ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Tuesday, December 7, 2010
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Plants engineered to produce new drugs (December 7, 2010) -- Humans have long taken advantage of the huge variety of medicinal compounds produced by plants. Now chemists have found a new way to expand plants' pharmaceutical repertoire by genetically engineering them to produce unnatural variants of their usual products. ... > full story
Mechanism responsible for spreading biofilm infections identified (December 7, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered how catheter-related bacterial infection develops and disseminates to become a potentially life-threatening condition. The study, which included research on Staphylococcus epidermidis in mice implanted with catheters, could have important implications for understanding many types of bacterial biofilm infections, including those caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus. ... > full story
Small-molecule inhibitors effectively targeted active colon cancer enzyme (December 7, 2010) -- Researchers have identified two small-molecule inhibitors that effectively targeted the focal adhesion kinase (FAK), an enzyme present in certain cancers that helps tumors thrive and survive. ... > full story
Life-saving in the bacterial world: How Campylobacter rely on Pseudomonas to infect humans (December 7, 2010) -- The bacterium Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of food poisoning in humans. It is normally transmitted from contaminated chicken meat, as it is frequently found in the intestines of chickens, where it apparently does not result in any symptoms. Campylobacter jejuni is well adapted to life in the intestines of animals -- and humans -- so it is surprising that it is able to survive on the surface of meat, which is generally stored in a much more oxygen-rich atmosphere. Researchers have now solved the puzzle, showing that Campylobacter can survive ambient oxygen levels thanks to the presence of other bacteria, species of Pseudomonas. ... > full story
K-12 computer science education declining (December 7, 2010) -- Computer-related technology is increasingly driving the US economy, yet computer science education is scant in most American elementary and secondary school classrooms and the number of introductory and Advanced Placement courses in computer science has actually declined in the last five years, according to a new report. ... > full story
Spontaneous mutations important cause of mental retardation, research finds (December 7, 2010) -- New research by Dutch geneticists demonstrates that spontaneous mutations are an important cause of mental retardation. The majority of mental retardation is caused by spontaneous mutations in paternal sperm or maternal egg cells, the scientists say. ... > full story
High-dose, short-course radiation for prostate cancer does not increase side effects, study finds (December 7, 2010) -- When treating prostate cancer with radiation therapy, side effects such as urinary problems and rectal pain and bleeding are a concern, as is impact on the patient's overall quality of life. So when new, more efficient treatment methods are developed, one important question is whether better treatment comes at the cost of increased side effects and decreased quality of life. ... > full story
Slurry sanitation using heat, a new, simple, low-energy method (December 7, 2010) -- Livestock effluents have always been spread as fertiliser on fields. But they can also transmit diseases to humans and animals, for example, over 100 pathogenic micro-organisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites) have been identified in pig slurry. To destroy the main causes of illness and avoid epidemics, scientists use heat exchangers for thermal treatment of the slurry, a well known technique that they are trying to make more energy efficient. ... > full story
For elderly, even short falls can be deadly; Adults 70-plus three times as likely to die following low-level falls (December 7, 2010) -- While simple falls, such as slipping while walking off a curb, may seem harmless, they can lead to severe injury and death in elderly individuals, according to a new study. As the population continues to age, it's important for physicians and caregivers to be aware of and prepared to deal with this issue, which could significantly impact the health and well-being of older adults. ... > full story
Secondhand smoke exposure increases risk of hearing loss (December 6, 2010) -- Non-smokers who regularly breathe in others' tobacco smoke are at increased risk of some degree of hearing loss, reveals new research. ... > full story
LouseBuster: Head lice shrivel with chemical-free warm-air device (December 6, 2010) -- Four years after the LouseBuster prototype made headlines when research showed the chemical-free, warm-air device wiped out head lice on children, a new study reveals that a revamped, government-cleared model is highly effective. ... > full story
Some kids with spinal cord injury may be overlooked for walking rehabilitation (December 6, 2010) -- The traditional way to predict whether children can regain movement after spinal cord injuries may exclude a small subset of patients who could benefit from therapy, according to two new studies. ... > full story
A team with a shared lousy temper is better at mental tasks (December 6, 2010) -- Managers who want their team to perform better should let employees express negative emotions. Teams who share bad feelings solve complicated problems better, share more information with each other and have a greater solidarity, concludes new research. ... > full story
Pregnant mother's diet impacts infant's sense of smell, alters brain development (December 6, 2010) -- New study shows a pregnant mother's diet directly impacts an infant's food choices in the future. ... > full story
Cultured kidney cell layer is a step towards improved dialysis (December 6, 2010) -- Researchers in the Netherlands have succeeded in culturing a layer of kidney cells in the lab. These cells maintained their functional properties, and are able to purify blood. The key to this success is a new kind of bioactive synthetic membrane with a structure resembling that of human basement membrane in the kidney. This is a step towards improved kidney dialysis. The ultimate aim of the scientists is to be able to grow whole biological artificial kidneys using autologous cells. ... > full story
