ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Wednesday, December 3, 2008
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Why We Remember Important Things And Forget Trivia: Neuron's Synapses Remodel Themselves (December 3, 2008) -- Where would we be without our ability to remember important information or, for that matter, to forget irrelevant details? Thanks to the flexibility of the nerve cell's communication units, called synapses, we are good at both. Up to now, only the receiving side of a synapse was believed to play an active role in this reorganization of the brain, which is thought to underlie our ability to learn but also to forget. An incorrect assumption, as scientists can now show. ... > full story
Vaccine Against Multiple Sclerosis? Mouse Experiment Yields Promising Results (December 3, 2008) -- Researchers in Germany have succeeded in vaccinating mice with specially treated, autologous immune cells and preventing them from developing encephalitis, which is similar to multiple sclerosis in humans. ... > full story
Bone Mineral Content Shown In Various Anatomical Areas, Confirms Differences In Gender And Age (December 3, 2008) -- Scientists in Spain have examined the patterns of total bone mineral content of the Spanish population in different areas of the body. The analysis is the first one of its kind undertaken in Spain that studies subjects from birth until 80 years of age and confirms the differences in mineral content according to gender and changes due to age. ... > full story
Novel Target For Therapeutics Against Staph Infection (December 3, 2008) -- Researchers have uncovered how a bacterial pathogen interacts with the blood coagulation protein fibrinogen to cause methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections, a finding that could aid in developing therapeutics against the potentially deadly disease. ... > full story
New Online Test For Depression (December 3, 2008) -- A new universal test to predict the risk of someone succumbing to major depression has been developed. The online tool, predictD, could eventually be used by family doctors and local clinics to identify those at risk of depression for whom prevention might be most useful. ... > full story
Scientists Home In On Origins Of Childhood Kidney Cancer (December 3, 2008) -- Scientists have made significant progress in pinpointing two new risk factors associated with the most common childhood kidney cancer, known as Wilms tumor. ... > full story
Keeping Chromosomes From Cuddling Up (December 3, 2008) -- If chromosomes snuggle up too closely at the wrong times, the results can be a genetic disaster. Now researchers have found the molecular machines in fruit flies that yank chromosomes apart when necessary. The machines, proteins called condensin II, separate chromosomes by twisting them into supercoils that kink up and therefore can no longer touch. Scientists had known of condensin II, but did not know how it functioned inside cells. ... > full story
Molecular Partnership Controls Daily Rhythms, Body Metabolism (December 3, 2008) -- A research team has discovered a key molecular partnership that coordinates body rhythms and metabolism. Their findings suggest that HDAC via NCoR controls the body's internal clock, and therefore metabolism, through an epigenetic change. ... > full story
Stem Cell Research Hold Great Promise, But Obstacles Remain, Expert Argues (December 3, 2008) -- "There are still a number of major hurdles in the path of stem cell research today that are preventing the routine application of the technology in regenerative medicine." So say scientists writing in the International Journal of Biotechnology. ... > full story
Antioxidants Are Unlikely To Prevent Aging, Study Suggests (December 2, 2008) -- Diets and beauty products which claim to have anti-oxidant properties are unlikely to prevent aging, according to new research. Scientists in England say this is because a key 50-year-old theory about the causes of aging is wrong. ... > full story
Genomic Signature Of Colon Cancer May Individualize Treatment (December 2, 2008) -- Researchers have developed a model for predicting risk of recurrence in early stage colon cancer patients, and have used the model to also predict sensitivity to chemotherapy and targeted therapy regimens. ... > full story
Pros And Cons Of Gastric Bypass Surgery For Severe Obesity (December 2, 2008) -- Severely obese patients who underwent two different gastric bypass techniques had lost up to 31 per cent of their Body Mass Index (BMI) after four years, with no deaths reported among the 50 study subjects, according to an article in the British Journal of Surgery. ... > full story
Do You Know You're Having A Stroke? (December 2, 2008) -- A majority of stroke patients don't think they're having a stroke -- and as a result -- delay seeking treatment until their condition worsens. ... > full story
