ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Friday, December 25, 2009
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Novel gene found for childhood-onset asthma (December 25, 2009) -- Pediatric researchers have identified a novel gene involved in childhood asthma, in one of the largest gene studies to date of the common respiratory disease. Because the gene, called DENND1B, affects cells and signaling molecules thought to be instrumental in the immune system overreaction that occurs in asthma, the discovery may have singled out an important target for new treatments. ... > full story
Chicago Cancer Genome Project studies genetics of 1,000 tumors (December 25, 2009) -- A Chicago research team is one year into a three-year project to collect and analyze the genetic sequence and variations of every gene expressed by 1,000 tumors with a long-term goal of translating genomic discoveries into diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies. ... > full story
Wii Fit may not help families get fit (December 25, 2009) -- The Nintendo Wii Fit many people are considering as Christmas gifts may be great entertainment, but a new study indicates the console has little effect on family fitness. ... > full story
Genetic study reveals the origins of cavity-causing bacteria (December 24, 2009) -- Researchers have uncovered the complete genetic make-up of the cavity-causing bacterium Bifidobacterium dentium Bd1, revealing the genetic adaptations that allow this microorganism to live and cause decay in the human oral cavity. ... > full story
Good cholesterol not as protective in people with type 2 diabetes (December 24, 2009) -- HDL, known as "good cholesterol," helps protect blood vessels and the heart, but a small European study shows that HDL in men with type 2 diabetes lacks this protective capacity. However, preliminary results indicate that extended-release niacin may help the HDL work better in these patients. ... > full story
Psychologists show that future-minded people make better decisions for their health (December 24, 2009) -- People who tend to think in the long term are more likely to make positive decisions about their health, whether it's how much they drink, what they eat, or their decision to wear sunscreen. ... > full story
Alzheimer's disease may protect against cancer and vice versa (December 24, 2009) -- People who have Alzheimer's disease may be less likely to develop cancer, and people who have cancer may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. ... > full story
Fight infection by disturbing how bacteria communicate (December 24, 2009) -- Researchers have clarified the structure of an enzyme that disturbs the communication processes between bacteria. By doing so they have laid the foundations for a new method of tackling bacterial infections such as cystic fibrosis. ... > full story
Soil studies reveal rise in antibiotic resistance (December 24, 2009) -- An unexpected rise in environmental levels of antibiotic resistance poses a potential threat to people's health. ... > full story
How flu succeeds (December 24, 2009) -- Investigators have identified 295 human cell factors that influenza A strains must harness to infect a cell, including the currently circulating swine-origin H1N1. ... > full story
Researchers find new patterns in H1N1 deaths (December 24, 2009) -- Brazilian researchers have performed the first-ever autopsy study to examine the precise causes of death in victims of the H1N1 swine flu. While previous data has shown that most patients with a non-fatal infection have fever, cough and achiness (myalgia), the study reveals that most patients with a fatal form of the disease presented with difficulty breathing (dyspnea), with fever and myalgia being less frequently present. ... > full story
How do you improve mammogram accuracy? Add noise (December 24, 2009) -- Researchers have shown that an obscure phenomenon called stochastic resonance can improve the clarity of signals in systems such as radar, sonar and even radiography, used in medical clinics to detect signs of breast cancer. ... > full story
Brain training can help improve specific abilities in older people (December 24, 2009) -- Many brain training products claim to be able to keep us mentally fit. Some products even claim that brain training can prevent dementia in old age. But there is no scientific proof that games or other brain exercises can have this effect. ... > full story
Two genes discovered that drive aggressive brain cancers (December 24, 2009) -- Scientists have discovered two genes that, when simultaneously activated, are responsible for the most aggressive forms of brain cancer. This finding was made possible by the assembly of the first comprehensive network of molecular interactions that determine the behavior of these cancer cells, a map so complex and elusive that, until now, it could not be constructed. The discovery may lead to novel strategies to diagnose and treat these incurable tumors. ... > full story
Is nicotinamide overload a trigger for type 2 diabetes? (December 24, 2009) -- Type 2 diabetes is a major global health problem. Although the underlying mechanism of the pathogenesis is not clear, generally it is accepted that type 2 diabetes is a result of gene-environment interactions. A research group from China investigated the relationship between the metabolism of nicotinamide and diabetes and found that nicotinamide overload may be involved in the development of diabetes. ... > full story
Fine-tuning Treatments For Depression (December 24, 2009) -- New research clarifies how neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine, are regulated -- a finding that may help fine-tune therapies for depression. ... > full story
Key protein helps control blood pressure (December 24, 2009) -- Researchers have shown that a protein channel helps nerve sensors in blood vessels keep blood pressure in check. Without the protein channel, known as ASIC2, the sensors are unable to send the brain the signals it needs to properly control blood pressure. ... > full story
Heart transplant patients appear to have elevated risk for multiple skin cancers (December 24, 2009) -- Many heart transplant patients develop multiple skin cancers, with increased risk for some skin cancers among patients with other cancers and with increasing age, according to a new study. ... > full story
Consumers 'Key Part Of Solution' To Global Warming (December 24, 2009) -- Consumers can have a major impact on the world's efforts to reduce global warming, a major report has concluded. The research estimates that if consumers are responsible for 75% of emissions and in the developed world reduce their emissions in line with government targets, their action could leverage major a 50% reductions in emissions within a few years by 2050. ... > full story
