ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Monday, July 21, 2008
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Childhood Diarrhea: Treat With Zinc Over 6 Months Of Age, Study Suggests (July 21, 2008) -- Zinc supplementation benefits children suffering from diarrhea in developing countries, but only in infants over six months old, Cochrane researchers have found. Their study supports World Health Organization guidelines for the treatment of diarrhea with zinc, although not in the very young. ... > full story
Mind Over Matter In Chronic Disease Treatment (July 21, 2008) -- A new study by sleep psychologists is shedding light on why some people with life-threatening conditions do not adhere to medical treatment, even when "it's for their own good". Psychological factors had a powerful effect on whether people would accept effective medical treatment. ... > full story
How Cells Die Determines Whether Immune System Mounts Response (July 21, 2008) -- Every moment we live, cells in our bodies are dying. One type of cell death activates an immune response while another type doesn't. Now researchers have figured out how some dying cells signal the immune system. The finding eventually could have important implications in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer. ... > full story
Statin Does Not Appear Helpful For Children With Learning Disabilities Caused By Genetic Disorder (July 21, 2008) -- Use of simvastatin by children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a genetic disorder that can cause learning disabilities, did not result in improved cognitive function, according to a new study. ... > full story
Second Life Improves Real-life Social Skills (July 21, 2008) -- Social interaction is enhanced rather than diminished by online interfaces, according to new research on the virtual program Second Life. A new study took an in-depth look at social order in emergent online environments. ... > full story
Regular Walking Protects The Masai -- Who Eat High Fat Diet -- From Cardiovascular Disease (July 20, 2008) -- There is strong evidence that the high consumption of animal fats increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Many scientists have therefore been surprised that the nomadic Masai of Kenya and Tanzania are seldom afflicted by the disease, despite having a diet that is rich in animal fats and deficient in carbohydrates. Now, a unique study suggests that the reason is more likely to be the Masai's active lifestyle. ... > full story
Stomach Bug Appears To Protect Kids From Asthma, Says New Study (July 20, 2008) -- A long-time microbial inhabitant of the human stomach may protect children from developing asthma, according to a new study among more than 7,000 subjects. Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that has co-existed with humans for at least 50,000 years, may lead to peptic ulcers and stomach cancer. Yet, kids between the ages of 3 and 13 are nearly 59 percent less likely to have asthma if they carry the bug, the researchers report. ... > full story
Predicting Outcomes For Stomach Cancer Patients (July 20, 2008) -- Researchers have identified two potential molecular markers that may predict outcomes for patients with stomach cancer, one of the most common and fatal cancers worldwide. ... > full story
Teen Smokers Struggle To Kick The Habit; Most Want To Quit And Can't (July 20, 2008) -- Most teenagers who smoke cigarettes make repeated attempts to quit but most are unsuccessful, according to new research. The study found that more than 70 percent of the teens expressed a desire to quit, but only 19 percent actually managed to stop smoking for 12 months or more by the end of the five-year study. Girls were more likely than boys to want to quit and to attempt quitting. ... > full story
Even Toddlers Get It: Data 'Chunks' Are Easier To Remember (July 20, 2008) -- Which is easier to remember: 4432879960 or 443-297-9960? The latter, of course. Adults seem to know automatically, in fact, that long strings of numbers are more easily recalled when divided into smaller "bite-sized chunks," which is why we break up our telephone and Social Security numbers in this way. Children as young as 14 months can -- and do -- use a "chunking" strategy (akin to breaking up a phone number or Social Security number into small chunks) to assist their working memories. ... > full story
A Potential Metastatic Disease Target? (July 20, 2008) -- Researchers have identified a type of cancer stem cell that might initiate metastatic cancer, which spreads beyond the original, primary tumor site and to other locations within the body. For the first time, scientists have revealed that the molecular profiles of these cancer stem cells are much different than those located in primary tumors. ... > full story
