ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Tuesday, March 20, 2012

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Tuesday, March 20, 2012

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Scientists develop tools to make more complex biological machines from yeast (March 19, 2012) -- Scientists are one step closer to making more complex microscopic biological machines, following improvements in the way that they can "re-wire" DNA in yeast, according to new research. ... > full story

Novel therapy discovered for Crohn's disease (March 19, 2012) -- Medical researchers have discovered important new information on the efficacy of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in treating Crohn's disease, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). CLA is a naturally occurring acid found in meat and dairy products known for its anti-cancer and immune modulatory properties. ... > full story

Facebook's dark side (March 19, 2012) -- For the average narcissist, Facebook "offers a gateway for hundreds of shallow relationships and emotionally detached communication," one expert says. More importantly, for this study, social networking in general allows the user a great deal of control over how he or she is presented to and perceived by peers and other users, he added. ... > full story

Discovery provides blueprint for new drugs that can inhibit hepatitis C virus (March 19, 2012) -- Chemists have produced the first high resolution structure of a molecule that when attached to the genetic material of the hepatitis C virus prevents it from reproducing. ... > full story

Circadian rhythms have profound influence on metabolic output (March 19, 2012) -- By analyzing the hundreds of metabolic products present in the liver, researchers have discovered that circadian rhythms -- our own body clock -- greatly control the production of such key building blocks as amino acids, carbohydrates and lipids. ... > full story

New antibiotic could make food safer and cows healthier (March 19, 2012) -- Food-borne diseases might soon have another warrior to contend with, thanks to a new molecule discovered by chemists. The new antibiotic, an analog of the widely used food preservative nisin, also has potential to be a boon to the dairy industry as a treatment for bovine mastitis. ... > full story

Diagnosis of ADHD on the rise (March 19, 2012) -- The number of American children leaving doctors' offices with an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis has risen 66 percent in 10 years, according to a new study. ... > full story

Genetic variation in human gut viruses could be raw material for inner evolution (March 19, 2012) -- A growing body of evidence underscores the importance of human gut bacteria in modulating human health, metabolism, and disease. Yet bacteria are only part of the story. Viruses that infect those bacteria also shape who we are. A new study sequenced the DNA of viruses -- the virome -- present in the gut of healthy people. ... > full story

How bacteria resist a 'Trojan horse' antibiotic (March 19, 2012) -- A new study describes how bacteria use a previously unknown means to defeat an antibiotic. The researchers found that the bacteria have modified a common "housekeeping" enzyme in a way that enables the enzyme to recognize and disarm the antibiotic. ... > full story

Smoking may restore tapped-out self-control resources (March 19, 2012) -- When researchers deplete a smoker's self control, smoking a cigarette may restore self-control, new research suggests. ... > full story

Targeted X-ray treatment of mice prevents glaucoma (March 19, 2012) -- Researchers have demonstrated that a single, targeted x-ray treatment of an individual eye in young, glaucoma-prone mice provided that eye with apparently life-long and typically complete protection from glaucoma. They used sophisticated genomics methods to uncover some of the very first pathways to change during glaucoma in these mice. The first pathway they detected to change suggests a critical mechanism that could be responsible for the earliest damage that glaucoma inflicts on the optic nerve. ... > full story

Scientists break through pancreas cancer treatment barrier (March 19, 2012) -- Pancreas cancer tumors spread quickly and are notoriously resistant to treatment, making them among the deadliest of malignancies. Their resistance to chemotherapy stems in part from a unique biological barrier the tumor builds around itself. Now scientists have found a way to break through that defense, and their research represents a potential breakthrough in the treatment of pancreas cancer. ... > full story

Genetic research develops tools for studying diseases, improving regenerative treatment (March 19, 2012) -- Researchers may make it easier to recover after spinal cord injury or to study neurological disorders. His research can greatly improve animal and human health by developing technology to advance cellular therapy and regenerative medicine. ... > full story

Young children learn about prejudice by instruction, older children by experience (March 19, 2012) -- For a six-year-old, one of the most powerful educational tools may be direct instruction, according to new research on how children learn about prejudice. Scientists found that as children get closer to age 10, they begin to rely more on their own experiences rather than what people tell them -- but for youngsters, instruction trumps experience. ... > full story

Tracking proteins behaving badly provides insights for treatments of brain diseases (March 19, 2012) -- Scientists have developed a novel technique that tracks diseased proteins behaving badly by forming clusters in brain diseases such as Huntington's and Alzheimer's. ... > full story

