ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Wednesday, October 22, 2008
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On The Trail Of A Targeted Therapy For Blood Cancers (October 22, 2008) -- Researchers are examining a family of blood proteins that they hope holds a key to decreasing the toxic effects of chemotherapy in children and adults. Their findings may one day help in the development of targeted therapies for leukemia, multiple myeloma and other cancers of the blood. ... > full story
How Neuronal Activity Leads To Alzheimer's Protein Cleavage (October 22, 2008) -- Amyloid precursor protein, whose cleavage product, amyloid-b, builds up into fibrous plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients, jumps from one specialized membrane microdomain to another to be cleaved, according to a new report in the Journal of Cell Biology. ... > full story
Out Of Mesopotamia: Evolutionary History Of Tuberculosis (October 22, 2008) -- The evolutionary timing and spread of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), one of the most successful groups of bacterial pathogens, remains largely unknown. Using mycobacterial tandem repeat sequences as genetic markers, scientists show that the MTBC consists of two independent clades, one composed exclusively of M. tuberculosis lineages from humans and the other composed of both animal and human isolates. ... > full story
Creating Unique Health ID Numbers Would Improve Health Care Quality, Efficiency, Study Claims (October 22, 2008) -- Creating a unique patient identification number for every person in the United States would facilitate a reduction in medical errors, simplify the use of electronic medical records, increase overall efficiency and help protect patient privacy, according to a new study. Although the cost of such a system could reach billion, the effort would likely return even more in benefits to the nation's health care system. ... > full story
Can Exercise Prevent A Severe Stroke? (October 22, 2008) -- A new study shows that people who are physically active before suffering a stroke may have less severe problems as a result and recover better compared to those who did not exercise before having a stroke. The research is published in the journal Neurology. ... > full story
Pandemic Flu Models Help Determine Food Distribution And School Closing Strategies (October 22, 2008) -- Pandemic flu models can help organizations improve their food distribution and school closing strategies in the event of such an emergency. The models are flexible so that multiple scenarios can be investigated to see which options meet an organization's specific goal. ... > full story
Embolic Neuroprotection System Reduces Risk Of Cardiac Events, Study Reveals (October 22, 2008) -- New research shows a low number of strokes and cardiac events in patients who had stents implanted utilizing a new embolic neuroprotection system during carotid stenting with commercial stents. ... > full story
Vaccine Type That Holds Promise In Protecting Against TB Identified (October 21, 2008) -- A recombinant vaccine against tuberculosis shows promise, researchers find. The investigational vaccine for TB appears likely to offer significantly better protection against the potentially fatal disease than the one in current use. ... > full story
Potential New Way To Make A Good Anti-leukemia Drug Even Better (October 21, 2008) -- A recently identified cancer-causing protein makes the anti-leukemia drug imatinib, less effective. By blocking the protein, researchers were able to slow the spread of leukemia cells in culture. The study, which will appear in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, suggests that the most effective treatment for leukemia may rely on a combination of targeted drugs, rather than a single miracle drug. ... > full story
Effect Of Gamma Waves On Cognitive And Language Skills In Children (October 21, 2008) -- Gamma wave activity in the brains of children provide a window into their cognitive development, and could open the way for more effective intervention for those likely to experience language problems. ... > full story
Beta-blocker Use Linked To Risks Of Death And Heart Attack After Surgery, Study Suggests (October 21, 2008) -- Some patients who received beta-blockers before and around the time of undergoing non-cardiac surgery appear to have higher rates of heart attack and death within 30 days of their surgery, according to a new report. ... > full story
Non-AIDS Deaths In People With HIV Linked To Inflammation And Coagulation, Study Suggests (October 21, 2008) -- In an analysis of deaths occurring during a large international trial of treatments for HIV-positive patients, researchers have found a strong association between markers of inflammation and coagulation and increased risk of death from non-AIDS diseases, including cardiovascular problems. ... > full story
The Nose Knows: Two Fixation Points Needed For Face Recognition (October 21, 2008) -- Many of us are bad at remembering names but we are very quick to point out that at least we never forget a face. Never mind recognizing a familiar face -- how is it that we recognize faces at all? ... > full story
Man's Best Friend Recruited In Hunt For Disease Genes (October 21, 2008) -- For centuries man has had a uniquely close relationship with dogs -- as a working animal, for security and, perhaps most importantly, for companionship. Now, dogs are taking on a new role -- they are helping in the hunt for genetic mutations that lead to diseases in humans. ... > full story
Low-carb Diets Alter Glucose Formation By The Liver (October 21, 2008) -- A new study shows that a low-carbohydrate diet changes hepatic energy metabolism. When carbohydrates are restricted, the liver relies more on substances like lactate and amino acids to form glucose, instead of glycerol. ... > full story
