ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Monday, August 18, 2008
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Experiments Could Lead To New Treatments For Neuroblastoma (August 18, 2008) -- Based on cell-culture and animal experiments, researchers believe they've found a critical weakness in neuroblastoma -- one that could lead to the development of a lifesaving therapy for victims of the cancer. ... > full story
Maelstrom Quashes Jumping Genes (August 18, 2008) -- Scientists have known for decades that genes called transposons can jump around the genome in a cell. This jumping can be dangerous, especially when it arises in cells that produce eggs and sperm. Although nature developed a mechanism to quash this genetic scrambling, how it works has remained a mystery. Now scientists have identified a key protein that suppresses jumping genes in mouse sperm and found that the protein is vital to sperm formation. ... > full story
Prototype Test For Predicting Clinical Outcome For Melanoma Patients (August 18, 2008) -- Investigators have developed a test to predict whether a patient will progress rapidly from Stage III melanoma to metastatic Stage IV cancer and death. More than 70% of patients with Stage III melanoma — melanoma that has spread to the lymph nodes — will typically have a rapid time to progression (TTP) to Stage IV melanoma, and pass away within five years of their diagnosis. ... > full story
Few Pharmacologic Treatments Of Cancer-Related Fatigue Available To Patients (August 18, 2008) -- There is limited evidence to support the use of methylphenidate and erythropoietin for the treatment of cancer-related fatigue in some patients, according to a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. ... > full story
Bipolar Disorder And Gene Abnormalities: Sodium, Calcium Imbalances Linked To Manic Depressive Episodes (August 18, 2008) -- A large genetic study of bipolar disorder has implicated machinery that balances levels of sodium and calcium in neurons. The disorder was associated with variation in two genes that make components of such ion channels. Although it's not yet known if or how the suspect genetic variation might affect the balance machinery, the results point to the possibility that bipolar disorder might stem, at least in part, from malfunction of ion channels. ... > full story
Cancer Signatures Uncovered (August 18, 2008) -- A new systematic analysis of the relationship between the neoplastic and developmental transcriptome provides an outline of trends in cancer gene expression. The research describes how cancers can be divided into three groups distinguished by disparate developmental signatures. ... > full story
Patients Reluctant To Change Surgeons Despite Lure Of Shorter Wait Times (August 18, 2008) -- A new study in CMAJ has found that, despite the possibility of shorter waiting times for surgery, a majority of patients were unlikely to consider changing surgeons. ... > full story
By Amplifying Cell Death Signals, Scientists Make Precancerous Cells Self-destruct (August 17, 2008) -- On the cellular level, death signals can actually be life saving -- by killing off abnormally dividing cells before they turn cancerous. Now, Rockefeller University researchers have found a way to amplify these signals by turning a life affirming protein into a killer. The findings not only mark a breakthrough in the field but also open the door to a new line of drugs for cancer therapeutics. ... > full story
Helping Tumor Cells Not To Stick To The Wound During Surgical Removal (August 17, 2008) -- Sometimes during surgery to remove a tumor, cells become detached from the bulk of the tumor. In a small number of cases, these tumor cells stick to cells at the site of the surgical wound and go on to form a secondary tumor, having an enormous negative impact on the survival and quality of life of the patient. ... > full story
Parents' Expectations, Styles Can Harm College Students' Self-esteem (August 17, 2008) -- College students want to please their parents but often stress out about meeting goals far tougher than what their parents have in mind, psychologists have found. Scientists have examined the effects of parenting styles on how students adjust to college. Students reported making smoother transitions if they have at least one parent whose style combines warmth, a demanding nature and democracy. ... > full story
Stress, Anxiety Can Make Allergy Attacks Even More Miserable And Last Longer (August 17, 2008) -- A new study shows that even slight stress and anxiety can substantially worsen a person's allergic reaction to some routine allergens. Moreover, the added impact of stress and anxiety seem to linger, causing the second day of a stressed person's allergy attack to be much worse. ... > full story
