ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Tuesday, June 14, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Tuesday, June 14, 2011

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New clues about aging: Genetic splicing mechanism triggers both premature aging syndrome and normal cellular aging (June 14, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a new pathway that sets the clock for programmed aging in normal cells. The study provides insights about the interaction between a toxic protein called progerin and telomeres, which cap the ends of chromosomes like aglets, the plastic tips that bind the ends of shoelaces. ... > full story

New light shed on how blood clots form (June 14, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered new elements of the blood clot-formation process. The findings could lead to better drugs for preventing heart attacks and other clot-related conditions. ... > full story

Brain scan identifies patterns of plaques and tangles in adults with Down syndrome (June 14, 2011) -- In one of the first studies of its kind, researchers used a unique brain scan to assess the levels of plaques and tangles -- the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease -- in adults with Down syndrome. The finding may offer an additional clinical tool to help diagnose dementia in adults with Down syndrome. Adults with this disorder develop Alzheimer's-like plaque and tangle deposits early, often before the age of 40. ... > full story

Type 2 diabetes associated with increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular problems, but metabolic syndrome is not (June 14, 2011) -- Among patients who have had an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), type 2 diabetes was associated with an increased risk of recurrent stroke or cardiovascular events, but metabolic syndrome was not, according to a new study. ... > full story

Wives' sleep problems have negative impact on marital interactions, study finds (June 14, 2011) -- The quality of interactions among married couples is affected by wives' inability to fall asleep at night, but not by husbands' sleep problems, suggests new research. ... > full story

Undernourishment in pregnant, lactating females found key to next generation's disease (June 14, 2011) -- A study in primates establishes the critical role that undernourishment in mothers-to-be and lactating females has in creating Type 2 diabetes in offspring. ... > full story

Controlling starch in sugar factories (June 14, 2011) -- Factory trials have led to recommendations for controlling or preventing starch buildup in processed raw sugars and products made with those sugars. ... > full story

Sleep apnea may increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (June 14, 2011) -- Women with severe sleep apnea had the highest incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes according to the results of a new study. This increased prevalence was principally driven by a higher incidence of gestational diabetes and early preterm birth. The authors noted that sleep apnea has been associated with heart disease, metabolic syndrome and mortality in non-pregnant populations. However, few studies have examined the relationship between sleep apnea in pregnancy and adverse obstetrical outcomes. The analysis involved 150 women. ... > full story

Clever tool use in parrots and crows (June 13, 2011) -- The kea, a New Zealand parrot, and the New Caledonian crow are members of the two most intelligent avian families. Researchers have investigated their problem solving abilities as well as their innovative capacities. ... > full story

Heart attack death rates linked to ambulance diversion (June 13, 2011) -- Heart attack patients die at a higher rate when their nearest emergency room is so overtaxed that the ambulance transporting them is dispatched to another hospital, according to a new study. ... > full story

Simple analysis of breathing sounds while awake can detect obstructive sleep apnea (June 13, 2011) -- The analysis of breathing sounds while awake may be a fast, simple and accurate screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea, new research suggests. ... > full story

Preteens surrounded by smokers get hooked on nicotine, study suggests (June 13, 2011) -- Exposure to secondhand smoke can create symptoms of nicotine dependence in non-smoking preteens, according to a new study. The study also found that tweens who repeatedly observe a parent, sibling, friend or neighbor consuming cigarettes are more likely to light up themselves as adolescents. ... > full story

Dengue virus circulating between monkeys and mosquitoes could emerge to cause human outbreaks (June 13, 2011) -- Sylvatic dengue continues to flourish in Southeast Asia and West Africa, cycling between non-human primates and the mosquitoes that feed on them. Since the 1970s, the virus has received little scientific attention -- a situation that badly needs to be remedied, according to experts. ... > full story

Birdsong independent of brain size: Sex difference in the brain varies according to social status (June 13, 2011) -- The brains of all vertebrates display gender-related differences. In songbirds, for example, the size of the brain areas that control their singing behaviour could be linked to the size of their song repertoires. In many songbird species, only the males sing and indeed, they do have larger song control areas in the brain than females. However, even species where both sexes sing identically, display the same sex differences in their brain structure. Researchers in Germany have now demonstrated for the first time in the white-browed sparrow weaver, an African songbird, that the extent of these sex differences in the brain varies according to social status, and cannot be explained by singing behaviour as previously thought. ... > full story

Key component in lethal lung cancer complication identified (June 13, 2011) -- A protein previously thought not to exist in adult human lungs not only is present in normal and cancerous lung tissue, scientists have found, but it also has a major role in the development of a lethal complication of some lung cancers. The protein, called the calcium-sensing receptor, sits on the surface of lung cancer cells that make up tumors known as squamous-cell carcinomas, according to new research. ... > full story

Sleep type predicts day and night batting averages of Major League Baseball players (June 13, 2011) -- A Major League Baseball player's natural sleep preference might affect his batting average in day and night games, according to a new research. Players who are 'morning types' have a higher batting average in early games, but 'evening types' have the advantage in late games. ... > full story

