Fw: ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Monday, May 17, 2010

[Guest guest]

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Monday, May 17, 2010

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Monday, May 17, 2010

Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.

Statins decrease risk of clot-related diseases, study finds (May 17, 2010) -- Individuals at risk for clot-related diseases may benefit from taking common cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins, according to a new study. ... > full story

Higher blood pressure found in people living in urban areas (May 17, 2010) -- People who live in urban areas where particulate air pollution is high tend to have higher blood pressure than those who live in less polluted areas, according to researchers from Germany. ... > full story

Talking seriously with children is good for their language proficiency (May 17, 2010) -- How adults approach children aged 3 to 6 years during conversations has a major influence on their language acquisition. Those who address children as fully-fledged conversation partners lay an early basis for the development of 'academic language', says a Dutch researcher. ... > full story

Long-term use of vitamin E may decrease COPD risk, study finds (May 17, 2010) -- Long-term, regular use of vitamin E in women 45 years of age and older may help decrease the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by about 10 percent in both smokers and non-smokers, according to a new study. ... > full story

New technique may quickly distinguish between active and latent TB (May 17, 2010) -- An emerging technique designed to quickly distinguish between people with active and dormant tuberculosis may help health professionals diagnose the disease sooner, thereby potentially limiting early exposure to the disease, according to a new study. ... > full story

Study demonstrates art therapy's effectiveness in pediatric asthma (May 17, 2010) -- In the first randomized trial of art therapy for asthma, researchers found that children with persistent asthma enjoyed decreased anxiety and increased quality of life after seven weekly art-therapy sessions. ... > full story

Belly fat or hip fat: It really is all in your genes, says researcher (May 16, 2010) -- The age-old question of why men store fat in their bellies and women store it in their hips may have finally been answered: Genetically speaking, the fat tissue is almost completely different. ... > full story

'Votes' of sub-cellular variables control cell fate (May 16, 2010) -- Members of a population of identical cells often "choose" different fates, even though they exist in identical conditions. The difference may rest with the "hidden variables" within the cells, say researchers. ... > full story

Middle-aged men: Could dwindling testosterone levels decrease sleep? (May 16, 2010) -- At 30 years old, male testosterone levels drop by one to two percent annually. By age 40, men's quality of sleep begins to diminish. Could there be a link between decreased testosterone and reduced sleep? ... > full story

Mechanism found that prepares the a newborn's brain for information processing (May 16, 2010) -- Researchers in France and Finland have found a mechanism in the memory center of newborn that adjusts the maturation of the brain for the information processing required later in life. ... > full story

Important mechanism behind breast cancer metastasis: 'Architectural' protein helps regulate cell motility and migration (May 16, 2010) -- Scientists have identified the protein called palladin as an explanation for how Akt1 can function as a suppressor of breast cancer invasion and metastasis. This new finding reveals another key piece of information as scientists continue their development of targeted cancer therapies, and underscores the importance of dissecting the precise mechanisms by which tumor cells invade and metastasize to distant organs. ... > full story

Impact sensor provides athletic support: Composite materials generate electricity, reveal impact forces (May 16, 2010) -- As athletes strive for perfection, sports scientists need to exploit every technological advance to help them achieve that goal. Researchers in New Zealand have now developed a new type of wearable impact sensor based that can provide much needed information about the stresses and strains on limbs for rugby players, high jumpers and runners. ... > full story

Men with bigger wallets have bigger waistlines, Canadian study finds (May 16, 2010) -- In Canada, in stark contrast with the rest of the world, wealthy men increase their likelihood of being overweight with every extra dollar they make, according to a new study. ... > full story

Tibetans developed genes to help them adapt to life at high elevations (May 15, 2010) -- Researchers have long wondered why the people of the Tibetan Highlands can live at elevations that cause some humans to become life-threateningly ill -- and a new study answers that mystery, in part, by showing that through thousands of years of natural selection, those hardy inhabitants of south-central Asia evolved 10 unique oxygen-processing genes that help them live in higher climes. ... > full story

Muscle mass in elderly boosted by combining resistance exercise and blood flow restriction (May 15, 2010) -- Researchers have determined that moderately and temporarily restricting the flow of blood through muscles -- a practice adopted by bodybuilders who noticed that it made light weights feel heavier -- can be combined with low-level resistance exercise training to produce muscle-mass increases in older men. ... > full story

Faster Salmonella detection now possible with new technique (May 15, 2010) -- A professor of food science and human nutrition wants to replace the current system of Salmonella detection with a new approach that can provide DNA sequencing-like results in hours rather than days. ... > full story

3D skin cancer diagnosis (May 15, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a 3D test for malignant melanoma that can identify problems not easily spotted in a standard two-dimensional view of the pattern on the skin. ... > full story

Virtual humans appear to influence ethical decisions in gender-specific ways (May 15, 2010) -- Virtual humans are increasingly taking on roles that were once reserved for real humans. A study found that the decisions of men were strongly affected by presentational aspects of the simulated woman, while women's decisions were not. ... > full story

