ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Monday, April 25, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Monday, April 25, 2011

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Brain cell migration during normal development may offer insight on how cancer cells spread (April 25, 2011) -- By shedding new light on how cells migrate in the developing brain, researchers also may have found a new mechanism by which other types of cells, including cancer cells, travel within the body. ... > full story

Drug effective in treating kidney disease in diabetic patients, study suggests (April 25, 2011) -- Researchers have published promising results of a clinical study using an experimental anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory drug called pirfenidone to treat patients with diabetic nephropathy. ... > full story

Ban bodychecking in youth hockey to prevent concussions, expert argues (April 25, 2011) -- Bodychecking in youth hockey leagues should be banned to prevent concussions which can cause serious repercussions, experts argue in a new analysis. ... > full story

Taking aim at tumors (April 25, 2011) -- Many of the newest weapons in the war on cancer come in the form of personalized therapies that can target specific changes in an individual's tumor. By disrupting molecular processes in tumor cells, these drugs can keep the tumor from growing and spreading. Researchers are now deploying a new tool in their study of an enzyme called tubulin tyrosine ligase, or TTL. ... > full story

Molecular mechanism contributing to neuronal circuit formation found (April 25, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered how sensory and motor fibers interact during development of neuronal circuits in the limbs: Both types of nerve fibers can guide this process. With this finding, the researchers have made an important contribution to understanding how neural networks are formed during embryonic development and have found a new approach to explaining neurological disorders. ... > full story

Presenting cancer treatment options in small doses yields smarter choices, study finds (April 25, 2011) -- Women who choose among different breast cancer treatment options make smarter choices when getting the information and making decisions in small doses rather than all at once, as is customary, a new study found. ... > full story

Television 'breakups' cause some viewers distress (April 25, 2011) -- Even temporary "breakups" can be distressing for some people -- at least when it comes to their favorite television programs. A new study examined how college-aged television viewers reacted when their favorite shows went off the air or were replaced with reruns as a result of the television writers' strike of 2007-08. ... > full story

Brain bypass surgery sparks restoration of lost brain tissue (April 24, 2011) -- Neurosurgeons have for the first time initiated the restoration of lost brain tissue through brain bypass surgery in patients where blood flow to the brain is impaired by cerebrovascular disease. ... > full story

Decoding human genes is goal of new open-source encyclopedia (April 24, 2011) -- A massive database cataloging the functional components of the human genome is being made available as an open resource to scientists, classrooms, science writers, and the public, thanks to an international team of scientists. ... > full story

Discovery of relationship between proteins may impact development of cancer therapies (April 24, 2011) -- By identifying a surprising association of two intracellular proteins, researchers have laid the groundwork for the development of new therapies to treat B cell lymphomas and autoimmune disease. ... > full story

Move over Prozac: New drug offers hope for depression (April 24, 2011) -- The brain chemistry that underlies depression is incompletely understood, but research suggests that aberrant signaling by a chemical called brain-derived neurotrophic factor through its receptor TrkB, may contribute to anxiety and depression. Here, researchers describe a screen for stable small molecules that could specifically inhibit TrkB action. They identified one they dubbed ANA-12, which had potent behavioral effects when administered to mice that suggest it will have antidepressant and anti-anxiety activity in humans. ... > full story

Dietary, lifestyle changes can significantly reduce triglycerides (April 24, 2011) -- Diet and lifestyle changes that include substituting healthy fats for unhealthy saturated and trans fats, engaging in regular physical activity and losing excess weight can reduce triglycerides -- a blood fat -- by 20 percent to 50 percent. New clinical recommendations include reducing the optimal triglyceride level from ... > full story

Study suggests another look at testosterone-prostate cancer link (April 24, 2011) -- The long-standing prohibition against testosterone therapy in men with untreated or low-risk prostate cancer merits reevaluation, according to a new study. ... > full story

A tool to predict crowd turbulence (April 24, 2011) -- Recent crowd disasters, such as those seen in 2006 during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and in 2010 at the Love Parade in Duisburg, have underlined the need to better understand what determines the collective behavior of crowds. A new model suggests that a pedestrian seeks simply to minimize congestion in his visual field by walking towards the empty spaces he can see, while at the same time adjusting his speed in order to maintain a safe distance from the nearest obstacle. ... > full story

Professional hockey: Days lost per concussion in NHL increasing (April 24, 2011) -- A major study of concussions, conducted over seven National Hockey League seasons indicates that while the rate of injuries leveled out over the study period, the number of days lost per concussion has increased. ... > full story

Liver-cell transplants show promise in reversing genetic disease affecting liver and lungs (April 23, 2011) -- Transplanting cells from healthy adult livers may work in treating a genetic liver-lung disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, according to a new animal study. ... > full story

Study adds weight to link between calcium supplements and heart problems (April 23, 2011) -- New research adds to mounting evidence that calcium supplements increase the risk of cardiovascular events, particularly heart attacks, in older women. ... > full story

