ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Thursday, June 23, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Thursday, June 23, 2011

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Breakthrough in treatment of hepatitis C (June 23, 2011) -- The drug telaprevir (Incivek) provides a dramatic improvement in the treatment of the most common form of hepatitis C infection, says an international team of investigators. ... > full story

Tracking down motion perception (June 23, 2011) -- Neurobiologists have determined the number of circuits needed to see movements. Researchers are only beginning to grasp the complexity of the nerve cell circuits necessary to perceive motion. ... > full story

Hospitalizing children with normal CT scans after blunt head trauma is not necessary, study suggests (June 23, 2011) -- A large, national multicenter study of thousands of children taken to emergency departments with minor blunt head trauma has found that most of those with normal computed tomography scans do not require hospitalization for further observation. ... > full story

Gay, lesbian, bisexual youth bullied, abused more often than peers (June 23, 2011) -- Young people who identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual, experience same-sex attractions or engage in same-sex sexual behaviors are more likely to experience sexual abuse, parental physical abuse and bullying from peers than other youth, according to a new study. In addition, the meta-analysis found these adolescents were more likely to miss school due to fear. ... > full story

Discovery offers molecular insights into link between Parkinson's and pesticides (June 23, 2011) -- Scientists have taken some of the first steps toward unraveling the molecular dysfunction that occurs when proteins are exposed to environmental toxins. Their discovery helps further explain recent findings that demonstrate the link between Parkinson's disease and two particular pesticides -- rotenone and paraquat. ... > full story

Diving a vehicle with one hand (June 23, 2011) -- A new device developed in Spain allows people with reduced mobility or weakness in the upper torso to drive a vehicle using only one hand. ... > full story

Genetic finding offers hope for orphan disease (June 23, 2011) -- New research offers hope for people with a rare disorder called Chuvash polycythemia. ... > full story

The myth of the 'queen bee': Work and sexism (June 23, 2011) -- Female bosses sometimes have a reputation for not being very nice. Some display what's called "queen bee" behavior, distancing themselves from other women and refusing to help other women as they rise through the ranks. Now, a new study concludes that it's wrong to blame the woman for this behavior; instead, blame the sexist environment. ... > full story

Corporal punishment: Mothers' self-recorded audio gives unique real-time view of spanking (June 22, 2011) -- In a new corporal punishment study based on actual audio recordings, mothers spank, slap or hit their young children, sparking crying, tantrums and whimpering. Believed to be the first study of its kind, 37 mothers recorded up to 36 hours of interactions with their children, says the psychologist involved in the study. The data capture the moments before, during and after punishment, which ranged from spanking with a belt to admonishments while hitting. ... > full story

Molecular glue sticks it to cancer (June 22, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a "molecular glue" that sticks cancer-promoting proteins to a cell's membrane -- shutting off a cancer cell's growth. ... > full story

Gold nanoparticles help earlier diagnosis of liver cancer (June 22, 2011) -- Medical researchers have devised a new technique to spot cancerous tumors in the liver as small as 5 millimeters. The technique, using gold nanoparticles, is the first to deploy metal nanoparticles as agents to enhance X-ray scattering of image tumor-like masses. ... > full story

Angioplasty may be feasible for liver transplantation candidates with heart disease (June 22, 2011) -- A small, retrospective study determined that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was safe in patients with significant coronary artery disease (CAD) who were referred for liver transplantation. Larger studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of angioplasty in patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD). ... > full story

Powerful, intoxicated, anonymous: The paradox of the disinhibited (June 22, 2011) -- Power can lead to great acts of altruism, but also corruptive, unethical behavior. Being intoxicated can lead to a first date, or a bar brawl. And the mask of anonymity can encourage one individual to let a stranger know they have toilet paper stuck to their shoe, whereas another may post salacious photos online. What is the common thread between these three disparate states? ... > full story

Weaker brain 'sync' may be early sign of autism (June 22, 2011) -- In a novel imaging study of sleeping toddlers, scientists report that a diminished ability of a young brain's hemispheres to "sync" with one another could be a powerful, new biological marker of autism, one that might enable an autism diagnosis at a very young age. ... > full story

Trigger to fatal neurodegenerative disease uncovered using computer simulation (June 22, 2011) -- A researcher has used a computer simulation to pinpoint changes in molecular structure that leads directly to Gerstmann–Sträussler–Scheinker (GSS) syndrome, a rare but deadly neurodegenerative disease. ... > full story

Church congregations can be blind to mental illness, study suggests (June 22, 2011) -- Mental illness of a family member can destroy the family's connection with the religious community, a new study by psychologists has found, leading many affected families to leave the church and their faith behind. ... > full story

Source of mystery pain uncovered (June 22, 2011) -- Scientists have found that mutations of a single gene are linked to 30 percent of cases of unexplained neuropathy. ... > full story