Overactive FTO gene does cause overeating and obesity (December 6, 2010) -- Scientists have gained strong confirmation of the direct connection between the FTO gene and obesity, obtaining the first direct evidence that overactivity of the gene leads to overeating and obesity in mice. ... > full story
Adolescents at risk for alcohol abuse show decreased brain activation (December 6, 2010) -- Adolescence is a time of immense change in the brain, but unfortunately, it is also the time where many youths begin drinking. New research shows that individuals with a positive family history for alcohol abuse are at significantly higher risk to develop alcoholism in the future. ... > full story
A flu vaccine that lasts? (December 6, 2010) -- The costly, time-consuming process of making, distributing and administering millions of seasonal flu vaccines would become obsolete if researchers could design a vaccine that confers decades-long protection from any flu virus strain. ... > full story
Mystery of repetitive DNA segments unraveled (December 6, 2010) -- With new tools that can grab individual strands of DNA and stretch them like rubber bands, scientists are working to unravel a mystery of modern genomics. New findings offer new clues about the physical makeup of odd segments of DNA that are composed of long strings of adenine. These mysterious "poly(dA) repeats" are sprinkled throughout the genomes of humans and other species. ... > full story
Heart attack risk increases rapidly after rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed (December 6, 2010) -- The risk of having a heart attack is 60% higher just a year after a patient has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and it is very important that they are monitored for heart issues. Swedish researchers followed 7,469 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), together with 37,024 matched controls without RA to determine the risk of ischaemic heart disease, with particular reference to myocardial infarction (heart attack). ... > full story
Imitating someone's accent makes it easier to understand them (December 6, 2010) -- In conversation, we often imitate each other's speech style and may even change our accent to fit that of the person we're talking to. A recent study suggests that imitating someone who speaks with a regional or foreign accent may actually help you understand them better. ... > full story
Faster-growing E. coli strain suitable for gene therapy or vaccine use (December 6, 2010) -- A metabolic engineer has improved a strain of E. coli, making it grow faster. "This strain is suitable for mass production of high-quality DNA that could be used in vaccines or gene therapy," he says. ... > full story
Killing salmonella and E. coli on fresh produce with half the normal food-irradiation levels (December 6, 2010) -- Engineers have developed a way to cut by as much as half the amount of irradiation needed to kill 99.999 percent of salmonella, E. coli and other pathogens on fresh produce. ... > full story
Season, time of day appear to predict higher UV levels, need for sun safety measures among skiers (December 6, 2010) -- Ultraviolet radiation levels may remain high during winter months, and conditions can change rapidly, suggesting that adults participating in outdoor sports should rely on the season and time of day when judging the need for protective clothing and sunscreen, according to a new report. ... > full story
Season of birth may have long-term effects on personality, study suggests (December 6, 2010) -- The season in which babies are born can have a dramatic and persistent effect on how their biological clocks function. The imprinting effect, which was found in baby mice, may help explain the fact that people born in winter months have a higher risk of a number of neurological disorders including seasonal affective disorder (winter depression), bipolar depression and schizophrenia. ... > full story
New possibility of reversing damage caused by multiple sclerosis (December 6, 2010) -- Damage caused by multiple sclerosis could be reversed by activating stem cells that can repair injury in the central nervous system, a study has shown. ... > full story
Brain's architecture makes our view of the world unique (December 6, 2010) -- Scientists have shown for the first time that exactly how we see our environment depends on the size of the visual part of our brain. ... > full story
Over-reactive immune system kills young adults during pandemic flu (December 6, 2010) -- A hallmark of pandemic flu throughout history, including the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, has been its ability to make healthy young and middle-aged adults seriously ill and even kill this population in disproportionate numbers. Researchers now provide a possible explanation for this alarming phenomenon of pandemic flu. The study's findings suggest people are made critically ill, or even killed, by their own immune response. ... > full story
Active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer may offer better quality-of-life, study suggests (December 6, 2010) -- In a study that compared initial treatment strategies for low-risk prostate cancer among men 65 years old, active surveillance showed higher measures on quality of life compared to an initial treatment such as radical prostatectomy, although the optimal strategy was highly dependent on individual patient preferences for surveillance or treatment, according to a new study. ... > full story
Racing against age: Health impairment primarily due to bad lifestye habits -- not aging, researchers argue (December 6, 2010) -- Impairments to health and physical performance are not primarily a result of aging but of unfavorable lifestyle habits and lack of exercise, argue researchers in a new article. ... > full story
Earliest brain changes linked to Alzheimer's genetic risk point to possible prevention therapies (December 6, 2010) -- What are the earliest brain changes associated with the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease? A new study finds reduced activity of an energy-generating enzyme in deceased young adult brain donors who carry a common genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease -- before the protein changes or microscopic abnormalities commonly associated with the disease and almost five decades before the age at which they might have developed memory and thinking problems. ... > full story
