ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Tuesday, September 20, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Tuesday, September 20, 2011

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Common genetic contributions to mental illness discovered (September 20, 2011) -- This study of more than 50,000 adults ages 18 and older provides new molecular evidence that 11 DNA regions in the human genome have strong association with these diseases, including six regions not previously observed. ... > full story

Enriched infant formulas benefit brain and heart, researchers find (September 20, 2011) -- Scientists have found new evidence that infant formulas fortified with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) are good for developing brains and hearts. In the randomized, double-blind study, 122 term infants were fed one of four formulas from birth to 12 months; three with varying levels of two LCPUFAs (DHA and ARA) and one formula with no LCPUFA, and tested at four, six and nine months of age. ... > full story

Breakthrough technology identifies prostate cancer cells (September 20, 2011) -- A team of researchers has developed a breakthrough technology that can be used to discriminate cancerous prostate cells in bodily fluids from those that are healthy. While the new technology is years away from use in a clinical setting, the researchers are nonetheless confident that it will be useful in developing a microdevice that will help in understanding when prostate cancer will metastasize, or spread to other parts of the body. ... > full story

Bidirectional relationship between schizophrenia and epilepsy, study finds (September 20, 2011) -- Researchers from Taiwan have confirmed a bidirectional relation between schizophrenia and epilepsy. The study reports that patients with epilepsy were nearly eight times more likely to develop schizophrenia and those with schizophrenia were close to six times more likely to develop epilepsy. ... > full story

Think locally when treating individually (September 20, 2011) -- By taking local biosurveillance data into account when assessing patients for communicable diseases, doctors may be able to make better diagnostic decisions, according to researchers. ... > full story

Safeguards needed to prevent discrimination of early Alzheimer's patients in the workplace (September 20, 2011) -- Despite the emergence of new tools that can diagnose Alzheimer's earlier, no effective interventions have been identified to stop the progression of the disease. A new report tackles the ethical and logistical challenges of safely and effectively communicating a diagnosis of pre-clinical Alzheimer's disease in light of the gulf between diagnosis and treatment. ... > full story

Association found between stress and breast cancer aggressiveness (September 19, 2011) -- Psychosocial stress could play a role in the etiology of breast cancer aggressiveness, particularly among minority populations, according to a new study. ... > full story

Rise of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea needs urgent action, experts urge (September 19, 2011) -- Gonorrhea is evolving into a scourge resistant to most antibiotics, and urgent action is needed to combat this public health threat, say experts. ... > full story

For kids with ADHD, regular 'green time' is linked to milder symptoms (September 19, 2011) -- A study of more than 400 children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has found a link between the children's routine play settings and the severity of their symptoms, researchers report. Those who regularly play in outdoor settings with lots of green (grass and trees, for example) have milder ADHD symptoms than those who play indoors or in built outdoor environments, the researchers found. The association holds even when the researchers controlled for income and other variables. ... > full story

Blocking inflammation could lead to tailored medical treatments (September 19, 2011) -- By using a mouse model of inflammation researchers have discovered a new class of molecules that can inhibit the recruitment of some white blood cells to sites of inflammation in the body. ... > full story

Catching a breath -- wirelessly: Noninvasive method to watch for SIDS, help surgery patients (September 19, 2011) -- Engineers who built wireless networks that see through walls now are aiming the technology at a new goal: noninvasively measuring the breathing of surgery patients, adults with sleep apnea and babies at risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). ... > full story

Expanding flu vaccinations to older children reduces emergency visits for flu-like illnesses by 34 percent, study suggests (September 19, 2011) -- Vaccinating children aged two to four years against seasonal influenza resulted in a 34 percent decline in flu-like illnesses, a new study finds. ... > full story

Have brain fatigue? A bout of exercise may be the cure, mouse study suggests (September 19, 2011) -- In a new study in mice, researchers have discovered that regular exercise increases mitochondrial numbers in brain cells, a potential cause for exercise's beneficial mental effects. ... > full story

Breast milk antibody fights HIV but needs boost, study finds (September 19, 2011) -- Breast milk antibody both neutralizes human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and kills HIV-infected cells, according to a new study. Nonetheless, the statistics indicate that breast milk antibodies are doing an incomplete job of protecting babies from HIV transmission. ... > full story

Genetic defect that leaves some without fingerprints: Researchers trace cause to rare mutation (September 19, 2011) -- Adermatoglypia, which leaves some individuals without fingerprints, is an exceedingly rare condition. Now researchers have traced the cause of the condition to a genetic mutation that affects only four documented families in the world. Despite the mutation's scarcity, the research provides unique insights into the most complex biological phenomena, such as the consequences of lacking a single protein. ... > full story

Soy peptide plus chemo drug block colon cancer's spread to liver, study finds (September 19, 2011) -- A new study reports a promising new weapon in treating metastatic colon cancer, particularly in patients who have developed resistance to chemotherapy. The research finds that the soy peptide lunasin binds to a specific receptor in highly metastatic colon cancer cells, preventing them from attaching to the liver. ... > full story

