Fw: ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Friday, June 12, 2009

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ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Friday, June 12, 2009

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Friday, June 12, 2009

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Growth Factor Identified As Possible Cancer Drug Target (June 12, 2009) -- Scientists report finding a new angiogenesis protein, SFRP2, found in the blood vessels of numerous tumor sites, including breast prostate, lung, pancreas, ovarian, colon, kidney tumors and angiosarcomas. ... > full story

Bisphenol A Exposure In Pregnant Mice Permanently Changes DNA Of Offspring (June 12, 2009) -- Exposure during pregnancy to the chemical bisphenol A, or BPA, found in many common plastic household items, is known to cause a fertility defect in the mother's offspring in animal studies, and now researchers have found how the defect occurs. They found that BPA exposure during pregnancy had a lasting effect on one of the genes that is responsible for uterine development and subsequent fertility in both mice and humans. ... > full story

Can Omega-3 Fatty Acids Prevent Depression In Coronary Heart Disease? (June 12, 2009) -- This study extends the existing literature by finding a strong association between low omega--3 fatty acids and depression in outpatients with stable coronary heart disease, a population distinct from sicker, hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndrome. ... > full story

Individuals With Family History Of Genetic Disease At Risk Of Discrimination (June 12, 2009) -- People with a family history of genetic disease are often discriminated against by insurance companies and their relatives and friends, according to new research. ... > full story

Swine Flu Update: WHO Declares Pandemic In Response To Ongoing Global Spread Of Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus (June 12, 2009) -- On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6 in response to the ongoing global spread of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus, which causes swine flu. A Phase 6 designation indicates that a global pandemic is underway. ... > full story

New Accurate Diagnostic Test For Swine H1N1 Influenza Using RT-PCR Technology (June 12, 2009) -- A new, easy-to-perform method for detecting seasonal influenza A virus and the emerging H1N1 swine-derived influenza A virus in human clinical samples offers a fast, sensitive, and cost-effective diagnostic test that runs on standard laboratory equipment. ... > full story

More Older People Active Online Now Than In Past (June 12, 2009) -- Internet use continues to increase, this is especially true regarding social media. Older people in particular have increased the use of internet since 2007. However, television continues to have the large coverage in all groups with one exception, 15 to 24 year olds used the Internet more than they watched television an average day in 2008, according to a national survey of 4,500 persons. ... > full story

Insomnia With Short Sleep Duration Is A Risk Factor For Diabetes (June 12, 2009) -- Individuals with insomnia and objective short sleep duration are at increased risk for developing diabetes, according to new research. ... > full story

Techniques Appear To Lower Radiation Exposure >From Cardiac Scans Without Impairing Image Quality (June 12, 2009) -- An intervention that includes techniques to reduce the amount of radiation from cardiac computed tomography angiography (scanning used to diagnose coronary artery disease) was associated with decreasing patient exposure to radiation without significantly changing the quality of the images, according to a new study. ... > full story

Patients Have Lower Health-related Quality Of Life After Cancer Diagnosis (June 12, 2009) -- Cancer patients who are older than 65 years have poorer physical health and, in some cases, mental health when compared with people of the same age group without cancer, according to a new study. ... > full story

Flu During Pregnancy May Increase Risk Of Schizophrenia In Certain Offspring (June 11, 2009) -- When mothers become infected with influenza during their pregnancy, it may increase the risk for schizophrenia in their offspring. Influenza is a very common virus and so there has been substantial concern about this association. A new study suggests that the observed association depends upon a pre-existing vulnerability in the fetus. ... > full story

Botox Injections Can Significantly Improve Quality Of Life For People With Overactive Bladders (June 11, 2009) -- Botox is well known for its cosmetic uses, but researchers have now found that it can also significantly improve people’s quality of life if they suffer from another problem that increases with age, an overactive bladder. ... > full story

Misreading Of Histone Code Linked To Human Cancer (June 11, 2009) -- The development of blood from stem cell to fully formed blood cell follows a genetically determined program. When it works properly, blood formation stops when it reaches maturity. But when it doesn't, genetic mutations can prevent the stop signal and cause the developing cells to turn cancerous. Now scientists show for the first time that a misreading of the blood cells' histone code is responsible for acute myeloid leukemia, a rare form of the deadly blood cancer. ... > full story

Playing A High Resistance Wind Instrument May Reduce Risk For Sleep Apnea In Musicians (June 11, 2009) -- The naturalistic respiratory muscle training with high resistance wind instruments may potentially reduce musicians' risk for obstructive sleep apnea, according to new research. ... > full story

Four New Targets For Breast Cancer Identified (June 11, 2009) -- Four suspects often found at the scene of the crime in cancer are guilty of the initiation and progression of breast cancer in mice that are resistant to the disease, a team led by scientists have found. ... > full story

Gene Activity Reveals Dynamic Stroma Microenvironment In Prostate Cancer (June 11, 2009) -- As stroma -- the supportive framework of the prostate gland -- react to prostate cancer, changes in the expression of genes occur that induce the formation of new structures such as blood vessels, nerves and parts of nerves, said researchers. ... > full story

