ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Tuesday, May 10, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.

Heart medication best at bedtime, animal study suggests (May 10, 2011) -- Many doctors give heart drugs to patients in the morning. But a new study has revealed angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors -- commonly given to patients with high blood pressure or after a heart attack or during heart failure -- improve heart structure and function when given at sleep time. In fact, when administered during wake time, ACE inhibitors are no more effective than a placebo. The research findings are based on a study conducted on mice with high blood pressure. ... > full story

Evidence insufficient on relationship of modifiable factors with risk of Alzheimer's disease (May 10, 2011) -- The available evidence is insufficient to draw firm conclusions about the association of modifiable factors and risk of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. ... > full story

We actually 'become' happy vampires or contented wizards when reading a book (May 10, 2011) -- Bad news for muggle parents! A new study by psychologists finds that we more or less "become" vampires or wizards just by reading about them. ... > full story

Research identifies risk factors associated with progression of glaucoma (May 10, 2011) -- Elevated pressure inside the eye, cornea thinning, and visual field loss are all markers that glaucoma may progress, according to a new study. ... > full story

Single bioptic telescope for low vision driving may not obscure road view of second eye (May 10, 2011) -- A bioptic telescope on one lens of a pair of glasses used to magnify traffic signs and lights may not prevent the wider view of the road with the second eye, study suggests. ... > full story

Health professionals appear concerned about bias in commercially funded continuing medical education (May 10, 2011) -- Commercial funding of continuing medical education and the potential for bias appear to concern many health care practitioners and researchers, but many reported being unwilling to pay higher fees to eliminate or offset commercial funding sources, according to a new report. ... > full story

New sepsis discovery goes straight to the heart to save lives (May 9, 2011) -- New research in rats and mice offers hope for stopping the devastating, and often fatal, effects of sepsis in humans. Researchers show how neutralizing the effects of a key protein fragment, called C5a, used by the immune system to attract white blood cells may ultimately prevent heart failure. ... > full story

Green tea and tai chi enhance bone health and reduce inflammation in postmenopausal women (May 9, 2011) -- There is a favorable effect of modest green tea consumption on bone remodeling in this pre-osteoporotic population. ... > full story

Genes an important factor in urinary incontinence (May 9, 2011) -- Much of the risk of developing incontinence before middle age is determined by our genes. Genetic factors can explain half of people's susceptibility to urinary incontinence, a study of twins reveals. ... > full story

Sexy clothes -- too much, too young: Study reveals that a significant proportion of young girls' clothing is sexualized (May 9, 2011) -- Are clothing manufacturers helping to turn young girls into sex objects? According to a new study, up to 30 percent of young girls' clothing available online in the US is 'sexy' or sexualizing. The study's authors say this has serious implications for how girls evaluate themselves according to a sexualized model of feminine physical attractiveness. It makes them confront the issue of sexual identity at a very young age. ... > full story

Fast, sensitive blood test for human prion disease (May 9, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a method -- 10,000 times more sensitive than other methods -- to detect variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (vCJD) in blood plasma. vCJD is a type of prion disease in humans that leads to brain damage and death. The researchers also used the test to rapidly detect scrapie, a prion disease of sheep, in infected hamsters, some pre-symptomatic. ... > full story

Parsley, celery carry crucial component for fight against breast cancer, study suggests (May 9, 2011) -- A compound in parsley and other plant products, including fruits and nuts, can stop certain breast cancer tumor cells from multiplying and growing, new research suggests. ... > full story

Nitric oxide impacts source of sickle cell pain crisis, study suggests (May 9, 2011) -- Nitric oxide gas appears to directly impact the source of the classic, disabling pain crises of sickle cell disease, researchers report. ... > full story

Dinner with the in-laws: Why does knowing how long a bad experience will last make it worse? (May 9, 2011) -- Knowing how long a good experience will last makes it better, but being aware of the duration of an unpleasant event makes it worse, according to a new study. But people usually predict the opposite effect. ... > full story

New hope for treatment of painful adult shingles (May 9, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a compound with the potential to be more effective than existing agents in treating the very painful blisters known as shingles -- a condition that affects up to 30 percent of Americans, mostly elderly, and for which no specific treatment exists. ... > full story

Celiac disease vaccine shows promising results in Phase I trial (May 9, 2011) -- The world's first potential vaccine for celiac disease has shown promising results for treating celiac disease in a Phase I clinical trial and is expected to move to Phase II trials within the next year. ... > full story

