ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Friday, December 2, 2011
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When babies awaken: New study shows surprise regarding important hormone level (December 2, 2011) -- Cortisol may be the Swiss Army knife of hormones in the human body -- just when scientists think they understand what it does, another function pops up. While many of these functions are understood for adults, much less is known about how cortisol operates in babies and toddlers, especially when it comes to an important phenomenon called the cortisol awakening response, or CAR. ... > full story
Probiotics effective in combating antibiotic-associated diarrhea, studies find; 'Good bugs' look promising as anti-inflammatory agents (December 2, 2011) -- In four different studies, researchers explored the effectiveness of probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea; as an anti-inflammatory agent for patients with ulcerative colitis, psoriasis and chronic fatigue syndrome; and for people with abdominal discomfort and bloating who have not been diagnosed with a functional bowel disorder, such as irritable bowel syndrome. ... > full story
Some atheist scientists with children embrace religious traditions, according to new research (December 2, 2011) -- Some atheist scientists with children embrace religious traditions for social and personal reasons, according to new research. ... > full story
Not all cellular reprogramming is created equal (December 2, 2011) -- Tweaking the levels of factors used during the reprogramming of adult cells into induced pluriopotent stem (iPS) cells can greatly affect the quality of the resulting iPS cells, according to researchers. This finding explains at least in part the wide variation in quality and fidelity of iPS cells created through different reprogramming methods. ... > full story
Combination therapy shows potent tumor growth inhibition in preclinical studies (December 2, 2011) -- Combining the investigational agents REGN910 and aflibercept yielded statistically significant improvements in antitumor effects in animal models compared with either agent alone, according to recent results. ... > full story
People with dementia less likely to return home after stroke (December 2, 2011) -- New research shows people with dementia who have a stroke are more likely to become disabled and not return home compared to people who didn't have dementia at the time they had a stroke. ... > full story
Adult stem cells use special pathways to repair damaged muscle, researchers find (December 1, 2011) -- Researchers recently found how even distant satellite cells could help with the repair, and are now learning how the stem cells travel within the tissue. This knowledge could ultimately help doctors more effectively treat muscle disorders such as muscular dystrophy, in which the muscle is easily damaged and the patient's satellite cells have lost the ability to repair. ... > full story
Few doctors follow sudden cardiac death screening guidelines for athletes, survey finds (December 1, 2011) -- According to a state survey, fewer than 6 percent of doctors fully follow national guidelines for assessing sudden cardiac death risk during high school sports physicals, researchers report. ... > full story
Nursing error disclosure in nursing homes examined in new study (December 1, 2011) -- In a new study, researchers found the majority of registered nurse respondents reported error disclosure and responding to be a difficult process in their workplaces. The study has implications to improve nursing education, policy, and patient safety culture in the nursing home setting. ... > full story
Lower antioxidant level might explain higher skin-cancer rate in males (December 1, 2011) -- A new study may help explain why men are three times more likely than women to develop a common form of skin cancer. The study found that male mice had lower levels of an important skin antioxidant than female mice and higher levels of certain cancer-linked inflammatory cells. As a result, men may be more susceptible to oxidative stress in the skin, which may raise their risk of skin cancer compared to women. ... > full story
Low vitamin C levels may raise heart failure patients' risk (December 1, 2011) -- Low levels of vitamin C were associated with higher levels of high sensitivity C-Reactive protein and shorter intervals without major cardiac issues or death for heart failure patients, in recent research. ... > full story
Researchers' new recipe cooks up better tissue 'phantoms' (December 1, 2011) -- The precise blending of tiny particles and multicolor dyes transforms gelatin into a realistic surrogate for human tissue. These tissue mimics, known as "phantoms," provide an accurate proving ground for new photoacoustic and ultrasonic imaging technologies. ... > full story
Two out of three medical students do not know when to wash their hands (December 1, 2011) -- Only 21 percent of surveyed medical students could identify five true and two false indications of when and when not to wash their hands in the clinical setting, according to a new study. ... > full story
Cancer cells' DNA repair disrupted to increase radiation sensitivity (December 1, 2011) -- Shortening end caps on chromosomes in human cervical cancer cells disrupts DNA repair signaling, increases the cells' sensitivity to radiation treatment and kills them more quickly, according to a new study. Researchers would to like see their laboratory findings lead to safer, more effective combination therapies for hard-to-treat pediatric brain cancers. To this end, they are starting laboratory tests on brain cancer cells. ... > full story
Children with HIV/AIDS falling through the cracks of treatment scale-up efforts (December 1, 2011) -- Less than one-quarter (23 percent) of children with HIV/AIDS who need treatment are getting it, according to a new report. Although treatment coverage for adults has been steadily climbing and has now reached approximately half of those in need, coverage for children is lagging far behind. ... > full story
Your abusive boss may not be good for your marriage, according to new study (December 1, 2011) -- Having an abusive boss not only causes problems at work but can lead to strained relationships at home, according to a new study. The study found that stress and tension caused by an abusive boss have an impact on the employee's partner, which affects the marital relationship and subsequently the employee's entire family. ... > full story
Early sign of Alzheimer's reversed in lab (December 1, 2011) -- One of the earliest known impairments caused by Alzheimer's disease -- loss of sense of smell -- can be restored by removing a plaque-forming protein in a mouse model of the disease, a new study shows. The study confirms that the protein, called amyloid beta, causes the loss. ... > full story
Growth hormone increases bone formation in obese women (December 1, 2011) -- In a new study, growth hormone replacement for six months was found to increase bone formation in abdominally obese women. ... > full story
