ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Wednesday, November 9, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Wednesday, November 9, 2011

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New role for 'hormone of love' oxytocin in brain: Helps direct development of brain-body interface (November 8, 2011) -- Much of the body's chemistry is controlled by the brain -- from blood pressure to appetite to food metabolism. New research reveals the exact structure of one crucial brain area in which biochemical commands are passed from the brain cells to the bloodstream and from there to the body. In the process, scientists have discovered a surprising new role for the "hormone of love," showing that it helps direct the development of this brain structure. ... > full story

Adult living donor liver transplants safe, study finds (November 8, 2011) -- Desperately needed adult living donor liver transplantation is a safe surgery for the donor, according to researchers. The study looked at donor safety from a single center over a period of 10 years and found there were no patient deaths and no life-threatening complications requiring ICU care. ... > full story

Multi-site study finds wide variation in best-estimate clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (November 8, 2011) -- In a study conducted at 12 university-based research sites, there was wide variation in how best-estimate clinical diagnoses within the autism spectrum were assigned to individual children. ... > full story

Physical functioning declines more rapidly among the poor, study finds (November 8, 2011) -- A new national study shows that wealthier Americans and those with private health insurance fare better than others on one important measure of health – and this health gap only grows wider as they age. Researchers found that, when the study began, middle-aged and older Americans with more income and assets reported having less trouble with five activities of daily living: Walking across a room, bathing, eating, dressing and getting in and out of bed. ... > full story

Study characterizes epigenetic signatures of autism in brain tissue (November 8, 2011) -- Neurons in the prefrontal cortex of individuals with autism show changes at numerous sites across the genome, according to a new study. ... > full story

Aging could influence climate change: Individual carbon dioxide emissions decline in old age (November 8, 2011) -- New demographic analysis reveals that the carbon dioxide emissions of the average American increase until around the age of 65, and then start to decrease. For the United States this means that, although the aging of the population will lead to a slight overall rise in CO2 emissions over the next four decades, the long-term trends indicate that increasing life expectancy will result in a reduction in emissions. ... > full story

Study identifies factors linked with better medication response for treatment of juvenile arthritis (November 8, 2011) -- Among patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis who initiated treatment with the drug etanercept, one-third achieved an excellent response, and this response was associated with low measures of disability at study entry, younger age at the onset of JIA, and fewer disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs used before initiating etanercept, according to a new study. ... > full story

Which way you lean -- physically -- affects your decision-making (November 8, 2011) -- We're not always aware of how we are making a decision. Unconscious feelings or perceptions may influence us. Another important source of information -- even if we're unaware of it -- is the body itself. ... > full story

Routine iron fortification of infant formula linked to poorer development (November 8, 2011) -- Iron fortification has helped babies around the world, but a long-term study raises questions about the optimal amount of iron in infant formula. ... > full story

Neuromuscular warm-up associated with reduced lower extremity injuries in adolescent female athletes (November 8, 2011) -- Integrating a coach-led neuromuscular warm-up prior to sports practice appeared to reduce the risk of lower extremity injuries in female high school soccer and basketball athletes, according to a new report. ... > full story

Removing sugar-sweetened beverages from schools associated with reduced access to, but not consumption of these beverages among adolescents (November 8, 2011) -- State policies banning all sugar-sweetened beverages in schools are associated with reduced in-school access and purchase of these beverages, however these policies are not associated with a reduction in overall consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, according to a new report. ... > full story

Caucasians who avoid sun exposure more likely to be vitamin D deficient, study suggests (November 8, 2011) -- Light-skinned people who avoid the sun are twice as likely to suffer from vitamin D deficiency as those who do not, according to a study of nearly 6,000 people. Surprisingly, the use of sunscreen did not significantly affect blood levels of vitamin D, perhaps because users were applying too little or too infrequently, researchers speculate. ... > full story

Biologists use flies and mice to get to the heart of Down syndrome (November 8, 2011) -- A novel study involving fruit flies and mice has allowed biologists to identify two critical genes responsible for congenital heart defects in individuals with Down syndrome, a major cause of infant mortality and death in people born with this genetic disorder. ... > full story

Critical step to opening elusive class of compounds to drug discovery (November 8, 2011) -- Taxanes are a family of compounds that includes one of the most important cancer drugs ever discovered, Taxol, among other cancer treatments. But the difficulty producing these complex molecules in the lab has hampered or blocked exploration of the family for further drug leads. Scientists have now successfully achieved a major step toward the goal of synthetically producing Taxol and other complex taxanes on a quest to harness chemical reactions that could enable research on previously unavailable potential drugs. ... > full story

Lost in translation: Credit card bill notes curb cardholders' monthly payments (November 8, 2011) -- Notes printed on credit card statements about minimum payments due actually result in lower cardholder repayments, researchers report. ... > full story

