ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Tuesday, May 24, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.

Children learn language in moments of insight, not gradually through repeated exposure, study shows (May 24, 2011) -- Psychologists believe they are overturning the dominant theory of how children learn their first words, suggesting that it occurs more in moments of insight than gradually through repeated exposure. ... > full story

Risk of newborn death cut in half when pregancy lasts 39 weeks, new research finds (May 24, 2011) -- Although the overall risk of death is small, a new study found that it more than doubles for infants born at 37 weeks of pregnancy, when compared to babies born at 40 weeks. In 2006, the infant mortality rate was 1.9 for every 1,000 live births for babies born at 40 weeks of pregnancy. The mortality rate increased to 3.9 per 1,000 when a baby was born at 37 weeks of pregnancy. ... > full story

New device could reduce surgical scarring (May 24, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a special wound dressing that they report was able to significantly reduced scar tissue caused by incisions. ... > full story

Apparent genetic link to prostate cancer in African-American men determined (May 24, 2011) -- Some men of African descent may have a higher genetic risk of developing prostate cancer, according to new research. The genome-wide association study determined a marker of risk for prostate cancer in men of African descent, who tend to more susceptible to prostate cancer than men of non-African descent. ... > full story

Globalization exposes food supply to unsanitary practices, scientists say (May 24, 2011) -- As the United States continues to import increasingly more of its food from developing nations, we are putting ourselves at greater risk of foodborne disease as many of these countries do not have the same sanitary standards as the U.S. for production, especially in the case of seafood and fresh produce, say scientists. In 2010 over 80% of fish and seafood consumed in the United States was imported, and much of that came from Asia. Raw domestic sewage and/or livestock manure are frequently used in fish farming in many Asian countries. In Thailand some chicken coops sit in rows suspended over ponds that hold shrimp and fish that feed on the waste that falls from above. ... > full story

Scientists identify most proteins made by parasitic worm (May 24, 2011) -- Scientists have completed a large-scale analysis of most of the proteins produced by Brugia malayi, one kind of parasitic worm that causes lymphatic filariasis, or elephantiasis. The greatly swollen lower limbs that can result from chronic infection with this mosquito-borne parasite can be severely disabling. ... > full story

Quicker detection and treatment of severe sepsis (May 24, 2011) -- Sepsis is the name of an infection that causes a series of reactions in the body, which in the worst case can prove fatal. The problem for both patients and doctors is that the early symptoms are difficult to distinguish from less dangerous infections such as a severe flu or winter vomiting disease. A researcher in Sweden has now discovered a substance in the blood which shows both whether a patient has sepsis and how serious the case is. ... > full story

Poorer reading skills following changed computer habits of children (May 24, 2011) -- Sweden and the US are two countries in which increased leisure use of computers by children can lead to poorer reading ability, according to a new analysis. ... > full story

Breast cancer linked to obesity gene, new research suggests (May 23, 2011) -- New research aimed to better identify the genetic factors that lead to breast cancer has uncovered a link between the obesity gene and a higher incidence of breast cancer. ... > full story

Used football faceshields are susceptible to breaking on impact (May 23, 2011) -- Game-worn football faceshields are more susceptible to breaking when subjected to high-velocity impact than are new faceshields, according to new research. Researchers shot baseballs at new and used polycarbonate faceshields. All of the new shields withstood the strongest impact tested, which was designed to match the force of a kick to the face. More than a third of the game-worn faceshields fractured in response to the testing, which included lower forces of impact as well. ... > full story

US home births increase 20 percent from 2004 to 2008 (May 23, 2011) -- After a gradual decline from 1990 to 2004, a new study finds that United States births occurring at home increased by 20 percent between 2004 and 2008. ... > full story

Genome regions that could influence severity of cystic fibrosis identified (May 23, 2011) -- Scientists have pinpointed regions of the genome that contribute to the debilitating lung disease that is the hallmark of cystic fibrosis. ... > full story

OCD: Compulsions lead to obsessions, not the other way around (May 23, 2011) -- New scientific evidence challenges a popular conception that behaviors such as repetitive hand-washing, characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), are carried out in response to disturbing obsessive fears. ... > full story

Shave biopsy is a safe and acceptable method for initial evaluation of melanoma, study suggests (May 23, 2011) -- A shave biopsy is a reasonably safe and accurate method for the initial diagnosis of melanoma, according to a new study. In the past, some physicians have criticized shave biopsies for not providing accurate T (tumor) stage information, thereby complicating treatment planning. ... > full story

More Americans praying about health, study says; No correlation found between prayer for health and lack of health insurance (May 23, 2011) -- Praying about health issues dramatically increased among American adults over the past three decades, rising 36 percent between 1999 and 2007, according to a new study. ... > full story

Mummies tell history of a 'modern' plague (May 23, 2011) -- Mummies from along the Nile are revealing how age-old irrigation techniques may have boosted the plague of schistosomiasis, a water-borne parasitic disease that infects an estimated 200 million people today. An analysis by scientists of mummies from Nubia, a former kingdom located in present-day Sudan, provides details for the first time about the prevalence of the disease in ancient times, and how human alteration of the environment may have contributed to its spread. ... > full story

