ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Monday, January 4, 2010
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Psoriasis: Effects don’t always stop with the skin (January 4, 2010) -- Psoriasis, a chronic disease that causes red, raised patches of skin, is increasingly seen as a systemic disease with links to arthritis and cardiovascular disease. ... > full story
Osteopontin contributes to allergic contact dermatitis (January 4, 2010) -- Researchers in Germany have discovered that osteopontin (OPN) contributes to allergic contact dermatitis. ... > full story
Increased risk of death, stroke in postmenopausal women taking antidepressants, study finds (January 4, 2010) -- Women participating in the Women's Health Initiative study who reported taking an antidepressant drug had a small but statistically significant increase in the risk of stroke and of death compared with participants not taking antidepressants. The authors of the study note that their findings are not conclusive but may signify a need for additional attention to patients' cardiovascular risk factors. ... > full story
Multitasking may be Achilles heel for hepatitis C (January 4, 2010) -- Despite its tiny genome, the hepatitis C virus packs a mean punch. The virus is a microcosm of efficiency, and each of its amino acids plays multiple roles in its survival and ability to sidestep attack. But new research suggests that this fancy footwork and multitasking could be the key to bringing down the virus. The work, which focuses on a once-ignored protein, provides insights on how drug therapy for sufferers of the disease might be improved. ... > full story
Inflammatory mediator regulates diarrhea in inflammatory bowel disease (January 4, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that activation of NF-kappaB, an inflammatory mediator, results in diarrhea in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). ... > full story
Pharmacists improve care of diabetics while cutting costs, research shows (January 4, 2010) -- The role of pharmacists hasn't received much attention in the debate on the cost of health care. But national and regional studies show that when pharmacists directly participate in patient care, they significantly reduce treatment costs and improve outcomes. ... > full story
Mutant gene lessens devastation of flesh-eating bacteria (January 3, 2010) -- Scientists recently discovered a simple gene mutation that decreases the chance people will get a flesh-eating disease called necrotizing fasciitis. Further, they proved that inactivating this section of the gene lessens the devastating disease in humans. ... > full story
Alzheimer's: How amyloid beta reduces plasticity related to synaptic signaling (January 3, 2010) -- The early stages of Alzheimer's disease are thought to occur at the synapse, since synapse loss is associated with memory dysfunction. Evidence suggests that amyloid beta plays an important role in early synaptic failure, but little has been understood about amyloid beta's effect on the plasticity of dendritic spines. ... > full story
Two proteins act as molecular tailors in DNA repair (January 3, 2010) -- Every day tiny segments of our DNA are chipped or fragmented or get stuck together when they should really be pulled apart. But what our genome necessarily lacks in stability it makes up for with a phalanx of guards that monitor and repair the damage. ... > full story
Unusual protein modification involved in muscular dystrophy, cancer (January 3, 2010) -- With the discovery of a new type of chemical modification on an important muscle protein, a new study improves understanding of certain muscular dystrophies and could potentially lead to new treatments for the conditions. ... > full story
Physiologic factors linked to image quality of multidetector computed tomography scans (January 3, 2010) -- The image quality of multidetector computed tomography scans, used for the noninvasive detection of coronary artery disease, can be significantly affected by patient characteristics such as ethnicity, body mass index and heart rate, according to a new study. ... > full story
Telephone Depression Program Offers Benefits At A Moderate Cost (January 3, 2010) -- Patients who participate in a structured telephone program to manage their depression appear to experience significant benefits and only a moderate increase in health care costs when compared with those who receive usual care, according to a new report. ... > full story
Scientists identify DNA that regulates antibody production (January 3, 2010) -- Performance enhancers are the currency of a competitive society. But there's one that we have always had: For millions of years, segments of our DNA have improved the performance of our genome, revving up protein production at those times we need it most. New research now show that these genome enhancers regulate how our bodies make germ-fighting antibodies, molecules that keep savvy viruses and bacteria at bay. ... > full story
Molecular anchor links the two inheritable diseases Fanconi anemia and Bloom's syndrome (January 3, 2010) -- A new study establishes a molecular link that bridges two rare inherited disorders and explains why these diseases result in genetic instability. The research may lead to a better understanding of the complex mechanisms that enable cells to repair damaged DNA. ... > full story
Fungus contaminant in corn, peanuts, soybeans: Chlorophyll effective against aflatoxin (January 3, 2010) -- A new study has found that chlorophyll and its derivative chlorophyllin are effective in limiting the absorption of aflatoxin in humans. Aflatoxin is produced by a fungus that is a contaminant of grains including corn, peanuts and soybeans; it is known to cause liver cancer -- and can work in concert with other health concerns, such as hepatitis. ... > full story
The Skinny On 'Lean' Education (January 3, 2010) -- Educators should learn from the "Just-In-Time" and "Lean" production techniques used by the automotive industry if they are to add value to the student experience as quickly and effectively as possible. ... > full story
High fat diet increases inflammation in the mouse colon (January 2, 2010) -- Colorectal cancer, the third most common type of cancer worldwide, has been linked to an increased prevalence of the Western diet: one high in fat and low in fiber, vitamin D and calcium. Now, scientists have shown what happens to colon tissue when mice are fed such a diet: an inflammatory response that could be the trigger for carcinogenic processes. ... > full story