Gene discovered as cause of fatal condition (November 8, 2011) -- Medical scientists have for the first time identified a gene responsible for a fatal abdominal condition that afflicts tens of thousands of people across the world. ... > full story

Polio still a threat to public health, expert says (November 8, 2011) -- After years of tracking isolated cases of live poliovirus, a medical researcher reports that the wild poliovirus can still be found in countries that were widely believed polio-free. ... > full story

Fatherhood can help change a man's bad habits (November 8, 2011) -- After men become fathers for the first time, they show significant decreases in crime, tobacco and alcohol use, according to a new, 19-year study. Researchers assessed more than 200 at-risk boys annually from the age of 12 to 31, and examined how men's crime, tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use changed over time. While previous studies showed that marriage can change a man's negative behavior, they had not isolated the additional effects of fatherhood. ... > full story

Cardiac stress imaging procedures more frequent among patients seen by physicians who provide and bill for these procedures (November 8, 2011) -- Patients treated by physicians who billed for both technical (practice/equipment) and professional (supervision/ interpretation) components of nuclear and echocardiographic stress imaging tests were more likely to undergo such tests after coronary revascularization compared with patients of physicians who did not bill for these services, according to a new study. ... > full story

New technology to monitor brain aneurysms (November 7, 2011) -- Researchers have developed new technology for monitoring brain aneurysms – an approach that is potentially less invasive and more accurate than current methods, and one that is simple enough for patients to use at home for frequent monitoring. ... > full story

Young women with rheumatoid arthritis at more risk for broken bones, study finds (November 7, 2011) -- Women under 50 with rheumatoid arthritis are at greater risk of breaking bones than women without the condition, according to a new study. ... > full story

How we create false memories: Assessing memory performance in older adults (November 7, 2011) -- A new study addresses the influence of age-related stereotypes on memory performance and memory errors in older adults. ... > full story

Brain parasite directly alters brain chemistry (November 7, 2011) -- A research group from the University of Leeds has shown that infection by the brain parasite Toxoplasma gondii, found in 10-20 percent of the UK's population, directly affects the production of dopamine, a key chemical messenger in the brain. ... > full story

Novel technique switches triple-negative breast cancer cells to hormone-receptor positive cells (November 7, 2011) -- Within many hormone-receptor positive breast cancers lives a subpopulation of receptor-negative cells – knock down the hormone-receptor positive cells with anti-estrogen drugs and you may inadvertently promote tumor takeover by more dangerous, receptor-negative cells. A new study describes how to switch these receptor-negative cells back to a state that can be targeted by existing hormone therapies. ... > full story

CT scans can help detect gout cases traditional tests miss, study finds (November 7, 2011) -- X-ray images known as CT scans can help confirm gout in patients who are suspected of having the painful condition but receive negative results from traditional tests, a Mayo Clinic study has found. ... > full story

Vintage leather football helmets often as protective as modern helmets in common, game-like hits (November 7, 2011) -- Old-fashioned "leatherhead" football helmets from the early 1900s are often as effective as -- and sometimes better than -- modern football helmets at protecting against injuries during routine, game-like collisions, according to researchers. ... > full story

Erasing signs of aging in human cells now a reality (November 7, 2011) -- Scientists have recently succeeded in rejuvenating cells from elderly donors (aged over 100). These old cells were reprogrammed in vitro to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and to rejuvenated and human embryonic stem cells (hESC): cells of all types can again be differentiated after this genuine "rejuvenation" therapy. ... > full story

Colorectal cancer: Jumping gene named Sleeping Beauty plays vital role in investigating cancer pathway (November 7, 2011) -- A jumping gene has helped to unlock vital clues for researchers investigating the genetics of colorectal cancer. In a new study, researchers used DNA transposon system to profile the repertoire of genes that can drive colorectal cancer in a mouse model, identifying many more than previously thought. Around one third of these genes are mutated in human cancer, which provides strong evidence that they are driver mutations in human tumours. ... > full story

Most women with lupus can have successful pregnancy outcomes, study finds (November 7, 2011) -- Promising research may offer hope for women with lupus who once thought that pregnancy was too risky. ... > full story

First-time divorce rate tied to education, race (November 7, 2011) -- New research shows there is substantial variation in the first-time divorce rate when it is broken down by race and education. But, there is also evidence that a college degree has a protective effect against divorce among all races. ... > full story

HIV study identifies key cellular defence mechanism (November 7, 2011) -- Scientists have moved a step closer to understanding how one of our body’s own proteins helps stop the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) in its tracks. ... > full story

