ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Wednesday, April 27, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Wednesday, April 27, 2011

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Protein inhibitor may bring a topical treatment for HPV (April 27, 2011) -- Patients infected with cancer-causing HPV may someday have an alternative to surgical and harsh chemical treatments, thanks to new research. Researchers have developed a protein-based inhibitor that could provide a topical treatment for HPV. ... > full story

Antibiotic may prove beneficial to preterm infant lung health, study suggests (April 27, 2011) -- A new study shows promise for the use of azithromycin in treating Ureaplasma-colonized or infected premature infants to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). ... > full story

Fitness and frailty in adults linked to health outcomes (April 27, 2011) -- The prevalence of frailty, which is linked to earlier death, increases throughout adulthood as people age and not just after age 65, found a new article. Relatively good fitness levels at all ages were predictive of lower mortality and less reliance on health care services. ... > full story

Advice vs. experience: Genes predict learning style (April 27, 2011) -- A new study finds a specific genetic association with adhering to advice that conflicts with experience. Variations in certain genes lead to a strong-willed prefrontal cortex that can bias the striatum, where experience is analyzed. ... > full story

Streptococci and E. coli continue to put newborns at risk for sepsis (April 27, 2011) -- Bloodstream infections in newborns can lead to serious complications with substantial morbidity and mortality. In recent years, antibiotic prophylaxis given to at-risk mothers has reduced the incidence of early-onset group B streptococcal infections among their babies. A new nationwide study shows the most frequent pathogens associated with sepsis are group B streptococci (GBS) in full-term infants and Escherichia coli in preterm infants. The study also found that infection rates in newborns increased with decreasing gestational age and birth weight. ... > full story

Gynecologic cancer expert helps pinpoint best treatment for fast-growing gestational tumors (April 27, 2011) -- A clinical trial has sifted out the most effective single-drug chemotherapy regimen for quick-growing but highly curable cancers that arise from the placentas of pregnant women. ... > full story

Key players identified in cancer cells' survival kit (April 26, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered new details of how cancer cells escape from tumor suppression mechanisms that normally prevent these damaged cells from multiplying. They also demonstrated a potential link between this cell proliferation control mechanism and the cognitive deficits caused by Down syndrome. ... > full story

Chlamydia: New method to probe genes of most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (April 26, 2011) -- In a new study, scientists describe successfully mutating specific genes of Chlamydia bacteria, which cause the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States as well as a type of blindness common in developing nations. ... > full story

Medical evidence of torture neglected in Guantánamo Bay detainees, suggests review of records (April 26, 2011) -- Inspection of medical records, case files and legal affidavits provides compelling evidence that medical personnel who treated detainees at Guantanamo Bay failed to inquire and/or document causes of physical injuries and psychological symptoms they observed in the detainees, according to a new article. ... > full story

New sensor glove may help stroke patients recover mobility (April 26, 2011) -- People who have strokes are often left with moderate to severe physical impairments. Now, thanks to a glove, stroke patients may be able to recover hand motion by playing video games. ... > full story

Scientists identify a surprising new source of cancer stem cells (April 26, 2011) -- Certain differentiated cells in breast tissue can spontaneously convert to a stem-cell-like state, according to Whitehead Institute researchers. Until now, scientific dogma has stated that differentiation is a one-way path; once cells specialize, they cannot return to the flexible stem-cell state on their own. These findings hold true for normal mammary cells as well as for breast cancer cells. ... > full story

Green environments essential for human health, research shows (April 26, 2011) -- Research shows that a walk in the park is more than just a nice way to spend an afternoon. It's an essential component for good health, according to an environment and behavior researcher. ... > full story

Link between high-fat diet and type 2 diabetes clarified (April 26, 2011) -- New research adds clarity to the connection between a high fat diet and type 2 diabetes. The study finds that saturated fatty acids but not the unsaturated type can activate immune cells to produce an inflammatory protein, called interleukin-1beta. ... > full story

How beliefs shape effort and learning (April 26, 2011) -- If it was easy to learn, it will be easy to remember -- right? Psychological scientists have maintained that nearly everyone uses this simple rule to assess their own learning. Now a new study suggests otherwise. ... > full story

King crabs invade Antarctica (April 26, 2011) -- It's like a scene out of a sci-fi movie -- thousands, possibly millions, of king crabs are marching through icy, deep-sea waters and up the Antarctic slope. Shell-crushing crabs haven't been in Antarctica, Earth's southernmost continent, for hundreds or thousands, if not millions, of years. But something has changed, and these crustaceans are poised to move by the droves up the slope and onto the shelf that surrounds Antarctica. ... > full story