Promising new target for stifling the growth and spread of cancer (June 13, 2011) -- Cancer and chronic inflammation are partners in peril, with the latter increasing the likelihood that malignant tumors will develop, grow and spread. Researchers say they've identified a tumor inflammation trigger that is common to most, if not all, cancers. And using existing inhibitory drugs, the scientists were able to dramatically decrease primary tumor growth in animal studies and, more importantly, halt tumor progression and metastasis. ... > full story

Sleepiness may impair the brain's inhibitory control when viewing high-calorie foods (June 13, 2011) -- Daytime sleepiness may affect inhibitory control in the brain when viewing tantalizing, high-calorie foods, suggests new research. ... > full story

One in five heart-attack deaths could be prevented with new drug, findings show (June 13, 2011) -- New findings from the UK show that one in five deaths in the year following a heart attack could be prevented if a new drug, ticagrelor, was used instead of the standard treatment, clopidogrel. ... > full story

Income disparity makes people unhappy (June 13, 2011) -- Many economists and sociologists have warned of the social dangers of a wide gap between the richest and everyone else. ... > full story

Single GFP-expressing cell is basis of living laser device (June 13, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a device in which a single cell genetically engineered to express green fluorescent protein is used to amplify the light particles called photons into nanosecond-long pulses of laser light. ... > full story

Cooling the brain during sleep may be a natural and effective treatment for insomnia (June 13, 2011) -- Participants received all-night frontal cerebral thermal transfer by wearing a soft plastic cap on their head. The cap contained tubes that were filled with circulating water. The time that it took 12 subjects with primary insomnia to fall asleep (13 minutes) and the percentage of time in bed that they slept (89 percent) during treatment at the maximal cooling intensity were similar to 12 healthy controls (16 minutes and 89 percent). ... > full story

High-impact radiopeptide therapy halts neuroendocrine cancer (June 13, 2011) -- New research could be a sign of hope for patients with neuroendocrine cancer not responding well to standard therapies. Most radiotherapies use medical isotopes that emit beta radiation. The therapy in this study employs alpha particles, which have potential for higher potency. In fact, one single atom could be enough to kill an entire cancer cell. ... > full story

New computer algorithm improves method for finding genetic mistakes that fuel cancer (June 13, 2011) -- A dramatically better computer tool for finding the genetic missteps that fuel cancer has been developed . Researchers are using the new algorithm to help identify the chromosomal rearrangements and DNA insertions or deletions unique to cancer. ... > full story

Teen brain data may predict pop song success, study finds (June 13, 2011) -- A new study suggests that the brain activity of teens, recorded while they are listening to new songs, may help predict the popularity of the songs. The researchers scientifically demonstrated that you can, to some extent, use neuroimaging in a group of people to predict cultural popularity. ... > full story

Stem cell treatment may become option to treat nonhealing bone fractures (June 13, 2011) -- Stem cell therapy enriched with a bone-regenerating hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), can help mend broken bones in fractures that are not healing normally, a new animal study finds. ... > full story

New 3-D tumor model: Step toward speeding cancer drug research (June 13, 2011) -- A team of scientists has developed a way to coax tumor cells in the lab to grow into 3-D spheres. Their discovery takes advantage of an earlier technique of producing spherical cavities in a common polymer and promises more accurate tests of new cancer therapies. ... > full story

Engineering new weapons in the fight against juvenile diabetes (June 13, 2011) -- Engineering researchers are combining automation techniques from oil refining and other diverse areas to help create a closed-loop artificial pancreas. The device will automatically monitor blood sugar levels and administer insulin to patients with type 1 diabetes, and aims to remove much of the guesswork for those living with the chronic disease. ... > full story

Deciding to stay or go is a deep-seated brain function, monkey-watching researchers find (June 13, 2011) -- Foraging creatures decide at some point that the food source they're working on is no richer than the rest of the patch and that it's time to move on and find something better. Researchers have now found an area of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) that seems to be integral to this decision, firing with increasing activity until a threshold is reached, whereupon the animal decides it's time to move on. ... > full story

We are all mutants: First direct whole-genome measure of human mutation predicts 60 new mutations in each of us (June 13, 2011) -- How many new mutations does a child have and did most of them come from mum or dad? The first answer is that each of us typically receives 60 new mutations from our parents. Remarkably, the number of mutations passed on from a parent to a child varies between parents by as much as tenfold. These striking answers come from the first-ever direct measure of new mutations using whole human genomes. ... > full story

Routine screening for autism not needed, researchers say (June 13, 2011) -- In a new study, researchers say there is "not enough sound evidence to support the implementation of a routine population-based screening program for autism." Contrary to the researchers' findings, the American Academy of Pediatrics recently recommended that screening for autism be incorporated into routine practice, such as a child's regular physician check-up, regardless of whether a concern has been raised by the parents. ... > full story

