ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Thursday, June 30, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Thursday, June 30, 2011

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Nanoparticles disguised as red blood cells to deliver cancer-fighting drugs (June 30, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a novel method of disguising nanoparticles as red blood cells, which will enable them to evade the body's immune system and deliver cancer-fighting drugs straight to a tumor. ... > full story

New therapy for childhood neuroblastoma proves feasible and safe, study finds (June 30, 2011) -- A new treatment option may soon be available for children with neuroblastoma, according to new research. ... > full story

Internet program reduces infant and toddler sleep problems, helps moms sleep better too (June 30, 2011) -- A new study demonstrates that an Internet-based intervention was effective at reducing infant and toddler sleep disturbances, as well as providing positive, indirect benefits for maternal sleep, mood and confidence. The study suggests that the Internet can give parents widespread access to individualized, behaviorally based advice for sleep problems in young children. ... > full story

Text message support for smokers doubles quit rates (June 30, 2011) -- Cell phones could hold the key to people giving up smoking after a program involving sending motivational and supportive text messages to smokers doubled quit rates at six months. ... > full story

Possible way to make bladder cancer cells more susceptible to chemotherapy (June 30, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a way of sensitizing muscle-invasive bladder cancer cells so that they succumb to the toxic effects of chemotherapy. ... > full story

Blocking molecular target could make more cancers treatable with PARP inhibitors (June 30, 2011) -- Researchers have demonstrated a molecular strategy they say could make a much larger variety of tumors treatable with PARP inhibitors, a promising new class of cancer drugs. They report that the BRCA1 repair protein is dependent on the protein CDK1. When the scientists blocked CDK1 in cancer cell lines and in a mouse model of lung cancer, BRCA1 function was disrupted, making them susceptible to being killed by a PARP inhibitor. ... > full story

Outpatient electronic prescribing systems don't cut out common mistakes, study suggests (June 30, 2011) -- Outpatient electronic prescribing systems don't cut out the common mistakes made in manual systems, new research suggests. ... > full story

Flexible schedule is key to keeping working moms on the job (June 30, 2011) -- Women who return to work after giving birth are more likely to stay on the job if they have greater control over their work schedules. Researchers also found that job security and the ability to make use of a variety of their job skills leads to greater retention of working moms, while the impact of work-related stress on their physical and mental health causes greater turnover. ... > full story

Components of speech recognition pathway in humans identified (June 29, 2011) -- Neuroscientists have defined, for the first time, three different processing stages that a human brain needs to identify sounds such as speech -- and discovered that they are the same as ones identified in non-human primates. ... > full story

New malaria protein structure upends theory of how cells grow and move (June 29, 2011) -- Researchers have now overturned conventional wisdom on how cell movement across all species is controlled, solving the structure of a protein that cuts power to the cell "motor". The protein could be a potential drug target for future malaria and anti-cancer treatments. ... > full story

Model of a migraine indicates increased neuronal excitability as a possible cause (June 29, 2011) -- Familial hemiplegic migraine is a rare and severe subtype of migraine with aura, an unusual sensory experience preceding the migraine attack. Researchers in Italy have developed a mouse model of familial hemiplegic migraine type 2 and used it to investigate the migraine's cause. ... > full story

Can soda tax curb obesity? Surprising reason why soda tax to reduce obesity won't work (June 29, 2011) -- To many, a tax on soda is a no-brainer in advancing the nation's war on obesity. Advocates point to a number of recent studies in that conclude that sugary drinks have a lot to do with why Americans are getting fatter. But obese people tend to drink diet sodas, and therefore taxing soft drinks with added sugar or other sweeteners is not a good weapon in combating obesity, according to a new study. ... > full story

Who's happy? How long we look at happy faces is in our genes (June 29, 2011) -- Though we all depend on reading people's faces, each of us sees others' faces a bit differently. At one end of this spectrum people with autism spectrum conditions look less at other people's faces, and have trouble understanding others people's feelings. New research has found variations of the cannabinoid receptor gene that alter the amount of time people spend looking at happy faces. ... > full story

Multiple sclerosis-like disease discovered in monkeys (June 29, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a naturally occurring disease in monkeys that is very much like multiple sclerosis in humans -- a discovery that could have a major impact on efforts to understand the cause of multiple sclerosis. ... > full story

Ghrelin likely involved in why we choose 'comfort foods' when stressed (June 29, 2011) -- A new study suggests that ghrelin -- the so-called "hunger hormone" -- is involved in why some people turn to "comfort foods" when stressed. ... > full story

SIV-resistant monkeys close the gates to viral infection (June 29, 2011) -- Sooty mangabeys, a type of African monkey, can survive infection by SIV, a relative of HIV, and not succumb to AIDS. Researchers have now identified a way some of sooty mangabeys' immune cells resist infection: they close the gates that SIV and HIV use to get into the cell. The findings may lead to strategies to help HIV-infected individuals cope better with infection. ... > full story