Removing Ovaries During Hysterectomy: Effects Remain Unknown (July 20, 2008) -- During hysterectomy operations, surgeons often remove a woman's ovaries as well as her uterus. Cochrane researchers now say there is no evidence that removing the ovaries provides any additional benefit and warn surgeons to consider the procedure carefully. ... > full story
Risks In Ordering Drugs By Internet On The Rise (July 20, 2008) -- Consumers are facing a growing risk of getting counterfeit drugs because of rising Internet sales of medical drugs, projected to reach upwards of billion by 2010. A new report calls for stronger enforcement legislation than current proposals in Congress. ... > full story
Nature-Nurture Gene Link Sheds New Light On Autism (July 20, 2008) -- Neuroscientists have found that a previously unsuspected set of genes links nature and nurture during a crucial period of brain development. The findings could lead to treatments for autism and other disorders thought to be tied to brain changes that occur when the developing brain is very susceptible to inputs from the outside world. Nature -- in the form of genes -- and nurture -- in the form of environmental influences -- are fundamentally intertwined during this period. ... > full story
Protein Found To Identify Malignant Melanoma (July 20, 2008) -- Researchers found a new protein produced excessively in malignant melanoma, a discovery that is particularly relevant as skin cancer rates climb dramatically among young women. The protein, IMP-3, is not over-expressed in harmless moles but is increased in the most dangerous types of skin cancer, and in a subset of lesions that can be difficult to predict called thin melanomas. ... > full story
Obesity Is Number One Health Concern For Kids In 2008 (July 20, 2008) -- As children's waistlines continue to grow, so have concerns about childhood obesity. According to a new report childhood obesity is now the No. 1 health concern for kids in 2008, topping smoking and drug abuse. In 2007, childhood obesity ranked third among parents' top 10 overall health concerns for kids. ... > full story
Amniotic Fluid Measurements: Single Deepest Pocket Is Best Test Of Fetus At Risk (July 20, 2008) -- Women often undergo early Caesareans or induced labor following detection of decreased amniotic fluid volume, because this is seen as a sign of fetal distress. While no gold standard exists for measuring amniotic volumes, a new Cochrane Systematic Review suggests that the single deepest vertical pocket technique is better than the commonly used amniotic fluid index method. ... > full story
Alzheimer's Early Detection: Biomarkers Identify Early Onset Of Disease, Before Symptoms Appear (July 19, 2008) -- Researchers have confirmed that in the earliest stages of Alzheimer's, levels of specific proteins in the blood and spinal fluid can be used to track the progression of AD, long before symptoms appear. The hope is that, one day, screening for such biomarkers could take their place beside such routine tests as colonoscopies and mammograms as another common tool of preventive medicine. ... > full story
Bullying And Being Bullied Linked To Suicide In Children, Review Of Studies Suggests (July 19, 2008) -- Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have found signs of an apparent connection between bullying, being bullied and suicide in children, according to a new review of studies from 13 countries published in the International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health. ... > full story
Caesarean Section: No Consensus On Best Technique (July 19, 2008) -- Despite the routine delivery of babies by caesarean section, there is no consensus among medical practitioners on which is the best operating method to use. In a systematic review published in the Cochrane Library, researchers call for further studies to establish the safest method for both mother and infant. ... > full story
Cancer Researchers Call For Ethnicity To Be Taken Into Account (July 19, 2008) -- Breast cancer research needs to investigate how a person's ethnicity influences their response to treatment and its outcome, according to a new Comment piece in The Lancet. Emerging evidence suggests that particular drugs may benefit people from one ethnic group more than others, because of differences in their genetic makeup. ... > full story
HIV Conquers Immune System Faster Than Previously Realized (July 19, 2008) -- New research into the earliest events occurring immediately upon infection with HIV-I shows that the virus deals a stunning blow to the immune system earlier than was previously understood. This suggests the window of opportunity for successful intervention may be only a matter of days -- not weeks -- after transmission, as researchers had previously believed. ... > full story
