ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Tuesday, December 15, 2009
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Variable doses of radiation raise safety concerns for CT procedures (December 15, 2009) -- Radiation doses from common CT procedures vary widely and are higher than generally thought, raising concerns about increased risk for cancer, according to a new study. ... > full story
Three anticoagulant studies may change current medical practice (December 15, 2009) -- New research reveals that the practice of using the anticoagulants aspirin and heparin with the hope of preventing clots in placental blood vessels is ineffective for preventing unexplained, recurrent miscarriages. Two other studies look at treatments for venous thromboembolism, a common and sometimes deadly clotting disorder. ... > full story
High-sensation seeking youth drawn to sweet-tasting cigarettes, study finds (December 15, 2009) -- New research showing that thrill-seeking teenagers are especially susceptible to fruit-flavored cigarettes is in line with the recent ban on the sale of flavored cigarettes by the US Food and Drug Administration in September 2009. According to the FDA, the ban, authorized by the new Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, is part of a national effort by the FDA to reduce smoking, which is the leading preventable cause of death in America. ... > full story
Brain plaques in healthy individuals linked to increased Alzheimer's risk (December 15, 2009) -- Scientists have long assumed that amyloid brain plaques found in autopsies of Alzheimer's patients are harmful and cause Alzheimer's disease. But autopsies of people with no signs of mental impairment have also revealed brain plaques, challenging this theory. Now, for the first time, researchers have shown that brain plaques in apparently healthy individuals are associated with increased risk of diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease years later. ... > full story
Mechanism discovered by which body's cells encourage tuberculosis infection (December 15, 2009) -- Tuberculosis bacteria use a signaling pathway to coerce disease fighting cells to switch allegiance and work on their behalf. Scientists have discovered a molecular mechanism by which TB bacteria prod epithelial cells to help produce tubercles. Instead of protecting the body, the tubercles act as hubs for production and dissemination of TB bacteria. The same signal pathway may also occur in non-infectious inflammatory conditions like arthritis, heart disease and cancer. ... > full story
Potential genetic links to lung disease risk uncovered (December 15, 2009) -- A new study involving data from more than 20,000 individuals has uncovered several DNA sequences linked to impaired pulmonary function. The research, an analysis that combined the results of several smaller studies, provides insight into the mechanisms involved in reaching full lung capacity. The findings may ultimately lead to better understanding of lung function and diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. ... > full story
Geneticist reveals molecular view of key epigenetic regulator (December 15, 2009) -- New research reveals the structure and function of a key player in regulating chromatin in yeast and humans. ... > full story
Brainstorming works best in less specialized efforts, study finds (December 15, 2009) -- Applying brainstorming techniques to new product development works best when the collaboration employs participants from varied specialties gathering to develop a less complex product, according to new research. ... > full story
Hidden sensory system discovered in the skin (December 14, 2009) -- Researchers report that the human body has an entirely unique and separate sensory system aside from the nerves that give most of us the ability to touch and feel. Surprisingly, this sensory network is located throughout our blood vessels and sweat glands, and is for most people, largely imperceptible. This discovery may shed light on the causes of unexplained chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia. ... > full story
Cut out the (estrogen) middleman: Risky therapy for aging brain may be avoidable by focusing instead on hormone's target (December 14, 2009) -- Estrogen has a dual role in brain as a hormone and, indirectly, as a neurotransmitter, according to a new study which suggests a strategy for replacing hormone therapy. ... > full story
Tendons shape bones during embryonic development (December 14, 2009) -- In all vertebrates, including humans, bones, muscles and tendons work together to give the skeleton its characteristic balance of stability and movement. Now, new research uncovers a previously unrecognized interaction between tendons, which connect muscles to bones, and the developing embryonic skeleton. This study demonstrates that tendons drive the development of specific bone features that are needed for a strong skeletal system. ... > full story
Rapid cardiac biomarker testing system developed; cuts testing time from 6 hours to 45 minutes (December 14, 2009) -- A new rapid and sensitive integrated system tests simultaneously for specific cardiac biomarkers in finger prick amount of blood. It could help physicians quickly arrive at the right diagnosis for timely medical intervention in patients suspected of having heart attacks. ... > full story
