ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Friday, October 3, 2008
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Liver Transplant Recipients Almost Three Times More Likely To Develop Cancer (October 3, 2008) -- Cancer incidence is higher among liver transplant recipients in Finland compared to the general population, according to a new study. ... > full story
Breakthrough Optical Technology To Assess Colon Cancer Risk, Accuracy (October 3, 2008) -- Researchers have discovered that fiber optic technology can for the very first time effectively measure blood levels in the colonic lining (mucosa) in humans, thus having potential applications for analyzing risk of colon cancer. The study used fiber optic technology to map microvascular blood content in patients during colonoscopy. The results provide the first indication that the early increase in blood supply is detectable in humans. ... > full story
Rethinking Who Should Be Considered 'Essential' During A Pandemic Flu Outbreak (October 3, 2008) -- Not only are doctors, nurses, and firefighters essential during a severe pandemic influenza outbreak. So, too, are truck drivers, communications personnel, and utility workers. That's the conclusion of a new article to be published in the journal of Biosecurity and Bioterrorism. ... > full story
Role Of Stem Cells In Renewing The Cornea (October 3, 2008) -- New research shows how the cornea uses stem cells to repair itself. Using mouse models they demonstrate that everyday wear and tear on the cornea is repaired from stem cells residing in the corneal epithelium, and that more serious repair jobs require the involvement of other stem cells that migrate from the limbus, a region between the cornea and the conjunctiva, the white part of the eye. ... > full story
Spacing, Not Size, Matters In Visual Recognition, Researchers Find (October 3, 2008) -- You might think that the farthest distance at which you can hold a book and still read it quickly is determined by the size of the letters. However, neuroscientists have concluded that it's the spacing between letters, not their size, that matters. ... > full story
Loss Of The Protein Target Of Lithium Disrupts Normal Mouse Embryonic Heart Development (October 3, 2008) -- One drug used to treat bipolar disorder is lithium, an inhibitor of GSK-3 proteins controversially linked to congenital heart defects. However, new data indicate that mice lacking GSK-3-beta die before birth, mostly at the late stage of embryonic development because of numerous defects in the heart. It is therefore suggested that it might be wise to exercise caution when considering whether to treat women of childbearing age with newer, more powerful GSK-3 inhibitors. ... > full story
Study Shows How Civil War Refugees Cope With The Unknown (October 3, 2008) -- A new study focuses on the experiences of the Sudanese refugees who were separated from their parents during the Sudanese civil war. ... > full story
Chernobyl Fallout? Plutonium Found In Swedish Soil (October 2, 2008) -- More than 20 years later, researchers from Case Western Reserve University traveled to Sweden and Poland to gain insight into the downward migration of Chernobyl-derived radionuclides in the soil. Among the team's findings was the fact that much more plutonium was found in the Swedish soil at a depth that corresponded with the nuclear explosion than that of Poland. ... > full story
Changes In Sex Steroids Associated With Menopause (October 2, 2008) -- A new study shows that the increased rate of follicle stimulating hormone change that occurs during menopause is associated with increased objective sleep duration but poor subjective sleep quality. ... > full story
Acupressure Calms Children Before Surgery (October 2, 2008) -- An acupressure treatment applied to children undergoing anesthesia noticeably lowers their anxiety levels and makes the stress of surgery more calming for them and their families, anesthesiologists have learned. ... > full story
Genes Influence Effectiveness Of Weight-loss Drug (October 2, 2008) -- Obese patients with a specific genetic make-up lose more weight when taking the weight loss drug sibutramine and undergoing behavioral therapy compared to those without this genetic make-up. ... > full story
Presidential Candidates' Health Plans Offer Divergent Approaches To Health System Reform (October 2, 2008) -- A new report from the Commonwealth Fund examines key differences and areas of agreement in the health system reform proposals of presidential candidates Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama. Both plans seek to expand health insurance, but Senator McCain would encourage individuals to select their own coverage through the individual insurance market while Senator Obama would strengthen employer coverage and public programs. ... > full story
When Cells Go Bad: Cells That Avoid Suicide May Become Cancerous (October 2, 2008) -- When a cell's chromosomes lose their ends, the cell usually kills itself to stem the genetic damage. But now biologists have discovered how those cells can evade suicide and start down the path to cancer. The new study of fruit flies is the first to show in animals that losing just one telomere -- the end of a chromosome -- can lead to many abnormalities in a cell's chromosomes. ... > full story
Jog To The Beat: Music Increases Exercise Endurance By 15% (October 2, 2008) -- New research reveals strong link between music and cardiovascular exercise performance. ... > full story
Research Suggests Doctors Should Consider Kidney-sparing Surgery (October 2, 2008) -- A study of almost 1,500 kidney cancer patients treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center suggests that surgery to spare as much kidney tissue as possible may improve overall survival in patients who also have reduced kidney function at the time their cancer is diagnosed. The finding is significant because both kidney cancer and decreased kidney function appear to be increasing. ... > full story