Research may help patients with intestinal failure, other malabsorptive disorders (May 15, 2010) -- New treatments for intestinal failure and other intestinal absorption disorders are a step closer to the patients who need them after a discovery showing that butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, helps intestine grow and become more functional. ... > full story

Clue to switch of bladder cancer from locally contained to invasive (May 15, 2010) -- Bladder cancer often becomes aggressive and spreads in patients despite treatment, but now researchers have identified a protein they believe is involved in pushing tumors to become invasive -- and deadly. ... > full story

New research reveals Hurricane Katrina's impact on ecological and human health (May 15, 2010) -- Scientists studying the environmental impact of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans have revealed the ecological impact and human health risks from exposure to chemical contaminants. The findings demonstrate how Hurricane Katrina caused significant ecological damage by altering coastal chemistry and habitat. ... > full story

Eureka! Neural evidence for sudden insight (May 14, 2010) -- A recent study provides intriguing information about the neural dynamics underlying behavioral changes associated with the development of new problem solving strategies. The research supports the idea of "a-ha" moments in the brain that are associated with sudden insight. ... > full story

Cheese -- acting as 'carrier' for probiotic bacteria -- found to improve immune response of elderly (May 14, 2010) -- Scientists in Finland have discovered that cheese can help preserve and enhance the immune system of the elderly by acting as a carrier for probiotic bacteria. The research reveals that daily consumption of probiotic cheese helps to tackle age-related changes in the immune system. ... > full story

Novel pouch could reduce mother-to-infant HIV infection (May 14, 2010) -- By using medications packaged just like fast-food ketchup, HIV-positive mothers in developing countries can more easily provide protection to newborn babies born at home. ... > full story

Concerns over radiation exposure may overshadow life-saving benefits of cardiac imaging tests (May 14, 2010) -- When patients present with chest pain or other high-risk symptoms of heart problems, doctors increasingly rely on nuclear imaging and computed tomography (CT) tests to find out whether there is evidence of heart disease, blockages in the coronary arteries or reduced blood flow to the heart. Results of these procedures can help guide life-saving prevention and treatment options. ... > full story

How microtubules let go of their attachments during cell division (May 14, 2010) -- Researchers have determined how cells regulate the chromosome/microtubule interface, which is central to proper chromosomal distribution during cell division. The chromosome/microtubule interface is critical during cell division. If a microtubule attaches incorrectly to a chromosome and cell division proceeds, the chromosomes may divide unevenly, resulting in cells with an incorrect number of chromosomes. Aberrant distribution of chromosomes can lead to cancer or premature cell death. ... > full story

Going to the dogs: What can shy dogs teach us about longevity? (May 14, 2010) -- According to a new study by a Quebec research team, there are strong correlations between dog breeds' typical personalities, how long they live, and how much food they eat. ... > full story

Immune system compromised during spaceflight, study finds (May 14, 2010) -- Immunobiologists have discovered that spaceflight changes the activity of genes controlling immune and stress response, perhaps leading to more sickness. ... > full story

Researchers discover additional benefit of vitamin A (May 14, 2010) -- Vitamin A is critical to maternal health and child survival, yet in most developing countries Vitamin A deficiency is a leading cause of blindness and increased child mortality. Scientists recently discovered a link between offspring lung function and maternal vitamin A supplementation. ... > full story

Childhood psychological problems create long-term economic losses, study finds (May 14, 2010) -- A first-of-its-kind study examining the long-term economic consequences of childhood psychological disorders such as depression and substance abuse finds the conditions diminish people's ability to work and earn as adults, costing .1 trillion over the lifetimes of all affected Americans. ... > full story

Building organs block by block: Tissue engineers create a new way to assemble artificial tissues, using 'biological Legos' (May 14, 2010) -- Tissue engineering has long held promise for building new organs to replace damaged livers, blood vessels and other body parts. However, one major obstacle is getting cells grown in a lab dish to form 3-D shapes instead of flat layers. Researchers have now come up with a new way to overcome that challenge, by encapsulating living cells in cubes and arranging them into 3-D structures, just as a child would construct buildings out of blocks. ... > full story

New concerns about radiation and breast cancer raised in study (May 14, 2010) -- A new study on human breast cells shows that even when radiation exposure does no direct genetic damage, it can alter the environment surrounding the cells so that future cells are more likely to become cancerous. This is further evidence for the treatment of cancer as a "systems biology" disease. ... > full story

Persistence of melanoma explained through 'dynamic stemness' (May 14, 2010) -- Scientists offer a new explanation for the tenacity of melanoma cells, one of the reasons why melanoma remains the deadliest form of skin cancer. The concept of the "dynamic stemness" of melanoma can explain why melanoma cells behave like both conventional tumor cells and cancer stem cells. Their findings reveal the unique biology of melanoma, and suggest that melanoma requires a new therapeutic approach. ... > full story

