ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Monday, September 12, 2011 ~ gwinnetttech

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Monday, September 12, 2011

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Research points to potential therapy for tumor-associated epilepsy (September 12, 2011) -- Brain tumors called gliomas are often associated with seizures, but why the seizures occur and how to effectively treat them have been elusive. A research team has found that human gliomas implanted in mice release excess levels of the brain chemical glutamate, overstimulating neurons near the tumor and triggering seizures. Sulfasalazine, a drug on the market for treating certain inflammatory disorders, reduced seizures in the mice. ... > full story

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome may be linked to dysregulated neuronal RNA transport, study suggests (September 12, 2011) -- A new study suggests that cellular dysregulation associated with certain neurodegenerative disorders may result from molecular competition in neuronal RNA transport pathways. ... > full story

Withdrawing life support for traumatic brain injuries needs cautious approach, study finds (September 12, 2011) -- Death following severe traumatic brain injury is associated with a highly variable incidence of withdrawal of life support at the end of life, finds a new study. Rates of withdrawal of life support vary between hospitals, and caution should be used in making this decision, the study states. ... > full story

Neuroscientists find famous optical illusion surprisingly potent (September 12, 2011) -- Scientists have figured out the brain mechanism that makes an optical illusion first reported thousands of years ago by Aristotle work. The illusion, known as "motion aftereffect" in scientific circles, causes us to see movement where none exists. ... > full story

Critical similarity found between two types of do-it-all stem cells (September 12, 2011) -- Scientists report the first full measurement of the proteins made by both types of stem cells. In a study that looked at four embryonic stem cells and four IPS cells, the proteins turned out to be 99 percent similar, say researchers. ... > full story

Inexpensive infection control measures could save thousands of lives, billions of dollars (September 12, 2011) -- At any given time, one of every 20 hospital patients has a hospital-acquired infection, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This leads to an estimated 99,000 deaths in the U.S. each year and up to billion in preventable health care costs. Now a new study finds that adopting an inexpensive set of infection control measures could potentially save many thousands of lives and billions of dollars. ... > full story

Awareness of ethnicity-based stigma found to start early (September 12, 2011) -- A new study examines more than 450 second and fourth graders in New York City with ethnic-minority and -majority backgrounds. Researchers asked children questions pertaining to their anxiety toward school and feelings of belonging in school. Compared to ethnic-majority peers, ethnic-minority children reported more awareness of stigma and higher academic anxiety. Ethnic-minority children in this study also reported high interest in school in the face of stigma. ... > full story

Common gene variant associated with aortic dissection: Study reveals risk factor that doubles chance of developing silent killer (September 11, 2011) -- Richard Holbrooke, John Ritter, Lucille Ball, Jonathan Larson and Great Britain's King George II were all taken by the same silent killer: an acute aortic dissection. Now, scientists have found an association with a common genetic variant in the population that predisposes people to acute dissections and can approximately double a person's chances of having the disease. ... > full story

Researchers team with glowing cats against AIDS, other diseases; New technique gives cats protection genes (September 11, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a genome-based immunization strategy to fight feline AIDS and illuminate ways to combat human HIV/AIDS and other diseases. ... > full story

Improvements are needed for accuracy in gene-by-environment interaction studies, experts say (September 11, 2011) -- A new study concludes that genetic research drawing correlations between specific genes, environmental variables and the combined impact they have on the development of some psychiatric illnesses needs additional scrutiny and replication before being accepted as true. ... > full story

Peer pressure? It's hardwired into our brains, study finds (September 11, 2011) -- A new study explains why people take stupid chances when all of their friends are watching that they would never take by themselves. According to the study, the human brain places more value on winning in a social setting than it does on winning when you're alone. ... > full story

New target for treating symptoms of Parkinson's disease (September 11, 2011) -- A scientist has identified how the lack of a brain chemical known as dopamine can rewire the interaction between two groups of brain cells and lead to symptoms of Parkinson's disease. This discovery offers new hope for treating those suffering from this devastating neurodegenerative disease. ... > full story

