ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Friday, July 11, 2008
Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.
Scientists Predict New Uses For Existing Drugs From Their Side Effects (July 11, 2008) -- Researchers have discovered a new way to make use of drugs' unwanted side effects. They developed a computational method that compares how similar the side effects of different drugs are and predicts how likely the drugs act on the same target molecule. The study, published in Science, hints at new uses of marketed drugs. ... > full story
Ultraviolet Light Therapy Is As Beneficial For Darker Skin As Lighter Skin, Study Shows (July 11, 2008) -- An analysis of more than 100 patients has confirmed for the first time that darker-skinned patients benefit as those with lighter skin when given light therapy for morphea and related diseases, researchers show. ... > full story
Art Therapy Useful To Treat Mental Disease (July 11, 2008) -- Art therapy or therapy through art, a current started in the middle of the 20th century, uses visual arts with therapeutic purposes. It is based on the idea that visual representations, objectified through plastic material, contribute to the construction of a meaning of the psychic conflicts, and favour its resolution. ... > full story
Retina Transplants Show Promise In Patients With Retinal Degeneration (July 11, 2008) -- Preliminary research shows encouraging results with transplantation of retinal cells in patients with blindness caused by retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration, according to a new report. The new experimental technique yields improved vision in 7 of 10 patients. ... > full story
New Insight Into Development Of Congenital Circulatory Defects (July 11, 2008) -- Researchers could provide new insight into how two common congenital circulatory problems -- aortic arch deformity and arteriovenous malformations -- develop in humans, as reported in the journal Developmental Biology. ... > full story
Control Switches Found For Immune Cells That Fight Cancer, Viral Infection (July 11, 2008) -- Medical science may be a significant step closer to climbing into the driver's seat of an important class of immune cells, researchers report in Nature Immunology. The researchers showed that a single protein, HS1, enables key functions of natural killer (NK) cells, which kill early cancers and fight off viral infections. ... > full story
Weight Gain In Adolescent Girls: Role Of Internet, Alcohol And Sleep (July 11, 2008) -- Girls moving through adolescence may experience unhealthy levels of weight gain, but the reasons for this are not always clear. In fact, many potential causes of weight gain are easily overlooked. A new study in the Journal of Pediatrics analyzes the effect of Internet usage, sleep, and alcohol and coffee consumption on weight gain in adolescent girls. The researchers found that more Internet time, more alcohol consumption, and less sleep resulted in extra weight gain during the study year. ... > full story
Benefits Of Aspirin For Treating Osteoporosis Uncovered (July 10, 2008) -- Researchers have uncovered the health benefits of aspirin in the fight against osteoporosis. The drug appears to prevent both improper bone resorption and the death of bone-forming stem cells. ... > full story
Self-moisturizing Contact Lenses, Naturally (July 10, 2008) -- Chemical engineering researchers have shown that a common fluid found in our bodies can be used as a natural moisturizing agent in contact lenses. ... > full story
Single-nucleotide Polymorphisms Do Not Substantially Improve Risk Prediction For Breast Cancer (July 10, 2008) -- Recently identified genetic markers, called single nucleotide polymorphisms, that are associated with a small but statistically significant increase in the risk of breast cancer do not appear to substantially improve the accuracy of existing models that use clinical factors to predict an individual's risk, according to a new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. ... > full story
Money Makes The Heart Grow Less Fond... But More Hardworking (July 10, 2008) -- Money is a necessity: it provides us with material objects that are important for survival and for entertainment, and it is often used as a reward. But recent studies have shown that money is not only a device for gaining wealth, but a factor in personal performance, interpersonal relations and helping behavior, as well. ... > full story
Novel Approach May Protect Against Heart Attack Injury (July 10, 2008) -- Researchers have manipulated cell activity that occurs during the interruption of blood flow to strongly protect heart tissue in animal studies. The finding has the potential to become an emergency treatment for heart attack patients, particularly since already existing drugs might be pressed into service to produce the protective effects. ... > full story
