ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Wednesday, May 4, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Wednesday, May 4, 2011

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Robots learn to share: Why we go out of our way to help one another (May 4, 2011) -- Using simple robots to simulate genetic evolution over hundreds of generations, Swiss scientists provide quantitative proof of kin selection and shed light on one of the most enduring puzzles in biology: Why do most social animals, including humans, go out of their way to help each other? ... > full story

Agent selectively targets malignant B cells in chronic leukemia, study shows (May 4, 2011) -- A new experimental drug called PCI-32765 selectively kills the cancer cells that cause chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), according to a new study. The study shows that the agent selectively kills the malignant B lymphocytes that cause CLL. This is important, the researchers say, because current CLL therapies kill T lymphocytes along with the cancerous B lymphocytes. A drug that kills malignant B lymphocytes and spares T lymphocytes could dramatically improve outcomes for CLL patients. ... > full story

Many new drugs did not have comparative effectiveness information available at time of FDA approval, study finds (May 4, 2011) -- Only about half of new drugs approved in the last decade had comparative effectiveness data available at the time of their approval by the US Food and Drug Administration, and approximately two-thirds of new drugs had this information available when alternative treatment options existed, according to a new study. ... > full story

Researchers demonstrate why DNA breaks down in cancer cells (May 4, 2011) -- Damage to normal DNA is a hallmark of cancer cells. Although it had previously been known that damage to normal cells is caused by stress to their DNA replication when cancerous cells invade, the molecular basis for this remained unclear. ... > full story

High risks associated with egg donation to women with Turner’s syndrome, research reveals (May 4, 2011) -- Pregnancy via egg donation for women with Turner’s syndrome is potentially risky, both for the mother and the child, according to a multi-center study. ... > full story

Dependency and passivity: You can have one without the other (May 4, 2011) -- Think of a dependent person, and you think of someone who's needy, high-maintenance, and passive. That's how many psychologists and therapists think of them, too; passivity is key. But dependency is actually more complex and can even have active, positive aspects, according to a new article. ... > full story

Why the eye is better than a camera at capturing contrast and faint detail simultaneously (May 3, 2011) -- The discovery nearly 50 years ago of lateral inhibition -- that the cones in the eye inhibit their neighbors by way of negative feedback -- explained the keen edge detail we see, but never accounted for the fact that we can see faint detail near these edges and in the shadows. Neurobiologists have discovered positive feedback among the cones that completes the picture. ... > full story

Breast cancers found between mammograms more likely to be aggressive (May 3, 2011) -- Breast cancers that are first detectable in the interval between screening mammograms are more likely to be aggressive, fast-growing tumors according to a new study. ... > full story

Keeping oysters, clams and mussels safe to eat (May 3, 2011) -- Eating raw or undercooked mollusks may pose a safety hazard if they are harvested from waters polluted with pathogenic microbes, so scientists are studying ways to enhance the food safety of these popular shellfish. For example, a molecular biologist in Dover is exploring new techniques that will decontaminate mollusks while protecting the seafood's flavor, texture and color. ... > full story

Popular diabetes drugs' cardiovascular side effects explained (May 3, 2011) -- Drugs known as thiazolidinediones, or TZDs for short, are widely used in diabetes treatment, but they come with a downside. The drugs have effects on the kidneys that lead to fluid retention as the volume of plasma in the bloodstream expands. Now researchers report that those negative consequences arise in more than one way. The findings may lead to the development of improved diabetes therapies. ... > full story

Narrow brands make you want to buy (May 3, 2011) -- If you want a beer at the beach bar, the Mexican brand Corona quickly springs to mind. Brands characterised by few, but strong associations, perform better than brands with many associations, new research shows. ... > full story

Molecular movements of neural transporters unveiled (May 3, 2011) -- Scientists have shed light on the molecular workings of transporter proteins, molecular machines embedded in the cell membranes of neurons that modulate the transfer of signals between cells and recycle neurotransmitters. ... > full story

Scientists track evolution and spread of deadly fungus, one of the world's major killers (May 3, 2011) -- New research has shed light on the origins of a fungal infection which is one of the major causes of death from AIDS-related illnesses. The study shows how the more virulent forms of Cryptococcus neoformans evolved and spread out of Africa and into Asia. ... > full story

'Fatting in': Immigrant groups eat high-calorie American meals to fit in, study finds (May 3, 2011) -- Immigrants to the United States and their US-born children gain more than a new life and new citizenship. They gain weight. Now psychologists show that it's not simply the abundance of high-calorie American junk food that causes weight gain. Instead, members of U.S. immigrant groups choose typical American dishes as a way to show that they belong and to prove their "American-ness." ... > full story

Regenerating nerve cells: Research offers hope in new treatment for spinal cord injuries (May 3, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a chemically synthesized siRNA molecule that allows regeneration of nerve cells. ... > full story

