ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Tuesday, January 31, 2012

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Tuesday, January 31, 2012

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Inherited risk factors for childhood leukemia are more common in Hispanic patients, study finds (January 30, 2012) -- Hispanic children are more likely than those from other racial and ethnic backgrounds to be diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and are more likely to die of their disease. Scientists have now pinpointed genetic factors behind the grim statistics. ... > full story

Ferroelectric switching discovered for first time in soft biological tissue (January 30, 2012) -- The walls of the aorta, the largest blood vessel carrying blood from the heart, exhibits a response to electric fields known to exist in inorganic and synthetic materials. The discovery could have implications for treating human heart disease. ... > full story

Divorce hurts health more at earlier ages (January 30, 2012) -- Divorce at a younger age hurts people's health more than divorce later in life, according to a new study. ... > full story

Cutting off the oxygen supply to serious diseases (January 30, 2012) -- A new family of proteins which regulate the human body’s ‘hypoxic response’ to low levels of oxygen has been discovered. ... > full story

Genetic breakthrough for brain cancer in children (January 30, 2012) -- Scientists have made a major genetic breakthrough that could change the way pediatric cancers are treated in the future. The researchers identified two genetic mutations responsible for up to 40 per cent of glioblastomas in children. The mutations were found to be involved in DNA regulation, which could explain the resistance to traditional treatments, and may have significant implications on the treatment of other cancers. ... > full story

Need muscle for a tough spot? Turn to fat stem cells (January 30, 2012) -- Stem cells derived from fat have a surprising trick up their sleeves: Encouraged to develop on a stiff surface, they undergo a remarkable transformation toward becoming mature muscle cells. The new cells remain intact and fused together even when transferred to an extremely stiff, bone-like surface, which has bioengineers intrigued. These cells, they suggest, could hint at new therapeutic possibilities for muscular dystrophy. ... > full story

Processes leading to acute myeloid leukemia discovered (January 30, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered a molecular pathway that may explain how a particularly deadly form of cancer develops. The discovery may lead to new cancer therapies that reprogram cells instead of killing them. ... > full story

Lifelong payoff for attentive kindergarten kids (January 29, 2012) -- Attentiveness in kindergarten accurately predicts the development of "work-oriented" skills in school children, according to a new study. ... > full story

Stealthy leprosy pathogen evades critical vitamin D-dependent immune response (January 29, 2012) -- Researchers discovered that the leprosy pathogen Mycobacterium leprae was able to evade immune activity that is dependent on vitamin D, a natural hormone that plays an essential role in the body's fight against infections. A better understanding of how these pathogens can escape the immune system may be helpful in designing more effective therapies. ... > full story

That which does not kill yeast makes it stronger: Stress-induced genomic instability facilitates rapid cellular adaption in yeast (January 29, 2012) -- Cells trying to keep pace with constantly changing environmental conditions need to strike a fine balance between maintaining their genomic integrity and allowing enough genetic flexibility to adapt to inhospitable conditions. In their latest study, researchers were able to show that under stressful conditions yeast genomes become unstable, readily acquiring or losing whole chromosomes to enable rapid adaption. ... > full story

Body clock receptor linked to diabetes in new genetic study (January 29, 2012) -- Scientists have found new evidence for a link between the body clock hormone melatonin and type 2 diabetes. The study found that people who carry rare genetic mutations in the receptor for melatonin have a much higher risk of type 2 diabetes. ... > full story

Cancer sequencing initiative discovers mutations tied to aggressive childhood brain tumors (January 29, 2012) -- A cancer sequencing initiative has discovered mutations tied to aggressive childhood brain tumors. Early evidence suggests the alterations play a unique role in other aggressive pediatric brain tumors as well. ... > full story

Want your enemies to trust you? Put on your baby face (January 29, 2012) -- Do baby-faced opponents have a better chance of gaining your trust? By subtly altering fictional politicians' faces, researchers examined whether minor changes in appearance can affect people's judgment about "enemy" politicians and their offer to make peace. In the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the research showed that peace offers from baby-faced politicians had a better chance of winning over the opposing population than the exact same offer coming from more mature-looking leaders. ... > full story

Genetic regulation of metabolomic biomarkers: Paths to cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes (January 29, 2012) -- Scientists have revealed eleven new genetic regions associated with the blood levels of the metabolites, including new loci affecting well-established risk markers for cardiovascular disease and potential biomarkers for type 2 diabetes. The findings may help in elucidating the processes leading to common diseases. ... > full story

How bacteria behind serious childhood disease evolve to evade vaccines (January 29, 2012) -- Genetics has provided surprising insights into why vaccines used in both the UK and US to combat serious childhood infections can eventually fail. The study, which investigates how bacteria change their disguise to evade the vaccines, has implications for how future vaccines can be made more effective. ... > full story

