ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Wednesday, February 29, 2012

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Wednesday, February 29, 2012

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Researchers test sugary solution to Alzheimer's disease (February 28, 2012) -- Slowing or preventing the development of Alzheimer's disease, a fatal brain condition expected to hit one in 85 people globally by 2050, may be as simple as ensuring a brain protein's sugar levels are maintained, according to researchers. ... > full story

Stopping hormone therapy might help breast cancer to regress (February 28, 2012) -- As soon as women quit hormone therapy, their rates of new breast cancer decline, supporting the hypothesis that stopping hormones can lead to tumor regression, according to a new report. ... > full story

Molecular duo dictate human weight and energy levels (February 28, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered a key cellular mechanism that may help the brain control how much we eat, what we weigh, and how much energy we have. ... > full story

Potential solution to melanoma's resistance to vemurafenib (February 28, 2012) -- Researchers have found that the XL888 inhibitor can prevent resistance to the chemotherapy drug vemurafenib, commonly used for treating patients with melanoma. ... > full story

Open your eyes and smell the roses: Activating the visual cortex improves our sense of smell (February 28, 2012) -- A new study reveals for the first time that activating the brain’s visual cortex with a small amount of electrical stimulation actually improves our sense of smell. ... > full story

Eat your broccoli: Another mechanism discovered by which sulforaphane prevents cancer (February 28, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered yet another reason why the "sulforaphane" compound in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables is so good for you -- it provides not just one, but two ways to prevent cancer through the complex mechanism of epigenetics. ... > full story

Predicting children's language development (February 28, 2012) -- We depend on a barrage of standardized tests to assess everything from aptitude to intelligence. But do they provide an accurate forecast when it comes to something as complex as language? A new Language Use Inventory does, researchers say. ... > full story

Cold air chills heart's oxygen supply, making snow shoveling dangerous for some people (February 28, 2012) -- People with heart disease may not be able to compensate for their bodies' higher demand for oxygen when inhaling cold air, according to researchers, making snow shoveling and other activities dangerous for some. ... > full story

Initial genetic analysis reveals Iceman Ötzi predisposed to cardiovascular disease (February 28, 2012) -- The famous Iceman mummy known as Ötzi was genetically predisposed to cardiovascular diseases, according to recent studies. Not only was this genetic predisposition demonstrable in the 5,000-year-old ice mummy, there was also already a symptom in the form of arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. ... > full story

Newly emerging staph strain transits more easily among humans (February 28, 2012) -- Using genome sequencing and household surveillance, scientists have pieced together how a newly emerging type of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria has adapted to transmit more easily among humans. Their new study underscores the need for vigilance in surveillance of S. aureus. ... > full story

Study compares traits of autism, schizophrenia (February 28, 2012) -- A professor is studying the differences between the social impairments found in autism and schizophrenia to help develop better treatments for people with both disorders. Autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia are distinct disorders with unique characteristics, but they share similarities in social dysfunction. ... > full story

Stress changes how people make decisions (February 28, 2012) -- Trying to make a big decision while you're also preparing for a scary presentation? You might want to hold off on that. Feeling stressed changes how people weigh risk and reward. A new article published in Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, reviews how, under stress, people pay more attention to the upside of a possible outcome. ... > full story

Enhanced brain-computer interface promises unparalleled autonomy for disabled (February 28, 2012) -- In the 2009 film Surrogates, humans live vicariously through robots while safely remaining in their own homes. That sci-fi future is still a long way off, but recent advances in technology are bringing this technology a step closer to reality in order to give disabled people more autonomy and independence than ever before. ... > full story

Cannabis: The good, the evil, the ugly (February 28, 2012) -- Cannabis-like substances that are produced by the body have both therapeutic and harmful properties, besides their well-known intoxicating effects, and the body’s cannabinoid system may be a target for new strategies in cancer treatment, new research suggests. ... > full story

Better health another reason for getting a degree (February 28, 2012) -- Attaining at least a bachelor's degree after 25 years of age is associated with better midlife health, new research shows. ... > full story

Eye movement not engaged in 'arms race' (February 28, 2012) -- We make our eye movements earlier or later in order to coordinate with movements of our arms, neuroscientists have found. Their study points to a mechanism in the brain that allows for this coordination and may have implications for rehabilitation and prosthetics. ... > full story

Sperm cannot detect smells: End of 'Lily of the Valley phenomenon' in sperm research? (February 28, 2012) -- Scientists have now discovered that sperm do not function like olfactory cells -- a finding that casts doubt on the assumption that scents play a role in fertilization. ... > full story

How the brain responds to deceptive advertising (February 28, 2012) -- Several specific regions of our brains are activated in a two-part process when we are exposed to deceptive advertising, according to new research. The work opens the door to further research that could help us understand how brain injury and aging may affect our susceptibility to fraud or misleading marketing. ... > full story

