ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Tuesday, August 16, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Tuesday, August 16, 2011

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Pre-pregnancy overweight may program teen asthma symptoms (August 16, 2011) -- Moms who are overweight or obese when they become pregnant may be programming their children to have asthma -- like respiratory symptoms during adolescence, suggests new research. ... > full story

New anti-inflammatory agents silence overactive immune response (August 16, 2011) -- A new way to fight inflammation uses molecules called polymers to mop up the debris of damaged cells before the immune system becomes abnormally active, researchers report. ... > full story

The nag factor: How do children convince their parents to buy unhealthy foods? (August 16, 2011) -- To better understand the media's impact on children's health, a team of researchers examined the "nag factor." The "nag factor" is the tendency of children, who are bombarded with marketers' messages, to unrelentingly request advertised items. ... > full story

Salmonella stays deadly with a 'beta' version of cell behavior (August 16, 2011) -- Salmonella cells have hijacked the protein-building process to maintain their ability to cause illness, new research suggests. Scientists say that these bacteria have modified what has long been considered typical cell behavior by using a beta form of an amino acid -- as opposed to an alpha form -- during the act of making proteins. ... > full story

Enzyme found disrupting nerve cell communication in Alzheimer's disease (August 16, 2011) -- Researchers have found that beta-amyloid-induced destruction of synapses -- connections that mediate communication between nerve cells -- is driven by a chemical modification to the enzyme Cdk5. This altered form of Cdk5 (SNO-Cdk5) was prevalent in human Alzheimer's disease brains, but not in normal brains, suggesting that SNO-Cdk5 could be targeted for the development of new Alzheimer's disease therapies. ... > full story

Stem cells central to pathogenesis of mature lymphoid tumors (August 16, 2011) -- New research suggests that blood stem cells can be involved in the generation of leukemia, even when the leukemia is caused by the abnormal proliferation of mature cells. The study may guide future strategies aimed at identifying therapeutic targets for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. ... > full story

Pathogen research inspires robotics design for medicine and military (August 16, 2011) -- Researchers have made significant findings about the swimming and attachment of the microorganism Giardia. The findings can aid in designs for drug discovery and underwater vehicles. ... > full story

Jailhouse phone calls reveal why domestic violence victims recant (August 16, 2011) -- A new study uses -- for the first time -- recorded jailhouse telephone conversations between men charged with felony domestic violence and their victims to help reveal why some victims decide not to follow through on the charges. Researchers listened to telephone conversations between 17 accused male abusers in a Washington state detention facility and their female victims, all of whom decided to withdraw their accusations of abuse. ... > full story

E. coli, Salmonella may lurk in unwashable places in produce (August 15, 2011) -- Sanitizing the outside of produce may not be enough to remove harmful food pathogens, according to a new study that demonstrated that Salmonella and E. coli can live inside plant tissues. ... > full story

Molecular delivery truck serves gene therapy cocktail (August 15, 2011) -- In a kind of molecular gymnastics, scientists have devised a gene therapy cocktail that has the potential to treat some inherited diseases associated with "misfolded" proteins. ... > full story

How excess alcohol depresses immune function (August 15, 2011) -- Alcoholism suppresses the immune system, resulting in a high risk of serious, and even life-threatening infections. A new study shows that this effect stems largely from alcohol's toxicity to immune system cells called dendritic cells. These cells play a critical role in immune function, responding to danger signals by searching for unfamiliar antigens within the body that would be coming from invading microbes, and presenting such antigens to T cells, thus activating them to seek and destroy cells containing these antigens. ... > full story

Inflexibility may give pupils with autism problems in multitasking (August 15, 2011) -- Young people with autism may find it difficult to multitask because they stick rigidly to tasks in the order they are given to them, according to new research. ... > full story

Inhibiting key enzymes kills difficult tumor cells in mice (August 15, 2011) -- Tumors that do not respond to chemotherapy are the target of a cancer therapy that prevents the function of two enzymes in mouse tumor cells, according to medical researchers. ... > full story

Scientists find easier, cheaper way to make a sought-after chemical modification to pharmaceuticals (August 15, 2011) -- Scientists have devised a much easier technique for performing a chemical modification used widely in the synthesis of drugs and other products. ... > full story

Psychologists interrupt the miserable cycle of social insecurity (August 15, 2011) -- Tom likes Susan but he fears she does not like him. Expecting to be rejected, he's cold toward Susan. And guess what? She snubs him back. His prophesy is self-fulfilled, his social insecurity reinforced. The miserable cycle continues. ... > full story

Profound reorganization in brains of adults who stutter: Auditory-motor integration located in different part of brain (August 15, 2011) -- Hearing Beethoven while reciting Shakespeare can suppress even a King's stutter, as recently illustrated in the movie "The King's Speech". This dramatic but short-lived effect of hiding the sound of one's own speech indicates that the integration of hearing and motor functions plays some role in the fluency (or dysfluency) of speech. New research has shown that in adults who have stuttered since childhood the processes of auditory-motor integration are indeed located in a different part of the brain to those in adults who do not stutter. ... > full story

