ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Monday, December 14, 2009
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Novel detection method unmasks circulating breast cancer cells (December 14, 2009) -- Circulating metastatic breast cancer cells can lose their epithelial receptors, a process that enables them to travel through the bloodstream undetected, according to new research. ... > full story
Urine test for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea possible (December 14, 2009) -- Researchers have discovered a technique that is able to determine whether a child has obstructive sleep apnea or habitual snoring by screening their urine. ... > full story
Scientists crack mystery of protein's dual function (December 14, 2009) -- Researchers have solved a 10-year-old mystery of how a single protein from an ancient family of enzymes can have two completely distinct roles in the body. In addition to providing guidance for understanding other molecules in the family, the research supplies a theoretical underpinning for the protein's possible use for combating diseases including cancer and macular degeneration. ... > full story
Deaths from opioid use have doubled; five-fold increase in oxycodone deaths (December 14, 2009) -- Deaths from opioid use in Ontario, Canada, have doubled since 1991 and the addition of long-acting oxycodone to the drug formulary was associated with a 5-fold increase in oxycodone-related deaths, a new study finds. Most of these additional deaths were accidental. ... > full story
Nanosensors used to measure cancer biomarkers in blood for first time (December 14, 2009) -- Researchers have used nanosensors to measure cancer biomarkers in whole blood for the first time. Their findings could dramatically simplify the way physicians test for biomarkers of cancer and other diseases. ... > full story
How gene action may lead to diabetes prevention, cure (December 14, 2009) -- A gene commonly studied by cancer researchers has been linked to the metabolic inflammation that leads to diabetes. Understanding how the gene works means scientists may be closer to finding ways to prevent or cure diabetes. ... > full story
New understanding of how to prevent destruction of a tumor suppressor (December 14, 2009) -- Researchers have determined how the protein Mdm2, which is elevated in late-stage cancers, disables genes that suppress the growth of tumors. The finding may lead to development of new drugs for late stage breast cancer and other difficult to treat malignancies. ... > full story
More 20 mph zones in London would prevent 100 killed or seriously injured casualties each year (December 14, 2009) -- Traffic speed zones with a limit of 20 miles per hour reduce casualties by 41.9 percent with the greatest reduction in child casualties, according to new British research. ... > full story
Health effects of low-intensity warfare studied (December 14, 2009) -- Anthropologists have established a conceptual framework for measuring the health as well as the social impacts of violence in northern Kenya. The study has worldwide implications, as violent conflict is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. ... > full story
Scientists identify natural anti-cancer defenses (December 13, 2009) -- Researchers have discovered a novel molecular mechanism that prevents cancer. They have found that the SOCS1 molecule prevents the cancer-causing activity of cytokines, hormones that are culprits in cancer-prone chronic inflammation diseases such as Crohn's, in smokers and people exposed to asbestos. ... > full story
How can some athletes play on through intense pain? (December 13, 2009) -- How can some sportsmen and women, in the heat of the moment, play on through pain that would floor anyone else? Bert Trautmann, the Manchester City goalkeeper, famously played on through to the end of the 1956 FA Cup final -- holding on for a 3-1 win -- despite suffering a broken neck from a collision in the second half. ... > full story
Clinical trial advances new approach to re-sensitizing breast cancer (December 13, 2009) -- A new drug cocktail might be the right mix to fight breast cancer after it becomes resistant to standard therapy. Details of a new study supporting this approach suggest it's possible to re-sensitize tumors thus allowing treatments to work again. ... > full story
Flies offered unlimited alcohol behave a lot like human alcoholics (December 13, 2009) -- When given the chance to consume alcohol at will, fruit flies behave in ways that look an awful lot like human alcoholism. A new study considers alcohol self-administration in insects. ... > full story
Bacteria provide new insights into human decision making (December 13, 2009) -- Scientists studying how bacteria under stress collectively weigh and initiate different survival strategies say they have gained new insights into how humans make strategic decisions that affect their health, wealth and the fate of others in society. ... > full story
Alcohol consumption increases risk of breast cancer recurrence, study finds (December 13, 2009) -- Alcohol may raise the risk of breast cancer recurrence, according to a new study. Obese women who drink alcohol may be at greater risk of recurrence. Alcohol was not related to risk of overall death. ... > full story
Researchers show 'trigger' to stem cell differentiation (December 13, 2009) -- A gene which is essential for stem cells' capabilities to become any cell type has been identified by researchers. The discovery represents a further step in the ever-expanding field of understanding the ways in which stem cells develop into specific cells, a necessary prelude towards the use of stem cell therapy as a means to reverse the consequences of disease and disability. ... > full story
