ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Tuesday, August 30, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Tuesday, August 30, 2011

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Mind-altering microbes: Probiotic bacteria may lessen anxiety and depression (August 30, 2011) -- Probiotic bacteria have the potential to alter brain neurochemistry and treat anxiety and depression-related disorders, according to a new study by researchers in Ireland and Canada. ... > full story

Protecting cells: Evidence found for a neuronal switch to prevent neurodegenerative diseases (August 30, 2011) -- Scientists have reported a surprising discovery that offers a possible new route for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In a study of the transparent roundworm C. elegans, they found that a genetic switch in master neurons inhibits the proper functioning of protective cell stress responses, leading to the accumulation of misfolded and damaged proteins. ... > full story

Poor sleep quality increases risk of high blood pressure (August 30, 2011) -- A reduced level of dreamless, deep sleep is a powerful predictor for developing high blood pressure in older men, according to new research. High quality sleep is as important to health as diet and exercise. ... > full story

Patients in a minimally conscious state remain capable of dreaming during their sleep (August 30, 2011) -- Researchers compared the sleep of "vegetative" patients and minimally conscious state patients. The results of their study demonstrate once again the necessity of an adapted and specific medical care for each of these states. ... > full story

Bilingual babies' vocabulary linked to early brain differentiation (August 29, 2011) -- Researchers are investigating the brain mechanisms that contribute to infants' prowess at learning languages, with the hope that the findings could boost bilingualism in adults, too. In a new study, the researchers report that the brains of babies raised in bilingual households show a longer period of being flexible to different languages and the relative amount of each language -- English and Spanish -- babies were exposed to affected their vocabulary as toddlers. ... > full story

New drug candidates found for set of protein-folding diseases (August 29, 2011) -- Researchers have identified chemical compounds that show promise as potential therapeutics for a set of medical conditions caused by the abnormal clumping together of a protein known as transthyretin. ... > full story

Scientists identify molecular basis for DNA breakage, a hallmark of cancer cells (August 29, 2011) -- Scientists have identified the molecular basis for DNA breakage, a hallmark of cancer cells. ... > full story

'Smelling' heart failure: Evaluation of an electronic nose (August 29, 2011) -- A German team has developed a completely new non-invasive method to identify heart failure. It consists of an "electronic nose" which could make the "smelling" of heart failure possible. ... > full story

Species share perceptual capabilities that affect how communication evolves, research finds (August 29, 2011) -- New research reveals that two entirely different species show similar perception of auditory cues that drive basic biological functions; that these perceptions may be universally shared among animals; and that such perception may also limit the evolution of communication signals. ... > full story

Black Death bacterium identified: Genetic analysis of medieval plague skeletons shows presence of Yersinia pestis bacteria (August 29, 2011) -- A team of German and Canadian scientists has shown that today's plague pathogen has been around at least 600 years. The Black Death claimed the lives of one-third of Europeans in just five years from 1348 to 1353. Until recently, it was not certain whether the bacterium Yersinia pestis -- known to cause the plague today -- was responsible for that most deadly outbreak of disease ever. ... > full story

Differences in cell response could explain higher rates of hypertension in African-Americans (August 29, 2011) -- A kinesiology professor has found that differences in the way African-American cells respond to inflammation could be a cause of higher rates of hypertension among this group. ... > full story

New roles emerge for non-coding RNAs in directing embryonic development (August 29, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered that a mysterious class of large RNAs plays a central role in embryonic development, contrary to the dogma that proteins alone are the master regulators of this process. The research reveals that these RNAs orchestrate the fate of embryonic stem cells by keeping them in their fledgling state or directing them along the path to cell specialization. ... > full story

Virus attacks childhood cancers (August 29, 2011) -- Researchers are looking to a virus from the same family as the rabies virus to fight a form of cancer primarily found in children and young adults. ... > full story

The brittleness of aging bones: More than loss of bone mass (August 29, 2011) -- A new study shows that at microscopic dimensions, the age-related loss of bone quality can be every bit as important as the loss of quantity in the susceptibility of bone to fracturing. While medical treatments to date have focused on age-related loss of bone mass, the age-related loss of bone quality is an independent factor. ... > full story

Genetic variant linked to development of liver cancer in hepatitis C virus carriers (August 29, 2011) -- A genome-wide study has identified a genetic variant associated with the development of liver cancer in chronic hepatitis C virus carriers. The findings are based on a study of 3,312 Japanese individuals. ... > full story

Sutureless method for joining blood vessels invented (August 29, 2011) -- Reconnecting severed blood vessels is mostly done the same way today -- with sutures -- as it was 100 years ago. Now, a team of researchers has developed a sutureless method that appears to be a faster, safer and easier alternative. ... > full story

