ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Wednesday, June 15, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Wednesday, June 15, 2011

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Laminin's role in cancer formation illuminated (June 15, 2011) -- Researchers have shown how the protein laminin, long thought to provide only structural support in the microenvironment of breast and other epithelial tissue, can play a leading role in the development of cancer. ... > full story

3-D tracking of single molecules inside cells using new multifocal plane microscopy method (June 15, 2011) -- Researchers are using a novel 3-D cell imaging method for studying the complex spatial-temporal dynamics of protein transport, providing a solution to this fundamental problem in cell biology. ... > full story

Pathology study tracks uterine changes with mifepristone (June 15, 2011) -- Research continues to show that the controversial abortion drug mifepristone might have another use, as a therapeutic option besides hysterectomy for women who suffer from severe symptoms associated with uterine fibroids. ... > full story

Media character use on food packaging appears to influence children's taste assessment (June 15, 2011) -- The use of media characters on cereal packaging may influence children's opinions about taste, according to a new article. ... > full story

Prostate cancer gets around hormone therapy by activating a survival cell signaling pathway (June 14, 2011) -- Cancer is crafty. Researchers found that when a common type of prostate cancer was treated with conventional hormone ablation therapy blocking androgen production or androgen receptor (AR) function -- which drives growth of the tumor -- the cancer was able to adapt and compensate by activating a survival cell signaling pathway, effectively circumventing the roadblock put up by this treatment. ... > full story

Scientists image beginning stages of ovarian cancer growth with time-lapse technique (June 14, 2011) -- Scientists have created a laboratory model using time-lapse video microscopic technology that allows observation of early stages of ovarian cancer metastasis. ... > full story

Patient safety risks outside hospital walls (June 14, 2011) -- Ever since the Institute of Medicine issued its landmark report "To Err Is Human" in 1999, significant attention has been paid to improving patient safety in hospitals nationwide. In an examination of trends of malpractice claims, there has been a greater decline in the rate of paid claims for inpatient settings than outpatient settings, and in 2009, the number of malpractice claims for events resulting in paid malpractice claims in outpatient and inpatient settings were similar, according to a new study. ... > full story

Flooding of farmland does not increase levels of potentially harmful flame retardants in milk, study suggests (June 14, 2011) -- As millions of acres of farmland in the US Midwest and South recover from Mississippi River flooding, scientists report that river flooding can increase levels of potentially harmful flame retardants in farm soils. But the higher levels apparently do not find their way into the milk produced by cows that graze on these lands, according to a new study. ... > full story

Note to dads: Good parenting makes a difference (June 14, 2011) -- A new study looked at biologically related sisters from both intact families and those where parents had divorced. Researchers found that quality time with fathers reduced the incidences of risky sexual behaviors in their daughters. ... > full story

Why hair turns gray: Communication between hair follicles and melanocyte stem cells key to mystery (June 14, 2011) -- A new study has shown that, for the first time, Wnt signaling, already known to control many biological processes, between hair follicles and melanocyte stem cells can dictate hair pigmentation. ... > full story

New cell type offers immunology hope (June 14, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a new type of cell in the immune system. The new cell type, a kind of white blood cell, belongs to a family of T-cells that play a critical role in protection against infectious disease. Their findings could ultimately lead to the development of novel drugs that strengthen the immune response against particular types of infectious organisms. ... > full story

Ovarian cancer cells bully their way through tissue (June 14, 2011) -- Ovarian cancer cells use mechanical force to move through tissue and colonize additional organs. A new study contributes to a body of work that will inform future treatments. Eventually, it might be possible to prevent or reverse the spread of ovarian cancer to distant sites in the body. ... > full story

Poorer families have more sedentary children, Spanish study suggests (June 14, 2011) -- It is not strange to expect that families with better living conditions enjoy better health and a longer life expectancy. Now, a new study has also confirmed the relationship between a family's socioeconomic situation and certain sedentary behaviors, such as watching television and playing video games, during the first years of life. ... > full story

Ancestry plays vital role in nutrition and disease, study shows (June 14, 2011) -- Scientists are just beginning to consider the impact of gene-diet interactions in different populations in regards to disease prevention and treatment. In a new study, researchers reveal how humans of different ancestry process a certain type of fat called polyunsaturated (PUFA) fat. Their findings suggest that the dramatic increase in a particular type of fatty acid, omega-6 PUFAs, in the American diet, together with a genetic propensity, causes individuals of African descent to more efficiently convert these dietary PUFAs to long chain PUFAs in the human body. Long chain PUFA can then, in turn, be converted to inflammatory messengers. Increased inflammatory messengers have been associated with a variety of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, arthritis, allergies and asthma, and diabetes. ... > full story

Sickle cell anemia drug safe and effective for infants and toddlers, adds treatment option, study suggests (June 14, 2011) -- New research shows a drug commonly used to treat sickle cell anemia in adults reduces bouts of acute pain and a pneumonia-like illness, cuts hospitalization time and eases other symptoms of the disease in young patients. Results of the randomized, double-blind trial mark a dramatic advance in treatment of children with the inherited blood disorder. ... > full story

