ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Wednesday, October 26, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Wednesday, October 26, 2011

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Blood test could identify smokers at higher risk for heart disease, UT Southwestern researchers find (October 26, 2011) -- A simple blood test could someday quantify a smoker's lung toxicity and danger of heart disease, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found. ... > full story

Study explains paradox of insulin resistance genetics (October 26, 2011) -- A paradox in understanding insulin resistance is figuring out why insulin-resistant livers make more fat. Insulin resistance occurs when the body does a poor job of lowering blood sugars. The signals to make lipid after a meal come from hormones -- most notably insulin -- and the direct effect of nutrients on the liver. Researchers describe the pathway that insulin uses to change the levels of gene expression that control lipid metabolism. ... > full story

Early HIV treatment dramatically increases survival in patients co-infected with tuberculosis, study suggests (October 26, 2011) -- Timing is everything when treating patients with both HIV and tuberculosis. Starting HIV therapy in such patients within two weeks of TB treatment, rather than two months as is the current practice, increases survival by 33 percent, according to a large-scale clinical trial. ... > full story

Daily smoking, low mastery associated with repeat episodes of depression in people with a history of depression (October 26, 2011) -- Previous depression, daily smoking and a lack of control over life circumstances -- or "low mastery" -- are risk factors for repeat episodes of depression, a new article finds. ... > full story

Young, apparently healthy -- and at risk of heart disease: New study pinpoints hidden thickening of the arteries in young adults (October 26, 2011) -- Atherosclerosis -- or buildup of fat in the walls of arteries -- is thought of as a disorder of older people but it affects a large number of young men and women, according to a new study. ... > full story

Singling out the real breast cancer among the lumps: Finding several proteins in blood at same time improves accuracy of cancer detection (October 26, 2011) -- A recent breast cancer study using patient blood reveals a possible way to reduce the number of false alarms that arise during early screening. Researchers found a panel of proteins shed by breast cancer that are easily detected and can distinguish between real cancer and benign lumps. ... > full story

New role of vascular endothelial growth factor in regulating skin cancer stem cells (October 26, 2011) -- One of the key questions in cancer is the identification of the mechanisms that regulate cancer stem cells and tumor growth. Researchers have now identified a new role for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in regulating skin cancer stem cells. ... > full story

HPV linked to cardiovascular disease in women (October 25, 2011) -- Women with cancer-causing strains of human papillomavirus may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke even when no conventional risk factors for CVD are present. ... > full story

Perinatal antidepressant stunts brain development in rats; Miswired brain circuitry traced to early exposure (October 25, 2011) -- Rats exposed to an antidepressant just before and after birth showed substantial brain abnormalities and behaviors, according to a new study. After receiving citalopram, a serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitor, during this critical period, long-distance connections between the two hemispheres of the brain showed stunted growth and degeneration. The animals also became excessively fearful when faced with new situations and failed to play normally with peers. ... > full story

Women aren't becoming engineers because of confidence issues, study suggests (October 25, 2011) -- Women are less likely than men to stay in engineering majors and to become engineers because they want to have families and are more insecure about their math abilities, right? Not necessarily, suggests a new study. ... > full story

Mental time-travel in birds (October 25, 2011) -- Some tropical birds collect their prey at army ant raids, where massive swarms of ants sweep through the forest and drive out insects. The behavior of interest is called bivouac checking; it allows these birds to track the cyclical raid activity of army ant colonies. ... > full story

New anti-inflammatory drugs might help avoid side effects of steroids (October 25, 2011) -- A new class of anti-inflammatory drugs may one day serve as an alternative to steroid medications and possibly help avoid the serious side effects of steroids, new research findings suggest. ... > full story

Analgesics use associated with increased risk for renal cell carcinoma (October 25, 2011) -- Use of acetaminophen and nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was associated with a significantly increased risk for developing renal cell carcinoma, according to new research. ... > full story

Generation X Report: Survey paints a surprisingly positive portrait (October 25, 2011) -- They've been stereotyped as a bunch of insecure, angst-ridden, underachievers. But most members of Generation X are leading active, balanced and happy lives, according to a long-term survey. ... > full story

Evidence for the existence of a hypnotic state? Key may be in the glazed staring eyes, researchers suggest (October 25, 2011) -- A multidisciplinary group of researchers from Finland and Sweden has found that the strange stare of patients under hypnosis may be a key that can eventually lead to a solution to a long debate about the existence of a hypnotic state. ... > full story

Many Alzheimer's patients get drugs with opposing effects, study finds (October 25, 2011) -- You wouldn't brake your car while stepping on the gas -- or wash down a sleeping pill with espresso. Yet many people taking common Alzheimer's disease medications -- cholinesterase inhibitors -- are given medications with anticholinergic properties, which oppose their effects. Scientists investigated how often that happens and reported on the consequences in a new study. ... > full story