For family violence among adolescents, mattering matters (April 23, 2011) -- Teens and adolescents who believe that they matter to their family -- that is, they feel the make a difference in the family's daily doings -- are significantly less likely to threaten or engage in family violence, according to a new study. ... > full story

Scientists engineer nanoscale vaults to encapsulate 'nanodisks' for drug delivery (April 23, 2011) -- The first steps toward the development of the vault nanoparticle into a versatile and effective DDS are reported in this paper. The ability to encapsulate therapeutic compounds into the vault is a critical and fundamental obstacle in their development for small-molecule drug delivery. Recombinant vaults are engineered to encapsulate the highly insoluble and toxic hydrophobic compound all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) using a vault-binding lipoprotein complex that forms a lipid bilayer nanodisk. ... > full story

New approach to defeating flu shows promise (April 23, 2011) -- New research on mice has shown that pulmonary administration of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) significantly reduces flu symptoms and prevents death after a lethal dose influenza virus. While GM-SCF therapy for humans as a flu prophylaxis or treatment may be years away, the study results were striking: All of the mice treated with GM-SCF survived after being infected with the influenza virus, whereas untreated mice all died from the same infection. ... > full story

Frog embryos lead to new understanding of cardiac development (April 23, 2011) -- During embryonic development, cells migrate to their eventual location in the adult body plan and begin to differentiate into specific cell types. There is now new insight into how these processes regulate tissues formation in the heart. ... > full story

C. difficile colonization accompanied by changes in gut microbiota: Study hints at probiotics as treatment (April 23, 2011) -- Asymptomatic colonization by Clostridium difficile, absent the use of antibiotics, is common in infants and when it happens changes occur in the composition of the gut microbiota, according to new research. ... > full story

Functioning synapse created using carbon nanotubes: Devices might be used in brain prostheses or synthetic brains (April 22, 2011) -- Engineering researchers have made a significant breakthrough in the use of nanotechnologies for the construction of a synthetic brain. They have built a carbon nanotube synapse circuit whose behavior in tests reproduces the function of a neuron, the building block of the brain. ... > full story

Anti-depressants boost brain cells after injury in early studies (April 22, 2011) -- When neurosurgeons noticed that patients with brain injuries who had been prescribed anti-depressants were doing better in unexpected ways than their counterparts who were not taking such medications, scientists took a closer look. Early results in mice indicate that anti-depressants may help spur the creation and survival of new brain cells after brain injury. ... > full story

Worm studies shed light on human cancers (April 22, 2011) -- Research in the worm is shedding light on a protein associated with a number of different human cancers, and may point to a highly targeted way to treat them. ... > full story

Parasite strategy offers insight to help tackle sleeping sickness (April 22, 2011) -- Fresh insight into the survival strategy of the parasite that causes sleeping sickness could help inform new treatments for the disease. ... > full story

Quality of parent-toddler relationship could affect risk for childhood obesity (April 22, 2011) -- Toddlers who do not have a secure emotional relationship with their parents, and particularly their mothers, could be at increased risk for obesity by age 4 and a half, according to new research. The study suggests that children at age 24 months who show insecure attachment patterns have at least 30 percent higher odds for obesity by age 4 and a half. ... > full story

Toward new medications for chronic brain diseases (April 22, 2011) -- A needle-in-the-haystack search through nearly 390,000 chemical compounds had led scientists to a substance that can sneak through the protective barrier surrounding the brain with effects promising for new drugs for Parkinson's and Huntington's disease. The substance blocks the formation of cholesterol in the brain. ... > full story

Athletes at risk: New, inexpensive test for 'sudden death syndrome' (April 22, 2011) -- A cardiologist has developed a new, inexpensive test for "sudden death syndrome" that's already being used by doctors in America -- and it can be done at the patient's bedside. ... > full story

Antidepressants may not improve all symptoms of depression, researchers find (April 22, 2011) -- Even people who show a clear treatment response with antidepressant medications continue to experience symptoms like insomnia, sadness and decreased concentration, researchers have found after analyzing data from the largest study on the treatment of depression. ... > full story

Critical role of placenta in brain development demonstrated (April 22, 2011) -- New research shows for the first time that the human placenta plays an active role in synthesizing serotonin, paving the way to new treatment strategies that could mitigate health impacts such as cardiovascular disease and mental illness. ... > full story

Cancer cell proliferation: A new ending to an old 'tail' (April 22, 2011) -- In stark contrast to normal cells, which only divide a finite number of times before they enter into a permanent state of growth arrest or simply die, cancer cells never cease to proliferate. Now, scientists have uncovered an important clue to one of the mechanisms underlying cancer cell immortality. ... > full story

