ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Thursday, November 10, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Thursday, November 10, 2011

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Lose the fat and improve the gums, dental researchers find (November 10, 2011) -- Researchers found the human body is better at fighting gum disease when fat cells, which trigger inflammation, disappear. ... > full story

New test for consciousness in 'comatose' patients (November 10, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a portable test which will permit a simpler and less expensive diagnosis of 'vegetative' patients who still have consciousness, despite the fact that they do not have the means to express it. ... > full story

Metabolic protein plays unexpected role in tumor cell formation and growth (November 10, 2011) -- The embryonic enzyme pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) has a well-established role in metabolism and is highly expressed in human cancers. Now, researchers report that PKM2 has important non-metabolic functions in cancer formation. ... > full story

Clear vision despite a heavy head: Model explains the choice of simple movements (November 10, 2011) -- The brain likes stereotypes -- at least for movements. Simple actions are most often performed in the same manner. A mathematical model explains why this is the case and could be used to generate more natural robot movements and to adapt prosthetic movements. ... > full story

We all experience fantasy differently, which determines how much we enjoy it (November 10, 2011) -- Whether you love the "Harry Potter" series or despise it, there may be a psychological explanation behind your opinion. Researchers recently discovered that people experience fantasy differently, which explains why some people enjoy it more than others. ... > full story

Potential treatment for sickle cell disease (November 10, 2011) -- Few options are available to prevent the painful episodes and organ damage that are common with sickle cell disease. But a new lab study has revealed a key trigger for producing healthy red blood cells that could lead to new treatments for sickle cell patients. ... > full story

Study reveals details of alternative splicing circuitry that promotes cancer's Warburg effect (November 10, 2011) -- Cancer cells maintain their life-style of extremely rapid growth and proliferation thanks to an enzyme called PK-M2 (pyruvate kinase M2) that alters the cells' ability to metabolize glucose -- a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. Scientists, who seek to reverse this effect and force cancer cells to regain the metabolism of normal cells, have discovered details of molecular events that cause cancer cells to produce PK-M2 instead of its harmless counterpart PK-M1. ... > full story

Researchers develop eButton, an easier way to monitor food intake, exercise, and lifestyle (November 10, 2011) -- People attempting to lose weight won't need to track their daily food intake anymore, thanks to a wearable, picture-taking device. eButton -- a device worn on the chest (like a pin) that contains a miniature camera, accelerometer, GPS, and other sensors -- captures data and information of health activities, eliminating the need for daily self-reporting. ... > full story

People with Parkinson's disease more likely to have leg restlessness than restless leg syndrome (November 10, 2011) -- People with Parkinson's disease may be more likely to have a movement disorder called leg motor restlessness, but not true restless legs syndrome as previous studies have suggested, according to a new study. ... > full story

Neurological disorder impacts brain cells differently (November 9, 2011) -- In a new paper, researchers describe in deeper detail the pathology of a devastating neurological disorder, but also reveal new cellular targets for possibly slowing its development. ... > full story

Chromosome centromeres are inherited epigenetically (November 9, 2011) -- The histone protein CenH3 is both necessary and sufficient to trigger the formation of centromeres and pass them on from one generation to the next. ... > full story

New research calls for lower limit to be set for South Asian obesity level (November 9, 2011) -- A major study calling for levels of obesity among South Asians to be recalculated has been just been published by researchers in the UK. South Asians around the world are at increased risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. They also get these chronic diseases at an earlier age. The study concludes that significantly lower BMI and waist circumference cut points for defining obesity are needed for migrant South Asians. ... > full story

Extreme antisocial personality predicts gang membership, finds study based on survey of male prisoners (November 9, 2011) -- Research into the 2011 London riots found they were mostly committed by antisocial persons, less than 20 percent of whom were explicitly gang members. This is because gang membership is primarily for the most antisocial of such persons. New research has identified extreme antisocial personality as a key reason why some criminals join gangs. ... > full story

Computer trained to evaluate breast cancer (November 9, 2011) -- Computer scientists and pathologists are training computers to analyze breast cancer microscopic images. The computer analysis were more accurate than those conducted by humans. ... > full story

Neuroscientists pinpoint specific social difficulties in people with autism (November 9, 2011) -- Researchers say they have isolated a very specific difference in how high-functioning people with autism think about other people, finding that -- in actuality -- they don't tend to think about what others think of them at all. ... > full story

Process important to brain development studied in detail (November 9, 2011) -- Knowledge about the development of the nervous system is of the greatest importance for us to understand the function of the brain and brain disorders. Researchers in Sweden have examined the key step when genes are read and found that genes that are active in the brain are transcribed with a special mechanism. The findings can be of importance in our understanding of the genetic causes of certain brain diseases. ... > full story

Young woman with amnesia unable to hold a single face in short-term memory ... unless it's Paris Hilton! (November 9, 2011) -- A 22-year-old woman known as "HC" with amnesia since birth as a result of developing only half the normal volume of the hippocampus in her brain, has demonstrated to scientists that the ability to hold a single face or word in short-term memory is impaired. But there's a catch -- only if the information is unfamiliar. When presented with a face such as Hollywood celebrity Paris Hilton and asked to recognize the face a few seconds later, the woman could remember A-list party girl Hilton, but she was unable to remember novel, unfamiliar faces as well as healthy age, education and IQ matched control participants. Moreover, HC's short-term memory was even impaired for faces that were famous, but whom HC did not know, such as former U.S. first lady Hillary Clinton. ... > full story

