ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Wednesday, December 21, 2011
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New candidate vaccine neutralizes all tested strains of malaria parasite (December 20, 2011) -- A new candidate malaria vaccine has the potential to neutralize all strains of the most deadly species of malaria parasite. ... > full story
Blood pressure medicines reduce stroke risk in people with prehypertension, study suggests (December 20, 2011) -- Blood pressure medicines reduced the risk of stroke by 22 percent in people with prehypertension. More than 50 million Americans have an increased risk of stroke due to prehypertension. ... > full story
Are the anxious oblivious? (December 20, 2011) -- Anxious study participants aren't as physiologically sensitive to subtle changes in their environment as less fearful individuals, new research shows. Researchers reason that anxious people could have a deficit in their threat evaluation capacities, which are necessary for effective decision-making and fear regulation. ... > full story
Scientists identify an innate function of vitamin E (December 20, 2011) -- It's rubbed on the skin to reduce signs of aging and consumed by athletes to improve endurance but scientists now have the first evidence of one of vitamin E's normal body functions. The powerful antioxidant found in most foods helps repair tears in the plasma membranes that protect cells from outside forces and screen what enters and exits, new research shows. ... > full story
Mediterranean diet gives longer life, Swedish study suggests (December 20, 2011) -- A Mediterranean diet with large amounts of vegetables and fish gives a longer life, according to Swedish research. A number of studies since the 1950s have shown that a Mediterranean diet, based on a high consumption of fish and vegetables and a low consumption of animal-based products such as meat and milk, leads to better health. ... > full story
The role of Internet pharmacies in prescription drug abuse (December 20, 2011) -- Efforts to halt the growing abuse of prescription drugs must include addressing the availability of these drugs on the Internet and increasing physician awareness of the dangers posed by Internet pharmacies, according to experts. ... > full story
Middle-age blood pressure changes affect lifetime heart disease, stroke risk (December 20, 2011) -- Changes in blood pressure during middle age can affect lifetime risk for heart disease and stroke. People who maintain or reduce their blood pressure to normal levels during middle age have the lowest lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease, while those with an increase in blood pressure have the highest risk. Age and duration of blood pressure changes can help determine individualized lifetime risk for -- and prevention of -- cardiovascular disease. ... > full story
Novel use of drug saves children from deadly E. coli bacteria disease (December 20, 2011) -- A physician saved the life of a child and, by doing so, became the first to find a new use for a drug in the fight against deadly E. coli bacteria. In fact, after a little girl was admitted to hospital to treat severe complications, her physician, running out of options, thought about using the drug eculizumab, which is usually prescribed for another disorder with similar symptoms. Her intuition paid off and the little girl survived. The dramatic improvement experienced by the young patient and two others is explained in a new article. ... > full story
New test to indicate likely spread or recurrence of breast cancer (December 20, 2011) -- A student has developed a potential breakthrough test for predicting the likelihood of the spread or return of breast cancer. ... > full story
Gender bias of prospective parents revealed (December 20, 2011) -- A new study has found that when people think about having children, men want boys and women want girls. ... > full story
Snipping key nerves may help life threatening heart rhythms, study suggests (December 20, 2011) -- According to a new study, cutting key nerves to the heart that control the adrenaline-driven "flight or fight" stress response may help alleviate life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. This is one of the first studies to assess the impact of performing this type of surgery on both sides of the heart to control arrhythmias, called a bilateral cardiac sympathetic denervation. ... > full story
Dodging the cognitive hit of early-life seizures (December 20, 2011) -- About half of newborns who have seizures go on to have long-term intellectual and memory deficits and cognitive disorders such as autism, but why this occurs has been unknown.Researchers now detail how early-life seizures disrupt normal brain development, and show in a rat model that it might be possible to reverse this pathology by giving certain drugs soon after the seizure. ... > full story
Teens choose water when calorie count of sugary beverages is easier to understand (December 20, 2011) -- Providing easily understandable caloric information, specifically in the form of a physical activity equivalent, may reduce the likelihood of sugar-sweetened beverage purchases among adolescents by as much as half. ... > full story
Cornea gene discovery reveals why humans see clearly (December 19, 2011) -- A new study has identified a gene that plays a major role in maintaining clarity of the cornea in humans and mice -- and could possibly be used as gene therapy to treat diseases that cause blindness. ... > full story
Molecular markers can predict spread of cancer, guide treatment (December 19, 2011) -- Molecular markers found in cancer cells that have spread from a primary tumor to a limited number of distant sites can help physicians predict which patients with metastatic cancer will benefit from targeted radiation therapy. If cells from metastatic tumors have high levels of one type of microRNA then aggressive local treatment will not help. But if the cells have lower levels of that marker, then focused treatment could be effective, even curative. ... > full story
One trait has huge impact on whether alcohol makes you aggressive (December 19, 2011) -- Drinking enough alcohol to become intoxicated increases aggression significantly in people who have one particular personality trait, according to new research. But people without that trait don't get any more aggressive when drunk than they would when they're sober. That trait is the ability to consider the future consequences of current actions. ... > full story
