ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Monday, August 29, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Monday, August 29, 2011

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Genetic link to mesothelioma discovered (August 28, 2011) -- Scientists have found that individuals who carry a mutation in a gene called BAP1 are susceptible to developing two forms of cancer -- mesothelioma, and melanoma of the eye. Additionally, when these individuals are exposed to asbestos or similar mineral fibers, their risk of developing mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen, is markedly increased. ... > full story

In cell culture, like real estate, the neighborhood matters (August 28, 2011) -- Ever since scientists first began growing human cells in lab dishes in 1952, they have focused on improving the chemical soup that feeds the cells and helps regulate their growth. But surfaces also matter, research shows. ... > full story

Research from Everest: Can leucine help burn fat and spare muscle tissue during exercise? (August 28, 2011) -- Research on Mt. Everest climbers is adding to the evidence that an amino acid called leucine -- found in foods, dietary supplements, energy bars and other products -- may help people burn fat during periods of food restriction, such as climbing at high altitude, while keeping their muscle tissue. ... > full story

Eradicating dangerous bacteria may cause permanent harm (August 28, 2011) -- In the zeal to eliminate dangerous bacteria, it is possible that we are also permanently killing off beneficial bacteria as well, an expert warns. ... > full story

Rare immune cell is asset and liability in fighting infection (August 28, 2011) -- The same trait that makes a rare immune cell invaluable in fighting some infections also can be exploited by other diseases to cause harm, two new studies show. ... > full story

Cholera pandemic's source discovered (August 28, 2011) -- Researchers have used next generation sequencing to trace the source and explain the spread of the latest cholera pandemic. Their work reveals that the current pandemic can be traced back to an ancestor organism that appeared 40 years ago in the Bay of Bengal. From this ancestor, cholera has spread repeatedly to different parts of the world in multiple waves. The team also show antibiotic resistance was first acquired around 1982. ... > full story

Labor of love: Physically active moms-to-be give babies a head start on heart health (August 28, 2011) -- For those pregnant women out there who might not be feeling all that motivated, or anything but energized, new research could tip the scales: It turns out that exercising during pregnancy might be the earliest intervention strategy available to you for improving your child's heart health after birth. ... > full story

Prevention gaps in 17 low, middle and high income countries involving over 150,000 people (August 28, 2011) -- There is great under-use of proven therapies for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, according to results presented from the PURE (Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological) study. ... > full story

Prospective evaluation of post-prandial triglycerides and cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease (August 28, 2011) -- The Homburg Cream and Sugar (HCS) study was designed to determine whether the measurement of postprandial triglyceride in addition to the assessment of glucose tolerance and traditional risk factors might improve the prediction of cardiovascular events. ... > full story

Efficacy and safety of apixaban compared to warfarin for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism (August 28, 2011) -- A large-scale trial finds that apixaban, a new anticoagulant drug, is superior to the standard drug warfarin for preventing stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. Moreover, apixaban results in substantially less bleeding, and also results in lower mortality. The benefits of apixaban are consistent irrespective of how well warfarin is used at different centers, as measure by "time in therapeutic range." ... > full story

Worse postoperative outcomes for critically ill patients bridged to urgent heart transplantation with VADs than with conventional therapy, study suggests (August 28, 2011) -- Postoperative outcomes of severe heart failure patients bridged with short-term VADs to urgent (~ status UNOS 1A) heart transplantation are significantly worse than those of patients bridged with conventional support, recent data suggest. ... > full story

Could a tumor suppressor also fight obesity? Research reveals hormone receptor GCC's role in appetite (August 27, 2011) -- The hormone receptor guanylyl cyclase C (GCC) has been established as a suppressor of colorectal cancer tumors, but new evidence suggests it may also help fight one of the country's biggest pandemics: obesity. ... > full story

Novel control of Dengue fever (August 27, 2011) -- The spread of Dengue fever in northern Australia may be controlled by a bacterium that infects mosquitoes that harbor the virus, researchers report. ... > full story

Wide gap in immune responses of people exposed to the flu (August 27, 2011) -- Why do some folks who take every precaution still get the flu, while others never even get the sniffles? It comes down to a person's immune system response to the flu virus, according to new research. In one of the first known studies of its kind, researchers used genomics to begin to unravel what in our complex genomic data accounts for why some get sick while others don't. ... > full story

Greater impact of chemotherapy on fertility (August 27, 2011) -- Current estimates of the impact of chemotherapy on women's reproductive health are too low, according to a new study. The researchers say their analysis of the age-specific, long-term effects of chemotherapy provides new insights that will help patients and clinicians make more informed decisions about future reproductive options, such as egg harvesting. ... > full story

Building a better antipsychotic drug by treating schizophrenia's cause: How drugs act on dopamine-producing neurons (August 27, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered that antipsychotic drugs work akin to a Rube Goldberg machine -- that is, they suppress something that in turn suppresses the bad effects of schizophrenia, but not the exact cause itself. In a new paper, they say that pinpointing what's actually causing the problem could lead to better avenues of schizophrenia treatment that more directly and efficiently target the disease. ... > full story

