ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Saturday, April 9, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Saturday, April 9, 2011

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Is beauty found in the whites of the eyes? 'Red eyes' associated with the sad and unattractive (April 8, 2011) -- Beauty is said to be in the eye of the beholder, but a new study reveals that the reverse is also true; unattractiveness is in the eye of the beheld. Researchers found that people with bloodshot eyes are considered sadder, unhealthier and less attractive than people whose eye whites are untinted, a cue which is uniquely human. ... > full story

Dopamine controls formation of new brain cells, salamander study shows (April 8, 2011) -- A study of the salamander brain has led researchers to discover a hitherto unknown function of the neurotransmitter dopamine. In a new study, they show how in acting as a kind of switch for stem cells, dopamine controls the formation of new neurons in the adult brain. Their findings may one day contribute to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's. ... > full story

Pancreatic disease: Cells can consume errant molecules to prevent them from eating up organ (April 8, 2011) -- Timing is everything. That's especially true when it comes to the activation of enzymes created by the pancreas to break down food. When the timing is right, those enzymes are activated only when they reach the gut, where they get to work releasing and distributing nutrients that we need to survive. If the timing is wrong and the enzymes are activated too soon, they break down the pancreas itself, which is painful and sometimes fatal. ... > full story

'Dual switch' regulates fat formation: Discovery points to new obesity and diabetes drugs (April 8, 2011) -- New research has identified a key regulator of fat cell development that may provide a target for obesity and diabetes drugs. ... > full story

Blood protein levels may predict risk of a cardiovascular event (April 8, 2011) -- Increased levels of a protein that helps regulate the body's blood pressure may also predict a major cardiovascular event in high-risk patients, according to a new study. Measuring the amount of the protein, known as plasma renin activity, in the blood stream may give doctors another tool to assess a patient's risk and help prevent a heart attack or stroke. ... > full story

Frailty not a factor in adverse drug reactions among seniors, study finds (April 8, 2011) -- Contrary to popular belief among physicians, frailty in elderly patients is not associated with an increased risk of adverse reactions to medications, according to a new study. ... > full story

Common genetic cause of autism and epilepsy discovered (April 8, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a new gene that predisposes people to both autism and epilepsy. The results show for the first time the role of the SYN1 gene in autism, in addition to epilepsy, and strengthen the hypothesis that a deregulation of the function of synapse because of this mutation is the cause of both diseases. ... > full story

Atherosclerotic plaques form during a late and limited time period in life, atom bomb residues reveal (April 8, 2011) -- In a new study performed in humans, researchers from Sweden have determined the age of atherosclerotic plaques by taking advantage of carbon-14 residues in the atmosphere, prevailing after the extensive atomic bomb tests in the 1950s and 60s. The findings suggest that in most people plaque formation occurs during a relatively short and late time period in life of 3-5 years. ... > full story

Personal touch: Hearing a heartbeat has the same effect as looking each other in the eye (April 8, 2011) -- Hearing the heartbeat of someone you are talking to gives the same feeling of personal contact as looking each other in the eye. ... > full story

Simple chemical cocktail shows first promise for limb re-growth in mammals (April 8, 2011) -- Move over, newts and salamanders. The mouse may join you as the only animal that can re-grow their own severed limbs. Researchers are reporting that a simple chemical cocktail can coax mouse muscle fibers to become the kinds of cells found in the first stages of a regenerating limb. Their study is the first demonstration that mammal muscle can be turned into the biological raw material for a new limb. ... > full story

Caffeine and diabetes: Helpful or harmful? (April 8, 2011) -- A growing body of research suggests that caffeine disrupts glucose metabolism and may contribute to the development and poor control of type 2 diabetes, a major public health problem. A review article examines the latest evidence, contradicting earlier studies suggesting a protective effect of caffeine. ... > full story

Fish oil boosts responses to breast cancer drug tamoxifen, researchers find (April 8, 2011) -- Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women. Being exposed to estrogen over a long period of time is one factor that can increase a woman's risk of developing the disease. One way a woman can combat this risk factor is by taking the breast cancer drug tamoxifen. Now, researchers have found that omega-3 fatty acids could be a safe and beneficial booster for tamoxifen therapy. ... > full story

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