Why evolutionarily ancient brain areas are important (December 1, 2011) -- Structures in the midbrain that developed early in evolution can be responsible for functions in newborns which in adults are taken over by the cerebral cortex. New evidence for this theory has been found in the visual system of monkeys. The scientists studied a reflex that stabilizes the image of a moving scene on the retina to prevent blur, the so-termed optokinetic nystagmus. ... > full story
Gelatin-based nanoparticle treatment may be a more effective clot buster (December 1, 2011) -- A targeted, nanoparticle gelatin-based clot-busting treatment dissolved significantly more blood clots than a currently used drug in an animal study of acute coronary syndrome. ... > full story
New research distinguishes roles of conscious and sub-conscious awareness in information processing (December 1, 2011) -- What distinguishes information processing with conscious awareness from processing occurring without awareness? And, is there any role for conscious awareness in information processing, or is it just a byproduct, like the steam from the chimney of a train engine, which is significant, but has no functional role? These questions - which have long puzzled psychologists, philosophers, and neurobiologists - were recently addressed in a new study. ... > full story
Clinical trial for muscular dystrophy demonstrates safety of customized gene therapy (December 1, 2011) -- Researchers have shown that it is safe to cut and paste together different viruses in an effort to create the ultimate vehicle for gene therapy. In a phase I clinical trial, the investigators found no side effects from using a "chimeric" virus to deliver replacement genes for an essential muscle protein in patients with muscular dystrophy. ... > full story
Researchers develop blood test to detect membranous nephropathy (December 1, 2011) -- Research conducted by a pair of physicians has led to the development of a test that can help diagnose membranous nephropathy in its early stages. The test, which is currently only offered in the research setting and is awaiting commercial development, could have significant implications in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Currently, the only way to diagnose the disease is through a biopsy. ... > full story
Study explores distrust of atheists by believers (December 1, 2011) -- Distrust is the central motivating factor behind why religious people dislike atheists, according to a new study led by psychologists. While reasons behind antagonism towards atheists have not been fully explored, the study is among the first explorations of the social psychological processes underlying anti-atheist sentiments. ... > full story
MAKS: Drug-free prevention of dementia decline (December 1, 2011) -- There are many different causes of dementia and, although its progression can be fast or slow, it is always degenerative. Symptoms of dementia include confusion, loss of memory, and problems with speech and understanding. It can be upsetting for the affected person, their relatives and carers. New research shows that a regime of behavioral and mental exercises was able to halt the progression of dementia. ... > full story
US preterm birth rate under 12 percent, the lowest level in nearly a decade (December 1, 2011) -- The preterm birth rate slipped under 12 percent for the first time in nearly a decade, the fourth consecutive year it declined, potentially sparing tens of thousands of babies the serious health consequences of an early birth. The rate declined to 11.99 percent last year. Despite the improvement, too many babies, one out of every eight, was born too soon. ... > full story
Researchers recommend exercise for breast cancer survivors, lymphedema patients (December 1, 2011) -- Lymphedema, a chronic swelling condition common in breast cancer survivors, affects three million people in the US. In the past, most people believed that exercise might induce or worsen lymphedema. After reviewing the literature, researchers say the benefits of exercise outweigh the risks for breast cancer survivors and patients with lymphedema. ... > full story
From gene to function: Genome wide study into new gene functions in the formation of platelets (November 30, 2011) -- A new study successfully identifies new genetic variants involved in the formation of platelets and more importantly, defines how genes near these variants affect platelet size and number using a series of biological analyses. This is the largest genome-wide meta-analysis on platelet size and number and involves more than 68,000 individuals from different ancestries. ... > full story
New study supports mammography screening at 40 (November 30, 2011) -- Women in their 40s with no family history of breast cancer are just as likely to develop invasive breast cancer as are women with a family history of the disease, according to a new study. These findings indicate that women in this age group would benefit from annual screening mammography. ... > full story
Short waits, long consults keep most patients very happy with their physicians (November 30, 2011) -- Patients overall in the United States are very satisfied with their physicians and with treatment they receive in outpatient settings, according to new information which challenges common public perceptions about outpatient medical treatment. ... > full story
Biologists deliver neutralizing antibodies that protect against HIV infection in mice (November 30, 2011) -- Researchers have been studying a group of potent antibodies that have the ability to neutralize HIV in the lab; Their hope is to create a vaccine that makes antibodies with similar properties. Now, biologists have taken one step closer to that goal: They have developed a way to deliver these antibodies to mice and, in so doing, have effectively protected them from HIV infection. ... > full story
Is it Alzheimer's disease or another dementia? Marker may give more accurate diagnosis (November 30, 2011) -- New research finds a marker used to detect plaque in the brain may help doctors make a more accurate diagnosis between two common types of dementia -- Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. The study is published in the Nov. 30, 2011, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. ... > full story
Researchers examine role of inflammatory mechanisms in a healing heart (November 30, 2011) -- Researchers have found that an inflammatory mechanism known as inflammasome may lead to more damage in the heart following injury such as a heart attack, pointing researchers toward developing more targeted strategies to block the inflammatory mechanisms involved. ... > full story
Sugar-sweetened beverages may increase cardiovascular risk in women, research suggests (November 30, 2011) -- Drinking two or more sugar-sweetened beverages a day may expand a woman's waistline and increase her risk of heart disease and diabetes, according to new research. ... > full story
Unlocking the genetic and molecular mystery of soft-tissue sarcoma (November 30, 2011) -- Scientists have uncovered important molecular and genetic keys to the development of soft-tissue sarcomas in skeletal muscle, giving researchers and clinicians additional targets to stop the growth of these often deadly tumors. ... > full story
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