Volunteers end simulated mission to Mars (November 7, 2011) -- The record-breaking simulated mission to Mars has ended with smiling faces after 17 months. Mars500's six brave volunteers stepped out of their 'spacecraft' Nov. 4, 2011 to be welcomed by the waiting scientists -- happy that the venture had worked even better than expected. Mars500, the first full-length, high-fidelity simulation of a human mission to our neighbouring planet, started 520 days earlier, on 3 June 2010, at the Institute of Biomedical Problems in Moscow. ... > full story

Model of enzyme's structure could spur new therapies (November 7, 2011) -- Scientists have determined the structure of an enzyme complex that regulates vital cell functions. Disregulation of such complexes is associated with diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's. The new work provides drug developers with a specific and unique new target to consider in their efforts to find new treatments. ... > full story

Meningitis may be eradicated: New vaccine brings hope (November 6, 2011) -- Outbreaks of meningitis can quickly reach epidemic proportions across a number of African countries, afflicting tens of thousands of people. Now a new vaccine appears capable of completely eradicating the disease. ... > full story

Biologists use flies and mice to get to the heart of Down syndrome (November 6, 2011) -- A novel study involving fruit flies and mice has allowed biologists to identify two critical genes responsible for congenital heart defects in individuals with Down syndrome, a major cause of infant mortality and death in people born with this genetic disorder. ... > full story

More radionuclide therapy is better for prostate cancer patients, study suggests (November 6, 2011) -- For prostate cancer patients with bone metastases, repeated administrations of radionuclide therapy with 188Re-HEDP are shown to improve overall survival rates and reduce pain, according to new research. ... > full story

Physicians who play Mozart while performing colonoscopy may improve adenoma detection rate (November 6, 2011) -- Physicians who listen to Mozart while performing colonoscopy may increase their detection rates of precancerous polyps, according to the results of a new study. ... > full story

It takes two: Brains come wired for cooperation, neuroscientists discover (November 6, 2011) -- The brain was built for cooperative activity, whether it be dancing on a TV reality show, building a skyscraper or working in an office, according to new research by neuroscientists. ... > full story

Protein could prevent secondary damage after stroke, neuroscientist says (November 6, 2011) -- A neuroscientist says a protein that regulates nerve cells and assists in overall brain function may be key to preventing the long-term damage of stroke and hopes her work leads to the development of an effective therapeutic intervention. ... > full story

Dirt prevents allergy, Danish research suggests (November 6, 2011) -- If infants encounter a wide range of bacteria they are less at risk of developing allergic disease later in life, new research from Denmark suggests. ... > full story

Conjoined twin toddlers successfully separated (November 6, 2011) -- Angelica and Angelina Sabuco, twins who were born conjoined at the chest and abdomen, are now separate little girls. The 2-year-olds were separated Nov. 1 in a 10-hour surgery. The operation was the culmination of several months of complex planning involving specialists from nearly every part of the hospital. ... > full story

Increased use of bikes for commuting offers economic, health benefits (November 6, 2011) -- Cutting out short auto trips and replacing them with mass transit and active transport would yield major health benefits, according to a new study. The biggest health benefit was due to replacing half of the short trips with bicycle trips during the warmest six months of the year, saving about .8 billion per year from avoided mortality and reduced health care costs for conditions like obesity and heart disease. ... > full story

Why measles spreads so quickly (November 5, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered why measles, perhaps the most contagious viral disease in the world, spreads so quickly. ... > full story

When our neurons remain silent so that our performances may improve (November 5, 2011) -- Why do we "turn off" our neurons at times when we need them most? Scientists have just demonstrated that a network of specific neurons, referred to as "the default-mode network" works on a permanent basis even when we are doing nothing. ... > full story

Unraveling Batten disease (November 5, 2011) -- Scientists reveal the actions of a gene implicated in Batten disease, a rare, degenerative childhood disorder. ... > full story

Psychological traumas experienced over lifetime linked to adult irritable bowel syndrome (November 5, 2011) -- The psychological and emotional traumas experienced over a lifetime -- such as the death of a loved one, divorce, natural disaster, house fire or car accident, physical or mental abuse -- may contribute to adult irritable bowel syndrome, according to the results of a new study. ... > full story

New ways to image and therapeutically target melanoma using nanomedicine? (November 4, 2011) -- Because the incidence of malignant melanoma is rising faster than any other cancer in the US, medical researchers are working overtime to develop new technologies to aid in both malignant melanoma diagnosis and therapy. A tool of great promise comes from the world of nanomedicine. ... > full story

Skin 'sees' UV light, starts producing pigment (November 4, 2011) -- Biologists report that melanocyte skin cells detect ultraviolet light using a photosensitive receptor previously thought to exist only in the eye. This eye-like ability of skin to sense light triggers the production of melanin within hours, more quickly than previously thought, in an apparent rush to protect against damage to DNA. ... > full story