ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Wednesday, September 21, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Wednesday, September 21, 2011

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Preterm birth associated with higher risk of death in early childhood, young adulthood (September 21, 2011) -- In a study that included more than 600,000 individuals born in Sweden between 1973-1979, those born preterm (less than 37 weeks gestation) had a higher risk of death during early childhood and young adulthood than persons born at term, according to a new study. ... > full story

Human body rids itself of damage when it really matters (September 21, 2011) -- Although the body is constantly replacing cells and cell constituents, damage and imperfections accumulate over time. Cleanup efforts are saved for when it really matters. Researchers in Sweden are able to show how the body rids itself of damage when it is time to reproduce and create new life. ... > full story

Social media for dementia patients (September 21, 2011) -- Research scientists in Norway are developing a "Facebook Light" -- with a user interface suitable for the elderly and people with dementia -- to promote important social contact. Both research and experience show that social contact enables people with dementia to maintain their level of functioning longer. ... > full story

Power corrupts, especially when it lacks status (September 21, 2011) -- In a new study, researchers have found that individuals in roles that possess power but lack status have a tendency to engage in activities that demean others. ... > full story

Scientists turn back the clock on adult stem cells aging (September 21, 2011) -- Researchers have shown they can reverse the aging process for human adult stem cells, which are responsible for helping old or damaged tissues regenerate. The findings could lead to medical treatments that may repair a host of ailments that occur because of tissue damage as people age. ... > full story

Breast cancer: Stress receptor found to stimulate growth and migration of cancer cells (September 21, 2011) -- It's a common belief that there's a link between chronic stress and an increased risk of cancer. In new research, scientists identified a particular neurotransmitter released in response to stress, that stimulates both cancer cell growth and migration in breast cancer. The research was led by Dwayne Jackson of the Departments of Medical Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering. ... > full story

Continued treatment for lupus may boost survival of those patients with end-stage kidney disease (September 21, 2011) -- Researchers have shown that close supervision by rheumatologists and the use of immunosuppressant drugs improve the survival of lupus patients with end-stage kidney disease -- a finding that could reverse long-standing clinical practice. ... > full story

Sifting out genetic defects from mounds of data (September 21, 2011) -- Within a decade, a combination of advanced measurement techniques and statistics will enable scientists to develop methods to diagnose serious diseases caused by genetic defects. Ten years after that, there may be medicines available to repair these defects, researchers predict. ... > full story

Depression associated with increased risk of stroke and stroke-related death (September 21, 2011) -- An analysis of nearly 30 studies including more than 300,000 patients finds that depression is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing stroke and dying from stroke, according to a new study. ... > full story

Discovery of gene fusion in ovarian cancer could lead to earlier diagnoses (September 20, 2011) -- About 15 percent of cases of an aggressive, difficult-to-detect form of ovarian cancer contain a unique fusion between two neighboring, normally separate genes, say researchers. Although gene fusions are known to occur in prostate and some blood cancers, they have been notoriously difficult to identify in solid tumors. This is the first recurrent gene fusion found for ovarian cancer. ... > full story

Mild hearing loss linked to brain atrophy in older adults; Early intervention could prevent slide toward speech comprehension difficulties (September 20, 2011) -- A new study shows that declines in hearing ability may accelerate gray mater atrophy in auditory areas of the brain and increase the listening effort necessary for older adults to successfully comprehend speech. ... > full story

Adding cognitive behavioral therapy to drug treatment of pediatric OCD appears to improve symptoms (September 20, 2011) -- Children and teens with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who were receiving some benefit from treatment with medication had a significantly greater reduction in OCD symptoms with the addition of cognitive behavior therapy, according to a new study. ... > full story

Lasers light the path to neuron regeneration (September 20, 2011) -- Lasers have been used to fabricate tiny scaffolds to be used as delivery vehicles to drop cells off at damaged locations and help treat diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. ... > full story

Certain heavy metals boost immunity, study suggests (September 20, 2011) -- A new natural defense mechanism against infections has been demonstrated. Zinc, a heavy metal that is toxic at high doses, is used by the cells of the immune system to destroy microbes such as the tuberculosis bacillus or E. coli. This discovery makes it possible to envisage new therapeutic strategies and test new vaccine candidates. ... > full story

Back pain? Patients who followed recommendations to move despite back pain fared better than those that rested in small study (September 20, 2011) -- Patients with acute low back pain who were advised to stay active despite the pain fared better than those who were told to adjust their activity in line with their pain. ... > full story

