ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Thursday, May 5, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Thursday, May 5, 2011

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Turning 'bad' fat into 'good': A future treatment for obesity? (May 5, 2011) -- By knocking down the expression of a protein in rat brains known to stimulate eating, researchers say they not only reduced the animals' calorie intake and weight, but also transformed their fat into a type that burns off more energy. The finding could lead to better obesity treatments for humans, the scientists report. ... > full story

Damaged hearts pump better when fueled with fats, study suggests (May 5, 2011) -- Contrary to what we've been told, eliminating or severely limiting fats from the diet may not be beneficial to cardiac function in patients suffering from heart failure, a new study suggests. ... > full story

Dirty mouths lead to broken hearts (May 5, 2011) -- Nurses who care for patients with dementia now have a tailored approach to dental hygiene for their charges, thanks to a pilot study by a team of nurses. ... > full story

Air pollution near Michigan schools linked to poorer student health, academic performance (May 5, 2011) -- Air pollution from industrial sources near Michigan public schools jeopardizes children's health and academic success, according to a new study. ... > full story

Attention, please: How innovations and Nobel Prize winners make it (May 5, 2011) -- "The rich-get-richer effect" is famous not only in sociology. It applies to the success of innovators as well. But if attention is paid only to people who are already at the top, how are scientific revolutions possible? A new publication investigating careers of Nobel Prize winners gives insight into this stunning phenomenon. ... > full story

Asthma pill more user-friendly than inhalers -- and no less effective, study finds (May 5, 2011) -- A rarely prescribed asthma drug is easier to use and just as effective as conventional treatment with inhalers, according to a new study. ... > full story

In therapy with avatars: Virtual technology to combat phobias, psychotic disorders (May 5, 2011) -- Virtual technology is being used to combat phobias and psychotic disorders. Researchers in the Netherlands show how this method can provide solutions for such problems as fear of flying and, in the longer term, possibly also for social disorders. ... > full story

Age alone should be used to screen for heart attacks and strokes, say experts (May 5, 2011) -- Using age alone to identify those at risk of heart disease or stroke could replace current screening methods without diminishing effectiveness, according to a groundbreaking study. ... > full story

Estimated costs of environmental disease in children at .6 billion per year (May 5, 2011) -- In three new studies, researchers reveal the staggering economic impact of toxic chemicals and air pollutants in the environment, and propose new legislation to mandate testing of new chemicals and also those already on the market. ... > full story

New mitochondrial control mechanism discovered (May 4, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a new component of mitochondria that plays a key part in their function. The discovery is of potential significance to our understanding of both inherited and age-related diseases. ... > full story

Childhood cancer survivors are at increased risk for ongoing post-therapy GI complications (May 4, 2011) -- Patients who received therapy for cancer during childhood have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal complications later in life. ... > full story

Gender bias uncovered in children's books with male characters, including male animals, leading the fictional pack (May 4, 2011) -- The most comprehensive study of 20th century children's books ever undertaken in the United States has found a bias towards tales that feature men and boys as lead characters. Surprisingly, researchers found that even when the characters are animals, they tend to be male. ... > full story

Unlocking the metabolic secrets of the microbiome (May 4, 2011) -- The number of bacterial cells living in and on our bodies outnumbers our own cells ten to one. But the identity of all those bugs and just what exactly our relationship to all of them really is remains rather fuzzy. Now, researchers have new evidence showing the metabolic impact of all those microbes in mice, and on their colons in particular. ... > full story

Technique developed for measuring stressed molecules in cells (May 4, 2011) -- Biophysicists have helped develop a new technique for studying how proteins respond to physical stress and have applied it to better understand the stability-granting structures in normal and mutated red blood cells. ... > full story

Chronic fatigue syndrome not related to XMRV retrovirus, comprehensive study finds (May 4, 2011) -- New findings show that the retrovirus called XMRV is not present in the blood of patients who have chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). These findings contradict a widely reported 2009 Science study that linked CFS to XMRV. ... > full story

Positive effects of depression (May 4, 2011) -- Sadness, apathy, preoccupation. These traits come to mind when people think about depression, the world's most frequently diagnosed mental disorder. Yet, new research provides evidence that depression has a positive side-effect. ... > full story

Natural protection against radiation (May 4, 2011) -- In the midst of ongoing concerns about radiation exposure from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, scientists are reporting that a substance similar to resveratrol -- an antioxidant found in red wine, grapes and nuts -- could protect against radiation sickness. ... > full story

New evidence that caffeine is a healthful antioxidant in coffee (May 4, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting an in-depth analysis of how the caffeine in coffee, tea and other foods seems to protect against conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and heart disease on the most fundamental levels. ... > full story

Physical and emotional health of older couples linked for better or worse, study finds (May 4, 2011) -- A study of older married couples that gives new meaning to the matrimonial adage "for better or worse" finds that spouses have a much greater impact on their partner's health than previously known. ... > full story