Angioplasty with stents may be safe in long-term for low-risk heart patients (June 22, 2011) -- Heart bypass surgery is considered the gold standard for most patients with left main coronary artery disease, one of the most serious types of heart disease and one that affects thousands. But a new study reports favorable long-term outcomes for lower-risk patients with this condition who underwent angioplasty with medication-coated stents, rather than bypass surgery. ... > full story

Nudging doctors in intensive care unit reduces deaths, study finds; Physicians for critically ill need 'copilots' to remind them of important details (June 22, 2011) -- A new study shows the mortality rate in a medical intensive care unit plummeted 50 percent when the attending physician had a checklist -- a fairly new concept in medicine -- and a trusted person prompting him to address key medical issues on the checklist if they were being overlooked. Simply using a checklist alone did not produce an improvement in mortality. ... > full story

New discoveries in diabetes suggest novel ways to treat, delay the disease (June 22, 2011) -- A new signal pathway that renders the insulin-releasing beta cell more sensitive to high levels of blood glucose has been discovered by researchers in Sweden. A second new study reveals a possible way to delay the disease by inhibiting a lipoprotein. ... > full story

Cause of a hereditary form of blindness discovered (June 22, 2011) -- Researchers in Germany have found the cause of a hereditary, progressive form of blindness: they have identified the previously unknown protein CCDC66, the loss of which initially leads to night blindness and in due course usually results in complete blindness. ... > full story

The end for ATV Johannes Kepler (June 22, 2011) -- Europe's unmanned ATV space freighter plunged on command into Earth's atmosphere today (21st June) to end its mission as a spectacular shooting star over the southern Pacific Ocean. Contact with the spacecraft was lost at 20:41:39 GMT (22:41:39 CEST) at an altitude of 80 km. ... > full story

An explanation of how advertising music affects brand perception (June 22, 2011) -- People have different emotional reactions to a product being advertised and the person announcing it if the advertisement is accompanied by jazz, swing or classical music. These are the main conclusions of a new study that analyzed the effect of the memories and emotional reactions stimulated by the music used in advertising. ... > full story

Abnormal brain structure linked to chronic cocaine abuse (June 22, 2011) -- Researchers have identified abnormal brain structures in the frontal lobe of cocaine users' brains which are linked to their compulsive cocaine-using behavior. ... > full story

A mother's determination, next-generation sequencing provide solutions for twins (June 22, 2011) -- Researchers have described how the sequencing of a set of twin's whole genome along with that of their older brother and their parents zeroed in on the gene that caused the twin's genetic disorder, which enabled physicians to fine-tune their treatment. ... > full story

Surprising connection between two types of perception (June 22, 2011) -- The brain is constantly changing as it perceives the outside world, processing and learning about everything it encounters. In a new study, scientists find a surprising connection between two types of perception: If you're looking at a group of objects and getting a general sense of them, it's difficult for your brain to learn relationships between the objects. ... > full story

Smoking may increase risk of prostate cancer recurrence, death (June 22, 2011) -- A new study suggests that men with prostate cancer who smoke increase their risk of prostate cancer recurrence and of dying from the disease. ... > full story

Diabetic kidney disease on the rise in America, despite improved diabetes care (June 22, 2011) -- Diabetic kidney disease has become more prevalent in the United States over the past 20 years, despite a substantial increase in the use of medications for the treatment of people with diabetes. These include drugs to lower glucose, blood pressure, and lipids. Findings suggest that these treatments alone are not effective in reducing diabetic kidney disease, and additional ways are needed. The real solution to preventing diabetic kidney disease is to keep diabetes from occurring in the first place. ... > full story

Lyme disease tick adapts to life on the (fragmented) prairie (June 22, 2011) -- A new study offers a detailed look at the status of Lyme disease in Central Illinois and suggests that deer ticks and the Lyme disease bacteria they host are more adaptable to new habitats than previously appreciated. ... > full story

Stem cell model offers clues to cause of inherited ALS (June 22, 2011) -- Scientists have used induced pluripotent stem cells derived from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to reveal for the first time how reduced levels of a specific protein may play a central role in causing at least one inherited form of the disease. ... > full story

Strawberries boost red blood cells, study finds (June 22, 2011) -- A group of volunteers ate half a kilo of strawberries every day for two weeks to demonstrate that eating this fruit improves the antioxidant capacity of blood. The study, carried out by Italian and Spanish researchers, showed that strawberries boost red blood cells' response to oxidative stress, an imbalance that is associated with various diseases. ... > full story

Common rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis medications are associated with reduced diabetes risk (June 22, 2011) -- Researchers sought to determine whether commonly used disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, which are directed against inflammation, might reduce the risk for developing diabetes in patients with RA or psoriasis. They found that among patients with RA or psoriasis, the risk for developing diabetes was lower for those patients who started TNF inhibitor or hydroxychloroquine. ... > full story

