ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Friday, November 11, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Friday, November 11, 2011

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Biologists slow the aging process in fruit flies: Study has implications for humans (November 11, 2011) -- Biologists have identified a gene that slows the aging process. The biologists, working with fruit flies, activated a gene called PGC-1, which increases the activity of mitochondria, the tiny power generators in cells that control cell growth and tell cells when to live and die. ... > full story

Elderly lose ability to distinguish between odors, researcher finds; Smells blend together, pose hazards (November 11, 2011) -- Scientists studying the effect of aging on smell, have found that those 60 and over have more difficulty distinguishing between odors, putting them at risk from dangerous chemicals and poor nutrition. ... > full story

Research shows 'weak evidence' for the benefit of exercise referral schemes (November 11, 2011) -- While it is acknowledged that physical activity promotion is a key public health message, a new study questions the effectiveness of current exercise referral schemes and whether improvements to existing schemes or better targeting should be sought. ... > full story

Women see naked men differently, too (November 11, 2011) -- For both men and women, wearing revealing attire causes them to be seen as more sensitive but less competent, says a new study. ... > full story

Why do neurons die in Parkinson's disease? Study of hereditary Parkinson’s finds that mitochondria can’t be cleared out when damaged (November 11, 2011) -- Current thinking about Parkinson's disease is that it's a disorder of mitochondria, the energy-producing organelles inside cells, causing neurons in the brain's substantia nigra to die or become impaired. A study now shows that genetic mutations causing a hereditary form of Parkinson's disease cause mitochondria to run amok inside the cell, leaving the cell without a brake to stop them. ... > full story

Flexible rack systems sort molecules (November 11, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a flexible and efficient new process for the separation of enantiomers. Enantiomer separation is indispensable for the production of many pharmaceuticals. In their process, the scientists use porous molecular frameworks that are assembled in layers on solid substrates using a specifically developed method. ... > full story

Hospital safety climate linked to both patient and nurse injuries (November 11, 2011) -- A safe working environment for nurses is also a safe environment for the patients in their care, according to a new study. Researchers found that safety climate was associated with both patient and nurse injuries, suggesting that patient and nurse safety may be linked outcomes. ... > full story

U.S. National School Lunch Program improves health of children in low-income households, study suggests (November 11, 2011) -- A recent study confirmed that the U.S. National School Lunch Program (NSLP) improves the health outcomes of children who reside in low-income households. The study of nearly 2,700 NSLP children found that the NSLP reduces the prevalence of food insecurity by 3.8 percent, poor general health by 29 percent, and the rate of obesity by at least 17 percent in its participants. ... > full story

Combination 'epigenetic' therapy may restore anti-cancer gene activity in late-stage lung cancer patients (November 10, 2011) -- A new type of therapy aimed at reversing the gene-silencing that promotes cancer-cell growth has shown promising results in a small clinical trial. Forty-five late-stage lung cancer patients who received a two-drug combination designed to restore anti-cancer gene activity survived about two months longer than the expected four months, and two patients showed complete or near-complete responses despite having progressive disease after multiple standard therapies. ... > full story

Knocking out key protein in mice boosts insulin sensitivity (November 10, 2011) -- By knocking out a key regulatory protein, scientists have dramatically boosted insulin sensitivity in lab mice, an achievement that opens a new door for drug development and the treatment of diabetes. ... > full story

Biological clock controls activation of skin stem cells (November 10, 2011) -- A new study reveals the role of the daily biological clock (circadian rhythms) in the regenerative capacity of skin stem cells. Disruption of this rhythm results in premature tissue aging and a greater predisposition to the development of skin tumors. The proper reestablishment of the biological clock increases the long-term regenerative capacity of the tissue and decreases the probability of developing tumors. ... > full story

Psychologists stress the importance of memory in preventing relapse after therapy (November 10, 2011) -- Addictions, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder -- such painful and harmful problems are recalcitrant to treatment. In the clinic, a person may suppress the association between the stimulus and the response -- say, a bar with ashtrays and smoking -- by learning to pair the stimulus with a new memory not involving smoking. But once out in the world, faced with bars and ashtrays aplenty, he relapses into the old behavior. Some treatment aims at helping the patient avoid locations and stimuli that trigger the harmful behavior. A new article suggests this is not the most effective route. ... > full story

