ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Thursday, November 3, 2011
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Evolution offers clues to leading cause of death during childbirth (November 3, 2011) -- Unusual features of the human placenta may be the underlying cause of postpartum hemorrhage, the leading cause of maternal deaths during childbirth, according to evolutionary research. ... > full story
Latitude variation in incidence of chronic digestive diseases (November 3, 2011) -- New research points to a potential role for UV light exposure and vitamin D levels in chronic digestive conditions; Crohn's disease, a serious inflammatory condition in the small intestine; and ulcerative colitis, which similarly affects the colon. ... > full story
Architecture and design help the brain recover (November 3, 2011) -- How does the hospital environment affect our rehabilitation? New research from Sweden into how the space around us affects the brain reveals that well-planned architecture, design and sensory stimulation increase patients' ability to recover both physically and mentally. Digital textiles and multisensory spaces can make rehabilitation more effective and reduce the amount of time spent in care. ... > full story
Chantix unsuitable for first-line smoking cessation use, study finds (November 3, 2011) -- The poor safety profile of the smoking-cessation drug varenicline (Chantix) makes it unsuitable for first-line use, according to a new study. Varenicline, which already carries a "black box warning" from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, showed a substantially increased risk of reported depression or suicidal behavior compared to other smoking-cessation treatments, according to researchers. ... > full story
Exenatide (Byetta) has rapid, powerful anti-inflammatory effect, study shows (November 3, 2011) -- Exenatide, a drug commonly prescribed to help patients with Type 2 diabetes improve blood sugar control, also has a powerful and rapid anti-inflammatory effect, a new study has shown. ... > full story
More years to life and life to years through increased motivation for an active life (November 3, 2011) -- Regular physical activity is associated with a lower risk of suffering depression in old age. This is shown by one of the largest studies on elderly Europeans to have been carried out. Research also shows that self-determined motivation and perceived competence are important factors in persuading elderly people to exercise more. ... > full story
Blood vessel mapping reveals four new 'ZIP codes'; Targeting specific addresses could help fight cancer, obesity and other diseases (November 2, 2011) -- A research team has discovered four new "ZIP codes" in their quest to map the vast blood vessel network of the human body. The study brings science one step closer to the goal of using the vascular system to personalize cancer therapy, as well as fight obesity, heart disease and other disorders. Researchers also found that some addresses are shared in vasculature across the board instead of always being organ-specific. ... > full story
First ever multi-cellular model of rare disease developed (November 2, 2011) -- Research groups worldwide have tried to develop a simple model of a rare, fatal disease called Zellweger's syndrome but none has succeeded, until researchers finally did so in fruit flies. ... > full story
Finding relief in ritual: A healthy dose of repetitive behavior reduces anxiety, says researcher (November 2, 2011) -- Repetitive behavior can be observed in captive animals, basketball players, and patients with OCD. Now a researcher has found that in all three cases, this behavior developed as a way to manage stress caused by our unpredictable and uncontrollable environments. ... > full story
Viral vector designed to treat a genetic form of blindness (November 2, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a viral vector designed to deliver a gene into the eyes of people born with an inherited, progressive form of blindness that affects mainly males. The vector is being tested in a clinical trial investigating the use of gene therapy to cure choroideremia, a disease that affects an estimated 100,000 people worldwide. ... > full story
Obesity hormone adiponectin increases the risk of osteoporosis in the elderly, study finds (November 2, 2011) -- While obesity is a well-known cause of cardiovascular disease, research from Sweden has now revealed that one of the body's obesity-related hormones -- adiponectin -- is also linked to osteoporosis and an increased risk of fractures. ... > full story
Overweight teens want to lose weight, going about it the wrong way (November 2, 2011) -- While a majority of teens report wanting to lose weight, many engage in behavior that's counterproductive to that goal, according to new research. ... > full story
Dopamine release in human brain tracked at microsecond timescale reveals decision-making (November 2, 2011) -- The first rapid measurements of dopamine release in a human brain have provided preliminary evidence that the neurotransmitter can be tracked in its movement between brain cells while a subject expresses decision-making behavior. ... > full story
'Protein microarrays' may reveal new weapons against malaria (November 2, 2011) -- A new research technology is revealing how humans develop immunity to malaria, and could assist programs aimed at eradicating this parasitic disease. ... > full story
Doctors' own alcohol consumption colors advice to patients (November 2, 2011) -- Doctors who drink more themselves are more liberal in their advice to patients on alcohol consumption. They set higher thresholds for what is harmful, and while men who are heavy drinkers get to continue drinking, women are often advised to stop altogether, reveals new research. ... > full story
Findings offer new clues into the addicted brain (November 2, 2011) -- What drives addicts to repeatedly choose drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, overeating, gambling or kleptomania, despite the risks involved? Neuroscientists have pinpointed the exact locations in the brain where calculations are made that can result in addictive and compulsive behavior. ... > full story
Poor sleep quality in first, third trimesters linked to preterm births (November 2, 2011) -- Significant risk for preterm birth found in women reporting sleep disruptions during their first and third trimesters, even after medical risk factors and income levels were accounted for. However, it's inexpensive and uncomplicated to assess, and requires only a change in behavior to help reduce risk when intervened early enough. ... > full story
Recipients of organ transplants at increased risk for broad range of cancers, study finds (November 2, 2011) -- Patients who have received a solid organ transplant, such as kidney, liver, heart or lung, have an overall cancer risk that is double that of the general population, with an increased risk for many different types of malignancies, according to a new study. ... > full story