Pathway of infection for a common, potentially life-threatening respiratory virus described (August 15, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a new treatment target for a virus that causes severe lung infections and an estimated 10 percent of common colds. ... > full story

New insight into the regulation of stem cells and cancer cells (August 15, 2011) -- Scientists have gained new insight into the delicate relationship between two proteins that, when out of balance, can prevent the normal development of stem cells in the heart and may also be important in some types of cancer. ... > full story

Conflict levels don't change much over course of marriage (August 15, 2011) -- Think about how much you fight and argue with your spouse today. A new study suggests that your current level of conflict probably won't change much for the remainder of your marriage. That may be good news for the 16 percent of couples who report little conflict or even the 60 percent who have only moderate levels of conflict. But it's not such happy news for the 22 percent of couples who say they fight and argue with each other a lot. ... > full story

Exercise may help prevent brain damage caused by Alzheimer's disease (August 15, 2011) -- Regular exercise could help prevent brain damage associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, according to new research. ... > full story

Maternal IV fluids linked to newborns' weight loss (August 15, 2011) -- A newborn baby's weight loss is often used to determine how well a baby is breastfeeding. However, many women receive IV fluids during labor, and new research shows that some of a newborn's initial weight loss may be due to the infant regulating its hydration and not related to a lack of breast milk. ... > full story

Women's quest to be 'romantically desirable' can conflict with scientific pursuits, study suggests (August 15, 2011) -- Four new studies have found that when a woman's goal is to be romantically desirable, she distances herself from academic majors and activities related to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). ... > full story

New clue to Parkinson's: Shape of key protein surprises researchers (August 15, 2011) -- Alpha-synuclein -- a protein that forms clumps in the brains of patients with Parkinson's -- has likely been mischaracterized. Scientists have long assumed that alpha-synuclein occurs in healthy cells as a single, randomly-coiled chain of chemical building blocks. This study, however, demonstrates that alpha-synuclein occurs in healthy cells as a tidy package assembled from four identical chains with orderly folds. The finding opens the door to a new therapeutic approach. ... > full story

A VIP for normal brain development (August 15, 2011) -- New research has identified a signaling pathway key for normal brain development in mice. Of paramount importance, the data generated suggest that environmental factors, including maternal ones, can influence the final size of the brain. ... > full story

Male acts of bravery increase accidental death: Effects of male aggression in response to insult most felt in states with 'culture of honor', study suggests (August 15, 2011) -- Men sometimes prove themselves by taking risks that demonstrate their toughness and bravery. Putting yourself in peril might establish manliness, but it can also lead to high rates of accidental death, particularly among men who live in states with a "culture of honor," according to a new study. ... > full story

New discovery may eliminate potentially lethal side effect of stem cell therapy (August 15, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a way to remove these pluripotent human embryonic stem cells from their progeny before the differentiated cells are used in humans. ... > full story

Use of CT scans in emergency rooms increased 330 percent in 12 years, U.S. study shows (August 15, 2011) -- A review of national U.S. data from 1996 through 2007 reveals a sharp uptick in the use of computed tomography, or CT, scans to diagnose illnesses in emergency departments, a new study finds. The rate of CT use grew 11 times faster than the rate of ED visits during the study period. ... > full story

TV time: Why children watch multi-screens (August 15, 2011) -- New research examines the relationship children have with electronic viewing devices and their habits of interacting with more than one at a time. ... > full story

Scientists have new help finding their way around brain's nooks and crannies (August 15, 2011) -- Like explorers mapping a new planet, scientists probing the brain need every type of landmark they can get. Each mountain, river or forest helps scientists find their way through the intricacies of the human brain. Researchers have now developed a new technique that provides rapid access to brain landmarks formerly only available at autopsy. Better brain maps will result, speeding efforts to understand how the brain works. ... > full story

In quest for new therapies, clinician-scientist team unlocks hidden information in human genome (August 15, 2011) -- Researchers created a model resource that not only identifies but also outlines the function of some of the most common mutations in the human genome. At a time when research linking genetic mutations to disease risk is booming, scientists are pursuing what they think is an even more significant path: They are zeroing in on how certain mutations work, information they believe will guide the development of new treatment options. ... > full story

Seeing a neurologist helps people with Parkinson's live longer, study suggests (August 15, 2011) -- People with Parkinson's disease who go to a neurologist for their care are more likely to live longer, less likely to be placed in a nursing home and less likely to break a hip than people who go to a primary care physician, according to a new study. ... > full story

How do consumers revise their unreachable goals? (August 15, 2011) -- Most consumers spend their lives setting -- and revising -- goals. Authors of a new study have unveiled a new model that captures the dynamics of goal revision. ... > full story

Arthritis sufferers' increased risk of heart disease due to disease-related inflammation and other factors, study finds (August 15, 2011) -- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sufferers are at an increased risk of dying due to cardiovascular disease. A new five-year study showed that the risk of cardiovascular disease for people with RA is due to disease-related inflammation as well as the risk factors which affect the general population. Treatment of arthritis with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs also reduced the patient's risk of heart disease. ... > full story