Aiming to cure deafness, scientists first to create functional inner-ear cells (May 14, 2010) -- After ten years of effort, researchers say they have found a way to coax embryonic stem cells as well as reprogrammed adult cells to develop into sensory cells that normally reside in the mammalian inner ear. Those mechanosensitive sensory hair cells are the linchpin of hearing and balance. ... > full story

Potential new strategy for raising 'good' cholesterol levels: MicroRNA and host gene play key role (May 14, 2010) -- Researchers have identified tiny segments of RNA that may play an important role in the body's regulation of cholesterol and lipids. Their study found that the miR-33 familyof microRNAs suppress a protein known to be important for generation of HDL -- the "good cholesterol" that transports lipids to the liver for disposal -- and for the removal of cholesterol from peripheral tissues, including cells that form atherosclerotic plaques. ... > full story

How dangerous food-borne pathogen evades body's defenses (May 14, 2010) -- Scientists have pushed into place another piece of the puzzle of how Listeria monocytogenes, a dangerous food-borne pathogen, slips through the intestine's defenses and causes disease. ... > full story

Changing thoughts key to battling even severe depression (May 14, 2010) -- Moderate to severely depressed clients showed greater improvement in cognitive therapy when therapists emphasized changing how they think rather than how they behave, new research has found. ... > full story

Can Celebrex prevent cancer-causing colon polyps? (May 14, 2010) -- Researchers are testing whether celecoxib, known by its brand name Celebrex, can help prevent the growth of precancerous polyps that form in the colon, rectum and small intestine of children with an inheritable genetic disease called familial adenomatous polyposis. ... > full story

Rotavirus vaccine greatly reduces hospitalizations for acute gastroenteritis in children. Study finds (May 14, 2010) -- Vaccinating infants against rotavirus, a leading cause of severe diarrhea and dehydration among babies and young children, was associated with a dramatic decline in US hospitalization rates for acute gastroenteritis, according to a new study. ... > full story

Frequent alcohol use linked to faster HIV disease progression (May 14, 2010) -- HIV disease tends to progress at a faster rate in infected individuals who consume two or more alcoholic drinks a day, according to a new study. ... > full story

Why a whiff of cats or rats is scary: Chemical signal from predators sparks fear in mice (May 14, 2010) -- Scientists have found a specific chemical compound secreted by many predators that makes mice behave fearfully. The research helps scientists better understand animal behavior, and may eventually lead to new insights into how sensory information is processed in human brains. ... > full story

Certain laboratory technique allows rapid detection of eye pathogens (May 14, 2010) -- A laboratory technique using real-time polymerase chain reaction that copies DNA segments may allow clinicians to accurately identify pathogens infecting the cornea more quickly than standard methods, according to a new study. ... > full story

New details of tuberculosis protein-cleaving machinery revealed (May 14, 2010) -- Scientists looking for new ways to fight tuberculosis (TB) have their sights set on a structure essential to the bacterium's survival. Disabling this structure could kill the microbes in the infected host and thwart TB infections. In a new study, scientists describe new features of how this structure, known as a proteasome, is put together and how it works. These details could assist researchers working to develop anti-TB drugs. ... > full story

Low oxygen levels prevent X chromosome inactivation in human embryonic stem cells (May 14, 2010) -- Oxygen levels in the lab can permanently alter human embryonic stem cells, inducing X chromosome inactivation in female cells. Deriving and maintaining human ES cells at physiologic levels of oxygen can prevent X chromosome inactivation, according to new research. High levels of oxygen can make the human ES cells less pluripotent -- the trait for which ES cells are most valued. This indicates that the current methods of isolation and maintenance are suboptimal. ... > full story

Children with epilepsy say their quality of life is better than their parents think (May 14, 2010) -- Researchers found that children with epilepsy say their quality of life is comparable to that of their healthy siblings. The parents of these children, though, say just the opposite. They rate their children with epilepsy as having a substantially worse quality of life than their other, healthy children. ... > full story

Cardiac procedure significantly reduces risk of Alzheimer's disease and stroke, researchers find (May 14, 2010) -- New findings reveal treatment of the most common heart rhythm disorder that affects more than two million Americans significantly reduces the risk of stroke, mortality, Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. ... > full story

New hope for better treatment for rising esophageal and upper stomach cancer (May 14, 2010) -- Poor diet, too much alcohol, smoking and increasing obesity could be leading to an epidemic of esophageal and upper stomach cancer, according to a leading UK team of specialists. ... > full story

New forensics research will help identify remains of children (May 14, 2010) -- New research is now giving forensic scientists a tool that can be used to help identify the remains of children, and may contribute to resolving missing-persons cases, among other uses. Identifying skeletal remains can be a key step in solving crimes, but traditionally it has been exceptionally difficult to identify the skeletal remains of children. ... > full story

Copyright 1995-2010 © ScienceDaily LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of use.

This message was sent from ScienceDaily to bjoyful@.... It was sent from: ScienceDaily, 1 Research Court, Suite 450, Rockville, MD 20850. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.

Email Marketing by