Blood test for Alzheimer's: Study identifies procedure that detects early stages (May 4, 2011) -- A new blood test that will diagnose Alzheimer's disease may soon hit the market, thanks to an innovative new study. The findings have characterized a unique biochemical diagnosis, which identifies patients with this devastating disorder. ... > full story

Extracting stem cells from fat for tissue regeneration (May 4, 2011) -- Stem cells extracted from body fat may pave the way for the development of new regenerative therapies including soft tissue reconstruction and the treatment of cardiovascular disease. ... > full story

Does it take one to know one? New research reveals conspiring conspiracy theorists (May 4, 2011) -- Conspiracy theories -- such as those surrounding the death of Princess Diana -- are more likely to be believed by people who are willing themselves to conspire, new research has shown. ... > full story

Mouse study turns fat-loss/longevity link on its head (May 4, 2011) -- Food restriction in 41 different strains of mice showed that, contrary to a widely held view, the animals' loss of fat did not necessarily result in longer life. ... > full story

Revolution in wound care? Cotton candy-like glass fibers appear to speed healing in initial venous stasis wound trial (May 4, 2011) -- Imagine a battlefield medic or emergency medical technician providing first aid with a special wad of cottony glass fibers that simultaneously slows bleeding, fights bacteria (and other sources of infection), stimulates the body's natural healing mechanisms, resists scarring, and-because it is quickly absorbed by surrounding tissue -- may never have to be removed in follow-up care. Or, imagine diabetics with hard-to-heal wounds finding a source of relief from the battle against infections and limb amputation. Those scenarios are the hope of the developers of a revolutionary borate glass nanofiber material. ... > full story

Most patients recover from 'chemo-brain' by 5 years after stem cell transplant (May 4, 2011) -- Many patients who undergo bone marrow or blood stem cell transplantation to treat blood cancers experience a decline in mental and fine motor skills due to the toll of their disease and its treatment. A new study found that overall, these effects are largely temporary and that most patients can expect a return to normal motor and memory function within five years. ... > full story

Climate change analysis predicts increased fatalities from heat waves (May 4, 2011) -- Global climate change is anticipated to bring more extreme weather phenomena such as heat waves that could impact human health in the coming decades. A new analysis has calculated that the city of Chicago could experience between 166 and 2,217 excess deaths per year attributable to heat waves using three different climate change scenarios for the final decades of the 21st century. ... > full story

Ecstasy associated with chronic change in brain function (May 4, 2011) -- Ecstasy -- the illegal "rave" drug that produces feelings of euphoria and emotional warmth -- may have therapeutic value. Clinical trials are testing Ecstasy in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. It's important, therefore, to define the impact of Ecstasy on brain function. Researchers report that recreational Ecstasy use is associated with a chronic change in brain function. ... > full story

Sense of justice built into the brain, imaging study shows (May 4, 2011) -- A new study shows that the brain has built-in mechanisms that trigger an automatic reaction to someone who refuses to share. Subjects' sense of justice was challenged in a two-player monetary fairness game, and their brain activity was simultaneously measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging. ... > full story

'I'm a tumor and I'm over here!' Nanovaults used to prod immune system to fight cancer (May 4, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a way to wake up the immune system to fight cancer by delivering an immune system-stimulating protein in a nanoscale container called a vault directly into lung cancer tumors, harnessing the body's natural defenses to fight disease growth. ... > full story

Structured exercise training associated with improved glycemic control for patients with diabetes (May 4, 2011) -- Implementing structured exercise training, including aerobic, resistance or both, was associated with a greater reduction in hemoglobin A1c levels (a marker of glucose control) for patients with diabetes compared to patients in the control group, and longer weekly exercise duration was also associated with a greater decrease in these levels, according to results of an analysis of previous studies. ... > full story

Using social networking to tap collective intelligence of online study groups (May 4, 2011) -- Taking their cue from social media, educators have developed a social networking application called Classroom Salon that engages students in online learning communities that effectively tap the collective intelligence of groups. ... > full story

Nicotine and cocaine leave similar mark on brain after first contact (May 4, 2011) -- The effects of nicotine upon brain regions involved in addiction mirror those of cocaine, according to new neuroscience research. A single 15-minute exposure to nicotine caused a long-term increase in the excitability of neurons involved in reward, according to a new study. ... > full story

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

Schools need collaboration, not packaged solutions, for best mental health programs (May 4, 2011) -- Experts in school mental health agree that a large investment of money, time and training has been made to develop and disseminate school mental health programs that have been tested and proven to work. Yet, in developing these "evidence-based practices" in school mental health, researchers have not given enough consideration to the unique context of schools, leaving many schools unable to capitalize on new ideas and scientific evidence. ... > 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