Chemotherapy is as effective before breast cancer surgery as after, study suggests (September 11, 2011) -- Whether chemotherapy is given before or after breast-conserving therapy does not have an impact on long-term local-regional outcomes, suggesting treatment success is due more to biologic factors than chemotherapy timing, according to a new study. ... > full story

A more progressive tax system makes people happier, 54-nation study finds (September 11, 2011) -- The way some people talk, you'd think that a flat tax system -- in which everyone pays at the same rate regardless of income -- would make citizens feel better than more progressive taxation, where wealthier people are taxed at higher rates. Indeed, the United States has been diminishing progressivity of its tax structure for decades. But a new study comparing 54 nations found that flattening the tax risks flattening social wellbeing as well. ... > full story

Researchers probe genetic link to blindness (September 11, 2011) -- Researchers have used next-generation DNA sequencing techniques to discover what causes a rare form of inherited eye disorders, including cataracts and glaucoma, in young children. ... > full story

Researcher sees spring-like protein as key to muscle behavior (September 11, 2011) -- An idea with its origins in ballistic prey catching -- the way toads and chameleons snatch food with their tongues -- may change fundamental views of muscle movement while powering a new approach to prosthetics. ... > full story

Ion channels ensure the heart keeps time (September 11, 2011) -- Electrical signals regulate the rhythmic contractions of the heart muscle and thus control heartbeat. If the signals go awry, the consequences can be lethal. Researchers have now delineated how specific ion channels in the membranes of cardiomyocytes ensure that the heart beats in and on time. ... > full story

Sick body, vigilant mind (September 11, 2011) -- We know that in keeping the body physically healthy, the mind both conscious and unconscious is a principle actor. Indeed, research has shown that the biological, or physiological, immune system that fights pathogens once they've entered the body can be kick-started by the "behavioral immune system," with which we notice, feel repulsed by, and act to avoid people who might make us sick. ... > full story

Discovery of blood pressure genes could help prevent cardiovascular disease (September 11, 2011) -- Findings, published today in Nature and Nature Genetics by the International Consortium for Blood Pressure Genome-Wide Association Studies represent a major advance in our understanding of the inherited influences on blood pressure and offer new potential therapeutic targets for prevention of heart disease and stroke -- the biggest cause of death worldwide. ... > full story

International study identifies new gene targets for hypertension treatment (September 11, 2011) -- A new report from scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital and colleagues in centers around the world finds that common variants in 28 regions of DNA -- 16 previously unsuspected -- are associated with blood pressure in human patients. They also identified for the first time the involvement of an important physiologic pathway in blood pressure control, potentially leading to a totally new class of hypertension drugs. ... > full story

Clue to cause of childhood hydrocephalus: Excess of natural molecule can bring about the devastating 'water on the brain' condition in mice (September 10, 2011) -- Scientists have found what may be a major cause of congenital hydrocephalus, one of the most common neurological disorders of childhood that produces mental debilitation and sometimes death in premature and newborn children. ... > full story

Researchers use new tool to counter multiple myeloma drug resistance (September 10, 2011) -- Researchers are pioneering promising research utilizing a monitoring technology that could provide a better understanding of acquired drug resistance and assist in clinical decision-making for developing individualized patient treatments for multiple myeloma. ... > full story

Snakebites a public health problem in Africa (September 10, 2011) -- One and a half million people per year are poisoned by snake venom in Sub-Saharan Africa. An IRD researcher recently analysed around 100 surveys and medical reports published over the past 40 years. No large-scale study of the situation had hitherto been conducted and public health authorities had underestimated the size of the problem. This means that currently only 10% of victims are treated, owing to a shortage of antivenoms* and lack of awareness among health care practitioners. Yet the clinical complications can be very serious, even fatal. A bite from a cobra or mamba can bring on death by asphyxia --- due to respiratory paralysis --- within 6 hours of the incident. Venom injected by the ocellated carpet viper, common in the African savannah, can cause hemorrhages leading to the victim's death in a few days. This new study provides authorities with more detailed and reliable figures which should enable them to readjust their health-care services in better tune with needs. ... > full story