Low levels of alcohol consumption associated with small increased risk of breast cancer, study finds (November 2, 2011) -- Consumption of three to six alcoholic drinks per week is associated with a small increase in the risk of breast cancer, and consumption in both earlier and later adult life is also associated with an increased risk, according to a new study. ... > full story
How lonely you are may impact how well you sleep, research shows (November 2, 2011) -- Study of adults in tight-knit South Dakota community shows lonely feelings associated with compromised sleep -- that is, the stronger the loneliness, the more disruptions during the night, with potentially negative consequences on wellness. Results agree with 2002 study of college students, indicating that individuals young and old, in big towns and small, need to feel secure in their social setting to get a healthy night's rest. ... > full story
Research into unexplained miscarriages could impact heart and stroke treatment (November 2, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a potential new cause for unexplained miscarriages in mice. ... > full story
Age no longer a barrier to stem cell transplantation for older patients (November 2, 2011) -- Age alone no longer should be considered a defining factor when determining whether an older patient with blood cancer is a candidate for stem cell transplantation. That's the conclusion of the first study summarizing long-term outcomes from a series of prospective clinical trials of patients age 60 and over who were treated with the mini-transplant, a "kinder, gentler" form of allogeneic (donor cell) stem cell transplantation. ... > full story
People rationalize situations they're stuck with, but rebel when they think there's an out (November 2, 2011) -- People who feel like they're stuck with a rule or restriction are more likely to be content with it than people who think that the rule isn't definite. The authors of a new study say this conclusion may help explain everything from unrequited love to the uprisings of the Arab Spring. ... > full story
Molecule that prevents Type 1 diabetes in mice discovered; Has similar effect on human cells (November 2, 2011) -- Researchers have found a specific molecule that can prevent the development of type 1 diabetes in mice and has a similar effect on human cells from diabetic patients. ... > full story
Vitamin D study suggests no mortality benefit for older women (November 2, 2011) -- A study of postmenopausal women found no significant mortality benefit from vitamin D after controlling for health risk factors such as abdominal obesity. The only exception was that thin-waisted women with low vitamin D levels might face some risk. The results agree with advice issued last year by the Institute of Medicine that cautioned against vitamin D having a benefit beyond bone health. ... > full story
Preschoolers' language skills improve more when they're placed with more-skilled peers (November 2, 2011) -- Preschool children with relatively poor language skills improve more if they are placed in classrooms with high-achieving students, a new study found. Researchers found that children with relatively poor language skills either didn't improve over the course of one academic year, or actually lost ground in development of language skills, when they were placed with other low-achieving students. ... > full story
Health risk from eating well-done meat may be underestimated (November 2, 2011) -- Mice are often used to test whether substances in food are harmful to humans. This requires that mice and humans metabolize substances in the same way. Humans have certain enzymes in more parts of the body than mice. The health risk associated with harmful substances in food may therefore be underestimated. ... > full story
First-of-its-kind study creates new tool for targeted cancer drug development (November 2, 2011) -- In a technical tour de force, scientists have cataloged and cross-indexed the actions of 178 candidate drugs capable of blocking the activity of one or more of 300 enzymes, including enzymes critical for cancer and other diseases. Additionally, a free library of the results has been made available online to the research community. This unique library represents an important new tool for accelerating the development of an entire class of targeted cancer drugs. ... > full story
Food chemical regulations rely heavily on industry self-policing and lack transparency, report finds (November 2, 2011) -- Safety decisions concerning one-third of the more than 10,000 substances that may be added to human food were made by food manufacturers and a trade association without review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to a new analysis. The report illustrates potential problems with the US food additive regulatory program. ... > full story
Current training programs may not prepare firefighters to combat stress (November 2, 2011) -- Current training programs may not effectively prepare firefighters for the range of scenarios they are likely to encounter, according to human factors/ergonomics researchers. ... > full story
Depression linked to breast cancer outcomes (November 2, 2011) -- This year, more than 230,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 40,000 women will not survive their battle with cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. New research shows that certain factors, including marital status, having children in the home, income level and age, affect the likelihood of depression in breast cancer survivors. Further, depressed patients are less likely to adhere to medication regimens, potentially complicating the progress of their treatment. ... > full story
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance now an important first-line test (November 2, 2011) -- Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has undergone substantial development and offers important advantages compared with other well-established imaging modalities, experts say. ... > full story
Launch of innovative research into malaria control without insecticide (November 2, 2011) -- With a new, poison-free approach to malaria control, researchers in the Solarmal project have expressed not only the hope to eliminate malaria in Africa at local level, but also to provide the local population with a source of sustainable energy. ... > full story
Nerve protein linked to learning and memory (November 1, 2011) -- Biology professors have found the protein tomosyn plays an important role in regulating neurotransmitter between synapses, and consequently plays a role in longer-term memory and learning. The results may prove helpful in developing new drugs to treat human memory loss. ... > full story
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