ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Friday, March 2, 2012

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Friday, March 2, 2012

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Clearer picture of how protein machine systems tweak gene expression (March 1, 2012) -- Biologists have found that specific types of RNA polymerase enzymes, the molecular machines that convert DNA into RNA, can differ in function based on variation in the parts -- in this case protein subunits -- used to assemble those machines. ... > full story

Antibodies are not required for immunity against some viruses (March 1, 2012) -- A new study turns the well established theory that antibodies are required for antiviral immunity upside down and reveals that an unexpected partnership between the specific and non-specific divisions of the immune system is critical for fighting some types of viral infections. The research may lead to a new understanding of the best way to help protect those exposed to potentially lethal viruses, such as the rabies virus. ... > full story

How marijuana impairs memory (March 1, 2012) -- A major downside of the medical use of marijuana is the drug's ill effects on working memory, the ability to transiently hold and process information for reasoning, comprehension and learning. Researchers provide new insight into the source of those memory lapses. The answer comes as quite a surprise: Marijuana's major psychoactive ingredient (THC) impairs memory independently of its direct effects on neurons. ... > full story

Basic molecular 'wiring' of stem cells revealed (March 1, 2012) -- Scientists have created the first ever blueprint of how stem cells are wired to respond to the external signaling molecules to which they are constantly exposed. The finding, which reconciles years of conflicting results from labs across the world, gives scientists the ability to precisely control the development, or differentiation, of stem cells into specific cell types. ... > full story

Cell and signaling pathway that regulates the placental blood stem cell niche identified (March 1, 2012) -- Stem cell researchers have discovered a critical placental niche cell and signaling pathway that prevent blood precursors from premature differentiation in the placenta, a process necessary for ensuring proper blood supply for an individual’s lifetime. ... > full story

Treating brain cancer with viral vector (March 1, 2012) -- Surgeons are now starting to treat patients with recurrent brain cancer by directly injecting an investigational viral vector into their tumor. ... > full story

Nutrient found in dark meat of poultry, some seafood, may have cardiovascular benefits (March 1, 2012) -- A nutrient found in the dark meat of poultry may provide protection against coronary heart disease in women with high cholesterol, according to a new study. ... > full story

How anesthetic isoflurane induces Alzheimer's-like changes in mammalian brains (March 1, 2012) -- The association of the inhaled anesthetic isoflurane with Alzheimer's-disease-like changes in mammalian brains may by caused by the drug's effects on mitochondria, the structures in which most cellular energy is produced. ... > full story

How does nearsightedness develop in children? (March 1, 2012) -- Myopia (nearsightedness) develops in children when the lens stops compensating for continued growth of the eye, according to a new study. ... > full story

Groundbreaking discovery on stem cell regulation (March 1, 2012) -- Scientists have for the first time, identified that precise regulation of polyamine levels is critical for embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal -- the ability of ESCs to divide indefinitely -- and directed differentiation. This paper is crucial for better understanding of ESC regulation. ... > full story

Depression: An evolutionary byproduct of immune system? (March 1, 2012) -- Depression is common enough -- afflicting one in ten adults in the United States -- that it seems the possibility of depression must be "hard-wired" into our brains. This has led biologists to propose several theories to account for how depression, or behaviors linked to it, can somehow offer an evolutionary advantage. Some previous proposals for the role of depression in evolution have focused on how it affects behavior in a social context. A pair of psychiatrists addresses this puzzle in a different way, tying together depression and resistance to infection. They propose that genetic variations that promote depression arose during evolution because they helped our ancestors fight infection. ... > full story

Promising approach to preventing Alzheimer's (March 1, 2012) -- As scientists struggle to find an effective way to prevent Alzheimer's disease, researchers may have found a new approach to interrupting the process that leads to the devastating disease. ... > full story

Understanding and treating the cognitive dysfunction of Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease (March 1, 2012) -- Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic disorder in live born children arising as a consequence of a chromosomal abnormality. It occurs as a result of having three copies of chromosome 21, instead of the usual two. It causes substantial physical and behavioral abnormalities, including life-long cognitive dysfunction that can range from mild to severe but which further deteriorates as individuals with DS age. ... > full story

Beauty has a dark side: Morbid curiosity explained (March 1, 2012) -- What draws us to the darker side? What compels us to look whenever we pass a grisly accident on the highway and drives us to watch horror movies and television coverage of disasters? A professor and a lifelong student of the macabre, set out to discover the source of people’s attraction to the morbid, drawing on the perspectives of biologists, sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, philosophers, theologians and artists. ... > full story