Could new drug cure nearly any viral infection? Technology shows promise against common cold, influenza and other ailments, researchers say (August 26, 2011) -- Most bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics such as penicillin, discovered decades ago. However, such drugs are useless against viral infections, including influenza, the common cold, and deadly hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola. Now, in a development that could transform how viral infections are treated, a team of researchers has designed a drug that can identify cells that have been infected by any type of virus, then kill those cells to terminate the infection. ... > full story

T-cell discovery holds promise for organ transplant and immunodeficiency treatment (August 26, 2011) -- Researchers have identified the calcium channel responsible for the activation of T-cells, one of the key elements of the immune system. ... > full story

Omega-3s reduce stroke severity, study suggests (August 26, 2011) -- A diet rich in omega-3s reduces the severity of brain damage after a stroke, according to a new study. Researches have shown that the extent of brain damage following a stroke was reduced by 25 percent in mice that consumed DHA type omega-3s daily. ... > full story

Life expectancy success story (August 26, 2011) -- Increases in life expectancy, due to better quality of life and better health care, can be patchy, with the gap between rich and poor getting bigger as time goes on. However, a new report finds that the life expectancy for people living in deprived areas in Campinas, Brazil, is catching up, rising at three times the rate of people living in more affluent areas. ... > full story

Uncovering the spread of deadly cancer: New imaging device enables scientists to see tumor cells traveling in the brain (August 26, 2011) -- For the first time, scientists can see pathways to stop a deadly brain cancer in its tracks. Researchers have imaged individual cancer cells and the routes they travel as the tumor spreads. ... > full story

Breakthrough in genetics of fibroids (August 26, 2011) -- Uterine leiomyomas, also called fibroids, cause a very significant burden to women's health. Researchers have set out to study the genetic structure of fibroids by determining the sequence of all the human genes, in a series of 18 tumors. The study revealed very specific mutations in a gene called MED12, in as many of 70 percent of the studied tumors. ... > full story

New score can tell doctors how long cancer patients have left to live (August 26, 2011) -- A new scoring system can more reliably predict whether patients with advanced cancer are likely to survive for "days", "weeks" or "months", a new study finds. ... > full story

Protein linked to Parkinson's disease may regulate fat metabolism (August 26, 2011) -- Researchers have found that Parkin, an important protein linked with some cases of early-onset Parkinson's disease, regulates how cells in our bodies take up and process dietary fats. ... > full story

Mathematical model predicts weight with varying diet, exercise changes; Findings challenge one-size-fits-all weight assumptions (August 26, 2011) -- Researchers have created a mathematical model -- and an accompanying online weight simulation tool -- of what happens when people of varying weights, diets and exercise habits try to change their weight. The findings challenge the commonly held belief that eating 3,500 fewer calories -- or burning them off exercising -- will always result in a pound of weight loss. ... > full story

Heat in chili peppers can ease sinus problems, research shows (August 26, 2011) -- Hot chili peppers are known to make people "tear up," but a new study found that a nasal spray containing an ingredient derived from hot chili peppers may help people "clear up" certain types of sinus inflammation. ... > full story

What determines a company's performance? Shape of the CEO's face! (August 26, 2011) -- Believe it or not, one thing that predicts how well a CEO's company performs is the width of the CEO's face. CEOs with wider faces have better-performing companies than CEOs with long faces. ... > full story

Natural Alzheimer's-fighting compound created inexpensively in lab (August 26, 2011) -- Scientists have developed the first practical method to create a compound called huperzine A in the lab. The compound, which occurs naturally in a species of moss found in China, is an enzyme inhibitor that has been used to treat Alzheimer's disease in China since the late 1990s and is sold in the US as a dietary supplement to help maintain memory. ... > full story

New genetic clue in development of rheumatoid arthritis (August 26, 2011) -- Scientists have obtained significant new insights into the causes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune disorders including type 1 diabetes, lupus and Graves disease. The findings represent a key initial step in realizing the full potential of genomics and personalized medicine. ... > full story

Succeeding in school: Stress boosts performance for confident students, but holds back those with more anxiety (August 26, 2011) -- Knowing the right way to handle stress in the classroom can make the difference between success and failure for the millions of students going back to school this fall. Researchers found that a hormone released in response to stress can either be tied to a student's poor performance on a math test or contribute to success, depending on the frame of mind of the student going into the test. ... > full story

New prostate cancer screening test shows promise for diagnosis (August 26, 2011) -- A new prostate screening test may prove to be a promising new tool in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. The study found that this new screening test, the PSA/SIA assay, may be more sensitive in detecting prostate cancer than traditional screening methods. ... > full story

No bones about it: Eating dried plums helps prevent fractures and osteoporosis, study suggests (August 26, 2011) -- When it comes to improving bone health in postmenopausal women -- and people of all ages, actually -- researchers has found a simple, proactive solution to help prevent fractures and osteoporosis: eating dried plums. ... > full story

