ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Thursday, July 3, 2008
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New Form Of Energy-Transfer Processes: Atomic Tug Of War (July 3, 2008) -- A new form of energy-transfer processes, reported in Nature may have implications for the study of reactions going on in the atmosphere, and even for those occurring in the body. ... > full story
Pediatric Researchers Find Possible 'Master Switch' Gene In Juvenile Arthritis (July 3, 2008) -- Researchers have found that a gene region known to play a role in some varieties of adult rheumatoid arthritis is also present in all types of childhood arthritis. The researchers say the responsible gene may be a "master switch" that helps turn on the debilitating disease. ... > full story
Protecting Romaine Lettuce From Pathogens (July 3, 2008) -- Knowing the preferences of foodborne pathogens such as Escherichia coli O157:H7 is essential to a successful counterattack on these microbes. That's why microbiologists are scrutinizing the little-understood ability of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica to contaminate romaine lettuce. ... > full story
Benefits Of Green Tea In Reducing An Important Risk Factor For Heart Disease (July 3, 2008) -- More evidence for the beneficial effect of green tea on risk factors for heart disease has emerged in a new study. The study found that the consumption of green tea rapidly improves the function of (endothelial) cells lining the circulatory system; endothelial dysfunction is a key event in the progression of atherosclerosis. ... > full story
Minimum Drinking Age Of 21 Saves Lives, Study Finds (July 3, 2008) -- One of the most comprehensive studies on the minimum drinking age shows that laws aimed at preventing consumption of alcohol by those under 21 have significantly reduced drinking-related fatal car crashes. ... > full story
Being An MRSA Carrier Increases Risk Of Infection And Death (July 3, 2008) -- Patients harboring methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus for long periods of time continue to be at increased risk of MRSA infection and death, according to a new study. ... > full story
Since Introduction Of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy, HIV Death Rate Has Decreased (July 3, 2008) -- In industrialized countries, persons infected sexually with HIV now appear to experience mortality rates similar to those of the general population in the first 5 years following infection, though a higher risk of death remains as the duration of HIV infection lengthens, according to a new study. ... > full story
Erectile Dysfunction Lower In Men Who Have Intercourse More Often (July 3, 2008) -- Having intercourse more often may help prevent the development of erectile dysfunction. Researchers have found that men who had intercourse more often were less likely to develop ED. ... > full story
Eating Broccoli May Keep Prostate Cancer Away, Study Suggests (July 2, 2008) -- For the first time, a research group has provided an explanation of how eating broccoli might reduce cancer risk based upon studies in men, as opposed to trying to extrapolate from animal models. Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer for males in western countries. The research has provided an insight into why eating broccoli can help men stay healthy. ... > full story
Cubing Potatoes Before Boiling Can Reduce Mineral Content By 75% (July 2, 2008) -- The preparation of a potato can have a big impact on its mineral content, Agricultural Research Service scientists report in a new study of this popular vegetable. Baked, roasted, boiled or fried, the potato is America's favorite vegetable. Every year, the average American eats about 130 pounds of potatoes, which are loaded with vitamins and minerals. ... > full story
New Combination Of Tests Measures Child's Ability To Taste And Smell (July 2, 2008) -- Researchers have developed a series of tests that for the first time accurately measure the normality of taste (gustatory function) and smell (olfactory function) in young children. ... > full story
New DNA Weapon Against Avian Flu Identified (July 2, 2008) -- By delivering vaccine via DNA constructed to build antigens against flu, along with a minute electric pulse, researchers have immunized experimental animals against various strains of the virus. This approach could allow for the build up of vaccine reserves that could be easily and effectively dispensed in case of an epidemic. ... > full story
Asthma Risk Increases In Children Treated For HIV (July 2, 2008) -- Children whose immune systems rebound after treatment with potent anti-viral drugs for HIV infection face an increased risk of developing asthma, according to a new report in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. ... > full story
Weekends Slow Weight Loss, Researchers Find (July 2, 2008) -- Saturday can be the worst enemy for our waistlines. Researchers found that study subjects on strict diet and exercise programs tend to lose weight more slowly than expected because they eat more on weekends than during the week. ... > full story
'Hibernation-on-demand' Drug Significantly Improves Survival After Extreme Blood Loss (July 2, 2008) -- For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that the administration of minute amounts of inhaled or intravenous hydrogen sulfide -- the molecule that gives rotten eggs their sulfurous stench -- significantly improves survival from extreme blood loss in rats. The researchers successfully used hydrogen sulfide to induce a state of reversible metabolic hibernation as a way to reduce death from insufficient blood supply to organs and tissues in a rat model of lethal hemorrhage. ... > full story
New Way To Predict Prostate Cancer Spreading (July 2, 2008) -- For men, one of the leading causes of death from cancer is prostate cancer that has spread to a second site (something known as metastatic prostate cancer). Defining the molecular mechanisms by which the initial tumor becomes able to spread to a new site (a process known as metastasis) is likely to help clinicians predict an individual's chance of survival and help researchers develop new therapies. ... > full story
Intuition Can Be Explained (July 2, 2008) -- Intuition, or tacit knowledge, is difficult to measure, so it is often denigrated. A new dissertation in education research shows that there is a neurobiological explanation for how experience-based knowledge is created. "Skate where the puck´s going, not where it´s been" (Wayne Gretsky). ... > full story
Post-exercise Caffeine Helps Muscles Refuel (July 2, 2008) -- Glycogen, the muscle's primary fuel source during exercise, is replenished more rapidly when athletes ingest both carbohydrate and caffeine following exhaustive exercise, new research shows. Athletes who ingested caffeine with carbohydrate had 66 percent more glycogen in their muscles four hours after finishing intense, glycogen-depleting exercise, compared to when they consumed carbohydrate alone, according to the study. ... > full story
Cancer Cells Revert To Normal At Specific Signal Threshold, Researchers Find (July 2, 2008) -- Scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine report that lowering levels of one cancer signal under a specific threshold reverses this process in mice, returning tumor cells to their normal, healthy state. ... > full story
Spiritual Effects Of Hallucinogens Persist, Researchers Report (July 2, 2008) -- In a follow-up to research showing that psilocybin, a substance contained in "sacred mushrooms," produces substantial spiritual effects, scientists report that those beneficial effects appear to last more than a year. ... > full story
Small Protein May Have Big Role In Making More Bone And Less Fat (July 2, 2008) -- A small protein may have a big role in helping you make more bone and less fat, researchers say. People can't take GILZ now, but a long-term goal is to develop a GILZ-like pill that would dramatically reduce fat production. ... > full story
Finding That Could Shed Light On 'Golden Staph,' Candida And Allergies (July 2, 2008) -- Recent scientific findings explain why patients with a rare immunodeficiency disorder are unusually susceptible to certain common infections. By revealing the exact molecular mechanisms involved, they also give us clues as to why some "healthy" people are more prone to these infections than others, and suggest potential treatments. ... > full story
To Sing Like Shakira, Press '1' Now (July 2, 2008) -- Scientists have developed an electronic ear to judge and coach vibrato technique. Vibrato -- the pulsating change of pitch in a singer’s voice -- is an important aspect of a singer’s expression, used extensively by both classical opera singers and pop stars like Shakira. Usually, the quality of a vibrato can only be judged subjectively by voice experts. ... > full story
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
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