ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Tuesday, October 7, 2008
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New Test Could Help Catch Serious Infections In Babies (October 7, 2008) -- A new blood test may help detect serious bacterial infections (such as meningitis and bloodstream infections) in infants with fevers that have no clear cause -- and may spare many infants from unnecessary spinal taps and antibiotics, which are typical in routine evaluations. ... > full story
New Catheter-less Technique May Ease The Pain And Discomfort Of Prostate Cancer Recovery (October 7, 2008) -- To ease the pain of recovery following prostate cancer surgery, physician-scientists have developed an innovative and patient-friendly approach that eliminates the use of a penile urinary catheter. The new patentable technique, used in conjunction with robotic prostatectomy -- the surgical removal of the prostate -- eliminates the pain and discomfort associated with the standard catheter. ... > full story
Excluding Inmates From Health Research Thwarts Advancement Of Public Health, Expert Argues (October 7, 2008) -- More and more persons with mental illnesses, addiction disorders, and chronic and infectious diseases receive their medical care in a jail or prison. As of mid-2007, approximately 13 million inmates had been admitted to US jails during the previous 12 months. ... > full story
Landmark Discovery Of 'Engine' That Drives Cell Movement (October 7, 2008) -- How a cell assembles its internal machinery required for cell movement has been revealed for the first time. The discovery is fundamental to the understanding of how a cell responds to its external environment. ... > full story
Battling Cancer, One Cell At A Time (October 7, 2008) -- New research suggests that the identification and examination of key cell signaling events required for initiation and progression of cancer might be best accomplished at the single cell level. The research provides new insight that may lead to better diagnosis and treatment of some complex cancers. ... > full story
Core Needle Breast Biopsy Safe For Patients Taking Blood Thinners (October 7, 2008) -- It is safe to take anticoagulants (blood thinners) before core needle breast biopsies, according to a study performed at the Elizabeth Wende Breast Clinic in Rochester, N.Y. Core needle biopsies are offered as an alternative to surgical biopsy when a tissue sample of an irregular area in the breast is found by mammogram or sonogram. "They are safer than surgical procedures, require fewer anesthetics, and are accurate," according to Patricia Somerville, M.D., lead author of the study. ... > full story
What Happens When We Ask Autistic Persons What Is Wrong With Them? (October 7, 2008) -- To date, few studies have focused on the viewpoints of autistic persons themselves despite an increasing number of published autobiographies. The results of this study suggest that what has been selected as major signs by psychiatric nosography is regarded as manifestations induced by perceptive peculiarities and strong emotional reactions by the autistic persons who expressed themselves. ... > full story
Patients Who Recover From Coma But Cannot Communicate Feel Pain (October 6, 2008) -- Do patients who survive a severe brain injury but fail to recover speech or non-verbal communication perceive pain? After their remarkable publication where they showed that a patient in a vegetative state in reality was conscious, scientists in Belgium were able to tackle the very difficult issue of pain perception in coma survivors. ... > full story
A Little Exercise Goes A Long Way For Severely Obese (October 6, 2008) -- A little exercise goes a long way toward helping severely obese individuals improve their quality of life and complete important daily tasks, according to researchers at the Duke Diet and Fitness Center. ... > full story
Effects Of Disclosing Financial Interests On Participation In Medical Research (October 6, 2008) -- Knowing how an investigator is paid for running a research study surprisingly plays a small role in patients' willingness to take part in clinical trials. However, according to a new study more participants are troubled when they are told that the investigator could profit or lose money depending on the results. ... > full story
Food For Thought: Regulating Energy Supply To The Brain During Fasting (October 6, 2008) -- If the current financial climate has taught us anything, it's that a system where over-borrowing goes unchecked eventually ends in disaster. It turns out this rule applies as much to our bodies as it does to economics. Instead of cash, our body deals in energy borrowed from muscle and given to the brain. ... > full story