Caffeine doesn't reverse the negative cognitive impact of alcohol, study shows (December 13, 2009) -- People who drink may want to know that coffee won't sober them up, according to new laboratory research. Instead, a cup of coffee may make it harder for people to realize they're drunk. ... > full story
New model of skin cancer provides insights on second-most common type of cancer (December 13, 2009) -- Researchers have developed a new model of skin cancer based on the knowledge that a common cancer-related molecule called Src kinase is activated in human skin-cancer samples. ... > full story
Potential new heart attack biomarker uncovered (December 13, 2009) -- Researchers have identified cardiac myosin-binding protein C as a potential new diagnostic biomarker for heart attacks, one that may be particularly valuable for mild attacks in which traditional diagnostic proteins may not be abundant enough. ... > full story
New screening tool helps identify children at risk for developmental issues (December 13, 2009) -- When a baby is born, new parents often wonder, "Will he be the next President of the United States?" or "Could she be the one to find a cure for cancer?" But the underlying question for many specialists is, "Is this child 'at risk' for developmental issues?" An answer to this question has been elusive -- until now. ... > full story
With amino acid diet, mice improve after brain injury (December 12, 2009) -- Neurology researchers have shown that feeding amino acids to brain-injured mice restores their cognitive abilities and may set the stage for the first effective treatment for cognitive impairments suffered by people with traumatic brain injuries. If these animal results can be translated to human medicine, there would be a broad clinical benefit. Every 23 seconds, a man, woman or child in the US suffers a traumatic brain injury. ... > full story
Older dental fillings contain form of mercury unlikely to be toxic, study finds (December 12, 2009) -- A new study on the surface chemistry of silver-colored, mercury-based dental fillings suggests that the surface forms of mercury may be less toxic than previously thought. ... > full story
West Nile virus infection may persist in kidneys years after initial infection (December 12, 2009) -- A new study shows that people who have been infected with West Nile virus may have persistent virus in their kidneys for years after initial infection, potentially leading to kidney problems. ... > full story
Antidepressant may change personality while relieving symptoms (December 12, 2009) -- Individuals taking a medication to treat depression may experience changes in their personality separate from the alleviation of depressive symptoms, according to a new report. ... > full story
Studying hair of ancient Peruvians answers questions about stress (December 12, 2009) -- A first-of-its-kind archaeological study has detected the stress hormone cortisol in the hair of ancient Peruvians, who lived between 550 and 1532 A.D. ... > full story
Merkel cells revealed as secret behind sensation of light touch (December 12, 2009) -- Scientists have proved experimentally what has been suspected since the discovery of Merkel cells in the skin over a century ago: the sense of light touch that is critical for hand dexterity would not be possible without these cells. ... > full story
Lightning-produced radiation a potential health concern for air travelers (December 12, 2009) -- New information about lightning-emitted X-rays, gamma rays and high-energy electrons during thunderstorms is prompting scientists to raise concerns about the potential for airline passengers and crews to be exposed to harmful levels of radiation. ... > full story
Higher risk for heart disease and diabetes associated with androgen deprivation therapy (December 12, 2009) -- Men of all ages treated for prostate cancer with androgen deprivation therapy, specifically with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, have an increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, according to a new study. ... > full story
Don't I know you? How cues and context kick-start memory recall (December 12, 2009) -- We have all had the embarrassing experience of seeing an acquaintance in an unfamiliar setting. We know we know them but can't recall who they are. But with the correct cues from conversation or context, something seems to click and we can readily access very rich and vivid memories about the individual. Researchers have shed some light on this mysterious process, discovering that the hippocampus, a brain region in the temporal lobe, is only involved when cues enable us to recall these rich memories. ... > full story
Hyperglycemia: New mechanism underlying cardiovascular disease described (December 12, 2009) -- Hyperglycemia starts a complex chain of events that damages blood vessels and cause cardiovascular disease. Scientists have now been able to demonstrate why this happens, as well as how the destructive chain can be broken. This discovery represents a crucial step towards an efficient treatment of the vascular injuries that will be the cause of death for most diabetes patients. ... > full story
Fast, accurate urine test for pneumonia possible, study finds (December 12, 2009) -- Biochemists have developed a urine test that can rapidly and accurately diagnose the cause of pneumonia-like symptoms. The test should enable doctors to quickly provide appropriate treatments for patients with pneumonia, an illness that is often misdiagnosed using current tests. ... > full story
Decline in breast cancer: Not just because of hormone therapy (December 12, 2009) -- Between 2002 and 2003, American women experienced a 7 percent decline in breast cancer incidence, which scientists attribute to the publicity surrounding results of the Women's Health Initiative. ... > full story