Nanoparticles Used To Deliver Treatment For Brain, Spinal Cord Injuries (October 2, 2008) -- Researchers have developed a method of using nanoparticles to deliver treatments to injured brain and spinal cord cells. Scientists coated silica nanoparticles with a polymer to target and repair injured guinea pig spinal cords. They then used the coated nanoparticles to deliver both the polymer and hydralazine to cells with secondary damage from a naturally produced toxin. ... > full story
Eureka! How Distractions Facilitate Creative Problem-solving (October 2, 2008) -- According to psychologists, distractions may be helpful in coming up with creative solutions to a certain problem, but must be followed by a period of conscious thought to ensure that we are aware of those solutions and can apply them. Likewise, while distractions are more useful in solving difficult problems, it may be better to stay focused on finding the solution when confronted with easier problems. ... > full story
MRI Spots Early Breast Cancer In Mice (October 2, 2008) -- A new magnetic resonance imaging procedure can detect very early breast cancer in mice, including ductal carcinoma in situ, a precursor to invasive cancer. Some of the tumors detected were less than 300 microns in diameter, the smallest cancers ever detected by MRI. ... > full story
3-D CT Scans Lead To More Successful Treatment Of Varicose Veins In The Lower Extremities (October 2, 2008) -- 3-D CT scans provide a more comprehensive view of complex varicose veins (one of the most common diseases in the world) in the lower extremities, according to a study performed at the Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, Republic of Korea. This technique aids surgeons to more effectively treat varicose veins. ... > full story
Vitamin C Supplements May Reduce Benefit From Wide Range Of Anti-cancer Drugs (October 2, 2008) -- In pre-clinical studies, vitamin C appears to substantially reduce the effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs, say researchers. ... > full story
Cells Coordinate Gene Activity With FM Bursts, Scientists Find (October 2, 2008) -- How a cell achieves the coordinated control of a number of genes at the same time has long puzzled scientists. Researchers have discovered a surprising answer. Just as human engineers control devices ranging from dimmer switches to retrorockets using frequency modulated signals, cells tune the expression of groups of genes using discrete bursts of activation. ... > full story
Colon Cancer: Researchers Take Important Steps Forward In Understanding Cause (October 2, 2008) -- Scientists investigating a molecule known to play a key role in causing colon cancer have made a series of ground-breaking discoveries that could have major implications for future treatment of the disease. ... > full story
Driving Fatalities Surge On US Presidential Election Days (October 2, 2008) -- Researchers have found an increased risk of fatal motor vehicle crashes on United States presidential election days. ... > full story
Groundbreaking Discovery May Lead To Stronger Antibiotics (October 2, 2008) -- The last decade has seen a dramatic decline in the effectiveness of antibiotics, resulting in a mounting public health crisis across the world. A new breakthrough provides physicians and patients a potential new approach toward the creation of less resistant and more effective antibiotics. ... > full story
Changing Dosing, Administration Of Anthrax Vaccine Reduces Side Effects (October 2, 2008) -- Reducing the number of doses of an anthrax vaccine and changing its administration to intramuscular injection resulted in comparable measures of effectiveness but with fewer adverse events, according to a study in the Oct. 1 issue of JAMA. ... > full story
Strict Societies May Foster Violent Drinking Cultures (October 2, 2008) -- Countries with strict social rules and behavioral etiquette such as the United Kingdom may foster drinking cultures characterized by unruly or bad behavior, according to a new report on alcohol and violence. ... > full story
HIV/AIDS Pandemic Began Around 1900, Earlier Than Previously Thought; Urbanization In Africa Marked Outbreak (October 2, 2008) -- Painstaking reconstruction of viral DNA and RNA sequences from decades-old tissue samples is beginning to yield a clearer picture of HIV's evolutionary history from its beginnings. ... > full story
New Genes Linked To Gout (October 2, 2008) -- Researchers have identified two new genes -- and confirmed the role of a third gene -- associated with increased risk of higher levels of uric acid in the blood, which can lead to gout, a common, painful form of arthritis. Combined, the three genetic variations were associated with up to a 40-fold increased risk in developing gout. ... > full story
HIV Drug Maraviroc Effective For Drug-resistant Patients (October 2, 2008) -- As many as one quarter of HIV patients have drug resistance, limiting their treatment options and raising their risk for AIDS and death. Now, maraviroc, the first of a new class of HIV drugs called CCR5 receptor antagonists, has been shown to be effective over 48 weeks for drug-resistant patients with R5 HIV-1, a variation of the virus found in more than half of HIV-infected patients. ... > full story
Getting Help For Depression And Anxiety Has Significant Long-term Benefits (October 2, 2008) -- Researchers have recently studied the long term effects of taking antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications. They found people who were not using antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications were three times more likely to be suffering from depression or anxiety 10 years later. ... > full story
Specific Gene Found In Adolescent Men With Delinquent Peers (October 2, 2008) -- Birds of a feather flock together, according to the old adage, and adolescent males who possess a certain type of variation in a specific gene are more likely to flock to delinquent peers, according to a landmark study. ... > full story
