ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Thursday, June 9, 2011
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Breast cancer drug pushes colon cancer cells to their death (June 9, 2011) -- A new treatment for colon cancer that combines a chemotherapy agent approved to treat breast cancer and a cancer-fighting antibody is ready for clinical trials, according to researchers. ... > full story
Bone cancer, from the lab to the clinic (June 9, 2011) -- A new study into osteosarcoma -- cancer of the bone -- will use advances in genomic research to identify new genes that give rise to the cancer and to create personalized blood tests for children and young adults. The hope is that the project will improve monitoring in patients with cancer and guide the best drug treatment for the cancer in each patient. ... > full story
Older adults with mild cognitive impairment may also have some functional impairment, study finds (June 9, 2011) -- Difficulty remembering important dates and medications, and gathering paperwork, is more common in older individuals with mild cognitive impairment than in those with no cognition problems, according to a new report. ... > full story
Moderate to intense exercise may protect the brain (June 9, 2011) -- Older people who regularly exercise at a moderate to intense level may be less likely to develop the small brain lesions, sometimes referred to as "silent strokes," that are the first sign of cerebrovascular disease, according to a new study. ... > full story
Finnish twin study yields new information on how fat cells cope with obesity (June 9, 2011) -- The mechanisms by which obesity leads towards metabolic comorbidities, such as diabetes mellitus, are poorly understood and of great public health interest. A study led by researchers in Finland suggests that adaptation of fat cell membranes to obesity may play a key role in the early stages of inflammatory disorders. ... > full story
Lifelong gap in health between rich and poor set by age 20, Canadian study finds (June 9, 2011) -- Canadians who are less educated and have a lower income start out less healthy than their wealthier and better-educated compatriots, and remain so over the course of their lives, according to a new study. ... > full story
Adjuvant combo shows potential for universal influenza vaccine (June 8, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered how to prime a second arm of the immune system to boost influenza vaccine effectiveness. A combination of two adjuvants induced killer T cells to join antibodies in response to influenza infection. Since the killer T cells targeted a highly conserved protein that does not change from year to year, the adjuvant strategy suggests potential for a universal flu vaccine. ... > full story
Connection discovered between the nervous system and the vascular system (June 8, 2011) -- Scientists have shown for the first time that a key molecule of the vascular system directs axons during the formation of neural circuits. This connection between the nervous system and the vascular system could be a good starting point for the development of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. ... > full story
Active social, spiritual and physical life helps prevent health decline in seniors, study finds (June 8, 2011) -- Small, healthy lifestyle changes and involvement in meaningful activities -- going beyond just diet and exercise -- are critical to healthy aging, according to a new study. ... > full story
Unraveling the complex genetics of autism (June 8, 2011) -- Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are devastating developmental disorders characterized by altered social interactions and behavior. Although genetic risks are known to contribute to the development of ASDs, the genetic causes of the disease are not well understood. Now, three new papers provide new insight into the diversity of the genetic abnormalities that contribute to autism and represent a step towards the future design of treatments specifically targeted to different kinds of autism. ... > full story
Treating children's eye infections without surgery (June 8, 2011) -- Researchers report that medical management may be preferred over surgery for children with orbital cellulitis, an acute infection of the tissues surrounding the eye. They have determined the criteria for surgical intervention should be dependent upon the size of a subperiosteal abscess. ... > full story
Scientists create humanized mouse model for hepatitis C (June 8, 2011) -- A team of researchers has, for the first time, recreated a portion of the hepatitis C virus life cycle in a mouse with a functional immune system. The new mouse model will enable scientists to test molecules that block entry of the hepatitis C virus into cells as well as potential vaccine candidates. ... > full story
Crucial molecule involved in spread of breast cancer identified; Findings suggest strategy for halting metastasis (June 8, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a key player in the spread of breast cancer. The findings identify a critical molecule that helps cancer spread beyond the primary tumor. The research highlights a potential new strategy against metastatic disease. ... > full story
Ordered fear plays a strong role in market chaos (June 8, 2011) -- When the current financial crisis hit, the failure of traditional economic doctrines to provide any sort of early warning shocked not only financial experts worldwide, but also governments and the general public, and we all began to question the effectiveness and validity of those doctrines. A research team based in Israel decided to investigate what went awry, searching for order in an apparently random system. ... > full story
