ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Wednesday, November 16, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Wednesday, November 16, 2011

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Delayed cord clamping protects newborn babies from iron deficiency, research finds (November 16, 2011) -- Waiting for at least three minutes before clamping the umbilical cord in healthy newborns improves their iron levels at four months, according to new research. ... > full story

Research provides clues to neurodevelopemental disorders (November 16, 2011) -- Scientists are finding new tools to help understand neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and fragile X syndrome. Studies show in new detail how the brain's connections, chemicals, and genes interact to affect behavior. ... > full story

Watching less TV, being more active and sleeping more is linked to a healthy body weight in young children (November 16, 2011) -- Getting enough sleep can help children maintain a healthy weight, new research reveals. Similarly, the more time children spend in front of the TV or their computers (screen time), the higher their body weight. ... > full story

Ionized plasmas as cheap sterilizers for developing world (November 15, 2011) -- Devices that create ionized plasmas could be life-savers in the developing world or on the battlefield, providing an inexpensive way to sterilize water and medical instruments. Researchers have created low-temperature plasma devices that sterilize water and keep it antimicrobial for at least a week. A new report finds that the hydrogen peroxide and nitrites produced by the plasma discharge are not the source of long-term antimicrobial activity. ... > full story

Uncovering a key player in metastasis (November 15, 2011) -- About 90 percent of cancer deaths are caused by secondary tumors, known as metastases, which spread from the original tumor site. Cancer biologists are determining how platelets in the bloodstream help cancer cells form new tumors. ... > full story

Study helps eliminate causes for joint pain linked to commonly used breast cancer drugs (November 15, 2011) -- Researchers exploring why some women who take a common breast cancer drug develop serious joint pain have eliminated two possible causes: Inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune disease. Because of these findings, researchers say women should be encouraged to continue taking the medication to gain its full benefit. ... > full story

The brain acts fast to reappraise angry faces (November 15, 2011) -- If you tell yourself that someone who's being mean is just having a bad day -- it's not about you -- you may actually be able to stave off bad feelings, according to a new study. ... > full story

Milk thistle extract stops lung cancer in mice, study shows (November 15, 2011) -- A new study shows that the milk thistle extract, silibinin, interferes with cell signaling that otherwise leads to the production of tumor-causing enzymes COX2 and iNOS. ... > full story

To ditch dessert, feed the brain (November 15, 2011) -- Brain imaging scans show that when glucose levels drop, an area of the brain known to regulate emotions and impulses loses the ability to dampen desire for high-calorie food. ... > full story

Teeth crowded in seniors, as jaws shrink (November 15, 2011) -- The size of our jaws decreases with age. This is shown in a unique study from Sweden that followed a cohort of dentists throughout their adult lives. ... > full story

Hepatitis transmission risk needs to be studied in nail salons, barbershops, analysis suggests (November 15, 2011) -- The risk of hepatitis transmission through non-single use instruments -- such as nail files, nail brushes, finger bowls, foot basins, buffers, razors, clippers, and scissors -- during nail salon and barbershop visits cannot be excluded, according to the results of a new report. ... > full story

Mimicking the brain -- in silicon: New computer chip models how neurons communicate with each other at synapses (November 15, 2011) -- For decades, scientists have dreamed of building computer systems that could replicate the human brain's talent for learning new tasks. Researchers have now taken a major step toward that goal by designing a computer chip that mimics how the brain's neurons adapt in response to new information. This phenomenon, known as plasticity, is believed to underlie many brain functions, including learning and memory. ... > full story

New heart cells increase by 30 percent after stem cell infusion (November 15, 2011) -- Researchers have demonstrated have new heart cells can be regenerated in a stem cell therapy potentially applicable to patients suffering from heart dysfunction arising from insufficient blood flow to the heart. ... > full story

Multidrug-resistant acinetobacter baumannii found growing in nearly half of infected patient rooms (November 15, 2011) -- Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB) was found in the environment of 48 percent of the rooms of patients colonized or infected with the pathogen, according to a new study. ... > full story

New biosensor benefits from melding of carbon nanotubes, DNA (November 15, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a method for stacking synthetic DNA and carbon nanotubes onto a biosensor electrode, a development that may lead to more accurate measurements for research related to diabetes and other diseases. ... > full story

Is a stranger trustworthy? You'll know in 20 seconds (November 15, 2011) -- There's definitely something to be said for first impressions. New research suggests it can take just 20 seconds to detect whether a stranger is genetically inclined to being trustworthy, kind or compassionate. The findings reinforce that healthy humans are wired to recognize strangers who may help them out in a tough situation. They also pave the way for genetic therapies for people who are not innately sympathetic, researchers said. ... > full story

Intensive diabetes therapy protects Type 1 diabetics' kidneys, study shows (November 15, 2011) -- Scientists looked to see if intensive diabetes therapy aimed at reducing blood sugar as close to the normal range as possible might protect Type 1 diabetics' kidney function. ... > full story

Anti-clotting drugs do not increase bleeding risk in GI procedure, study finds (November 15, 2011) -- Patients with recent use of aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or anti-clotting drugs such as clopidogreal do not appear to have an increased risk of bleeding during or after removal of precancerous lesions in the digestive tract, according to new results. ... > full story