Anti-smoking policies for adults also reduce kids' smoking (June 22, 2011) -- In Australia adult-focused quit-smoking programs have produced an additional benefit: they have also reduced smoking among adolescents. ... > full story

Intensive-dose statin therapy associated with increased risk of diabetes (June 22, 2011) -- An analysis of data from previously published studies indicates that intensive-dose statin therapy is associated with an increased risk of new-onset diabetes compared with moderate-dose therapy, according to a study. ... > full story

Most heart-attack patients needing procedure at another hospital not transferred in recommended time (June 22, 2011) -- Only about 10 percent of patients with a certain type of heart attack who need to be transferred to another hospital for a PCI (procedures such as balloon angioplasty or stent placement used to open narrowed coronary arteries) are transferred within the recommended time of 30 minutes. ... > full story

Yeast genomes: Genetic codes for species of yeasts identified and compared (June 22, 2011) -- A team of US researchers has identified and compared the genetic codes for all known species of yeasts closely related to bakers' and brewers' yeast (the former used in pizza dough, the latter in beer), which lays the foundation for future understanding of mutation and disease, as studies of yeasts often identify key genes and mechanisms of disease. ... > full story

Depression, age, other factors linked to dependence after stroke (June 22, 2011) -- People who have a stroke are more likely to be dependent if they are depressed, older or have other medical problems, according to a new study. ... > full story

Out of sync: Neural activity is disrupted in autistic toddlers (June 22, 2011) -- A new study provides valuable insight into the neuropathology of early autism development by imaging the brains of naturally sleeping toddlers. The research identifies a brain abnormality observed at the very beginning stages of autism that may aid in early diagnosis of autism and shed light on its underlying biology. ... > full story

Positive results for unprotected left main coronary artery PCI with drug-eluting stents (June 22, 2011) -- Patients with normal left ventricular function who undergo elective unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES) had favorable outcomes according to new research, according to results of a multicenter, retrospective study. ... > full story

It's not about the money for long-term care nurses (June 22, 2011) -- Pay plays a relatively small role in a nurse's decision to stay at or leave a job in a nursing home, according to new research. In a comprehensive study of certified nursing assistants, researchers found that attitudinal factors such as job satisfaction and emotional well-being are better predictors of turnover in long-term care facilities. ... > full story

Still hope for GAD diabetes vaccine, researchers believe (June 22, 2011) -- Despite the disappointing results in trying to treat children suffering from type 1 diabetes with the GAD vaccine, the treatment has not been written off entirely. DIAPREV-IT, the study in which healthy high-risk children are vaccinated, is continuing as planned, and now with more money behind it. ... > full story

Smoking during pregnancy lowers levels of 'good' HDL cholesterol in children (June 21, 2011) -- Researchers in Australia have discovered that mothers who smoke during pregnancy are causing developmental changes to their unborn babies that lead to them having lower levels of the type of cholesterol that is known to protect against heart disease in later life -- high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. ... > full story

Decoding chronic lymphocytic leukemia (June 21, 2011) -- Researchers have identified new gene mutations in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia -- a disease often associated with lack of response to chemotherapy and poor overall survival. ... > full story

Forensics: Lamps and spectrometers used to age bruises precisely (June 21, 2011) -- Forensic scientists have to rely on their own subjective experience when asked to ascertain the age of contusions. Now, however, researchers in Norway have found a far more objective and precise method, using lamps and spectrometers. From the assembled data the researchers created a model for bruise progression over time which enables them to determine the age of the bruises more reliably. Bruises on children develop differently from on adults. Knowledge within this area could be particularly important in cases of suspected child abuse. ... > full story

Hypnosis/local anesthesia combination during surgery helps patients, reduces hospital stays, study finds (June 21, 2011) -- Anaesthesiologists have found that using a combination of hypnosis and local anaesthesia (LA) in surgery where LA is feasible but, not on its own, sufficient to ensure patient comfort, can aid healing and reduce drug use and hospital stays. ... > full story

Exercise associated with longer survival after brain cancer diagnosis (June 21, 2011) -- Brain cancer patients who are able to exercise live significantly longer than sedentary patients, scientists report. ... > full story

Device could improve harvest of stem cells from umbilical cord blood (June 21, 2011) -- A graduate student team has invented a system to significantly boost the number of stem cells collected from a newborn's umbilical cord and placenta, so that many more patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other blood disorders can be treated. ... > full story

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with different types of obesity in black and white children (June 21, 2011) -- A recent study found that while black and white children with vitamin D deficiency both had higher fat levels, black children were more likely to have higher levels of fat just under their skin and white children were more likely to have higher levels of fat between their internal organs. ... > full story

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