Shaping up: Controlling a stem cell's form can determine its fate (September 20, 2011) -- New research reinforces the idea that stem cells can be induced to develop into specific types of cells solely by controlling their shape. The results may be important to the design of materials to induce the regeneration of lost or damaged tissues in the body. ... > full story

Stopping smoking boosts everyday memory, research finds (September 20, 2011) -- Giving up smoking isn't just good for your health, it's also good for your memory, according to new research. ... > full story

Researchers create first human heart cells that can be paced with light (September 20, 2011) -- Researchers have for the first time engineered human heart cells that can be paced with light using a technology called optogenetics. In the near term, say the researchers, the advance will provide new insight into heart function. In the long term, however, the development could lead to an era of novel, light-based pacemakers and genetically matched tissue patches that replace muscle damaged by a heart attack. ... > full story

Diabetes may significantly increase the risk of dementia (September 20, 2011) -- People with diabetes appear to be at a significantly increased risk of developing dementia, according to a new study. ... > full story

Natural therapies: Cardiologists examine alternatives to halt high blood pressure (September 20, 2011) -- More and more, patients show up to appointments with hypertension experts carrying bags full of "natural" products that they hope will help lower their blood pressure. And like most physicians, hypertension experts don't always know if these products will do any good, or if they will cause any harm. To better educate physicians and patients, researchers have now conducted the most comprehensive review to date of the evidence behind a range of non-drug interventions. ... > full story

Autism, intellectual disabilities related to parental age, education and ethnicity, not income, Utah study finds (September 20, 2011) -- New research from Utah shows that the presence or absence of intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) varies with risk factors such as gender, parental age, maternal ethnicity, and maternal level of education. The study also shows that household income level has no association with either ID or ASD, in contrast to what other studies have suggested. ... > full story

Scientists disarm HIV in step towards vaccine (September 20, 2011) -- Researchers have found a way to prevent HIV from damaging the immune system, in a new lab-based study. The research could have important implications for the development of HIV vaccines. ... > full story

One size doesn't fit all for vitamin D and men: African-American men in northern regions especially need high doses of supplements (September 20, 2011) -- African-American men living in areas with low sunlight are up to 3.5 times more likely to have vitamin D deficiency than Caucasian men and should take high levels of Vitamin D supplements, reports a new study. The current general recommendation of 600 international units is way too low for all men in northern regions. Low Vitamin D has been linked to prostate cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. ... > full story

New imaging technique visualizes cancer during surgery (September 20, 2011) -- Scientists have now deployed a new imaging technology using laser light to detect cancer based on molecular signatures, leading to the localization of even small cancer cell nests that surgeons might otherwise overlook during surgery. The technique has now been successfully tested on nine patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer. There are plans to apply this imaging concept also to minimally invasive and endoscopic procedures. ... > full story

TV viewing linked to unhealthy eating (September 20, 2011) -- Spending time in front of the television is linked to an increased consumption of unhealthy snacks and drinks according to a recent review. ... > full story

Engineers use short ultrasound pulses to reach neurons through blood-brain barrier (September 20, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a new technique to reach neurons through the blood-brain barrier and deliver drugs safely and noninvasively. Up until now, scientists thought long ultrasound pulses, which can inflict collateral damage, were required. This new study shows that extremely short pulses of ultrasound waves can open the blood-brain barrier -- with the added advantages of safety and uniform molecular delivery -- and the molecule injected systemically could reach and highlight the targeted neurons noninvasively. ... > full story

Hope for powerful new C. difficile treatment (September 20, 2011) -- Researchers are developing a powerful new antibiotic treatment for resistant infections including the deadly MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C. diff.) bugs. ... > full story

Monitoring patients using intelligent T-shirts (September 20, 2011) -- Scientists in Spain have developed an 'intelligent' T-shirt that monitors the human body (temperature, heart rate, etc.) and locates patients within the hospital, as if it were a GPS system that works in closed spaces. It can even determine if the subject is seated, lying down, walking or running. ... > full story

Negative emotions influence brain activity during anticipation and experience of pain (September 20, 2011) -- Neuroticism -- the tendency to experience negative emotions -- significantly affects brain processing during pain, as well as during the anticipation of pain. ... > full story