New Surgical Option For Treating Diabetic And Other Neuropathies Being Tested (July 10, 2008) -- Plastic surgeons and specialists in diabetes, neurology, pain management and rehabilitation are launching a cutting-edge study of peripheral nerve surgery to alleviate long-standing pain and numbness in patients with diabetic neuropathy. ... > full story
Researchers Hack Final Part Of The Immune System Code (July 10, 2008) -- Researchers have managed to decipher the final part of the immune system's key codes. The human body has its own natural inbuilt defense mechanism which uses access or “pincodes” to stop microorganisms that invade the body from discovering how the entire human immune system works. Every human being on the planet has their own unique version of this defense mechanism. ... > full story
Men And Women With History Of Concussion Mend Differently, Study Finds (July 10, 2008) -- Female soccer players and soccer players who have had a previous concussion recuperate differently from males or players without a history of concussion, new research shows. The study found that prior history of concussion and gender account for significant differences in test results following the injury. Because of these differences, the authors urge physicians and coaches to take an individualized approach to treating concussion patients. ... > full story
Diabetes Linked To Male Infertility; Excess Sugars In The Body Have Direct Effect On Sperm Quality (July 10, 2008) -- Diabetes in men has a direct effect on fertility, a scientist told the 24th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Despite the prevailing view that it had little effect on male reproductive function, researchers have now shown that diabetes caused DNA damage in sperm. ... > full story
How The Malaria Parasite Hijacks Human Red Blood Cells (July 10, 2008) -- A new study -- done on a scale an order of magnitude greater than anything previously attempted in the field of malaria -- has uncovered an arsenal of proteins produced by the malaria parasite that allows it to hijack and remodel human red blood cells, leaving the oxygen-carrying cells stiff and sticky. ... > full story
Good News About Gas? Fewer Traffic Deaths (July 10, 2008) -- An analysis of yearly vehicle deaths compared to gas prices found death rates drop significantly as people slow down and drive less. If gas remains at a gallon or higher for a year or more, traffic fatalities could drop by more than 1,000 per month nationwide, according new findings. ... > full story
New Drug Reverses Alzheimer's Disease Within Days In Mouse Models (July 10, 2008) -- Scientists report a remarkable improvement in Alzheimer's transgenic mice following treatment with a new drug. The study provides the first demonstration that an ionophore, a compound that transports metal ions across cell membranes, can elicit rapid and pronounced improvement in neuropathology and cognitive function in mouse models of Alzheimer's Disease. ... > full story
Popular Fish, Tilapia, Contains Potentially Dangerous Fatty Acid Combination (July 10, 2008) -- Farm-raised tilapia, one of the most highly consumed fish in America, has very low levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and, perhaps worse, very high levels of omega-6 fatty acids, according to new research. The researchers say the combination could be a potentially dangerous food source for some patients with heart disease, arthritis, asthma and other allergic and auto-immune diseases that are particularly vulnerable to an "exaggerated inflammatory response." ... > full story
Some Drugs Increase Risk Of Falling (July 10, 2008) -- Researchers have created a list of prescription drugs that increase the risk of falling for patients aged 65 and older who take four or more medications on a regular basis. ... > full story
Why Musicians Make Us Weep And Computers Don't (July 10, 2008) -- Music can soothe the savage breast much better if played by musicians rather than clever computers, according to a new study. Neuroscientists looked at the brain's response to piano sonatas played either by a computer or a musician and found that, while the computerized music elicited an emotional response -- particularly to unexpected chord changes - it was not as strong as listening to the same piece played by a professional pianist. ... > full story
Slowing Aging Is Way To Fight Diseases In 21st Century (July 10, 2008) -- A group of aging experts report that the best strategy for preventing and fighting a multitude of diseases is to focus on slowing the biological processes of aging. ... > full story
Coping With ‘Chemo Brain’ (July 10, 2008) -- While Maria Lyzen was being treated for breast cancer, she found she couldn't concentrate or decipher information, and just functioning day-to-day at home was difficult. "I didn't know if it was a reaction to the trauma of being told that I had breast cancer. I was in my late 50's -- was it the beginning of an aging symptom? Or was it the drugs that I was getting in terms of my chemotherapy? My doctor ordered a brain scan, and there was nothing unusual there, and I said, 'But there is something wrong with me,'" Lyzen says. ... > full story