New Study Finds Summer Is Peak Season For Diagnosis Of Esophagus Disorder (October 6, 2008) -- Two new studies examine eosinophilic esophagitis, a condition that can mimic symptoms of GERD, in a small proportion of people. The first study finds that the diagnosis of EoE, previously termed "allergic esophagitis," peaked during the summer months. The second analysis reviews a case series of heartburn patients who underwent surgery to treat GERD, but who were found later actually to suffer from EoE. ... > full story
Biophysicists Create New Model For Protein-cholesterol Interactions In Brain And Muscle Tissue (October 6, 2008) -- Using 3,200 computer processors and long-established data on cholesterol, a clearer picture emerges of a protein involved in inflammation, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, addiction and more. ... > full story
Corner Stores Capture Kids On Morning Commute (October 6, 2008) -- Researchers recently examined the eating habits of urban children before and after school as part of a larger project to make corner store snacks healthier. ... > full story
Women Require Less Tobacco Exposure Than Men To Increase Colon Cancer Risk (October 6, 2008) -- While smoking poses a health threat to both men and women, women require less tobacco exposure than men to have a significant increased risk for colorectal cancer, according to new research. In a separate analysis, researchers found smoking may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer precursor lesions, particularly in patients with a strong family history of the disease. ... > full story
Combined Minimally Invasive Procedures Offer New Option For Lumbar Degenerative Scoliosis (October 6, 2008) -- Surgeons have combined three innovative minimally invasive spine surgery procedures to treat spinal curvature in adults, a common consequence of aging. A new article in the Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques is believed to be the first to document the use of these procedures in combination to correct this condition, known as adult lumbar degenerative scoliosis. ... > full story
Obese Diners Choose Convenience And Overeating At Chinese Buffets (October 6, 2008) -- When dining at Chinese buffets, overweight individuals serve themselves and eat differently than normal weight individuals. This may lead them to overeat, according to a recent study. ... > full story
Human Papilloma Virus And Cancer, HIV Discoveries Recognized In 2008 Nobel Prize In Physiology Or Medicine (October 6, 2008) -- The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has awarded The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2008 with one half to Harald zur Hausen for his discovery of human papilloma viruses causing cervical cancer and the other half jointly to Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier for their discovery of human immunodeficiency virus. ... > full story
Smoking And Solid Fuel Use In Homes In China Projected To Cause Millions Of Deaths (October 6, 2008) -- If current levels of smoking and biomass and coal fuel use in homes continues, between 2003 and 2033 there will be an estimated 65 million deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 18 million deaths from lung cancer in China, accounting for 19 percent and 5 percent of all deaths in that country during this period. ... > full story
Near Infrared Nanoparticles Shine A Bright Light On Cancer (October 6, 2008) -- A new imaging method for breast cancer has been developed. More effective early detection of diseases is one of the promises of nanotechnology. Current imaging methods, such as x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging, are limited in the size of tumors they can detect, the depth they can penetrate the body, and by their potential side effects. Another promising imaging technique, near infrared bioimaging, is a noninvasive, painless, and non-ionizing form of radiation that operates at wavelengths just above that of visible light. ... > full story
Major Study Of Preschoolers' Visual Acuity Finds Fault With A Standard Eye Test (October 6, 2008) -- Visual acuity --- the ability to see objects in sharp detail --- was evaluated in 1,504 children aged 30 to 71 months as part of the Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study, the first large, population-based study of eye disorders in preschool children. Researchers found that FPT --- considered the "clinical standard" for testing vision in preverbal children and the only test widely available to eye specialists for this age group --- did not accurately identify the presence or absence of visual acuity problems in this study population. ... > full story
Gun Shows Do Not Increase Homicides Or Suicides, Study Finds (October 6, 2008) -- A new study finds no evidence that gun shows lead to substantial increases in either gun-related homicides or suicides. ... > full story
