ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Tuesday, June 21, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Tuesday, June 21, 2011

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Genius of Einstein, Fourier key to new computer vision that mimics how humans perceive 3-D shapes (June 21, 2011) -- Two new techniques for computer-vision technology mimic how humans perceive three-dimensional shapes by instantly recognizing objects no matter how they are twisted or bent, an advance that could help machines see more like people. ... > full story

Every second counts when performing CPR: Increase in survival when AED used less than 10 seconds after CPR pause (June 21, 2011) -- A new study has found the number of people who survive after suffering a cardiac arrest outside a hospital drops significantly if the pause between stopping CPR and using a defibrillator to administer an electric shock is longer than 20 seconds. ... > full story

Exercise training program improves outcomes in 'Grinch Syndrome' patients (June 21, 2011) -- An exercise training program worked better than a commonly used beta blocker, significantly improving -- even curing -- patients with a debilitating heart syndrome, according to new research. ... > full story

Need a nap? Find yourself a hammock (June 21, 2011) -- For grownups, drifting off for an afternoon snooze is often easier said than done. But many of us have probably experienced just how simple it can be to catch those zzz's in a gently rocking hammock. By examining brain waves in sleeping adults, researchers now have evidence to explain why that is. ... > full story

Unexpected function of dyslexia-linked gene: Controlling cilia of cells (June 21, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered that a gene linked to dyslexia has a surprising biological function: it controls cilia, the antenna-like projections that cells use to communicate. ... > full story

Discoveries in mitochondria open new field of cancer research (June 21, 2011) -- Researchers have revealed novel mechanisms in mitochondria that have implications for cancer as well as many other age-related diseases such as Parkinson's disease, heart disease and hypertension. This discovery has pioneered the formation of a whole new field within epigenetics research ripe with possibilities of developing future gene therapies to treat cancer and age-associated diseases. ... > full story

How the immune system responds to hepatitis A virus (June 21, 2011) -- A surprising finding in a study comparing hepatitis C virus (HCV) with hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections in chimpanzees sheds new light on the nature of the body's immune response to these viruses. ... > full story

Learning from mom boosts low-income kids' school readiness (June 21, 2011) -- Previous research says on average, children living in poverty are less well prepared to start school than children from middle-income homes. Now, new research says home learning experiences may help low-income children's school readiness. ... > full story

Buzz kills: No amount of alcohol safe to drive (June 20, 2011) -- In the United States, the blood-alcohol limit may be 0.08 percent, but no amount of alcohol seems to be safe for driving, according to new research. A study finds that blood-alcohol levels well below the U.S. legal limit are associated with incapacitating injury and death. ... > full story

Signaling pathway is 'executive software' of airway stem cells (June 20, 2011) -- Researchers have found out how mouse basal cells that line airways "decide" to become one of two types of cells that assist in airway-clearing duties. The findings could help provide new therapies for either blocked or thinned airways. ... > full story

Genetic factor controls health-harming inflammation in obese: Trigger holds promise for treating diabetes, other chronic illnesses (June 20, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a genetic factor that can regulate obesity-induced inflammation that contributes to chronic health problems. ... > full story

Fat substitutes linked to weight gain: Rats on high-fat diet gained more weight after eating low-calorie potato chips made with fat substitutes (June 20, 2011) -- Synthetic fat substitutes used in low-calorie potato chips and other foods could backfire and contribute to weight gain and obesity, a new study suggests. ... > full story

First ever drug to treat ‘Celtic Gene’ in cystic fibrosis sufferers (June 20, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a new treatment for cystic fibrosis. The new drug will benefit sufferers who have the ‘Celtic Gene’, a genetic mutation which is particularly common in Ireland. ... > full story

Guidelines for ventilator use help premature infants breathe easier (June 20, 2011) -- Guidelines that reduce the use of mechanical ventilation with premature infants in favor of a gentler form of respiratory support can profoundly affect those children's outcomes while reducing the cost of care, according to new research. ... > full story

Diagnosed autism is more common in an IT-rich region, study finds (June 20, 2011) -- A new study has for the first time found that autism diagnoses are more common in an information technology-rich region. The researchers predicted that autism spectrum conditions (ASC) would be more common in populations enriched for 'systemizing', which is the drive to analyze how systems work, and to predict, control and build systems. These skills are required in disciplines such as engineering, physics, computing and mathematics. ... > full story

Discovery of parathyroid glow promises to reduce endocrine surgery risk (June 20, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered that parathyroid glands have a natural fluorescence that can be used during surgery to identify these tiny organs, which are hard to find with the naked eye. ... > full story

Inducing labor is not associated with higher rates of cesarean sections, study finds (June 20, 2011) -- Inducing labor in the weeks around term, or from week 39 to week 41, is not connected with higher rates of cesarean section compared with waiting for a later spontaneous or induced labor. ... > full story