More than a sign of sleepiness, yawning may cool the brain (September 20, 2011) -- A new study is the first involving humans to show that yawning frequency varies with the season, a disparity indicating that yawning could serve as a method for regulating brain temperature. ... > full story

Shark compound proves potential as drug to treat human viruses, says researcher (September 20, 2011) -- A compound initially isolated from sharks shows potential as a unique broad-spectrum human antiviral agent. The compound, squalamine, has been in human clinical trials for the treatment of cancer and several eye disorders, and so has a well-known safety profile, suggesting it can be quickly tested as a new class of drugs to treat infections caused by viruses ranging from dengue and yellow fever to hepatitis B, C, and D. ... > full story

Feed your genes: How our genes respond to the foods we eat (September 20, 2011) -- What should we eat? Answers abound in the media, all of which rely on their interpretation of recent medical literature to come up with recommendations for the healthiest diet. But what if you could answer this question at a molecular level -- what if you could find out how our genes respond to the foods we eat, and what this does to the cellular processes that make us healthy -- or not? That's precisely what biologists in Norway have done. ... > full story

Key regulatory genes often amplified in aggressive childhood tumor of the brainstem (September 20, 2011) -- The largest study ever of a rare childhood brain tumor found more than half the tumors carried extra copies of specific genes linked to cancer growth, according to new research. ... > full story

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

First recurrent gene fusion identified in ovarian cancer (September 20, 2011) -- Researchers studying ovarian cancer have discovered that, in a substantial fraction of ovarian tumors, a gene closely related to the estrogen receptor is broken and fused to an adjacent gene by a chromosome rearrangement -- a finding that could shed light on how these deadly tumors develop and spread. Identifying a gene fusion in ovarian cancer may provide scientists with a new opportunity to identify ovarian cancers early in their development and perhaps develop new treatments. ... > full story

Experts want practical research to improve mental health of people experiencing humanitarian crises (September 20, 2011) -- Experts in regions experiencing humanitarian crises want more research focused on generating and developing practical knowledge that could have tangible benefits in humanitarian settings rather than yet more research on topics, such as the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, that have to date dominated academic debates and research. ... > full story

No safe level of radiation exposure? Researcher points to suppression of evidence on radiation effects by Nobel Laureate (September 20, 2011) -- Environmental toxicologist Edward Calabrese, whose career research shows that low doses of some chemicals and radiation are benign or even helpful, says he has uncovered evidence that one of the fathers of radiation genetics, Nobel Prize winner Hermann Muller, knowingly lied when he claimed in 1946 that there is no safe level of radiation exposure. ... > full story

Multicenter 1000-patient trial initiated to accelerate development of personalized treatments for multiple myeloma (September 20, 2011) -- Clinical sites are beginning to enroll patients in a landmark study designed to uncover the molecular segments and variations of multiple myeloma. ... > full story

Benefits of radionuclide therapy for neuroendocrine tumors (September 20, 2011) -- According to new research, a peptide receptor radiolabeled therapy (PRRT) is effective not only in decreasing tumor size but also in reducing the severity of side effects that often accompany a cancer diagnosis. While many neuroendocrine cancers are incurable, they grow relatively slowly, and life expectancy is relatively long, making quality of life an important factor in treatment. ... > full story

Intuitive thinking may influence belief in God (September 20, 2011) -- Intuition may lead people toward a belief in the divine and help explain why some people have more faith in God than others, according to new research. ... > full story

Living in poor neighborhood a risk factor for out-of-hospital cardiac death (September 20, 2011) -- People living in poor neighborhoods are at higher risk of dying of heart disease outside a hospital than are people who live in wealthier neighborhoods, research suggests. The researchers analyzed the association between neighborhoods of differing socioeconomic status and out-of-hospital deaths caused by coronary heart disease in four US communities between 1992 and 2002. In each community, and among whites and African-Americans, those living in the poorer neighborhoods had a higher risk for these deaths. ... > full story

African-American men living in poor sunlight areas at risk for vitamin D deficiency (September 20, 2011) -- African-American men living in low sunlight areas are more likely to experience vitamin D deficiency than European-American men living in the same environment. Researchers believe that these findings should change recommendations for daily intake of vitamin D. ... > full story

Test could detect breast cancers earlier in young, high-risk African-American women (September 20, 2011) -- Certain cancer signaling pathways that are activated in aggressive cancer can be detected very early, even in precancerous cells, among young African-American women at high risk for breast cancer. This may allow for earlier detection and prevention of cancer. ... > full story

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