ScienceDaily Health Headlines

[Guest guest]

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Thursday, August 5, 2010

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

Genetic clue to chronic pain could lead to new treatments for the condition (August 5, 2010) -- Chronic pain is a serious medical problem, afflicting approximately 20 percent of adults. Some individuals are more susceptible than others, and the basis for this remains largely unknown. In a new study, researchers have identified a gene associated with susceptibility to chronic pain in humans, signaling a significant step toward better understanding and treating the condition. ... > full story

Missing Puma gene reveals cancer conundrum (August 5, 2010) -- Researchers in Australia have made a discovery that has upended scientists' understanding of programmed cell death and its role in tumor formation. The research team's discovery has implications for the understanding of how cancers develop and will inform the ongoing development of a new class of anti-cancer drugs called BH3 mimetics. ... > full story

First step to new therapy for chronic bowel disease (August 5, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered that A20 protein plays an important protective role in diseases associated with chronic bowel inflammation. This makes A20 into a promising therapeutic target for the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs. ... > full story

Overcoming reading-comprehension difficulties in children: Training program can help (August 5, 2010) -- Effective reading requires recognizing words and also understanding what they mean. Between 7-10 percent of children have specific reading-comprehension difficulties. These children can read text aloud accurately but do not understand what they have just read. A new study identifies a training program which may help children overcome reading-comprehension difficulties. ... > full story

Genomic mapping study finds largest set of genes related to major risk factor for heart disease (August 5, 2010) -- Scanning the genomes of more than 100,000 people from all over the world, scientists report the largest set of genes discovered underlying high cholesterol and high triglycerides -- the major risk factors for coronary heart disease, the nation's number one killer. Taken together, the gene variants explain between a quarter and a third of the inherited portions of cholesterol and triglyceride measured in the blood. ... > full story

Metabolic pathway found in malaria parasites; possible drug targets (August 5, 2010) -- A newly described metabolic pathway used by malaria-causing parasites may help them survive inside human blood cells. The finding clarifies the picture of parasite metabolism and provides clues to potential weak points in the pathway that might be attacked with drugs. ... > full story

Biologists discover microRNAs that control function of blood stem cells (August 5, 2010) -- One key to fighting diseases such as leukemia and anemia is gaining an understanding of the genes and molecules that control the function of hematopoietic -- or blood -- stem cells, which provide the body with a constant supply of red and white blood cells and platelets. Biologists have taken a large step toward that end, with the discovery of a novel group of molecules that are found in high concentrations within hematopoietic stem cells and appear to regulate their production. ... > full story

Link between estrogen metabolism pathway and breast cancer risk discovered (August 5, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered that DNA polymorphisms related to the production of estrogen play an important role in the development of hormone-sensitive breast and endometrial cancer. The knowledge gained may help develop better measures for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. ... > full story

Depression is a risk factor and not an early sign of Alzheimer's disease, study suggests (August 5, 2010) -- Researchers have found that depressive symptoms show little change during the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests that depression is truly a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and not just an early sign of the disease. ... > full story