ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Thursday, October 13, 2011
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Proper protein intake crucial for moderating energy intake, keeping obesity at bay (October 13, 2011) -- Obesity is a growing problem worldwide, but proper protein consumption can help keep it at bay, according to a new study. ... > full story
Transfusion not always best treatment for anemia, age of stored blood may play a role (October 13, 2011) -- Researchers are suggesting that transfusion may not always be the best treatment for hospitalized patients with anemia. ... > full story
Extreme gambling: Extreme sport athletes have a lot in common with gamblers (October 13, 2011) -- Can parachuting help people with a gambling addiction? New research shows that extreme sport athletes have quite a lot in common with gamblers. ... > full story
Improving gene therapy for heart disease, cancer (October 13, 2011) -- A new study could lead to improved gene therapies for conditions such as heart disease and cancer as well as more effective vaccines for tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases. ... > full story
Survival disparities in African-American and white colorectal cancer patients (October 13, 2011) -- African-American patients with resected stage II and stage III colon cancer experienced worse overall and recurrence-free survival compared to whites, but similar recurrence-free intervals, according to a new study. ... > full story
Smoking cannabis increases risk of depression in the case of genetic vulnerability, study finds (October 13, 2011) -- Young people who are genetically vulnerable to depression should be extra careful about using cannabis: smoking cannabis leads to an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms, according to a new study carried out by researchers in the Netherlands. Two-thirds of the population have the gene variant that makes one sensitive to depression. ... > full story
Water-soluble 'gelatinase inhibitor' compounds show promise for treating neurological diseases (October 12, 2011) -- Scientists have taken a promising step on the road to developing new drugs for a variety of neurological diseases. The researchers focused on the design, synthesis and evaluation of water-soluble "gelatinase inhibitor" compounds. ... > full story
Case of the missing monocyte: Gene appears to protect against rheumatoid arthritis (October 12, 2011) -- An estimated 1.3 million people in the United States suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. The causes behind this chronic disease -- which can exhibit itself as pain, swelling, stiffness, deformation, and loss of function in the joints -- have eluded scientists for centuries. A new study offers tantalizing glimmers about the roles of a gene called CCR2, an immune system cell called Th17 cell, and a missing monocyte. ... > full story
Identifying earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease (October 12, 2011) -- Addressing the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease, before a patient shows outward signs of cognitive problems, has sometimes been a challenge for physicians and researchers, in part because they have not been using common and specific terms to describe the disease's initial phases. A new study recommends adding categories to more effectively identify and treat people and give researchers standard definitions to work with. ... > full story
Scientists move closer to predicting who will and will not fight off severe infections (October 12, 2011) -- Why are some people prone to severe infections, while others handle them with less difficulty? A new research report attempts to answer this question by shedding light on the genetic differences that influence our ability to fight off bacterial infections. ... > full story
How the brain’s own marijuana-like chemicals suppress pain (October 12, 2011) -- There are new findings about how the brain functions to suppress pain. For the first time, it has been shown that the hippocampus of the brain, which is usually associated with memory, has an active role to play in suppressing pain during times of stress. ... > full story
Delays in video calls may not always hurt communication, study finds (October 12, 2011) -- A new study reveals how the delay computer users sometimes experience when making video calls over the internet can actually help communication in some circumstances, even though it is frustrating in many others. Researchers found that when two strangers first talked about an emotionally charged topic over a video connection with a one-second delay, they actually reported less frustration than did those who talked with no delay. ... > full story
New molecular target for diabetes treatment discovered (October 12, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a key molecular pathway responsible for the natural decrease in the proliferation of insulin-producing cells that occurs as a person ages. Artificially activating this pathway, which is normally not functional in adults, may be a new way to combat diabetes. ... > full story
