ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Monday, September 26, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Monday, September 26, 2011

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Discovery helps explain why chemo causes drop in platelet numbers (September 26, 2011) -- Scientists have identified a way that chemotherapy causes platelet numbers to drop, answering in the process a decade-old question about the formation of platelets, tiny cells that allow blood to clot. ... > full story

Another step toward resisting breast cancer (September 26, 2011) -- Medical researchers in the UK have come a step closer to understanding how to stop breast cancers from coming back. ... > full story

Countries worldwide are saving mothers' and children's lives at a faster pace (September 26, 2011) -- With four years left for countries to achieve international targets for saving the lives of mothers and children, more than half the countries around the world are lowering maternal mortality and child mortality at an accelerated rate, according to a new analysis. In 125 countries, maternal mortality has declined faster since 2000, and the progress has been particularly strong in the past five years. Over the same period, in 106 countries, child mortality rates have declined faster. ... > full story

Targeting HIV's sugar coating: New microbicide may block AIDS virus from infecting cells (September 26, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a new class of compounds that stick to the sugary coating of the AIDS virus and inhibit it from infecting cells -- an early step toward a new treatment to prevent sexual transmission of the virus. ... > full story

Rogue receptor opens door for rare kidney disease (September 26, 2011) -- Effects of a particularly devastating human kidney disease may be blunted by making a certain cellular protein receptor much less receptive, according to new research. ... > full story

Risk factors for complications after spine surgery identified in new study (September 26, 2011) -- A new study looks at the complications of spine surgery. While medical experts acknowledge the potential benefits of spine surgery, they also understand that complications can reduce the success in the short and long term. ... > full story

Living alone is associated with an increased risk of alcohol-related deaths, Finnish study finds (September 26, 2011) -- Living alone is associated with an increased risk of alcohol-related mortality -- from alcohol-related diseases and accidents -- according to a Finnish study, suggesting that a lack of social relationships should be regarded as a potential risk factor for death from alcohol related causes. ... > full story

Ultrasonic instrument may be helpful for rhinoplasty, study finds (September 25, 2011) -- The ultrasonic bone aspirator, which uses sound waves to remove bone without damage to surrounding soft tissue or mucous membranes, may be a useful tool for surgeons performing cosmetic rhinoplasty (cosmetic surgery of the nose), according to a new study. ... > full story

Important step in sperm reprogramming identified (September 25, 2011) -- A new study gives stem cell researchers critical information as they try to reprogram adult cells to mimic the curative and self-renewing properties of stem cells. ... > full story

Heart drug offers possible treatment for patients facing respiratory failure (September 25, 2011) -- Treatment with the calcium-sensitizing drug levosimendan may be effective in improving muscle function in patients with respiratory muscle weakness, which often accompanies chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure, according to researchers who studied the effects of the drug on healthy volunteers. The drug, which is normally prescribed in patients with acute heart failure, increases the sensitivity of muscle tissue to calcium, improving the muscle's ability to contract. ... > full story

Racing against time: New tool available for rapidly rescuing those trapped beneath concrete (September 25, 2011) -- When the World Trade Center's Twin Towers collapsed on Sept. 11, 2011, one of the most critical challenges that first responders faced was cutting through concrete to get to victims trapped. A new tool has been developed to help rescue those trapped beneath concrete. ... > full story

Dietary supplements could make athletes unwitting drugs cheats (September 25, 2011) -- Minute levels of banned substances in some dietary supplements are leaving athletes susceptible to failed drugs tests according to new research. ... > full story

A micro-RNA as a key regulator of learning and Alzheimer's disease (September 25, 2011) -- Scientists have identified an RNA molecule as a potential target for new Alzheimer's therapies. ... > full story

How key genes cooperate to make healthy skin (September 25, 2011) -- An essential relationship among leading genes and proteins that control the health of the skin has been revealed by a multinational research team. The protein p63 is the "master regulator" for skin's uppermost layers, the epidermis. It does much of its work by directly controlling the chromatin-remodeling protein Satb1, discovered over a decade ago and already known for critical roles in the immune system and aggressive breast cancer. ... > full story

Melanoma: Infusing chemotherapy into the liver gives extra months of disease-free life in melanoma patients (September 25, 2011) -- Final results from a Phase III trial of a new treatment called percutaneous hepatic perfusion in patients with melanoma of the eye (ocular or uveal melanoma) have demonstrated that it significantly extends the time patients can live without the disease progressing. ... > full story

Reports of mental health disability increase in United States (September 25, 2011) -- The prevalence of self-reported mental health disabilities increased in the U.S. among non-elderly adults during the last decade, according to a new study. At the same time, the study found the prevalence of disability attributed to other chronic conditions decreased, while the prevalence of significant mental distress remained unchanged. ... > full story