Comfort food: Protein from probiotic bacteria may alleviate inflammatory bowel disorders (May 23, 2011) -- A protein isolated from beneficial bacteria found in yogurt and dairy products could offer a new, oral therapeutic option for inflammatory bowel disorders, a new study suggests. ... > full story

Pre-meal dietary supplement can help overcome fat and sugar problems, study suggests (May 23, 2011) -- A little bitter with a little sweet, in the form of a nano-complex dietary supplement taken before meals, can result in a substantial reduction of fat and sugar absorption in the body, researchers have found. ... > full story

Genomics and social network analysis team up to solve disease outbreaks (May 23, 2011) -- Combining the cutting-edge technology of whole genome sequencing of bacteria with social networking analysis, public health officials can get a more detailed picture of disease outbreaks that will better help track and stop them, say researchers say. ... > full story

Whites believe they are victims of racism more often than blacks, study suggests (May 23, 2011) -- Whites believe they are the primary victims of racial bias in America, a new study suggests. Whites and blacks agree that anti-black racism has decreased. However, whites believe that "reverse racism" has increased and is now a bigger problem than anti-black racism -- despite the fact that societal disparities still show worse outcomes for blacks than whites in income, home ownership, health and jobs, the study's authors say. ... > full story

Ulcer bacteria may contribute to development of Parkinson's disease (May 23, 2011) -- The stomach bacteria responsible for ulcers could also play a role in the development of Parkinson's disease according to new research. ... > full story

To bluff, or not to bluff? Modern-day game theory techniques sheds light on legendary military bluffs (May 23, 2011) -- In a new article, an economist has used game theory to explore two of the most famous military bluffs in history. ... > full story

Mucus: Fighting the war against pollutants (May 23, 2011) -- Researchers have found that mucus, which was thought to protect our bodies against harmful pollutants, in fact may leave our bodies more vulnerable to them. But the discovery may prove useful in enabling some drugs to enter cells and treat diseases like cancer. ... > full story

Human brain's most ubiquitous cell cultivated in lab dish (May 23, 2011) -- Stem cell researchers have been able to direct embryonic and induced human stem cells to become astrocytes in the lab dish. ... > full story

Scientists find new drug target in breast cancer (May 23, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a new protein involved in the development of drug resistance in breast cancer which could be a target for new treatments. ... > full story

Study identifies novel role for a protein that could lead to new treatments for rheumatoid arthritis (May 23, 2011) -- A new study by rheumatologists has shown that a powerful pro-inflammatory protein, tumor necrosis factor, can also suppress aspects of inflammation. The researchers say the identification of the mechanism of how this occurs could potentially lead to new treatments for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. ... > full story

Younger doctors prescribe more drugs to reduce heart risk but offer less lifestyle advice, study finds (May 23, 2011) -- Patients with heart disease risks are more likely to be prescribed cardiovascular (CV) drugs if they see a younger doctor and recommended to change their lifestyle if they see an older doctor, according to new research. ... > full story

Scientists observe single gene activity in living cells in detail for first time (May 23, 2011) -- Researchers have for the first time observed the activity of a single gene in living cells. In an unprecedented study, scientists were able to follow, in real time, the process of gene transcription, which occurs when a gene converts its DNA information into molecules of messenger RNA that go on to make the protein coded by the gene. ... > full story

A new program for neural stem cells (May 23, 2011) -- Neural stem cells can do a lot, but not everything. For example, brain and spinal cord cells are not usually generated by neural stem cells of the peripheral nervous system, and it is not possible to produce cells of the peripheral nervous system from the stem cells of the brain. However, researchers have now succeeded in producing central nervous system cells from neural stem cells of the peripheral nervous system. They found that if peripheral stem cells are maintained under defined growth conditions, they generate oligodendrocytes, which form the myelin layer that surrounds the neurons found in the brain and spinal cord. ... > full story

New method to localize the epileptic focus in severe epilepsy (May 23, 2011) -- Medical researchers have started to utilize stereo-EEG method for localizing the epileptic focus in severe epilepsy for epilepsy surgery purposes. They are getting ready to introduce the so-called deep brain stimulation therapy in the treatment of epilepsy. ... > full story

'Death anxiety' prompts people to believe in intelligent design, reject evolution, study suggests (May 23, 2011) -- Researchers have found that people's 'death anxiety' can influence them to support theories of intelligent design and reject evolutionary theory. ... > full story

A direct path for understanding and treating brittle bones (May 23, 2011) -- Researchers have new insights into the means by which bone cells produce new bone in response to mechanical stresses, such as exercise. New findings lay a path for developing new strategies for treating diseases characterized by low bone density, such as osteoporosis in adults and osteogenesis imperfecta in children. ... > full story