Depression: Combination of environmental, psychological and genetic factors (November 15, 2011) -- Problems like anxiety and depression are caused by psychological and environmental factors, and are known to be influenced by genetic proclivities. However, it is still not clear how each factor affects the brain's functions to induce anxious and depressive symptoms. To shed light on these interactions, scientists have investigated the amygdala, a part of the brain that is hyperactive in individuals suffering from anxiety and depression. The researchers have shown that its activity can be modulated depending on the subject's genetic makeup, personal history and cognition. These results suggest that the effects of psychotherapies on the cerebral activity of patients could vary according to their genetic traits. ... > full story

Contraceptive pill associated with increased prostate cancer risk worldwide, study finds (November 15, 2011) -- Use of the contraceptive pill is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer around the globe, new research finds. ... > full story

Story of lymphatic system expands to include chapter on valve formation (November 15, 2011) -- Scientists have shown that a gene essential for normal development of the lymphatic system also plays a critical role in forming the valves that help maintain the body’s normal fluid balance. ... > full story

High childhood IQ linked to subsequent illicit drug use, research suggests (November 15, 2011) -- A high childhood IQ may be linked to subsequent illegal drug use, particularly among women, new research suggests. ... > full story

Novel nanocrystals with advanced optical properties developed for use as luminescent biomarkers (November 15, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a synthesis that yields lanthanide-doped nanocrystals with advanced light-control properties, leading to potential applications in cancer diagnostics, medical imaging and therapeutic delivery. ... > full story

Eating fish can reduce the risk of diabetes, study suggests (November 15, 2011) -- A study analyses the dietary patterns of the adult Spanish population with high cardiovascular risk. The results reveal a high consumption of both red meat and fish. However, whilst eating lots of cured meats is associated with greater weight gain and a higher obesity rate, the consumption of fish is linked to lower glucose concentrations and a smaller risk of developing diabetes. ... > full story

Obesity and depression independently increase health costs (November 15, 2011) -- Obesity and depression both dramatically increase health care costs, but they mainly act separately, according to a new study. ... > full story

Self-organized pituitary-like tissue from mouse ES cells (November 15, 2011) -- The possibility that functional, three-dimensional tissues and organs may be derived from pluripotent cells, such as embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), represents one of the grand challenges of stem cell research, but is also one of the fundamental goals of the emerging field of regenerative medicine. New research has shown that when ES cells are cultured under the appropriate conditions, they can be driven to self-organize into complex, three-dimensional tissue-like structures that closely resemble their physiological counterparts, a remarkable advance for the field. ... > full story

Diseased hearts to heal themselves in future (November 15, 2011) -- Oncostatin M regulates the reversion of heart muscle cells into precursor cells and is vitally important for the self-healing powers of the heart. Scientists have identified a protein which fulfils a central task in this reversion process by stimulating the regression of individual heart muscle cells into their precursor cells. They now plan to improve the self-healing powers of the heart with the help of this protein. ... > full story

Drugs used to tackle hospital-acquired infections can increase post-op complications (November 15, 2011) -- The introduction of new antibiotic regimes to tackle hospital-acquired infections, such as C. difficile, must take into account the possibility of increased infections following specific surgical procedures. Researchers have studied 709 consecutive patients over 20 months. Patients undergoing a standard surgical procedure to diagnose prostate cancer developed more than five times as many infective complications when a new standard antibiotic regime was introduced in line with national guidance. These included a number of cases of sepsis and one case of septic shock. ... > full story

Galaxy DNA-analysis software is now available 'in the cloud' (November 15, 2011) -- Galaxy -- an open-source, web-based platform for data-intensive biomedical and genetic research -- is now available as a "cloud computing" resource. The new technology will help scientists and biomedical researchers to harness such tools as DNA-sequencing and analysis software, as well as storage capacity for large quantities of scientific data. ... > full story

Focus on testing hurts students in high school health classes (November 15, 2011) -- High school health classes fail to help students refuse sexual advances or endorse safe sex habits when teachers focus primarily on testing knowledge, a new study reveals. But when teachers emphasized learning the material for its own sake, and to improve health, students had much better responses. In these kinds of classrooms, students had lower intentions of having sex and felt better able to navigate sexual situations. ... > full story

Hysterectomy increases risk for earlier menopause among younger women, study finds (November 14, 2011) -- In a finding that confirms what many obstetricians and gynecologists suspected, researchers report that younger women who undergo hysterectomies face a nearly two-fold increased risk for developing menopause early. ... > full story

AMD-like lesions delayed in mice fed lower glycemic index diet (November 14, 2011) -- Feeding older mice a lower glycemic index diet delays the onset of age-related, sight-threatening retinal lesions. Mice put on a higher GI diet demonstrated elevated accumulations of debris known as advanced glycation end products in the whole retina, particularly in the cells of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The RPE plays a crucial role in maintaining vision and its dysfunction results in the gradual vision loss that is the hallmark of age-related macular degeneration. ... > full story