Eating Eggs When Pregnant Affects Breast Cancer In Offspring (December 2, 2008) -- A stunning discovery based on epigenetics (the inheritance of propensities acquired in the womb) reveals that consuming choline -- a nutrient found in eggs and other foods -- during pregnancy may significantly affect breast cancer outcomes for a mother's offspring. This finding is the first to link choline consumption during pregnancy to breast cancer. It also is the first to identify possible choline-related genetic changes that affect breast cancer survival rates. The 'genetic impact' of a pregnant woman's diet has a profound effect on her child. ... > full story
Exercise Helps Prevent Age-related Brain Changes In Older Adults (December 2, 2008) -- Older adults who exercise regularly show increased cerebral blood flow and a greater number of small blood vessels in the brain. ... > full story
Experimental Drug May Address Working Memory Impairments That Occur In Schizophrenia (December 2, 2008) -- In one of the first instances of targeted drug design in psychiatric treatment, researchers have found an experimental agent that shows promise in addressing working memory impairments that occur in the schizophrenia. ... > full story
Is Empty Nest Best? Changes In Marital Satisfaction In Late Middle Age (December 2, 2008) -- The phrase "empty nest" can conjure up images of lonely parents sitting at home, waiting for their children to call or visit. However, a new study suggests that an empty nest may be beneficial for the parents' marriage. The results revealed that marital satisfaction increased as women got older, but in addition, women who had made the transition to an empty nest increased more in marital satisfaction than women who still had children at home. ... > full story
Scientists Produce Illusion Of Body Swapping (December 2, 2008) -- Cognitive neuroscientists have succeeded in making subjects perceive the bodies of mannequins and other people as their own. ... > full story
Delays In Radiation Therapy Lead To Increased Breast Cancer Recurrence, Analysis Shows (December 2, 2008) -- A new analysis of the National Cancer Institute's cancer registry has found that as many as one in five older women experience delayed or incomplete radiation treatment following breast-conserving surgery and that this suboptimal care can lead to worse outcomes. ... > full story
Decongestant Use Common Among Young Children In U.S., Even Though Pseudoephedrine Exposure May Be Harmful (December 2, 2008) -- Researchers have found that exposure to pseudoephedrine, a decongestant found in many cough-and-cold and allergy medications, has been common among US children, especially those under the age of two years who are at the highest risk for toxicity and for whom safe dosing recommendations are lacking. ... > full story
New Cognitive Telerehabilitation Program Uses Virtual Reality (December 2, 2008) -- Researchers are working on a telerehabilitation program for treating people with cognitive deficits caused by acquired brain damage. A three-dimensional space has been designed to help these people improve their functional capacity in daily life activities. ... > full story
Newborns Exposed To Maternal Smoking More Irritable, Difficult To Soothe (December 2, 2008) -- New research reveals that babies exposed to tobacco in utero are less likely to self-soothe and are more aroused and excitable than newborns whose mothers didn't smoke during pregnancy. ... > full story
Persistent Pollutant May Promote Obesity (December 2, 2008) -- A persistent pollutant, tributyltin, has effects on gene activity in a wide range of animal species at concentrations of parts per billion. Tributyl tin and its chemical relatives bind to nuclear receptors that in turn activate genes influencing the formation of fat storage cells. This and other evidence suggests a possible role for tributyl tin in the obesity epidemic. The compound has been shown to affect gene activity at extremely low concentrations. ... > full story
Stopping Anti-platelet Medications Prior To Surgery Increases Risk Of Permanent Disability Or Death, Study Suggests (December 2, 2008) -- Stopping anti-platelet medications prior to a surgical procedure places a patient at greater risk of permanent disability or death. The probability of a patient bleeding depends on the over-the-counter and/or prescribed drug or combinations of drugs. ... > full story
An Ace For Visually-impaired Students In Computer Science (December 2, 2008) -- Many computing luminaries, such as Steve Jobs or Bill Gates, have an early experience in common -- an engaging experience in middle school or high school that sparked an excitement for learning everything they could about computers. Today, many young people are surrounded by computing at home and in school, and some of them will likely find a similar passion that will lead them to push tomorrow's frontiers in computer science. ... > full story