Evolutionary conservation of fat metabolism pathways (May 23, 2011) -- A new study recently revealed just how similarly mammals and insects make critical metabolic adjustments when food availability changes, either due to environmental catastrophe or everyday changes in sleep/wake cycles. Those findings may suggest novel ways to treat metabolic conditions such as obesity and type II diabetes. ... > full story

Enzyme essential for healthy lung development discovered (May 23, 2011) -- Dysregulation of cell polarity has been associated with developmental disorders and cancer. Until now, little has been know about what controls it. Investigators have now determined that Eya1 phosphatase regulates cell polarity in lung epithelial stem cells. ... > full story

States should be allowed to implement key health reform law provisions early, experts say (May 23, 2011) -- More than eight of 10 leaders in health and health care policy (82 percent) believe states should be allowed to implement key provisions of the Affordable Care Act early with full federal support, ahead of the timeline outlined in the law. Such key provisions include expanding Medicaid eligibility to cover more low-income families and creating insurance exchanges with premium subsidies. ... > full story

New resource developed to encourage undergraduate research experiences (May 23, 2011) -- College educators around the nation who are discovering the unique value of research experiences for undergraduate students now have a new tool available to them -- a "program in a box" detailing exactly how such experiences can be created, used and implemented. ... > full story

Epstein-Barr virus could be risk factor for multiple sclerosis, study suggests (May 22, 2011) -- While there is no cause known for multiple sclerosis, patients with MS seem to have genetic vulnerability to certain environmental factors that could trigger this condition, such as the Epstein-Barr virus. Scientists have now found a link between the Epstein-Barr virus --- which belongs to the herpes viruses family --- and the development of this condition. ... > full story

Embryonic cells: Predicting fate of personalized cells may be next step toward new therapies (May 22, 2011) -- Discovering the step-by-step details of the path embryonic cells take to develop into their final tissue type is the clinical goal of many stem cell biologists. To that end, researchers looked at immature cells called progenitors and found a way to potentially predict their fate. They base this on how the protein spools around which DNA winds -- called histones -- are marked by other proteins. ... > full story

Chinese herbal paste may help prevent exacerbations of COPD (May 22, 2011) -- A traditional Chinese herbal paste known as Xiao Chuan, or XCP, may help reduce winter exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to a new study conducted by researchers in Beijing. The paste has been used to treat breathing difficulties in China for more than a thousand years. ... > full story

Video game effects on kids: Not all black and white, expert argues (May 22, 2011) -- A new article argues that existing video game literature can't be classified in black and white terms. Instead, there's a vast gray area when considering the multiple dimensions of video game effects on kids -- with at least five dimensions on which video games can affect players simultaneously. ... > full story

Marker identifies breast cancer patients likely to respond to tamoxifen (May 22, 2011) -- Cancer researchers have discovered a biomarker in breast cancer that may help identify which women will respond to anti-estrogen therapy. ... > full story

How retinas develop: Scientists make strides in vision research (May 22, 2011) -- New research is contributing to the basic biological understanding of how retinas develop. In two new studies, scientists document how they used mice as a research model organism to show that the size of different populations of retinal neurons display wide-ranging variability among individuals. ... > full story

Scientists discover switch to speed up stem cell production (May 22, 2011) -- A team of scientists from Singapore have shown how proteins involved in controlling genes work together to carry out their functions in stem cells and demonstrated for the very first time, how they can change interaction partners to make other types of cells. ... > full story

Driving errors increase with age among older drivers: Blind-spot errors most common mistake (May 22, 2011) -- Even healthy adults with a safe driving record tend to make more driving errors as they age, including potentially dangerous mistakes, such as failing to check blind spots, according to a new study. ... > full story

Adult stem cells take root in livers and repair damage (May 22, 2011) -- Researchers have demonstrated that human liver cells derived from adult cells coaxed into an embryonic state can engraft and begin regenerating liver tissue in mice with chronic liver damage. ... > full story

'Blueprint' for blocking MMP may unlock new treatments for deadly blood infection (May 22, 2011) -- Researchers studying the life threatening infectious disease sepsis have discovered how the infection can lead to a fatal inflammatory response through blood vessel cells. The research focuses on blocking crucial matrix metalloprotease enzymes (MMP) which activate the response. ... > full story

Sensitivity to alcohol can lead to greater consumption and risk for alcoholism (May 22, 2011) -- Children with a family history of alcoholism (FHP) have a higher risk for becoming alcoholic themselves. Of the two classifications of alcoholism -- types I and II -- the former is less severe but more prevalent. New findings show that a "moderate" alcohol dose can increase subjective responses of stimulation and elevate positive mood state in individuals with an FHP of type I alcoholism. ... > full story

Enlarged prostate: Study demonstrates immediate and long-term benefits of laser treatment (May 21, 2011) -- New research demonstrates that holmium laser therapy is a safe and durable treatment option for benign prostatic hyperplasia -- an enlargement of the prostate that affects most men as they age. ... > full story

This message was sent to ranggomas.techdeck@blogger.com from:

ScienceDaily | 1 Research Court, Suite 450 | Rockville, MD 20850

Email Marketing by