ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Monday, November 14, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Monday, November 14, 2011

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Depression in young people increases risk of heart disease mortality (November 13, 2011) -- The negative effects of depression in young people on the health of their hearts may be stronger than previously recognized. Depression or a history of suicide attempts in people younger than 40, especially young women, markedly increases their risk for dying from heart disease. ... > full story

Gene switch for odorant receptors (November 13, 2011) -- The olfactory sensory neurons in the nasal mucosa perceive the myriad smells in the air with the aid of odorant receptors. Each sensory neuron chooses one and only one receptor gene for expression. The probability that a particular receptor gene is chosen for expression determines how many olfactory sensory neurons in total produce this receptor type. Scientists have unveiled an aspect of how the probability of the choice of an odorant receptor gene is regulated in olfactory sensory neurons. ... > full story

New strategy to accelerate blood vessel maturation has therapeutic potentials for ischemic diseases (November 13, 2011) -- Researchers have described a new mechanism to enhance the restoration of the blood flow in ischemic diseases, which are among the leading causes of death worldwide. The scientists demonstrate that blocking the protein PhD2 in white blood cells accelerates the maturation of blood vessels. ... > full story

New evidence for spinal membrane as a source of stem cells may advance treatment of spinal cord injuries (November 12, 2011) -- Italian and Spanish scientists studying the use of stem cells for treating spinal cord injuries have provided the first evidence to show that meninges, the membrane which envelops the central nervous system, is a potential source of self-renewing stem cells. The research develops the understanding of cell activation in central nervous system injuries; advancing research into new treatments for spinal injuries and degenerative brain disorders. ... > full story

Tales from the crypt: Study on gut cell regeneration reconciles long-standing research controversy (November 12, 2011) -- The cells that help to absorb food and liquid that humans consume are constantly being produced. The various cell types that do this come from stem cells that reside deep in the inner recesses of the accordion-like folds of the intestines, called villi and crypts. But exactly where the most important stem cell type is located -- and how to identify it -- has been something of a mystery, until now. ... > full story

Study suggests new benefits of eating nuts for patients with metabolic syndrome (November 12, 2011) -- A recent scientific study has revealed the relationship between nut consumption and a high level of serotonin metabolites (an important neurotransmitter) in patients with metabolic syndrome, who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease. ... > full story

Understanding emotions without language (November 12, 2011) -- Does understanding emotions depend on the language we speak, or is our perception the same regardless of language and culture? ... > full story

Birth weight predicts physical functioning at age 60 (November 11, 2011) -- Low birth weight and slow growth progressing to greater body mass in pre-adolescence significantly increased the risk of poor physical functioning at the age of 60 years, a new Finnish study found. ... > full story

Researchers closer to the super bug puzzle (November 11, 2011) -- The treatment of serious infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (Golden Staph) is complicated by the development of antibiotic resistance. Seriously ill patients, vulnerable to infections can be at additional risk if antimicrobial agents become less effective in fighting infections. ... > full story

Acupuncture can prevent radiation-induced chronic dry mouth, study finds (November 11, 2011) -- When given alongside radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, acupuncture has shown for the first time to reduce the debilitating side effect of xerostomia, according to new research. ... > full story

Kawasaki disease linked to wind currents: First evidence that long-range wind transport of an infectious agent might result in human disease (November 11, 2011) -- Kawasaki Disease (KD) is a severe childhood disease that many parents, even some doctors, mistake for an inconsequential viral infection. In fact, if not diagnosed or treated in time, it can lead to irreversible heart damage. After 50 years of research, including genetic studies, scientists have been unable to pinpoint the cause of the disease. Now, surprising findings suggest that KD cases are linked to large-scale wind currents that track from Asia to Japan and also traverse the North Pacific. ... > full story

Parkinsonian worms may hold the key to identifying drugs for Parkinson's disease (November 11, 2011) -- Researchers have devised a simple test, using dopamine-deficient worms, for identifying drugs that may help people with Parkinson's disease. ... > full story

Dead of winter is tough on arthritis sufferers (November 11, 2011) -- As cold winter weather sets in and daylight hours dwindle, many older Chicagoans with arthritis tend to sit idle, missing out on the daily dose of physical activity they need to improve their health, according to a new study. ... > full story

Risk-taking behavior rises until age 50 (November 11, 2011) -- Willing to risk your knowledge, skills and monetary reward in competition? If you are under age 50, you've probably not reached your competitive peak. If you are older, that peak is behind you. That people are willing to engage in risk at 50 surprised economists and psychologists who explored such behavior in their research. ... > full story

Obese monkeys lose weight on drug that attacks blood supply of fat cells (November 11, 2011) -- Obese rhesus monkeys given an experimental anti-obesity drug lost on average 11 percent of their body weight over four weeks. The targeted combination drug selectively attacks blood vessels that support white fat. ... > full story

Woodsmoke from cooking fires linked to pneumonia, cognitive impacts (November 11, 2011) -- Researchers have found a dramatic one-third reduction in severe pneumonia diagnoses among children in homes with smoke-reducing chimneys on their cookstoves. Reducing wood smoke could have a major impact on the burden of pneumonia, the leading cause of child mortality in the world, the researchers said. A separate pilot study also found a link between prenatal maternal exposure to woodsmoke and poorer performance in markers for IQ at ages six and seven. ... > full story

Attention and awareness uncoupled: Brain imaging experiments uncouple two apparently intimately connected mental processes (November 11, 2011) -- In everyday life, attention and awareness appear tightly interwoven. Attending to the scissors on the right side of your desk, you become aware of their attributes, for example the red handles. Vice versa, the red handles could attract your attention to the scissors. However, a number of behavioural observations have recently led scientists to postulate that attention and awareness are fundamentally different processes and not necessarily connected. A new study provides the first experimental evidence that the primary visual cortex, the entrance stage to cortical visual processing, is modulated only by attention and not by awareness. ... > full story

Stress triggers disease flares in patients with vasculitis (November 11, 2011) -- In patients with a devastating form of vasculitis who are in remission, stress can be associated with a greater likelihood of the disease flaring, according to a new study. ... > full story

Looks do matter in job interviews, according to new study (November 11, 2011) -- People with birthmarks, scars and other facial disfigurements are more likely to receive poor ratings in job interviews, according to a new study. ... > full story

Effects of 'mini stroke' can shorten life expectancy (November 11, 2011) -- Having a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or "mini stroke," could lower your life expectancy, according to new research. Survival rates after TIA were 20 percent lower than expected nine years later, compared to the general population. The long-term effects of TIA were most serious for patients older than 65 and for patients with previous history of stroke and heart problems. ... > full story

New target identified to stop the spread of breast cancer (November 11, 2011) -- A new potential target to slow breast cancer tumor progression and metastasis has been identified. ... > full story

Tweaking withdrawal of rheumatoid arthritis medications before surgeries may reduce disease flares (November 11, 2011) -- As guidelines recommend, doctors appear to be stopping anti-TNF medications before surgery, but may be doing so far sooner than is necessary, according to a new study. These medications are used to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, and better timing of withdrawal prior to surgery might minimize the risk of disease flares. ... > full story

Volunteering, helping others decreases substance use in rural teens, study finds (November 11, 2011) -- Young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 report the highest rates of substance use and dependence, according to the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use & Health. A new study found that rural adolescents who engage in prosocial behaviors, such as volunteering and helping others, are less likely to use substances as young adults. ... > full story

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

Elderly emergency patients less likely to receive pain medication than middle-aged patients (November 11, 2011) -- A new study finds that people 75 years old or older are less likely to receive any pain medication in hospital emergency departments than people between 35 and 54 years old. ... > 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