ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Monday, August 25, 2008
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Uncertainties Prevail Over Human Health Benefits Of Polyphenols (August 25, 2008) -- Despite scores of studies documenting the effects of healthful plant nutrients called polyphenols in protecting nerves from damage, it would be "unwise" to assume that the same protective effects occur for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other human disorders, a new report concludes. ... > full story
How Cancer Cells Come Unstuck And Spread (August 25, 2008) -- Scientists have started a three-year study into the junctions that hold cells together, giving insight into how cancer cells can break off and spread to other parts of the body. ... > full story
LipidomicNet: New Lipidomics Project Promotes Translational Research Towards Human Disease (August 25, 2008) -- The enormous advances in biology and biomedical research during the last decade originate mainly from the fields of Genomics and Proteomics. The current revolution in lipid analysis, however, promises change. For the first time the methodological possibilities are available to map the entire spectrum of lipids in cells, tissues and whole organisms. ... > full story
Part Of The In-group? A Surprising New Strategy Helps Reduce Unhealthy Behaviors (August 25, 2008) -- Public health campaigns intended to reduce unhealthy behaviors like binge drinking and eating junk food often focus on the risks of those behaviors. But a new study suggests a relatively simple but surprisingly effective strategy to improve consumer health. ... > full story
Picking Out Specific Sounds In A Complex Scene: Researchers Study 'Cocktail Party Effect', Measure Auditory Dynamics Of Selective Attention (August 25, 2008) -- In complex scenes such as noisy parties or crowded restaurants, it is more difficult to follow a conversation involving many people, than to focus on one talker at one location. This auditory ability to switch attention and, in the next instant, reset focus to a new speaker, is something about which little is known -- until now. ... > full story
Joint Trauma: Cartilage Repair Gel To Improve Quality Of Life (August 25, 2008) -- Scientists are developing a cartilage repair gel to improve the quality of life for people suffering with medical joint trouble such as osteoarthritis. ... > full story
79 Million US Adults Have Medical Bill Problems Or Are Paying Off Medical Debt (August 25, 2008) -- The proportion of working-age Americans who have medical bill problems or who are paying off medical debt climbed from 34 percent to 41 percent between 2005 and 2007, bringing the total to 72 million, according to recent survey findings from The Commonwealth Fund. In addition, 7 million adults age 65 and over also had problems paying medical bills, for a total of 79 million adults with medical bill problems or medical debt. ... > full story
Study Examines Testing Model To Predict And Diagnose New Cases Of Dementia (August 25, 2008) -- A preliminary report suggests that within-person variability on neuropsychological testing may be associated with development of dementia in older adults. ... > full story
The Big Gulp: Consumers Avoid Extremes In Soda Sizes (August 25, 2008) -- As portion sizes have increased, Americans' waistlines have expanded. And as a new study demonstrates, consumers are tricked into drinking more soft drinks when retailers eliminate small drink sizes. ... > full story
How Well Do Antimicrobial Products Kill Biofilms? (August 24, 2008) -- Scientist Darla Goeres knows that there is more than one way to grow a biofilm, a fact that she uses to make sure that when a product claims it kills "99 percent" of bacteria, it really does the job. Biofilms are the extremely common communities of bacteria that form on most wet surfaces. They range from the plaque on teeth to the slime on streamside rocks to the sludge that clogs pipes. ... > full story
Seeing Through Tooth Decay (August 24, 2008) -- Dental caries afflict at least 90 percent of the world's population at some time in their lives. Detecting the first signs of this disease, which can be lethal in extreme cases, just got easier thanks to work discussed in the latest issue of the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology. ... > full story
Candy-coating Keeps Proteins Sweet (August 24, 2008) -- Researchers have developed a fast, inexpensive and effective method for evaluating the sugars pharmaceutical companies use to stabilize protein-based drugs for storage at room temperature. ... > full story
Ventriloquism In Motion: How Sound Can Move Light (August 24, 2008) -- New research confirms that what we see can sometimes depend as much on our ears as on our eyes. ... > full story
'Cutting By Color': New Imaging Technique For More Precise Cancer Surgery (August 24, 2008) -- Instead of "paint by number," you might call it "cutting by color": Researchers in Massachusetts now report development and early clinical trials of a new imaging system that highlights cancerous tissue in the body so that surgeons can more easily see and remove diseased tissue with less damage to normal tissue near the tumor. Their research will be presented in August at the American Chemical Society national meeting in Philadelphia. ... > full story
Going From Ulcers To Cancer (August 24, 2008) -- Researchers have uncovered a big clue as to why some of the bacteria that cause stomach ulcers pose a greater risk for serious problems like stomach cancer than others; it turns out these bacteria can exploit the surrounding stomach cells to protect them from the immune system. ... > full story
