ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Friday, April 29, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Friday, April 29, 2011

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Heart attacks are more serious if they occur at certain times of the day (April 29, 2011) -- People who have a heart attack are likely to be more seriously affected if the attack happens in the morning, reveals new research. ... > full story

Stress and depression are associated with shorter survival in head and neck cancer patients (April 29, 2011) -- Studies have shown that stress can affect the immune system. In cancer patients this stress can also affect a tumor's ability to grow. However, the biological mechanisms that underlie such associations are not well understood. Now, researchers find that poor psychosocial functioning is associated with greater vascular endothelial growth factor expression -- a signaling protein that stimulates tumor growth and is also associated with shorter disease-free survival in head and neck cancer patients. ... > full story

Long-term poverty but not family instability affects children's cognitive development, study finds (April 29, 2011) -- Children from homes that experience persistent poverty are more likely to have their cognitive development affected than children in better off homes, reveals new research. ... > full story

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have evolved a unique chemical mechanism, new discovery reveals (April 29, 2011) -- For the first time, scientists have been able to paint a detailed chemical picture of how a particular strain of bacteria has evolved to become resistant to antibiotics. The research is a key step toward designing compounds to prevent infections by the recently evolved, drug-resistant "superbugs" that are infecting hospitalized patients and others. ... > full story

Antibiotics, not surgery, may better treat appendicitis if appendix hasn't burst, study suggests (April 29, 2011) -- Antibiotics, not surgery, may better treat childhood appendicitis when the appendix hasn't burst, according to new research. Findings suggest that nonperforating appendicitis, when the appendix hasn't burst, and nonperforating diverticulitis, which is treated with antibiotics, could be different manifestations of the same underlying process. If so, the authors say, antibiotic therapy may be the best treatment for nonperforating antibiotics. ... > full story

Adults with arthritis suffer with poorer health related quality of life (April 29, 2011) -- A new study reports that the health-related quality of life for US adults with arthritis is much worse than for those without this condition. Both physical and mental health are affected by arthritis, which poses a significant health and economic burden as the number of those diagnosed continues to climb. ... > full story

Online social network members donate personal data for public health research (April 29, 2011) -- Using a combination of Facebook-like tools and personally controlled health records, researchers have engaged members of an online diabetes social network as participants in public health surveillance. Researchers say that health-focused social networks can be viable resources for chronic disease surveillance. ... > full story

Lower risk of coronary heart disease from alcohol, even with hazardous drinking? (April 29, 2011) -- A new study suggests there may be a lower risk of coronary heart disease from alcohol, even with hazardous drinking. ... > full story

Cotton swabs prove problematic for ear health (April 28, 2011) -- A new study shows a direct association between cotton swab use and ruptured eardrum. The study also shows that in most cases the rupture heals on its own and surgery is only necessary for the most severe cases. ... > full story

Study targets treatment for serious ACE inhibitor side effect, facial, tongue and airway swelling (April 28, 2011) -- A new study takes a closer look at one of the lesser known, but potential most serious side-effects of ACE inhibitor use -- facial, tongue and airway swelling -- and identifies a successful and less invasive course of treatment. ... > full story

Artificial retinal implants must adapt to unique features of human eye to be effective, experts say (April 28, 2011) -- A professor of physics, psychology and art warns that artificial retinal implants -- a technology fast becoming a reality -- must adapt to the unique features of the human eye in order to become an effective treatment. ... > full story

Adult-supervised drinking in young teens may lead to more alcohol use, consequences (April 28, 2011) -- Allowing adolescents to drink alcohol under adult supervision does not appear to teach responsible drinking as teens get older. In fact, such a "harm-minimization" approach may actually lead to more drinking and alcohol-related consequences, according to a new study. ... > full story

Electrical oscillations found to be critical for storing spatial memories in brain (April 28, 2011) -- Biologists have discovered that electrical oscillations in the brain, long thought to play a role in organizing cognitive functions such as memory, are critically important for the brain to store the information that allows us to navigate through our physical environment. ... > full story

Being tall, obese may significantly increase risk of blood clots in deep veins (April 28, 2011) -- The combination of being tall and obese, particularly in men, may substantially raise the risk of developing potentially dangerous blood clots in veins deep in the body. If you're tall, you can reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy weight. ... > full story

New gene therapy technique on iPS cells holds promise in treating immune system disease (April 28, 2011) -- Researchers have developed an effective technique that uses gene therapy on stem cells to correct chronic granulomatous disease in cell culture, which could eventually serve as a treatment for this rare, inherited immune disorder, according to a new study. ... > full story

Social bonding in prairie voles helps guide search for autism treatments (April 28, 2011) -- Researchers are focusing on prairie voles as a new model to screen the effectiveness of drugs to treat autism. They are starting with D-cycloserine, a drug resarchers have shown enhances behavioral therapy for phobias and also promotes pair bonding among prairie voles. Giving female voles D-cycloserine, which is thought to facilitate learning and memory, can encourage them to bond with a new male more quickly than usual. ... > full story