Discussions of guns in the home part of comprehensive preventive health care (November 14, 2011) -- A new article reviews research about and analyzes available data around firearm injuries and prevention, and argues the importance of including firearm safety as part of physician-patient preventive care conversations. ... > full story

Potential new drug target in Lou Gehrig's disease (November 14, 2011) -- Two proteins conspire to promote Lou Gehrig's disease, according to a new study. ... > full story

Every mouse is different: How mouse 'personality' sheds light on human depression (November 14, 2011) -- Just as in humans, there are also the tough types or those with a more delicate personality among mice, researchers confirm. Some adopt an active strategy when faced with stressful situations and somehow try to tackle the problem, whereas others display a passive attitude. Those in the second group are more vulnerable: some of the physiological characteristics resemble those attributed to human depression. ... > full story

Signaling pathway linked to inflammatory breast cancer may drive disease metastasis (November 14, 2011) -- Amplification of anaplastic lymphoma kinase, which has been reported in other cancers such as non-small cell lung cancers, may be a primary driver of the rapid metastasis that patients with inflammatory breast cancer experience. ... > full story

Enzyme boosts metabolism, prevents weight gain in mice (November 14, 2011) -- Male and female mice engineered to express the inflammatory enzyme IKKbeta in their fat tissue ate more but gained less weight. They burned sugar and fat more effectively than mice who were left unaltered. The research may shed light on how obesity and inflammation affect insulin resistance and sensitivity. ... > full story

Routine head hits in school sports may cause brain injury (November 14, 2011) -- The brain scans of high school football and hockey players showed subtle injury -- even if they did not suffer a concussion -- after taking routine hits to the head during the normal course of play, according to a new study. ... > full story

Prenatal exposure to environmental pollutants may affect weight and size of newborn (November 14, 2011) -- A higher exposure to xenoestrogens -- a type of environmental pollutants acting as hormones -- might affect neonatal weight and size in term infants. Researchers have found a correlation between estrogenic burden in women’s placenta and a higher neonatal weight at birth. ... > full story

Social isolation: Are lonely consumers actually loners or conformers? (November 14, 2011) -- Despite the proliferation of social networks, many Americans feel alone and isolated. According to a new study, lonely individuals behave differently in the marketplace than people with strong social networks. ... > full story

Benefit of novel drug in breast cancer seen in blood within weeks (November 14, 2011) -- Clinical benefit from use of a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor drug may be determined by examining blood cells days after a patient receives treatment. The drug, entinostat, is the first histone deacetylase inhibitor successfully tested in a randomized, placebo-controlled study in metastatic breast cancer — and is the first to show that clinical outcome can be predicted shortly after administration. ... > full story

New way to target – and kill – proliferating tumors (November 14, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a new drug discovery approach enabling the destruction of the most highly proliferative tumors. The discovery points to an effective, alternative method for killing fast-growing cancer cells without causing some of the negative effects of current therapies. ... > full story

Risk of contracting diabetes to increase in world of 7 billion people (November 14, 2011) -- World citizen number seven billion is less likely to die from infectious diseases like measles or even AIDS, and more likely to contract diabetes or other non-communicable diseases, as they are now the leading causes of deaths globally. ... > full story

Nature and nurture work together to shape the brain (November 14, 2011) -- Scientists presented new research today demonstrating the impact life experiences can have on genes and behavior. The studies examine how such environmental information can be transmitted from one generation to the next -- a phenomenon known as epigenetics. This new knowledge could ultimately improve understanding of brain plasticity, the cognitive benefits of motherhood, and how a parent's exposure to drugs, alcohol, and stress can alter brain development and behavior in their offspring. ... > full story

Stem cell study helps clarify the best time for therapy to aid heart attack survivors (November 14, 2011) -- Physicians have found that stem cells obtained from bone marrow delivered two to three weeks after a person has a heart attack did not improve heart function. This is the first study to systematically examine the timing and method of stem cell delivery and provides vital information for the field of cell therapy. ... > full story

More power to the cranberry: Study shows juice better than extracts at fighting infections (November 14, 2011) -- With scientific evidence now supporting the age-old wisdom that cranberries prevent urinary tract infections, people have wondered if proanthocyanidins or PACs, a group of flavonoids found in cranberries, if extracted and condensed, perhaps in pill form, would be as effective as drinking the juice or eating cranberry sauce. A new study shows that the juice is far better at preventing biofilm formation, the precursor of infection, than PACs alone. ... > full story

More flexible window into the brain (November 14, 2011) -- Scientists have developed and tested a new high-resolution, ultra-thin device capable of recording brain activity from the cortical surface without having to use penetrating electrodes. The device could make possible a whole new generation of brain-computer interfaces for treating neurological and psychiatric illness and research. ... > full story

Tamoxifen resistance -- and how to defeat it (November 14, 2011) -- In the last three decades, thousands of women with breast cancer have taken the drug tamoxifen, only to discover that the therapy doesn't work, either because their tumors do not respond to the treatment at all, or because they develop resistance to it over time. Now researchers have discovered the molecular basis for tamoxifen resistance and found a potential way to defeat it. ... > full story