Low-sodium Advice For Asthmatics Should Be Taken With A Grain Of Salt (July 19, 2008) -- Following a low-sodium diet does not appear to have any appreciable impact on asthma control, according to new research. Contrary to past studies -- which have suggested a link between low-sodium diets and improved asthma control -- a new study found no evidence that cutting back on salt helps patients with their symptoms. ... > full story
Improved Culture System For Hepatitis C Virus Infection (July 19, 2008) -- Researchers have developed the first tissue culture of normal, human liver cells that can model infection with the hepatitis C virus and provide a realistic environment to evaluate possible treatments. The novel cell line will allow pharmaceutical companies to effectively test new drug candidates or possible vaccines for the HCV infection, which afflicts about 170 million people worldwide. ... > full story
Research Publications Online: Too Much Of A Good Thing? (July 19, 2008) -- The Internet gives scientists and researchers instant access to an astonishing number of academic journals. So what is the impact of having such a wealth of information at their fingertips? The answer, according to new research, is surprising -- scholars are actually citing fewer papers in their own work, and the papers they do cite tend to be more recent publications. This trend may be limiting the creation of new ideas and theories. ... > full story
Easing Pain And Numbness Associated With Diabetes (July 19, 2008) -- To ease pain and numbness associated with diabetes, scientists are studying a drug previously used for depression to treat peripheral neuropathy. Diabetics often suffer from this condition because of high blood sugar levels that damage nerve cells. ... > full story
Vaccine For Koala Chlamydia Close (July 19, 2008) -- Eighteen female koalas treated with an anti-chlamydia vaccine are showing positive results, giving scientists hope they have an answer to the disease that is threatening the survival of koalas in the wild. ... > full story
New Model Explains Why We Overestimate Our Future Choices (July 19, 2008) -- When people make choices for future consumption, they select a wider variety than when they plan to immediately consume the products. A new study examines the reasons behind this diversification of choices. ... > full story
Discovery Of A New Signaling Mechanism May Lead To Novel Anti-inflammatory Therapy (July 18, 2008) -- A new signaling mechanism used to activate protein kinases that are critical for the body's inflammatory response has been discovered. ... > full story
Tunguska Catastrophe: Evidence Of Acid Rain Supports Meteorite Theory (July 18, 2008) -- The Tunguska catastrophe in 1908 evidently led to high levels of acid rain. This is the conclusion reached by Russian, Italian and German researchers based on the results of analyses of peat profiles taken from the disaster region. In peat samples corresponded to 1908 permafrost boundary they found significantly higher levels of the heavy nitrogen and carbon isotopes 15N and 13C. ... > full story
Mini ECG Gets Heart Attack Rehab Patients Mobile (July 18, 2008) -- Scientists have teamed a mobile phone with a miniature heart monitor and a GPS device in research aimed at tackling the low participation rates of heart patients in cardiac rehabilitation. ... > full story
Students Who Use 'Clickers' Score Better On Physics Tests (July 18, 2008) -- Hand-held electronic devices called clickers are helping college students learn physics, according to a series of research studies. Students who used the devices to answer multiple-choice questions during physics lectures earned final examination scores that were around 10 percent higher -- the equivalent of a full-letter grade -- than students who didn't. ... > full story
People Predict Budgets Better On Annual Basis (July 18, 2008) -- People who made annual budgets were more accurate than those who made monthly ones. They also found that peoples' perception of their budget-making abilities affected the accuracy of the budgets. ... > full story
Genetic Variant Increases Triglyceride Levels In Asian-Americans (July 18, 2008) -- A genetic variant found almost exclusively in individuals of Asian descent increases the risk of elevated plasma triglycerides over four-fold. In fact, all 11 subjects who carried both copies of this rare variant for apolipoprotein A-V had extremely high and dangerous triglyceride levels in their blood. ... > full story
Protein Transports Nutrients Believed To Protect Against Eye Disease (July 18, 2008) -- Scientists have identified the protein responsible for transporting nutrients to the eye that are believed to protect against the development of age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss in elderly Americans. The research sought to illuminate the process by which compounds called lutein and zeaxanthin move from the bloodstream to the eye. ... > full story