Universal flu vaccine clinical trials show promise (June 8, 2011) -- A universal influenza vaccine targeting a protein common to all strains of influenza A has safely produced an immune response in humans. If proven effective, the vaccine could eliminate the practice of creating a new flu vaccine annually to match predicted strains, with major implications for global health. ... > full story
Squeeze an arm, protect the heart: New technique for heart protection analyzed (June 8, 2011) -- Scientists in the UK are investigating a novel technique that promises to protect heart muscle from life-threatening damage following a heart attack -- simply by squeezing an arm. Heart attacks are the major cause of premature death in England, with massive implications for survival and costs of long-term health care. ... > full story
Research creates nanoparticles perfectly formed to tackle cancer (June 8, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a way to load up nanoparticles with large numbers of light-sensitive molecules to create a more effective form of photodynamic therapy for treating cancer. ... > full story
‘Sleep on it’ is sound, science-based advice, study suggests (June 8, 2011) -- In recent years, much sleep research has focused on memory, but now results of a new study suggest another key effect of sleep is facilitating and enhancing complex cognitive skills such as decision-making. ... > full story
Insulin action on brain's reward circuitry linked to obesity (June 8, 2011) -- Researchers have what they say is some of the first solid proof that insulin has direct effects on the reward circuitry of the brain. Mice whose reward centers can no longer respond to insulin eat more and become obese, they show. ... > full story
Teens with type 2 diabetes already show possible signs of impaired heart function (June 8, 2011) -- Heart function may be affected in people with type 2 diabetes as early as adolescence, according to a new study. ... > full story
Many patients with advanced cancers get treatments that won't help, study finds (June 8, 2011) -- A study of more than 1,000 patients with colon cancer that had spread to distant sites found that one in eight was treated with at least one drug regimen that was not recommended. Those patients were exposed to significant risk without proven benefits, at an estimated cost -- just for the drugs -- of more than million. ... > full story
'Wrong'-time eating reduces fertility in fruit flies: Study points to fertility-metabolism connection (June 8, 2011) -- Researchers manipulated circadian rhythms in fruit flies and measured the affect on egg-laying capacity. But they stress what's true in flies grown in a lab does not necessarily hold for humans, and any potential link between diet and reproduction would have to be independently tested. "I would say that eating at the wrong time of the day has deleterious consequences for physiology," says lead author Amita Sehgal. ... > full story
Coffee drinking improves hepatitis C treatment response, study suggests (June 8, 2011) -- Advanced hepatitis C patients with chronic liver disease may benefit from drinking coffee during treatment, according to a new study. Patients who received peginterferon plus ribavirin treatment and who drank three or more cups of coffee per day were two times more likely to respond to treatment than non-drinkers. ... > full story
Near infrared fluorescence lights up hidden blood clots (June 8, 2011) -- New research may mark the expansion of a novel imaging agent for an optical technique called near-infrared fluorescence, which uses light energy to glean information about cells and tissues. NIRF combined with the newly synthesized agent can image dangerous blood clots hiding inside elusive veins, most commonly within the deep tissues of the thighs and pelvis, but potentially also in the coronary arteries. The agent uses a biomarker that seeks out a peptide (the building blocks of proteins) called fibrin that is actively involved in the formation of blood clots. ... > full story
Be it numbers or words, the structure of our language remains the same (June 8, 2011) -- It is one of the wonders of language: We cannot possibly anticipate or memorize every potential word, phrase or sentence. Yet we have no trouble constructing and understanding myriads of novel utterances every day. How do we do it? Linguists say we naturally and unconsciously employ abstract rules -- syntax. ... > full story
People with Parkinson's disease may have double the risk for melanoma (June 8, 2011) -- An analysis of several studies shows that people with Parkinson's disease have a significantly higher risk of melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer and the leading cause of death from skin diseases. ... > full story
Link between phosphate intake and heart disease demonstrated in new study (June 8, 2011) -- Lowering phosphate intake in humans can reduce heart disease, according to research by experts in the UK. The study demonstrates the connection between a high phosphate diet and atherosclerosis -- a leading cause of heart disease, the researchers say. ... > full story
Greater cancer detection is possible with 4-D PET image reconstruction (June 8, 2011) -- A new study is advancing a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging method that uses new 4-D image reconstruction to achieve the highest diagnostic capability for the detection of cancer. Mounting evidence shows that PET imaging, which provides visual representations of bodily functions, is significantly more sensitive when used with cutting-edge 4D image reconstruction technology that accounts for patient respiration and produces clearer, more easily interpreted images. ... > full story