Linking of mutations in 12 genes to ovarian cancer may lead to more effective prevention (October 25, 2011) -- More patients with ovarian cancer carry predisposing mutations, and in more genes, than previously thought. A rapid method for screening genomes has located 12 genes for ovary, fallopian tube and peritoneum cancers. More than one-fifth arose in women with a family history, but relying on family history would have missed one-third of cases. The sequencing method could become applicable to patient testing for a broad range of breast, colon, pancreatic and melanoma gene mutations. ... > full story

A World Series to remember? (October 25, 2011) -- It's a moment burned into the minds of Red Sox and Yankee fans alike -- sitting inches away from the television, fists clenched, tightness in the chest and the unbearable urge to look away... It might have been that very moment in 2003 when the Yankee's Aaron Boone hit a game ending home run. Or it might have been that very moment in 2004, when Boston's Pokey Reese threw to first base for the last Yankee out, and the devastation of 2003 began to fade from the memories of so many Red Sox fans. Either way, a new study says it is the games our teams win that we remember, not the games our teams lose. ... > full story

'Junk DNA' defines differences between humans and chimps (October 25, 2011) -- DNA sequences for human and chimpanzees are nearly identical, despite vast phenotypical differences between the two species. Researchers have determined that the insertion and deletion of large pieces of DNA near genes are highly variable between humans and chimpanzees and may account for these major differences. ... > full story

Increased tanning bed use increases risk for deadly skin cancers (October 25, 2011) -- Researchers confirmed an association between tanning bed use and an increased risk for three common skin cancers -- basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, according to new research. ... > full story

Innovative transdermal patch for delivery of HIV medicine (October 25, 2011) -- An innovative delivery method for human immunodeficiency virus medications has been developed through use of a transdermal patch, the first of its kind to treat HIV. ... > full story

Peer pressure in preschool children: Children as young as 4 years of age conform their public opinion to the majority (October 25, 2011) -- Adults and adolescents often adjust their behavior and opinions to peer groups, even when they themselves know better. Researchers in Germany and the Netherlands studied this phenomenon in 4-year-olds and found that preschool children are already subject to peer pressure. In the current study, the researchers found that children conformed their public judgment of a situation to the judgment of a majority of peers in spite better knowledge. ... > full story

High fizzy soft drink consumption linked to violence among teens (October 25, 2011) -- Teens who drink more than five cans of non-diet, fizzy soft drinks every week are significantly more likely to behave aggressively, new research suggests. This includes carrying a weapon and perpetrating violence against peers and siblings. ... > full story

Blame backbone fractures on evolution, not osteoporosis: Adaptation to upright walking leaves humans susceptible (October 25, 2011) -- Osteoporosis is blamed for backbone fractures. The real culprit could well be our own vertebrae, which evolved to absorb the pounding of upright walking, researchers say. ... > full story

New instrument helps researchers see how diseases start and develop in minute detail (October 25, 2011) -- Researchers can now study molecules which are normally only found in very small concentrations, directly in organs and tissue. Researchers have now managed to construct an instrument that 'hyperpolarises' the molecules and thus makes it possible to track them using MRI. The technology opens up new possibilities to study what really happens on molecular level in organs such as the brain. ... > full story

Math disability linked to problem relating quantities to numerals (October 25, 2011) -- Children who start elementary school with difficulty associating small exact quantities of items with the printed numerals that represent those quantities are more likely to develop a math-related learning disability than are their peers, according to a new study. ... > full story

Coffee consumption associated with decreased risk for basal cell carcinoma (October 25, 2011) -- Caffeine could be related to an inverse association between basal cell carcinoma risk and consumption of coffee, a study found. ... > full story

Novel oral treatment for leishmaniasis has potential to save thousands of lives (October 25, 2011) -- A tropically stable liquid therapy for leishmaniasis, a disease known as the Baghdad boil, shows a significant decrease in infection after less than a week of treatment. ... > full story

Harsh discipline fosters dishonesty in young children, study suggests (October 25, 2011) -- Young children exposed to a harshly punitive school environment are more inclined to lie to conceal their misbehavior than are children from non-punitive schools, a study of three- and four-year-old West African children suggests. ... > full story

Could additives in hot dogs affect incidence of colon cancer? (October 25, 2011) -- The addition of ascorbate (vitamin C) or its close relative, erythorbate, and the reduced amount of nitrite added in hot dogs, mandated in 1978, have been accompanied by a steep drop in the death rate from colon cancer, according to new research. ... > full story

Study confirms males and females have at least one thing in common: Upregulating X (October 25, 2011) -- In a new study, scientists present experiments supporting a longstanding hypothesis that explains how males can survive with only one copy of the X chromosome. The finding provides clarity to a hotly debated topic in science and provides biologists with more information to interpret experiments involving genetic measurements in males and females. ... > full story