Many Americans approve of stem cell research for curing serious diseases (June 29, 2011) -- While research using human embryonic stem cells has roused political controversy for almost two decades, little has been done to scientifically assess American attitudes on the subject. New research provides decision-makers with a much clearer picture of how their constituents truly feel about the subject. ... > full story

Low body fat may not lower risk for heart disease and diabetes, genetic study shows (June 29, 2011) -- Having a lower percentage of body fat may not always lower your risk for heart disease and diabetes, according to a new study. ... > full story

Mechanism by which chronic stress causes brain disease identified (June 29, 2011) -- Chronic stress has long been linked with neurodegeneration. Scientists at now think they may know why. ... > full story

Lack of empathy following traumatic brain injury associated with reduced responsiveness to anger (June 29, 2011) -- Egocentric, self-centred, and insensitive to the needs of others: these social problems often arise in people with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and have been attributed in part to a loss of emotional empathy, the capacity to recognise and understand the emotions of other people. A new study has recently revealed evidence of a relationship between physiological responses to anger and a reduction of emotional empathy post-injury. ... > full story

Natural gases as a therapy for heart disease? (June 29, 2011) -- An understanding of the interaction between hydrogen sulphide (the 'rotten eggs' gas) and nitric oxide, both naturally occurring in the body, could lead to the development of new therapies and interventions to treat heart failure. Researchers have analyzed the complex "cross talk" between hydrogen sulfide and nitric oxide, both gasses that occur naturally in the body, and found that the interaction may offer potential strategies in the management of heart failure. ... > full story

A happy life is a long one for orangutans (June 29, 2011) -- New research has shown that happier orangutans live longer which may provide insight into the evolution of happiness in humans. Researchers asked keepers who work with orangutans to answer questions about happiness on the animals' behalf. Orangutans which were scored as happier by their keepers were more likely to live longer. ... > full story

Evolution of skin and ovarian cancer cells (June 29, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a way to uncover the evolution of human cancer cells, determining the order in which mutations emerge in them as they wend their way from a normal, healthy state into invasive, malignant masses. ... > full story

Dyslexia linked to difficulties in perceiving rhythmic patterns in music (June 29, 2011) -- Children with dyslexia often find it difficult to count the number of syllables in spoken words or to determine whether words rhyme. These subtle difficulties are seen across languages with different writing systems and they indicate that the dyslexic brain has trouble processing the way that sounds in spoken language are structured. Researchers have now shown, using a music task, that this is linked to a broader difficulty in perceiving rhythmic patterns, or metrical structure. ... > full story

Children’s hay fever relieved by cellulose powder without adverse effects, study suggests (June 29, 2011) -- A cellulose powder has been used increasingly for many years against allergic rhinitis. Still, there has been a shortage of scientific evidence for its efficacy in seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever), particularly in children. Now, however, scientists have shown that the cellulose powder reduces symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis in children. Researchers did not find any adverse effects. ... > full story

New molecular pathway involved in wound-healing and temperature sensation (June 29, 2011) -- Scientists have identified a surprising new molecular pathway in skin cells that is involved in wound-healing and sensory communication. ... > full story

Chemical produced in pancreas prevented and reversed diabetes in mice (June 29, 2011) -- A chemical produced by the same cells that make insulin in the pancreas prevented and even reversed Type 1 diabetes in mice. ... > full story

Genes influence memory and sense of orientation (June 29, 2011) -- How do our brains process memory and sense of orientation? Scientists are gaining insight by studying rats with implanted genes that prompt neurons to fire on command. ... > full story

New procedure treats atrial fibrillation (June 29, 2011) -- Doctors are now performing a new procedure to treat atrial fibrillation, a common irregular heartbeat. The "hybrid" procedure combines minimally invasive surgical techniques with the latest advances in catheter ablation. The two-pronged approach gives doctors access to both the inside and outside of the heart at the same time, helping to more completely block the erratic electrical signals that cause atrial fibrillation. ... > full story

Mood and experience: Life comes at you (June 29, 2011) -- Living through weddings or divorces, job losses and children's triumphs, we sometimes feel better and sometimes feel worse. But, psychologists observe, we tend to drift back to a "set point" -- a stable resting point, or baseline, in the mind's level of contentment or unease. Research has shown that the set points for depression and anxiety are particularly stable over time. Why? ... > full story

Surgeon shows simple cotton swab slashes post-surgical wound infections (June 29, 2011) -- A simple item found in almost every medicine cabinet -- a cotton swab -- may be a key tool in the fight against post-surgical wound infections. ... > full story

Quality of hospital care in US territories appears lower than in US states, report finds (June 29, 2011) -- Hospitals in US territories appear to have poorer outcomes and higher mortality rates for patients with acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), heart failure or pneumonia, compared to hospitals in US states, according to a new report. ... > full story

Black members of Adventist church defy health disparities, study shows (June 29, 2011) -- Health disparities between black Americans and the rest of the nation have been well-documented in medical journals. But one study shows that blacks who identify as members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church actually report a better quality of life than the average American. Researchers point to certain lifestyle behaviors as a possible explanation for the difference. ... > full story

