ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Tuesday, March 27, 2012

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Tuesday, March 27, 2012

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Does the brain 'remember' antidepressants? More proof for the power of placebo (March 26, 2012) -- Using a placebo pill appearing identical to the real thing, researchers have found that how the brain responds to antidepressant medication may be influenced by its remembering past antidepressant exposure. ... > full story

Genetic risk and stressful early infancy join to increase risk for schizophrenia (March 26, 2012) -- Working with genetically engineered mice and the genomes of thousands of people with schizophrenia, researchers say they now better understand how both nature and nurture can affect one's risks for schizophrenia and abnormal brain development in general. ... > full story

A 24-karat gold key to unlock the immune system (March 26, 2012) -- Using nanoparticles made of pure gold, researchers have developed a new method of introducing chemical residues into the immune system, triggering immune cells to help the body fight infection. The breakthrough could lead to an increased understanding of viruses and bacteria, better drug delivery systems, and more effective medications and vaccinations. ... > full story

Smokers could be more prone to schizophrenia (March 26, 2012) -- Smoking alters the impact of a schizophrenia risk gene. Scientists have demonstrated that healthy people who carry this risk gene and smoke process acoustic stimuli in a similarly deficient way as patients with schizophrenia. Furthermore, the impact is all the stronger the more the person smokes. ... > full story

Chronic stress spawns protein aggregates linked to Alzheimer's (March 26, 2012) -- Repeated stress triggers the production and accumulation of insoluble tau protein aggregates inside the brain cells of mice, say researchers. ... > full story

Single antibody shrinks variety of human tumors transplanted into mice, study shows (March 26, 2012) -- Human tumors transplanted into laboratory mice disappeared or shrank when scientists treated the animals with a single antibody, according to a new study. The antibody works by masking a protein flag on cancer cells that protects them from macrophages and other cells in the immune system. The scientists achieved the findings with human breast, ovarian, colon, bladder, brain, liver and prostate cancer samples. ... > full story

Computer system identifies liars (March 26, 2012) -- Computer scientists are exploring whether machines can read the visual cues that give away deceit. Results so far are promising: In a study of 40 videotaped conversations, an automated system that analyzed eye movements correctly identified whether interview subjects were lying or telling the truth 82.5 percent of the time. ... > full story

To drive infections, a hijacking virus mimics a cell's signaling system (March 26, 2012) -- New biological research reveals how an invading virus hijacks a cell's workings by imitating a signaling marker to defeat the body's defenses. By manipulating cell signals, the virus destroys a defensive protein designed to inhibit it. This finding, from studies in human cell cultures, may represent a broader targeting strategy used by other viruses, and may lay the scientific groundwork for developing more effective treatments for infectious diseases. ... > full story

Smiling through the tears: Study shows how tearjerkers make people happier (March 26, 2012) -- People enjoy watching tragedy movies like “Titanic” because they deliver what may seem to be an unlikely benefit: tragedies actually make people happier in the short-term. ... > full story

Rapid rise in blood pressure before midlife may cause irreversible heart damage (March 26, 2012) -- The current "watch-and-wait" approach to high blood pressure readings in younger people may set patients on a course for irreversible heart damage, according to new research. ... > full story

New class of platelet blockers proves effective in phase III trial, study suggests (March 26, 2012) -- Adding vorapaxar, an investigational platelet blocker, to standard antiplatelet therapy significantly reduces the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in patients with known atherosclerosis, a hardening and narrowing of the arteries, according to new research. ... > full story

Sleeping too much or too little can be bad for your heart (March 26, 2012) -- Getting too little sleep – or even too much – appears to spell trouble for the heart. New data reveal that adults who get less than six hours of sleep a night are at significantly greater risk of stroke, heart attack and congestive heart failure. Even those who reportedly sleep more than eight hours a night have a higher prevalence of heart problems, namely chest pain (angina) and coronary artery disease, a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. ... > full story

Compound in soy products may help lower blood pressure (March 26, 2012) -- Soy-based food products have taken grocery store shelves by storm, and the benefits of soy are steadily beginning to emerge. Eating foods that contain isoflavones – a key compound in soy milk, tofu, green tea and even peanuts – every day may help young adults lower their blood pressure. ... > full story

Low LDL cholesterol is related to cancer risk (March 26, 2012) -- Low LDL cholesterol in patients with no history of taking cholesterol-lowering drugs predates cancer risk by decades, suggesting there may be some underlying mechanism affecting both cancer and low LDL cholesterol that requires further examination, according to new research. ... > full story

Pregnancy increases risk of heart attack (March 26, 2012) -- Heart attacks during pregnancy tend to be more severe, lead to more complications, and also occur for different reasons than commonly seen in the non-pregnant general population, suggesting that, in some cases, the standard approach to managing this condition may not always be best, according to new research. ... > full story

Snacking on raisins may offer a heart-healthy way to lower blood pressure (March 26, 2012) -- If you have slightly higher than normal blood pressure – known as prehypertension – consider eating a handful of raisins. New data suggest that, among individuals with mild increases in blood pressure, the routine consumption of raisins (three times a day) may significantly lower blood pressure. ... > full story