Addiction Treatment Proves Successful In Animal Weight Loss Study (August 24, 2008) -- Vigabatrin, a medication proposed as a potential treatment for drug addiction, also leads to rapid weight loss and reduced food intake according to a new animal study from the same research group. Genetically bred 'fat rats' experience dramatic weight loss, reduced food intake after being given vigabatrin. Vigabatrin is currently undergoing US Food and Drug Administration-approved Phase II clinical trials against cocaine and methamphetamine addiction across the US. ... > full story
Insight Into Physiologic Role Of Blood Protein Factor XII Finally Revealed (August 24, 2008) -- The formation of a blood clot is the culmination of a series of events that involve a number of proteins in the bloodstream, including Factor XI, which is one of the proteins activated early on in this cascade of events. ... > full story
Snacks In Small Packages May Lead To Overeating (August 24, 2008) -- Tempting treats are being offered in small package sizes these days, presumably to help consumers reduce portion sizes. Yet new research found that people actually consume more high-calorie snacks when they are in small packages than large ones. And smaller packages make people more likely to give in to temptation in the first place. ... > full story
Enzyme New Potential Target In Treating Blood Cancer (August 24, 2008) -- A discovery by researchers in Sweden may lead to new treatments for blood cancer and other diseases. By stopping the production of a specific enzyme, ICMT, researchers were able to alleviate disease symptoms in mice with blood cancer. ... > full story
Biodegradable Polymers Show Promise For Improving Treatment Of Acute Inflammatory Diseases (August 24, 2008) -- A family of biodegradable polymers called polyketals and their derivatives may improve treatment for such inflammatory illnesses as acute lung injury, acute liver failure and inflammatory bowel disease by delivering drugs, proteins and snips of ribonucleic acid to disease locations in the body. ... > full story
Characteristics, Treatment Options For XXYY Syndrome (August 24, 2008) -- Researchers have described the medical and psychological characteristics of a rare genetic disorder in which males have two "X" and two "Y" chromosomes, rather than the normal one of each. ... > full story
The Older The Fatter: Longitudinal Study About Overweight Children (August 24, 2008) -- Fast food and soda instead of fruits and vegetables: the consequences can already be seen in children – more and more of them suffer from overweight and adiposity. But what are the reasons? In what way are they connected, for example, with social status and body weight of the parents? ... > full story
Rapid Test For Pathogens: Could Be Used To Detect Diseases Used By Bioterrorists (August 23, 2008) -- Dangerous disease often spreads faster than it takes to diagnose it in the lab. To remedy that, researchers at Kansas State University have developed a test to bring that time from days down to hours. ... > full story
Stroke Incidence Declines Among Swedish Diabetics (August 23, 2008) -- The incidence of strokes among both diabetics and nondiabetics in Northern Sweden declined between 1985 and 2003. The overall decline in strokes among diabetics may be partly due to more intensive treatment of hypertension, smoking cessation and cholesterol-lowering efforts. More recurrent strokes occurred among diabetic than nondiabetic patients, so more intensive secondary prevention for diabetic patients is needed. ... > full story
Insomnia: Changing Your Bedtime Habits Could Help (August 23, 2008) -- Many people sleep better when they are on holiday, and wish that they could sleep as well all the time. But according to the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care, it is not only being free of daily worries that can make a difference to sleep. Good bedtime habits can help people to sleep well all year-round. Medication provides short-term relief at best. ... > full story
Drugs To Inhibit Blood Vessel Growth Show Promise In Rat Model Of Deadly Brain Tumor (August 23, 2008) -- Drugs used to inhibit a specific fatty acid in rat brains with glioblastoma-like tumors not only reduced new blood vessel growth and tumor size dramatically, but also prolonged survival. ... > full story
Compression Stockings Incorrectly Used In 29 Percent Of Patients (August 23, 2008) -- Graduated compression stockings were used incorrectly in 29 percent of the patients and sized incorrectly in 26 percent of the patients according to new research. These stockings play an important role in preventing the formation of deep vein clots that can result in pulmonary complications and death. ... > full story
Biological Chips For Disease Detection, Drug Discovery, Now Easy To Make With New Method (August 23, 2008) -- Scientists have developed a new and fast method for making biological ‘chips’ – technology that could lead to quick testing for serious diseases, fast detection of MRSA infections and rapid discovery of new drugs. Protein chips – or ‘protein arrays’ as they are more commonly known – are objects such as slides that have proteins attached to them and allow important scientific data about the behavior of proteins to be gathered. ... > full story
Hormone Replacement Therapy Improves Sleep, Sexuality And Joint Pain In Older Women (August 23, 2008) -- One of the world's longest and largest trials of hormone replacement therapy has found that post-menopausal women on HRT gain significant improvements in quality of life. ... > full story
Dense Tissue Promotes Aggressive Cancers (August 23, 2008) -- New research may explain why breast cancer tends to be more aggressive in women with denser breast tissue. Breast cancer cells grown in dense, rigid surroundings step up their invasive activities, according to a new article in Current Biology. ... > full story
New Insights Into The Regulation Of PTEN Tumor Suppression Function (August 23, 2008) -- New findings define a pathway that maintains PTEN in the nucleus and offer a novel target for enhancing this gene's tumor suppressive function. ... > full story
