ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Friday, October 14, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Friday, October 14, 2011

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Schizophrenia genetics linked to disruption in how brain processes sound (October 14, 2011) -- What links genetic differences to changes in altered brain activity in schizophrenia is not clear. Now, three labs have come together using electrophysiological, anatomical, and immunohistochemical approaches -- along with a unique high-speed imaging technique -- to understand how schizophrenia works at the cellular level, especially in identifying how changes in the interaction between different types of nerve cells leads to symptoms of the disease. ... > full story

Reversing smoke-induced damage and disease in the lung (October 14, 2011) -- By studying mice exposed to tobacco smoke for a period of months, researchers have new insight into how emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease develops. They also report a promising new way to reverse the lung damage underlying these conditions. ... > full story

Study could help battle against superbugs (October 14, 2011) -- Targeting a toxin released by virtually all strains of MRSA could help scientists develop new drugs that can fight the superbug, research suggests. A new study has discovered the toxin -- SElX -- which leads the body's immune system to go into overdrive and damage healthy cells. ... > full story

Tests to catch the makers of dangerous 'legal high' designer drugs (October 14, 2011) -- Urgently needed tests which could help identify the manufacturers of designer 'legal high' drugs are now being developed. ... > full story

Hospital superbug debugged (October 14, 2011) -- Scientists have uncovered how a common hospital bacterium becomes a deadly superbug that kills increasing numbers of hospital patients worldwide and accounts for an estimated .2 billion each year in health-care costs in the US alone. ... > full story

Doctors may be sending too many patients by helicopter, an expensive choice that may not impact patient outcome (October 14, 2011) -- When a patient needs to travel between hospitals and time is of the essence, helicopter transport is generally assumed to be faster and more desirable than taking a ground ambulance, but a new study refutes this common assumption, revealing that the actual times to treatment for patients transported by helicopter may not justify the expense relative to ground ambulances. ... > full story

Controlling cell death prevents skin inflammation (October 13, 2011) -- A new study provides evidence that stopping of a type of regulated cell death called "necroptosis" in keratinocytes is critical for the prevention of skin inflammation. ... > full story

New breeds of broccoli remain packed with health benefits (October 13, 2011) -- Scientists have demonstrated that mineral levels in new varieties of broccoli have not declined since 1975, and that the broccoli contains the same levels of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium and other minerals that have made the vegetable a healthy staple of American diets for decades. ... > full story

Understanding the beginnings of embryonic stem cells helps predict the future (October 13, 2011) -- Scientists have shown that laboratory-grown cells express a protein called Blimp1, which represses differentiation to somatic or regular tissue cells during germ cell development. Studies of these cells show that they also express other genes associated with early germ cell specification. ... > full story

Regaining trust after a transgression (October 13, 2011) -- The scene has become all too familiar -- the disgraced politician, chastened business leader or shamed celebrity standing before a podium offering up their apologies as the news cameras flash. "Sorry" may be the hardest word to say, but does simply owning up to misdeeds do anything toward regaining trust after a transgression or are words, as some say, cheap? ... > full story

Stem cells from cord blood could help repair damaged heart muscle (October 13, 2011) -- New research has found that stem cells derived from human cord blood could be an effective alternative in repairing heart attacks. ... > full story

Next stage of heart function testing: New highly sensitive technique gives better clues to future cardiac events in heart patients (October 13, 2011) -- A new non-invasive technique for measuring how well the heart and blood vessels function in patients already suffering from coronary artery disease could, in a single test, identify which abnormally narrowed blood vessels are the most likely to lead to further cardiovascular complications. ... > full story

First physical evidence bilingualism delays onset of Alzheimer's symptoms (October 13, 2011) -- Researchers have found that people who speak more than one language have twice as much brain damage as unilingual people before they exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. It's the first physical evidence that bilingualism delays the onset of the disease. ... > full story

Researchers correct sickle cell disease in adult mice: Protein could be a target for treating people who have the blood disorder (October 13, 2011) -- Scientists have corrected sickle cell disease in adult laboratory mice by activating production of a special blood component normally produced before, but not after, birth. ... > full story

Differences in jet lag severity could be rooted in how circadian clock sets itself (October 13, 2011) -- Researchers have found hints that differing molecular processes in one area of the brain might play a significant role in the differences of jet lag severity between long-distance west-to-east travel and east-to-west travel. ... > full story

Inefficient developing world stoves contribute to 2 million deaths a year (October 13, 2011) -- An international effort to replace smoky, inefficient household stoves that people commonly use in lower and middle income countries with clean, affordable, fuel efficient stoves could save nearly 2 million lives each year, according to experts. ... > full story

Does a bigger brain make for a smarter child in babies born prematurely? (October 13, 2011) -- New research suggests the growth rate of the brain's cerebral cortex in babies born prematurely may predict how well they are able to think, speak, plan and pay attention later in childhood. The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain covering the cerebrum, and is responsible for cognitive functions, such as language, memory, attention and thought. ... > full story

Certain mouth bacteria signal pancreatic cancer, study finds (October 13, 2011) -- Particular types of mouth bacteria, some of which are found in gum disease, are associated with the development of pancreatic cancer, indicates a small study. ... > full story

Melatonin delays onset, reduces deaths in mouse model of Huntington’s disease (October 13, 2011) -- Melatonin, best known for its role in sleep regulation, delayed the onset of symptoms and reduced mortality in a mouse model of Huntington's disease, say researchers. Their findings show for the first time that certain receptors for the hormone reside in the mitochondria, and that there are fewer of them both in affected mice and human brains. ... > full story