Size Of A Woman's Uterus Can Predict Whether She Is At Risk Of Having Very Premature Twins After IVF (July 10, 2008) -- Using ultrasound to measure the height of a woman's uterus is a good way to predict whether or not she is at risk of having babies born prematurely if she becomes pregnant with twins after IVF, according to new research presented at the 24th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Barcelona. ... > full story
Protein Marker For Schizophrenia Risk (July 10, 2008) -- A protein found in immune cells may be a reliable marker for schizophrenia risk, report researchers in a new proteomics study. Schizophrenia is a severe and complex psychiatric illness that affects about 1% of the population. ... > full story
Laser Could Change The Face Of Corneal Transplant Surgery (July 10, 2008) -- Faster recovery times and better visual outcomes are among the early results of a corneal transplant new pilot study. The study uses ultrafast or femtosecond laser to perform full thickness corneal transplants. ... > full story
Embryo Biopsy Does Not Affect Early Growth And Risk Of Congenital Malformations In PGD/PGS Babies (July 10, 2008) -- A study of 70 singleton babies born after preimplantation genetic diagnosis and screening has shown that the procedure does not adversely affect their early growth and risk of congenital malformations, according to new research. ... > full story
Breast Asymmetry After Cancer Treatment Affects Quality Of Life, Study Finds (July 10, 2008) -- Nearly one-third of women reported pronounced asymmetry between their breasts after breast cancer surgery, and that perceived disfigurement greatly affects a woman's quality of life after treatment, according to a new study by researchers. A poor aesthetic outcome after lumpectomy is linked to depression and fear. ... > full story
Lowering Blood Cholesterol With Fish Oil And Red Yeast Rice Instead Of Statins (July 10, 2008) -- Researchers have examined whether an alternative approach to treating high blood cholesterol may provide an effective treatment option for patients who are unable or unwilling to take statins. The researchers noted that there was a reduction in LDL cholesterol levels in both the statin group and the fish oil alternative treatment group. Members of the alternative therapy group also had a substantial reduction in triglycerides, another form of fat found in the blood, and lost more weight. ... > full story
How Can We Overcome The Barriers To Treating Drug-resistant TB? (July 10, 2008) -- Almost 1 in 20 cases of tuberculosis worldwide is resistant to multiple drugs (known as multidrug-resistant TB or MDR-TB) and the World Health Organization has called for a massive scale up in public health efforts to tackle these cases. Now a group of MDR-TB experts outlines its recommendations on conducting research that would help in the scale up. ... > full story
Avatars As Communicators Of Emotions (July 10, 2008) -- Current interactive systems enable users to communicate with computers in many ways, but not taking into account emotional communication. A Ph.D. thesis puts forward the use of avatars or virtual Internet personages as an efficient form of non-verbal communication, principally focusing on emotional aspects. ... > full story
Long-term Care Fraught With Uncertainties For Elderly Baby Boomers (July 10, 2008) -- The continued decline of the nursing home -- once the mainstay care for the frail elderly -- and an upsurge in popularity of assisted living will lead to many dramatic changes in long-term care. ... > full story
Liver Protein Associated With Type 2 Diabetes In Older Adults (July 10, 2008) -- The presence of a protein expressed by the liver which inhibits insulin action may identify individuals more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, according to a new study. ... > full story
Birth Attendant And Maternal Hand-washing Associated With Reduced Newborn Death Rate (July 10, 2008) -- Washing hands with soap and water before delivering a newborn infant is associated with a lower rate of neonatal deaths in developing countries, according to a report in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. ... > full story
Low Back Pain Recovery Slow; And Worse For Those On Compensation (July 10, 2008) -- Contrary to current guidelines and common belief, new research has shown that recovery from low back pain is much slower than previously thought and even slower again for those with a compensable injury. ... > full story