'My dishwasher is trying to kill me': New research finds harmful fungal pathogens living in dishwasher seals (June 20, 2011) -- A potentially pathogenic fungus has found a home living in extreme conditions in some of the most common household appliances, researchers have found. A new paper shows that these sites make perfect habitats for extremotolerant fungi (which includes black yeasts). Some of these are potentially dangerous to human health. ... > full story

Informal daycare not as good for kids' cognitive development as formal daycare, study suggests (June 20, 2011) -- Formal daycare may be better for a child's cognitive development than informal care by a grandparent, sibling, or family friend, according to a study of single mothers and their childcare choices. ... > full story

Shock and recall: Negative emotion may enhance memory (June 20, 2011) -- Picture a menacing drill sergeant, a gory slaughterhouse, a devastating scene of a natural disaster. Researchers have found that viewing such emotion-laden images immediately after taking a test actually enhances people's retention of the tested material. ... > full story

High prevalence and severity of childhood food allergy in the US (June 20, 2011) -- A national study of food allergies in the US, the largest of its kind, finds that more children have food allergies than previously reported. ... > full story

Proteins used to map the aging process (June 20, 2011) -- Loss of muscle mass is not only associated with disease, such as HIV and cancer, but also with the normal aging process. New research shows that nine proteins, isolated from blood of men, alter with age but that the profile of only some of these proteins can be reversed by testosterone treatment. ... > full story

Dangers of portable pools uncovered (June 20, 2011) -- As the weather gets warmer, many parents will turn to pools to keep their family cool. Due to their low cost and ease of use, portable pools -- which include wading pools, inflatable pools and soft-sided, self-rising pools -- have become an increasingly popular alternative to expensive in-ground pools or water park visits. A new study has found that these pools may be more dangerous than many parents realize. ... > full story

Genetic mutation linked to asbestos exposure, mouse study suggests (June 20, 2011) -- Mice inhabiting an area known for its high concentration of asbestos-contaminated dust, have a higher level of genetic somatic mutations, compared with other regions where asbestos pollution levels are lower. ... > full story

New genes for risk and progression of rare brain disease identified (June 20, 2011) -- There are new genetic clues on risk factors and biological causes of a rare neurodegenerative disease called progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), according to a new study. In the largest genetics study of the disease, three new genes associated with risk for PSP were identified and two additional genetic variants affecting risk for PSP were confirmed. ... > full story

Human vaccine used to cure prostate cancer in mice (June 20, 2011) -- Scientists cured well-established prostate tumors in mice using a human vaccine with no apparent side effects. This novel cancer treatment approach encourages the immune system to rid itself of prostate tumors without assistance from toxic chemotherapies and radiation treatments. Such a treatment model could some day help people to live tumor free with fewer side effects than those experienced from current therapies. ... > full story

Cholesterol boosts antibiotic resistance in H. pylori (June 20, 2011) -- New research suggests that cholesterol boosts resistance in Helicobacter pylori both to many antibiotics and to the endogenous antimicrobial peptide, LL-37. A complete understanding of the pathway of cholesterol uptake might lead to novel strategies thwarting H. pylori by blocking that pathway. ... > full story

Early experience found critical for language development (June 20, 2011) -- Researchers studying more than 100 children who were in foster care in Romania, have found that children who were placed in foster care before they turned 2 had substantially greater language skills at age 3-1/2 than children who stayed in institutional care, with those placed by 15 months showing language skills similar to the comparison group. Findings highlight the importance of early intervention. ... > full story

Experimental radioprotective drug safe for lung cancer patients, says study (June 20, 2011) -- Patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer can safely take an experimental oral drug intended to protect healthy tissue from the effects of radiation, according to a new study. ... > full story

Noncoding RNA may promote Alzheimer's disease (June 20, 2011) -- Researchers pinpoint a small RNA that spurs cells to manufacture a particular splice variant of a key neuronal protein, potentially promoting Alzheimer's disease or other types of neurodegeneration. ... > full story

Taking tamoxifen to prevent breast cancer can save lives and money, study suggests (June 20, 2011) -- Tamoxifen, taken by certain women as a preventive measure against breast cancer, saves lives and reduces medical costs, a new study suggests. The study's results suggest that the benefits of tamoxifen to prevent cancer can sufficiently compensate for its side effects in post-menopausal women under age 55 years who have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. ... > full story

Pitchers bean more batters in the heat of the summer (June 20, 2011) -- During spring training, you will find Major League pitchers practicing their pitches, perfecting their technique and strengthening their muscles to endure the grueling 162 game season. A new study suggests that hurlers might also consider the effect these sweltering months could have on their brains. ... > full story