A cancer marker and treatment in one? (April 26, 2011) -- Researchers say antibodies to a non-human sugar molecule commonly found in people may be useful as a future biomarker for predicting cancer risk, for diagnosing cancer cases early and, in sufficient concentration, used as a treatment for suppressing tumor growth. ... > full story

Newer oral contraceptive as safe for gall bladder as older birth-control pills, study suggests (April 26, 2011) -- Drospirenone, the top-selling oral contraceptive marketed as Yaz or Yasmin in the US and Canada, doesn't carry any more risk of gall bladder disease than the older generation of birth control pills, despite claims by some consumers and lawyers in both countries, according to a new study. ... > full story

Nanoscience may hold key to surgical recovery (April 26, 2011) -- New nano-systems developed in the UK may eventually help patients recover from surgery without the danger of allergic reactions to drugs. ... > full story

A screening test for cognitive therapy? (April 26, 2011) -- The most effective treatments for depression, including cognitive therapy, are successful for only about half the patients to whom they are given. The ability to predict those individuals who would be most likely to benefit from such treatment would reduce individuals' recovery times, eliminate the delivery of ineffective treatments, and reduce the high costs of care. ... > full story

Gene that could hold the key to muscle repair identified (April 26, 2011) -- Researchers have long questioned why patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) tend to manage well through childhood and adolescence, yet succumb to their disease in early adulthood, or why elderly people who lose muscle strength following bed rest find it difficult or impossible to regain. Now, researchers are beginning to find answers in a specialized population of cells called satellite cells. ... > full story

Radar shows promise for detecting concussions in athletes and soldiers (April 26, 2011) -- By asking an individual to walk a short distance in front of a radar system while saying the months of the year in reverse order, researchers can determine if that person is impaired and possibly suffering from a concussion. This simple test, which could be performed at sporting events or on battlefields, has the potential to help coaches and commanders decide if athletes and soldiers are ready to engage in activity again. ... > full story

Innovative screening method identifies possible new treatment for fatal childhood disease (April 26, 2011) -- Many genes that cause human diseases have parallel genes in other organisms, including yeast. Now researchers have used an innovative yeast-based screening method to identify a possible treatment for the fatal childhood disease Niemann-Pick C. This "exacerbate-reverse" approach can potentially be used to study any disease. ... > full story

Safeguarding genome integrity through extraordinary DNA repair (April 26, 2011) -- Once called "junk DNA" because it contains numerous repeated short sequences that don't code for proteins, heterochromatin is in fact vital for normal growth and function. Yet it poses special challenges to accurate DNA repair. Scientists have discovered an unsuspected and dramatic process by which double-strand breaks in heterochromatin are repaired in dynamic stages. ... > full story

Men tend to leap to judgement where women see more shades of grey, research shows (April 26, 2011) -- An experiment by researchers in the UK has found the first real evidence that men tend to make black-or-white judgements when women are more prone to see shades of grey in choices and decisions. ... > full story

Protein levels could signal that a child will develop diabetes, researchers believe (April 26, 2011) -- Decreasing blood levels of a protein that helps control inflammation may be a red flag that could help children avoid type 1 diabetes, researchers say. ... > full story

Pioneering animal diabetes treatment: Researchers adapt human continuous glucose monitors for pets (April 26, 2011) -- Researchers have changed the way veterinarians treat diabetes in animals by adapting a device used to monitor glucose in humans. ... > full story

Narcotic pain relief drug overdose deaths a national epidemic (April 26, 2011) -- Unintentional overdose deaths in teens and adults have reached epidemic proportions in the US. In some 20 states in 2007 the number of unintentional drug poisoning deaths exceeded either motor vehicle crashes or suicides, two of the leading causes of injury death. In a new commentary article, physicians cite data noting that in 2007 unintentional deaths due to prescription opioid pain killers were involved in more overdose deaths than heroin and cocaine combined. ... > full story

Scientists create stable, self-renewing neural stem cells (April 26, 2011) -- Researchers report a game-changing advance in stem cell science: the creation of long-term, self-renewing, primitive neural precursor cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) that can be directed to become many types of neuron without increased risk of tumor formation. ... > full story

Reasonable quantities of red pepper may help curb appetite, study suggests (April 26, 2011) -- Spicing up your daily diet with some red pepper can curb appetite, especially for those who don't normally eat the popular spice, according to research from Purdue University. ... > full story

Tai chi appears to benefit quality of life for patients with chronic heart failure, study finds (April 26, 2011) -- Tai chi exercise appears to be associated with improved quality of life, mood and exercise self-efficacy in patients with chronic heart failure, according to a new study. ... > full story

HIV infection may be a risk factor for heart failure (April 26, 2011) -- Patients with HIV infection without a prior history of coronary heart disease may be at a higher risk of developing heart failure, according to a new study. ... > full story