From the beginning, the brain knows the difference between night and day (April 28, 2011) -- The brain is apparently programmed from birth to develop the ability to determine sunrise and sunset, according to new research on circadian rhythms that research sheds new light on brain plasticity and may explain some basic human behaviors. ... > full story

Mutations in single gene may have shaped human cerebral cortex (April 28, 2011) -- The size and shape of the human cerebral cortex, an evolutionary marvel responsible for everything from Shakespeare's poetry to the atomic bomb, are largely influenced by mutations in a single gene, according to new research. ... > full story

Obese adolescents lacking vitamin D, study suggests (April 28, 2011) -- A new study has found that most obese adolescents are lacking in vitamin D. The researchers call for increased surveillance of vitamin D levels in this population and for further studies to determine if normalizing vitamin D levels will help to lower the health risks associated with obesity. ... > full story

Fish livers contain beneficial fatty acids, study suggests (April 28, 2011) -- The fishing industry usually discards fish livers, but a team of researchers has confirmed that they are a good source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are beneficial to health. Anchovies are one of the fish whose livers contain the highest levels of these substances. ... > full story

Our own status affects the way our brains respond to others (April 28, 2011) -- Our own social status influences the way our brains respond to others of higher or lower rank, according to a new study. People of higher subjective socioeconomic status show greater brain activity in response to other high-ranked individuals, while those with lower status have a greater response to other low-status individuals. ... > full story

Get a whiff of this: Low-cost sensor can diagnose bacterial infections (April 28, 2011) -- Bacterial infections really stink. And that could be the key to a fast diagnosis. Researchers have demonstrated a quick, simple method to identify infectious bacteria by smell using a low-cost array of printed pigments as a chemical sensor. In only a few hours, the array not only confirms the presence of bacteria, but identifies a specific species and strain. It even can recognize antibiotic resistance -- a key factor in treatment decisions. ... > full story

Five-minute screen identifies subtle signs of autism in one-year-olds (April 28, 2011) -- A five-minute checklist that parents can fill out in pediatrician waiting rooms may someday help in the early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a new study. The study's design also provides a model for developing a network of pediatricians to adopt such a change to their practice. ... > full story

Why bariatric surgery is better than dieting alone for glucose control (April 28, 2011) -- Researchers have uncovered a new clue for why bariatric surgery is more effective than dietary remedies alone at controlling glucose levels. ... > full story

The doctor will see all of you now? Group doctor visits may be feasible for Parkinson's disease (April 28, 2011) -- Group appointments where doctors see several people for a longer time may be feasible for Parkinson's disease, according to a new study. ... > full story

Can traumatic memories be erased? (April 28, 2011) -- Can veterans of war, rape victims and people who have seen horrific crimes some day have the traumatic memories that haunt them weakened in their brains? In a new study, life scientists report a discovery that may make the reduction of such memories a reality. ... > full story

Tobacco-derived compound prevents memory loss in Alzheimer's disease mice (April 28, 2011) -- Cotinine, a compound derived from tobacco, reduced plaques associated with dementia and prevented memory loss in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, reports a new study. ... > full story

Protective T-cells, which are used in stem-cell treatment, can cause the body to attack itself (April 28, 2011) -- Researchers have made an important discovery that provides a new understanding of how our immune system "learns" not to attack our own body, and this could affect the way doctors treat patients with autoimmune diseases and cancer. ... > full story

Guns in the home provide greater health risk than benefit (April 28, 2011) -- Despite the fact that nearly one-third of American households have a firearm, studies show that having a gun in the home poses a household a greater health risk than a potential benefit. A new study examined scientific research on both sides of the debate to put hard numbers to this on-going discussion. ... > full story

Researchers reveal 18 novel subtype-dependent genetic variants for autism spectrum disorders and identify potential genetic markers for diagnostic screening (April 28, 2011) -- By dividing individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) into four subtypes according to similarity of symptoms and reanalyzing existing genome-wide genetic data on these individuals vs. controls, researchers have identified 18 novel and highly significant genetic markers for ASD. ... > full story

A less painful colonoscopy (April 28, 2011) -- Colonoscopy is regarded as the most thorough way to screen for colon cancer but it can be a painful procedure. Researchers have developed a technique that could potentially reduce patient discomfort while also ensuring the accuracy of the exam. ... > full story

Psychologists ask how well -- or badly -- we remember together (April 28, 2011) -- Several years ago, a researcher noticed a strange sort of contagion in a couple she was close to. One partner acquired dementia -- and the other lost the nourishing pleasures of joint reminiscence. "When the other person cannot validate shared memories," she says, "they are both robbed of the past." ... > full story

Microsleep: Brain regions can take short naps during wakefulness, leading to errors (April 28, 2011) -- If you've ever lost your keys or stuck the milk in the cupboard and the cereal in the refrigerator, you may have been the victim of a tired brain region that was taking a quick nap. ... > full story