Solving the mystery of blood clotting (March 19, 2012) -- New research helps to better understand the blood clotting process. Researchers were able to determine the molecular 3-D structure of a protein in blood platelets and a receptor that sticks through the membrane of the cell to the outside. ... > full story

Japanese traditional therapy, honokiol, blocks key protein in inflammatory brain damage, study suggests (March 19, 2012) -- Microglia are the first line defense of the brain and are constantly looking for infections to fight off. Overactive microglia can cause uncontrolled inflammation within the brain, which can in turn lead to neuronal damage. New research shows that, honokiol (HNK) is able to down-regulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory enzymes in activated microglia via Klf4, a protein known to regulate DNA. ... > full story

Nerve cells grow on nanocellulose (March 19, 2012) -- Researchers have shown that nanocellulose stimulates the formation of neural networks. This is the first step toward creating a three-dimensional model of the brain. Such a model could elevate brain research to totally new levels, with regard to Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, for example. ... > full story

Antibiotic treatment increases the severity of asthma in young mice (March 19, 2012) -- Treatment with the antibiotic vancomycin increases the severity of allergic asthma in young mice, researchers in Canada have revealed. The results are consistent with the “hygiene hypothesis” that links the loss of beneficial bacteria in the community of microorganisms in the gut, collectively known as the microbiota, to the onset of asthma.   ... > full story

Lifestyle study highlights key differences in relapsing and progressive onset multiple sclerosis (March 19, 2012) -- Patients with relapsing onset Multiple Sclerosis (MS) who consumed alcohol, wine, coffee and fish on a regular basis took four to seven years longer to reach the point where they needed a walking aid than people who never consumed them. However the study did not observe the same patterns in patients with progressive onset MS. ... > full story

Smell is a symphony: New model for how the brain is organized to process odor information (March 19, 2012) -- Just like a road atlas faithfully maps real-word locations, our brain maps many aspects of our physical world: Sensory inputs from our fingers are mapped next to each other in the somatosensory cortex; the auditory system is organized by sound frequency. The olfactory system was believed to map similarly, where groups of chemically related odorants - amines, ketones, or esters, for example - register with clusters of cells that are laid out next to each other. ... > full story

Researchers boost potency, reduce side effects of IL-2 protein used to treat cancer (March 18, 2012) -- The utility of a naturally occurring protein given, sometimes to great effect, as a drug to treat advanced cancers is limited by the severe side effects it sometimes causes. But scientists have now generated a mutant version of the protein whose modified shape renders it substantially more potent than the natural protein while reducing its toxicity. ... > full story

Bone marrow transplant arrests symptoms in model of Rett syndrome (March 18, 2012) -- Medical researchers have used a bone marrow transplant to replace faulty immune system cells in models of Rett syndrome. The procedure arrested many severe symptoms of the childhood disorder, including abnormal breathing and movement, and extended the lifespan of Rett mouse models. Exploring the function of microglia deficient in the Rett protein scientists uncovered a completely novel approach to this devastating neurological syndrome. ... > full story

Genetic variation in East Asians found to explain resistance to cancer drugs (March 18, 2012) -- Scientists have identified the reason why some patients fail to respond to some of the most successful cancer drugs. ... > full story

How a single gene mutation leads to uncontrolled obesity (March 18, 2012) -- Researchers have revealed how a mutation in a single gene is responsible for the inability of neurons to effectively pass along appetite suppressing signals from the body to the right place in the brain. What results is obesity caused by a voracious appetite. ... > full story

Obesity raises death risk tied to sleeping pills (March 16, 2012) -- Obesity appears to significantly increase the risk of death tied to sleeping pills, nearly doubling the rate of mortality even among those prescribed 18 or fewer pills in a year, researchers have reported. ... > full story

Common virus can lead to life-threatening conditions in children (March 16, 2012) -- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common virus that infects the lungs and breathing passage ways. Though it may only produce minor cold symptoms in adults, it can lead to serious illness in young children and those with compromised immune systems. ... > full story

Who wouldn't pay a penny for a sports car? The right strategy doesn't guarantee advantage in auctions, real estate or stock market (March 16, 2012) -- In a study of lowest unique bid auctions, researchers asked: Who wins these auctions, the strategic gambler or the lucky one? The answer is the lucky. But, ironically, it's a lucky person using a winning strategy. The researchers found that all players intuitively use the right strategy, and that turns the auction into a game of pure chance. The findings provide insight into playing the stock market, real estate market and other gambles. ... > full story

