ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Sunday, December 18, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Sunday, December 18, 2011

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Scientists may be able to double efficacy of radiation therapy (December 17, 2011) -- Scientists may have a way to double the efficacy and reduce the side effects of radiation therapy. ... > full story

Let's do the twist: Spiral proteins are efficient gene delivery agents (December 17, 2011) -- Clinical gene therapy may be one step closer, thanks to a new twist on an old class of molecules. Researchers have demonstrated that short spiral-shaped proteins can efficiently deliver DNA segments to cells, with well-controlled toxicity. Their helical polypeptides far exceeded random-coil polypeptide and even outstripped commercial agents in efficiency, even on some of the hardest cells to transfect: stem cells and fibroblast cells. ... > full story

Childhood cancer drugs cure now, may cause problems later, research shows (December 17, 2011) -- Will a drug used to treat childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and other pediatric cancers cause heart problems later in life? A professor of pharmaceutical sciences, who sees his work as a bridge between research and clinical practice, has focused recent efforts on trying to answer this question. ... > full story

Researchers urge caution when buying noisy toys (December 17, 2011) -- While Road Rippers Lightning Rods, Let's Rock Elmo and the I Am T-Pain musical microphone might be sought-after gifts this holiday season, parents should ensure that their children don't risk permanent hearing damage by misusing them. ... > full story

Cholesterol-lowering drugs may reduce mortality for influenza patients (December 16, 2011) -- Statins, traditionally known as cholesterol-lowering drugs, may reduce mortality among patients hospitalized with influenza, according to a new study. ... > full story

Gene discovered for Weaver syndrome (December 16, 2011) -- Scientists have found a gene that causes Weaver syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that typically causes large size at birth, tall stature, developmental delay during childhood, and intellectual disability. The discovery means that testing the EZH2 gene for mutations could help families who are seeking a diagnosis for their child. ... > full story

New strain of lab mice mimics human alcohol consumption patterns (December 16, 2011) -- A line of laboratory mice drinks more alcohol than other animal models and consumes it in a fashion similar to humans: choosing alcohol over other options and binge drinking. ... > full story

Peptide 'cocktail' elicits immune response to multiple myeloma (December 16, 2011) -- Scientists have created a "cocktail" of immune-stimulating peptides they believe could provoke the body's defenses to attack multiple myeloma in its early "smoldering" phase and slow or prevent the blood cancer. ... > full story

Therapy improves stem cell engraftment in umbilical cord blood transplant recipients, study suggests (December 16, 2011) -- A therapy involving a natural compound may improve the ability of stem cells from umbilical cord blood to engraft in patients receiving a stem cell transplant for cancer or other diseases, a phase I clinical trial indicates. ... > full story

Potential explanation for mechanisms of associative memory (December 16, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered that a chemical compound in the brain can weaken the synaptic connections between neurons in a region of the brain important for the formation of long-term memories. The findings may also provide a potential explanation for the loss of memory associated with Alzheimer's. ... > full story

Immunity against the cold (December 16, 2011) -- Throughout the interior spaces of humans and other warm-blooded creatures is a special type of tissue known as brown fat, which may hold the secret to diets and weight-loss programs of the future. ... > full story

'Fantastic voyage' through the body, with precision control (December 16, 2011) -- Scientists have devised a method to guide endoscopic "capsules" on a more precise course through the small intestine to detect difficult-to-diagnose tumors or wounds, or allow for biopsies or drug delivery. The ability to manipulate the capsule, he says, will not only lead to better diagnosis capabilities, but a less invasive and quicker procedure as well. ... > full story