Women researchers less likely to receive major career funding grants, study shows (December 12, 2009) -- Women were less likely than men to receive major funding for scientific research, according to a new study. ... > full story
Cataloging all that goes wrong in a cancer cell (December 11, 2009) -- A team of scientists has produced a systematic listing of the ways a particular cancerous cell has "gone wrong," giving researchers a powerful tool that eventually could make possible new, more targeted therapies for patients. ... > full story
Pathological gambling may be successfully treated with medications for substance addiction (December 11, 2009) -- Pathological gambling can be successfully treated with medications that decrease urges and increase inhibitions, according to researchers. They found positive outcomes in gamblers treated with medications often used for substance addictions. ... > full story
RXR activation: Hope for new Parkinson's disease treatment (December 11, 2009) -- Researchers have investigated the potential of RXR ligands for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. In a new study, the scientists describe the use of two cellular models of Parkinsonian damage to explore the neuroprotective function of the two RXR ligands LG268 and XCT. ... > full story
Astronaut balancing act: Training to help explorers adapt to a return to gravity (December 11, 2009) -- Challenges associated with long-duration spaceflight do not end with landing. Astronauts often suffer from balance problems that lead to dizziness and difficulty standing, walking and turning corners when they return to normal gravity. Researchers are developing techniques, using a treadmill and simulated balance disturbances, to help astronauts adapt to a new gravity environment. The techniques could also have benefits for Earth-bound populations such as the elderly. ... > full story
Old math reveals new thinking in children's cognitive development (December 11, 2009) -- Five-year-olds can reason about the world from multiple perspectives simultaneously, according to a new theory by researchers in Japan and Australia. Using an established branch of mathematics called Category Theory, the researchers explain why specific reasoning skills develop in children at certain ages, particularly at age five. The new theory shows that these reasoning skills have similar profiles of development because they involve related sorts of processes. ... > full story
Nerve-cell transplants help brain-damaged rats fully recover lost ability to learn (December 11, 2009) -- Nerve cells transplanted into brain-damaged rats helped them to fully recover their ability to learn and remember, probably by promoting nurturing, protective growth factors, according to a new study. ... > full story
MRI detects breast cancer at earlier stage, study shows (December 11, 2009) -- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coupled with mammography detects almost all cancers at an early stage, thereby reducing the incidence of advanced stage breast cancer in high-risk women. ... > full story
Unexpected weakness in H1N1's method for evading detection by the immune system (December 11, 2009) -- The H1N1 influenza virus has been keeping a secret that may be the key to defeating it and other flu viruses as well. Researchers have found what they believe is a weakness in H1N1's method for evading detection by the immune system. ... > full story
Genetic variations indicate risk of recurrence, secondary cancer among head and neck cancer patients (December 11, 2009) -- Eighteen single-point genetic variations indicate risk of recurrence for early-stage head and neck cancer patients and their likelihood of developing a second type of cancer, researchers report. ... > full story
Surgery on beating heart thanks to robotic helping hand (December 11, 2009) -- If you've been waiting for the day to arrive when computers actually start performing surgery, that moment might soon be upon us. Scientists have developed a computerized 3-D model that allows surgeons to use robotics to operate on a beating heart. ... > full story
Fit teenage boys are smarter -- but muscle strength isn't the secret, study shows (December 11, 2009) -- In the first study to demonstrate a clear positive association between adolescent fitness and adult cognitive performance, researchers find that better aerobic health among teenage boys correlates to higher scores on a range of intelligence tests -- and more education and income later in life. ... > full story
Delaying the aging process protects against Alzheimer's disease (December 11, 2009) -- Aging is the single greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. In a new study, researchers found that simply slowing the aging process in mice prone to develop Alzheimer's disease prevented their brains from turning into a neuronal wasteland. ... > full story
Tiny molecule slows progression of Lou Gehrig's disease in mice (December 11, 2009) -- A substance released by muscles in response to nerve injury can reduce symptoms and prolong life in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), researchers have found. The finding has already prompted development of possible drugs to treat the disease. ... > full story
Appetite, consumption controlled by clockwork genes at cross-purposes in flies (December 11, 2009) -- One of the pioneers in research on sleep-wake circadian genes has discovered that fruit flies' appetite and consumption are controlled by two rival sets of clocks, one in neurons and the other in the fly fat body, which is analogous to the liver. ... > full story
Real human bone grown in tissue culture (December 11, 2009) -- Researchers have created a process that grows real human bone in tissue culture, which can be used to investigate how bones form, grow and fracture. ... > full story
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