New evidence of genetic 'arms race' against malaria (June 13, 2011) -- For tens of thousands of years, the genomes of malaria parasites and humans have been at war with one another. Now, geneticists have developed a new picture of one way that the human genome has fought back. ... > full story

New molecular imaging agent targets cornerstone of cancerous tumors (June 13, 2011) -- A new study may lead to the next wave of cancer imaging by helping to develop a molecular imaging agent that detects many malignant cancers' incessant development of blood vessels -- a process called angiogenesis. ... > full story

New genetic technique converts skin cells into brain cells (June 13, 2011) -- A research breakthrough has proven that it is possible to reprogram mature cells from human skin directly into brain cells, without passing through the stem cell stage. The unexpectedly simple technique involves activating three genes in the skin cells; genes which are already known to be active in the formation of brain cells at the fetal stage. ... > full story

Immune cells link pregnancy and tumor spread (June 13, 2011) -- Individuals with cancer often do not die as a result of their initial tumor but as a result of tumors at distant sites that are derived from the initial tumor. Pregnancy is a condition that seems to be permissive for tumor dissemination. New research in mice has now uncovered a possible reason for this. ... > full story

What happens in the brain as it loses consciousness: 3-D movie constructed (June 13, 2011) -- For the first time, researchers have been able to watch what happens to the brain as it loses consciousness. Using sophisticated imaging equipment, they have constructed a 3-D movie of the brain as it changes while an anesthetic drug takes effect. ... > full story

Chronic marijuana smoking affects brain chemistry, molecular imaging shows (June 13, 2011) -- Definitive proof of an adverse effect of chronic marijuana use could lead to potential drug treatments and aid other research involved in cannabinoid receptors, a neurotransmission system receiving a lot of attention. ... > full story

New method for measuring Parkinson's disease prevalence reveals sharp increase in Israel (June 13, 2011) -- In a new study, Israeli researchers report that by tracking pharmacy purchases of anti-Parkinson drugs they could estimate the number of Parkinson's disease (PD) cases in a large population. The study identified a sharp rise in PD prevalence from 170/100,000 in 2000 to 256/100,000 in 2007 in Israel, which warrants further investigation. ... > full story

Glioblastoma in the 21st century: Wealthier patients living longer than poorer patients (June 13, 2011) -- Survival rates of wealthier patients and those younger than 70 with glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive malignant brain tumor, have improved since 2000, whereas rates for those living in poorer areas and older than 70 have remained stagnant, according to new research. ... > full story

Fathers still matter to kids who have moved out (June 13, 2011) -- Dads who blend love, high expectations and respect for the child's autonomy stood out in a new analysis of fathers of young adults. These dads enjoy a closer relationship with their children, and the children demonstrate higher levels of kindness and self-worth. ... > full story

Studies evaluate criteria for detecting potentially inappropriate medications in older hospitalized patients (June 13, 2011) -- Using the Screening Tool of Older Persons' potentially inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP) criteria was associated with identification of adverse drug events in older patients, according to a new study. ... > full story

Article outlines principles for a conservative approach to prescribing medication (June 13, 2011) -- A shift toward more conservative medication-prescribing practices would serve patients better, according to a review article. ... > full story

Expenditures for glaucoma medications appear to have increased (June 13, 2011) -- In recent years, spending for glaucoma medications has increased, especially for women, persons who have only public health insurance and those with less than a high school education, according to a new study. ... > full story

'Networking' turns up flu viruses with close ties to pandemic of 2009 (June 13, 2011) -- Scientists using new mathematical and computational techniques have identified six influenza A viruses that have particularly close genetic relationships to the H1N1 "swine" flu virus that swept through the United States beginning in the spring of 2009. That virus eventually killed almost 18,000 people worldwide. Biological studies focused on these strains of influenza virus could shed light on how the 2009 pandemic strain of influenza emerged, aiding in efforts to forestall another pandemic, the researchers say. ... > full story

Glowing 'Cornell Dots': Potential cancer diagnostic tool set for human trials (June 13, 2011) -- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first clinical trial in humans of a new technology: Cornell Dots, brightly glowing nanoparticles that can light up cancer cells in PET-optical imaging. ... > full story

Safe prescribing information for children in Canada often hard to find (June 13, 2011) -- Accurate, safe prescribing information for children is often unavailable to doctors in Canada because pharmaceutical companies will not disclose information to Health Canada, according to experts in a new editorial. ... > full story

Health data can help address alcohol-related harm in youth (June 13, 2011) -- Administrative information can be useful for surveillance and understanding of alcohol-related harm in young people, according to Canadian experts. ... > full story

Final 3-year results from the landmark HORIZONS-AMI trial (June 13, 2011) -- Data from the landmark HORIZONS-AMI clinical trial demonstrated that the administration of the anticoagulant medication bivalirudin enhanced survival compared to the use of heparin plus a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor in heart attack patients undergoing angioplasty after 3 years. Use of a drug-eluting stent (paclitaxel) was also shown to be more effective than a bare-metal stent, with equivalent safety. ... > full story