Personalized Immunotherapy To Fight HIV/AIDS (August 17, 2008) -- The main obstacle to creating an AIDS vaccine has been the high genetic variability of the HIV virus. Scientists have overcome this difficulty by designing a personalized immunotherapy for HIV-infected patients. ... > full story
New Mushroom Study Shows The Power Of Energy Density (August 17, 2008) -- Preliminary research suggests increasing intake of low-energy density foods, specifically mushrooms, in place of high-energy-density foods, like lean ground beef, is a strategy for preventing or treating obesity. This is good news for the more than one-third of US adults age 20 and older who are obese, according to the Center for Disease Control. ... > full story
Young Children's 'Theory Of Mind' Linked To Subsequent Metacognitive Development In Adolescence (August 17, 2008) -- A new study detects a systematic link between children's "theory of mind" as assessed in kindergarten and their metacognitive knowledge in elementary school. ... > full story
Potatoes May Hold Key To Alzheimer's Treatment (August 16, 2008) -- A virus that commonly infects potatoes bears a striking resemblance to one of the key proteins implicated in Alzheimer's disease, and researchers have used that to develop antibodies that may slow or prevent the onset of AD. ... > full story
Mechanism Behind Cocaine Craving Identified (August 16, 2008) -- A possible future way to prevent relapses into drug dependence has been discovered. The target is the dopamine-producing nerve cells in the midbrain. ... > full story
Resistant Prions: Can They Be Transmitted By Environment As Well As Direct Contact? (August 16, 2008) -- Prions, the pathogens that cause scrapie in sheep, can survive in the ground for several years, as researchers have discovered. Animals can become infected via contaminated pastures. It is not yet known whether the pathogens that cause BSE and CWD are equally resistant. ... > full story
Asthma In Boys May Be Just A Phase, But For Girls It May Be There To Stay (August 16, 2008) -- Boys may be more apt than girls to have childhood asthma, but, when compared to girls, they are also more likely to grow out of it in adolescence and have a decreased incidence of asthma in the post-pubertal years. ... > full story
Americans Spending, Gambling, Saving: Who's Happiest, Who's Most At Risk? (August 16, 2008) -- For some, spending in today's tumultuous economy is not a problem, especially for those who don't care what everyone else has. But for others, casino splurges, not saving enough or buying the latest iPhone on impulse can lead to emotional turmoil or financial troubles, according to several new studies on consumer behavior. ... > full story
Hope For Patients With COPD (August 16, 2008) -- For the first time, a drug therapy appears to reduce lung function loss in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to the results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 42 countries. ... > full story
Synthetic Biology Is Bearing Fruit: Blockers Against Blockers (August 16, 2008) -- Synthetic Biology is bearing fruit: the tuberculosis pathogen can be fooled by a widely used food additive. The WHO records around nine million new cases of the disease each year, and about 50 million people are infected with a strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is resistant to the antibiotics Isoniazid and Rifampicin. ... > full story
Surgical Weight Loss Does Not Eliminate Obstructive Sleep Apnea (August 16, 2008) -- A study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine shows that surgical weight loss results in an improvement of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but most patients continue to have moderate to severe OSA one year after undergoing bariatric surgery. Results of this study suggest that it is the severity of the condition, rather than a patient's presurgical weight, that determines if OSA will be resolved. ... > full story
English Health-care System Failing To Provide Basic Care, Shows Major Survey (August 16, 2008) -- The NHS and private health care are not providing good enough basic care to a large portion of the population in England, especially older and frailer people, according to a new study. Overall, only 62 percent of the care recommended for older adults is actually received, conclude the authors. ... > full story
Hepatitis B Genotypes And Mutants May Influence Liver Cancer Risk (August 15, 2008) -- Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes liver cancer in some individuals, but not all strains of the virus are associated with the same degree of risk. If confirmed, the newly reported data could help target chemoprevention strategies in the future. ... > full story
Women And War: The Toll Of Deployment On Physical Health (August 15, 2008) -- More than 80 percent of a sample of Air Force women deployed in Iraq and other areas around the world report suffering from persistent fatigue, fever, hair loss and difficulty concentrating. ... > full story
