ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Tuesday, March 1, 2011
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Parts of brain can switch functions: In people born blind, brain regions that usually process vision can tackle language (March 1, 2011) -- When your brain encounters sensory stimuli, such as the scent of your morning coffee or the sound of a honking car, that input gets shuttled to the appropriate brain region for analysis. The coffee aroma goes to the olfactory cortex, while sounds are processed in the auditory cortex. That division of labor suggests that the brain's structure follows a predetermined, genetic blueprint. However, evidence is mounting that brain regions can take over functions they were not genetically destined to perform. ... > full story
Genes associated with binge drinking identified (March 1, 2011) -- Researchers have identified two genes associated with binge drinking that may open doors to new, more effective treatments for excessive alcohol drinking. The scientists found that manipulating two receptors in the brain, GABA receptors and toll-like receptor 4, "caused profound reduction" of binge drinking for two weeks in rodents that had been bred and trained to drink excessively. ... > full story
Rituximab and fludarabine produce long-term remissions in some chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients, study suggests (March 1, 2011) -- New research shows that a combination of the targeted agent rituximab and the chemotherapeutic drug fludarabine can produce long-term remissions in some chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients without increasing the risk of later therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome. After nearly 10 years of follow-up, 13 percent of patients had remissions lasting more than seven years. ... > full story
The influence of advertising on drug recommendations (March 1, 2011) -- A medical journal's revenue source can affect drug recommendations, with free journals positively recommending specific drugs while journals funded solely by subscriptions usually recommending against the use of the drugs, states a new study. ... > full story
Free radicals may be good for you (March 1, 2011) -- Fear of free radicals may be exaggerated, according to new research. A new study shows that free radicals act as signal substances that cause the heart to beat with the correct force. ... > full story
Acupressure effective in helping to treat traumatic brain injury, study suggests (March 1, 2011) -- A new study indicates an ancient form of complementary medicine may be effective in helping to treat people with mild traumatic brain injury, a finding that may have implications for some US war veterans returning home. ... > full story
New marker found for Sanfilippo disease (March 1, 2011) -- Researchers have described the build-up of a novel secondary metabolite in Sanfilippo disease, a discovery that could improve understanding of the pathology of Sanfillippo disease and refine diagnostic techniques. ... > full story
Storytelling program improves lives of people with Alzheimer's (March 1, 2011) -- Participation in TimeSlips, a creative storytelling intervention, improves communication and facilitates positive emotions in persons with dementia, researchers find. In the study a nursing researcher found that TimeSlips participants had increased expressions of pleasure and initiation of social communication. ... > full story
New pathogen connected to severe early childhood caries identified (February 28, 2011) -- Researchers have made a significant discovery about the nature of childhood dental disease. They have identified a new pathogen connected to severe early childhood caries (cavities). This bacterium, Scardovia wiggsiae, was present in the mouths of children with severe early childhood caries when other known pathogens such as Streptococcus mutans were not detected. This research may offer the potential to intervene and halt the progression of disease. ... > full story
Antioxidants in pecans may contribute to heart health and disease prevention (February 28, 2011) -- New research shows that after eating pecans, gamma-tocopherol levels in the body doubled and unhealthy oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood decreased by as much as 33 percent. ... > full story
Two knee replacements may be better than one, study finds (February 28, 2011) -- Replacing both knees in one surgery, or simultaneous total knee replacement was associated with significantly fewer prosthetic joint infections as well as other revision knee operations within one year after surgery, compared with total knee replacements performed in two separate procedures. However, simultaneous replacement was associated with a moderately higher risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes within 30 days, according to a new study. ... > full story
First aid training for children under five years old (February 28, 2011) -- One of the reasons often given by people for not attempting first aid in emergency situations is a lack of confidence and a fear of doing more harm than good. Yet a Norwegian study on four and five year olds shows that even young children are able to learn and perform basic first aid. ... > full story
Binge eaters' dopamine levels spike at sight, smell of food (February 28, 2011) -- A brain-imaging study reveals a subtle difference between ordinary obese subjects and those who compulsively overeat, or binge: In binge eaters but not ordinary obese subjects, the mere sight or smell of favorite foods triggers a spike in dopamine -- a brain chemical linked to reward and motivation. The findings suggest that this dopamine spike may play a role in triggering compulsive overeating. ... > full story
More evidence that Alzheimer's disease may be inherited from your mother (February 28, 2011) -- Results from a new study contribute to growing evidence that if one of your parents has Alzheimer's disease, the chances of inheriting it from your mother are higher than from your father. ... > full story
Learning from old bones to treat modern back pain (February 28, 2011) -- The bones of people who died up to a hundred years ago are being used in the development of new treatments for chronic back pain. It is the first time old bones have been used in this way. ... > full story