Cells derived from different stem cells: Same or different? (May 9, 2011) -- There are two types of stem cell considered promising sources of cells for regenerative therapies: ES and iPS cells. Recent data indicate these cells are molecularly different, raising the possibility that cells derived from the two sources could be distinct. New research, however, has determined that there is considerable overlap in the genetic programs of thyroid, lung, liver, and pancreas progenitors derived from ES and iPS cells and these progenitors isolated from mouse embryos. ... > full story

Sexual orientation affects cancer survivorship, study finds (May 9, 2011) -- Gay men have a higher prevalence of cancer compared with heterosexual men, and lesbian and bisexual female cancer survivors report lower levels of health than heterosexual female cancer survivors, according to a new study. The study's findings shed light on the types of programs and services that are needed to assist lesbian, gay and bisexual cancer survivors. ... > full story

New DNA role in modifying gene function: Findings suggest new approach could create highly targeted therapeutics (May 9, 2011) -- For years, scientists have thought of DNA as a passive blueprint capable only of producing specific proteins through RNA transcription. Now, researchers have shown DNA can also act to fine-tune the activity of certain proteins known as nuclear receptors. ... > full story

Key feature of age-related miscarriages and birth defects: Egg cells failing to properly arrange chromosomes (May 9, 2011) -- Researchers have confirmed a critical step in cell division that results in age-related miscarriages and birth defects, including Down syndrome. ... > full story

Reading at 16 linked to better job prospects (May 9, 2011) -- Reading books is the only out-of-school activity for 16-year-olds that is linked to getting a managerial or professional job in later life, says a new study.  ... > full story

Brain region that influences gambling decisions pinpointed (May 9, 2011) -- When a group of gamblers gather around a roulette table, individual players are likely to have different reasons for betting on certain numbers. Recently, researchers hedged their bets -- and came out winners -- when they proposed that a certain region of the brain drives these different types of decision-making behaviors. ... > full story

Protein active in small part of brain contributes to obesity, researchers discover (May 9, 2011) -- Scientists have added another piece to the obesity puzzle, showing how and why a certain protein that is active in a small part of the brain contributes to weight gain. ... > full story

Simple exercise improves lung function in children with cystic fibrosis (May 9, 2011) -- A small study of children and teens with cystic fibrosis (CF) shows that simple exercise, individually tailored to each patient's preference and lifestyle, can help improve lung function and overall fitness. ... > full story

Holistic processing: Seeing the trees and missing the forest (May 9, 2011) -- The phenomenon known as holistic processing is best known in faces. Most people see faces as a whole, not as two eyes a nose and a mouth. But holistic processing happens in other cases, too, and can even be taught. One possible explanation is that holistic processing emerges from expertise, but the truth is much more nuanced, according to new research. ... > full story

Key innovations in stem-cell technology (May 9, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting significant stem-cell discoveries that advance medicine and human health by creating powerful new approaches for using stem cells and stem-cell-like technology. ... > full story

Strong evidence supports prognostic value of circulating tumor cells in breast cancer (May 9, 2011) -- French researchers have reported the strongest proof yet that evidence of ‘circulating tumor cells’ found in samples of a patient’s blood is strongly linked to poor outcomes such as a short time to disease progression. ... > full story

Public confused about ingredients in pain relievers, study finds (May 9, 2011) -- Billions of people take pain relievers like Tylenol, but many do not pay attention to the active ingredients they contain, such as acetaminophen, a new study reports. That lack of knowledge plus ignorance of acetaminophen's presence in many over-the-counter and prescription medicines could be a key reason acetaminophen overdose has become the leading cause of acute liver failure. The solution proposed is to develop a universal icon for acetaminophen to appear on all medicine labels. ... > full story

Researchers see a 'picture' of threat in the brain: Work may lead to new model of neuroinflammation (May 9, 2011) -- Researchers are beginning to see exactly what the response to threats looks like in the brain at the cellular and molecular levels. This new information, including the discovery that a model of social stress can increase inflammation among brain cells, should provide new insight into how the stress response affects inflammatory and behavioral responses. ... > full story

When the lungs come under pressure: New way to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (May 9, 2011) -- Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension struggle with severe symptoms, which include shortness of breath, exhaustion and a lack of vitality. Moreover, the disease, which is more common in women, often claims the patient's life within a few years of its development. The currently available methods of treatment can slow down the progression of the disease and improve the symptoms; a cure, however, has thus far been unavailable. Scientists have now succeeded - for the first time in an animal model -- in not only halting the progression of the disease, but also in reversing it with the help of an inhalation therapy. ... > full story