'Catch and release' program could improve nanoparticle safety assessment (June 14, 2011) -- Scientists have found a way to trap and release nanoparticles at will, a research technique useful for studying how the particles behave in biological systems. ... > full story

Single moms entering midlife may lead to public health crisis, study suggests (June 14, 2011) -- Unwed mothers face poorer health at midlife than do women who have children after marriage, according to a new nationwide U.S. study. Researchers found that women who had their first child outside of marriage described their health as poorer at age 40 than did other moms. ... > full story

Nanotubes could pose health risk to production line staff, study suggests (June 14, 2011) -- Tiny fibers used to strengthen everyday products such as bicycle frames and hockey sticks could pose health hazards to those involved in their manufacture. Certain types of carbon nanotubes -- cylindrical molecules about one-thousandth of the width of a human hair -- could cause cancer in the lining of the lung, researchers have found. ... > full story

Poplar tree leaf bud extract could fight skin aging (June 14, 2011) -- Antioxidants are popular anti-aging ingredients in skin creams, and now scientists are reporting a new source of these healthful substances -- leaf buds of poplar trees. ... > full story

Sniffing out a new source of stem cells (June 14, 2011) -- New research in mice suggests that adult stem cells from immune system tissue in the smell-sensing region of the human nose (human olfactory ecto--mesenchymal stem cells [OE-MSCs]) could provide a source of cells to treat brain disorders in which nerve cells are lost or irreparably damaged. ... > full story

Money can't buy happiness: Individualism a stronger predictor of well-being than wealth, says new study (June 14, 2011) -- Freedom and personal autonomy are more important to people's well-being than money, according to a meta-analysis of data from 63 countries. ... > full story

Brain structure adapts to environmental change (June 14, 2011) -- Researchers have found that under stressful conditions, neural stem cells in the adult hippocampus can produce not only neurons, but also new stem cells. The brain stockpiles the neural stem cells, which later may produce neurons when conditions become favorable. This response to environmental conditions represents a novel form of brain plasticity. Knowledge of how neural stem cells produce neurons could lead to potential treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. ... > full story

Blood simpler: Researchers parse the origins of hematopoietic stem cells (June 14, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a gene and a novel signaling pathway, both critical for making the first hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in developing vertebrate embryos. The discovery has implications for developing stem cell-based therapies for diseases like leukemia and congenital blood disorders. ... > full story

Researchers discover Sonic Hedgehog protein’s mechanism of action (June 14, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a new requirement for the proper functioning of the Sonic Hedgehog protein. Sonic Hedgehog belongs to a family of proteins that gives cells the information needed for the embryo to develop properly. It plays a critical role in the development of many of the body's organs, such as the central nervous system. Malfunctions of these proteins are associated with many diseases including cancer. ... > full story

Tool developed to predict violence and aggression in children and teens (June 14, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a tool to rapidly assess the risk of aggressive and violent behavior by children and adolescents hospitalized on psychiatric units. Ultimately, they hope to use the questionnaire to improve treatment and prevention of aggressive behavior in schools and in the community. ... > full story

Brain state affects memory recall (June 14, 2011) -- Lost your keys? Your brain might be in a better state to recall where you put them at some times than at others, according to new research. ... > full story

Dietary changes appear to affect levels of biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's disease (June 14, 2011) -- Following a low-saturated fat and low-glycemic index diet appears to modulate the risk of developing dementia that proceeds to Alzheimer's disease (AD), although making a switch to this dietary pattern may not protect those already experiencing cognitive difficulty, according to a new study. ... > full story

Cardiac resynchronization therapy: Pacemaker implantation for heart failure does not benefit nearly half of the patients, analysis finds (June 14, 2011) -- A new meta-analysis study shows that three-lead cardiac pacemakers implanted in those with heart failure fail to help up to 40 percent of patients with such devices. ... > full story

New software 'hearing dummies' pave the way for tailor-made hearing aids (June 14, 2011) -- New software "hearing dummies" are part of cutting-edge research that promises to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of hearing impairments. The work could also be used in the long-term to develop a radical new type of hearing aid that can be customized using the hearing dummy to meet the different needs of individual patients. If the procedures gain clinical acceptance, a device could reach the market within four years. ... > full story

Daily acts of sexism go unnoticed by men, women (June 14, 2011) -- Nearly everyone can recognize the stereotypical scene of construction workers catcalling women as being sexist, but both men and women tend to overlook the more subtle daily acts of sexism they encounter, according to a recent study. ... > full story

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

Oregon program aimed at helping patients with advanced illness (June 14, 2011) -- An Oregon-pioneered program aimed at improving health care for those with advanced illness is now receiving national attention. AARP recently released a report about the Physicians Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, or POLST, program. The program was created to honor the treatment wishes of patients with advanced progressive illness or frailty. ... > full story

Food coloring and ADHD: No known link, but wider safety issues remain, researcher says (June 14, 2011) -- When University of Maryland psychologist Andrea Chronis-Tuscano testified at an FDA hearing, it changed her mind about the risks of artificial food coloring for children, and drove her to reconsider what she feeds her kids. Chronis-Tuscano walked into the meeting certain that NO convincing scientific evidence supports the idea that these additives cause ADHD. While testimony from other experts did NOT shake that assessment, it did raise concerns about the overall safety for children. ... > 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