Subset of self-destructive immune cells may selectively drive diabetes (April 22, 2011) -- New research identifies a distinctive population of immune cells that may play a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetes. The research sheds new light on the pathogenesis of diabetes and may lead to the development of new more selective therapeutic strategies for diabetes and other autoimmune diseases of the accessory organs of the digestive system. ... > full story

Study pinpoints common critical errors in teen crashes (April 22, 2011) -- A recent study hones in on the most common errors teen drivers make that lead to a serious crash. Teen drivers are involved in fatal crashes at four times the rate of adults. ... > full story

Learning to tolerate our microbial self: Bacteria co-opt human immune cells for mutual benefit (April 22, 2011) -- The human gut is filled with 100 trillion symbiotic bacteria which we blissfully live with, although they have many features similar to infectious bacteria we react against. What decides whether we ignore -- or fight? In the case of a common "friendly" gut bacterium, Bacteroides fragilis, researchers have discovered the surprising answer: The decision is not made by us, but by the bacteria, which co-opt cells of the immune system for our benefit ... and theirs. ... > full story

Study in roundworm chromosomes may offer new clues to tumor genome development (April 22, 2011) -- A "promiscuous DNA replication process" may be responsible for large-scale genome duplications in developing tumors, according to new research. These findings challenge the long-standing, currently accepted model. ... > full story

Bacteria interrupted: Disabling coordinated behavior and virulence gene expression (April 22, 2011) -- New research reveals a strategy for disrupting the ability of bacteria to communicate and coordinate the expression of virulence factors. The study may lead to the development of new antibacterial therapeutics. ... > full story

Acupuncture relieves hot flashes from prostate cancer treatment, study suggests (April 22, 2011) -- Acupuncture provides long-lasting relief to hot flashes, heart palpitations and anxiety due to side effects of the hormone given to counteract testosterone, the hormone that induces prostate cancer, according to a new study. ... > full story

Prenatal pesticide exposure tied to lower IQ in children, study finds (April 22, 2011) -- A new study has found that prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides -- widely used on food crops -- is related to lower intelligence scores in children. Every tenfold increase in measures of organophosphates detected during a mother's pregnancy corresponded to a 5.5 point drop in overall IQ scores in children at age 7, the researchers found. ... > full story

Salmonella utilize multiple modes of infection: New mechanism that helps with invading host cells discovered (April 22, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a new, hitherto unknown mechanism of Salmonella invasion into gut cells: In this entry mode, the bacteria exploit the muscle power of cells to be pulled into the host cell cytoplasm. Thus, the strategies Salmonella use to infect cells are more complex than previously thought. ... > full story

Use of topical corticosteroids in children with eczema does not have negative side effects, study finds (April 22, 2011) -- A new study reveals that routine, long-term use of topical corticosteroids for treating children with eczema does not cause any significant, negative side effects. ... > full story

Severe obesity not seen to increase risk of depression in teens (April 22, 2011) -- According to a new study, severely obese adolescents are no more likely to be depressed than normal weight peers. The study did find that white adolescents may be somewhat more vulnerable to psychological effects of obesity. ... > full story

Research on 'Iceman' Wim Hof suggests it may be possible to influence autonomic nervous system and immune response (April 22, 2011) -- New research on "Iceman" Wim Hof suggests that he can influence his autonomic nervous system and immune response through concentration and meditation. The results obtained are remarkable, however, the investigators emphasize that so far, these results have only been obtained in a single individual. Therefore, they can not serve as scientific evidence for the hypothesis that the autonomic nervous system and the immune response can be influenced through concentration and meditation techniques. ... > full story

Genes causing antimalarial drug resistance identified (April 21, 2011) -- Using a pair of powerful genome-search techniques, researchers have identified several genes that may be implicated in the malaria parasite's notorious ability to rapidly evade drug treatments. ... > full story

Kidney disease coupled with heart disease common problem in elderly (April 21, 2011) -- Chronic kidney disease is common and linked with heart disease in the very elderly, according to a new study. ... > full story

Early warning system for Alzheimer's disease (April 21, 2011) -- Scientists are developing a technique based on a new discovery which could pave the way towards detecting Alzheimer's disease in its earliest stages -- and could help to develop urgently-needed treatments. The technique uses the ratio of detected fluorescence signals to indicate that clusters of peptide associated with the disease are beginning to gather and to have an impact on the brain. ... > full story

Meditation may help the brain 'turn down the volume' on distractions (April 21, 2011) -- The positive effects of mindfulness meditation on pain and working memory may result from an improved ability to regulate a crucial brain wave called the alpha rhythm. This rhythm is thought to "turn down the volume" on distracting information, which suggests that a key value of meditation may be helping the brain deal with an often overstimulating world. ... > full story

Simple fungus reveals clue to immune system protection (April 21, 2011) -- A discovery about how a single-celled fungus survives in low-oxygen settings may someday help humans whose immune systems are compromised by organ transplants or AIDS. ... > full story

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