ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Monday, July 11, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Monday, July 11, 2011

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Unlocking the genetics and biology of joint disorder ankylosing spondylitis (July 11, 2011) -- A study involving over 5,000 people living with the joint disorder ankylosing spondylitis has identified a series of genetic variants associated with increased susceptibility to the condition as well as providing new clues to how the condition may be treated in the future. ... > full story

Researchers characterize biomechanics of ovarian cells according to phenotype at stages of cancer (July 11, 2011) -- Using ovarian surface epithelial cells from mice, researchers have released findings from a study that they believe will help in cancer risk assessment, cancer diagnosis, and treatment efficiency. ... > full story

Best U.S. hospitals are run by physicians, study finds (July 11, 2011) -- Top-performing hospitals are typically ones headed by an M.D. instead of a manager. That is the finding from a new study based on a detailed database on 300 of the most prominent hospitals in the United States. The conclusions run counter to a modern trend across the western world to put generally trained managers -- not those with a medical degree -- at the helm of hospitals. ... > full story

Common painkillers linked to irregular heart rhythm (July 11, 2011) -- Commonly used painkillers to treat inflammation are linked to an increased risk of irregular heart rhythm (known as atrial fibrillation or flutter), concludes a new study. ... > full story

Drug designer: New tool reveals mutations that cause HIV drug resistance (July 11, 2011) -- Protease inhibitor drugs are one of the major weapons in the fight against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, but their effectiveness is limited as the virus mutates and develops resistance to the drugs over time. Now a new tool has been developed to help predict the location of the mutations that lead to drug resistance. ... > full story

'Pure' human blood stem-cell discovery opens door to expanding cells for more clinical use (July 10, 2011) -- For the first time since stem cells were discovered 50 years ago, scientists have isolated a human blood stem cell in its purest form -- as a single stem cell capable of regenerating the entire blood system. This breakthrough opens the door to harnessing the power of these life-producing cells to treat cancer and other debilitating diseases more effectively. ... > full story

Stroke risk in pregnant women 2.4 times higher, review finds (July 10, 2011) -- Pregnant women face a risk of stroke that is 2.4 times higher than the risk in non-pregnant women, according to a new review. ... > full story

Teaching the neurons to meditate (July 10, 2011) -- In the late 1990s, Jane Anderson was working as a landscape architect. That meant she didn't work much in the winter, and she struggled with seasonal affective disorder in the dreary Minnesota winter months. She decided to try meditation and noticed a change within a month. Her experience inspired a new study, which found changes in brain activity after only five weeks of meditation training. ... > full story

Gene implicated in speech regulates connectivity of the developing brain (July 10, 2011) -- Foxp2, a gene involved in speech and language, helps regulate the wiring of neurons in the brain, according to a new study. The researchers identified this functional link by first identifying the major targets of Foxp2 in developing brain tissue and then analyzing the function of relevant neurons. ... > full story

Sitting for long periods doubles risk of blood clots in the lungs (July 10, 2011) -- Women who sit for long periods of time everyday are two to three times more likely to develop a life-threatening blood clot in their lungs than more active women, finds a new study. ... > full story

The biology behind alcohol-induced blackouts (July 10, 2011) -- Neuroscientists have identified the brain cells involved in alcohol-related blackouts and the molecular mechanism that appears to underlie them. Alcohol interferes with key receptors in the brain, which in turn manufacture steroids that inhibit long-term potentiation, a process that strengthens the connections between neurons and is crucial to learning and memory. ... > full story

Genetic study sheds new light on auto-immune arthritis (July 10, 2011) -- Researchers are one step closer to understanding how an individual's genetic make-up predisposes them to Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), a common auto-immune arthritis which causes pain and stiffness of the spine, and in serious cases, progressive fusion of the vertebrae and other affected joints. ... > full story

Scientists discover how best to excite brain cells (July 9, 2011) -- Oh, the challenges of being a neuron, responsible for essential things like muscle contraction, gland secretion and sensitivity to touch, sound and light, yet constantly bombarded with signals from here, there and everywhere. How on Earth are busy nerve cells supposed to pick out and respond to relevant signals amidst all that information overload? Somehow neurons do manage to accomplish the daunting task, and they do it with more finesse than anyone ever realized. ... > full story

First whole-genome lung cancer study: Review of lung tumor from a patient who never smoked (July 9, 2011) -- A first-of-its-kind study of a patient with lung cancer who never smoked is shedding new light on the deadly disease. Researchers for the first time sequenced the entire DNA and RNA of a patient with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung. ... > full story

Chesapeake Bay pesticides: Some diminish, some persist (July 9, 2011) -- Scientists are identifying factors that influence pesticide levels in the Chesapeake Bay airshed, including traces of "legacy" pesticides that still linger even though they are no longer being used. ... > full story

How visual cues help us understand bodily motion (July 9, 2011) -- The human visual system is tuned towards perceiving other people -- who they are, what they are doing, and what they intend to do. This process is called biological motion perception, and humans are so good at it that even a few dots on a screen representing the major joints of a body are enough to retrieve all the information we need—as long as they move. But what role does motion play in that process? Does the visual system use it only to connect the dots to create a coherent, or "global," structure? Researchers investigated this question in a new study. ... > full story