Higher levels of social activity decrease the risk of cognitive decline (April 26, 2011) -- If you want to keep your brain healthy, it turns out that visiting friends, attending parties, and even going to church might be just as good for you as crossword puzzles. According to new research, frequent social activity may help to prevent or delay cognitive decline in old age. ... > full story

Tuberculosis discovery paves way for drugs that prevent lung destruction (April 26, 2011) -- Scientists have identified a key enzyme responsible for destroying lung tissue in tuberculosis. Drugs that inhibit this enzyme are already available, meaning that the finding could lead quickly to new treatments. ... > full story

Self-powered, blood-activated sensor detects pancreatitis quickly and cheaply (April 26, 2011) -- A new low cost test for acute pancreatitis that gets results much faster than existing tests has been developed by scientists. The sensor, which could be produced for as little as a dollar, is built with a 12-cent LED light, aluminum foil, gelatin, milk protein and a few other cheap, easily obtainable materials. ... > full story

Death rates among those with high blood pressure decreasing, but still high (April 26, 2011) -- Death rates are decreasing among people with high blood pressure but remain far higher than in people without high blood pressure, according to new research. The gap between adults with and without hypertension has improved more among men than women. ... > full story

Increased computer use by adolescents cause for concern, Canadian study finds (April 26, 2011) -- Researchers in Canada have found a strong association between computer and Internet use in adolescents and engagement in multiple-risk behaviors, including illicit drug use, drunkenness and unprotected sex. ... > full story

New class of cancer drugs could work in colon cancers with genetic mutation, study finds (April 26, 2011) -- A class of drugs that shows promise in breast and ovarian cancers with BRCA gene mutations could potentially benefit colorectal cancer patients with a different genetic mutation, a new study finds. ... > full story

Targeted agent selumetinib shows promise in biliary cancer (April 26, 2011) -- The experimental agent selumetinib has shown promising results in people with advanced biliary cancer, a malignancy of the bile ducts and gall bladder, according to a multi-institutional clinical trial. Most patients are diagnosed at later stages of the disease, which has a universally poor outcome. The study provides a strong rationale for developing this agent further in larger trials, probably in combination with other drugs. ... > full story

Psychologists find unintentional racial biases may affect economic and trust decisions (April 26, 2011) -- Psychologists have found that people may make economic and trust decisions based on unconscious or unintentional racial biases. ... > full story

People in minority groups more willing to exhaust financial resources for more cancer care, study finds (April 26, 2011) -- People in minority groups, especially black Americans, are more willing than their white counterparts to exhaust their personal financial resources to prolong life after being diagnosed with lung or colorectal cancer, according to a new study. ... > full story

Intellectual disability is frequently caused by non-hereditary genetic problems, study finds (April 25, 2011) -- Mutations in a group of genes associated with brain activity frequently cause intellectual disability, according to a new study. ... > full story

Fruit flies on meth: Study explores whole-body effects of toxic drug (April 25, 2011) -- A new study in fruit flies offers a broad view of the potent and sometimes devastating molecular events that occur throughout the body as a result of methamphetamine exposure. The study tracks changes in the expression of genes and proteins throughout the body in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) exposed to meth. ... > full story

New scientific model tracks form of ovarian cancer to origins in fallopian tube (April 25, 2011) -- High-grade serous ovarian cancer is thought by many scientists to often be a fallopian tube malignancy masquerading as an ovarian one. While most of the evidence linking the cancer to the fallopian tubes has so far been only circumstantial, a new study suggests there is a direct connection, a finding that could aid in the development of better treatments. ... > full story

Biophysicist targeting IL-6 to halt breast, prostate cancer (April 25, 2011) -- A biophysicist is using supercomputer resources to search thousands of molecular combinations for the best configuration to block a protein that can cause breast or prostate cancer. ... > full story

High rates of substance abuse exist among veterans with mental illness, study finds (April 25, 2011) -- A new study reveals that veterans who suffer from mental health disorders also have high rates of substance use disorders. ... > full story

Anti-inflammatory drugs reduce effectiveness of SSRI antidepressants, study shows (April 25, 2011) -- A study in mice and in a human population shows that use of anti-inflammatory drugs reduces the effectiveness of SSRIs, the most widely used class of antidepressant medications. ... > full story

Bioengineering students' invention may help diagnose painful eye condition (April 25, 2011) -- Bioengineering students responded to an ophthalmologist's cry for help with a device to diagnose dry eye, the itching and burning sensation that results when a person doesn't produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly. ... > full story

Pelvic organs given the slip by the protein fibulin-5 (April 25, 2011) -- Pelvic organ prolapse is a disabling condition that affects almost 50 percent of women over the age of 50. New research provides insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms, identifying potential new targets for nonsurgical approaches to treating the condition. ... > full story

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