ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Friday, February 17, 2012

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Friday, February 17, 2012

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Texting affects ability to interpret words (February 16, 2012) -- Research designed to understand the effect of text messaging on language found that texting has a negative impact on people's linguistic ability to interpret and accept words, according to a linguistics researcher. ... > full story

In sickness and in health: Importance of supportive spouses in coping with work-related stress (February 16, 2012) -- The growth of two-income families and increasing levels of job stress are two of the most significant work trends affecting American businesses and families in recent years. Having just one stressed-out spouse can harm couple's work and home lives -- but what about when it's both? ... > full story

Successful human tests for first wirelessly controlled drug-delivery chip (February 16, 2012) -- About 15 years ago, two professors had the idea to develop a programmable, wirelessly controlled microchip that would deliver drugs after implantation in a patient's body. This week, they reported that they have successfully used such a chip to administer daily doses of an osteoporosis drug normally given by injection. The results represent the first successful test of such a device. ... > full story

New molecular map to guide development of new treatments for multiple sclerosis and other diseases (February 16, 2012) -- Scientists have created the first high-resolution virtual image of cellular structures called S1P1 receptors, which are critical in controlling the onset and progression of multiple sclerosis and other diseases. This new molecular map is already pointing researchers toward promising new paths for drug discovery and aiding them in better understanding how certain existing drugs work. ... > full story

Light shed on how body fends off bacteria (February 16, 2012) -- Scientists have developed the first 3D look at the interaction between an immune sensor and a protein that helps bacteria move. ... > full story

To understand chromosome reshuffling, look to the genome's 3-D structure (February 16, 2012) -- That our chromosomes can break and reshuffle pieces of themselves is nothing new; scientists have recognized this for decades, especially in cancer cells. The rules for where chromosomes are likely to break and how the broken pieces come together are only just now starting to come into view. Researchers have brought those rules into clearer focus by discovering that where each of the genome's thousands of genes lie within the cell's nucleus -- essentially, the genome's three-dimensional organization -- holds great influence over where broken chromosome ends rejoin. This knowledge could shed light on fundamental processes related to cancer and normal cellular functions -- for example, in immunity. ... > full story

Common flame retardant linked to social, behavioral and learning deficits (February 16, 2012) -- Mice genetically engineered to be susceptible to autism-like behaviors that were exposed to a common flame retardant were less fertile and their offspring were smaller, less sociable and demonstrated marked deficits in learning and long-term memory when compared with the offspring of normal unexposed mice, a new study has found. ... > full story

New ability to regrow blood vessels holds promise for treatment of heart disease (February 16, 2012) -- Researchers have demonstrated a new and more effective method for regrowing blood vessels in the heart and limbs -- a research advancement that could have major implications for how we treat heart disease, the leading cause of death in the Western world. ... > full story

Nanoparticles may enhance cancer therapy (February 16, 2012) -- A mixture of current drugs and carbon nanoparticles shows potential to enhance treatment for head-and-neck cancers, especially when combined with radiation therapy, according to new research. ... > full story

Researchers make living model of brain tumor (February 16, 2012) -- Researchers have created a living 3-D model of a brain tumor and its surrounding blood vessels. In experiments, the scientists report that iron-oxide nanoparticles carrying the agent tumstatin were taken by blood vessels, meaning they should block blood vessel growth. The living-tissue model could be used to test the effectiveness of nanoparticles in fighting other diseases. ... > full story

The splice of life: Proteins cooperate to regulate gene splicing (February 16, 2012) -- In a step toward deciphering the “splicing code” of the human genome, researchers have comprehensively analyzed six of the more highly expressed RNA binding proteins collectively known as heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoparticle (hnRNP) proteins. ... > full story

Augmented play helps children with autism (February 16, 2012) -- Making play sets more interactive and giving children with autism greater opportunities to control and add content of their own to the game could improve cooperative play with other children as well as giving them greater confidence in understanding how objects interact. ... > full story

BIg step toward vaccine for Hepatitis C (February 16, 2012) -- Researchers have made the discovery of a vaccine that will potentially help combat hepatitis C. ... > full story

Cellular aging increases risk of heart attack and early death (February 16, 2012) -- Every cell in the body has chromosomes with so-called telomeres, which are shortened over time and also through lifestyle choices such as smoking and obesity. Researchers have long speculated that the shortening of telomeres increases the risk of heart attack and early death. Now a large-scale population study in Denmark involving nearly 20,000 people shows that there is in fact a direct link, and has also given physicians a future way to test the actual cellular health of a person. ... > full story

Protein that functions in normal breast may also contribute to breast cancer metastasis (February 16, 2012) -- The trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) protein protects and maintains the integrity of the epithelial surface in the normal breast. New research has found that while TFF3 protein expression is higher in well-differentiated low grade tumors and therefore associated with features of a good prognosis, it has a more sinister role in breast cancer invasion and metastasis. ... > full story