Talk to the virtual hands: Body language of both speaker and listener affects success in virtual reality communication game (October 13, 2011) -- New research finds that the lack of gestural information from both speaker and listener limits successful communication in virtual environments. ... > full story

Hypothetically tweaking: Research shows questions can influence behavior, promote bias (October 13, 2011) -- Hypothetically speaking, if someone told you that a hypothetical question could influence your judgments or behavior, would you believe them? ... > full story

Smoking cigarettes simulates cystic fibrosis (October 13, 2011) -- If you smoke cigarettes, you have more in common with someone who has cystic fibrosis than you think. A new research report shows that smoking cigarettes affects the lungs in a way that is very similar to cystic fibrosis, a life threatening disease affecting the lungs and other organs. ... > full story

New way to screen for brain cancer stem cell killers (October 13, 2011) -- Researchers have developed and used a high-throughput molecular screening approach that identifies and characterizes chemical compounds that can target the stem cells that are responsible for creating deadly brain tumors. ... > full story

Violent games emotionally desensitizing, research suggests (October 13, 2011) -- After excessively violent events, shoot 'em up games regularly come under scrutiny. In Norway, several first-person shooter games disappeared from the market for a while after the killings. Does intense fighting on a flat screen display also result in aggressive behavior in real life? Researchers have found brain activity patterns in heavy gamers that differed from those of non-gamers. ... > full story

Potential new drugs plug brain's biological 'vacuum cleaner' and target HIV (October 13, 2011) -- In an advance toward eliminating pockets of infection in the brain that help make HIV disease incurable, scientists report the development of new substances that first plug the biological vacuum cleaner that prevents anti-HIV drugs from reaching the brain and then revert to an active drug to treat HIV. The advance promises to allow medications to cross the so-called "blood-brain barrier" and treat brain diseases. ... > full story

Clean correction of a patient's genetic mutation: New gene therapy methods accurately correct mutation in patient's stem cells (October 13, 2011) -- For the first time, scientists have cleanly corrected a gene mutation in a patient's stem cells, bringing the possibility of patient-specific therapies closer to reality. The team targeted a mutation responsible for cirrhotic liver disease and lung emphysema. Using cutting-edge methods, they corrected the sequence of a patient's genome, removed all exogenous DNA and showed that the gene worked normally. ... > full story

Kids with blocked tear ducts at higher risk for 'lazy eye' (October 13, 2011) -- A recent study has found that children under the age of 3 with a nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO), or blocked tear duct, were at an increased risk for developing amblyopia. About 6% of children are born with blocked tear ducts. ... > full story

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

Natural processes can limit spread of arsenic in water, says study (October 13, 2011) -- A new study shows that deep sediments can grab naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater and take it out of circulation -- a finding that may help to keep wells safe elsewhere, including in the United States. ... > 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

Scientists demonstrate the power of optical forces in blood cell identification (October 13, 2011) -- Biological analysis systems that rely on labels can be costly, labor intensive, and depend upon prior knowledge of the target in question. Researchers have developed a system that can detect optical pressure differences between populations or classes of cells. ... > 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

Direct access to physical therapists associated with lower costs and fewer visits, new study says (October 13, 2011) -- A new study suggesting that "the role of the physician gatekeeper in regard to physical therapy may be unnecessary in many cases" could have significant implications for the US health care system. ... > full story

Taking steps to prevent 'going postal' (October 13, 2011) -- Workplace violence continues to be a topic of great importance to many companies, as tales of extreme cases hit the media. Today's human resources departments spend a great deal of time preparing for these cases. However, a new study questions whether time might be better invested in further investigation. ... > full story

Lower income dads encourage exercise, healthy diet but may give wrong dose of medicine, study suggests (October 13, 2011) -- Lower income, urban dads are involved in their children's health and encourage them to exercise and eat healthy foods. But these same dads may also give their kids the wrong dose of medicine and are uncomfortable handling emergency medical care for them. The study, the first of its kind, is a wake-up call to health care providers to include and educate fathers as key partners in their children's health. ... > full story

Public reporting has''t improved transplant centers' care (October 13, 2011) -- Public reporting of the successes and failures of transplant centers has not diminished the gaps between the best and worst centers. If each center's performance matched that of the best center, about a third of deaths and organ failures could be averted. Additional studies are needed to investigate why public reports have not reduced differences across transplant centers ... > full story

'Dark matter' of the genome revealed through analysis of 29 mammals (October 12, 2011) -- An international team of researchers has discovered the vast majority of the so-called "dark matter" in the human genome, by means of a sweeping comparison of 29 mammalian genomes. The team has pinpointed the parts of the human genome that control when and where genes are turned on. This map is a critical step in interpreting the thousands of genetic changes that have been linked to human disease. ... > 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

By reprogramming skin cells into brain cells, scientists gain new insights into mental disorders (October 12, 2011) -- By reprogramming skin cells from patients with mental disorders, scientists are creating brain cells that are now providing extraordinary insights into afflictions like schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. ... > 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

Researchers reconstruct genome of the Black Death; Bacteria found to be ancestor of all modern plagues (October 12, 2011) -- An international team has sequenced the entire genome of the Black Death, one of the most devastating epidemics in human history. ... > full story