Significant breakthrough in study of chlamydia (October 12, 2011) -- A breakthrough in the study of chlamydia genetics could open the way to new treatments and the development of a vaccine for this sexually transmitted disease. For decades research progress has been hampered because scientists have been prevented from fully understanding these bacteria as they have been unable to manipulate the genome of Chlamydia trachomatis. ... > full story
Kids more accepting of peers who try to change undesirable trait than those faulted for it (October 12, 2011) -- Psychologists looked at the extent to which children attribute fault to peers with undesirable characteristics, and how they anticipate interacting with these peers. They found that obese and aggressive peers are disliked and blamed for having these faults. ... > full story
Peanut allergy turned off by tricking immune system: New approach makes allergen appear safe and prevents life-threatening reaction (October 12, 2011) -- Researchers have turned off a life-threatening allergic response to peanuts by tricking the immune system into thinking the nut proteins aren't a threat to the body, according to a new preclinical study. The peanut tolerance was achieved by attaching peanut proteins onto blood cells and reintroducing them to the body -- an approach that ultimately may be able to target more than one food allergy at a time. ... > full story
Crop improvement and human medicine: Using proteins to target and manipulate specific genes (October 12, 2011) -- Scientists are using certain proteins to target and manipulate specific genes. That could lead to breakthroughs in understanding gene function and improving traits in livestock and plants, and even treating human genetic disorders. ... > full story
Some youth too immature to stand trial, experts say (October 12, 2011) -- Researchers have found that unlike adults, most children and adolescents who are found incompetent to stand trial are not psychotic; rather, they have cognitive impairments. And, they are often too immature to understand the magnitude of the situation. ... > full story
Study shows increased prostate cancer risk from vitamin E supplements (October 12, 2011) -- Men who took 400 international units of vitamin E daily had more prostate cancers compared to men who took a placebo. The findings showed that, per 1,000 men, there were 76 prostate cancers in men who took only vitamin E supplements, vs. 65 in men on placebo over a seven-year period, or 11 more cases per 1,000 men. This represents a 17 percent increase in prostate cancers relative to those who took a placebo. ... > full story
Test helps reduce risk of death in advanced lung cancer (October 12, 2011) -- A new test has helped reduce the risk of death in lung cancer patients in a recent clinical trial. ... > full story
Industry conflicts of interest are pervasive among medical guideline panel members, experts say (October 12, 2011) -- Researchers have found that conflicts of interest are prevalent and potentially under-reported among individuals participating in the development of clinical practice guidelines, which inform standards of patient care. The findings provide further evidence of the potential influence of industry on medical practice recommendations. ... > full story
Ovarian cancer patients survive longer with BRCA2 mutated in tumors, study finds (October 12, 2011) -- Women with high-grade ovarian cancer live longer and respond better to platinum-based chemotherapy when their tumors have BRCA2 genetic mutations, researchers report. ... > full story
Laser removal of heart device wires safe for older patients, study suggests (October 12, 2011) -- Using a laser to remove pacemaker and defibrillator wires implanted in heart muscle is as safe in people ages 80 and older as it is in younger people. Researchers found no important risk differences between the two age groups. This should reduce safety concerns and increase the procedure's use in octogenarians. ... > full story
Folic acid in early pregnancy associated with reduced risk of severe language delay in children (October 12, 2011) -- Use of folic acid supplements by women in Norway in the period four weeks before to eight weeks after conception was associated with a reduced risk of the child having severe language delay at age three years, according to a new study. ... > full story
Emerging pharmaceutical platform may pose risks to retinal health, study suggests (October 12, 2011) -- An emerging pharmaceutical platform used in treating a variety of diseases may produce unintended and undesirable effects on eye function, according to a new study. ... > full story
Greater support is needed to tackle the serious emotional consequences of whistleblowing, study finds (October 12, 2011) -- Whistleblowing incidents can have a serious, long-term impact on people’s emotional well-being and colleagues and employers have a responsibility to support those involved. Alcohol problems, nightmares, paranoid behaviour at work and overwhelming distress were just some of the problems reported by whistleblowers and those they reported. However, a new study also stresses the important role that whistleblowing has played in large-scale inquiries that have led to improvements in healthcare safety and quality. ... > full story