New theory of moral behavior may explain recent ethical lapses in banking industry (February 16, 2012) -- Why do some people behave morally while others do not? Sociologists have developed a theory of the moral self that may help explain the ethical lapses in the banking, investment and mortgage-lending industries that nearly ruined the U.S. economy. ... > full story

New drug target found for lung cancer (February 16, 2012) -- Drugs targeting an enzyme involved in inflammation might offer a new avenue for treating certain lung cancers, according to a new study. ... > full story

First impressions form quickly on the web, eye-tracking study shows (February 16, 2012) -- When viewing a website, it takes users less than two-tenths of a second to form a first impression, according to recent eye-tracking research. But it takes a little longer – about 2.6 seconds – for a user’s eyes to land on that area of a website that most influences their first impression. ... > full story

Video games lead to new paths to treat cancer, other diseases (February 16, 2012) -- The cure for cancer comes down to this: video games. Scientists have made highly realistic video game images that simulate the inner workings of human cells. Playing these 'games' helps medical researchers see exactly how cells live, divide and die. The research opens new paths for tumor-killing drugs to treat cancer and other diseases. ... > full story

Genetic mutation implicated in 'broken' heart (February 15, 2012) -- Researchers have found that mutations in a gene called TTN account for 18 percent of sporadic and 25 percent of familial cases of dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart becomes weakened and enlarged and cannot properly pump blood. ... > full story

Smoking cessation meds shows promise as alcoholism treatment, study suggests (February 15, 2012) -- A medication commonly used to help people stop smoking may have an unanticipated positive side effect for an entirely different vice: drinking alcohol. A new study finds that varenicline, sold as Chantix, increases the negative effects of alcohol and therefore could hold promise as a treatment for alcoholism. ... > full story

Drinking alcohol shrinks critical brain regions in genetically vulnerable mice (February 15, 2012) -- Brain scans of two strains of mice imbibing significant quantities of alcohol reveal serious shrinkage in some brain regions -- but only in mice lacking a particular type of receptor for dopamine, the brain's "reward" chemical. The study provides new evidence that these dopamine receptors may play a protective role against alcohol-induced brain damage. ... > full story

How fast you walk and your grip in middle age may predict dementia, stroke risk (February 15, 2012) -- Simple tests such as walking speed and hand grip strength may help doctors determine how likely it is a middle-aged person will develop dementia or stroke. ... > full story

Autoinjectors offer way to treat prolonged seizures (February 15, 2012) -- A mutli-site study offers paramedics a better tool for treating seizures -- autoinjectors were found to be a safe, effective alternative to giving drugs by IV. ... > full story

Low molecular weight heparin use in cancer treatment (February 15, 2012) -- Researchers suggest conclusive answers to key questions on the benefits of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for cancer patients remain elusive - despite promising results from large studies. ... > full story

Traumatic brain injury linked to post-traumatic stress disorder, study suggests (February 15, 2012) -- Scientists have provided the first evidence of a link between a traumatic brain injury and increased susceptibility to post-traumatic stress disorder. ... > full story

Computer sleuthing helps unravel RNA's role in cellular function (February 15, 2012) -- Computer engineers may have just provided the medical community a new way of figuring out exactly how one of the three building blocks of life forms and functions. They have used a complex computer program to analyze RNA motifs – the subunits that make up RNA. ... > full story

Out of Africa? Data fail to support language origin in Africa (February 15, 2012) -- Last year, a report claiming to support the idea that the origin of language can be traced to West Africa appeared in Science. The article caused quite a stir. Now a linguist has challenged its conclusions, in a commentary just published in Science. ... > full story

Psychiatric diagnoses: Why no one is satisfied (February 15, 2012) -- As the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is revised for the first time since 1994, controversy about psychiatric diagnosis is reaching a fever pitch. ... > full story

Hospitalization of US underage drinkers common, costs 5 million a year (February 15, 2012) -- Hospitalization for underage drinking is common in the United States, and it comes with a price tag -- the estimated total cost for these hospitalizations is about 5 million per year, a new study has found. ... > full story

Stem cell study in mice offers hope for treating heart attack patients (February 15, 2012) -- A new stem cell study conducted in mice suggests a novel strategy for treating damaged cardiac tissue in patients following a heart attack. The approach potentially could improve cardiac function, minimize scar size, lead to the development of new blood vessels – and avoid the risk of tissue rejection. ... > full story

Protein may play role in obesity, diabetes, aging (February 15, 2012) -- Researchers have identified a potent regulator of sensitivity to insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar levels. The new findings may help scientists find better treatments for type II diabetes, obesity and other health problems caused by the body's inability to properly regulate blood sugar. ... > full story