Lack Of Vitamin D Could Spell Heart Trouble (December 2, 2008) -- Vitamin D deficiency -- which is traditionally associated with bone and muscle weakness -- may also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. A growing body of evidence links low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels to common CVD risk factors such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes, as well as major cardiovascular events including stroke and congestive heart failure. ... > full story
Key To Keeping Killer T Cells In Prime Shape For Fighting Infection, Cancer (December 2, 2008) -- Researchers have found multiple receptors on the outside of the body's killer immune system cells which they believe can be selectively targeted to keep the cells in superb infection and disease-fighting condition. In a study published in Nature Immunology, the researchers describe their discovery of seven different receptors on T cells that can tamp down immune responses during a prolonged battle with an infectious pathogen or against developing cancer. ... > full story
Symptoms Of Depression Associated With Increase In Abdominal Fat (December 2, 2008) -- Older adults with symptoms of depression appear more likely to gain abdominal fat, but not overall fat, over a five-year period. ... > full story
Can You Hear Me Now? How The Inner Ear's Sensors Are Made (December 2, 2008) -- A new study shows for the first time how microscopic crystals form sound and gravity sensors inside the inner ear. Located at the ends of cilia -- tiny cellular hairs in the ear that move and transmit signals -- the crystals play an important role in detecting sound, maintaining balance and regulating movement. The findings suggest a potential gene target for the treatment of people suffering from vertigo and common hearing problems related to cilia disorders. ... > full story
Viral DNA In Bacterial Genome Could Hold Key To Novel Cystic Fibrosis Treatments (December 2, 2008) -- The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is well known for its environmental versatility, ability to cause infection in humans, and antibiotic resistance. P. aeruginosa is the most common cause of lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. Researchers have now used genomic techniques to study a particularly virulent strain of P. aeruginosa, uncovering genetic clues to its success that will aid in the design of novel therapeutic strategies. ... > full story
Influence Of Climate Warming On The Increase In Tick-borne Diseases (December 2, 2008) -- Rises in the ambient temperature modify the behavior of dog ticks and increase their affinity for humans. There is thus a risk that episodes of global warming may be associated with epidemics of tick-borne diseases. ... > full story
Smallpox Vaccination Effective For Decades, Study Suggests (December 2, 2008) -- There is concern that bioterrorists might obtain smallpox from a laboratory and release it into the population. However researchers found that lifetime protection is obtained from just one vaccination, even when that vaccination occurred as much as 88 years ago. They conclude that in the event of a smallpox bioterrorist attack, vaccinia smallpox vaccine should be used first on individuals who have not been vaccinated previously. ... > full story
New Model Predicts Hot Spots For Mercury In Fish (December 2, 2008) -- Mercury levels in fish are prompting widespread consumption advisories and uncertainty among consumers over which species are safe to eat. Now researchers have developed a model that will help scientists and regulators around the country predict which areas are likely to have fish with high mercury levels -- a breakthrough that should help officials address public uncertainty by developing health advisories for specific water bodies and fish species. ... > full story
Flu Vaccine Linked To Reduced Illness, Impairment Of Academic Performance Among College Students (December 2, 2008) -- College students who are vaccinated against influenza appear less likely to develop flu-like illnesses, require related health care visits or experience impairments in academic performance during flu season, according to a new report. ... > full story
Young Gymnasts Suffering New Types of Injuries, MRI Shows (December 2, 2008) -- Adolescent gymnasts are developing a wide variety of arm, wrist and hand injuries that are beyond the scope of previously described gymnastic-related trauma. Researchers noted that some gymnasts had necrosis, or "early death," of the bones of their knuckles. ... > full story
New RNA Processing Mechanism And New Class Of Small RNAs (December 2, 2008) -- Scientists report their discoveries of a previously unknown mechanism in the nucleus that processes non-coding RNA molecules to generate what might be a new class of small RNAs. ... > full story