A change of heart: Researchers reprogram brain cells to become heart cells (July 9, 2011) -- Researchers are the first to demonstrate the direct conversion of a non-heart cell type into a heart cell by RNA transfer. ... > full story

Gene study offers clues on memory puzzle (July 9, 2011) -- Scientists have shed light on why it is easier to learn about things related to what we already know than it is to learn about unfamiliar things, according to a new study. ... > full story

Targeted agent addition to herceptin has positive effect on metastatic HER-2 breast cancer, study finds (July 9, 2011) -- Adding Afinitor to Herceptin, the main treatment for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, helps some women with disease that has been resistant to previous Herceptin-based therapies, according to a new study. ... > full story

Viruses bathe in rivers and at the beach, too, European study finds (July 9, 2011) -- European researchers have found viruses in nearly 40% of more than 1,400 bathing water samples gathered from coastal and inland areas in nine countries, including Spain. The concentrations found are low, but the scientists are calling for these microorganisms to be monitored in recreational waters, above all at times when their populations skyrocket, as is the case after heavy rains. ... > full story

Sexual orientation and gender conforming traits in women are genetic, study finds (July 9, 2011) -- Sexual orientation and 'gender conformity' in women are both genetic traits, according to a new study. Researchers report that a shared set of genes and shared set of random environmental factors are partially responsible both for gender nonconformity and female sexual orientation. ... > full story

Loss of motion after knee surgery may increase osteoarthritis risk, research suggests (July 9, 2011) -- The onset of osteoarthritis may be related to a loss of knee motion after reconstructive ACL surgery. Patients who showed motion limitations after surgery were more likely to develop arthritic changes in the knee. ... > full story

Brain stimulation preserves a memory when other memories interfere (July 8, 2011) -- A new study suggests that specific brain areas actively orchestrate competition between memories, and that by disrupting targeted brain areas through transcranial magnetic stimulation, you can preserve memory -- and prevent forgetting. ... > full story

Why patients with epidermolysis bullosa suffer extreme pain (July 8, 2011) -- For patients suffering from epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a hereditary skin disease, even a gentle touch is extremely painful. Now researchers have discovered the causes underlying this disease. Due to a genetic defect, individuals with EB cannot form laminin-332, a structural molecule of the skin that in healthy individuals inhibits the transduction of tactile stimuli and neuronal branching. ... > full story

Heart disease and stroke worldwide tied to national income (July 8, 2011) -- An analysis of heart disease and stroke statistics collected in 192 countries by the World Health Organization shows that the relative burden of the two diseases varies widely from country to country and is closely linked to national income, according to researchers. ... > full story

How memory is read out in the fly brain: MB-V2 nerve cells enable the read-out of associative memories (July 8, 2011) -- What happens if you cannot recall your memory correctly? You are able to associate and store the name and face of a person, yet you might be unable to remember them when you meet that person. In this example, the recall of the information is temporarily impaired. How such associative memories are "read out" in the brain remains one of the great mysteries of modern neurobiology. Now, scientists have taken the first step to unravel this mechanism. ... > full story

Stem cell injections may offer hope to angina patients with no other options (July 8, 2011) -- Injecting the hearts of untreatable angina patients with their own stem cells reduced chest pain frequency and improved exercise capability, according to new research. The treatment could offer hope to many of the 850,000 Americans whose chest pain doesn't subside even with medicine, angioplasty or surgery. Future trials are needed to confirm the findings and investigate an enzyme change that is normally viewed as a heart attack signal, but caused no pain or heart test changes in most patients in whom it occurred. ... > full story

Indoor air pollution linked to cardiovascular risk (July 8, 2011) -- An estimated two billion people in the developing world heat and cook with a biomass fuel such as wood, but the practice exposes people -- especially women -- to large doses of small-particle air pollution, which can cause premature death and lung disease. ... > full story

How decision-makers complicate choice (July 8, 2011) -- A new study demonstrates the existence of "complicating choice" -- the process that decision-makers unintentionally initiate when making certain decisions -- and the underlying psychological mechanisms that cause the phenomenon. ... > full story

New strategy to prevent infertility, birth defects (July 8, 2011) -- A strategy that has been shown to reduce age-related health problems in several animal studies may also combat a major cause of age-associated infertility and birth defects. Investigators have shown that restricting the caloric intake of adult female mice prevents a spectrum of abnormalities, such as extra or missing copies of chromosomes, that arise more frequently in egg cells of aging female mammals. ... > full story

Half-matched transplants widen pool of donors for leukemia and lymphoma (July 8, 2011) -- Identifying a suitable donor for leukemia and lymphoma patients who need bone marrow transplants may be far easier now that results of two clinical trials show transplant results with half-matched bone marrow or umbilical cord blood are comparable to fully matched tissue, thanks in large part to the availability of effective antirejection drugs and special post-transplant chemotherapy. The finding means that nearly all patients in need of a transplant can find donors, according to scientists who participated in the trials. ... > full story