Monkeys also reason through analogy, study shows (September 24, 2011) -- Recognizing relations between relations is what analogy is all about. What lies behind this ability? Is it uniquely human? A new study has shown that monkeys are capable of making analogies. ... > full story

Protein 'switches' could turn cancer cells into tiny chemotherapy factories (September 24, 2011) -- Researchers have devised a protein "switch" that instructs cancer cells to produce their own anti-cancer medication. ... > full story

Infant mortality linked to subsequent risk of stillbirth, new U.S. study finds (September 24, 2011) -- Women whose first pregnancy ended in infant death are significantly more likely to have a subsequent stillbirth, according to a new study by U.S. researchers. ... > full story

How devoted moms buffer kids in poverty (September 24, 2011) -- Children raised in poverty often grow up to have poor health in adulthood, from frequent colds to heart disease. But there's one thing that might buffer them from that fate: a good mom, according to a new study. ... > full story

Living in damp river valleys leads to lung problems, study suggests (September 24, 2011) -- A new study has shown that living in a river valley at low altitude can increase the risk of developing lung problems. ... > full story

Two new cost-effective ways to predict prostate cancer (September 24, 2011) -- Two related studies reveal new risk indicators for prostate cancer. The first study shows that men diagnosed with benign prostate enlargement have an increased risk of developing and dying from prostate cancer. The second study shows that monitoring prostate-specific antigen levels can be used to predict the long-term risk of healthy men developing and dying from prostate cancer. Both could lead to more efficient and cost-effective screening for prostate cancer, with reductions in over-diagnosis and unnecessary treatment. ... > full story

Stress drives alcoholics' children to drink, study suggests (September 24, 2011) -- If either of your parents has a drink problem, there is a greater risk that you will consume more alcohol after stressful situations, new research from Sweden suggests. ... > full story

Treatment of rectal cancer varies enormously between different European countries (September 24, 2011) -- First results from an international comparison of the care of patients with rectal cancer have shown there are substantial differences in the use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy between European countries. The European Registration of Cancer Care study compared the treatment of 6,597 patients in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands who were diagnosed with rectal cancer between 2008 and 2009. ... > full story

Cancer protein's surprising role as memory regulator (September 23, 2011) -- Scientists have found that a common cancer protein leads a second, totally different life in normal adult brain cells: It helps regulates memory formation and may be implicated in Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story

No harm to mice testes from BPA in utero: Data on female mice less encouraging (September 23, 2011) -- Male mice whose mothers were exposed to either moderate or high levels of bisphenol A while pregnant did not grow up to show any adverse effects to their reproductive systems by several measures, according to a new study. Data on female mice is still forthcoming but less encouraging. ... > full story

Researchers pinpoint the cause of MRI vertigo: Machine's magnetic field pushes fluid in the inner ear's balance organ (September 23, 2011) -- A team of researchers says it has discovered why so many people undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), especially in newer high-strength machines, get vertigo, or the dizzy sensation of free-falling, while inside or when coming out of the tunnel-like machine. ... > full story

Humor as effective as medication in treating agitation in dementia (September 23, 2011) -- Humor therapy is as effective as widely used antipsychotic drugs in managing agitation in patients with dementia -- and avoids serious drug side effects, a new study shows. ... > full story

Some brain wiring continues to develop well into our 20s (September 23, 2011) -- The human brain doesn't stop developing at adolescence, but continues well into our 20s, demonstrates recent research. It has been a long-held belief in medical communities that the human brain stopped developing in adolescence. But now there is evidence that this is in fact not the case. ... > full story

Combating obesity and diabetes: Researchers identify pathways leading to activation of 'good' fat (September 23, 2011) -- Researchers have identified for the first time two molecular pathways that are critical to activating a type of "good" fat found in the body, called brown fat, which actually burns energy rather than storing it, which the more common white fat does. The discovery could play an important role in the fight against obesity and diabetes. ... > full story

Mother’s occupation while pregnant can increase risk of asthma in children (September 23, 2011) -- Mothers who are exposed to particular agents during pregnancy could give birth to children with a higher risk of asthma, according to new research. ... > full story

Science and religion do mix? Only 15 percent of scientists at major research universities see religion and science always in conflict (September 23, 2011) -- Throughout history, science and religion have appeared as being in perpetual conflict, but a new study suggests that only a minority of scientists at major research universities see religion and science as requiring distinct boundaries. ... > full story

Decoding vaccination: Researchers reveal genetic underpinnings of response to measles vaccine (September 23, 2011) -- Researchers are hacking the genetic code that controls the human response to disease vaccination, and they are using this new cipher to answer many of the deep-seated questions that plague vaccinology, including why patients respond so differently to identical vaccines and how to minimize the side effects to vaccination. ... > full story