Skaters' brains: Specialized training of complex motor skills may induce sports-specific structural changes in cerebellum (March 26, 2012) -- Specialized training of complex motor skills may induce sports-specific structural changes in the human brain. ... > full story

Bone marrow stem cells can improve heart function, study suggests (March 26, 2012) -- Physicians have found that stem cells derived from heart failure patients’ own bone marrow and injected into their hearts improved the function of the left ventricle, the heart’s pumping chamber. Researchers also found that certain types of the stem cells were associated with the largest improvement and warrant further study. ... > full story

Inner weapons against allergies: Gut bacteria control allergic diseases, study suggests (March 25, 2012) -- Researchers have found that commensal bacteria in humans might play an important role in influencing and controlling allergic inflammation. The study suggest that therapeutic targeting of immune cell responses to resident gut bacteria may be beneficial in treating allergic diseases. ... > full story

Genetics of flu susceptibility: Why the flu is life-threatening for some, and quite mild for others (March 25, 2012) -- A genetic finding could help explain why influenza becomes a life-threatening disease to some people while it has only mild effects in others. New research has identified for the first time a human gene that influences how we respond to influenza infection. ... > full story

Popcorn: The snack with even higher antioxidants levels than fruits and vegetables (March 25, 2012) -- Popcorn’s reputation as a snack food that’s actually good for health popped up a few notches today as scientists reported that it contains more of the healthful antioxidant substances called "polyphenols" than fruits and vegetables. ... > full story

Scientists identify novel pathway for T-cell activation in leprosy (March 25, 2012) -- Scientists have pinpointed a new mechanism that potently activates T-cells to fight leprosy. Specifically, the team studied how immune cells located at the site of infection, called dendritic cells, become more specialized to fight leprosy. Dendritic cells deliver key information about an invading pathogen that helps activate the T-cells in launching a more effective attack. The finding may have applications in combating other infectious diseases and cancer. ... > full story

A double ring ceremony prepares telomerase RNA to wed its protein partner (March 25, 2012) -- Few molecules are more interesting than DNA—except of course RNA. After two decades of research, that “other macromolecule” is no longer considered a mere messenger between glamorous DNA and protein-synthesizing machines. We now know that RNA has been leading a secret life, regulating gene expression and partnering with proteins to form catalytic ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. ... > full story

Incontinence 20 years after child birth three times more common after vaginal delivery (March 25, 2012) -- Women are nearly three times more likely to experience urinary incontinence for more than 10 years following a vaginal delivery rather than a caesarean section, finds new research. ... > full story

High blood sugar lowers chances of surviving a heart attack (March 25, 2012) -- Patients with high blood sugar run an increased risk of dying if they have a heart attack, and diabetics are less likely to survive in-hospital cardiac arrest than non-diabetics, reveals new research. ... > full story

The body's bacteria affect intestinal blood vessel formation (March 25, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered a previously unknown mechanism which helps intestinal bacteria to affect the formation of blood vessels. The results may provide future treatments of intestinal diseases and obesity. ... > full story

Brushing teeth: New 'massage method' quadruples protection against tooth decay, study suggests (March 25, 2012) -- Do you really want to avoid cavities in your teeth? Try massaging them with a high-fluoride toothpaste after lunch. "Rubbing toothpaste onto your teeth increases the fluoride protection by 400%," say experts. ... > full story

Diabetes drug can prevent heart disease, new study suggests (March 25, 2012) -- The widely used diabetes medicine metformin can have protective effects on the heart, reveals a new study. ... > full story

Brain size may determine whether you are good at keeping friends (March 24, 2012) -- Researchers are suggesting that there is a link between the number of friends you have and the size of the region of the brain -- known as the orbital prefrontal cortex -- that is found just above the eyes. A new study shows that this brain region is bigger in people who have a larger number of friendships. ... > full story

Shiny new tool for imaging biomolecules (March 23, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a technique for lacing artificial membranes with billions of gold nanoantennas that can boost optical signals from a protein tens of thousands of times without the protein ever being touched. This technique could provide a critical tool in the fight against a wide range of health problems including cancer. ... > full story

Embryonic stem cells shift metabolism in cancer-like way upon implanting in uterus (March 23, 2012) -- When an embryo implants in the uterus, the low-oxygen environment provokes some of its cells to shift to a sugar-busting metabolism. In cancer cells, the same shift releases fuel and materials for rapid tumor growth and division. In the embryo, the shift prepares for dramatic growth and formation of layers that later become organs. The researchers also saw a mitochondrial downshift linked to aging and disease controlling normal embryonic development. It may protect cells that later become eggs or sperm from oxidant damage. ... > full story

Learning best when you rest: Sleeping after processing new info most effective (March 23, 2012) -- Nodding off in class may not be such a bad idea after all. New research shows that going to sleep shortly after learning new material is most beneficial for recall. ... > full story

Highly flexible despite hard-wiring: Even slight stimuli change the information flow in the brain (March 23, 2012) -- When looking at an optical illusion that can appear as either one cup or two faces, which do you see first? What we believe we see in one of the most famous optical illusions changes in a split second; and so does the path that the information takes in the brain. Changes in the information processing can be triggered even by a slight stimulus, such as a scent or sound, at the right time. ... > full story

