake byproducts can be good for other crops. These mushrooms contain high-molecular-weight polysaccharides (HMWP), which some studies suggest may improve human immune function. ... > full story
Scientists Unravel Early Infectious Process Of Respiratory Pathogen And Bioterrorism Agent (July 1, 2008) -- Scientists have identified a cell type believed to play a role in controlling the early infectious process against Francisella tularensis, a respiratory pathogen and bioterrorism agent that is the cause of tularemia. The findings are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. ... > full story
Researchers Link Early Stem Cell Mutation To Autism (July 1, 2008) -- In a breakthrough scientific study, scientists have shown that neural stem cell development may be linked to Autism. The study demonstrated that mice lacking the myocyte enhancer factor 2C protein in neural stem cells had smaller brains, fewer nerve cells and showed behaviors similar to those seen in humans with a form of autism known as Rett syndrome. ... > full story
Spray Reduces Pain In Children Undergoing Intravenous Procedures (July 1, 2008) -- A topical spray reduced pain by 34 percent in children undergoing intravenous procedures, such as injections and tube insertions, compared with a placebo group. The findings from this double-blind, randomized controlled trial have clinical implications. ... > full story
The Perils Of Overconfidence (July 1, 2008) -- Overestimating one's abilities can have hazardous consequences. Research has backed up this notion but with one glaring problem: it relies on participants to give accurate reports of their own confidence. ... > full story
Low Levels Of Good Cholesterol Linked To Memory Loss, Dementia Risk (July 1, 2008) -- Low levels of good cholesterol are associated with diminished memory by age 60. Researchers encourage physicians to monitor levels of good cholesterol. ... > full story
New Electrostatic-based DNA Microarray Technique Could Revolutionize Medical Diagnostics (July 1, 2008) -- Researchers have invented a technique in which DNA assays -- the key to personalized medicine -- can be read and evaluated with no need of elaborate chemical labeling or sophisticated instrumentation. Based on electrostatic repulsion that yields images visible to the naked eye, the technique could revolutionize the use of DNA microarrays for both research and diagnostics. ... > full story
Migraine Mutations Reveal Clues To Biological Basis Of Disorder (July 1, 2008) -- By studying a rare, inherited form of migraine, researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have found clues to the biological basis of the painful, debilitating disorder. ... > full story
Despite Frustrations, Americans Are Pretty Darned Happy (July 1, 2008) -- We're number 16 ... in world happiness. Feel the joy. The United States ranks ahead of more than 80 countries, but below 15 others in happiness levels, according to new World Values Survey data released in the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science. ... > full story
New Map IDs The Core Of The Human Brain (July 1, 2008) -- Researchers have created the first complete high-resolution map of how millions of neural fibers in the human cerebral cortex connect and communicate. Their groundbreaking work identified a single network core, or hub, that may be key to the workings of both hemispheres of the brain. ... > full story
Bacterial Resistance Is Futile Against Wound-cleaning Laser (July 1, 2008) -- A laser-activated antimicrobial offers hope for new treatments of bacterial infections, even those that are resistant to current drugs. A new dye, indocyanine green, produces bacteria-killing chemicals when lit by a specific kind of laser light. ... > full story
Watermelon May Have Viagra-effect (July 1, 2008) -- A cold slice of watermelon has long been a Fourth of July holiday staple. But according to recent studies, the juicy fruit may be better suited for Valentine’s Day. That’s because scientists say watermelon has ingredients that deliver Viagra-like effects to the body’s blood vessels and may even increase libido. ... > full story
Fatty Liver Disease May Raise Heart Disease Risk In Overweight, Obese Kids (July 1, 2008) -- Pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) raises cardiovascular risk in overweight and obese children. More than 6 million children in the United States have the fatty liver disease. NAFLD is most prevalent in children and adolescents of Hispanic and Asian ethnicity. Researchers suggest all obese children and those with symptoms of metabolic syndrome be screened for NAFLD. ... > full story
United States Has Highest Level Of Illegal Cocaine And Cannabis Use (July 1, 2008) -- A survey of 17 countries has found that despite its punitive drug policies the United States has the highest levels of illegal cocaine and cannabis use. Cannabis use was highest in the US (42.4%). Drug use "does not appear to be simply related to drug policy," say the authors, "since countries with more stringent policies towards illegal drug use did not have lower levels of such drug use than countries with more liberal policies." In the Netherlands, for example, which has more liberal policies than the US, 19.8% reported cannabis use. ... > full story
Adult Stem Cells Reprogrammed In Their Natural Environment (July 1, 2008) -- In recent years, stem cell researchers have become very adept at manipulating the fate of adult stem cells cultured in the lab. Now, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies achieved the same feat with adult neural stem cells still in place in the brain. They successfully coaxed mouse brain stem cells bound to join the neuronal network to differentiate into support cells instead. ... > full story
Poor Diet During Pregnancy May Have Long Term Impact On Child's Health, Study Suggests (July 1, 2008) -- Mothers who eat an unhealthy diet during pregnancy may be putting their children at risk of developing long term, irreversible health issues including obesity, raised levels of cholesterol and blood sugar, according to new research. The study, carried out in rats, suggests that the effect is even more pronounced in female offspring. ... > full story
Prebiotic Potential Of Almonds (July 1, 2008) -- Researchers have identified potential prebiotic properties in almonds that could help improve our digestive health by increasing levels of beneficial gut bacteria. ... > full story
Multiple Vaccinations Have Not Caused Ill Health In UK Soldiers In Iraq (July 1, 2008) -- Multiple vaccinations have not been a cause of ill health in UK service personnel deployed to Iraq, according to a new study. The report says "recall bias" is to blame, when people link a perception of ill health with their memory of having had multiple vaccinations. ... > full story