Chips hold the key to understanding the human brain (July 8, 2011) -- Scientists have taken a key step towards producing a high-performance computer which aims to create working models of human brain functions. ... > full story

Body's natural marijuana-like chemicals make fatty foods hard to resist (July 8, 2011) -- Recent studies have revealed potato chips and french fries to be the worst contributors to weight gain -- and with good reason. Have you ever wondered why you can't eat just one chip or a single fry? It's not just the carbohydrates at fault. ... > full story

To combat deadly brain cancer, target the stem cells (July 8, 2011) -- Researchers have uncovered a new target that could stop the growth of glioblastoma, a deadly form of brain cancer. A new study identifies an enzyme found in glioma stem cells that allows them to grow and seed tumors. Importantly, normal stem cells, including those in the brain, don't appear to share that same dependency. ... > full story

Breastfeeding does not protect against multiple sclerosis relapses, study suggests (July 8, 2011) -- New research finds breastfeeding doesn't appear to protect against multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses, despite previous studies suggesting there may be a protective role. ... > full story

New study on childbearing and education offers surprising findings (July 8, 2011) -- Does education reduce childbearing, or does childbearing get in the way of education? New research shows that, at least among a population of Norwegian women, childbearing impeded education more than education impeded childbearing. ... > full story

Brain co-opts the body to promote moral behavior, study finds (July 8, 2011) -- The human brain may simulate physical sensations to prompt introspection, capitalizing on moments of high emotion to promote moral behavior, according to a researcher. ... > full story

A drugstore within: Mesenchymal stem cells protect and heal (July 8, 2011) -- Mesenchymal stem cells were thought to be the key to growing new organs, but research has shown them to be potent protectors and healers in the body. Scientists now find the cells appear effective against a growing list of diseases and conditions. ... > full story

Heavy exercise not too high a hurdle for bariatric surgery patients (July 8, 2011) -- Bariatric surgery patients can undertake a rigorous exercise program after the procedure, in order to continue to lose weight and avoid regaining weight, according to a new study. ... > full story

Reported costs of drug R&D questioned (July 8, 2011) -- A policy specialist and a healthcare economist both say that the oft-quoted cost of .32 billion to bring a new drug to market does not hold up to close scrutiny, according to a new article. ... > full story

Discovery of natural antibody brings a universal flu vaccine a step closer (July 8, 2011) -- Annually changing flu vaccines with their hit-and-miss effectiveness may soon give way to a single, near-universal flu vaccine, according to a new report. Researchers describe an antibody that, in animal tests, can prevent or cure infections with a broad variety of influenza viruses, including seasonal and potentially pandemic strains. ... > full story

Using vital signs to predict severity of illness in children (July 8, 2011) -- Combining three vital signs (heart rate, temperature and oxygen saturation) in a simple score can identify children at risk of serious illness, according to a new study. Although this type of score cannot easily be calculated by hand, it could be incorporated into existing smart phone apps. ... > full story

Understanding the antiepileptic benefits of an Atkins-like diet (July 8, 2011) -- Some individuals with epilepsy fail to respond to treatment with conventional drugs but benefit from consuming a ketogenic diet -- a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet similar to the more commonly known Atkins diet. Researchers have now identified in mice the molecular mechanism responsible for the antiepileptic effects of the ketogenic diet. ... > full story

Future labor shortfalls of medical professionals in U.S. predicted due to new demands of health-care reform (July 8, 2011) -- One consequence of the expanded access to health care facilitated by health care reform will be a shortfall in the necessary numbers of physicians and other advanced medical professionals. According to a new study, the U.S. will face serious shortages in the combined workforce of physicians, advance practice nurses, and physician assistants over the next two decades. ... > full story

Brain tumor discovery could lead to new treatment (July 8, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a cellular pathway that cancer stem cells use to promote tumor growth in malignant glioma, an aggressive brain tumor. The research also found that existing medications block this cancer-promoting pathway and delay glioma growth in animal models, suggesting a new treatment option for these often fatal brain tumors. ... > full story

Drug can reverse overgrown hearts to help prevent heart failure, study suggests (July 7, 2011) -- A promising cancer treatment drug can restore function of a heart en route to failure from high blood pressure, researchers have found. ... > full story

Kidney cancer discovery could expand treatment options (July 7, 2011) -- Researchers uncovered a gene that may be the key to helping kidney cancer patients who don't respond to current therapies. This discovery could also provide a toolkit to identify patients who are most likely to benefit from drugs that block this gene from causing cancer cells to grow. ... > full story

Blame game: Sleepier college students are more likely to blame others and plan revenge (July 7, 2011) -- Sleepier people are more likely to imagine how outcomes could have been better than reality and think about how the behavior of others could have produced better outcomes, a new study finds. In contrast, sleepier people were not more likely to imagine how their own behavior could have produced better outcomes. Sleepiness also was positively correlated with all three subscales of displaced aggression: angry rumination, behavioral displaced aggression and revenge planning. The study involved 108 college students. ... > full story