How fatty diets cause diabetes (August 15, 2011) -- Scientists show that dietary fats interfere with an enzyme called GnT-4a glycosyltransferase, which is required for proper retention of glucose transporters in pancreatic beta cell membranes. Without functioning GnT-4a, clinical signs of diabetes emerged in mice fed a high-fat diet. The team is now considering methods to augment the enzyme's activity in humans, as a means to prevent or treat type 2 diabetes. ... > full story

Trastuzumab raises risk of heart problems in the elderly with history of heart disease or diabetes, study suggests (August 15, 2011) -- The first study to investigate the effect of the breast cancer drug trastuzumab (Herceptin) on heart and vascular function in elderly patients has found that it increases the risk of heart problems, particularly in women with a history of heart disease, diabetes or both. ... > full story

When you can recite a poem but not remember who asked you to learn it a few days earlier (August 15, 2011) -- Memory is not a single process but is made up of several sub-processes relying on different areas of the brain. Episodic memory, the ability to remember specific events such as what you did yesterday, is known to be vulnerable to brain damage involving the hippocampus. The question is, what happens when damage to the hippocampus occurs very early in life? Clinical neuropsychologists have now reported that a child can develop normally despite severe damage to the hippocampus resulting from lack of oxygen in the first days of life. This supports the theory that the different aspects of memory rely on distinct areas of the brain. ... > full story

The aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 polymorphism affects alcohol dependence differently by gender (August 15, 2011) -- Gender differences exist in the prevalence, characteristics, and course of alcohol dependence (AD). Polymorphisms of alcohol dehydrogenase-1B (ADH1B) and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) are strong genetic determinants of AD. While inactive ALDH2 traditionally delays the development of AD in men, a new study has found that inactive ALDH2 can accelerate the development of AD in women. ... > full story

Childhood cancer survivors in poor health at greater risk for unemployment in adulthood (August 15, 2011) -- Childhood cancer survivors with poor physical health and neurocognitive deficits are more likely to be unemployed or work part-time in adulthood, according to a new study. ... > full story

Chicago's south side suffers most from unhealthy neighborhoods (August 15, 2011) -- The south and southwest sides of Chicago suffer the most in terms of residents' health and access to basic health resources, according to a new study of 77 Chicago neighborhoods. The study was released on the eve of the city's new agenda to improve residents' health. ... > full story

Like humans, chimps are born with immature forebrains (August 14, 2011) -- In both chimpanzees and humans, portions of the brain that are critical for complex cognitive functions, including decision-making, self-awareness and creativity, are immature at birth. But there are important differences, too. Baby chimpanzees don't show the same dramatic increase in the volume of prefrontal white matter in the brain that human infants do. ... > full story

New treatment option for advanced prostate cancer (August 14, 2011) -- Prostate cancer that has become resistant to hormone treatment and that does not respond to radiation or chemotherapy requires new methods of treatment. By attacking stem cell-like cells in prostate cancer, researchers are working on a project to develop a new treatment option. ... > full story

New experimental vaccine against chikungunya virus created (August 14, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a new candidate vaccine to protect against chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne pathogen that produces an intensely painful and often chronic arthritic disease that has stricken millions of people in India, Southeast Asia and Africa. ... > full story

Schoolchildren can also learn complex subject matters on their own, researchers find (August 14, 2011) -- Self-directed learning has long been heralded as the key to successful education. Yet until now, there has been little research into this theory. Educational researchers in Germany have now shown that schoolchildren can independently develop strategies for solving complex mathematical tasks, with weaker students proving just as capable as their stronger classmates. ... > full story

New non-invasive technology shows promise in shrinking liver tumors (August 14, 2011) -- A potential new option is beginning to emerge for patients with the fastest growing form of cancer in the United States, according to new research. ... > full story

Higher estrogen production in the breast could confer greater cancer risk than thought (August 14, 2011) -- Could some women who naturally produce excess aromatase in their breasts have an increased risk of developing breast cancer? Investigators say their mice study shows that overproduction of aromatase, which converts testosterone into estrogen, in breast tissue is even more important in pushing breast cancer development than excess production of the estrogen receptor that the hormone uses to activate mammary cells. ... > full story

How the visual system constructs moving objects: One by one (August 14, 2011) -- Although our eyes record the word as millions of pixels, "the visual system is fantastic at giving us a world that looks like objects, not pixels," says psychologist Steven L. Franconeri. It does this by grouping areas of the world with similar characteristics, such as color, shape, or motion. ... > full story

Scientists highlight link between stress and appetite (August 13, 2011) -- Researchers have uncovered a mechanism by which stress increases food drive in rats. This new discovery could provide important insight into why stress is thought to be one of the underlying contributors to obesity. ... > full story

If fat dogs are cool, could fat people be, too? (August 13, 2011) -- Fat dogs are cool. And obese people may be, too. That's what new research suggests. ... > full story