New technique extends cancer-fighting cells' potency in melanoma patients (April 28, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a technique -- a form of "adoptive immunotherapy" -- that can enable anti-tumor T cells to survive in melanoma patients' bloodstreams for well over a year, in some cases. The results represent the longest that injected anti-tumor T cells have ever endured in cancer patients without the use of supplemental treatments. ... > full story

Indigenous cases of leprosy found in the Southern United States: Human contamination through contact with armadillos (April 28, 2011) -- Using advanced DNA analysis and extensive field work, an international research team has confirmed the link between leprosy infection in Americans and direct contact with armadillos. Clear evidence was found that a never-before-seen strain of Mycobacterium leprae has emerged in the Southern United States and that it is transmitted through contact with armadillos carrying the disease. ... > full story

Americans still may not be getting enough calcium (April 28, 2011) -- Americans may not be getting enough calcium in their diets, according to a new study. This study is unique among those focusing on calcium intake in the US population because both dietary and supplemental sources were evaluated across adult age groups and compared to accompanying patterns in energy intake. ... > full story

Carbohydrate adhesion gives stainless steel implants beneficial new functions (April 28, 2011) -- A new chemical bonding process can add new functions to stainless steel and make it a more useful material for implanted biomedical devices. This new process was developed to address some of the problems associated with the introduction of stainless steel into the human body. ... > full story

Power and choice are interchangeable: It's all about controlling your life (April 28, 2011) -- Having power over others and having choices in your own life share a critical foundation: control, according to a new study. New research finds that people are willing to trade one source of control for the other. For example, if people lack power, they clamor for choice, and if they have an abundance of choice they don't strive as much for power. ... > full story

Vitamin E helps diminish a type of fatty liver disease in children, study suggests (April 28, 2011) -- A specific form of vitamin E improved the most severe form of fatty liver disease in some children, according to a new study. A previous study found vitamin E effective in some adults with the disease. ... > full story

Severity of hepatitis C and HIV co-infection in mothers contribute to HCV transmission to child (April 28, 2011) -- New research shows that high maternal viral load and co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are the only risk factors associated with vertical transmission of the hepatitis C virus (HCV-VT). A variation in the infant's IL28B gene is associated independently with the spontaneous clearance of HCV genotype-1 among infected children. ... > full story

Leader beliefs about followers impact company success (April 28, 2011) -- How leaders view their employees tends to become a self-fulfilling prophecy, which affects company success. Managers’ conceptions of employees affect job satisfaction, relationships and trust. ... > full story

Avastin and Lucentis are equally effective in treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD), study suggests (April 28, 2011) -- Researchers are reporting results from the first year of a two-year clinical trial that Avastin, a drug approved to treat some cancers and that is commonly used off-label to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is as effective as the Food and Drug Administration-approved drug Lucentis for the treatment of AMD. ... > full story

Melatonin might help control weight gain and prevent heart disease associated with obesity (April 28, 2011) -- Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by the body that can also be found in some fruits and vegetables as mustard, Goji berries, almonds, sunflower seeds, cardamom, fennel, coriander and cherries. Researchers in Spain have analyzed the effects of melatonin on obesity, dyslipidemia and high blood pressure in young diabetic obese rats. ... > full story

Neurorobotics reveals brain mechanisms of self-consciousness (April 27, 2011) -- A new study uses creative engineering to unravel brain mechanisms associated with one of the most fundamental subjective human feelings: self-consciousness. The research identifies a brain region called the temporo-parietal junction as being critical for the feeling of being an entity localized at a particular position in space and for perceiving the world from this position and perspective. ... > full story

Comprehensive collection of approved drugs created to identify new therapies (April 27, 2011) -- Researchers have begun screening the first definitive collection of thousands of approved drugs for clinical use against rare and neglected diseases. They are hunting for additional uses of the drugs hoping to find off-label therapies, for some of the 6,000 rare diseases that afflict 25 million Americans. ... > full story

Medical sleuthing linked muscle, kidney problems to kava tea (April 27, 2011) -- When a 34-year-old bicyclist was found collapsed on a roadside and rushed to the emergency room on the verge of kidney failure and muscle breakdown, doctors were surprised to discover that a trendy tea derived from the kava plant was the cause of his ills. ... > full story

1918 influenza pandemic (Spanish flu): Large differences in mortality between urban and isolated rural areas (April 27, 2011) -- In urban communities, less than 1 in 100 inhabitants died from Spanish flu in 1918, but in isolated communities up to 9 out of 10 died. An important explanation for the differences is due to different exposure to influenza in the decades before the Spanish flu came. Those living in urban communities probably had a higher degree of pre-existing immunity that protected against illness and death in 1918 than those living in very isolated rural areas. ... > full story

Cholesterol drugs may improve blood flow after stroke (April 27, 2011) -- Cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins may help clot-busting drugs treat strokes, according to researchers. ... > full story