Causes of Gulf War Illness are complex and vary by deployment area, study finds (September 19, 2011) -- Gulf War Illness -- the chronic health condition that affects about one in four military veterans of the 1991 Gulf War -- appears to be the result of several factors, which differed in importance depending upon the locations where veterans served during the war, according to a new study. ... > full story

Distinct features of autistic brain revealed in novel analysis of MRI scans (September 19, 2011) -- Researchers have used a novel method for analyzing brain-scan data to distinguish children with autism from typically developing children. Their discovery reveals that the gray matter in a network of brain regions known to affect social communication and self-related thoughts has a distinct organization in people with autism. ... > full story

Learning how gut bacteria influence health: Scientists crack sparse genome of microbe linked to autoimmunity (September 19, 2011) -- Scientists have deciphered the genome of a bacterium implicated as a key player in regulating the immune system of mice. The genomic analysis provides the first glimpse of its unusually sparse genetic blueprint and offers hints about how it may activate a powerful immune response that protects mice from infection but also spurs harmful inflammation. ... > full story

Early detection is key in the fight against ovarian cancer (September 19, 2011) -- Ovarian cancer is a rare but often deadly disease that can strike at any time in a woman's life, but researchers have found there are symptoms associated with ovarian cancer that can assist in early detection. ... > full story

Watching the world in motion, babies take a first step toward language (September 19, 2011) -- Watching children on the playground, we see them run, climb, slide, get up, and do it all again. While their movements are continuous, we language-users can easily divide them up and name each one. But what about people -- babies -- who don't yet have words? How do they make sense of a world in motion? ... > full story

Virus as a potential future cancer medicine? (September 19, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered that the vesicular stomatitis virus plays a previously unknown dual role in the prevention of a number of cancers. ... > full story

Researchers demonstrate antibiotic sensing event central to MSRA antibiotic resistance (September 19, 2011) -- A new study describes a unique process that is central to induction of antibiotic resistance in the problematic bacterium methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. ... > full story

Put down that game controller: Researcher suggests video games may not boost cognition (September 19, 2011) -- Wouldn't it be nice if all those hours kids spent glued to their PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 or Nintendo DS video games actually resulted in something tangible? Better grades, perhaps? Improved concentration? Superior driving skills? Over the past decade, many studies and news media reports have suggested that action video games such as Medal of Honor or Unreal Tournament improve a variety of perceptual and cognitive abilities. But in a new paper, psychologists critically reevaluate those claims. ... > full story

Gamers succeed where scientists fail: Molecular structure of retrovirus enzyme solved, doors open to new AIDS drug design (September 19, 2011) -- Online gamers have solved the structure of a retrovirus enzyme whose configuration had stumped scientists for over a decade. This is the first instance that researchers are aware of in which gamers solved a longstanding scientific problem. The discovery was achieved through Foldit, which allows players to collaborate and compete in predicting protein molecule structures. Foldit is an example of engaging the public in scientific discovery by using games to solve hard problems that can't be solved by either people or computers alone. ... > full story

Possible link between two Type 2 diabetes drugs and pancreatic cancer, new research suggests (September 19, 2011) -- Two newer drugs used to treat Type 2 diabetes could be linked to a significantly increased risk of developing pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, and one could also be linked to an increased risk of thyroid cancer, according to a new study. ... > full story

First fluorescence-guided ovarian cancer surgery (September 19, 2011) -- The first fluorescence-guided surgery on an ovarian cancer patient was performed using an imaging agent attached to a modified form of the vitamin folic acid, which acts as a "homing device" to seek out and attach to ovarian cancer cells. Surgeons were able to see clusters of cancer cells as small as one-tenth of a millimeter -- 30 times smaller than the smallest they could detect using standard techniques. ... > full story

Damaged gait and balance can recover with long-term abstinence from alcohol (September 19, 2011) -- Chronic alcoholism is often associated with a disturbed gait and balance, likely caused by alcohol damage to neural systems. While some studies have suggested that abstinence can lead to partial recovery of gait and balance functions, questions remain about duration of abstinence and sample size. This study of both short- and long-term abstinence has found that alcoholics' gait and balance can continue to recover with long-term abstinence from alcohol but that deficits can persist, especially eyes-closed standing balance. ... > full story

Some memory complaints in the elderly may be warning signs of cognitive problems (September 19, 2011) -- Older individuals' complaints about memory lapses such as having trouble remembering recent events may indicate that they are experiencing cognitive problems that are greater than typical age-related changes. These findings indicate that primary care clinicians, who are often the first to see patients who are worried about their memory, should be aware that such complaints might be indicative of something serious and warrant a further cognitive assessment. ... > full story

Scientists generate first detailed map of human neuroreceptor (September 19, 2011) -- For the first time, scientists have mapped out a neuroreceptor. This scientific breakthrough promises to revolutionize the engineering of drugs used to treat ailments such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. ... > full story

Study finds protein critical to breast cancer cell proliferation, migration (September 19, 2011) -- Researchers have found that a protein linked to cell division and migration and tied to increased cell proliferation in ovarian tumors is also present at high levels in breast cancer specimens and cell lines. The protein, dubbed "UNC-45A," was also determined to be more active in breast cancer cells than in normal breast cells. ... > full story

