ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Thursday, February 9, 2012

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Thursday, February 9, 2012

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DNA sequencing helps identify cancer cells for immune system attack (February 8, 2012) -- DNA sequences from tumor cells can be used to direct the immune system to attack cancer, according to scientists. The immune system relies on an intricate network of alarm bells, targets and safety brakes to determine when and what to attack. The new results suggest that scientists may now be able to combine DNA sequencing data with their knowledge of the triggers and targets that set off immune alarms to more precisely develop vaccines and other immunotherapies for cancer. ... > full story

Transformational fruit fly genome catalog completed (February 8, 2012) -- Scientists searching for the genomics version of the holy grail – more insight into predicting how an animal’s genes affect physical or behavioral traits – now have a reference manual that should speed gene discoveries in everything from pest control to personalized medicine. ... > full story

Fasting weakens cancer in mice (February 8, 2012) -- New study finds that short fasting cycles can work as well as chemotherapy, and the two combined greatly improve survival. ... > full story

Gene therapy for inherited blindness succeeds in patients' other eye (February 8, 2012) -- Gene therapy for congenital blindness took another step forward, as researchers further improved vision in three adult patients previously treated in one eye. The patients were better able to see in dim light, with no adverse effects. ... > full story

Some formerly cohabiting couples with children keep romantic relationship (February 8, 2012) -- When low-income cohabiting couples with children decide to no longer live together, that doesn’t necessarily mean the end of their romantic relationship, a new study suggests. ... > full story

Sound rather than sight can activate 'seeing' for the blind, say researchers (February 8, 2012) -- Scientists have tapped onto the visual cortex of the congenitally blind by using sensory substitution devices (SSDs), enabling the blind in effect to "see" and even describe objects. SSDs are non-invasive sensory aids that provide visual information to the blind via their existing senses. For example, using a visual-to-auditory SSD in a clinical or everyday setting, users wear a miniature video camera connected to a small computer (or smart phone) and stereo headphones. The images are converted into "soundscapes," using a predictable algorithm, allowing the user to listen to and then interpret the visual information coming from the camera. ... > full story

Study to determine whether fish oil can help prevent psychiatric disorders (February 8, 2012) -- A new study was designed to test whether Omega-3 fatty acids improve clinical symptoms, and help adolescents and young adults (ages 12 to 25) who are at elevated risk for severe psychiatric disorders function better in school, work and other social environments. ... > full story

After-school program can reduce alcohol use among middle school students, study finds (February 8, 2012) -- A voluntary substance prevention program held after school and presented by trained facilitators can help reduce alcohol use among young adolescents, according to a new study. ... > full story

Flipping a light switch in the cell: Quantum dots used for targeted neural activation (February 8, 2012) -- By harnessing quantum dots, researchers have developed a new and vastly more targeted way to stimulate neurons in the brain. Being able to switch neurons on and off and monitor how they communicate with one another is crucial for understanding -- and, ultimately, treating -- a host of brain disorders. ... > full story

Heart disease may be a risk factor for prostate cancer (February 8, 2012) -- In a large analysis of men participating in a prostate drug trial, researchers found a significant correlation between coronary artery disease and prostate cancer, suggesting the two conditions may have shared causes. ... > full story

Arsenic criticality poses concern for modern technology (February 8, 2012) -- Risks related to the critical nature of arsenic -- used to make high-speed computer chips that contain gallium arsenide -- outstrip those of other substances in a group of critical materials needed to sustain modern technology, a new study has found. Scientists evaluated the relative criticality of arsenic and five related metals. ... > full story

Bubble-powered microrockets zoom have potential to zoom through the human stomach, other acidic environments (February 8, 2012) -- Scientists have developed a new kind of tiny motor -- which they term a "microrocket" -- that can propel itself through acidic environments, such as the human stomach, without any external energy source, opening the way to a variety of medical and industrial applications. Their report describes the microrockets traveling at virtual warp speed for such devices. A human moving at the same speed would have to run at a clip of 400 miles per hour. ... > full story

Growing up on a farm directly affects regulation of the immune system, study finds (February 8, 2012) -- A new study has shown, for the first time, that growing up on a farm directly affects the regulation of the immune system and causes a reduction in the immunological responses to food proteins. ... > full story

Molecular path from internal clock to cells controlling rest and activity revealed (February 7, 2012) -- The molecular pathway that carries time-of-day signals from the body's internal clock to ultimately guide daily behavior is like a black box, says a researcher. Now, new research is taking a peek inside, describing a molecular pathway and its inner parts that connect the well-known clock neurons to cells governing rhythms of rest and activity in fruit flies. ... > full story

