Rabu, 31 Agustus 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Wednesday, August 31, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Wednesday, August 31, 2011

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How the brain stores information for short periods of time (August 31, 2011) -- Researchers show how the brain stores information for short periods of time. The cells of several neural circuits store information by maintaining a persistent level of activity: A short-lived stimulus triggers the activity of neurons, and this activity is then maintained for several seconds. ... > full story

Vitamin C may be beneficial for asthmatic children, study suggests (August 31, 2011) -- Depending on the age of asthmatic children, on their exposure to molds or dampness in their bedroom, and on the severity of their asthma, vitamin C has greater or smaller beneficial effect against asthma, according to a recent study. ... > full story

Simple blood test at optician's office could help to diagnose diabetes (August 31, 2011) -- A simple finger prick test during routine eye examinations at high street opticians could help to identify millions of people with previously undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, according to new research. ... > full story

Ability to remember memories' origin not fully developed in youths (August 31, 2011) -- During childhood and adolescence, children develop the ability to remember not only past events but the origin of those memories. New research finds that the ability to remember the origin of memories is a relatively long process that matures during adolescence but isn't fully developed until adulthood. This study included 18 children, 20 adolescents, and 20 young adults, all of whom completed a two-part computer-based memory task developed by the researchers. ... > full story

Tropical coral could be used to create novel sunscreens for human use, say scientists (August 31, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered how coral produces natural sunscreen compounds to protect itself from damaging UV rays, leading scientists to believe these compounds could form the basis of a new type of sunscreen for humans. ... > full story

Memory fitness program improves memory abilities of oldest adults (August 31, 2011) -- A new study has found that a memory fitness program offered to older adults in their senior living communities helped improve their ability to recognize and recall words, benefiting their verbal learning and retention. ... > full story

Balloon pump use prior to angioplasty does not reduce heart muscle damage, study shows (August 31, 2011) -- Inserting intra-aortic balloon pumps prior to angioplasty in patients with acute myocardial infarction does not reduce the scope of heart muscle damage, a condition referred to as infarct size, according to a new study. ... > full story

Mobile phone data help track populations during disasters (August 31, 2011) -- Mobile phone positioning data can be used to monitor population movements during disasters and outbreaks, according to a new study. The study finds that reports on the location of populations affected and in need of assistance can be generated within hours of receiving data. ... > full story

Death rates in newborns remain shockingly high in Africa and India (August 31, 2011) -- Neonatal mortality -- deaths in newborns, aged 3 weeks and under -- has declined in all regions of the world over the past two decades but in 2009, more than half of all neonatal deaths occurred in five countries -- India, Nigeria, Pakistan, China and the Democratic Republic of Congo. ... > full story

Six new genetic variants linked to type 2 diabetes discovered in South Asians (August 30, 2011) -- Scientists have identified six new genetic variants associated with type 2 diabetes in South Asians. ... > full story

More questions than answers remain concerning effects of airplane travel on insulin pump delivery (August 30, 2011) -- Despite recent concerns that changes in atmospheric pressure during airplane travel may affect the amount of insulin delivered via pump devices, the current evidence is limited and it would be unwise to overreact until more data are available, according to an editorial. ... > full story

Happiness depends on who you know and your goals, study of college students suggests (August 30, 2011) -- A new study involving extroverted college students and their less socially inclined peers found that less-outgoing happy people relied less on partying and drinking to be happy and more on connections with family and friends. In a companion study, the more goal-oriented students also were happier. ... > full story

From mild-mannered to killer: Study explains plague's rapid evolution and sheds light on fighting deadly diseases (August 30, 2011) -- How did a bacterium that causes mild stomach irritation rapidly evolve into a deadly assassin responsible for the most devastating pandemics in human history? New DNA sequencing techniques reveal how Yersinia pseudotuberculosis became Yersinia pestis, otherwise know as the plague. The new study offers a glimpse into how the new technology might aid in the development of drugs to fight deadly diseases, including the plague. ... > full story

Green tea is effective in treating genetic disorder and types of tumors, study suggests (August 30, 2011) -- A compound found in green tea shows great promise for the development of drugs to treat two types of tumors and a deadly congenital disease. ... > full story

Location, location, location: Study shows the middle is the place to be (August 30, 2011) -- Choice is a central tenet of a free society. From the brand of cereal we eat for breakfast, to the answers we give on a survey, or the people we select to be our leaders, we frequently define ourselves by the choices we make. Yet a recent study suggests that there are factors that can significantly influence our free will without us even knowing it. ... > full story

Natural anti-oxidant deserts aging body: Cell’s reserve fighting force shrinks with age, new study finds (August 30, 2011) -- A new study of human cells finds that mitochondria, energy plants of cells, are more vulnerable in senescent cells due to impaired function of an anti-oxidant enzyme. ... > full story

Mistaken fear of measles shot has 'devastating' effect, physician says (August 30, 2011) -- More than 150 cases of measles have been reported in the United States already this year and there have been similar outbreaks in Europe, a sign the disease is making an alarming comeback. The reappearance of the potentially deadly virus is the result of unfounded fears about a link between the measles shot and autism that have turned some parents against childhood vaccination, a physician says in a new article. ... > full story

The Great Recession could reduce school achievement for children of unemployed (August 30, 2011) -- The Great Recession could have lingering impacts on the children of the unemployed, according to researchers. "There is growing evidence that parental job loss has adverse consequences on children's behavior, academic achievement and later employment outcomes, particularly in economically disadvantaged families," said one expert. ... > full story

Localizing language in the brain: Study pinpoints areas of the brain used exclusively for language (August 30, 2011) -- New research suggests that there are parts of our brain dedicated to language and only language, a finding that marks a major advance in the search for brain regions specialized for sophisticated mental functions. ... > full story

