ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Tuesday, July 22, 2008
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Insulin-producing Cells Can Give Rise To Stem-like Cells In-vitro (July 22, 2008) -- The question of whether insulin-producing cells of the pancreas can regenerate is key to our understanding of diabetes. Now scientists have concluded that they can. Researchers have shown in vitro that insulin-producing β-cells (beta cells) can return to a more primitive developmental state called stem-like cells. ... > full story
Cancer Drug Resistance: Enzyme Expression Levels Correlated With Chemotherapy Drug Response (July 22, 2008) -- Why do cancer patients develop resistance to chemotherapy drugs, sometimes abruptly, after a period in which the drugs seem to be working well to reduce tumors or hold them in check? Although largely a mystery to scientists, the result when this occurs is all too familiar: patients relapse and in many cases die when their cancers become resistant. ... > full story
Intelligent Computational Model Of The Descriptive Grammar Of The Spanish Language (July 22, 2008) -- Researchers have developed an intelligent computational model of the descriptive grammar of the Spanish language. This opens up new possibilities for the computational representation of languages and natural language processing applications. ... > full story
Using Magenetic Nanoparticles To Combat Cancer (July 22, 2008) -- Scientists have developed a potential new treatment against cancer that attaches magnetic nanoparticles to cancer cells, allowing them to be captured and carried out of the body. The treatment has been tested in the laboratory and will now be looked at in survival studies. ... > full story
Averting Postsurgical Infections In Kids: Give Antibiotics Within Hour Before First Incision, Study Suggests (July 22, 2008) -- Giving children preventive antibiotics within one hour before they undergo spinal surgery greatly reduces the risk for serious infections after the surgery, suggests a study to be published in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. ... > full story
Why Cannabis Stems Inflammation (July 22, 2008) -- Cannabis has long been accredited with anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers, however, have now discovered that it is not only the familiar psychoactive substances that are responsible for this; a compound we take in every day in vegetable nutriment also plays a significant role. ... > full story
D-cycloserine May Improve Behavioral Therapy Treatment For Anxiety (July 22, 2008) -- Anxiety is a normal human response to stress, but in some, it can develop into a disabling disorder of excessive and irrational fears, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Effective treatments are available and can involve either behavioral therapy or medications. ... > full story
Coffee And Cigarette Consumption Are High Among AA Attendees (July 22, 2008) -- More than one million Americans currently participate in the Alcoholics Anonymous program. Recent findings confirm that coffee and cigarette use among AA members is greater than among the general US population. Most AA members drink coffee for its stimulatory effects; more than half smoke to reduce feelings of depression, anxiety and irritability. ... > full story
Scientists Create Touch-based Illusion: Mind Trick Yields New Insights On Perception (July 21, 2008) -- Anyone who has seen an optical illusion can recall the quirky moment when you realize that the image being perceived is different from objective reality. Now, scientists have designed a new illusion involving the sense of touch, which is helping to glean new insights into perception and how different senses -- such as touch and sight -- work together. ... > full story
Understanding How Neurons Communicate May Help Treat Brain Disorders (July 21, 2008) -- Scientists have learned important details illustrating how neuronal cells in the brain communicate at a microcellular level. Such knowledge may help in the development of drug compounds used to treat disorders caused by malfunctions in communication between brain cells, such as schizophrenia, epilepsy, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story
Guidelines Highlight Key Differences Between Child And Adult Stroke (July 21, 2008) -- This is the first guidance on stroke in children from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke risk, symptoms and treatment in children are different from those in adults. The clot-busting drug t-PA is not generally recommended for treating children, especially newborns. ... > full story
Elderly Falls Cut By 11 Percent With Education And Intervention (July 21, 2008) -- Commonly viewed as an inevitable consequence of aging and often ignored in clinical practice, falls among the elderly were cut by 11 percent when researchers at Yale School of Medicine used a combination of fall prevention educational campaigns and interventions aimed at encouraging clinicians to incorporate fall-risk assessment and management into their practices. ... > full story
Breakthrough In Fight Against Deadly Superbug: Early Detection Method Greatly Increases Chances Of Survival (July 21, 2008) -- Scientists have made a major breakthrough in the fight against a deadly hospital infection which kills tens of thousands of people every year, and it will be available within the next year. Researchers have discovered a technique that can identify the superbug within 24-48 hours of infection, greatly increasing a patient's chances of survival. ... > full story
Calcium May Be The Key To Understanding Alzheimer's Disease (July 21, 2008) -- Researchers have shown that mutations in two proteins associated with familial Alzheimer's disease disrupt the flow of calcium ions within neurons. The two proteins, called PS1 and PS2 (presenilin 1 and 2), interact with a calcium release channel in an intracellular cell compartment. ... > full story
Too Much, Too Little Sleep Increases Ischemic Risk In Postmenopausal Women (July 21, 2008) -- Sleeping nine hours or more a night significantly increases the risk for ischemic stroke among post menopausal women. Sleeping less than 6 hours showed a modest increase risk of stroke, but was reported by twice as many women. The findings cannot be applied to other groups. ... > full story
