ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Friday, March 16, 2012

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Friday, March 16, 2012

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A wandering mind reveals mental processes and priorities (March 15, 2012) -- Odds are, you’re not going to make it all the way through this article without thinking about something else. In fact, studies have found that our minds are wandering half the time, drifting off to thoughts unrelated to what we’re doing – did I remember to turn off the light? What should I have for dinner? ... > full story

Was human evolution caused by climate change? (March 15, 2012) -- Models of how animal and plant distributions are affected by climate change may also explain aspects of human evolution. ... > full story

Sex-deprived fruit flies turn to alcohol, perhaps to fulfill a physiological demand for a reward (March 15, 2012) -- After being deprived of sex, male fruit flies may turn to alcohol to fulfill a physiological demand for a reward, according to a new study. Neurobiology experts say that understanding why rejected male flies find solace in ethanol could help treat human addictions. ... > full story

With climate change, US could face risk from Chagas disease (March 15, 2012) -- People in the US may be at higher risk for Chagas disease than previously understood. A new study finds that 38 percent of kissing bugs collected in Arizona and California contained human blood and that more than 50 percent of the bugs also carried the parasite that causes this life-threatening disease. This upends the view that US kissing bug species don't regularly feed on people and suggests that Chagas could spread, driven north by climate change. ... > full story

Protein researchers unravel the molecular dance of DNA repair (March 15, 2012) -- Using state-of-the-art technology, scientists have successfully obtained "molecular snapshots" of tens of thousands processes involved in DNA damage repair. The results will help unravel exactly how cells repair their broken DNA, how chemotherapy affects cells' workings and will assist in the discovery of new drugs with fewer side effects. ... > full story

Revolution in personalized medicine: First-ever integrative 'Omics' profile lets scientist discover, track his diabetes onset (March 15, 2012) -- Researchers have reached an unprecedented analysis in the field of personalized medicine. Their findings rely on collecting and analyzing billions of individual bits of data, an integrative Personal "Omics" Profile, or iPOP. "Omics" indicates the study of a body of information, such as the genome or the proteome. The iPOP can identify and predict myriad problems including diabetes, and researchers say that such dynamic monitoring will soon become commonplace. ... > full story

The power of being heard: Group with less power benefits more from sharing its perspective (March 15, 2012) -- Researchers have shown that when it comes to intergroup conflict, the group with less power benefits more from sharing its perspective. ... > full story

Cell phone use in pregnancy may cause behavioral disorders in offspring, mouse study suggests (March 15, 2012) -- Exposure to radiation from cell phones during pregnancy affects the brain development of offspring, potentially leading to hyperactivity, researchers have determined. ... > full story

Cheaper drugs and better health care with a single chip (March 15, 2012) -- A researcher is developing technologies to miniaturize the first phase of a process used by pharmaceutical companies to discover new drugs. A breakthrough could ultimately lead to personalized and therefore more effective medical treatments, as well as major health care savings. ... > full story

Believing the impossible: No evidence for existence of psychic ability found (March 15, 2012) -- Research failing to find evidence for the existence of psychic ability has been published, following a year of industry debate. ... > full story

Dietary cadmium may be linked with breast cancer risk (March 15, 2012) -- Dietary cadmium, a toxic metal widely dispersed in the environment and found in many farm fertilizers, may lead to an increased risk of breast cancer, according to a new study. Cadmium occurs at low concentrations naturally, but scientists are concerned because contamination of farmland mainly due to atmospheric deposition and use of fertilizers leads to higher uptake in plants. Consuming whole grains and vegetables may counteract the effects. ... > full story

Recent generations focus more on fame, money than giving back (March 15, 2012) -- The times are changing, and not necessarily for the better when it comes to giving back to society, according to 40 years of research on 9 million young adults. Since the baby boomer generation, there has been a significant decline among young Americans in political participation, concern for others and interest in saving the environment, according to a new study. ... > full story

Health groups issue cervical cancer screening guidelines (March 14, 2012) -- A coalition of three health groups has released new guidelines for the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer. The guidelines generally advise a reduction in the number of tests women get over their lifetime to better ensure that they receive the benefits of testing while minimizing the harms. ... > full story

How to best help your child lose weight: Lose weight yourself (March 14, 2012) -- A parent's weight change is a key contributor to the success of a child's weight loss in family-based treatment of childhood obesity. ... > full story

Scientists identify neural activity sequences that help form memory, decision-making (March 14, 2012) -- Researchers have used a novel virtual reality and brain imaging system to detect a form of neural activity underlying how the brain forms short-term memories that are used in making decisions. ... > full story