BPA-exposed male deer mice are demasculinized and undesirable to females, new study finds (June 29, 2011) -- The latest research shows that BPA causes male deer mice to become demasculinized and behave more like females in their spatial navigational abilities, leading scientists to conclude that exposure to BPA during human development could be damaging to behavioral and cognitive traits that are unique to each sex and important in reproduction. ... > full story

Finding could lead to reduced side effects in anti-cancer antibiotics (June 29, 2011) -- Most of us have had a doctor prescribe an antibiotic for a stubborn bacterial infection, or for a cut that gets infected. However, prescribing an antibiotic to fight cancer? In fact, anti-cancer antibiotics have been used since the 1950s to successfully treat several forms of cancer, but often the side effects limit the duration they can be given to a patient. Newly published results show how the anti-cancer antibiotic Geldanamycin and its derivative 17AAG work in more detail and have uncovered a possible explanation for side effects observed in clinical trials of the drug. ... > full story

Obesity is a killer in nonsmoking women (June 29, 2011) -- Obesity is an important contributor to premature death in women who have never smoked, especially among women in low income groups, new research finds. ... > full story

Peat wildfire smoke linked to heart failure risk (June 29, 2011) -- The 2008 peat bog wildfires in North Carolina led to an increase in emergency room visits for respiratory and cardiovascular effects, records show. ... > full story

Alcohol blamed for high suicide rates in Northern Ireland (June 29, 2011) -- Alcohol and drugs are fueling homicide and suicide rates in Northern Ireland, a new independent report has found, with alcohol appearing to be a key factor for the country's higher suicide rates, including among mental health patients, compared to England and Wales. ... > full story

European Society of Cardiology calls for greater awareness of potential for adverse events from bleeding as a result of PCI (June 29, 2011) -- The European Society of Cardiology is calling for greater attention to be paid by health care staff to reducing bleeding in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), and for increased research in the field. ... > full story

Screening with low-dose spiral CT scanning reduces lung cancer deaths by 20 percent (June 29, 2011) -- Current or heavy smokers who were screened with low-dose spiral computed tomography (CT) scanning had a 20 percent reduction in deaths from lung cancer than did those who were screened by chest X-ray, according to results from a decade-long, large clinical trial that involved more than 53,000 people. ... > full story

Lung cancer screening trial shows screening with CT scans reduces lung cancer deaths (June 29, 2011) -- Results of the National Lung Screening Trial show a 20 percent reduction in lung cancer deaths among participants screened with CT scans versus those screened with chest X-ray. The NLST enrolled 53,000 current and former heavy smokers ages 55-74 at 33 sites across the United States. ... > full story

Study confirms CT lung cancer screens save lives; other analyses underway (June 29, 2011) -- A new report confirms an initial announcement by the National Cancer Institute of a 20-percent reduction in lung cancer deaths in heavy smokers by using helical low-dose CT screening versus X-rays. The study provides a deeper description of that finding, but does not yet answer important questions about cost-effectiveness, health care utilization, or changes in smoking behavior. Those analyses are underway and results could be available later this year. ... > full story

Lung cancer screening program: Experts mobilize after national clinical trial shows CT scanning reduces deaths by 20 percent (June 29, 2011) -- Current and former heavy smokers can now be screened more effectively for lung cancer. Results from the National Lung Screening Trial revealed that detecting small lung cancers with computed tomography reduces lung cancer specific mortality by 20 percent. ... > full story

Parent-adolescent cell phone conversations reveal a lot about the relationship (June 29, 2011) -- The nature of cell phone communication between a parent and adolescent child can affect the quality of their relationship, and much depends on who initiates the call and the purpose and tone of the conversation, according to a new study. ... > full story

Sequence of ovarian genome identifies predominant gene mutations, points to possible treatment (June 29, 2011) -- The genome of the most common form of ovarian cancer is characterized by a few common gene mutations but also surprisingly frequent structural changes in the genome itself, said members of the Cancer Genome Atlas that sequenced and analyzed more than 300 such tumors. The study was the first to achieve an overview of this type of ovarian cancer. ... > full story

Workplace mental health disability leave recurs sooner than physical health leave, CAMH study shows (June 29, 2011) -- The recurrence of an employee's medical leave of absence from work tends to happen much sooner with a mental health leave than a physical one, a new study shows. ... > full story

Public prefers limited informed consent process for biobanks (June 29, 2011) -- A new study examined people's preferences with respect to whether and how informed consent should be obtained for the collection and use of tissue samples for research. The results will help researchers develop appropriate informed consent protocols for a new comprehensive tissue biobank. ... > full story

Mystery ingredient in coffee boosts protection against Alzheimer's disease, study finds (June 28, 2011) -- An unidentified coffee component combined with caffeine increases a growth factor that counters Alzheimer's pathology in mice, according to new research. ... > full story