Respiratory Rhythms Can Help Predict Insomnia (October 21, 2008) -- The breathing and heart rates and cortisol levels of women with metastatic breast cancer can be used to predict if they'll suffer from chronic insomnia and sleep disruptions, a common complaint from patients who want to maintain their quality of life, according to a new study. ... > full story
Group Bragging Betrays Insecurity, Study Shows (October 21, 2008) -- Groups that boast, gloat and denigrate outsiders tend to be of low social status or vulnerable to threats from other groups, research shows. ... > full story
Do Cell Phones Increase Brain Cancer Risk? (October 21, 2008) -- Major research initiatives are needed immediately to assess the possibility that using cellular phones may lead to an increased risk of brain tumors, according to an editorial the journal Surgical Neurology. ... > full story
Innovations Improve Accuracy Of MRI As Internal 'Thermometer'; Technique Can Enhance Cancer Therapy (October 21, 2008) -- Chemists say they have developed a new way to measure temperature changes inside the body with unprecedented precision by correcting a subtle error in the original theory underlying magnetic resonance imaging. ... > full story
Voters In Battleground States More Ambivalent About Presidential Candidates (October 21, 2008) -- Heavy advertising by both Democratic and Republican presidential candidates may actually make voters in battleground states more confused about which candidate to vote for, a new study suggests. A nationwide study found that voters in heavily contested states like Florida and Ohio become more ambivalent when they are exposed to a lot of opposing messages from the two candidates. ... > full story
Drug-embedded Microparticles Bolster Heart Function In Animal Studies (October 21, 2008) -- Tiny polymer beads embedded with anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce damage to the heart when injected into rats' hearts after a simulated heart attack. The beads (average size: 1/50 of a millimeter wide) are made of a "polyketal" material that breaks down over a few weeks in the body. Because polyketals are less inherently inflammatory than other biodegradable polymers, they could be used to treat several inflammatory diseases. ... > full story
New Study Claims Acne Is Not Associated With Yet-Uncultured Bacteria (October 21, 2008) -- In a new study researchers from Aarhus University, Denmark found bacteria in the follicles of acne patients and healthy individuals to be those of previously known species, disputing the theory that acne is caused by some yet-to-be-identified bacteria. ... > full story
Role Of Fatty Acids In Alzheimer's Disease Identified (October 21, 2008) -- Scientists have found that complete or partial removal of an enzyme that regulates fatty acid levels improves cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. A large-scale analysis of brain lipids identifies a potential therapeutic strategy. ... > full story
Best Treatment Determined For Childhood Eye Problem, Study Suggests (October 21, 2008) -- A nine-site study has helped determine the best of three currently-used treatments for convergence insufficiency in children. Convergence refers to the natural ability of the eyes to focus and align while viewing objects up close. ... > full story
Hypertension Disparity Linked To Environment (October 21, 2008) -- Social environment may play a greater role in the disparity between the numbers of African-Americans living with hypertension compared to non-Hispanic whites with the disease. A new study found that the disparity was substantially reduced when comparing groups of African Americans and non-Hispanic whites living in similar social environments. ... > full story
Scientists Create 'World's Most Relaxing Room' (October 21, 2008) -- Psychologists have designed and constructed a large-scale multi-media space that aims to calm even the most stressed out of minds. ... > full story
New Hope For A Better Treatment For Childhood Cancer (October 21, 2008) -- Children who are diagnosed with cancer could benefit from better diagnosis and treatment in the future, thanks to a new research project. ... > full story
Toxoplasma Parasite's Family Tree Traced (October 21, 2008) -- Scientists are tracing the family tree of Toxoplasma gondii, one of the most widespread parasites of warm-blooded vertebrates. Understanding how T. gondii has evolved and disseminated will help parasitologists and public health officials improve methods for controlling the parasite in humans and animals. ... > full story
Integrating Antiretroviral Therapy With TB Treatment For Co-infections Reduces Mortality By 55% (October 21, 2008) -- A South African treatment study shows that mortality among TB-HIV co-infected patients can be reduced by a remarkable 55 percent, if antiretroviral therapy is provided with TB treatment at the same time. ... > full story
Swamping Bad Cells With Good In ALS Animal Models Helps Sustain Breathing (October 20, 2008) -- In a disease like ALS -- one that's always fatal and that has a long history of research-resistant biology -- finding a proof of principle in animal models is significant. ... > full story
Blood Flow Reversal System Used During Carotid Stenting Is Both Safe And Effective, Study Shows (October 20, 2008) -- Results of a study on an embolic protection system during carotid stenting that uses a novel blood flow reversal system were reported during the 20th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics scientific symposium. ... > full story
'Junk' DNA May Have Important Role In Gene Regulation (October 20, 2008) -- For about 15 years, scientists have known that certain "junk" DNA -- repetitive DNA segments previously thought to have no function -- could evolve into exons, which are the building blocks for protein-coding genes in higher organisms like animals and plants. Now, there is evidence that a significant number of exons created from junk DNA seem to play a role in gene regulation. The findings increase understanding of how humans differ from other animals. ... > full story