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor: Finding may have implications for Rett Syndrome, other neurological disorders (January 27, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered that a molecule critical to the development and plasticity of nerve cells -- brain-derived neurotrophic factor -- is severely lacking in brainstem neurons in mutations leading to Rett syndrome, a neurological developmental disorder. The finding has implications for the treatment of neurological disorders, including Rett syndrome that affects one in 10,000 baby girls. ... > full story

'Dabbling' in hard drugs in middle age linked to increased risk of death (January 27, 2012) -- Data could lead to better advice for primary-care doctors struggling with a rising tide of older adult patients still in throes of youthful bad habits. ... > full story

The pupils are the windows to the mind (January 27, 2012) -- The eyes are the window into the soul -- or at least the mind, according to a new article. ... > full story

The amygdala and fear are not the same thing (January 27, 2012) -- In a 2007 episode of the television show Boston Legal, a character claimed to have figured out that a cop was racist because his amygdala activated – displaying fear, when they showed him pictures of black people. ... > full story

Mind over matter: Patients' perceptions of illness make a difference (January 27, 2012) -- Whenever we fall ill, there are many different factors that come together to influence the course of our illness. Additional medical conditions, stress levels, and social support all have an impact on our health and well-being, especially when we are ill. But a new report suggests that what you think about your illness matters just as much, if not more, in determining your health outcomes. ... > full story

Are we bad at forecasting our emotions? It depends on how you measure accuracy (January 27, 2012) -- How will you feel if you fail that test? Awful, really awful, you say. Then you fail the test and, yes, you feel bad -- but not as bad as you thought you would. This pattern holds for most people, research shows. The takeaway message: People are lousy at predicting their emotions. ... > full story

New information for flu fight: Researchers study RNA interference to determine host genes used by influenza for virus replication (January 27, 2012) -- Influenza virus can rapidly evolve from one form to another, complicating the effectiveness of vaccines and anti-viral drugs used to treat it. By first understanding the complex host cell pathways that the flu uses for replication, researchers are finding new strategies for therapies and vaccines, according to a new study. ... > full story

For diabetics not on insulin, self-monitoring blood sugar has no benefit, study suggests (January 27, 2012) -- For type 2 diabetics who are not on insulin, monitoring their blood sugar does little to control blood sugar levels over time and may not be worth the effort or expense, according to a new evidence review. ... > full story

Most people fudge numbers on weight and height surveys (January 27, 2012) -- When people in the U.S. are asked to provide their weight for research surveys, they underestimate their weight and overestimate their height, despite numerous public reports about increasing rates of obesity. Whites are more likely to do so than Blacks or Hispanics, finds a new study. ... > full story

Teens have fewer behavioral issues when parents stay involved (January 27, 2012) -- When parents of middle school students participate in school-based, family interventions, it can reduce problem behavior, according to new research. ... > full story

Making memories last: Prion-like protein plays key role in storing long-term memories (January 27, 2012) -- Memories in our brains are maintained by connections between neurons called "synapses." But how do these synapses stay strong and keep memories alive for decades? Neuroscientists have discovered a major clue from a study in fruit flies: Hardy, self-copying clusters or oligomers of a synapse protein are an essential ingredient for the formation of long-term memory. ... > full story

Scientists probe form, function of mysterious protein (January 27, 2012) -- Using computer models and laboratory experiments, scientists have probed the structure of the protein mitoNEET to better understand its role in aging, cancer and diabetes. They found the protein could untangle its arms at one end to loosen its grip on a potentially toxic molecule of iron and sulfur. ... > full story

Grape seed extract kills head and neck cancer cells, leaves healthy cells unharmed (January 27, 2012) -- In both cell lines and mouse models, grape seed extract kills head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells, while leaving healthy cells unharmed, new research shows. ... > full story

New drug release mechanism utilizes 3-D superhydrophobic materials (January 27, 2012) -- There is a new mechanism of drug release using 3-D superhydrophobic materials that utilizes air as a removable barrier to control the rate at which drug is released. ... > full story

Discovery of new vaccine approach for treatment of cancer (January 27, 2012) -- Scientists have developed a new vaccine to treat cancer at the pre-clinical level. They developed a new approach for treating the disease based on manipulating the immune response to malignant tumors. ... > full story

Research on vitamins could lead to the design of novel drugs to combat malaria (January 27, 2012) -- New research could lead to the design of more effective drugs to combat malaria. The research will enable scientists to learn more about the nature of the enzymes required for vitamin biosynthesis by the malaria causing pathogen Plasmodium. Vitamins are essential nutrients required in small amounts, the lack of which leads to deficiencies. Many pathogenic microorganisms produce vitamins, and these biosynthetic pathways may provide suitable targets for development of new drugs. ... > full story