Is It Possible To Teach Experience? European Researchers Say Yes (August 23, 2008) -- Business veterans claim you cannot teach ‘experience’, but European researchers say you can. The team developed software that helps players acquire real-life skills and realistic experiences through game playing. But this game is no executive toy. ... > full story
Some Cells Self-destruct For The Greater Common Good (August 22, 2008) -- Individual cells in a population of bacteria can sacrifice their lives for others to achieve a greater common good. Biologists have described a new biological concept in which self-sacrifice and self-destruction play an important role. ... > full story
Why A Common Treatment For Prostate Cancer Ultimately Fails (August 22, 2008) -- Some of the drugs given to many men during their fight against prostate cancer can actually spur some cancer cells to grow, researchers have found. ... > full story
For Coronary Artery Disease Patients, B Vitamins May Not Reduce Cardiovascular Events (August 22, 2008) -- In a large clinical trial involving patients with coronary artery disease, use of B vitamins was not effective for preventing death or cardiovascular events, according to a study published in the Aug. 20 issue of JAMA. ... > full story
Elderly Patients Less Likely To Be Transported To Trauma Centers Than Younger Patients (August 22, 2008) -- Elderly trauma patients appear to be less likely than younger patients to be transported to a trauma center, possibly because of unconscious age bias among emergency medical services personnel, according to a report in the August issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. ... > full story
Malaria Researchers Identify New Mosquito Virus (August 22, 2008) -- Researchers have identified a previously unknown virus that is infectious to Anopheles gambiae -- the mosquito primarily responsible for transmitting malaria. ... > full story
Researchers Test New Vaccine To Fight Multiple Influenza Strains (August 22, 2008) -- A universal vaccine effective against several strains of influenza has passed its first phase of testing. VaxInnate's M2e universal vaccine could possibly protect against seasonal and pandemic influenza strains. ... > full story
Pre-school Age Exercises Can Prevent Dyslexia, New Research Shows (August 22, 2008) -- Atypical characteristics of children’s linguistic development are early signs of the risk of developing reading and writing disabilities, or dyslexia. New research points to preventive exercises as an effective means to tackle the challenges children face when learning to read. ... > full story
Compounds Have Potential For Diagnosis, Treatment Of Alzheimer's Disease (August 22, 2008) -- New research suggests that a select group of compounds that interact with a protein in the brain might be used in the early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other dementia disorders. Scientists have discovered that these compounds interact in three specific ways with the tau protein, which is the subject of a growing body of research into the causes and progression of dementia. ... > full story
To Protect Against Liver Disease, Body Puts Cells 'Under Arrest' (August 22, 2008) -- A stable form of cell-cycle arrest known to offer potent protection against cancer also limits liver fibrosis, a condition characterized by an excess of fibrous tissue, according to a new report. ... > full story
Turning Up The Heat On Tomatoes Boosts Absorption Of Lycopene (August 22, 2008) -- Turning up the heat on the red tomato during processing has the potential to give the popular garden staple added disease-fighting power. Scientists have found that lycopene molecules in tomatoes that are combined with fat and subjected to intense heat during processing are restructured in a way that appears to ease their transport into the bloodstream and tissue. The tomato is the primary food source of lycopene, a naturally occurring pigment linked to the prevention of cancer and other chronic diseases. ... > full story
Positive Thinking May Protect Against Breast Cancer (August 22, 2008) -- Feelings of happiness and optimism play a positive role against breast cancer. New research suggests that while staying positive has a protective role, adverse life events such as the loss of a parent or close relative, divorce or the loss of a spouse can increase a woman's risk of developing the disease. ... > full story
Killer Carbs: Scientist Finds Key To Overeating As We Age (August 22, 2008) -- Scientist has discovered key appetite control cells in the human brain degenerate over time, causing increased hunger and, potentially, weight gain as we grow older. ... > full story
Tobacco Industry's Marketing Linked To Youth Smoking (August 22, 2008) -- The National Cancer Institute has released a report that reaches the government's strongest conclusion to date that tobacco marketing and depictions of smoking in movies promote youth smoking. ... > full story
Pinpointing Alzheimer's Structures (August 22, 2008) -- MIT engineers report a new approach to identifying protein structures key to Alzheimer's disease, an important step toward the development of new drugs that could prevent such structures from forming. ... > full story
Molecule That Keeps Pathogens Like Salmonella In Check Uncovered (August 22, 2008) -- Scientists have found a potential new way to stop the bacteria that cause gastroenteritis, tularemia and severe diarrhea from making people sick. ... > full story
Coatings To Help Medical Implants Connect With Neurons (August 22, 2008) -- Plastic coatings could someday help neural implants treat conditions as diverse as Parkinson's disease and macular degeneration. The coatings encourage neurons in the body to grow and connect with the electrodes that provide treatment. ... > full story
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