ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Sunday, September 11, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Sunday, September 11, 2011

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Clue to cause of childhood hydrocephalus: Excess of natural molecule can bring about the devastating 'water on the brain' condition in mice (September 10, 2011) -- Scientists have found what may be a major cause of congenital hydrocephalus, one of the most common neurological disorders of childhood that produces mental debilitation and sometimes death in premature and newborn children. ... > full story

Researchers use new tool to counter multiple myeloma drug resistance (September 10, 2011) -- Researchers are pioneering promising research utilizing a monitoring technology that could provide a better understanding of acquired drug resistance and assist in clinical decision-making for developing individualized patient treatments for multiple myeloma. ... > full story

Snakebites a public health problem in Africa (September 10, 2011) -- One and a half million people per year are poisoned by snake venom in Sub-Saharan Africa. An IRD researcher recently analysed around 100 surveys and medical reports published over the past 40 years. No large-scale study of the situation had hitherto been conducted and public health authorities had underestimated the size of the problem. This means that currently only 10% of victims are treated, owing to a shortage of antivenoms* and lack of awareness among health care practitioners. Yet the clinical complications can be very serious, even fatal. A bite from a cobra or mamba can bring on death by asphyxia --- due to respiratory paralysis --- within 6 hours of the incident. Venom injected by the ocellated carpet viper, common in the African savannah, can cause hemorrhages leading to the victim's death in a few days. This new study provides authorities with more detailed and reliable figures which should enable them to readjust their health-care services in better tune with needs. ... > full story

Children better witnesses than previously thought, Swedish psychologist finds (September 10, 2011) -- Children are more reliable eyewitnesses than had previously been thought, according to a witness psychologist in Sweden. She also questions a common method used for police identity line-ups with children. ... > full story

Novel approach scores first success against elusive cancer gene (September 10, 2011) -- Researchers successfully disrupted the function of the gene MYC by tampering with the gene's "on" switch and growth signals in multiple myeloma cells, offering promising strategy for treating myeloma and other cancers driven by the MYC gene. ... > full story

New link revealed between Alzheimer's disease and healthy aging (September 10, 2011) -- Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration are two of the most prevalent forms of neurodegenerative disorders. Researchers have now analyzed changes in gene expression in the aging and diseased brain, finding new clues to the biology of normal aging and neurodegenerative diseases. ... > full story

Emotional impact of 9/11 attacks seen in brain's response to negative visual images (September 10, 2011) -- In the wake of the 10th Anniversary of the September 11th attacks, new research reveals how the attacks impacted the psychological processes of those not directly exposed to the event. The study, which focused on college students in Massachusetts, found that even those who were not directly connected to New York or Washington showed increased stress responses to run of the mill visual images. ... > full story

Body clock found to regulate platelet function (September 10, 2011) -- Researchers have demonstrated that the circadian system, the body's internal clock, regulates human platelet function and causes a peak in platelet activation corresponding to the known morning peak in adverse cardiovascular events. ... > full story

MRSA may increase mortality rate by 50 percent, study finds (September 10, 2011) -- Does the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, cause more deaths in hospitals than the bacteria that are sensitive to common antibiotics? Opinions have been varied, but now a worldwide study indicates that the mortality rate can be 50 percent higher for intensive care patients infected with MRSA. ... > full story

Early motor experiences give infants a social jump start (September 10, 2011) -- Researchers have found that early motor experiences can shape infants' preferences for objects and faces. The study findings demonstrate that providing infants with "sticky mittens" to manipulate toys increases their subsequent interest in faces, suggesting advanced social development. ... > full story

Birth control pills affect memory, researchers find (September 9, 2011) -- Women who use contraceptives like birth control pills experience memory changes, according to new research. Their ability to remember the gist of an emotional event improves, while women not using the contraceptives better retain details. ... > full story

Exercise boosts health by influencing stem cells to become bone, not fat, researchers find (September 9, 2011) -- Researchers have found one more reason to exercise: working out triggers influential stem cells to become bone instead of fat, improving overall health by boosting the body's capacity to make blood. ... > full story