Tissue structure delays cancer development (December 19, 2011) -- Cancer growth normally follows a lengthy period of development. Over the course of time, genetic mutations often accumulate in cells, leading first to pre-cancerous conditions and ultimately to tumor growth. Using a mathematical model, scientists have now shown that spatial tissue structure, such as that found in the colon, slows down the accumulation of genetic mutations, thereby delaying the onset of cancer. ... > full story
Walking skills program improves physical function following hip replacement surgery (December 19, 2011) -- Researchers in Norway report that patients who receive walking skills training following total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis show improved physical function. The physical therapy program displayed a positive effect on walking distance and stair climbing which continued 12 months following hip replacement surgery. ... > full story
Babies remember even as they seem to forget (December 19, 2011) -- Fifteen years ago, textbooks on human development stated that babies of six months of age or younger had no sense of "object permanence" -- the psychological term that describes an infant's belief that an object still exists even when it is out of sight. That meant that if mom or dad wasn't in the same room with junior, junior didn't have the sense that his parents were still in the world. These days, psychologists know that isn't true: for young babies, out of sight doesn't automatically mean out of mind. But how much do babies remember about the world around them, and what details do their brains need to absorb in order to help them keep track of those things? Babies may not remember what they saw, but they remember that they saw something. ... > full story
First aid after tick bites (December 19, 2011) -- They come out in the spring, and each year they spread further – the ticks. Thirty percent of them transmit borrelia pathogens, the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis that can damage joints and organs. The disease often goes undetected. In the future, a new type of gel is intended to prevent an infection – if applied after a tick bite. ... > full story
Researchers demonstrate new DNA detection technique (December 19, 2011) -- Researchers have demonstrated a novel DNA detection method that could prove suitable for many real-world applications. ... > full story
More female managers do not reduce wage gap, Swedish study finds (December 19, 2011) -- Are wage differences between men and women decreasing as more women attain managerial positions? A new Swedish report concludes that they are not. Manager gender is tied to neither wages nor, accordingly, wage differences on the labor market. ... > full story
Immunological defense mechanism leaves malaria patients vulnerable to deadly infection (December 19, 2011) -- The link between malaria and Salmonella infections has been explained for the first time, opening the way to more effective treatments. ... > full story
Changes to the brain in patients with spinal cord compression identified (December 19, 2011) -- Spinal degeneration is an unavoidable part of aging. For some, it leads to compression of the spinal cord which can cause problems with dexterity, numbness in the hands, and the ability to walk. New research looks beyond the spinal cord injury in these patients, and found they also experience changes in the motor cortex of the brain. ... > full story
Young adults drop exercise with move to college or university (December 19, 2011) -- Regular exercise tends to steeply decline among youth as they move to university or college, and does not appear to revert itself, but continues on a downward trajectory into adulthood. ... > full story
Secrets of the 'sleep hormone': Discovery leads to novel melatonin drug with potential to treat insomnia (December 19, 2011) -- Scientist have made a major breakthrough by unraveling the inner workings of melatonin, also known as the "sleep hormone." The research reveals the key role played by the melatonin receptor in the brain that promotes deep, restorative sleep. This discovery led the researchers to develop a novel drug called UCM765, which selectively activates this receptor. The results may pave the way for the development of new and promising treatments for insomnia. ... > full story
Cause of rare disease discovered (December 19, 2011) -- Scientists have identified the gene that causes a rare childhood neurological disorder called PKD/IC, or "paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia with infantile convulsions," a cause of epilepsy in babies and movement disorders in older children. ... > full story
Can science predict a hit song? (December 19, 2011) -- New research by academics has looked at whether a song can be predicted to be a "hit." ... > full story
Simple clip could increase quality of life for thousands of patients with a common heart problem (December 18, 2011) -- The interventional cardiology team recently conducted the first clinical procedure in Canada using the MitraClip system, which is designed to treat patients suffering from mitral valve failure, a very common heart defect that affects an estimated one out five people to various extents starting at the age of 55. ... > full story
Penicillin doses for children should be reviewed, say experts (December 18, 2011) -- A team of scientists and clinicians are calling for a review of penicillin dosing guidelines for children, as the current guidelines have remained unchanged for nearly 50 years. The research indicates some children may not be receiving effective doses, which could potentially lead to failed treatment and contribute to antibiotic resistance. ... > full story
Traumatic experiences may make you tough (December 18, 2011) -- Your parents were right: Hard experiences may indeed make you tough. Psychological scientists have found that, while going through many experiences like assault, hurricanes, and bereavement can be psychologically damaging, small amounts of trauma may help people develop resilience. ... > full story
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
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
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