Disinfectants Can Make Bacteria Resistant To Treatment (October 6, 2008) -- Chemicals used in the environment to kill bacteria could be making them stronger, according to a paper published in the journal Microbiology. Low levels of these chemicals, called biocides, can make the potentially lethal bacterium Staphylococcus aureus remove toxic chemicals from the cell even more efficiently, potentially making it resistant to being killed by some antibiotics. ... > full story
For Insulin Sensitive Overweight Patients, One Session Of Exercise Improves Metabolic Health, New Research Suggests (October 6, 2008) -- Exercise decreases everyone's insulin resistance and therefore reduces the chances of developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes. This study shows that even a single bout of exercise helps obese individuals increase their body's fat-burning rate and improve their metabolic health. ... > full story
Television Viewing And Aggression: Some Alternative Perspectives (October 6, 2008) -- Psychologists investigated the effect that exposure to violent TV programs has on negative behavior in children from different ethnic backgrounds. The results showed a positive relationship between the amount of violent TV watched and negative personality attributes among white males and females and African-American females. ... > full story
Reading Novel Can Help Obese Kids Lose Weight, Study Shows (October 6, 2008) -- It's no secret that reading is beneficial. But can it help kids lose weight? In the first study to look at the impact of literature on obese adolescents, researchers discovered that reading the right type of novel may make a difference. ... > full story
CT Scans Change Treatment Plans In More Than A Quarter Of ER Patients With Suspected Appendicitis (October 6, 2008) -- CT scans change the initial treatment plans of emergency physicians in over a quarter of patients with suspected appendicitis, according to a study performed at the University of Washington Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Wash. ... > full story
Thousands Of Deaf Patients Struggling To Access Basic Health Care (October 6, 2008) -- Thousands of Deaf patients are receiving inadequate healthcare because they are struggling to communicate with healthcare professions, say experts in a new study. ... > full story
Asian-white Couples Face Distinct Pregnancy Risks, Study Finds (October 6, 2008) -- Pregnant women who are part of an Asian-white couple face an increased risk of gestational diabetes as compared with couples in which both partners are white, according to a new study. ... > full story
Toddlers' Focus On Mouths Rather Than On Eyes Is Predictor Of Autism Severity (October 6, 2008) -- Scientists have found that 2-year-olds with autism looked significantly more at the mouths of others, and less at their eyes, than typically developing toddlers. This abnormality predicts the level of disability, according to a study in the Archives of General Psychiatry. ... > full story
Depression Linked To Higher Death Rates From All Causes Among Elderly With Diabetes (October 6, 2008) -- In a large group of Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes, depression was linked with a higher death rate from all causes in a two-year study period. ... > full story
Physician's 'Dashboard' Takes A Measure Of Communication Skills (October 6, 2008) -- Much like a dashboard gives a good read on how your car is doing, researchers hope they'll soon give physicians a better idea of how they are doing with patients. ... > full story
Singing To Females Makes Male Birds' Brains Happy (October 6, 2008) -- The melodious singing of birds has been long appreciated by humans, and has often been thought to reflect a particularly positive emotional state of the singer. Researchers in Japan have now demonstrated that this can be true. When male birds sang to attract females, specific "reward" areas of their brain were strongly activated. ... > full story
Longer-duration Psychotherapy Appears More Beneficial For Treatment Of Complex Mental Disorders (October 6, 2008) -- Psychodynamic psychotherapy lasting for at least a year is effective and superior to shorter-term therapy for patients with complex mental disorders such as personality and chronic mental disorders, according to a meta-analysis published in the Oct. 1 issue of JAMA. ... > full story
New Device Aims To Give Sleep Apnea Sufferers Relief And Rest (October 6, 2008) -- Having a good night's sleep is proving elusive for six percent of the population. They have sleep apnea, which causes them to stop breathing in bouts throughout the night. Now, a researcher at Temple University School of Medicine is studying an experimental device to treat people with positional sleep apnea. ... > full story