New infant formula ingredients boost babies' immunity by feeding their gut bacteria (February 29, 2012) -- Adding prebiotic ingredients to infant formula helps colonize the newborn's gut with a stable population of beneficial bacteria, and probiotics enhance immunity in formula-fed infants, two studies report. ... > full story

Who's in the know? To a preschooler, the person doing the pointing (February 29, 2012) -- If you want a preschooler to get the point, point. That's a lesson that can be drawn from a new study. As part of their investigation of how small children know what other people know, the authors found they were able to mislead preschoolers with the simple introduction of a pointing gesture. ... > full story

Effects of a concussion may last longer than symptoms (February 29, 2012) -- A new study shows that physiological problems stemming from a concussion may continue to present in the patient even after standard symptoms subside. ... > full story

How insects 'remodel' their bodies between life stages (February 29, 2012) -- How is it that an insect can remake itself so completely that it appears to be a different creature altogether, not just once, but several times in its lifetime? Working with fruit flies scientists found that genes whose expression is induced by pulses of steroid hormone are key to these transformations. A similar mechanism may underlie puberty -- the human analog of metamorphosis. ... > full story

Blockade of learning and memory genes may occur early in Alzheimer's disease: Treatable in mice (February 29, 2012) -- A repression of gene activity in the brain appears to be an early event affecting people with Alzheimer's disease, researchers have found. In mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, this epigenetic blockade and its effects on memory were treatable. ... > full story

Old drug reveals new tricks: How interferon works to suppress virus in patients with HIV, hepatitis (February 29, 2012) -- A drug once taken by people with HIV/AIDS but long ago shelved after newer, modern antiretroviral therapies became available has now shed light on how the human body uses its natural immunity to fight the virus—work that could help uncover new targets for drugs. ... > full story

The ever-expanding definition of 'diversity' (February 29, 2012) -- Diversity has become a goal for all sorts of institutions -- but what it means may depend on who you ask. A new study finds that people's ideologies help determine what they count as "diverse." ... > full story

Two genes do not make a voter (February 29, 2012) -- Voting behavior cannot be predicted by one or two genes as previous researchers have claimed, according to a professor of public policy and political science. ... > full story

In what ways does lead damage the brain? It derails the brain's center for learning (February 29, 2012) -- Exposure to lead wreaks havoc in the brain, with consequences that include lower IQ and reduced potential for learning. But the precise mechanism by which lead alters nerve cells in the brain has largely remained unknown. New research has used high-powered fluorescent microscopy and other advanced techniques to painstakingly chart the varied ways lead inflicts its damage. ... > full story

Nanofiber breakthrough holds promise for medicine and microprocessors (February 29, 2012) -- A new method for creating nanofibers made of proteins promises to greatly improve drug delivery methods, aid in regenerating human tissue, and pave the way to an organic method of building nanofibers for tiny, powerful microprocessors. Researchers have discovered how to make nanofibers using the COMP protein found in human cartilage. By adding different metal ions, researchers found the fibers would absorb or release drug molecules. ... > full story

No workout? No worries: Scientists prevent muscle loss in mice, despite disease and inactivity (February 29, 2012) -- If you want big muscles without working out, there's hope. Scientists report a family of protein transcription factors, called "Forkhead (Fox0)," that plays a significant role in the regulation of skeletal muscle mass. Interfering with Fox0 prevented muscle wasting associated with cancer and sepsis, and even promoted muscle growth. This is likely relevant to any disease, condition or lifestyle that leads to muscle wasting. ... > full story

Gluten-free, casein-free diet may help some children with autism, research suggests (February 29, 2012) -- A gluten-free, casein-free diet may lead to improvements in behavior and physiological symptoms in some children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to researchers. The research is the first to use survey data from parents to document the effectiveness of a gluten-free, casein-free diet on children with ASD. ... > full story

Foot bones allow researchers to determine sex of skeletal remains (February 29, 2012) -- Law enforcement officials who are tasked with identifying a body based on partial skeletal remains have a new tool at their disposal. A new paper from North Carolina State University researchers details how to determine the biological sex of skeletal remains based solely on measurements of the seven tarsal bones in the feet. ... > full story

Winning makes people more aggressive toward the defeated (February 29, 2012) -- In this world, there are winners and losers – and, for your own safety, it is best to fear the winners. ... > full story

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

Scientists discover new 'off switch' in immune response (February 28, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered a new "off switch" in our immune response which could be boosted in diseases caused by over-activation of our immune system, or blocked to improve vaccines. ... > 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