Preventing Protein Clumping Characteristic Of Parkinson's Disease With Baker's Yeast (August 15, 2008) -- Parkinson disease is a debilitating and lethal neurodegenerative disease, for which there is currently no cure. However, new data have provided evidence to support that idea that agents that disrupt the formation of the abnormal aggregates of a protein called alpha-syn that characterize the brain of individuals with PD might have therapeutic effects. ... > full story
Model For Neurological Disorder 'Angelman Syndrome' Developed (August 15, 2008) -- A model for studying the genetics of Angelman syndrome, a neurological disorder that causes mental retardation and other symptoms in one out of 15,000 births, has been developed by biologists at The University of Texas at Austin. ... > full story
In The Long Run, Exertion Regulation Wins The Day For Marathon Runners (August 15, 2008) -- Scientists have investigated the physiological methods employed by well-trained runners in order to regulate the great physical strain and effort that are needed in order to complete and perform well in marathons and other endurance challenges. ... > full story
Direct Gaze Enhances Face Perception (August 15, 2008) -- Gaze direction is significant for the processing of visual information from the human face. Researchers have discovered that the visual system of the brain processes another person's face more efficiently when the person's gaze is straight ahead than when the gaze is averted. ... > full story
Chronic Ear Infections Linked To Increased Obesity Risk; Taste Damage Can Lead To Preferences For Fatty And Sugary Foods (August 15, 2008) -- Ear infections are a painful rite of passage for many children. New research suggests the damage caused by chronic ear infections could be linked to people's preference for fatty foods, which increases their risk of being overweight as they age. Scientists from around the country presented their findings on this unexpected connection at the American Psychological Association's 116th Annual Convention here Thursday. ... > full story
Treatment With Anti-anemia Drugs May Not Be Safe For Multiple Myeloma Patients (August 15, 2008) -- A recent study demonstrated that Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, a widely used drug to treat anemia, may have a negative impact on the survival of myeloma patients. ... > full story
Timing Of Political Messages Influences Voter Preferences, Researcher Finds (August 15, 2008) -- In political campaigns, timing is almost everything. Candidates communicate with voters over a long period of time before voters actually vote. What candidates say to these voters is, of course, important, but it turns out that when they say it also influences voter preferences. ... > full story
Major Genetic Cause Of Colon Cancer Found, Linked To Unequal Gene Activity (August 15, 2008) -- Researchers have discovered that a subtle difference in the activity of a pair of genes may be responsible for one of every 10 colon-cancer cases. The work is the first to link this particular gene conclusively as a cause of colon cancer, and it may provide clinicians with a new way to identify people who are at high risk for disease. ... > full story
Why Elite Rowers Have Bigger, Stronger Hearts (August 15, 2008) -- Scientists have unraveled a potential mechanism for how top-level rowers develop enlarged strengthened hearts as a result of long-term intensive training. The research suggests a causal link between naturally occurring hormone levels and strengthening of the heart muscle in professional rowers. ... > full story
Blood Pressure Response To Daily Stress Provides Clues For Better Hypertension Treatment (August 15, 2008) -- How the body regulates blood pressure in response to daily stress is the focus of a study geared toward helping people whose pressure is out of control. ... > full story
Declaration Opposes Transplant Commercialism, Transplant Tourism And Organ Trafficking (August 15, 2008) -- All countries should take steps to govern organ donation and transplantation, thereby ensuring patient safety and prohibiting unethical practices, according to a new article. The document is a consensus of more than 150 representatives of scientific and medical bodies from around the world, government officials, social scientists and ethicists, who met in Istanbul, Turkey, this spring. ... > full story
Snooze Button For Body's Circadian Clock (August 15, 2008) -- We may use the snooze button to fine-tune our sleep cycles, but our cells have a far more meticulous and refined system. Humans, and most other organisms, have 24-hour rhythms that are regulated by a precise molecular clock that ticks inside every cell. After decades of study, researchers are still identifying all the gears involved in running this "circadian" clock and are working to put each of the molecular cogs in its place. A new study now shows how two of the key molecules interact to regulate the clock's cycle and uncovers how that switch can go haywire, identifying one potential cause of heritable sleep disorders. ... > full story