Close linkage between a rare, deadly lung condition and blood cell abnormalities (February 28, 2011) -- A new study reveal a close relationship between pulmonary arterial hypertension -- exceedingly high blood pressure in the arteries carrying blood from the heart to the lungs -- and abnormalities of the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. ... > full story
Lottery winners do not want their winnings to change them (February 28, 2011) -- There are many notions about what happens when someone has won a big prize. We often hear about winners who have spent all their money, incurred debts and become lonely and unhappy. But these are exceptional cases, new research shows. In the vast majority of cases the winners claim to carry on living their normal lives with prudent consumption. ... > full story
Human stem cells from fat tissue fuse with rat heart cells and beat (February 28, 2011) -- If Dr. Doolittle is famous for talking to animals, then here's a story that might make him hold his tongue: According to new research, scientists have successfully fused human stem cells derived from subcutaneous adipose (fat) tissue with muscle cells from rat hearts. Not only did these cells "talk" to form new muscle cells altogether, but they actually beat. ... > full story
Minimally invasive surgeries: Laser suturing (February 28, 2011) -- Surgeries with the endoscope are exacting and require special capabilities of the surgeon. The suturing of the tissue and the setting of the knots, in particular, is very complicated due to the lack of space for movement. A new, minimally invasive suturing tool simplifies the procedure. In the future, the suture material will no longer be knotted, but welded with a laser. ... > full story
Hearing loss rate in older adults climbs to more than 60 percent in national survey (February 28, 2011) -- Nearly two-thirds of Americans age 70 and older have hearing loss, but those who are of black race seem to have a protective effect against this loss, according to a new study. ... > full story
Being 'mindful' can neutralize fears of death and dying (February 28, 2011) -- Death can be terrifying. Recognizing that death is inescapable and unpredictable makes us incredibly vulnerable, and can invoke feelings of anxiety, hatred and fear. But new research shows that being a mindful person not only makes you generally more tolerant and less defensive, but it can also actually neutralize fears of dying and death. ... > full story
Willingness to listen to music is biological, study of gene variants suggests (February 28, 2011) -- Our willingness to listen to music is biological trait and related to the neurobiological pathways affecting social affiliation and communication, suggests a recent study. This is one of the first studies where listening to music has been explored at molecular level, and the first study to show association between arginine vasopressin receptor 1A (AVPR1A) gene variants and listening to music. ... > full story
Drug to fight tumors also fights the flu and possibly other viruses (February 28, 2011) -- Ever get a flu shot and still get the flu? If so, there's new hope for flu-free winters in the years to come thanks to a new discovery by researchers who found that a drug called DMXAA, originally developed as anti-tumor agent, enhances the ability of flu vaccines to ward off this deadly virus. ... > full story
Scientists generate pluripotent stem cells from horses (February 28, 2011) -- Pluripotent stem cells have now been generated from horses. The findings will help enable new stem-cell based regenerative therapies in veterinary medicine, and because horses' muscle and tendon systems are similar to our own, aid the development of preclinical models leading to human applications. ... > full story
Breast cancer incidence rates no longer declining in US women (February 28, 2011) -- A sharp decline in breast cancer incidence rates among non-Hispanic white women in the US after a dramatic drop in the use of postmenopausal hormone therapy did not continue through 2007, according to a new study. ... > full story
Napping may help with blood pressure management (February 28, 2011) -- A daytime sleep could have cardiovascular benefits according to new research. A new study, looking at the effect of a daytime nap on cardiovascular recovery following a stress test, found that those participants who slept for at least 45 minutes during the day had lower average blood pressure after psychological stress than those who did not sleep. ... > full story
Immune molecule regulates brain connections (February 28, 2011) -- The number of connections between nerve cells in the brain can be regulated by an immune system molecule, according to a new study. ... > full story
Given prior to loud noise, two drugs protect hearing better than one (February 28, 2011) -- Whether on a battlefield, in a factory or at a rock concert, noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common hazards people face. Researchers have identified a low-dose, two-drug cocktail that reduces hearing loss in mice when given before they are exposed to loud noise. ... > full story
Advanced degrees add up to lower blood pressure (February 28, 2011) -- An analysis of thousands of people shows that the more years of higher education people pursue, the lower their blood pressure readings will be for decades afterward, especially among women. Increasing educational access, argues the lead author, could improve public health. ... > full story
Nanomedicine: Gene fuelled transporter causes breast cancer cells to self-destruct (February 28, 2011) -- Scientists have shown that they can deliver a gene directly into breast cancer cells causing them to self-destruct, using an innovative, miniscule gene transport system, according to new research. ... > full story
Collisions of protein machines cause DNA replication derailment (February 28, 2011) -- Scientists have published results that will forever change the way researchers view the interplay between gene expression, DNA replication and the prevention of DNA damage. ... > full story
Potential treatment for Chikungunya discovered (February 28, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered two new fully human monoclonal antibodies which could battle Chikungunya, a disease that currently has no available vaccine or specific treatment. ... > full story