Receptor for Ebola virus identified (May 3, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a cellular protein that acts as a receptor for Ebola virus and Marburg virus. Furthermore, the team showed that an antibody, which binds to the receptor protein, is able to block infection by both viruses. The results suggest that a human-compatible version of the antibody might provide a way to prevent initial infection during an outbreak. ... > full story

Webcam technology used to measure medications' effects on the heart (May 3, 2011) -- A common component in webcams may help drug makers and prescribers address a common side-effect of drugs called cardiotoxicity, an unhealthy change in the way the heart beats. Researchers have used the basic webcam technology to create a tool to look at the effects of medications in real time on heart cells, called cardiomyocytes. ... > full story

'Apple a day' advice rooted in science (May 3, 2011) -- Daily apple consumption shows long-term cardioprotective effects in postmenopausal women. ... > full story

How grown children cope with pain may be traced back to the way their family copes with pain (May 3, 2011) -- Could adult children's strategies for coping with pain come from watching their parents react to and deal with pain? According to researchers, a family may have a specific cognitive style of coping with pain. ... > full story

New genetic cause of neurodegeneration discovered (May 3, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered two mutations responsible for a devastating neurological condition they first identified 15 years ago. ... > full story

Following cancer prevention guidelines lowers risk of death from cancer, heart disease, all causes (May 3, 2011) -- A study of more than 100,000 men and women over 14 years finds nonsmokers who followed recommendations for cancer prevention had a lower risk of death from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and all-causes. ... > full story

Think it's easy to be macho? Psychologists show how 'precarious' manhood is (May 3, 2011) -- Manhood is a "precarious" status -- difficult to earn and easy to lose. And when it's threatened, men see aggression as a good way to hold onto it, according to new research. ... > full story

Statins may stave off septic lung damage, new research finds (May 3, 2011) -- Statins may be best known for their ability to reduce cholesterol, but a new research report shows that these same drugs could also play a crucial role in the reduction of lung damage resulting from severe abdominal sepsis and infection. ... > full story

Research demonstrates link between H1N1 and low birth weight (May 3, 2011) -- In 2009, the United States was gripped by concern for a new winter threat: the H1N1 strain of influenza. According to research conducted through that winter, pregnant women were right to be concerned. ... > full story

Kids who specialize in one sport may have higher injury risk (May 3, 2011) -- Competitive young athletes are under increasing pressure to play only one sport year round, but such specialization could increase the risk of injuries, a new study has found. ... > full story

HIV drugs can also target tropical parasites, study suggests (May 3, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered that drugs used to treat HIV may also one day become lifesaving drugs targeted at parasitic diseases such as leishmaniasis and malaria. Scientists have now identified the target of action for some anti-HIV drugs with known abilities to kill serious pathogenic parasites. While scientists have long known that these HIV drugs can kill parasites, exactly how they work was previously unknown. ... > full story

Brain enlargement in autism due to brain changes occurring before age 2 (May 3, 2011) -- A new study finds that children with autism who had enlarged brains at age 2 continued to have enlarged brains at ages 4 and 5. However, this increased brain growth did not continue beyond age 2, and the changes detected at age 2 were due to overgrowth prior to that time point. ... > full story

Device measures brain temperature non-invasively: Monitoring could be critical in life-saving cooling therapy (May 3, 2011) -- Doctors have long sought a way to directly measure the brain's temperature without inserting a probe through the skull. Now researchers have developed a way to get the brain's precise temperature with a device the diameter of a poker-chip that rests on a patient's head, according to new findings. ... > full story

Secondhand smoke may increase vulnerability to nicotine addiction (May 3, 2011) -- Exposure to secondhand smoke, such as a person can get by riding in an enclosed car while someone else smokes, has a direct, measurable impact on the brain -- and the effect is similar to what happens in the brain of the person doing the smoking. In fact, exposure to this secondhand smoke evokes cravings among smokers, according to a new study. ... > full story

Insomnia linked to high insulin resistance in diabetics (May 3, 2011) -- In the largest study of it kind to establish a link between sleep and diabetes, researchers found that people with diabetes who sleep poorly have higher insulin resistance, and a harder time controlling the disease. ... > full story

Versatility of stem cells controlled by alliances, competitions of proteins (May 3, 2011) -- Because they can change into any other cell, stem cells are the subject of intense research, but how they "decide" to specialize, or differentiate, hasn't been understood. A new study using a unique technology shows that proteins must jostle and join behind the scenes to make it happen, as well as to restore flexibility to cells that already had made their choice. ... > full story

Research opens door to vaccines that can circumvent maternal antibodies (May 3, 2011) -- New research that reveals how maternal antibodies block an immune response to the measles virus is a first step toward improving current childhood vaccination practices, scientists say. Maternal antibodies are passed to fetuses during pregnancy and to newborns in their mothers' milk. The antibodies protect infants against disease in the first months of life, but that protection comes at a cost. ... > full story