Children may have highest exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles, found in candy and other products (February 15, 2012) -- Children may be receiving the highest exposure to nanoparticles of titanium dioxide in candy, which they eat in amounts much larger than adults, according to a new study. A new study provides the first broadly based information on amounts of the nanomaterial – a source of concern with regard to its potential health and environmental effects – in a wide range of consumer goods. ... > full story

New defense mechanism against viruses and cancer identified (February 15, 2012) -- Scientists have found a fundamentally new mechanism how our defense system is ramped up when facing a viral intruder. Exploitation of this mechanism in vaccines sparks new hope for better prevention and therapy of infectious diseases and cancer. ... > full story

Could deep brain stimulation improve lung function? (February 15, 2012) -- Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has become a common treatment for patients with chronic pain or movement disorders. Now a unique set of experiments shows that electrical stimulation in some of the same brain areas can also affect respiratory function, according to a new study. ... > full story

In the mouth, smoking zaps healthy bacteria (February 15, 2012) -- According to a new study, smoking causes the body to turn against its own helpful bacteria, leaving smokers more vulnerable to disease. ... > full story

Diabetes may start in the intestines, research suggests (February 15, 2012) -- Scientists have made a surprising discovery about the origin of diabetes. Their research suggests that problems controlling blood sugar — the hallmark of diabetes — may begin in the intestines. The new study, in mice, may upend long-held theories about the causes of the disease. ... > full story

New molecule discovered in fight against allergy (February 15, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered a new molecule that could offer the hope of new treatments for people allergic to the house dust mite. ... > full story

New clues about how cancer cells communicate and grow (February 15, 2012) -- Researchers have shown that the communication signals sent around the body by cancer cells, which are essential for the cancer to grow, may contain pieces of RNA – these substances, like DNA, are pieces of genetic code that can instruct cells, and ultimately the body, how to form. The same study also found early indications that these genetic instructions can be intercepted and modified by chemotherapy to help prevent cancer cells growing. ... > full story

Freeze-dried heart valve scaffolds hold promise for heart valve replacement (February 15, 2012) -- The biological scaffold that gives structure to a heart valve after its cellular material has been removed can be freeze-dried and stored for later use as a tissue-engineered replacement valve to treat a failing heart, as described in a new article. ... > full story

When nerve meets muscle, biglycan seals the deal (February 14, 2012) -- In the absence of the protein biglycan, synapses at neuromuscular junctions in mice began to break up about five weeks after birth, according to a new study. Reintroducing byglycan helped fix the loss of synaptic stability in cell culture. The research may be relevant to efforts to treat motor neuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gherig's Disease) and spinal muscular atrophy. ... > full story

Stem cell treatments improve heart function after heart attack (February 14, 2012) -- Stem cell therapy moderately improves heart function after a heart attack, according to a systematic review. But the researchers behind the review say larger clinical trials are needed to establish whether this benefit translates to a longer life. ... > full story

Cognitive stimulation beneficial in dementia (February 14, 2012) -- Cognitive stimulation therapies have beneficial effects on memory and thinking in people with dementia, according to a systematic review. Despite concerns that cognitive improvements may not be matched by improvements in quality of life, the review also found positive effects for well-being. ... > full story

High population density is greatest risk factor for water-linked diseases (February 14, 2012) -- Water-associated infectious disease outbreaks are more likely to occur in areas where a region's population density is growing, according to a new global analysis of economic and environmental conditions that influence the risk for these outbreaks. ... > full story

Building bone from cartilage: Orthopaedic researchers take the road less travelled (February 14, 2012) -- A person has a tumor removed from her femur. A soldier is struck by an improvised explosive device and loses a portion of his tibia. A child undergoes chemotherapy for osteosarcoma but part of the bone dies as a result. Every year, millions of Americans sustain fractures that don't heal or lose bone that isn't successfully grafted. Orthopaedic researchers have just found a very promising, novel way to regenerate bone. ... > full story

Left-handed? Different bodies, different minds (February 14, 2012) -- We like to think of ourselves as rational creatures, absorbing information, weighing it carefully, and making thoughtful decisions. But, as it turns out, we're kidding ourselves. Over the past few decades, scientists have shown there are many different internal and external factors influencing how we think, feel, communicate, and make decisions at any given moment. One particularly powerful influence may be our own bodies, according to new research. ... > full story

Short-term exposure to most major air pollutants associated with increased risk of heart attack (February 14, 2012) -- Short-term exposure (for up to 7 days) to all major air pollutants, with the exception of ozone, is significantly associated with an increased risk of heart attack, according to a new review article. ... > full story

Trouble sleeping? It may affect your memory later on (February 14, 2012) -- The amount and quality of sleep you get at night may affect your memory later in life, according to new research. ... > full story