Human Embryonic Stem Cells Developed From Four-cell Embryo; World First May Lessen Ethical Concerns (July 9, 2008) -- For the first time in the world scientists have succeeded in developing human embryonic stem cells from a single cell, or blastomere, of a 4-cell stage embryo. The scientists said that their research meant that it might be possible in the future to produce hESC lines at an earlier stage without destroying the embryo. ... > full story
Protein On 'Speed' Linked To ADHD (July 9, 2008) -- A genetic change in the dopamine transporter, discovered in two brothers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, makes it behave as if amphetamine is present and "run backward," Vanderbilt Medical Center investigators report. The researchers propose that because the altered transporter pushes dopamine out into the synapse, it alters dopamine signaling and contributes to the symptoms of ADHD. They further find that both Ritalin and Adderall, two ADHD medications, block the backward-running transporter. ... > full story
In Spain, 6 Of Every 100 Patients Die In Hospital Due To Adverse Drug Reaction, Study Suggests (July 9, 2008) -- A new study in Spain determined that six of every 100 patients who die in hospital do so as a consequence of an adverse drug reaction or, in other words, a fatal reaction to medicines. A adverse drug reaction to medicines (ADR) has been defined as any harmful and unwanted effect of a drug, at doses used for prophylaxis, diagnose or treatment. ... > full story
Higher Education Associated With Greater Gains In Mortality Reduction From Common Cancers (July 9, 2008) -- Deaths due to the four most common cancers have dropped substantially in the US from 1993 to 2001 in working-aged individuals. However, not all Americans are equally likely to benefit from those gains. More educated individuals had mortality reductions in nearly all four cancers, while less educated individuals had a mortality reduction in only one cancer type. ... > full story
Do We Think That Machines Can Think? (July 9, 2008) -- When our PC goes on strike again we tend to curse it as if it was a human. The question is why and under what circumstances do we attribute human-like properties to machines and how are such processes manifest on a cortical level. ... > full story
Obese Men Have Less Semen, More Sperm Abnormalities (July 9, 2008) -- Obese men should consider losing weight if they want to have children. New research has shown that men with a higher body mass index had lower volumes of seminal fluid and a higher proportion of abnormal sperm. ... > full story
Vaginal Microbicides May Prevent More Infections In Men Than Women (July 9, 2008) -- Vaginal microbicides currently in clinical trials may be the only weapon that will protect women against infection from HIV. Yet, under likely circumstances, these microbicides may be of more benefit to men than women, according to a new UCLA AIDS Institute study. ... > full story
Brain Chemical Shown To Induce Both Desire And Dread (July 9, 2008) -- The chemical dopamine induces both desire and dread, according to new animal research in the Journal of Neuroscience. Although dopamine is well known to motivate animals and people to seek positive rewards, the study indicates that it also can promote negative feelings like fear. The finding may help explain why dopamine dysfunction is implicated not only in drug addiction, which involves excessive desire, but in schizophrenia and some phobias, which involve excessive fear. ... > full story
Aerosol Toxins From Red Tides May Cause Long-term Health Threat (July 9, 2008) -- An algal toxin commonly inhaled in sea spray, attacks and damages DNA in the lungs of laboratory rats. The findings document how the body's way of disposing the toxin inadvertently converts it to a molecule that damages DNA. Human inhalation of brevetoxins produced by the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, is an increasing public health concern. ... > full story
Trans-fatty Acids Do Not Appear To Increase The Risk Of Diabetes (July 9, 2008) -- Dietary research in rats suggests that trans-fats do not increase the risk of insulin resistance and diabetes, which may ease at least one area of health concern for these compounds. ... > full story
Novel Ways To Boost Vaccination Or Natural Defenses (July 9, 2008) -- Our bodies rely on the production of potent, or 'high affinity,' antibodies to fight infection. The process is very complex, yet scientists have discovered that it hinges on a single molecule, a growth factor, without which it cannot function. ... > full story
Disruption Of Blood Sugar Levels After Heart Surgery Is Common (July 9, 2008) -- Inadequate blood sugar control in patients having heart surgery is associated with a four fold increase in post-surgery death and major complications -- and the blood sugar disturbances occur in patients with and without diabetes. ... > full story
Copyright 1995-2008 © ScienceDaily LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of use.
|
 To update/change your account click here  |
No comments:
Post a Comment