Loss of appetite deciphered in brain cell circuit (March 14, 2012) -- A brain circuit has been deciphered that mediates loss of appetite in mice. Potential therapeutic targets were discovered within the cell-signaling pathway. The results may be valuable in developing new treatments for such eating disorders as persistent nausea, food aversions, and anorexia nervosa. ... > full story

Evidence builds that meditation strengthens the brain (March 14, 2012) -- Researchers have found that long-term meditators have larger amounts of gyrification ("folding" of the cortex, which may allow the brain to process information faster) then non-meditators. Further, a correlation was found between the amount of gyrification and the number of meditation years, possibly providing further proof of the brain's neuroplasticity. ... > full story

Lack of sleep may increase calorie consumption (March 14, 2012) -- If you don't get enough sleep, you may also eat too much -- and thus be more likely to become obese. ... > full story

Eye health is related to brain health (March 14, 2012) -- People with mild vascular disease that causes damage to the retina in the eye are more likely to have problems with thinking and memory skills because they may also have vascular disease in the brain, according to a new study. ... > full story

Killer silk: Making silk fibers that kill anthrax and other microbes in minutes (March 14, 2012) -- A simple, inexpensive dip-and-dry treatment can convert ordinary silk into a fabric that kills disease-causing bacteria -- even the armor-coated spores of microbes like anthrax -- in minutes. Researchers describe a range of potential uses for this new killer silk, including make-shift curtains and other protective coatings that protect homes and other buildings in the event of a terrorist attack with anthrax. ... > full story

Evolutionary surprise: Developmental 'scaffold' for vertebrate brain found in brainless marine worm (March 14, 2012) -- Scientists report finding some of the genetic processes that regulate vertebrate brain development in the acorn worm, a brainless, burrowing marine invertebrate. ... > full story

Scientists discover drug side effects, interactions using new computer algorithm (March 14, 2012) -- Researchers have devised a computer algorithm that enabled them to swiftly sift through millions of reports to the US Food and Drug Administration by patients and their physicians and identify "true" drug side effects. The method also identified previously unsuspected interactions between pairs of drugs, notably that antidepressants called SSRIs interact with a common blood pressure medication to significantly increase the risk of a potentially deadly heart condition. ... > full story

Walking may lessen the influence of genes on obesity by half (March 14, 2012) -- Watching too much TV can worsen your genetic tendency towards obesity, but you can cut the effect in half by walking briskly for an hour a day, researchers report. ... > full story

Researchers identify unexpected player in intestinal immunity (March 14, 2012) -- With every meal, immune cells in the intestine stand like sentries at a citadel, turning away harmful bacteria but allowing vitamins and nutrients to pass. Now, researchers have identified the cells that chaperone food antigens, or proteins, in the intestine so that the immune system doesn’t mount an attack. Their discovery provides scientists with a potential target for therapies against inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease and food allergies. ... > full story

Biologists uncover surprising connection between breast cancer cells and surrounding tissue (March 14, 2012) -- Biologists had found a previously unknown connection between breast cancer tumor cells and the surrounding healthy tissue. The results provide new information on the earliest stages of breast cancer metastasis. ... > full story

How salmonella avoids the body's immune response (March 14, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered how salmonella, a bacterium found in contaminated raw foods that causes major gastrointestinal distress in humans, thrives in the digestive tract despite the immune system's best efforts to destroy it. ... > full story

Epigenetic signatures direct the repair potential of reprogrammed cells (March 14, 2012) -- A research team has reprogrammed skin cells to identify epigenetic signatures that regulate the expression of a protein critical for repair of non-healing wounds. Identification of these signatures holds promise for future research aimed at applying these cells for personalized tissue regeneration. ... > full story

H. pylori bacteria linked to blood sugar control in adult type II diabetes (March 14, 2012) -- A new study reveals that the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria is associated with elevated levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), an important biomarker for blood glucose levels and diabetes. The association was even stronger in obese individuals with a higher Body Mass Index (BMI). The results suggest the bacteria may play a role in the development of diabetes in adults. ... > full story

Motivation to be active may lead to impulsive behavior (March 14, 2012) -- Those motivated to actively change bad habits may be setting themselves up for failure, a new study suggests. ... > full story

Health and ecosystem issues found with popular pavement sealcoat (March 14, 2012) -- A parking lot at the edge of the University of New Hampshire campus has contributed important research to an emerging concern for the environment and human health. The research has found that one type of pavement sealcoat, common on driveways and parking lots throughout the nation, has significant health and ecosystem implications. ... > full story