Later Parental-mandated Bedtimes For Teens Linked To Depression And Suicidal Thoughts (June 11, 2009) -- Earlier parental-mandated bedtimes could help protect teens from depression and suicidal thoughts by lengthening sleep duration, according to new research. ... > full story

Bisphenol A (BPA) Found In Many Plastics May Cause Heart Disease In Women, Research Shows (June 11, 2009) -- New research shows that bisphenol A, found in many commonly used plastics, may be harmful for the heart, particularly in women. ... > full story

Breastfeeding Associated With A Reduced Risk Of Relapse In Women With Multiple Sclerosis (June 11, 2009) -- Women with multiple sclerosis who breastfeed exclusively for at least two months appear less likely to experience a relapse within a year after their baby's birth, according to a new report. ... > full story

Being A Night Owl In High School Is Linked With Lower College GPA (June 11, 2009) -- Students who consider themselves to be evening types (that is someone who feels more alert and does their best work later in the day) have poorer sleep hygiene scores than morning and intermediate types. ... > full story

New Way That Cells Fix Damage To DNA Discovered (June 11, 2009) -- Scientists have discovered a new way by which DNA repairs itself, a process that is critical to the protection of the genome, and integral to prevention of cancer development. ... > full story

Caffeine Intake Prevents Risk Taking After Extreme Sleep Deprivation (June 11, 2009) -- Caffeine use prevents increased risk taking that occurs after several nights of total sleep deprivation, according to new research. ... > full story

Human Exposure To Controversial Chemical BPA May Be Greater Than Dose Considered Safe (June 11, 2009) -- People are likely being exposed to the commonly used chemical bisphenol A at levels much higher than the recommended safe daily dose, according to a new study in monkeys. ... > full story

Sleep Apnea Linked To Sleepwalking, Hallucinations And Other 'Parasomnias' (June 11, 2009) -- Nearly one in 10 patients with obstructive sleep apnea also experience "parasomnia" symptoms such as sleepwalking, hallucinations and acting out their dreams, a study has found. Researchers examined records of 537 adult sleep apnea patients. Fifty-one patients, or 9.5 percent of the total, reported one or more types of parasomnia symptoms. ... > full story

Novel Mechanism Controlling Tumor Growth In The Brain Uncovered (June 11, 2009) -- As survival rates among some patients with cancer continue to rise, so does the spread of these cancers to the brain -- as much as 40 percent of all diagnosed brain cancers are considered metastatic, having spread from a primary cancer elsewhere in the body. Now, scientists have discovered a molecular mechanism that plays a pivotal role in controlling cancer growth in the brain. The discovery could provide a basis for potentially effective therapies for the treatment of brain metastasis. ... > full story

Early Detection Of Osteoarthritis In Dogs Could Open Doors For A Cure (June 11, 2009) -- Osteoarthritis is commonly diagnosed in the late and irreversible stages, when treatment can only be expected to decrease pain and slow progression of disease. Because osteoarthritis is a widespread problem in dogs and humans, doctors and veterinarians need a precise way to diagnose the disease early and accurately. Now, researchers are investigating potential biomarkers in dogs for early diagnosis of osteoarthritis, which could help identify patients at increased risk of developing osteoarthritis. ... > full story

Less Sleep Associated With High, Worsening Blood Pressure In Middle Age (June 11, 2009) -- Middle-aged adults who sleep fewer hours appear more likely to have high blood pressure and to experience adverse changes in blood pressure over time, according to a new report. ... > full story

Health Risks Of Nanotechnology: How Nanoparticles Can Cause Lung Damage, And How The Damage Can Be Blocked (June 11, 2009) -- Scientists have identified for the first time a mechanism by which nanoparticles cause lung damage and have demonstrated that it can be combated by blocking the process involved, taking a step toward addressing the growing concerns over the safety of nanotechnology. ... > full story

Nightmares Predict Elevated Suicidal Symptoms (June 11, 2009) -- Self-reported nightmares among patients seeking emergency psychiatric evaluation uniquely predicted elevated suicidal symptoms, according to new research. ... > full story

How Young Mice Phone Home: Study Gives Clue To How Mothers' Brains Screen For Baby Calls (June 11, 2009) -- Researchers have identified a surprising mechanism in the brains of mother mice that focuses their awareness on the calls of baby mice. Their study found that the high-frequency sounds of mice pups stand out in a mother's auditory cortex by inhibiting the activity of neurons more attuned to lower frequency sounds. ... > full story

Autoinflammatory Disease Model Reveals Role For Innate, Not Adaptive, Immunity (June 11, 2009) -- Researchers have developed the first mouse model for autoinflammatory diseases, disorders that involve the over-activation of the body's innate, primitive immune system. Their study suggests that the innate -- not adaptive -- immune system drives autoinflammatory diseases. The findings could open new therapeutic directions for research into disorders such as gout or inflammatory bowel disease. ... > full story