Future climate change may increase asthma attacks in children (August 30, 2011) -- Researchers have found that climate change may lead to more asthma-related health problems in children, and more emergency room visits in the next decade. ... > full story

Microscope on the go: Cheap, portable, dual-mode microscope uses holograms, not lenses (August 30, 2011) -- To serve remote areas of the world, doctors, nurses and field workers need equipment that is portable, versatile, and relatively inexpensive. Now researchers have built a compact, light-weight, dual-mode microscope that uses holograms instead of lenses. It weighs about as much as a banana and fits in the palm of a hand. ... > full story

Patients' underlying health linked to worse outcomes for melanoma (August 30, 2011) -- It's not how old but how frail patients are that can predict how well they will fare after a melanoma diagnosis. In fact, young patients in poor health may have worse outcomes than older patients in good shape. ... > full story

Fear of 'gray tsunami' overblown? Demographics aren't entirely to blame for rising medical costs, studies show (August 30, 2011) -- Fears that Canada's aging population could lead to skyrocketing health care costs and doctor shortages may be greatly exaggerated. The research by health economists points to other factors that are driving up costs: greater use of specialists, more diagnostic tests for the elderly, and increased consumption of increasingly expensive drugs. ... > full story

Heavy chocolate consumption may be linked to heart health, study suggests (August 30, 2011) -- High levels of chocolate consumption might be associated with a one third reduction in the risk of developing heart disease, a new study suggests. ... > full story

The pancreas as we’ve never seen it before (August 30, 2011) -- Medical researchers are developing optic projection tomography. With the aid of this imaging technology, they have now described aspects of how the pancreas develops during embryonic development and how the so-called islets of Langerhans are distributed in the adult organ. The findings are important for the interpretation of modeling systems for diabetes. ... > full story

Rotavirus vaccination of infants also protects unvaccinated older children and adults, study finds (August 30, 2011) -- Vaccinating infants against rotavirus also prevents serious disease in unvaccinated older children and adults, according to a new study. This helps reduce rotavirus-related hospital costs in these older groups. ... > full story

Watching viruses 'friend' a network: Researchers develop Facebook application to track the path of infection (August 30, 2011) -- PiggyDemic, an application developed by researchers in Israel, allows Facebook users to "infect" their friends with a simulated virus or become infected themselves. This will allow researchers to gather information on how a virus mutates, spreads through human interaction, and the number of people it infects. ... > full story

Secure attachment to moms helps irritable babies interact with others (August 30, 2011) -- New research suggests that highly irritable children who have secure attachments to their mothers are more likely to get along well with others than those who aren't securely attached. For this study, researchers followed 84 infants from birth to age 2, along with their mostly low-income mothers. ... > full story

Common irregular heartbeat raises risk of dementia, study finds (August 30, 2011) -- The most common kind of chronically irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation, is associated with a greater risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. ... > full story

Wearable device that vibrates fingertip could improve one's sense of touch (August 30, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a glove with a special fingertip designed to improve the wearer's sense of touch. Applying a small vibration to the side of the fingertip improves tactile sensitivity and motor performance, according to their research results. ... > full story

Weight loss without the hunger: Eat a lighter lunch, scientists say (August 30, 2011) -- Losing weight without a grumbling stomach or expensive liquid diet can be as simple as eating a lighter lunch, a new study finds. Participants who ate portion-controlled lunches did not compensate by eating more calories later in the day, leading researchers to believe the human body does not possess the mechanisms necessary to notice a small drop in energy intake. ... > full story

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

Studies question effectiveness of sex offender laws (August 30, 2011) -- Two new studies cast doubt on whether sex offender registry and notification laws actually work as intended. ... > full story

Patients’ health motivates workers to wash their hands (August 30, 2011) -- Campaigns about hand-washing in hospitals usually try to scare doctors and nurses about personal illness. But new research suggests that this is the wrong kind of warning. ... > full story

Lower achieved platelet reactivity associated with better cardiovascular: Outcomes in GRAVITAS trial (August 30, 2011) -- Compared to patients who had persistently high platelet reactivity, those who achieved low platelet reactivity, according to the VerifyNow P2Y12 Test, had a reduced incidence of cardiovascular death, heart attack and stent thrombosis, according to results from a clinical trial. ... > full story

Social media valuable tool to recruit study participants for rare diseases (August 30, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a new benefit of social media and online networking: a novel way to study rare diseases. Through patient-run websites dedicated to heart conditions and women's heart health, cardiologists are reaching out to survivors of spontaneous coronary artery dissection, also known as SCAD, a poorly understood heart condition that affects just a few thousand Americans every year. ... > full story

Changes to distribution of livers for transplant proposed (August 30, 2011) -- Transplantation specialists have proposed changes to the allocation and distribution of organs used for liver transplants. The recommended policy modifications take into account the scarcity of available organs, ensuring rapid allocation and delivery of the organ to those most in need in order to reduce mortality for waitlisted patients. ... > full story

Less patient anxiety for patients with claustrophobia during MR examinations (August 30, 2011) -- Patients who suffer from fear in small, enclosed spaces (claustrophobia) experience less anxiety if examined in open than in closed magnetic resonance (MR) scanners. ... > full story

Youths' social goals help determine response to bullying (August 30, 2011) -- This study finds that the types of goals children set in their relationships help determine how they respond to being bullied -- and whether they choose responses that are effective. For the study, researchers surveyed 370 children across grades two and three and their teachers. Findings suggest that by working to develop social competence, children orient themselves toward efforts to solve problems with their peers, handle their emotions, and think positively when relationships go awry. ... > 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


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