Achieving Top Grades In Science Subjects More Difficult, Research Shows (July 1, 2008) -- Schoolchildren in the UK studying science and technology subjects like maths, physics and chemistry find it much harder to achieve the top exam grades than candidates of similar ability studying subjects like media studies and psychology, according to a new report. ... > full story
Antiretroviral Therapy As HIV Prevention Strategy (July 1, 2008) -- The widespread use of highly active antiretroviral therapy may reduce the incidence of HIV in individuals and populations but has been overlooked by public health as a prevention strategy. ... > full story
Neuronal Correlates Of The Set-size Effect In Monkey Lateral Intraparietal Area (July 1, 2008) -- It is well known that the brain is limited in the amount of sensory information it can process at any given time. During an everyday task such as finding an object in a cluttered environment (known as visual search), observers take longer to find a target as the number of distractors increases. Scientists now show how a higher-order parietal area relates to attention and eye movements. ... > full story
Stillbirths, Infant Deaths Lead To Anxiety, Guilt And Stress Among Obstetricians (July 1, 2008) -- Nearly one in 10 obstetricians in a new study has considered giving up obstetric practice because of the emotional toll of stillbirths and infant deaths. Three-quarters of the 804 obstetricians who responded to a survey reported that the experience took a large emotional toll on them personally. ... > full story
Fortified Cassava Could Provide A Day's Nutrition In A Single Meal (June 30, 2008) -- Scientists have determined how to fortify the cassava plant, a staple root crop in many developing countries, with enough vitamins, minerals and protein to provide the poor and malnourished with a day's worth of nutrition in a single meal. The researchers have further engineered the cassava plant so it can resist the crop's most damaging viral threats and are refining methods to reduce cyanogens, substances that yield poisonous cyanide if they are not properly removed from the food before consumption. ... > full story
Zinc Finger Proteins Put Personalized HIV Therapy Within Reach (June 30, 2008) -- Researchers are using minute, naturally occurring proteins called zinc fingers to engineer T-cells to one day treat AIDS in humans. Using the zinc fingers, scientists have shown that they could reduce the viral load of immune-deficient mice transplanted with engineered T cells. ... > full story
Limit Sucrose As Painkiller For Newborns (June 30, 2008) -- Using sucrose to reduce pain in newborns undergoing painful procedures should be limited to babies having blood taken for the newborn screening test but not for intramuscular injections, according to new research findings. ... > full story
How Does Language Exist In The Brain? (June 30, 2008) -- Despite much research on acquisition of languages amongst monolingual persons, scientists still have to ask themselves basic questions about bilingual acquisition: How do babies realize that they are in a bilingual environment? What are the clues for them in discovering this? How is discrimination between languages produced in infants? The aim of new research is to find out how the brain acquires and manages languages and to discover in what way languages being similar or different is influential in this process. ... > full story
Tongue Drive System Lets Persons With Disabilities Operate Powered Wheelchairs, Computers (June 30, 2008) -- A new assistive technology allows individuals with disabilities to operate a computer, control a powered wheelchair and interact with their environments simply by moving their tongues. The Tongue Drive system, developed by engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology, could help individuals with severe disabilities lead more independent lives. ... > full story
Proteins Could Relate To Increased Longevity In Women (June 30, 2008) -- Scientists in Spain and Italy have identified a group of proteins in laboratory rats that could help explain two enduring medical mysteries -- why women live longer than men and why calorie restriction stands as the only proven method of extending longevity. ... > full story
Single Mechanism For Hypertension, Insulin Resistance And Immune Suppression (June 30, 2008) -- By counteracting the underlying molecular mechanism for high blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat, researchers found not only how that ailment and others arise in mammals, but also how the conditions may be treated simultaneously. ... > full story
Silencing Of Molecular 'Conversation' May Help Curb Severe Allergies (June 30, 2008) -- Scientists have identified a process, a synergistic encounter between two molecules, that may account for the extreme allergic reactions some people experience. By silencing at least one of these molecules, it may be possible to treat allergies. ... > full story
Breaking The Pattern: How Motivation Plays A Role In Getting Healthy (June 30, 2008) -- People fall into a pattern. They start out with the best intentions and do well for a little while ... but then fall back into old habits. It's a classic health trap: two steps forward, three steps back. People end up feeling bad about themselves. Moreover, the two-steps-forward-three-steps-back dance ends up increasing the health problems the behavioral changes were supposed to address in the first place. ... > full story
New Oral Angiogenesis Inhibitor Offers Potential Nontoxic Therapy For A Wide Range Of Cancers (June 30, 2008) -- The first oral, broad-spectrum angiogenesis inhibitor, specially formulated through nanotechnology, shows promising anticancer results in mice, report researchers from Children's Hospital Boston. ... > full story
Cellular Self-eating Promotes Pancreatitis (June 30, 2008) -- To survive tough times, cells sometimes resort to a form of self-cannibalism called autophagy. But autophagy can have a down side, destroying the pancreas by prematurely activating a digestive enzyme. ... > full story
Heavy Birthweight Increases Risk Of Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis (June 30, 2008) -- People who have a birthweight over 10 pounds are twice as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis when they are adults compared to individuals born with an average birthweight, according to a new study. While the mechanism for this association is unclear, the study identifies a potentially modifiable risk factor and highlights a potential way to decrease the incidence of the disease. ... > full story
Doubling Of Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Over-45s In Under A Decade (June 30, 2008) -- Rates of sexually transmitted infections have doubled among the over-45s in less than a decade, reveals new research in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections. ... > full story
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