Texting, tweeting ought to be viewed as GR8 teaching tools, scholar says (December 14, 2009) -- Carol L. Tilley, a professor of library and information science at Illinois, says that critics who equate texting with literary degradation are wrong, and that they also overlook the bigger role that texting and its distant cousin, "tweeting," could play in education and research. ... > full story
Immune-boosting drugs could enhance cancer treatment (December 14, 2009) -- Stimulating the body’s own immune system to fight cancer offers new treatment opportunities for cancer patients, and scientists have made the first step towards finding existing drugs that could help. ... > full story
Screening method able to identify newborns with blood disorder that affects immune system (December 14, 2009) -- The testing of DNA from a statewide blood screening program for newborns in Wisconsin was able to identify infants with T-cell lymphopenia, a blood disorder that affects the child's immune system, a disease in which early identification is important, according to a new study. ... > full story
Ethanol-powered vehicles generate more ozone than gas-powered ones (December 14, 2009) -- Vehicles running on ethanol will generate higher concentrations of ozone than those using gasoline, especially in the winter, researchers have found. That could create new health concerns in areas where ozone hasn't been a significant problem before. ... > full story
Food industry faulted for pushing high-calorie, low-nutrient products (December 14, 2009) -- A new report faults food and beverage producers for continuing to saturate television with ads for high-calorie, low-nutrient products. ... > full story
How the autistic brain distinguishes oneself from others (December 14, 2009) -- Scientists have discovered that the brains of individuals with autism are less active when engaged in self-reflective thought. The study provides new evidence for the neural correlates of self-awareness and a new window into understanding social difficulties in autism spectrum conditions. ... > full story
New biosensors reveal workings of anti-psychotic drugs in the living brain (December 14, 2009) -- Scientists have resolved a question about how a popular class of drugs used to treat schizophrenia works using biosensors that reveal previously hidden components of chemical communication in the brain. ... > full story
Amount of gene surplus determines severity of mental retardation in males, researchers find (December 14, 2009) -- Researchers have discovered a new explanation for differences in the severity of mental illness in males. The more excess copies of a certain gene, the more serious the handicap. The genetic defect is situated on the X-chromosome; and it is suspected that it is the amount of copies of the GDI1 gene that is responsible. ... > full story
Are angry women more like men? (December 14, 2009) -- "Why is it that men can be bastards and women must wear pearls and smile?" wrote author Lynn Hecht Schafran. The answer, according to a new article may lie in our interpretation of facial expressions. ... > full story
New genes for lung disease discovered (December 14, 2009) -- Scientists have discovered five genetic variants that are associated with the health of the human lung. The research by an international consortium of 96 scientists from 63 centers in Europe and Australia sheds new light on the molecular basis of lung diseases. ... > full story
Moderate weight loss in obese people improves heart function (December 14, 2009) -- Obese patients who lost a moderate amount of weight by eating less and exercising more improved their cardiovascular health, says a new study. ... > full story
Genetic ancestry highly correlated with ethnic and linguistic groups in Asia (December 14, 2009) -- Several genome-wide studies of human genetic diversity have been conducted on European populations. Now, for the first time, these studies have been extended to 73 Southeast Asian (SEA) and East Asian (EA) populations. In a new paper, over 90 scientists from the Human Genome Organization's Pan-Asian SNP Consortium report that their study conducted within and between different populations in Asia continent showed that genetic ancestry was highly correlated with ethnic and linguistic groups. ... > full story
Anti-estrogens may offer protection against lung cancer mortality (December 14, 2009) -- Anti-estrogens as therapy for breast cancer may also reduce the risk of death from lung cancer, according to a new study. ... > full story
Type 2 diabetes gene predisposes children to obesity, study finds (December 14, 2009) -- Pediatric researchers have found that a gene already implicated in the development of type 2 diabetes in adults also raises the risk of being overweight during childhood. The finding sheds light on the genetic origins of diabetes and may present an avenue for developing drugs to counteract the disease, which has been on the upswing in childhood and adolescence. ... > full story
Several serious illnesses missing from US vaccination plan (December 14, 2009) -- While vaccines help prevent many diseases in the United States, the nation lacks immunization protection against several serious illnesses, according to a new report. ... > full story
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
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