Stem cells, signaling pathways identified in lung repair (October 12, 2011) -- Researchers have identified cells and signaling molecules that trigger the repair of injured lungs. The scientists report that destruction of lung tissue in mice induces smooth muscle cells surrounding the airways to secrete a protein known as fibroblast growth factor 10, which induces surviving epithelial cells in the airways to revert to a stem-cell state, proliferate, repair and repopulate the lining of the lungs. ... > full story
Experts find continuous glucose monitoring beneficial in maintaining target blood glucose levels (October 12, 2011) -- Patients with diabetes face daily challenges in managing their blood glucose levels, and it has been postulated that patients could benefit from a system providing continuous real-time glucose readings. Experts have released a clinical practice guideline providing recommendations on settings where patients are most likely to benefit from continuous glucose monitoring. ... > full story
Medical safety net for undocumented patients (October 12, 2011) -- Researchers are exploring the ethical challenges that clinicians and organizations face when providing medical care to undocumented immigrants in the United States. Most of the estimated 11 million undocumented residents of the US have no health insurance and are ineligible for public insurance programs. They are prohibited from obtaining insurance under the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. ... > full story
UK doctors still undertreating major risk factor for stroke, study finds (October 12, 2011) -- Despite significant improvements in stroke prevention over the past decade, and a fall in incidence and deaths, UK doctors are still undertreating one of the major risk factors -- atrial fibrillation -- reveals new research. ... > full story
Researcher identifies autism employment resources, tips for people with autism spectrum disorders (October 12, 2011) -- Preliminary employment studies indicate that the autism population may earn less and be employed at a lower rate compared to other people with disabilities. Now, an autism expert is identifying employment resources that are available for people with autism and steps employers can take to improve the workplace and hiring process for this population. ... > full story
Herbal supplements may cause dangerous drug interactions in orthopaedic surgery patients, study suggests (October 11, 2011) -- Complementary and alternative medical treatments such as herbal supplements have become increasingly popular in the United States, especially among older patients and those with chronic pain. However, many of these products can have serious and potentially harmful side effects when combined with medications prescribed during and after surgery, according to a review article. ... > full story
A safe vaccination for Alzheimer's disease? (October 11, 2011) -- Genetic factors influence the immune response to vaccinations for Alzheimer's disease, which are among the most promising avenues of treatment for the illness. Using a mice model, these factors were studied. ... > full story
More intersections mean less outdoor activity for children (October 11, 2011) -- High intersection density and well-connected streets in towns and cities may discourage children from being active and exercising outdoors, according to a new study. ... > full story
New drug target for Alzheimer's, stroke discovered (October 11, 2011) -- A tiny piece of a critical receptor that fuels the brain and without which sentient beings cannot live has been discovered by scientists as a promising new drug target for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. ... > full story
Water channels in the body help cells remain in balance (October 11, 2011) -- Water channels exist not only in nature – microscopical water channels are also present in the cells of the body, where they ensure that water can be transported through the protective surface of the cell. Scientists have discovered that one type of the body’s water channels can be modified such that it becomes more stable, which may be significant in the treatment of several diseases. ... > full story
Perils of polite misunderstandings (October 11, 2011) -- Your friend debuts a questionable haircut and asks what you think of it. Brutal honesty would definitely hurt his feelings, so what do you say? Most people in this situation would probably opt for a vague or evasive response, along the lines of "It's really unique!" or "It's so you!" Politeness helps us get through awkward social situations like these and makes it easier for us to maintain our relationships. ... > full story
Mushroom compound appears to improve effectiveness of cancer drugs, study suggests (October 11, 2011) -- A compound isolated from a wild, poisonous mushroom growing in a southwest China forest appears to help a cancer killing drug fulfill its promise, researchers report. ... > full story
Evidence points to potential roles for cognitive rehabilitation therapy in treating traumatic brain injury, but further research needed (October 11, 2011) -- There is some evidence about the potential value of cognitive rehabilitation therapy for treating traumatic brain injury. ... > full story
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