Spinning Natural Proteins Into Fabrics For New Wound-repair Products (October 20, 2008) -- Scientists in Israel are reporting the first successful spinning of a key natural protein into strong nano-sized fibers about 1/50,000th the width of a human hair. The advance could lead to a new generation of stronger, longer-lasting biocompatible sutures and bandages to treat wounds. ... > full story
Enlarged Prostates: Choice Of Treatment Needs Careful Consideration (October 20, 2008) -- In the last few years, the treatment options for prostate problems have expanded. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care has assessed new treatments and warns that some new surgical techniques are being heavily promoted without first having been adequately evaluated. ... > full story
Catching Smugglers With Technology To Detect Guilt (October 20, 2008) -- Researchers are looking to increase security at border controls by developing a computer system that can detect guilt. ... > full story
Achilles Heel Of Common Childhood Tumor Identified (October 20, 2008) -- Researchers have, for the first time, found a mechanism for the rapid growth of the benign blood vessel tumor known as infantile hemangiomas, the most common tumor found in children. The findings implicate gene mutations that facilitate the abnormal activity of a hormone called VEGF, and suggest that anti-VEGF therapies -- already approved for other conditions -- may be an effective treatment. ... > full story
LEDs May Help Reduce Skin Wrinkles (October 20, 2008) -- Researchers in Germany are describing a potential alternative to Botox and cosmetic surgery for easing facial wrinkles. Their study reports that high intensity visible light from light emitting diodes (LEDs) applied daily for several weeks resulted in "rejuvenated skin, reduced wrinkle levels, juvenile complexion and lasting resilience." LEDs are the miniature lights used in an array of products, from TV remote controls to traffic lights. ... > full story
Potential Treatment To Prevent Diabetes And Obesity Using Interleukin-6 (October 20, 2008) -- A molecule called interleukin-6 has opened new doors for the creation of new drugs against obesity and diabetes. ... > full story
Kidney Donation Web Sites Raise Ethical Concerns (October 20, 2008) -- Some patients do not have access living donors who are both willing and medically eligible to give them a kidney. As a result, some are now turning to websites that attempt to match people in need of transplantation with those who want to donate a kidney, so-called "Good Samaritan" donors. ... > full story
New Method May Rapidly And Effectively Detect Significant Food-Borne Pathogen (October 20, 2008) -- Researchers from Sweden and Finland have developed a rapid and specific method that may detect the bacterium Yersinia enterocolitica, a common cause of gastric illness, in food. ... > full story
Varying Combinations Of Antiviral Drugs May Effectively Treat Chronic Hepatitis Virus Infection In Woodchucks (October 20, 2008) -- Oral administration of various combined and independent antiviral drug therapies may effectively treat chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in woodchucks, a well-characterized mammalian model for research with human implications, and provide an alternative strategy for managing drug resistance. ... > full story
New Natural Products Act Against Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria (October 20, 2008) -- A group of antibiotic natural products points to a new mode of action against pathogenic bacteria. Isolated from myxobacteria, the substances prevent an enzyme of the pathogens from being able to translate their genetic material. ... > full story
See What I See: Machines With Mental Muscle (October 20, 2008) -- The way we use and interact with machines is undergoing a profound change as computers are programmed to learn from experience and see more how we see. European research into machine learning is pushing back the boundaries of computer capabilities. ... > full story
Gene Mutation Protects Against Obesity And Diabetes (October 20, 2008) -- Scientists have identified a natural mutation in the Tbc1d1 gene that keeps mice lean and also protects against diabetes despite a high-fat diet. The researchers were thus able to gain a deep insight into the function of the gene. Further clarification of its function would provide a basis for developing new approaches for prevention and treatment, as this gene could also be linked to obesity and diabetes in humans. ... > full story
Worms' Nervous System Shown To Alert Immune System (October 20, 2008) -- The nervous system and the immune system have something in common. Each has evolved to react quickly to environmental cues. Because the nervous system is able to detect some of these cues at a distance, it sometimes can sense trouble earlier than the immune system, which has to wait until the pathogen invades the organism. Now, geneticists have shown that, indeed, the two systems talk to one another. ... > full story
Genes That Control Cell Death Fingered In Age-related Hearing Loss (October 20, 2008) -- Several genes that play a role in how our body's cells normally auto-destruct may play a role in age-related hearing loss, according to new research in a journal devoted to the topic of cell suicide, or programmed cell death. ... > full story
Bird Flu Vaccine Protects People And Pets (October 20, 2008) -- A single vaccine could be used to protect chickens, cats and humans against deadly flu pandemics, according to a new article published in the Journal of General Virology. The vaccine protects birds and mammals against different flu strains and can even be given to birds while they are still in their eggs, allowing the mass vaccination of wild birds. ... > full story
Steroids Aid Recovery From Pneumonia, Researchers Say (October 20, 2008) -- Adding corticosteroids to traditional antimicrobial therapy might help people with pneumonia recover more quickly than with antibiotics alone, scientists have found. ... > full story
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