Most medical devices recalled because of serious risks did not undergo clinical trials (February 28, 2011) -- Most medical devices recently recalled by the Food and Drug Administration because of very serious risks were initially approved through an expedited process or were exempt from regulatory review, according to a new article. ... > full story
Brain's 'reward' center also responds to bad experiences (February 28, 2011) -- The so-called reward center of the brain may need a new name, say scientists who have shown it responds to good and bad experiences. The finding may help explain the "thrill" of thrill-seeking behavior or maybe just the thrill of surviving it, according to scientists. ... > full story
Why chemotherapy causes more infertility in women than in men (February 28, 2011) -- For a long time a relationship between infertility and chemotherapeutic agents has been assumed. Now, the mechanism has been elucidated. Mainly women are affected because the quality control in the oocytes is different from male germ cells. As biosicentists in Germany have found out, tetramer and dimer structures in the p53 protein family play a key role. ... > full story
Shining a light on trypanosome reproduction (February 28, 2011) -- Compelling visual evidence of sexual reproduction in African trypanosomes, single-celled parasites that cause major human and animal diseases, has been found. ... > full story
Ultrasound fusion imaging provides comparable accuracy for bone, soft tissue tumors (February 28, 2011) -- Biopsies using ultrasound fusion imaging for detecting bone and soft tissue cancers are safe, effective and just as accurate as conventional biopsy methods, according to a new study. ... > full story
Stress and tension do not stop fertility treatment from working, study finds (February 28, 2011) -- Women undergoing IVF or other assisted reproduction therapy can be reassured that emotional distress caused by their infertility or other life events will not prevent the treatment from working, according to new research. ... > full story
Markedly higher vitamin D intake needed to reduce cancer risk, researchers say (February 28, 2011) -- Researchers have reported that markedly higher intake of vitamin D is needed to reach blood levels that can prevent or markedly cut the incidence of breast cancer and several other major diseases than had been originally thought. ... > full story
Novel methods for improved breast cancer survival (February 28, 2011) -- A quarter of all women who suffer from breast cancer are at risk of metastasis – a recurrence of the cancer. In recent years, researchers have developed a technique that can identify in advance which patients belong to this risk group. Within the next two years the method will be tested in Swedish hospitals. In the future, the technique may also be used in hospitals in other countries. ... > full story
Meningitis: Neisseria meningitidis disseminates itself by sending out 'scouts' (February 28, 2011) -- Although, in the majority of cases, the localized presence of Neisseria meningitidis in the throat has no consequence, it can sometimes lead to meningitis or septicaemia. Scientists have recently discovered how this bacterium disseminates, leaving the throat to pass into the bloodstream. ... > full story
Hip, thigh implants can raise bone fracture risk in children (February 28, 2011) -- Children with hip and thigh implants designed to help heal a broken bone or correct other bone conditions are at risk for subsequent fractures of the very bones that the implants were intended to treat, according to new research. ... > full story
Strong link found between victimization, substance abuse (February 28, 2011) -- A strong link between victimization experiences and substance abuse has been discovered by researchers. ... > full story
Neighborhood barbers can influence black men to seek blood-pressure treatment (February 28, 2011) -- Patrons of black-owned barbershops who had their blood pressure regularly measured there and who were encouraged to follow up with their physicians were nearly nine times more likely to see a physician than patrons who were simply given hypertension literature. ... > full story
PCBs may affect in vitro fertilization outcomes (February 27, 2011) -- Serum polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at concentrations found in the general U.S. population are associated with the failure of fertilized embryos to implant in the uterus after in vitro fertilization (IVF). This study may help explain earlier reports of impaired reproduction and increased time to pregnancy among women exposed to PCBs. ... > full story
‘Round-the-clock’ lifestyle could disrupt metabolism, brain and behavior (February 27, 2011) -- In Civilization and Its Discontents, Sigmund Freud argued that modern society was hard on human psychology, forcing people to get along in unnaturally close quarters. Now newly published research points out a different discontent in the developed world, namely, the disruption of our natural sleep cycles, thanks to the ubiquity of electric lighting. Experiments on mice found that throwing off their evolutionarily ancient circadian rhythms by artificially altering the length of their days has a substantial impact on the body and the brain. The work suggests that our modern, round-the-clock lifestyle could disrupt metabolism, interfere with learning and impact behavior in ways that we're just beginning to understand. ... > full story
Home urine test measures insulin production in diabetes (February 27, 2011) -- A simple home urine test has been developed which can measure if patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are producing their own insulin. The urine test replaces multiple blood tests in hospital and can be sent by post as it is stable for up to three days at room temperature. Avoiding blood tests will be a particular advantage for children. ... > full story
Bisphenol A exposures lower in Canadians compared to Americans (February 27, 2011) -- Health Canada's declaration that bisphenol A is a health hazard makes it unique in the world, but it must now follow through with legislation to protect people from exposure. That's the conclusion of a new analysis that found concentrations of bisphenol A in Canadians are lower than for Americans, although the reason for the difference is unknown. ... > full story
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