Nanopills release drugs directly from the inside of cells (March 16, 2012) -- Researchers in Spain have created nanoparticles which can release drugs directly from the cells' interior. The technology, which has been named "nanopills," was licensed to a firm that has verified its tolerance by administering it in vivo. ... > full story

Gambling addictions expert warns of dangers of internet gambling, especially on youth (March 16, 2012) -- Participating in an online March Madness bracket or fantasy sport league is harmless fun for most people, but for someone with a gambling addiction, it can be a dangerous temptation. “Now, with states entertaining the possibility of increasing revenue through legalizing internet gambling, it is even more important to pay attention to groups that may be vulnerable to problem gambling, particularly youth,” says Renee Cunningham-Williams, a gambling addictions expert. “Internet gambling provides youth with increased opportunities to gamble, which is particularly concerning because this generation is arguably the most technologically savvy of any generation in history.” ... > full story

Highly exposed to phthalates as fetuses, female mice have altered reproductive lives (March 16, 2012) -- Many environmental and public health officials are concerned about the potential health effects of phthalates, which are common chemicals used to make plastics softer and more pliable. In the first study to examine what effect in utero doses of phthalates have on the reproductive system of mice, toxicologists found that extremely high doses were associated with significant changes, such as a shortened reproductive lifespan and abnormal cell growth in mammary glands. ... > full story

Checking off symptoms online affects our perceptions of risk (March 16, 2012) -- You've been feeling under the weather. You Google your symptoms. A half-hour later, you're convinced it's nothing serious -- or afraid you have cancer. More than 60 percent of Americans get their health information online, and a majority of those decide whether to see a doctor based on what they find. "Wow, this is an era of self-diagnosis," thought Arizona State University psychologist Virginia Kwan, learning that statistic. Psychologists have asked how might online information affect individual health decisions? ... > full story

Molecular pathway through which common yeast becomes fungal pathogen determined (March 16, 2012) -- Scientists have found a molecular mechanism that plays a key role in the transition of Candida albicans yeast into disease-causing fungus -- one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired infection. The finding highlights the importance of heat in fungal growth, and provides a new target for drug therapies to counter Candida albicans infection. In an additional study, the researchers identified 224 new genetic interactors for central protein in Candida albicans. ... > full story

Treating psoriasis to prevent heart attacks and strokes (March 16, 2012) -- A clinical study shows that a new treatment for psoriasis could be associated with a significant decrease in vascular inflammation, a major risk factor of cardiovascular disease. ... > full story

Cell-signaling pathway has key role in development of gestational diabetes (March 16, 2012) -- Researchers have identified a cell-signaling pathway that plays a key role in increasing insulin secretion during pregnancy and, when blocked, leads to the development of gestational diabetes. ... > full story

Brain imaging study finds evidence of basis for caregiving impulse (March 16, 2012) -- Distinct patterns of activity -- which may indicate a predisposition to care for infants -- appear in the brains of adults who view an image of an infant face -- even when the child is not theirs, according to a study by an international team of researchers. ... > full story

Nano rescues skin: Shrimp shell nanotech for wound healing and anti-aging face cream (March 16, 2012) -- Nanoparticles containing chitosan have been shown to have effective antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Escherichia coli. The materials could be used as a protective wound-healing material to avoid opportunistic infection as well as working to facilitate wound healing. ... > full story

Lyme disease surge predicted for Northeastern US: Due to acorns and mice, not mild winter (March 16, 2012) -- The northeastern US should prepare for a surge in Lyme disease this spring. And we can blame fluctuations in acorns and mouse populations, not the mild winter. ... > full story

White rice increases risk of Type 2 diabetes, study claims (March 15, 2012) -- The risk of Type 2 diabetes is significantly increased if white rice is eaten regularly, claims a new study. ... > full story

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

Scientists map hotspots for genetic exchange in chimpanzees (March 15, 2012) -- Scientists have constructed the world's first genetic map in chimpanzees of recombination -- the exchange of genetic material within a chromosome that makes us all unique. The study shows surprising differences compared to how the process occurs in the human genome. ... > full story

Deprived of sex, jilted flies drink more alcohol (March 15, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered that a tiny molecule in the fly’s brain called neuropeptide F governs this behavior—as the levels of the molecule change in their brains, the flies’ behavior changes as well. ... > 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

Suppressing feelings of compassion makes people feel less moral (March 15, 2012) -- It's normal to not always act on your sense of compassion -- for example, by walking past a beggar on the street without giving them any money. Maybe you want to save your money or avoid engaging with a homeless person. But even if suppressing compassion avoids these costs, it may carry a personal cost of its own, according to a new study. ... > 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