Modified bone drug kills malaria parasite in mice (February 27, 2012) -- A chemically altered osteoporosis drug may be useful in fighting malaria, researchers report in a new study. Unlike similar compounds tested against many other parasitic protozoa, the drug readily crosses into the red blood cells of malaria-infected mice and kills the malaria parasite. The drug works at very low concentrations with no observed toxicity to the mouse. ... > full story

Higher death risk with sleeping pills (February 27, 2012) -- People are relying on sleeping pills more than ever to get a good night's rest, but a new study links the medications to a 4.6 times higher risk of death and a significant increase in cancer cases among regular pill users. ... > full story

How accurate are rapid flu tests? (February 27, 2012) -- A new study has put the accuracy of rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) under the microscope. The meta-analysis of 159 studies showed three key findings: that RIDTs can be used to confirm the flu, but not to rule it out; that test accuracy is higher in children than it is in adults; and that RIDTs are better at detecting the more common influenza A virus than they are at detecting influenza B. ... > full story

How immune system's 'first responders' target infection (February 27, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered previously unsuspected aspects of the chemokine guidance system used by the body's first line of defense against infection. ... > full story

Deaths triple among football players, morning temperatures thought to play a role (February 27, 2012) -- Heat-related deaths among football players across the country tripled to nearly three per year between 1994 and 2009 after averaging about one per year the previous 15 years, according to an analysis of weather conditions and high school and college sports data. The study found for the eastern US, where most deaths occurred, morning heat index values were consistently higher in the latter half of the 30-year study period. ... > full story

Hyperactivity in brain may explain multiple symptoms of depression (February 27, 2012) -- People with depression suffer a number of symptoms -- including anxiety, memory issues, and sleep disturbances. Now researchers have found that the brains of depressed people show hyperactivity; The finding sheds new light on the brain dysfunction that causes depression and its wide array of symptoms. ... > full story

A giant 'little step' in cancer treatment opening up new therapeutic horizons (February 27, 2012) -- A new study heralds a new horizon in the fight against cancer, opening up a parallel dimension to existing treatment options. The data demonstrate that by combining two drugs that had already been used on a patient in the past but had stopped working, they boost each other’s efficacy and at the same time manage to break down the patient’s resistance to each of them individually, presenting a third potential treatment option for clinically advanced metastatic tumors. While this may not initially appear to be an innovation, given that combined treatments are used in cancer as a matter of course, it actually represents a radical change in the use of the existing therapeutic weaponry, an extremely practical solution and a source of hope for many patients. ... > full story

Low levels of omega-3 fatty acids may cause memory problems (February 27, 2012) -- A diet lacking in omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients commonly found in fish, may cause your brain to age faster and lose some of its memory and thinking abilities, according to a new study. Omega-3 fatty acids include the nutrients called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). ... > full story

Research offers insight to how fructose causes obesity and other illness (February 27, 2012) -- Scientists have provided new insights into how fructose causes obesity and metabolic syndrome, more commonly known as diabetes. ... > full story

Immortal worms defy aging (February 27, 2012) -- Researchers have demonstrated how a species of flatworm overcomes the aging process to be potentially immortal. The discovery may shed light on the possibilities of alleviating aging and age-related characteristics in human cells. Planarian worms have amazed scientists with their apparently limitless ability to regenerate. Researchers have been studying their ability to replace aged or damaged tissues and cells in a bid to understand the mechanisms underlying their longevity. ... > full story

Traces of listeria found in Vancouver ready-to-eat fish products (February 27, 2012) -- A new study has found traces of the bacteria listeria in ready-to-eat fish products sold in metro Vancouver, Canada. ... > full story

Video games depict religion as violent, problematized, study shows (February 27, 2012) -- Many newer-generation video games equate religion with violence in the game narratives, new research shows. ... > full story

One-way romantic attraction? Ways to save your guy-gal friendship (February 27, 2012) -- When one friend admits they are “into” the other but the feeling isn't mutual, the relationship can indeed be in jeopardy. Friendships often dissolve under these circumstances, but not always, say experts. ... > full story

'Universal' vaccines could finally allow for wide-scale flu prevention (February 27, 2012) -- Scientists have found that an emerging class of long-lasting flu vaccines called "universal" vaccines could for the first time allow for the effective, wide-scale prevention of flu by limiting the virus' ability to spread and mutate. A computational model showed that the vaccines could achieve unprecedented control of the flu virus both seasonally and during outbreaks of highly contagious new strains. ... > full story

Visual alerts shown to evoke quicker reactions than alerts through other senses (February 27, 2012) -- New research has shown that visual alerting methods are still considered to be the most trustworthy, as compared to auditory or tactile alerts. ... > full story

The poor, in fact, are less likely to sue their doctor (February 27, 2012) -- Contrary to the common perception among physicians that poor people sue doctors more frequently, researchers have demonstrated that socioeconomically disadvantaged patients, in fact, tend to sue physicians less often. Their work suggests that this myth may exist because of subconscious prejudices or stereotypes that affect thinking and decision making without doctors being aware of it -- a phenomenon known as unconscious bias. ... > full story