Walking Forum Report Shows Need To Expand Physical Activity In Schools (October 6, 2008) -- With childhood obesity expanding to epidemic proportions in the United States, educators, researchers and health practitioners are actively seeking to identify effective means of addressing this public-health crisis. ... > full story
Mental Health Intervention Urged For Heart Patients (October 6, 2008) -- Heart patients are particularly vulnerable to depression and should be screened, and if necessary treated, to improve their recovery and overall health, according to a scientific advisory. ... > full story
Breast Cancer Cells Recycle To Escape Death By Hormonal Therapy (October 5, 2008) -- Many breast cancer cells facing potentially lethal antiestrogen therapy recycle to survive, researchers say. ... > full story
Learning To Shape Your Brain Activity (October 5, 2008) -- A new study shows that the successful manipulation of sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) amplitude by instrumental SMR conditioning (ISC) improved sleep quality as well as declarative learning. ISC might thus be considered a promising nonpharmacological treatment for primary insomnia. ... > full story
Reason For Sickness Absence Can Predict Employee Deaths (October 5, 2008) -- Employees who take long spells of sick leave more than once in three years are at a higher risk of death than their colleagues who take no such absence, particularly if their absence is due to circulatory or psychiatric problems or for surgery, concludes a new study. ... > full story
Advance Offers Revolution In Food Safety Testing (October 5, 2008) -- Microbiologists have developed a new technology to detect illness-causing bacteria -- an advance that could revolutionize the food industry, improving the actual protection to consumers while avoiding the costly waste and massive recalls of products that are suspected of bacterial contamination but are perfectly safe. ... > full story
Proper Use and Care More Important than New Lens Types for Contact Lens Infection Prevention (October 5, 2008) -- Contact lenses are a good alternative to eyeglasses, but are not entirely risk free. Even with today's improved designs, a small but significant number of contact lens wearers develop painful microbial infections of the cornea (microbial keratitis, or MK) that can cause vision loss. ... > full story
Adolescent Insomnia Linked To Depression And Substance Abuse During Adolescence And Young Adulthood (October 5, 2008) -- A new study shows that adolescent insomnia symptoms are associated with depression, suicide ideation and attempts, and the use of alcohol, cannabis and other drugs such as cocaine. ... > full story
Antisocial Behavior May Be Caused By Low Stress Hormone Levels (October 5, 2008) -- A link between reduced levels of the "stress hormone" cortisol and antisocial behavior in male adolescents has been discovered. Levels of cortisol in the body usually increase when people undergo a stressful experience, such as public speaking, sitting an exam, or having surgery. ... > full story
Variations In Key Genes Increase Caucasians’ Risk Of Heroin Addiction (October 5, 2008) -- Sometimes, small changes do add up. In the case of addictive diseases, tiny variations in a few genes can increase or decrease the likelihood of some people developing a dependency on heroin. Now, by examining a select group of genetic variants in more than 400 former severe heroin addicts, Rockefeller University researchers have identified several genetic variations in American and Israeli Caucasians that influence the risk for becoming addicted to one of the world's most powerful substances. ... > full story
Hay Fever May Be Best Treated With Self-adjusted Dosing (October 5, 2008) -- Hay fever, the often seasonal allergy that affects between 10 and 20 percent of the American population, is best controlled through a course of patient-adjusted dosing, according to new research published in the September 2008 edition of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery. ... > full story
Palliative Care Access Varies Widely In U.S., Study Says (October 5, 2008) -- There has been rapid growth of new, innovative palliative care consultation services in the nation's hospitals. More than half of larger hospitals in the US offer palliative care services to ease pain and suffering for seriously ill patients and their families. However, the availability of these services varies widely across geographic regions, according to a new study. ... > full story
Making Metabolism More Inefficient Can Reduce Obesity (October 4, 2008) -- In a discovery that counters prevailing thought, a study in mice has found that inactivating a pair of key genes involved in "fat-burning" can actually increase energy expenditure and help lower diet-induced obesity. ... > full story
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