Exceptional cognitive and physical health in old age leaves immunological fingerprint, study finds (October 25, 2011) -- Exceptional cognitive and physical function in old age leaves a tell-tale immunologic fingerprint, say researchers. Likewise, older adults who have mild impairments bear a distinct immunologic pattern, according to new findings. ... > full story

High fluid intake appears to reduce bladder cancer risk (October 25, 2011) -- Drinking plenty of fluids may provide men with some protection against bladder cancer, according to a study. ... > full story

Unraveling the mysteries of the natural killer within us (October 25, 2011) -- Scientists in Australia have discovered more about the intricacies of the immune system in a breakthrough that may help combat viral infections such as HIV. The researchers have discovered more about the critical role Natural Killer cells play in the body's innate immune response. ... > full story

Gene variant increases risk of kidney disease in African-Americans (October 25, 2011) -- African-Americans with two copies of the APOL1 gene have about a four percent lifetime risk of developing a form of kidney disease, according to scientists. The finding brings scientists closer to understanding why African-Americans are four times more likely to develop kidney failure than whites. ... > full story

'Trading places' most common pattern for couples dealing with male depression (October 25, 2011) -- Researchers have identified three major patterns that emerge among couples dealing with male depression. These can be described as "trading places," "business as usual" and "edgy tensions." ... > full story

Water disinfection byproducts linked to adverse health effects (October 24, 2011) -- Scientists report the first identification of a cellular mechanism linked to the toxicity of a major class of drinking water disinfection byproducts. This study suggests a possible connection to adverse health effects, including neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's. ... > full story

Hold your forces: Mechanical stress can help or hinder wound healing depending on time of application (October 24, 2011) -- A new study demonstrates that mechanical forces affect the growth and remodeling of blood vessels during tissue regeneration and wound healing. The forces diminish or enhance the vascularization process and tissue regeneration depending on when they are applied during the healing process. ... > full story

High-dose vitamin D may not be better than low-dose vitamin D in treating multiple sclerosis (October 24, 2011) -- Low vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), but the first randomized, controlled trial using high-dose vitamin D in MS did not find any added benefit over and above ongoing low-dose vitamin D supplementation, according to a new study. ... > full story

Gallium nitride is non-toxic, biocompatible; holds promise for implants, research finds (October 24, 2011) -- Researchers have shown that the semiconductor material gallium nitride is non-toxic and is compatible with human cells -- opening the door to the material's use in a variety of biomedical implant technologies. ... > full story

Studying depression: Researchers demonstrate rare animal model (October 24, 2011) -- Scientists have taken a promising step toward creating an animal model for decoding the specific brain circuits involved in depression. By electrically stimulating a brain region central to an animal's primary emotions, the researchers saw rats exhibit a variety of behaviors associated with a depressed, negative mood, or affect. ... > full story

Insomnia could moderately raise your heart attack risk, study suggests (October 24, 2011) -- Having trouble sleeping? If so, you could have a moderately higher risk of having a heart attack, according to new research. In a recent study, the risk of heart attack in people with insomnia ranged from 27 percent to 45 percent greater than for people who rarely experienced trouble sleeping. ... > full story

Yoga eases back pain in largest U.S. yoga study to date (October 24, 2011) -- Yoga classes were linked to better back-related function and diminished symptoms from chronic low back pain in the largest U.S. randomized controlled trial of yoga to date. ... > full story

Dietary patterns may be linked to increased colorectal cancer risk in women (October 24, 2011) -- Researchers may have found a specific dietary pattern linked to levels of C-peptide concentrations that increase a woman's risk for colorectal cancer. ... > full story

Psychologists defend the importance of general abilities (October 24, 2011) -- What makes a great violinist, physicist, or crossword puzzle solver? Are experts born or made? The question has intrigued psychologists since psychology was born -- and the rest of us, too, who may secretly fantasize playing duets with Yo Yo Ma or winning a Nobel Prize in science. ... > full story

Propensity for longer life span inherited non-genetically over generations, study shows (October 24, 2011) -- We know that our environment -- what we eat, the toxic compounds we are exposed to -- can positively or negatively impact our life span. But could it also affect the longevity of our descendants, who may live under very different conditions? Recent research suggests this could be the case. ... > full story

'First step' to perfect drug combinations (October 24, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a way of speeding up the creation of perfect drug combinations, which could help patients recovering from critical health problems such as stroke, heart attacks and cancer. ... > full story

Poor cerebral cortex functions leads to more impulsive behavior (October 24, 2011) -- If the front part of the cerebral cortex is less active then people have less control over their social behavior and automatically follow their inclinations more. The research was the first to make use of magnetic stimulation (TMS) to suppress this part at the front of the prefrontal cortex. During TMS a changing magnetic field on the head temporarily influences the activity of the underlying part of the brain. ... > full story