Traveler's alert: Business travel linked to obesity and poor health (May 3, 2011) -- People who travel for business two weeks or more a month have higher body mass index, higher rates of obesity and poorer self-rated health than those who travel less often. Overall, the researchers found that business people who traveled the most (20 or more days a month) have poorer health on a number of measures. ... > full story

Scientists identify genetic risk for major depression (May 3, 2011) -- A new study reveals a novel gene associated with major depression. The research suggests a previously unrecognized mechanism for major depression and may guide future therapeutic strategies for this debilitating mood disorder. ... > full story

Antioxidant may prevent alcohol-induced liver disease, study suggests (May 3, 2011) -- An antioxidant may prevent damage to the liver caused by excessive alcohol, according to new research. The findings may point the way to treatments to reverse steatosis, or fatty deposits in the liver that can lead to cirrhosis and cancer. ... > full story

New method to measure cortisol could lead to better understanding of development of common diseases (May 3, 2011) -- A new method to measure the amount of the stress hormone cortisol found in the body over the long term could lead to new research avenues to study the development of common conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and depression. Researchers have found that hair can be used to create a retrospective timeline of exposure to cortisol. Cortisol is implicated in the development of many common conditions and this new technique could allow us to study its role better. ... > full story

Work-related 'burnout' more likely to affect the best lecturers, study suggests (May 3, 2011) -- Conscientious academics who try hard to keep in regular contact with their students are the most likely to suffer from work-related 'burnout,' a new study has found. ... > full story

Germ Genie kills keyboard germs -- even C. difficile, scientists find (May 3, 2011) -- Scientists who proved the effectiveness of Germ Genie, a tool to prevent infections from keyboards, have now found that it can kill C. difficile. ... > full story

Itch receptors work through pain receptors on sensory neurons (May 2, 2011) -- Despite much research on pain receptors, investigators have only recently focused on itch and how the body distinguishes between itch and pain. This research show that the receptors responding to irritants actually work by triggering pain receptors, which in turn send signals to the brain that make us want to scratch. The connection suggests that new pain relievers under development may also help relieve intractable itch. ... > full story

A little belly fat can double the risk of death in coronary artery disease patients (May 2, 2011) -- One of the largest studies of its kind has found that people with coronary artery disease who have even a modest beer belly or muffin top are at higher risk for death than people whose fat collects elsewhere. The effect was observed even in patients with a normal body mass index. ... > full story

Scientists have identifed an abnormal disease pathway in dystonia (May 2, 2011) -- Scientists have figured out why some people with a gene that causes dystonia never get symptoms and others with the same mutation are disabled by the abnormal movements. ... > full story

Lesser-known Escherichia coli types targeted in food safety research (May 2, 2011) -- Almost everyone knows about Escherichia coli O157:H7, the culprit behind many headline-making outbreaks of foodborne illness in the United States. But the lesser-known relatives of this pathogenic microbe are increasingly of concern to food safety scientists. ... > full story

Sniffing out calories: Hormone linked to nose's ability to locate food (May 2, 2011) -- The hormone ghrelin, known to promote hunger and fat storage, has been found to enhance exploratory "sniffing" in both animals and humans. ... > full story

Packing on the pounds in middle age linked to dementia (May 2, 2011) -- According to a new study, being overweight or obese during middle age may increase the risk of certain dementias. ... > full story

Discovery of two new genes provides hope for stemming Staph infections (May 2, 2011) -- The discovery of two genes that encode copper- and sulfur-binding repressors in the hospital terror Staphylococcus aureus means two new potential avenues for controlling the increasingly drug-resistant bacterium, scientists say. ... > full story

Washing with contaminated soap increases bacteria on hands, research finds (May 2, 2011) -- People who wash their hands with contaminated soap from bulk-soap-refillable dispensers can increase the number of disease-causing microbes on their hands and may play a role in transmission of bacteria in public settings, according to new research. ... > full story

Seeking happiness? Remember the good times, forget the regrets (May 2, 2011) -- People who look at the past through rose-tinted glasses are happier than those who focus on negative past experiences and regrets, according to a new study. The study helps explain why personality has such a strong influence on a person's happiness. The findings suggest that persons with certain personality traits are happier than others because of the way they think about their past, present and future. ... > full story

Aspirin reduces the risk of cancer recurrence in prostate cancer patients, study suggests (May 2, 2011) -- Some studies have shown that blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin, can reduce biochemical failure the risk of metastasis and even death in localized prostate cancer. These studies, although very telling, have all emphasized the need for more data. Now, with researchers having concluded the largest study on this topic, and there is substantial data suggesting that aspirin improves outcomes in prostate cancer patients who have received radiotherapy. ... > full story