Use of telemedicine for ICU patients not linked with improvement in survival (January 2, 2010) -- Remote monitoring of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) was not associated with an overall improvement in the risk of death or length of stay in the ICU or hospital, according to a new study. ... > full story
Earlier bedtimes may help protect adolescents against depression and suicidal thoughts (January 2, 2010) -- New research finds that adolescents with bedtimes that were set earlier by parents were significantly less likely to suffer from depression and to think about committing suicide, suggesting that earlier bedtimes could have a protective effect by lengthening sleep duration and increasing the likelihood of getting enough sleep. ... > full story
Will higher global temperatures make it easier for viruses to jump species? (January 2, 2010) -- Scientists soon will begin investigating whether viruses that have adapted to higher temperatures -- similar to increases due to global warming -- can jump species more easily. ... > full story
Fewer left-sided colorectal tumors observed after colonoscopies (January 2, 2010) -- The prevalence of left-sided advanced colorectal neoplasms was lower in participants in a community setting, but not right-sided advanced neoplams, who had received a colonoscopy in the preceding 10 years, according to a new study. ... > full story
Genomic differences identified in common skin diseases may lead to better treatments (January 2, 2010) -- Scientists have drilled down on the molecular nitty-gritty that distinguishes the two most common forms of inflammatory skin disease, atopic eczema and psoriasis. The researchers say that the ability to distinguish between the disorders' genetic and immunological signatures opens the door for more narrowly targeted therapies sorely needed by the millions of people afflicted worldwide. ... > full story
Bacterial protein mimics its host to disable a key enzyme (January 2, 2010) -- Helicobacter pylori infects up to 90 percent of people in the developing world and causes gastric ulcers and cancers of the gut. Now scientists have revealed a subterfuge used by the bacterium to trick stomach cells into playing along. By injecting a protein into the stomach lining that mimics a native protein but has its opposite effect, the bacterium shuts down a process that helps properly structure stomach tissue, scientists say. ... > full story
It's never too late to quit smoking and save your vision (January 2, 2010) -- Need a little extra incentive to kick the habit? Just in time for New Year's resolutions, a new study finds that even after age 80, smoking continues to increase one's risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in Americans over 65. ... > full story
New research could advance research field critical to personalized medicine (January 1, 2010) -- It's the ultimate goal in the treatment of cancer: tailoring a person's therapy based on his or her genetic makeup. While a lofty goal, scientists are steadily moving forward, rapidly exploiting new technologies. Researchers report a significant advance in this field of research using a new chip that looks for hundreds of mutations in dozen of genes. ... > full story
The cancer 'TRAP': protein may prevent cancer cell death (January 1, 2010) -- New research suggests that TNF-receptor associated protein-1 (TRAP-1) may prevent cancer cell death. ... > full story
Mutation leads to new and severe form of bacterial disease (January 1, 2010) -- Fighting an illness is not just about fighting the bacteria or viruses that cause it, it also has to do with your genes. Scientists have now identified a gene mutation that makes children susceptible to a severe form of mycobacterial disease, any disease caused by species of Mycobacterium such as tuberculosis and leprosy. The mutation represents a new layer of disease severity in children who lack a vital disease-fighting component from their immune system. ... > full story
New suppressor of common liver cancer (January 1, 2010) -- Tumor suppressor genes make proteins that help control cell growth. Mutations in these genes that generate nonfunctional proteins can contribute to tumor development and progression. One of the most well-known tumor suppressor genes is BRACA1, mutations in which are linked to breast cancer. Researchers have now identified SCARA5 as a candidate tumor suppressor gene in human hepatocellular carcinoma, a form of liver cancer that is the fifth most common cancer worldwide ... > full story
Obesity epidemic taking root in Africa (January 1, 2010) -- The urban poor in sub-Saharan Africa are the latest victims of the obesity epidemic. Researchers claim that overweight and obesity are on the increase among this group. ... > full story
Keeping hepatitis C virus at bay after a liver transplant (January 1, 2010) -- Individuals infected with hepatitis C virus who receive a liver transplant find that their new liver becomes infected with HCV almost immediately. However, researcher in Japan have developed an approach that transiently keeps HCV levels down in most treated HCV-infected patients receiving a new liver. ... > full story
Genetic link to heart failure (January 1, 2010) -- New research has identified a group of 12 genetic variants in the HSPB7 gene that is associated with heart failure in humans. ... > full story
Influenza in Africa should not be ignored, researchers urge (January 1, 2010) -- Influenza is circulating in Africa, but virtually no information or attention is evident, according to a new article. ... > full story
NEDD9 Protein Supports Growth Of Aggressive Breast Cancer (December 31, 2009) -- Researchers have demonstrated that a protein called NEDD9 may be required for some of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer to grow. According to the researchers, the protein could serve as a clinical biomarker to indicate the presence of aggressive forms of breast cancer. NEDD9 may also provide a target for some future therapeutic against metastatic cancer. ... > full story
New Function For The Protein Bcl-xL: It Prevents Bone Breakdown (December 31, 2009) -- In blood cells, the protein Bcl-xL has a well-characterized role in preventing cell death by a process known as apoptosis. New research has now identified its functions in osteoclasts, cells that slowly breakdown bone (a process known as resorption). Surprisingly, not only does Bcl-xL prevent osteoclast apoptosis in mice, it also negatively regulates the bone-resorbing activity of osteoclasts. ... > full story
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