Synergistic interaction enhances pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (December 24, 2009) -- Scientists have identified a synergistic interaction that disrupts normal intracellular transport mechanisms and leads to the accumulation of neuron-damaging clumps of protein associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by a specific loss of neurons in the midbrain and brainstem. The research identifies a new potential therapeutic option for preventing PD-associated neuropathology. ... > full story
IKK may act as both inhibitor and promoter of Huntington's disease (December 24, 2009) -- The kinase IKK phosphorylates the protein mutated in Huntington's disease to promote its removal and neuron survival, but IKK may be a double-edged sword that increases neurotoxicity in later stages of the disease. ... > full story
Number of 85-year-olds in the UK will increase by a third by 2020 (December 24, 2009) -- Health and social care provision needs to be put in place for a large increase in the 85-year-old population in the UK by 2020, according to a new study. ... > full story
Subtle change dramatically reduces pathogenic potential of Huntington's protein (December 23, 2009) -- Scientists have identified a key molecular switch that may drive the onset of Huntington's disease (HD), an incurable neurodegenerative disorder that leads to severe disruptions in muscle coordination and cognitive function. The research enhances the understanding of HD pathogenesis and may direct new strategies for treating this devastating brain disease. ... > full story
New pathway discovered that may prevent tissue damage resulting from inflammation (December 23, 2009) -- Interferon gamma is a protein secreted by lymphocytes that is used to fight the bacteria in white blood cells that cause tuberculosis. Scientists have now discovered that in addition to white blood cells, other cells such as epithelial and endothelial cells, also respond to interferon gamma and also protect mice from uncontrolled tuberculosis infection. ... > full story
Air pollution linked to hospitalizations for pneumonia in seniors (December 23, 2009) -- A study found that among older individuals, long-term exposure to traffic pollution independently increased their risk of hospitalization for pneumonia. ... > full story
Role of addiction cannot be ignored in obesity epidemic (December 23, 2009) -- Researchers argue that food addiction in some individuals may be a reality and needs to be considered in the management of weight problems. ... > full story
Altering malignant cells' structure said to possibly slow spread of cancer (December 23, 2009) -- Cancer may spread throughout the human body when malignant cells travel in the blood stream. But it may be possible to slow or even stop those cells from spreading by altering their structure, according to a recent investigation. ... > full story
Older adults may have a higher risk of complications and death after abdominal surgery (December 23, 2009) -- The risk of complications and early death after commonly performed abdominal surgical procedures appears to be higher among older adults, according to a new study. ... > full story
Enhanced sweet taste: Endocannabinoids act directly on tongue taste receptors (December 23, 2009) -- New findings show that endocannabinoids act directly on tongue taste receptors to specifically enhance sweet taste. The findings suggest that modulation of sweet taste responses may be an important component of the endocannabinoid system's role in regulating feeding behavior and may open doors to the development of novel therapeutic compounds to combat metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Endocannabinoids are substances similar to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. ... > full story
Brain controls formation of bone, researchers find (December 23, 2009) -- The brain acts as a profound regulatory center, controlling myriad processes throughout the body in ways we are only just beginning to understand. In new findings, Australian scientists have shown surprising connections between the brain and regulation of bone mass. ... > full story
Adverse consequences of obesity may be greater than previously thought (December 23, 2009) -- The link between obesity and cardiovascular mortality may be substantially underestimated, while some of the adverse consequences of being underweight may be overstated, concludes a new study. ... > full story
Tuberculosis strain thrives on antibiotic (December 23, 2009) -- Scientists have identified a strain of antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis that thrives in the presence of rifampin, a front-line drug in the treatment of tuberculosis. The researchers determined that the bacteria grew poorly in the absence of the antibiotic rifampin and better with it. The patient's condition also worsened with treatment regimens containing rifampin, before being cured with rifampin-free regimens. The study is among the first to document the treatment of a patient with rifampin-dependent infection. ... > full story
Embryo biopsy safe for singleton pregnancies, largest study of PGD children suggests (December 23, 2009) -- The largest and longest running study of children born after preimplantation genetic diagnosis and screening has shown that embryo biopsy does not adversely affect the health of babies born as the result of a subsequent singleton pregnancy. ... > full story
Disability may be on the rise again after 20-year decline (December 23, 2009) -- The 20-year decline of disability rates among Americans may have ended, according to a new study. The researchers found that disability rates among non-institutionalized older Americans increased 9 percent between 2000 and 2005. The passage of meaningful health care reform could help stem the increase in disability rates, the authors said. ... > full story
New human reproductive hormone could lead to novel contraceptives (December 23, 2009) -- Nearly 10 years after the discovery that birds make a hormone that suppresses reproduction, neuroscientists have established that humans make it too, opening the door to development of a new class of contraceptive and possible treatments for cancer or other diseases. The hormone, gonadotropin inhibitory hormone, puts a brake on the reproductive system and on release of gonadotropin releasing hormone. ... > full story< /a>
Deadly infection more common than realized (December 23, 2009) -- Staphylococcus aureus causes far more serious infections than previously realized. ... > full story
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