'Flu Vaccination' Protects Bacteria Against Virus (August 15, 2008) -- Bacteria – like people animals and plants – can become infected by a virus. Researchers have now unravelled a mechanism with which bacteria can defend themselves for a longer period against threatening viruses. Over the long term, this research offers possibilities to protect bacteria used in industrial processes against viral infections by giving them a 'flu vaccination'. ... > full story
Distinguishing Between Two Birds Of A Feather (August 15, 2008) -- The bird enthusiast who chronicled the adventures of a flock of red-headed conures in his book "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" knows most of the parrots by name, yet most of us would be hard pressed to tell one bird from another. While it has been known for a long time that we can become acutely attuned to our day-to-day environment, the underlying neural mechanism has been less clear. ... > full story
Risk Assessment Plays Key Role In Long-term Treatment Of Breast Cancer (August 15, 2008) -- Breast cancer patients and their physicians may make more informed, long-term treatment decisions using risk assessment strategies to help determine probability of recurrence, researchers reported. ... > full story
Wide Variety Of Errors Found In Testing Process At Family Medicine Clinics (August 15, 2008) -- The largest study to date of testing errors reported by family physician offices in the United States found that problems occur throughout the testing process and disproportionately affect minority patients. ... > full story
Structural Biology Spin-out Tackles Major Diseases (August 15, 2008) -- A spin off company from basic structural biology has led to new technology that provides a way of creating therapeutic proteins to tackle major diseases such as cancer, diabetes and infertility. ... > full story
Sequential Doxorubicin And Zoledronic Acid Have Powerful Anti-Tumor Effect In Vivo (August 15, 2008) -- The use of doxorubicin followed by zoledronic acid reduced tumor size substantially in a mouse model of breast cancer that does not have bone metastases. ... > full story
Towards Zero Training For Brain-computer Interfacing (August 15, 2008) -- While invasive electrode recordings in humans show long-term promise, noninvasive techniques can also provide effective brain-computer interfacing and localization of motor activity in the brain for paralyzed patients with significantly reduced risks and costs as well as novel applications for healthy users. However, two issues hamper the ease of use of BCI systems based on noninvasive recording techniques, such as electroencephalography. ... > full story
Public Health Clinic Study Links 'Americanization' And Depression (August 15, 2008) -- A study of 439 US and Mexican-born Latinas seeking pregnancy and postpartum services at public health clinics in San Antonio uncovered elevated levels of depression among the more "Americanized" women, report researchers in the Maternal and Child Health Journal. ... > full story
To The Moon And Mars: Psychologists Show New Ways To Deal With Health Challenges In Space (August 14, 2008) -- As NASA prepares to send humans back to the moon and then on to Mars, psychologists are exploring the challenges astronauts will face on missions that will be much longer and more demanding than previous space flights. Psychologists outlined these mental health challenges at the American Psychological Association's 116th Annual Convention, and introduced a new interactive computer program that will help address psychosocial challenges in space. ... > full story
Cocaine-induced Synaptic Plasticity Linked To Persistent Addictive Behaviors (August 14, 2008) -- The persistent nature of addiction is its most devastating feature. Understanding the mechanism underlying this phenomenon is the key for designing efficient therapy. Two separate studies published by Cell Press in the journal Neuron identify specific cocaine-induced changes in dopamine neurons that play a pivotal role in behaviors associated with drug addiction. ... > full story
Drinking Water In Gaza Strip Contaminated With High Levels Of Nitrate (August 14, 2008) -- Scientists have recommended to the authorities in the Gaza Strip that they take immediate measures to combat excessive nitrate levels in the drinking water. 90 per cent of their water samples were found to contain nitrate concentrations that were between two and eight times higher than the limit recommended by the World Health Organization. ... > full story
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