Place Of Birth Contributes To Asthma Disparity (December 2, 2008) -- Public health researchers report the possible role of nativity (place of birth) on asthma prevalence in a black population in the United States. The findings emerged unexpectedly from a community-based participatory survey related to asthma conducted in Dorchester, Mass. ... > full story
Discovery Of Virus In Lemur Could Shed Light On AIDS (December 2, 2008) -- The genome of a squirrel-sized, saucer-eyed lemur from Madagascar may help scientists understand how HIV-like viruses co-evolved with primates, according to new research. ... > full story
Bariatric Surgery May Resolve Liver Disease (December 2, 2008) -- A recent study reports bariatric surgery results in improvement of histopathological features of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Complications of NAFLD, including steatosis, steatohepatitis and fibrosis appeared to improve or completely resolve in a majority of patients after bariatric surgery-induced weight loss, according to new results. ... > full story
Arthritis Research Shows Better Management More Important Than New Drugs (December 2, 2008) -- Although there has been an increase in the number of new arthritis treatments in recent years, the best results will come from more effective use of the drugs we have. Research published in Arthritis Research and Therapy investigates the effectiveness of available arthritis drugs and concludes that better management is the most important factor. ... > full story
Depression Treatment: Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy As Effective As Anti-depressant Medication, Study Suggests (December 2, 2008) -- Research shows for the first time that a group-based psychological treatment, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, could be a viable alternative to prescription drugs for people suffering from long-term depression. In this study, MBCT proved as effective as maintenance anti-depressants in preventing a relapse and more effective in enhancing peoples' quality of life. The study also showed MBCT to be as cost-effective as prescription drugs in helping people with a history of depression stay well in the longer-term. ... > full story
Combining Targeted Therapy Drugs May Treat Previously Resistant Tumors (December 1, 2008) -- Cancer researchers have discovered a potential treatment for a group of tumors that have resisted previous targeted therapy approaches. They found that blocking 2 cell signaling pathways leads to a dramatic shrinkage of K-Ras-mutated tumors in an animal model. ... > full story
New Approaches Make Retinal Detachment Highly Treatable (December 1, 2008) -- In a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine, a leading ophthalmologist writes that a high probability of reattachment and visual improvement is possible by using one of three currently available surgical techniques. ... > full story
Test-tube Babies Profitable Business For The State, Swedish Study Shows (December 1, 2008) -- Increased financial support for IVF fertilization would be downright profitable for the state according to Swedish research. Test-tube babies are an investment for the future, not an expense. ... > full story
Brain's Magnetic Fields Reveal Language Delays In Autism (December 1, 2008) -- Faint magnetic signals from brain activity in children with autism show that those children process sound and language differently from nonautistic children. Identifying and classifying these brain response patterns may allow researchers to more accurately diagnose autism and possibly aid in developing more effective treatments for the developmental disorder. Pediatric researchers used magnetocephalography to detect magnetic fields in the brain. ... > full story
Vitamin K Linked To Insulin Resistance In Older Men (December 1, 2008) -- A study of 355 non-diabetic elderly men and women found men who took a vitamin K supplement had less progression of insulin resistance over a period of three years compared to men not receiving vitamin K. Vitamin K did not appear to protect supplemented women from age-related increases in insulin resistance. ... > full story
Where There's Wildfire Smoke, There's Toxicity (December 1, 2008) -- Detailed particulate analysis of the smoke produced by previous California wild fires indicates that the composition posed more serious potential threats to health than is generally realized, according to a new paper analyzing particulate matter from wildfires in Southern California. ... > full story
Kidney Function Discovery Sheds Light On Genetic Complexity Of Disease (December 1, 2008) -- To find a cure for cancer, hemophilia and other diseases, researchers need to be looking for complex, interacting genetic factors, according to the authors of a new study. ... > full story
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