New algorithm significantly improves imaging for full-body MRIs (May 9, 2011) -- A new study reveals an improved algorithm that can dramatically improve how radiologists capture and interpret full-body MRIs, particularly in the abdominal region. ... > full story

Adolescents less likely to start smoking if they feel connected to their parents, face consequences for lighting up (May 9, 2011) -- A study finds parents shouldn't let up when it comes to discouraging their kids from smoking. ... > full story

Brain performs near optimal visual search (May 9, 2011) -- Visual search is an important task for the brain. Surprisingly, even in a complex task like detecting an object in a scene with distractions, we find that people's performance is near optimal. That means that the brain manages to do the best possible job given the available information, according to researchers. ... > full story

HIV drug could prevent cervical cancer, researchers discover (May 9, 2011) -- A widely used HIV drug could be used to prevent cervical cancer caused by infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV), say scientists. ... > full story

Epigenetic study reveals new insights into breast cancer (May 9, 2011) -- The most comprehensive analysis yet of the epigenetic modifications present in breast cancer has revealed potentially important new ways to detect and treat the disease, Belgian researchers have reported. ... > full story

Making the move to exercise for overweight and obese people (May 9, 2011) -- How much exercise are overweight and obese people getting? More than many might think, according to new research findings. ... > full story

How did debt and credit become the 'American way'? (May 9, 2011) -- Taking on significant debt has become "normal" -- and even patriotic -- to some consumers, according to a new study. ... > full story

Homeopathy is 'dangerous and wasteful,' bioethics expert argues (May 9, 2011) -- A bioethics expert has denounced the public funding of homeopathy at a time where Scotland’s health budget is under unprecedented pressure. ... > full story

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: Coroners wrong to say no to post-mortem tissue collection, UK academics argue (May 9, 2011) -- The creation of a post-mortem tissue archive for a study of the human form of mad cow disease failed because of a 'misguided' refusal by coroners to participate, academics in the UK argue in a new article. ... > full story

Most nurses don’t use recommended intramuscular injection site despite potential risks, study finds (May 9, 2011) -- Seven out of ten hospital nurses who took part in a Canadian study used the dorsogluteal (DG) buttock site to administer intramuscular injections -- despite the potential risks of sciatic nerve injury -- with only 14% using the ventrogluteal (VG) hip site recommended by the nursing literature. ... > full story

Children conceived in winter have a greater risk of autism, study finds (May 8, 2011) -- An examination of the birth records of the more than seven million children born in the state of California during the 1990s and early 2000s has found a clear link between the month in which a child is conceived and the risk of that child later receiving a diagnosis of autism. ... > full story

Common medicine used to combat osteoporosis can cause fractures, study finds (May 8, 2011) -- Bisphosphonates are a common medication used to combat osteoporosis. But they can also cause fractures, according to new research. ... > full story

Is there a 'tiger mother' effect? Asian students study twice as many hours, analysis finds (May 8, 2011) -- Valerie Ramey analyzed data in the American Time Use Survey and discovered that Asian high school and college students out-study all other groups. But their mothers spend only about a half hour a week more in educational activities with their children. ... > full story

'Bad' cholesterol not as bad as people think, study shows (May 8, 2011) -- The so-called "bad cholesterol" -- low-density lipoprotein commonly called LDL -- may not be so bad after all, according to a new study that casts new light on the cholesterol debate, particularly among adults who exercise. ... > full story

New biomarker allows early detection of adverse prognosis after acute kidney injury (May 8, 2011) -- A new biomarker-based diagnostic test is more effective than current best practice for early detection of adverse outcomes after acute kidney injury, which can be fatal for 50 percent of the critically ill patients who get the condition. A multi-center study reports the kidney injury biomarker NGAL in urine or blood detects early subclinical AKI and its adverse outcomes in critically ill patients. ... > full story

Study gives clues to how obesity spreads socially (May 8, 2011) -- Obesity is socially contagious, according to research published in the past few years. How it is "caught" from others remains a murky area. But new findings shed light on the transmission of obesity among friends and family. ... > full story

Protein keeps sleep-deprived flies ready to learn (May 8, 2011) -- A protein that helps the brain develop early in life can fight the mental fuzziness induced by sleep deprivation, according to researchers. ... > full story

Neurosurgeon pushes brain bypass to new heights (May 8, 2011) -- A new high-flow procedure means improved outcomes for patients. The technique is less invasive and keeps more blood flowing in the brain than previous surgeries. ... > full story