Drinking large amounts of soft drinks associated with asthma and COPD (February 7, 2012) -- A high level of soft drink consumption is associated with asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to new research. ... > full story

Chlorhexidine umbilical cord care can save newborn lives (February 7, 2012) -- Cleansing a newborn's umbilical cord with chlorhexidine can reduce an infant's risk of infection and death during the first weeks of life by as much as 20 percent, according to a new study. The study is the latest in a series of studies showing that umbilical cord cleaning with chlorhexidine can save lives. ... > full story

Preventing bacteria from falling in with the wrong crowd could help stop gum disease (February 7, 2012) -- Stripping some mouth bacteria of their access key to gangs of other pathogenic oral bacteria could help prevent gum disease and tooth loss. The study suggests that this bacterial access key could be a drug target for people who are at high risk of developing gum disease. ... > full story

Scientists use old theory to discover new targets in fight against breast cancer (February 7, 2012) -- Reviving a theory first proposed in the late 1800s that the development of organs in the normal embryo and the development of cancers are related, scientists have studied organ development in mice to unravel how breast cancers, and perhaps other cancers, develop in people. Their findings provide new ways to predict and personalize the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. ... > full story

Discovery uses 'fracture putty' to repair broken bone in days (February 7, 2012) -- Broken bones in humans and animals are painful and often take months to heal. New research shows promise to shorten healing time significantly and revolutionize the course of fracture treatment. ... > full story

2011 shark attacks remain steady, deaths highest since 1993 (February 7, 2012) -- Shark attacks in the US declined in 2011, but worldwide fatalities reached a two-decade high, according to the a new report. ... > full story

Ovarian cancer risk related to inherited inflammation genes (February 7, 2012) -- Genes that are known to be involved in inflammation were found to be related to risk of ovarian cancer. ... > full story

New diet: Top off breakfast with -- chocolate cake? (February 7, 2012) -- In a study of nearly 200 clinically obese, non-diabetic adults, a researcher found that a 600-calorie breakfast that includes dessert as well as proteins and carbohydrates can help dieters lose weight and keep it off over the long term. Her research indicates that such a morning meal staves off cravings and defuses psychological addictions to sweet foods. ... > full story

Vitamin D deficiency high among trauma patients (February 7, 2012) -- New research has found that 77 percent of trauma patients had deficient or insufficient levels of vitamin D. ... > full story

Knee replacement may lower a patient's risk for mortality and heart failure, study suggests (February 7, 2012) -- New research highlights the benefits of total knee replacement. ... > full story

Competitive soccer linked to increased injuries and menstrual dysfunction in girls (February 7, 2012) -- In the US, there are nearly three million youth soccer players, and half of them are female. New research has found that despite reporting appropriate body perception and attitudes toward eating, elite youth soccer athletes face an increased risk for delayed or irregular menstruation. ... > full story

Facebook use elevates mood, new study shows (February 7, 2012) -- People visit social networking sites such as Facebook for many reasons, including the positive emotional experience that people enjoy and want to repeat, according to a new article. ... > full story

First remote-control leg lengthening implant cleared by the FDA (February 7, 2012) -- A revolutionary new limb lengthening system developed by orthopedic surgeons represents a major advancement in the treatment of limb deformities. ... > full story

Study of live human neurons reveals Parkinson's origins (February 7, 2012) -- Parkinson’s disease researchers have discovered how mutations in the parkin gene cause the disease, which afflicts at least 500,000 Americans and for which there is no cure. ... > full story

Why bad immunity genes survive: Study implicates arms race between genes and germs (February 7, 2012) -- Biologists have found new evidence for why mice, people and other vertebrate animals carry thousands of varieties of genes to make immune-system proteins named MHCs -- even though some of those genes make us sick. ... > full story

The dark path to antisocial personality disorder (February 7, 2012) -- With no lab tests to guide the clinician, psychiatric diagnostics is challenging and controversial. Antisocial personality disorder is defined as "a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood," according to a standard definition. But, until now, no one has studied the dimensional structure associated with the DSM antisocial personality disorder criteria. ... > full story

Why the middle finger has such a slow connection (February 7, 2012) -- Each part of the body has its own nerve cell area in the brain -- we therefore have a map of our bodies in our heads. The functional significance of these maps is largely unclear. What effects they can have is now shown by neuroscientists through reaction time measurements combined with learning experiments and "computational modeling." They have been able to demonstrate that inhibitory influences of neighboring "finger nerve cells" affect the reaction time of a finger. ... > full story