Heart Attack Not A Death Sentence (July 21, 2008) -- Survivors of cardiac arrest who received intensive care can expect long-term quality of life at reasonable expense to the health care system. The allocation of resources to the treatment of heart attack patients is equally as justified as the treatment of other intensive care patient groups. ... > full story
Killer Kevlar: Clothing That Shields From Germs (July 21, 2008) -- Protective clothing worn by firemen and other emergency workers may soon get a germ-fighting upgrade. Researchers in South Dakota report progress toward the first Kevlar fabrics that can kill a wide range of infectious agents, including bacteria, viruses, and the spores that cause anthrax. ... > full story
New Approach To Cancer: Find Most Tightly Controlled Genes (July 21, 2008) -- Scientists have found a new way to study cancer that could be very useful for developing targeted therapies against tumors and possibly many other diseases. A data analysis revealed which genes are most tightly controlled in the cancerous tissues studied, yielding a new class of genes, in which only slight changes could affect gene function to elicit a sizable effect on a tumor. ... > full story
Novel Computational Model Describes The Speed At Which HIV Escapes The Immune Response (July 21, 2008) -- A new model illustrates how HIV evades the immune system. The study, in PLoS Computational Biology, incorporates detailed interactions between a mutating virus and the immune system. ... > full story
How A Simple Mathematic Formula Is Starting To Explain The Bizarre Prevalence Of Altruism In Society (July 21, 2008) -- Why do humans cooperate in things as diverse as environment conservation or the creation of fairer societies, even when they don't receive anything in exchange or, worst, they might even be penalized? This is a question that has puzzled academics for centuries, especially since in evolution the basis for the "survival of the fittest" is, after all, selfishness. ... > full story
Protein Linked To Bone Marrow Failure In Humans Found Through Study Of Dark-skinned Mice (July 21, 2008) -- The study of dark-skinned mice has led to a surprising finding about a common protein involved in tumor suppression. The results may lead to new treatments for bone marrow failure in humans. ... > full story
Virulence Factor That Induces Fatal Candida Infection Identified (July 21, 2008) -- Singapore scientists found that certain substances from bacteria living in the human intestine cause the normally harmless Candida albicans fungus to become highly infectious. Once in the infectious form, the fungus is able to invade surrounding tissues and escape destruction by the body's own immune cells. ... > full story
Wii-habilitation: Using Video Games To Heal Burns (July 21, 2008) -- Video games — often regarded as nothing more than mindless entertainment for lethargic kids and teens — are proving to be an effective, new tool to motivate patients to perform rehabilitation exercises. The Burn Center is also employing a special add-on to the Nintendo Wii system, Guitar Hero III. ... > full story
Researchers Grow Human Blood Vessels In Mice From Adult Progenitor Cells (July 21, 2008) -- For the first time, researchers have grown in mice functioning human blood vessels from cells obtained from adult blood and bone marrow. This research could eventually lead to treatments for heart attack, acute injuries, wound healing and may facilitate growing new organs. ... > full story
New Protocol Streamlines Therapy That Makes More Kidney Transplants Possible (July 21, 2008) -- A new therapy improves transplant rates and outcomes for patients awaiting living- and deceased-donor kidney transplantation. The therapy may provide an option for many patients "sensitized" to transplant antigens (human leukocyte antigens, or HLA) who previously would not have been candidates for transplantation because of their intense immune response to these HLA targets. ... > full story
Loud Music Can Make You Drink More, In Less Time, In A Bar (July 21, 2008) -- Commercial venues are very aware of the effects that the environment -- in this case, music -- can have on in-store traffic flow, sales volumes, product choices and consumer time spent in the immediate vicinity. A study of the effects of music levels on drinking in a bar setting has found that loud music leads to more drinking in less time. ... > full story
Rapid Alzheimer's Improvement After New Immune-based Treatment (July 21, 2008) -- Alzheimer's patients showed rapid improvement in language within minutes of a novel immune-based treatment. A new article provides preliminary evidence that the disrupted neural communication seen in Alzheimer's disease may be reversible. ... > full story
First Human Use Of New Device To Make Arrhythmia Treatment Safer (July 21, 2008) -- The first person in the world has been successfully treated with a new device designed to make it safer and easier for heart specialists to create a hole in the cardiac atrial septum. The hole, created by the NRGTM Transseptal Needle, allows cardiac catheters to cross from the right side of the heart to the left side. ... > full story
Eyewitnesses May Misidentify Perpetrator Of A Crime Due To Stress Or Fear (July 21, 2008) -- A new study highlights the fragility of eyewitness identification used within the criminal justice system. The study shows that stress and fear reduce the likelihood of successful identification, bringing into question a victim's ability to identify the perpetrator of a crime. ... > full story
New Technique Gets To The Root Of Cancer (July 21, 2008) -- In two complementary studies, scientists have developed a new method for reconstructing a cell's 'family tree,' and have applied this technique to trace the history of the development of cancer. So far, the scientists have been able to calculate the age of the tumor and characterize its growth pattern. The scientists believe cell lineage studies of cancer can eventually lead us to the root of cancer. ... > full story
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
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