Protein identified that can lengthen our life? (February 27, 2012) -- Cells use various methods to break down and recycle worn-out components—autophagy is one of them. New research shows that the protein SNX18 is necessary for cells to be able to perform autophagy. ... > full story

Study extends the 'ecology of fear' to fear of parasites (February 27, 2012) -- The ecology of fear, like other concepts from predator-prey theory, also extends to parasites, new research suggests. Raccoons and squirrels would give up food, the study demonstrated, if the area was infested with larval ticks. At some level, they are weighing the value of the abandoned food against the risk of being parasitized. ... > full story

Understanding brain performance: People who take Ritalin are far more aware of their mistakes (February 27, 2012) -- Researchers have investigated how the brain monitors ongoing behavior for performance errors – specifically failures of impulse control. People who take Ritalin are far more aware of their mistakes, a new study has found. ... > full story

Some bacteria attack using spring-loaded poison daggers (February 27, 2012) -- Bacteria have evolved different systems for secreting proteins. One, called a type VI secretion system, is found in about a quarter of all bacteria with two membranes. Despite being common, researchers have not understood how it works. Now scientists have figured out the structure of the type VI secretion system apparatus and proposed how it might work -- by shooting spring-loaded poison molecular daggers. ... > full story

RNA interference cancer treatment? Delivering RNA with tiny sponge-like spheres (February 27, 2012) -- For the past decade, scientists have been pursuing cancer treatments based on RNA interference -- a phenomenon that offers a way to shut off malfunctioning genes with short snippets of RNA. However, one huge challenge remains: finding a way to efficiently deliver the RNA. Scientists have now come up with a novel delivery vehicle in which RNA is packed into microspheres so dense that they withstand degradation until they reach their destinations. The new system knocks down expression of specific genes as effectively as existing delivery methods, but with a much smaller dose of particles. ... > full story

Frontal attack or stealth? How subverting the immune system shapes the arms race between bacteria and hosts (February 27, 2012) -- Why is it that Mycobacterium tuberculosis can cause tuberculosis with as little as 10 cells, whereas Vibrio cholerae requires the host to ingest up to tens of millions of cells to cause cholera? This is the question that scientists have just answered. ... > full story

Eye-tracking reveals variability in successful social strategies for children with autism spectrum disorders (February 27, 2012) -- Scientists used eye-tracking technology to measure the relationship between cognitive and social disability in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and the ability of children with ASD to pay attention to social interactions. Results indicated that children with ASD were less likely than typically-developing peers to look at other people's eyes and faces, and were more likely to fixate on bodies and inanimate objects. ... > full story

Multiple sclerosis: Damaged myelin not the trigger, study finds (February 27, 2012) -- Millions of adults suffer from the incurable disease multiple sclerosis (MS). It is relatively certain that MS is an autoimmune disease in which the body's own defense cells attack the myelin in the brain and spinal cord. Myelin enwraps the nerve cells and is important for their function of transmitting stimuli as electrical signals. There are numerous unconfirmed hypotheses on the development of MS, one of which has now been refuted by the neuroimmunologists in their current research: The death of oligodendrocytes, as the cells that produce the myelin sheath are called, does not trigger MS. ... > full story

Diabetes drug improves glucose control without increasing risk of hypoglycemia, study suggests (February 27, 2012) -- Too high? Too low? Only about half of those with type 2 diabetes have their blood sugar levels on target, but a new drug shows promise in managing glucose levels. TAK-875 works by boosting the release of insulin from pancreatic B cells, but only when diabetics need it most – such as when glucose and fatty acids rise in the blood after a meal. ... > full story

Dental pulp stem cells transformed by 'bad breath’ chemical (February 26, 2012) -- Japanese scientists have found that the odorous compound responsible for halitosis – otherwise known as bad breath – is ideal for harvesting stem cells taken from human dental pulp. ... > full story

Egg-producing stem cells isolated from adult human ovaries (February 26, 2012) -- For the first time, researchers have isolated egg-producing stem cells from the ovaries of reproductive age women and shown these cells can produce what appear to be normal egg cells or oocytes. ... > full story

Elusive platelet count and limb development gene discovered (February 26, 2012) -- Researchers have identified an elusive gene responsible for Thrombocytopenia with Absent Radii (TAR), a rare inherited blood and skeletal disorder. As a result, this research is now being transformed into a medical test that allows prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling in affected families. ... > full story

Promising new technique to rescue the immune system (February 26, 2012) -- Researchers report on a promising new technique that potentially could turn immune system killer T cells into more effective weapons against infections and possibly cancer. ... > full story

Training parents is good medicine for children with autism behavior problems, study suggests (February 24, 2012) -- Children with autism spectrum disorders who also have serious behavioral problems responded better to medication combined with training for their parents than to treatment with medication alone, researchers report. ... > full story