Lipid blocks influenza infection (November 9, 2011) -- A natural lipid in the fluid lining the lungs inhibits influenza infections in both cell cultures and mouse models, according to researchers. These findings, combined with previous studies demonstrating effectiveness against respiratory syncytial virus, suggest that the molecule, known as POPG, may have broad antiviral activity. Supplemental POPG could be an important, inexpensive and novel approach for the prevention and treatment of influenza and other respiratory virus infections. ... > full story

Biochemical factor important in tumor metastasis unraveled (November 9, 2011) -- A protein called "fascin" appears to play a critical transformation role in TGF beta mediated tumor metastasis, say researchers. ... > full story

Former football players prone to late-life health problems, study finds (November 9, 2011) -- Football players experience repeated head trauma throughout their careers, which results in short and long-term effects to their cognitive function, physical and mental health. Researchers are investigating how other lifestyle factors, including diet and exercise, impact the late-life health of former collision-sport athletes. ... > full story

Breakthrough in understanding the genetics of high blood pressure (November 9, 2011) -- A ground-breaking study into the causes of high blood pressure analyzed genetic material in human kidneys in a search for genes that might contribute to high blood pressure. The findings open up new avenues for future investigation into the causes of high blood pressure in humans. ... > full story

Dairy foods may improve bone health during diet and exercise in overweight premenopausal women (November 9, 2011) -- A recent study found that consumption of dairy foods and higher protein resulted in improvements in markers of bone formation and reductions in markers of bone degradation in overweight and obese young women over 16 weeks of diet- and exercise-induced weight loss. ... > full story

Diabetes linked to cognitive impairment in older adults, study suggests (November 9, 2011) -- For the past five years, a team led by researchers has been studying the effects of diabetes on cognitive health in older individuals and has determined that memory loss, depression and other types of cognitive impairment are a serious consequence of this widespread disease. Now, this team has identified a key mechanism behind this course of events. ... > full story

Reprogramming stem cells to a more basic form results in more effective transplant, study shows (November 9, 2011) -- Chinese stem cell scientists have published new research that improves the survival and effectiveness of transplanted stem cells. ... > full story

Video game playing tied to creativity, research shows (November 9, 2011) -- Both boys and girls who play video games tend to be more creative, regardless of whether the games are violent or nonviolent, according to new research. ... > full story

Drinking water from plastic pipes: Is it harmful? (November 9, 2011) -- Pipe-in-pipe systems are now commonly used to distribute water in many homes. The inner pipe for drinking water is made of a plastic called cross-linked polyethylene. Are these pipes harmful to health and do they affect the taste and odor of drinking water? ... > full story

Farmed fish fed vegetable matter may have residual pesticides (November 9, 2011) -- Today, half of all the fish we eat comes from fish farms. The problem is that these fish are increasingly being fed vegetable matter, which could lead to a build-up of residual pesticides in them. A new test shows how high the risk of contamination really is. ... > full story

What the brain sees after the eye stops looking (November 9, 2011) -- When we gaze at a shape and then the shape disappears, a strange thing happens: We see an afterimage in the complementary color. Now a Japanese study has observed for the first time an equally strange illusion: The afterimage appears in a "complementary" shape -- circles as hexagons, and vice-versa. ... > full story

Abnormal number of neurons in brains of children with autism, preliminary study finds (November 9, 2011) -- In a small, preliminary study that included 13 male children, those with autism had an average 67 percent more prefrontal brain neurons and larger than average brain weight, than children without autism. ... > full story

Surgical procedure does not appear to reduce risk of subsequent stroke for patients who have had 'mini-stroke' (November 9, 2011) -- Patients with thickening and blockage of the internal carotid artery (supplies blood to the brain) and hemodynamic cerebral ischemia (insufficient blood flow to the brain, sub-type of stroke) who had a surgical procedure performed to improve blood flow in the artery did not have a reduced rate of stroke after two years compared to similar patients who received medical therapy alone, according to a new study. ... > full story

That's gross! Study uncovers physiological nature of disgust in politics (November 9, 2011) -- Most likely, you would be disgusted if confronted with a picture of a man eating a mouthful of writhing worms. Or a particularly bloody wound. Or a horribly emaciated but still living body. But just how much disgust you feel may lend important insight into your personal political proclivities. In a new study, political scientists closely measured people's physiological reactions as they looked at a series of pleasant and unpleasant images. Participants who identified themselves as conservative -- and, in particular, those who said they were against gay marriage -- had strong physiological reactions when shown the gross pictures. ... > full story

Prior vaccination is the decisive factor to be revaccinated (November 9, 2011) -- The rate of vaccination in the previous year is the factor that best predicts the number of people to be vaccinated in a new campaign, new research shows. The study also concludes that a significant percentage of people who should be vaccinated against this disease do not get vaccinated, and that a reminding letter post is effective for improving vaccination but only in a limited way. ... > full story

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