Early embryos can correct genetic abnormalities during development, researchers find (August 26, 2011) -- Researchers have found the first direct evidence that early embryos with genetic abnormalities can correct their faults as they develop, marginalizing cells with an incorrect number of chromosomes, while allowing the growth of normal cells. ... > full story

Using math to fight cancer (August 26, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a mathematical model to understand and predict the progress of a tumor, from its early stages to metastasis, in hopes of creating highly personalized treatment strategies for patients who have cancer. ... > full story

Major brain similarities found in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia (August 26, 2011) -- Researchers have conducted a study which has found striking brain similarities in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. ... > full story

Simple way to grow muscle tissue with real muscle structure (August 26, 2011) -- Researchers have found a simple way to grow muscle tissue with a real muscle structure in the laboratory. They found that the muscle cells automatically align themselves if they are subjected to tension in one direction -- this is essential for the ability of the muscle cells to exert a force. ... > full story

Could the Spanish flu devastate us again? (August 26, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a new computational method that can predict viral mutation strategies, tracking virus strains and giving researchers the tools they need to better combat these mutations with more precisely formulated vaccines. ... > full story

Predicting perilous plaque in coronary arteries via fluid dynamics (August 26, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a method for predicting which areas of the coronary arteries will develop more atherosclerotic plaque over time, based on intracoronary ultrasound and blood flow measurements. The method could help doctors identify "vulnerable plaque," unstable plaque that is likely to cause a heart attack or stroke. It involves calculating shear stress, or how hard the blood tugs on the walls of the arteries, based on the geometry of the arteries and how fast the blood is moving. ... > full story

Crucial role for molecule in muscle development (August 26, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered the crucial role of a molecule in skeletal muscle development. The finding could have implications in the future for maintenance of healthy muscle or muscle regeneration in certain diseases, for example cancer and neuromuscular conditions such as muscular dystrophy. ... > full story

New model predicts environmental effect of pharmaceutical products (August 26, 2011) -- Most synthetic chemical products used in consumer goods end up unchanged in the environment. Given the risks this could pose for the environment and human health, researchers in Spain have developed a new tool to effectively predict what will happen to current and future pharmaceutical products. ... > full story

Fat-stigma study: Mass media messages appear to trump opinions of family, close friends (August 26, 2011) -- Women harbor a fat-stigma even though their family and closest friends may not judge them as "fat," according to new findings by social scientists. Those research results have scientists questioning the weight of messages from sources outside one's social networks, especially those in mass media marketing. ... > full story

Hand-held unit to detect cancer in poorer countries (August 26, 2011) -- An engineering researcher and a global health expert are working on bringing a low-cost, hand-held device to nations with limited resources to help physicians detect and diagnose cancer. ... > full story

Risk measurement tool for heart attacks and strokes updated (August 26, 2011) -- The number of heart attack and stroke incidents in Europe is likely to reduce with the imminent launch of an update to the HeartScore® application. HeartScore® helps clinicians rapidly estimate the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in individual patients using age, gender, basic health indicators, and lifestyle factors. The results from the model are then used to shape intervention and advice regimes aimed at lowering CVD risk. Following feedback, HeartScore® has been updated to incorporate a number of new features that will enhance its value as part of CVD prevention strategies. ... > full story

Guidelines for the Management of Dyslipidaemias (August 26, 2011) -- Clinicians should aim for comprehensive lipid control using lifestyle as a first step and tailoring treatment to patients with dyslipidaemias, experts urge. Lifestyle interventions, including stopping smoking, improving diet, exercising sufficiently and moderate alcohol consumption, should be the crucial first step for managing lipids in all patients. High risk patients should receive specialist advice to encourage adherence. If lipid targets are not met with lifestyle alone, statins are the treatment of choice for lowering LDL cholesterol, experts report. ... > full story

Atherosclerosis is not limited to the heart (August 26, 2011) -- New guidelines on peripheral artery diseases have been written. The guidelines address all aspects – with the exception of the aorta – of peripheral atherosclerotic disease, including disease of extracranial carotid and vertebral, mesenteric, renal, upper and lower extremity arteries. ... > full story

Children with congenital heart disease at risk from harmful toxins (August 26, 2011) -- Babies and toddlers with congenital heart disease are at an increased risk of having harmful toxins in their blood, particularly following surgery, according to new research. ... > full story

Cell receptor could allow measles virus to target tumors (August 25, 2011) -- Canadian researchers have discovered that a tumor cell marker is a receptor for measles virus, suggesting the possible use of measles virus to help fight cancer. ... > full story

Slim down by targeting the hormone uroguanylin (August 25, 2011) -- The number of people who are obese and suffer one or more of its associated health problems is escalating dramatically. Researchers are seeking to identify new targets for therapeutics that could limit appetite and thereby obesity. Researchers have now uncovered one new potential target (uroguanylin) by studying the molecular control of appetite in mice. ... > full story

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