Oxygen Plus MRI Might Help Determine Cancer Therapy Success (June 11, 2009) -- A simple magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test involving breathing oxygen might help oncologists determine the best treatment for some cancer patients. ... > full story

Study Redefines Roles Of Alcohol, Smoking In Risk For Pancreatitis (June 11, 2009) -- Although alcohol consumption is known to be associated with chronic pancreatitis, new evidence indicates that a threshold of five or more drinks per day is required to significantly raise risk; however, most patients with chronic pancreatitis do not drink this amount, according to a new report. In addition, smoking is an independent, dose-dependent risk factor. ... > full story

Visual System That Detects Movement, Colors And Textures (June 11, 2009) -- Researchers in Spain, basing their work on American models, have added a color -- and light-sensitive device to an artificial retina. The new device can detect and locate moving objects in a real-time setting. ... > full story

Genetic Link Found Between Stress-induced Sleep Loss And Intrusive Thinking (June 11, 2009) -- The genetic factors that cause increased sleep problems during times of stress seem to be the same as those that make people with intrusive and ruminative thoughts have a higher prevalence of insomnia, according to new research. ... > full story

Link Found Between Poor Sleep Quality And Increased Risk Of Death (June 11, 2009) -- Quality, in addition to quantity, is important for maintaining health, according to new research. ... > full story

Sleep Restriction Results In Weight Gain Despite Decreases In Appetite And Consumption (June 11, 2009) -- In the presence of free access to food, sleep restricted subjects reported decrease in appetite, food cravings and food consumption; however, they gained weight over the course of the study. Thus, the finding suggests that energy intake exceeded energy expenditure during the sleep restriction. ... > full story

Relaxed Attitudes Toward Alcohol And Youth May Increase Risk Of Binge Drinking In College (June 11, 2009) -- Restaurants in Germany legally sell alcohol to teenagers after their sixteenth birthdays and French children drink wine with dinner at an early age, but US parents who follow this relaxed European example, believing it fosters a healthier attitude toward alcohol, should be careful -- it may increase the likelihood that their children binge drink in college. ... > full story

Brain Molecule Reduces Food Intake (June 10, 2009) -- Researchers have identified a new appetite suppressant for promoting weight loss that they say works in rodents and may one day be used to develop an effective anti-obesity treatment. ... > full story

Embryology Study Offers Clues To Birth Defects (June 10, 2009) -- Embryologists have clarified the role that retinoic acid plays in limb development. A new study showed that retinoic acid controls the development (or budding) of forelimbs, but not hindlimbs, and that retinoic acid is not responsible for patterning (or differentiation of the parts) of limbs. This research corrects longstanding misconceptions about limb development and provides new insights into congenital limb defects. ... > full story

Adolescent Obesity Linked To Reduced Sleep Caused By Technology Use And Caffeine (June 10, 2009) -- Adolescent obesity is associated with having less sleep. Reduction in sleep could be related to a higher caffeine intake, more hours of technology use and increased symptoms of sleep disorders (such as snoring). ... > full story

Can Light Therapy Improve Your Sexual Functioning? New Promising Data (June 10, 2009) -- The results of this study suggest a potentially favorable effect of bright light therapy on primary sexual dysfunctions. A larger study is now needed to confirm these preliminary findings and to test whether bright light therapy may be of help for the treatment of sexual dysfunctions that are associated with certain psychiatric illnesses, such as major depressive disorder, or with medications that are prescribed to treat those illnesses. ... > full story

Stopping Diabetes Damage With Vitamin C (June 10, 2009) -- Researchers have found a way to stop the damage caused by type 1 diabetes with the combination of insulin and a common vitamin found in most medicine cabinets. ... > full story

Cancer Found To Be A Moving Target (June 10, 2009) -- Scientists have mathematically analyzed the mutator hypothesis and compared the cancer-generating efficiency of mutator and nonmutator pathways to cancer. ... > full story

What Causes Irritability In Menopause? (June 10, 2009) -- In this study outward and inward irritability of peri- and postmenopausal women were found to be related to the presence of chronic disease. Moreover, outward irritability correlated with FSH and LH levels, independently of specific menopausal symptoms, such as vasomotor problems or insomnia. Further research is needed to clarify the meaning of irritability in the context of women’s mental health. ... > full story

Alzheimer's Disease: Newly Found Peptide Offers Hope Of Early Test And Better Treatment (June 10, 2009) -- Researchers in Japan have detected a peptide in cerebrospinal fluid that can show whether a person is developing Alzheimer's disease. Measuring the level of this peptide could show that the disease process has started, long before any serious damage is done to the brain. ... > full story

Fatal Brain Disease At Work Well Before Symptoms Appear (June 10, 2009) -- Scientists have discovered why a paralyzing brain disorder speeds along more rapidly in some patients than others -- a finding that may finally give researchers an entry point toward an effective treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. ... > full story

When Young Men Are Scarce, They're More Likely To Play The Field Than To Propose (June 10, 2009) -- In places where young women outnumber young men, research shows the hemlines rise but the marriage rates don't because the young men feel less pressure to settle down as more women compete for their affections. ... > full story

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