'Brain fog' of menopause confirmed (March 14, 2012) -- The difficulties that many women describe as memory problems when menopause approaches are real, according to a new study. The findings won't come as a surprise to millions of women, but the results validate their experiences and provide some clues to what is happening in the brain as women hit menopause. ... > full story

REM sleep disorder doubles risk of mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson's, study finds (March 14, 2012) -- People with symptoms suggesting rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, or RBD, have twice the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or Parkinson's disease within four years of diagnosis with the sleep problem, compared with people without the disorder, a new study has found. ... > full story

Few genes control neuronal function (March 14, 2012) -- How are 100 billion cells created, each with specific duties? The human brain is evidence that nature can achieve this. Researchers have now taken a step closer to solving this mystery. ... > full story

Capturing chromosomes during cell division (March 14, 2012) -- Scientists have been successful in elucidating a new mechanism for the error-free segregation of the human genome during cell division. They have been able to show that the enzyme Aurora B and the protein complex Ska play a central role in flawless chromosome segregation. ... > full story

Are silver nanoparticles harmful? (March 14, 2012) -- Silver nanoparticles cause more damage to testicular cells than titanium dioxide nanoparticles, according to a recent study. However, the use of both types may affect testicular cells with possible consequences for fertility. ... > full story

Shyness study examines how human brain adapts to stimuli (March 14, 2012) -- Shyness may be the result of deficits in two areas of the brain, new research finds. ... > full story

Voters favor deep-voiced politicians (March 13, 2012) -- Candidates with lower-pitched voices may get more votes in the 2012 election. A new study by biologists and a political scientist shows that both men and women prefer political candidates with deeper voices. The results also suggest that biology -- not just partisanship or ideology -- can shape voters' choices. ... > full story

Fatty diets may be associated with reduced semen quality (March 13, 2012) -- Men's diets, in particular the amount and type of different fats they eat, could be associated with their semen quality according to the results of a study. The study of 99 men in the USA found an association between a high total fat intake and lower total sperm count and concentration. ... > full story

Magnesium lowers blood pressure, study suggests (March 13, 2012) -- Researchers have found that magnesium supplements may offer small but clinically significant reductions in blood pressure. The researchers also discovered that the size of the effect increased in line with increased dosage. ... > full story

Losing belly fat, whether from a low-carb or a low-fat diet, helps improve blood vessel function (March 13, 2012) -- Overweight people who shed pounds, especially belly fat, can improve the function of their blood vessels no matter whether they are on a low-carb or a low-fat diet, according to a new study. ... > full story

A new approach to faster anticancer drug discovery (March 13, 2012) -- Tracking the genetic pathway of a disease offers a powerful, new approach to drug discovery, according to scientists who used the approach to uncover a potential treatment for prostate cancer, using a drug currently marketed for congestive heart failure. ... > full story

Cancer epigenetics: Breakthrough in identifying target genes (March 13, 2012) -- Cancer is usually attributed to faulty genes, but growing evidence from the field of cancer epigenetics indicates a key role for the gene "silencing" proteins that stably turn genes off inside the cell nucleus. A new study promises to speed research in the field by rapidly identifying the genes that epigenetic proteins can target for silencing. ... > full story

Cool hands may be the key to increasing exercise capacity (March 13, 2012) -- Cooling the palms of the hands while working out could help you stick with a physical activity program, according to a small study. ... > full story

Dietary patterns exist among US adults based on demographics (March 13, 2012) -- Scientists say they have identified five eating patterns for US adults that are strongly influenced by age, race, region, gender, income and education. ... > full story

Treating intestinal E. coli infection with antibiotic may reduce duration of bacterial carriage (March 13, 2012) -- In the E. coli outbreak in Germany in May 2011, treatment with azithromycin was associated with a lower frequency of long-term carriage of the bacteria and shorter duration of shedding of the bacteria in stool specimens, according to a new study. ... > full story

Potential Alzheimer's disease drug slows damage and symptoms in animal model (March 13, 2012) -- A compound that previously progressed to Phase II clinical trials for cancer treatment slows neurological damage and improves brain function in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. The compound epothilone D is effective in preventing further neurological damage and improving cognitive performance in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The results establish how the drug might be used in early-stage AD patients. ... > full story

Scientists produce eye structures from human blood-derived stem cells (March 13, 2012) -- For the first time, scientists have made early retina structures containing proliferating neuroretinal progenitor cells using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells derived from human blood. ... > full story

Reduced baby risk from another Cesarean (March 13, 2012) -- A major study has found that women who have had one prior cesarean can lower the risk of death and serious complications for their next baby -- and themselves -- by electing to have another cesarean. ... > full story