Children better witnesses than previously thought, Swedish psychologist finds (September 10, 2011) -- Children are more reliable eyewitnesses than had previously been thought, according to a witness psychologist in Sweden. She also questions a common method used for police identity line-ups with children. ... > full story

Novel approach scores first success against elusive cancer gene (September 10, 2011) -- Researchers successfully disrupted the function of the gene MYC by tampering with the gene's "on" switch and growth signals in multiple myeloma cells, offering promising strategy for treating myeloma and other cancers driven by the MYC gene. ... > full story

New link revealed between Alzheimer's disease and healthy aging (September 10, 2011) -- Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration are two of the most prevalent forms of neurodegenerative disorders. Researchers have now analyzed changes in gene expression in the aging and diseased brain, finding new clues to the biology of normal aging and neurodegenerative diseases. ... > full story

Emotional impact of 9/11 attacks seen in brain's response to negative visual images (September 10, 2011) -- In the wake of the 10th Anniversary of the September 11th attacks, new research reveals how the attacks impacted the psychological processes of those not directly exposed to the event. The study, which focused on college students in Massachusetts, found that even those who were not directly connected to New York or Washington showed increased stress responses to run of the mill visual images. ... > full story

Body clock found to regulate platelet function (September 10, 2011) -- Researchers have demonstrated that the circadian system, the body's internal clock, regulates human platelet function and causes a peak in platelet activation corresponding to the known morning peak in adverse cardiovascular events. ... > full story

MRSA may increase mortality rate by 50 percent, study finds (September 10, 2011) -- Does the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, cause more deaths in hospitals than the bacteria that are sensitive to common antibiotics? Opinions have been varied, but now a worldwide study indicates that the mortality rate can be 50 percent higher for intensive care patients infected with MRSA. ... > full story

Early motor experiences give infants a social jump start (September 10, 2011) -- Researchers have found that early motor experiences can shape infants' preferences for objects and faces. The study findings demonstrate that providing infants with "sticky mittens" to manipulate toys increases their subsequent interest in faces, suggesting advanced social development. ... > full story

Birth control pills affect memory, researchers find (September 9, 2011) -- Women who use contraceptives like birth control pills experience memory changes, according to new research. Their ability to remember the gist of an emotional event improves, while women not using the contraceptives better retain details. ... > full story

Exercise boosts health by influencing stem cells to become bone, not fat, researchers find (September 9, 2011) -- Researchers have found one more reason to exercise: working out triggers influential stem cells to become bone instead of fat, improving overall health by boosting the body's capacity to make blood. ... > full story

New strategy for overcoming resistance to targeted cancer drug (September 9, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a pair of backup circuits in cancer cells that enable the cells to dodge the effect of cetuximab. Until now, scientists haven't known why cancers that initially respond to cetuximab become resistant to it, or how to overcome such resistance. ... > full story

Parents' stress leaves lasting marks on children’s genes, researchers find (September 9, 2011) -- Researchers have shown that parental stress during their children's early years can leave an imprint on their sons' or daughters' genes -- an imprint that lasts into adolescence and may affect how these genes are expressed later in life. ... > full story

Captivated by critters: Humans are wired to respond to animals (September 9, 2011) -- Some people feel compelled to pet every animal they see on the street, while others jump at the mere sight of a shark on their television. No matter what your response is to animals, it may be thanks to a specific part of your brain that is hardwired to rapidly detect creatures of the nonhuman kind. In fact, researchers report that neurons throughout the amygdala respond preferentially to images of animals. ... > full story

Process that clears cholesterol could reverse major cause of heart attack (September 9, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered that an ancient pathway called autophagy also mobilizes and exports cholesterol from cells. ... > full story