Construction industry has highest number of traumatic brain injuries in US workplace, study finds (June 8, 2011) -- Although traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, work-related TBI has not been well documented. In a new study, researchers describe the epidemiology of fatal TBI in the US workplace between 2003 and 2008. This study provides the first national profile of fatal TBIs occurring in the US workplace. The construction industry had the highest number of TBIs and the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry had the highest rates. ... > full story
Drug shows promise in prostate cancer spread to bone (June 8, 2011) -- A new drug to treat prostate cancer shows early promise, particularly against tumors that have spread to the bone, a multi-site study shows. ... > full story
Bursitis a common cause of painful hips, knees, heels and elbows: Most conditions can be managed with simple, nonsurgical techniques (June 8, 2011) -- A new literature review examines a common condition called bursitis, often causing pain on movement. Orthopedic surgeons offer treatment options. ... > full story
Prolonging life carries more weight in doctors recommendations, study finds (June 8, 2011) -- Doctors are more apt to recommend a more costly therapy to patients if it were determined to prolong the patient's life rather than just improve quality, according to a recent study. ... > full story
Immediate use of an IUD following abortion more likely to prevent unintended pregnancies, study finds (June 8, 2011) -- Women who receive a contraceptive known as an intrauterine device or IUD immediately following a first trimester abortion experience few complications and are less likely to have an unintended pregnancy than those who delay getting an IUD by several weeks, according to a new study. ... > full story
U.S. researchers advocate national strategic approach to therapeutic cancer vaccines (June 8, 2011) -- Vaccines that save lives by preventing disease have been around for centuries. Now, new vaccines that treat cancer are being developed, but how they will be combined with existing treatments is not clear. U.S. researchers now recommend that a national strategy be developed for bringing therapeutic cancer vaccines to patient care, so that cancers with less effective treatment options are priority targets. ... > full story
Patient gender may influence nuclear stress test referrals, researchers say (June 8, 2011) -- New research from cardiologists suggests a possible gender disparity in how patients are referred for nuclear stress tests, an imaging technique that measures blood flow to the heart muscle both at rest and during periods of stress, such as exercise. ... > full story
Autism study validates importance of spontaneous causal mutations and sheds new light on gender skew (June 8, 2011) -- A clinically extensive and mathematically powerful study of 1000 families with one autistic child and one unaffected sibling has validated a controversial theory of autism's complex genetic causation. The study for the first time estimates the minimum number of locations in the human genome -- 250 to 300 -- where gene copy number variation (CNV) can give rise to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It also sheds new light on the long observed but little understood "gender bias" of autism ... > full story
Inhibiting microRNAs may help prevent degenerative eye disorders (June 7, 2011) -- Blocking two tiny molecules of RNA -- a chemical cousin of DNA -- appears to suppress the abnormal growth of blood vessels that occurs in degenerative eye disorders, researchers have found. Their findings suggest a potential strategy to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a vascular eye disorder that affects nearly 2 million Americans and is a leading cause of blindness among older people. ... > full story
Older age does not cause testosterone levels to decline in healthy men (June 7, 2011) -- A decline in testosterone levels as men grow older is likely the result -- not the cause -- of deteriorating general health, say Australian scientists, whose new study finds that age, in itself, has no effect on testosterone level in healthy older men. ... > full story
What mom thinks matters when it comes to mental illness, study finds (June 7, 2011) -- A new study shows that while family members often provide critical support, they also can sometimes be the source of stigmatizing attitudes that impede the recovery of mentally ill relatives. ... > full story
Excessive pregnancy weight gain raises the risk of having a fat baby (June 7, 2011) -- Women who gain too much weight during pregnancy tend to have newborns with a high amount of body fat, regardless of the mother's weight before pregnancy, a new study finds. ... > full story
Women warriors show resilience similar to men, psychological study shows (June 7, 2011) -- Women service members who experience combat are apparently as resilient as the men they serve alongside, according to a new psychological study. Men and women deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008 experienced very similar levels of combat-related stress and post-deployment mental health impacts during the first year following return from deployment, researchers report. ... > full story
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