Research aims to starve breast cancer cells (August 29, 2011) -- The most common breast cancer uses the most efficient, powerful food delivery system known in human cells and blocking that system kills it, researchers report. This method of starving cancer cells could provide new options for patients, particularly those resistant to standard therapies such as tamoxifen, researchers said. ... > full story

Prevention of sudden cardiac death: Scientists predict risk for life-threatening arrhythmias (August 29, 2011) -- Researchers in Germany have developed a method to identify a subgroup of patients with myocardial infarction who are at increased risk for sudden cardiac death. Using cardiac magnetic resonance tomography (CMR), the scientists are able to detect the extent of infarction-related damage to the heart muscle and assess the risk for life-threatening arrhythmias. ... > full story

Nano-thermometers show first temperature response differences within living cells (August 29, 2011) -- Using a modern version of open-wide-and-keep-this-under-your-tongue, scientists today reported taking the temperature of individual cells in the human body, and finding for the first time that temperatures inside do not adhere to the familiar 98.6 degree Fahrenheit norm. ... > full story

Playing highly competitive video games may lead to aggressive behavior (August 29, 2011) -- While most research into video games and aggressive behavior has focused on violent games, competitiveness may be the main video game characteristic that influences aggression, according to new research. ... > full story

Statins reduce deaths from infection and respiratory illness, data eight years on from trial suggests (August 29, 2011) -- The death rate among patients prescribed a statin in a major trial that ended in 2003 is still lower than those given a placebo, even though most participants in both groups have been taking statins ever since. ... > full story

New imaging method sheds light on cell growth (August 29, 2011) -- Researchers developed a new imaging method that can measure cell mass using two beams of light, offering new insight into the much-debated problem of whether cells grow at a constant rate or exponentially. They found that mammalian cells show clear exponential growth only during the G2 phase of the cell cycle. This information has great implications not only for basic biology, but also for diagnostics, drug development and tissue engineering. ... > full story

Detailed map of gene activity in mouse brain completed (August 29, 2011) -- A new atlas of gene expression in the mouse brain provides insight into how genes work in the outer part of the brain called the cerebral cortex. A new article describes the activity of more than 11,000 genes in the six layers of brain cells that make up the cerebral cortex. ... > full story

New device helps the blind to move independently (August 29, 2011) -- Engineers have developed a new device that helps the blind to move independently. ... > full story

Obesity to rise: 65 million more obese adults in the US and 11 million more in the UK expected by 2030 (August 29, 2011) -- The rising prevalence of obesity around the globe places an increasing burden on the health of populations, on health-care systems and on overall economies. Using a simulation model to project the probable health and economic consequences from rising obesity rates researchers forecast 65 million more obese adults in the US and 11 million more in the UK by 2030, leading to millions of additional cases of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. ... > full story

Free radicals crucial to suppressing appetite (August 29, 2011) -- Obesity is growing at alarming rates worldwide, and the biggest culprit is overeating. In a study of brain circuits that control hunger and satiety, researchers have found that molecular mechanisms controlling free radicals -- molecules tied to aging and tissue damage -- are at the heart of increased appetite in diet-induced obesity. ... > full story

Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and type II diabetes: New way to target shape-shifting proteins (August 29, 2011) -- A molecule which can stop the formation of long protein strands, known as amyloid fibrils, that cause joint pain in kidney dialysis patients has been identified. The discovery could lead to new methods to identify drugs to prevent, treat or halt the progression of other conditions in which amyloid fibrils play a part, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and type II diabetes. ... > full story

Sensor chip for monitoring tumors (August 29, 2011) -- A chip implant may soon be capable of monitoring tumors that are difficult to operate on or growing slowly. Medical engineers have developed an electronic sensor chip that can determine the oxygen content in a patient's tissue fluid. This data can then be wirelessly transmitted to the patient's doctor to support the choice of therapy. A drop in oxygen content in tissue surrounding a tumor indicates that the tumor might be growing faster and becoming aggressive. ... > full story

Apixaban superior to warfarin for preventing stroke, reducing bleeding and saving lives, research suggests (August 29, 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. ... > full story

Stopping dengue fever with bacteria and math (August 29, 2011) -- It may be possible to eliminate the deadly dengue fever by infecting mosquitoes with a bacterium called Wolbachia that prevents the mosquitoes from transmitting the dengue virus to humans. A new mathematical model may be helpful in getting the bacteria established in mosquito populations. ... > full story

Laughter has positive impact on vascular function (August 29, 2011) -- Watching a funny movie or sitcom that produces laughter has a positive effect on vascular function and is opposite to that observed after watching a movie that causes mental stress. ... > full story

Aging authorities differ on tweaks to U.S. Social Security's benefit structure (August 29, 2011) -- Experts agree that financial constraints and an aging population will require America to modify its Social Security system, but some also find that pushing back the eligibility age could be a major concern for those who rely on the program the most. The consequences -- both positive and negative -- of making the country's seniors wait to start claiming benefits are presented in new articles. ... > full story

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

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