People born after World War II are more likely to binge drink, develop alcohol disorders, study finds (September 19, 2011) -- Drinking can be influenced by both personal and societal factors, the latter leading to "drinking cultures." Researchers have completed a review of 31 studies on birth-cohort and gender differences in drinking. Analysis shows that people born after World War II are more likely to binge drink and develop alcohol use disorders, and that women are "catching up" to men in terms of alcohol problems. ... > full story

Improving cancer communication to patients (September 19, 2011) -- Oncologists and their patients are increasingly challenged with making difficult decisions about screening, prevention and treatment. Unfortunately, most patients are neither armed with adequate knowledge nor the means of interpreting the information they do have in a qualitatively and quantitatively useful way. ... > full story

Mammography use up for U.S. immigrants (September 19, 2011) -- While mammography rates have improved among foreign-born women residing in the United States, these women are still less likely to have undergone breast cancer screening than native-born U.S. women. ... > full story

Higher incidence of secondary breast cancer seen among black women regardless of age (September 19, 2011) -- The overall incidence of breast cancer is generally higher among white women than black women; however, the incidence of a second breast cancer in the opposite breast is higher among black women, according to a new study. ... > full story

Despite benefits, few brain aneurysm patients receive specialized care (September 19, 2011) -- The Neurocritical Care Society is releasing a comprehensive set of guidelines to guide physicians and hospitals on how to optimally care for patient's ruptured brain aneurysms. One of the strongest recommendations is that all patients receive specialized care at high-volume stroke centers that treat at least 60 cases per year. ... > full story

Tumor environment keeps tumor-fighting T cells away (September 19, 2011) -- Tumors have an arsenal of tricks to help them sidestep the immune system. A study reveals a new trick -- the ability to keep tumor-fighting T cells out by disabling a T cell-attracting protein within the tumor core. ... > full story

Components that keep immune system in check identified (September 19, 2011) -- Researchers have revealed the genetic underpinnings of cells -- called Foxp3-expressing regulatory T cells or Tregs -- that can prevent the immune response from turning cannibalistic. Their finding lends insight into these key cells, which are currently being tested as treatments for diseases such as Type 1 diabetes, arthritis and lupus. ... > full story

Common genetic variations linked to both schizophrenia and bipolar risk (September 19, 2011) -- Common genetic variants contribute to the risk of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, an international research consortium has discovered. A team of scientists has found new molecular evidence that 11 genetic regions have strong links with these diseases, including six regions not previously observed. The researchers also found that many of these DNA variations contribute to both diseases. ... > full story

Referral decisions differ between primary care physicians and specialists (September 19, 2011) -- Interventions to influence referral practices need to be tailored by speciality, experts urge. ... > full story

Patient complaints allege doctors fail to disclose risks (September 19, 2011) -- In more than 70 per cent of legal disputes over informed consent, patients allege the doctor failed to properly explain the risks of complications, a new study has found. ... > full story

Newest cancer therapies multi-task to eliminate tumors (September 18, 2011) -- Some of the newest therapies in the war on cancer remove the brakes cancer puts on the immune system, researchers report. ... > full story

New light on detection of bacterial infection: Polymers fluoresce in the presence of bacteria (September 18, 2011) -- Researchers have developed polymers that fluoresce in the presence of bacteria, paving the way for the rapid detection and assessment of wound infection using ultra-violet light. ... > full story

Low-fat yogurt intake when pregnant linked to increased risk of child asthma and hay fever, study suggests (September 18, 2011) -- Eating low-fat yogurt while pregnant can increase the risk of your child developing asthma and allergic rhinitis (hay fever), according to recent findings. Researchers suggest that non-fat related nutrient components in the yogurt may play a part in increasing this risk. They are also looking at the possibility that low-fat yogurt intake may serve as a marker for other dietary and lifestyle factors. ... > full story

Cycling fast: Vigorous daily exercise recommended for a longer life (September 18, 2011) -- A study conducted among cyclists in Copenhagen, Denmark showed that it is the relative intensity and not the duration of cycling which is of most importance in relation to all-cause mortality and even more pronounced for coronary heart disease mortality. ... > full story

Children with autism and gastrointestinal symptoms have altered digestive genes (September 18, 2011) -- Researchers report that children with autism and gastrointestinal disturbances have altered expression of genes involved in digestion. These variations may contribute to changes in the types of bacteria in their intestines. ... > full story

Targeting PTEN may prevent skin cancer (September 18, 2011) -- The tumor suppressor PTEN played key role in radiation damage repair. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. ... > full story

When it comes to pursuing your goals, let your unconscious be your guide (September 18, 2011) -- A new study says when it comes to goal setting, your unconscious mind can be a great motivator. Researchers say that unconscious feelings about objects in the environment influence the pursuit of long-term goals. Their study explores how the unconscious mind responds to objects in relation to an individual's goals -- and how the unconscious continues to influence feelings about these objects once the goals are reached -- whether or not the outcome has been successful. ... > full story

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