Context Is Everything: New Research Uncovers Key To Consumer Preferences (July 18, 2008) -- New research in the Journal of Consumer Research reveals that a product's attractiveness can shift depending on the other choices that are available at the time. The authors demonstrate that if consumers perceive they're choosing the best item from a set of options, they are more likely to feel good enough about choosing the product again next time. ... > full story
Partially Shared Genetic Profile Between Schizophrenia And Bipolar Disorder (July 18, 2008) -- Both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder can be disabling conditions, and both present clinically with significant mood and psychotic symptoms. These two illnesses also share genetic variants that might be involved in the predisposition to both disorders. ... > full story
'Snapshots' Of Eyes Could Serve As Early Warning Of Diabetes (July 18, 2008) -- A new vision screening device, already shown to give an early warning of eye disease, could give doctors and patients a head start on treating diabetes and its vision complications, a new study shows. It captures images of the eye to detect metabolic stress and tissue damage that occur before the first symptoms of disease are evident. ... > full story
Foot Pain? Custom-made Insoles Offer Relief (July 18, 2008) -- Custom-made insoles known as foot orthoses can reduce foot pain caused by arthritis, overly prominent big toe joints and highly arched feet, a new systematic review shows. ... > full story
Tobacco Industry Manipulated Cigarette Menthol Content To Recruit New Smokers Among Young People, Research Shows (July 18, 2008) -- Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health explored tobacco industry manipulation of menthol levels in specific brands and found a deliberate strategy to recruit and addict young smokers by adjusting menthol to create a milder experience for the first time smoker. Internal industry documents, independent lab tests and survey data reveal strategy. ... > full story
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Linked To Brain Activity (July 18, 2008) -- Researchers have discovered that people with OCD and their close family members show under-activation of brain areas responsible for stopping habitual behavior. This is the first time that scientists have associated functional changes in the brain with familial risk for the disorder. ... > full story
Gene Produces Hormones That Lead To Obesity (July 18, 2008) -- Obesity and common weight gain share a genetic basis. Scientists have discovered a new obesity gene that plays an essential role in the maturation of several key hormones that control food intake. Mutations in this gene increase the risk of severe obesity and can lead to excessive weight. ... > full story
Placenta Removal: A Safer Method After Caesareans (July 18, 2008) -- In Caesarean deliveries the placenta is usually removed by hand or by a technique known as 'cord traction'. A recent systematic review by Cochrane researchers shows that cord traction poses less risk to the mother than manual removal. ... > full story
Golf Technique Challenged: When It Comes To Putting, Tiger Might Not Have The Best Advice (July 18, 2008) -- Golfers who heed the advice of instructors to keep their heads perfectly still while putting may be hampering their game, according to a study that examined coordination patterns. The findings run contrary to conventional wisdom, or at least conventional golf wisdom. Using an infrared tracking system, researchers recorded the putter head and the golfer's head during sixty putts. ... > full story
Genetic Cause Of Innate Resistance To HIV/AIDS (July 18, 2008) -- Some people may be naturally resistant to infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. New results bring us closer to a genetic explanation. Two genes are involved in an innate resistance to HIV infection. ... > full story
Resistance To Widely-used Antibiotics Found Among Inhabitants Of Remote South American Villages (July 18, 2008) -- Resistance to ciprofloxacin, a member of one of the most commonly used groups of antibiotics in the world, has been discovered by a team of Canadian researchers among people in remote South American villages who are believed to have never taken this medication. ... > full story
Flexible ECG Patch Extended To Enable Arrhythmia Detection (July 18, 2008) -- Researchers have extended the functionality of the wireless ECG patch for cardiac monitoring. The innovative ECG patch is intended to monitor single-lead ECG in daily-life conditions, opening new perspectives for cardiovascular disease management. ... > full story
Good News For Veggies: Personal Values Deceive Taste Buds (July 18, 2008) -- Many heavy meat eaters believe they eat a lot of meat because of the taste. But according to groundbreaking new research the reason that a beef burger tastes better than a veggie burger to some people has more to do with values than actual taste. ... > full story
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