Rapid bone loss as possible side effect of anti-obesity drug (February 7, 2012) -- An endocrine hormone used in clinical trials as an anti-obesity and anti-diabetes drug causes significant and rapid bone loss in mice, raising concerns about its safe use, researchers have shown. ... > full story

Gene mutation discovery sparks hope for effective endometriosis screening (February 6, 2012) -- Researchers have, for the first time, described the genetic basis of endometriosis, a condition affecting millions of women that is marked by chronic pelvic pain and infertility. The researchers' discovery of a new gene mutation provides hope for new screening methods. ... > full story

Metabolic 'breathalyzer' reveals early signs of disease (February 6, 2012) -- The future of disease diagnosis may lie in a “breathalyzer”-like technology currently under development. ... > full story

Three 'targeted' cancer drugs raise risk of fatal side effects (February 6, 2012) -- Treatment with three "targeted" cancer drugs has been linked to a slightly elevated chance of fatal side effects, according to a new analysis. These risks remain low, but they should be factored in when developing patients’ treatment plans. ... > full story

School closures slowed spread of 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic (February 6, 2012) -- Using high-quality data about the incidence of influenza infections in Alberta during the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, the researchers show that when schools closed for the summer, the transmission of infection from person to person was sharply reduced. ... > full story

Smoking associated with more rapid cognitive decline in men (February 6, 2012) -- Smoking in men appears to be associated with more rapid cognitive decline, according to a new report. ... > full story

Clues to common birth defect found in gene expression data (February 6, 2012) -- Researchers have uncovered 27 new candidate genes for congenital diaphragmatic hernia, a common and often deadly birth defect. Their sophisticated data-filtering strategy offers a new, efficient and potentially game-changing approach to gene discovery. ... > full story

Discovery predicts patient sensitivity to important drug target in deadly brain cancer (February 6, 2012) -- A recent discovery enables the prediction of patient sensitivity to proposed drug therapies for glioblastoma – the most common and most aggressive malignant brain tumor in humans. ... > full story

PET techniques provide more accurate diagnosis, prognosis in challenging breast cancer cases (February 6, 2012) -- Researchers are revealing how molecular imaging can be used to solve mysteries about difficult cases of breast cancer. One recent article focuses on an imaging agent that targets estrogen receptors in estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer patients with formerly inconclusive assessments, and the second highlights a different imaging agent's ability to help predict the prognosis for patients undergoing chemotherapy for a very aggressive type of breast cancer. ... > full story

It's not solitaire: Brain activity differs when one plays against others (February 6, 2012) -- Researchers have found a way to study how our brains assess the behavior -- and likely future actions -- of others during competitive social interactions. Their study is the first to use a computational approach to tease out differing patterns of brain activity during these interactions, the researchers report. ... > full story

Exercise triggers stem cells in muscle (February 6, 2012) -- Researchers have determined that an adult stem cell present in muscle is responsive to exercise, a discovery that may provide a link between exercise and muscle health. The findings could lead to new therapeutic techniques using these cells to rehabilitate injured muscle and prevent or restore muscle loss with age. ... > full story

Why people can hold visual information in great detail in their working memory (February 6, 2012) -- A new study may explain why people can hold visual information in great detail in their working memory. ... > full story

Raw milk is a dangerous raw deal for farmers and consumers, experts say (February 6, 2012) -- Researchers and experts on food safety have commented on the danger presented to farmers and consumers by the raw milk movement. ... > full story

Key finding in stem cell self-renewal (February 6, 2012) -- Scientists have proposed a mechanism for the control of whether embryonic stem cells continue to proliferate and stay stem cells, or differentiate into adult cells like brain, liver or skin. The work has implications in two areas. In cancer treatment, it is desirable to inhibit cell proliferation. ... > full story

The butterfly effect in nanotech medical diagnostics (February 6, 2012) -- Tiny metallic nanoparticles that shimmer in the light like the scales on a butterfly's wing are set to become the color-change components of a revolutionary new approach to point-of-care medical diagnostics, according to a new study. ... > full story

Sharp images from the living mouse brain (February 6, 2012) -- Scientists have for the first time made finest details of nerve cells in the brain of a living mouse visible. ... > full story

Low levels of lipid antibodies increase complications following heart attack (February 6, 2012) -- Coronary patients with low levels of an immune system antibody called anti-PC, which neutralizes parts of the "bad" cholesterol, run a greater risk of suffering complications following an acute cardiac episode and thus of premature death. ... > full story