Can fetus sense mother's psychological state? Study suggests yes (November 10, 2011) -- As a fetus grows, it's constantly getting messages from its mother. It's not just hearing her heartbeat and whatever music she might play to her belly; it also gets chemical signals through the placenta. A new study finds that this includes signals about the mother's mental state. ... > full story

Benefits of nut consumption for people with abdominal obesity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure (November 10, 2011) -- For the first time, scientists report a link between eating nuts and higher levels of serotonin in the bodies of patients with metabolic syndrome. Serotonin helps transmit nerve signals and decreases feelings of hunger, makes people feel happier and improves heart health. It took only one ounce of mixed nuts (raw unpeeled walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts) a day to produce the good effects. ... > full story

Scientists defuse the 'Vietnam time bomb': How bacterial pathogen causes deadly tropical disease melioidosis (November 10, 2011) -- A key mechanism by which a bacterial pathogen causes the deadly tropical disease melioidosis has been discovered by an international team of scientists. ... > full story

Racial and ethnic variations in substance-related disorders among adolescents (November 10, 2011) -- Substance use is widespread among adolescents in the United States, particularly among those of Native American, white, Hispanic and multiple race/ethnicity, and these groups are also disproportionally affected by substance-related disorders, according to a new report. ... > full story

Depression and chronic stress accelerates aging (November 10, 2011) -- People with recurrent depressions or those exposed to chronic stress exhibits shorter telomeres in white blood cells. ... > full story

First large-scale study of pain reveals risk factors (November 10, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a comprehensive set of clinical characteristics that they say will lead to the ability to identify individuals at risk for developing painful jaw conditions. ... > full story

Psychologists increase understanding of how the brain perceives shades of gray (November 10, 2011) -- Peoples' eyes, nerves and brains translate light into electrochemical signals and then into an experience of the world around them. A close look shows that even seemingly simple tasks, like keeping a stable perception of an object's color in different lighting conditions or distinguishing black and white objects, is, in fact, very challenging. By way of a novel experiment, psychologists have now provided new insight into how the brain tackles this problem. ... > full story

Scientists discover how to design drugs that could target particular nerve cells (November 10, 2011) -- The future of drug design lies in developing therapies that can target specific cellular processes without causing adverse reactions in other areas of the nervous system. Scientists have now discovered how to design drugs to target specific areas of the brain. ... > full story

More fiber, but not necessarily less fat, good for teen diets (November 10, 2011) -- A diet high in fiber – but not necessarily one low in saturated fat or cholesterol – is tied to a lower risk of heart disease and type-2 diabetes in teenagers, according to new findings. ... > full story

Tear drops may rival blood drops in testing blood sugar in diabetes (November 10, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting development and successful laboratory testing of an electrochemical sensor device that has the potential to measure blood sugar levels from tears instead of blood -- an advance that could save the world's 350 million diabetes patients the discomfort of pricking their fingers for droplets of blood used in traditional blood sugar tests. ... > full story

Big, little, tall and tiny: Learning spatial terms improves children's spatial skills (November 10, 2011) -- Preschool children who hear their parents describe the size and shape of objects and then use those words themselves perform better on tests of their spatial skills, researchers have found. The study is the first to show that learning to use a wide range of spatial words predicts children's later spatial thinking, which in turn is important in mathematics, science and technology. ... > full story

Fast new test for terrible form of food poisoning (November 10, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting development of a fast, reliable new test that could help people avoid a terrible type of food poisoning that comes from eating fish tainted with a difficult-to-detect toxin from marine algae growing in warm waters. ... > full story

First proof of principle for treating rare bone disease (November 10, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a new genetic approach to specifically block the damaged copy of the gene for a rare bone disease, while leaving the normal copy untouched. ... > full story

Carbon monoxide: The silent calmer? Inhaling low levels of CO reduces the impact of environmental stress, study suggests (November 10, 2011) -- Carbon monoxide (CO) -- a tasteless, colorless and odorless gas -- is not only a danger to the environment but also highly toxic to human beings. Found in the exhaust of vehicles and generators, CO has been dubbed the "silent killer" because excessive inhalation is lethal, poisoning the nervous system and heart. Now, in a surprising twist, a researcher says that low levels of the poisonous gas carbon monoxide actually have a narcotic effect that helps city-dwellers cope with environmental stress in an urban setting. ... > full story

'Tis better to give than to receive? Life scientists find that giving support offers health benefits -- to the giver (November 10, 2011) -- Providing support to a loved one offers benefits, to the giver, not just the recipient, a new neuroimaging study reveals. ... > full story

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