Kidney damage and high blood pressure: Faulty filtration allows detrimental enzymes to wreak havoc on fluid balance, research suggests (September 23, 2011) -- Scientists have now begun to understand kidney damage on a cellular level and how the activity of certain molecules in damaged kidneys contributes to salt and water retention in nephrotic syndrome. Several new insights in this area of research are presented at an upcoming meeting. ... > full story

One million more U.S. children living in poverty since 2009, new census data shows (September 23, 2011) -- Between 2009 and 2010, one million more children in America joined the ranks of those living in poverty, bringing the total to an estimated 15.7 million poor children in 2010, an increase of 2.6 million since the recession began in 2007, according to researchers. ... > full story

Scientists use brain imaging to reveal the movies in our mind (September 23, 2011) -- Imagine tapping into the mind of a coma patient, or watching one's own dream on YouTube. With a cutting-edge blend of brain imaging and computer simulation, scientists are bringing these futuristic scenarios within reach. Using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and computational models, researchers have succeeded in decoding and reconstructing people's dynamic visual experiences -- in this case, watching Hollywood movie trailers. ... > full story

Virus discovery helps scientists predict emerging diseases (September 23, 2011) -- Fresh insight into how viruses such as SARS and flu can jump from one species to another may help scientists predict the emergence of diseases in future. ... > full story

Singing after stroke? Why rhythm and formulaic phrases may be more important than melody (September 23, 2011) -- After a left-sided stroke, many individuals suffer from serious speech disorders but are often able to sing complete texts relatively fluently. Researchers have now demonstrated that it is not singing itself that is the key. Instead, rhythm may be crucial. ... > full story

Twin study reveals epigenetic alterations of psychiatric disorders (September 23, 2011) -- In the first study to systematically investigate genome-wide epigenetic differences in a large number of psychosis discordant twin-pairs, new research provides further evidence that epigenetic processes play an important role in neuropsychiatric disease. The findings may offer potential new avenues for treatment. ... > full story

Cannabinoids after a traumatic experience may prevent post-traumatic stress symptoms, rat study suggests (September 23, 2011) -- Administration of cannabinoids (in the form of synthetic marijuana) after experiencing a traumatic event blocks the development of post-traumatic stress disorder-like symptoms in rats, according to a rat study conducted by researchers in Israel. ... > full story

New targets for the control of HIV predicted using a novel computational analysis (September 23, 2011) -- Over 25 years of intensive research have failed to create a vaccine for preventing HIV. A new computational approach has predicted numerous human proteins that the human immunodeficiency virus requires to replicate itself -- "a powerful resource for experimentalists who desire to discover new targets." ... > full story

Size matters: Length of songbirds’ playlists linked to brain region proportions (September 23, 2011) -- Call a bird 'birdbrained' and they may call 'fowl.' Researchers have proven that the capacity for learning in birds is not linked to overall brain size, but to the relative size and proportion of their specific brain regions. ... > full story

XMRV, related viruses not confirmed in blood of healthy donors or chronic fatigue syndrome patients (September 23, 2011) -- A study supported by the US Department of Health and Human Services could not validate or confirm previous research findings that suggested the presence of one of several viruses in blood samples of people living with chronic fatigue syndrome. The new study also could not find the viruses in blood samples of healthy donors who were previously known to not have the viruses. ... > full story

Fear of childbirth increases likelihood of C-section, study suggests (September 23, 2011) -- A new study reveals that fear of childbirth is a predisposing factor for emergency and elective cesarean sections, even after psychological counseling. This may mean a negative experience that lasts a lifetime among the approximately 3 percent of women who in this study were estimated to suffer from excessive fear of childbirth. ... > full story

Bioengineers reprogram muscles to combat degeneration (September 23, 2011) -- Researchers have turned back the clock on mature muscle tissue, coaxing it back to an earlier stem cell stage to form new muscle. Moreover, they showed in mice that the newly reprogrammed muscle stem cells could be used to help repair damaged tissue. The research could lead to new treatments to combat muscle degeneration. ... > full story

Five new genes affecting the risk of coronary artery disease identified (September 23, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered five new genes that affect the risk of developing coronary artery disease and heart attacks. ... > full story

Novel technique reveals both gene number and protein expression simultaneously (September 23, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a method to simultaneously measure gene number and protein expression in individual cells. The fluorescence microscopy technique could permit a detailed analysis of the relationship between gene status and expression of the corresponding protein in cells and tissues, and bring a clearer understanding of cancer and other complex diseases. ... > full story

Single-sex schooling does not improve academic performance and can lead to gender stereotyping, study finds (September 23, 2011) -- Social scientists have found that there is no well-designed research that demonstrates that single-sex schools improve student's academic performance. However, there is evidence that sex segregation increases gender stereotyping among children and teachers and legitimizes institutional sexism. ... > full story