Heart of silk: Scientists use silk from the tasar silkworm as a scaffold for heart tissue (January 27, 2012) -- Damaged human heart muscle cannot be regenerated. Scar tissue grows in place of the damaged muscle cells. Scientists are seeking to restore complete cardiac function with the help of artificial cardiac tissue. They have succeeded in loading cardiac muscle cells onto a three-dimensional scaffold, created using the silk produced by a tropical silkworm. ... > full story

How cholera bacterium gains a foothold in the gut (January 27, 2012) -- Biologists have made an important advance in our understanding of the way cholera attacks the body. The discovery could help scientists target treatments for the globally significant intestinal disease which kills more than 100,000 people every year. ... > full story

Genetic variation that raises risk of serious complication linked to osteoporosis drugs identified (January 27, 2012) -- Researchers have identified a genetic variation that raises the risk of developing serious necrotic jaw bone lesions in patients who take bisphosphonates, a common class of osteoclastic inhibitors. ... > full story

Body location plays part in scratching pleasure (January 27, 2012) -- New research from a world-renowned itch expert shows that how good scratching an itch feels is related to the itch’s location. ... > full story

Collaborative research sheds light on new cancer stem cell therapies (January 27, 2012) -- New anti-cancer research has led to the development of a novel class of chemical inhibitors that specifically target cancer cells with pluripotency. ... > full story

How viruses evolve, and in some cases, become deadly (January 26, 2012) -- Researchers have demonstrated how a new virus evolves, shedding light on how easy it can be for diseases to gain dangerous mutations. ... > full story

Visual nudge improves accuracy of mammogram readings (January 26, 2012) -- False negatives and positives plague the reading of mammograms, limiting their usefulness. Computer scientists have now shown that the accuracy of novice readers can be improved by nudging them visually to follow the scanpath of an expert radiologist. The "nudge" is a brief change in the brightness or warmth in the image in the peripheral field of view. ... > full story

Family history of psychiatric disorders shapes intellectual interests, study suggests (January 26, 2012) -- A family history of psychiatric conditions such as autism and depression could influence the subjects a person finds engaging, new research suggests. Although preliminary, the findings provide a new look at the oft-studied link between psychiatric conditions and aptitude in the arts or sciences. ... > full story

Scientists illuminate cancer cells' survival strategy during dangerous dissemination (January 26, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered key elements of a strategy commonly used by tumor cells to survive when they spread to distant organs. The finding could lead to drugs that could inhibit this metastasis in patients with tumors. ... > full story

Brain receptor in eyes may link epilepsy, cataracts and antidepressants (January 26, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered that the most common receptor for the major neurotransmitter in the brain is also present in the eye, which may explain links between cataracts, epilepsy and use of a number of antiepileptic and antidepressant drugs. ... > full story

Multiple births lead to weight gain, other problems for mouse moms and offspring (January 26, 2012) -- Study in model that mimics human effects of multiparity (giving birth more than once) finds mouse moms who gave birth 4 times accrued significantly more fat vs. primiparous females (those giving birth once) of similar age. Multiparous moms also had more liver inflammation. ... > full story

Diagnostic brain tumor test could revolutionize care of patients with low-grade gliomas (January 26, 2012) -- Researchers have developed what they believe to be the first clinical application of a new imaging technique to diagnose brain tumors. ... > full story

New findings on aging pediatric bruises (January 26, 2012) -- A multi-university research group has recently published a paper detailing new work on the analysis and dating of human bruises. The research will have particular application to pediatric medicine, as bruise age is often key evidence in child abuse cases. ... > full story

Leukemia cells are 'bad to the bone', research finds (January 26, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered new links between leukemia cells and cells involved in bone formation, offering a fresh perspective on how the blood cancer progresses and raising the possibility that therapies for bone disorders could help in the treatment of leukemia. ... > full story

Believing the impossible and conspiracy theories (January 26, 2012) -- Distrust and paranoia about government has a long history, and the feeling that there is a conspiracy of elites can lead to suspicion for authorities and the claims they make. For some, the attraction of conspiracy theories is so strong that it leads them to endorse entirely contradictory beliefs, according to a new study. ... > full story

Rap music powers rhythmic action of medical sensor (January 26, 2012) -- The driving bass rhythm of rap music can be harnessed to power a new type of miniature medical sensor designed to be implanted in the body. ... > full story

Newer radiation therapy technology improves patients' quality of life, research finds (January 26, 2012) -- Patients with head and neck cancers who have been treated with newer, more sophisticated radiation therapy technology enjoy a better quality of life than those treated with older radiation therapy equipment, a study has found. ... > full story