Newly identified gene mutation linked to Parkinson's: Single 'spelling mistake' affects mechanism for converting a cell's genetic code into proteins (September 9, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a new gene responsible for Parkinson's disease. The mutation, a single "spelling mistake" among three billion nucleotides in DNA, regulates the mechanism for converting a cell's genetic code into proteins. ... > full story

Mother's diet influences baby's allergies, research suggests (September 9, 2011) -- A possible link between what a mother eats during pregnancy and the risk of her child developing allergies has been identified in new research. ... > full story

Doctors' and nurses' hospital uniforms contain dangerous bacteria a majority of the time, study shows (September 9, 2011) -- More than 60 percent of hospital nurses’ and doctors’ uniforms tested positive for potentially dangerous bacteria, according to a new study. ... > full story

Chronic pain: Watch out before accepting diagnosis and treatment (September 9, 2011) -- Experts argue that patients should be diligent in demanding proof of safety and benefit before beginning chronic pain treatment, as some medications have little evidence that they alleviate conditions for which they are prescribed. The experts dispel myths surrounding chronic Lyme disease, using it as an example of why patients ensure that diagnostic and treatment tools are approved by the FDA and not just recommended by other patients and physicians. ... > full story

Mutation links inherited narcolepsy with multiple neuropsychiatric disorders (September 9, 2011) -- Narcolepsy is a rare disorder characterized by an excessive urge to sleep at inappropriate times and places. Narcoleptics are also often subject to "cataplexy," a sudden muscle weakness that is triggered by strong emotions. Although most cases of narcolepsy are thought to be caused by complex mechanisms, a small percentage of cases are associated with unidentified inherited mutations. Now, a new study uncovers a mutation that causes narcolepsy in a large family affected by the disorder. ... > full story

Scientists discover blood factors that appear to cause aging in brains of mice (September 9, 2011) -- In a study to be published Sept. 1 in Nature, Stanford University School of Medicine scientists have found substances in the blood of old mice that makes young brains act older. These substances, whose levels rise with increasing age, appear to inhibit the brain's ability to produce new nerve cells critical to memory and learning. ... > full story

Is estrogen going to your head? Growing deposits of bone in the skull means your hormones are out of whack, say researchers (September 9, 2011) -- Researchers in Israel have found that HFI, a hormonal condition that leads to the growth of bone masses in the inner skull, is far more likely to be found in young women today than in the past, when it was typically found in post-menopausal women. HFI, which does not have a cure, can lead to symptoms such as chronic headaches, weight gain, and thyroid irregularities. ... > full story

National forests can provide public health benefits, U.S. study finds (September 9, 2011) -- Each year, more than 170 million people visit U.S. national forests for recreation. And the physical activity associated with these visits burns 290 billion food calories. That equals enough french fries laid end to end to reach the Moon and back -- twice -- according to a recent study. ... > full story

Genomic analysis of superbug provides clues to antibiotic resistance (September 9, 2011) -- An analysis of the genome of a superbug has yielded crucial, novel information that could aid efforts to counteract the bacterium's resistance to an antibiotic of last resort. ... > full story

Scientists probe connection between sight and touch in the brain (September 9, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered that as you look at an object, your brain not only processes what the object looks like, but remembers what it feels like to touch it as well. This connection is so strong that a computer examining data coming only from the part of your brain that processes touch can predict which object you are actually looking at. ... > full story

Glucose uptake relies on newly identified protein (September 9, 2011) -- A new study identifies the protein -- called CDP138 -- that helps muscle and fat cells properly insert glucose transporters in their outer membranes. These results provide a new understanding of glucose metabolism -- an important finding considering that impaired insulin action and glucose metabolism contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. ... > full story

Physicians in varying specialties endure similar levels of mental effort, stress (September 9, 2011) -- Researchers have used work intensity measurement tools to determine that the level of mental effort and stress within various specialty groups tends to be similar, a finding that may lead to more equitable payment for primary care physicians as well as validating these tools for further assessment of stress and workload in medicine with the goal of improving health care. ... > full story

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