Scientists find candidate for new TB vaccine (June 20, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a protein secreted by tuberculosis bacteria that could be a promising new vaccine candidate. The protein could also be used to improve diagnosis of TB. ... > full story

DCIS patients who get invasive breast cancer have higher mortality, study finds (June 20, 2011) -- Women with ductal carcinoma in situ -- DCIS -- who later develop invasive breast cancer in the same breast are at higher risk of dying from breast cancer than those who do not develop invasive disease, according to a new study. ... > full story

Grab the leash: Dog walkers more likely to reach exercise benchmarks (June 20, 2011) -- Man's best friend may provide more than just faithful companionship: A new study shows people who owned and walked their dogs were 34 percent more likely to meet federal benchmarks on physical activity. The results show that promoting dog ownership and dog walking could help many Americans -- of which fewer than half meet recommended levels of leisure-time physical activity -- become healthier. ... > full story

Analysis of studies evaluates tonsillectomy techniques (June 20, 2011) -- A review of tonsillectomy-technique studies found that some new methods have advantages over traditional methods, but others are equivalent, according to a new study. ... > full story

In general, hospitals deliver appropriate surgical care to cancer patients with Medicare, study finds (June 20, 2011) -- Most hospitals follow established practice guidelines for surgery involving Medicare beneficiaries with cancer, but in some cases their practice patterns diverge from the guidelines, according to a new report. ... > full story

Acute Hepatitis A evades immune system more effectively than chronic cousin (June 20, 2011) -- Researchers thought that Hepatitis C might become chronic by disrupting the host's interferon response -- part of the innate immune system that protects the body against any kind of "foreign" invader. However, in comparing data from experiments with Hepatitis A and Hepatitis C, scientists found that Hepatitis A virus, which causes only acute, self-limited disease, is more efficient at inhibiting the host's interferon response, and that the virus can actually linger in the body for almost a year. ... > full story

Shorter pause in CPR before defibrillator use improves cardiac arrest survival (June 20, 2011) -- A shorter pause in CPR just before a defibrillator delivered an electric shock to a cardiac arrest victim's heart significantly increased survival, according to a new study. ... > full story

Bodychecking and the risk of injury in youth ice hockey (June 20, 2011) -- The age at which bodychecking is introduced in youth ice hockey does not appear to affect overall risk of injury and concussion, although introducing it at the Pee Wee level (ages 11-12) reduces the risk of injury resulting in more than seven days loss from playing time for Bantam ice hockey players (ages 13-14), found new research. ... > full story

CDT biomarker ineffective for identifying unhealthy alcohol use among HIV-infected adults (June 20, 2011) -- Researchers have found that among HIV-infected adults with alcohol problems, measuring their carbohydrate-deficient transferrin biomarker was a poor and inaccurate method for detecting unhealthy drinking. ... > full story

Prescription for healthier hospital supply chains (June 20, 2011) -- An analysis of hospital supply chains holds promise for labor (and economic) savings related to stocking the supplies used by health care providers. ... > full story

Singing furniture to enhance quality of life (June 20, 2011) -- Researchers will explore how a cross between intelligent furniture and toys can encourage children with disabilities to become more active. ... > full story

Ten percent of middle-aged Europeans are on antidepressants, study suggests (June 20, 2011) -- New research shows that 10 percent of middle-aged Europeans took antidepressants in 2010. The researchers looked in detail at the lives of a randomly selected sample of nearly 30,000 Europeans. The study covered 27 countries. ... > full story

Calorie-burning brown fat is a potential obesity treatment, researchers say (June 19, 2011) -- A new study suggests that many adults have large amounts of brown fat, the "good" fat that burns calories to keep us warm, and that it may be possible to make even more of this tissue. ... > full story

Barrett's esophagus carries lower risk of malignancy than previously reported, study finds (June 19, 2011) -- Patients with Barrett's esophagus may have a lower risk of esophageal cancer than previously reported, according to a large, long-term study. ... > full story

College students sleep longer but drink more and get lower grades when classes start later (June 19, 2011) -- Later class start times were associated with a delayed sleep schedule, which led to poorer sleep, more daytime sleepiness, and a lower grade-point average. Students with later class start times also consumed more alcohol and reported more binge drinking. Students who were "night owls" with a natural preference to stay up later were more likely than "morning types" to have a delayed sleep schedule and to consume more alcohol. The study involved 253 college students. ... > full story

Molecular movements could lead to new way to treat cancer (June 19, 2011) -- New research could point to a new way to treat aggressive types of cancer. Scientists have found that a molecule called Met is responsible for stimulating the growth and spread of cancer because it is relocating to the wrong part of the cell. Experiments in the lab suggest that moving Met molecules from the inside of the cell to the cell surface could halt the growth of cancer cells and even cause tumors to shrink. ... > full story

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