New epilepsy gene located in dogs (March 23, 2012) -- A new epilepsy gene for idiopathic epilepsy in Belgian Shepherds has been found in the canine chromosome 37. This research opens new avenues for the understanding of the genetic background of the most common canine epilepsies. The research also has an impact on the understanding of common epilepsies in humans. ... > full story

'Bed-of-nails' breast implant deters cancer cells (March 23, 2012) -- Researchers have created an implant that appears to deter breast cancer cell regrowth. Made from a common federally approved polymer, the implant is the first to be modified at the nanoscale in a way that causes a reduction in the blood-vessel architecture that breast cancer tumors depend upon, while also attracting healthy breast cells. ... > full story

Brain insulin resistance contributes to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (March 23, 2012) -- Insulin resistance in the brain precedes and contributes to cognitive decline above and beyond other known causes of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. ... > full story

Expectations, exhaustion can lead mothers to post-adoption stress (March 23, 2012) -- Fatigue and unrealistic expectations of parenthood may help contribute to post-adoption depression in women, according to a new study. ... > full story

A new test might facilitate diagnosis and drug development for Alzheimer's disease (March 23, 2012) -- Scientists have developed a new method for measurement of aggregated beta-amyloid – a protein complex believed to cause major nerve cell damage and dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease. The new method might facilitate diagnosis and detection as well as development of drugs directed against aggregated beta-amyloid. ... > full story

Who knew? Fruit flies get kidney stones too (March 23, 2012) -- Research on kidney stones in fruit flies may hold the key to developing a treatment that could someday stop the formation of kidney stones in humans, scientists have found. ... > full story

Biomarkers for autism discovered (March 23, 2012) -- There are no acknowledged biomarkers for autism today. An important step towards developing a rapid, inexpensive diagnostic method for autism has now been take. Through advanced mass spectrometry the researchers managed to capture promising biomarkers from a tiny blood sample. ... > full story

Humans began walking upright to carry scarce resources, chimp study suggests (March 23, 2012) -- Most of us walk and carry items in our hands every day. These are seemingly simple activities that the majority of us don't question. But scientists have discovered that human bipedalism, or walking upright, may have originated millions of years ago as an adaptation to carrying scarce, high-quality resources. ... > full story

Exercise is not enough for sedentary workers (March 23, 2012) -- Good physical condition is a route to better health, and in order to improve it, exercising several days a week is recommended. Although it is possible to become healthier by exercising, long daily sedentary periods cause a health risk despite physical activity. ... > full story

Scientists reprogram cancer cells with low doses of epigenetic drugs (March 23, 2012) -- Experimenting with cells in culture, researchers have breathed possible new life into two drugs once considered too toxic for human cancer treatment. The drugs, azacitidine (AZA) and decitabine (DAC), are epigenetic-targeted drugs and work to correct cancer-causing alterations that modify DNA. ... > full story

Gene expression abnormalities in autism identified (March 23, 2012) -- A new study has for the first time identified in young autism patients genetic mechanisms involved in abnormal early brain development and overgrowth that occurs in the disorder. The findings suggest novel genetic and molecular targets that could lead to discoveries of new prevention strategies and treatment for the disorder. ... > full story

How music helps prevent organ rejection (March 23, 2012) -- Music has a fundamental affect on humans. It can reduce stress, enhance relaxation, provide a distraction from pain, and improve the results of clinical therapy. New research demonstrates that music can reduce rejection of heart transplants in mice by influencing the immune system. ... > full story

Home alone: Depression highest for those living alone (March 23, 2012) -- The number of people living on their own has doubled, over the last three decades, to one in three in the UK and US. New research shows that the risk of depression, measured by people taking antidepressants, is almost 80% higher for those living alone compared to people living in any kind of social or family group. For women a third of this risk was attributable to sociodemographic factors, such as lack of education and low income. For men the biggest contributing factors included poor job climate, lack of support at the work place or in their private lives, and heavy drinking. ... > full story

High-throughput screening finds surprising properties for antioxidants: Some compounds can damage DNA, but may treat cancer (March 22, 2012) -- Antioxidants have long been thought to have anti-aging properties, primarily by protecting a person's genetic material from damaging chemicals. The story, however, now appears to be much more complicated. Researchers have demonstrated that some antioxidants damage DNA and kill cells instead of protecting them. The findings also suggest that this surprising capability may be good for treating cancer, but may prove cautionary when using antioxidant-based medicines to treat other disorders, such as diabetes. ... > full story

Can our genes be making us fat? (March 22, 2012) -- While high-fat foods are thought to be of universal appeal, there is actually a lot of variation in the extent to which people like and consume fat. A new study reported that two specific genes (TAS2R38–a bitter taste receptor and CD36–a possible fat receptor), may play a role in some people’s ability to taste and enjoy dietary fat. By understanding the role of these two genes, food scientists may be able to help people who have trouble controlling how much fat they eat. ... > full story