Saliva Proteins Could Help Detection Of Oral Cancer (October 2, 2008) -- Clinicians could detect oral squamous cell carcinoma, a form of oral cancer, using a simple test that detects proteins in saliva, according to a report in the Oct. 1, 2008, issue of Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. This work was led by David T. Wong, D.M.D., D.M.Sc., professor and associate dean for research, at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry. ... > full story
Physical Therapists Say Appropriate Exercise Can Help Prevent ACL Injuries In Female Athletes (October 2, 2008) -- The American Physical Therapy Association is urging female athletes -- particularly soccer players -- to consider a new warm-up program to help lower their growing risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. ... > full story
Society's Lack Of Knowledge Of Food Allergies Can Greatly Impact Those Afflicted With Food Allergies (October 2, 2008) -- Society's lack of knowledge of food allergies can greatly impact those afflicted with food allergies. ... > full story
Hormone Replacement Therapy And Heart Attack Risk: Danish Study Provides New Information (October 2, 2008) -- The largest study to look at the effects of hormone replacement therapy after the Women's Health Initiative was stopped early, has shown there is no overall increased risk of heart attacks for women taking HRT. However, the risk varies depending on the age of the women and the method used for taking HRT. ... > full story
Don't Forget The Vitamin A When Working With Its Carrier Protein (October 2, 2008) -- In a recent study, researchers discovered that not only was the carrier protein for vitamin A, retinol-binding protein (RBP), elevated in obese individuals compared to leaner controls, but some of it was not attached to vitamin A. This is called apo-RBP by vitamin A scientists. Further research is needed to determine whether this RBP is bound to some other compound in the circulation. ... > full story
News Media Often Do Not Report Potential Sources Of Bias In Medical Research (October 2, 2008) -- An analysis of news media coverage of medical studies indicates that news articles often fail to report pharmaceutical company funding and frequently refer to medications by their brand names, both potential sources of bias, according to a study in the Oct. 1 issue of JAMA. ... > full story
'Hub' Of Fear Memory Formation Identified In Brain Cells (October 1, 2008) -- A protein required for the earliest steps in embryonic development also plays a key role in solidifying fear memories in the brains of adult animals, scientists have revealed. An apparent "hub" for changes in the connections between brain cells, beta-catenin could be a potential target for drugs to enhance or interfere with memory formation. ... > full story
During Exercise, Human Brain Shifts Into High Gear On 'Alternative Energy' (October 1, 2008) -- The brain, just like muscles, works harder during strenuous exercise and is fueled by lactate, rather than glucose. This helps explain why the brain is able to work properly when the body's demands for fuel and oxygen are highest. It also goes a step further to show that the brain shifts into a higher gear in terms of activity. ... > full story
New Way To Make Malaria Medicine Also First Step In Finding New Antibiotics (October 1, 2008) -- Microbiologists have developed a way to mass-produce an antimalarial compound, potentially making the treatment of malaria less expensive. ... > full story
Occupational Therapy Gets People With Osteoarthritis Moving (October 1, 2008) -- An occupational therapist-led approach -- called activity strategy training -- could provide patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis the opportunity to lead more active lives and even improve their overall health, according to a new study. ... > full story
Restless Nights Put Older Adults At Risk For Depression Recurrence (October 1, 2008) -- Poor sleep among the elderly is common, but it may also be a precursor of the first signs of depression. ... > full story
Disease Diagnosis In Just 15 Minutes? Biosensor Technology Uses Antibodies To Detect Biomarkers Much Faster (October 1, 2008) -- Testing for diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis could soon be as simple as using a pregnancy testing kit. Scientists have developed a biosensor technology that uses antibodies to detect biomarkers -- molecules in the human body which are often a marker for disease -- much faster than current testing methods. ... > full story
Colon Cancer Link To Obesity Uncovered (October 1, 2008) -- It has already been proven that obesity is influenced by genetics, and colon cancer is influenced by genetics. A new study makes a three-way scientific connection between genetic variation, obesity and colon cancer risk. ... > full story
Baseball: Head-first Slide Is Quicker (October 1, 2008) -- With baseball playoffs heating up and the World Series right around the corner, it's guaranteed that fans will see daring slides, both feet-first and head-first, and even slides on bang-bang plays at first. Who gets there faster, the head-first slider or the feet-first? The heads first player, says an engineering professor and big-time baseball fan. It's a matter of the player's center of gravity. ... > full story
Surgical Treatment Provides New Option For Some Colorectal Cancer Patients (October 1, 2008) -- A surgical technique not traditionally used in advanced abdominal cancer may be a viable treatment option for some patients previously thought to be untreatable, offering the real possibility of extending survival for those patients. ... > full story
Reversible 3D Cell Culture Gel Invented (October 1, 2008) -- A unique user-friendly gel that can liquefy on demand, with the potential to revolutionize three-dimensional cell culture for medical research, has been invented. ... > full story
Gender Is A Relative Term In Politics, Study Finds (October 1, 2008) -- For only the second time in presidential debate history, a female nominee will take the stage to spar with a male opponent. A revealing study has found that male and female candidates, when debating head-to-head, actually adopt each other's traditional communication styles. ... > full story
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