Fitting a biological nanopore into an artificial one, new ways to analyze DNA (December 6, 2010) -- Researchers a have announced a new type of nanopore device that could help in developing fast and cheap genetic analysis. They report on a novel method that combines artificial and biological materials to result in a tiny hole on a chip, which is able to measure and analyze single DNA molecules. ... > full story
Age-related hearing loss and folate in the elderly (December 6, 2010) -- Age-related hearing loss, one of the four most prevalent chronic conditions in the elderly, is associated with low serum levels of folic acid, according to new research. ... > full story
Preventing physician medication mix-ups by reporting them (December 6, 2010) -- The most frequent contributors to medication errors and adverse drug events in busy primary care practice offices are communication problems and lack of knowledge, according to a study of a prototype web-based medication error and adverse drug event reporting system. The study has created the largest database of medication errors in primary care. ... > full story
'Clueless' housekeeping genes are activated randomly, study finds (December 6, 2010) -- Scientists have made an unexpected finding about the method by which certain genes are activated. Contrary to what researchers have traditionally assumed, genes that work with other genes to build protein structures do not act in a coordinated way but instead are turned on randomly. The surprising discovery may fundamentally change the way scientists think about the way cellular processes are synchronized. ... > full story
Link between folic acid supplementation in pregnancy, DNA methylation and birth weight in newborn babies (December 6, 2010) -- Groundbreaking work by a team of UK scientists has identified, for the first time, a link between changes in the DNA of newborn babies, folic acid supplementation during pregnancy, and birth weight. ... > full story
Surprising AIDS-treatment benefits, prevention strategy in epidemic regions of Africa; Anti-retroviral therapy yields 'Lazarus effect' (December 6, 2010) -- Researchers have documented significant spillover benefits of a drug therapy to combat AIDS symptoms and a novel prevention strategy that focuses on girls in sub-Saharan Africa, an area with two-thirds of the world's HIV infections. ... > full story
Information technology could improve prevention, treatment of depression (December 6, 2010) -- Could information technology and data mining techniques be used to improve the diagnosis and treatment of depression? That's the question scientists hope to have answered. ... > full story
Widely used arthritis pill protects against skin cancer, study suggests (December 5, 2010) -- A widely used arthritis drug reduces the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers -- the most common cancers in humans -- according to a new study. The COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib (Celebrex), which is approved for the treatment of arthritis and acute pain, led to a 62 percent reduction in non-melanoma skin cancers. In the future, a combination of medications that include sunscreens and COX inhibitors or other protective therapies may be used to decrease the incidence of skin cancer. ... > full story
How infants compare quantities (December 5, 2010) -- Parents are often amazed at how fast their child grows and develops. New research has determined that the ability to quantify -- even things that are hard to quantify, such as liquid -- may develop much sooner than most parents realize. ... > full story
Cancer drugs offer new hope for Crohn's disease and sarcoidosis (December 5, 2010) -- A new study offers insight into a new treatment avenue for Crohn's Disease and sarcoidosis. While the loss of NOD2 increases the risk of developing Crohn's disease, increased activity of this gene is also thought to exacerbate symptoms. Scientists have identified two existing FDA-approved drugs that are able to inhibit the activity of NOD2's binding partner, the kinase RIP2, and therefore, also inhibit the activity of NOD2. ... > full story
Low-status leaders are ignored, researchers find; How a leader is picked impacts whether others will follow (December 5, 2010) -- People who are deemed social misfits or "losers" aren't effective leaders, even if they are crusading for a cause that would benefit a larger group, according to new research. ... > full story
Biologist tracks spiders' eyes to learn how tiny brains process information (December 5, 2010) -- Over the next year, spiders watching videos of their prey are going to help biologists understand how animals choose which visual elements to attend to in their environments. She believes we are on the verge of gaining important new knowledge about how brains and specialized sensory systems work together to process visual information. ... > full story
Early detection is possible for prion diseases, study suggests (December 5, 2010) -- A fast test to diagnose fatal brain conditions such as mad cow disease in cattle and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans could be on the horizon, according to a new study. Researchers have developed a highly sensitive and rapid new method to detect and measure infectious agents called prions that cause these diseases. ... > full story
Protein protects cancer cells from oxidative stress (December 5, 2010) -- High levels of a protein called thioredoxin-like 2 helps protect cancer cells from the oxidative stress that they generate as they grow and invade tissues throughout the body, researchers report. ... > full story
People with a university degree fear death less than those at a lower literacy level, Spanish study finds (December 5, 2010) -- Research conducted in Spain reveals that fear of death is more common among women than men. Additionally, the study concludes that parents' fear of death affects their children's perception of death. ... > full story
'Brain maps' created for how humans reach (December 5, 2010) -- Scientists studied the brains of 18 individuals who made 400 distinct arm reaches as they lay in an MRI scanner. The researchers found clear differences in brain planning activity with regard to the two types of reaching behavior. ... > full story
New approach to blocking malaria transmission developed (December 5, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a new approach to blocking malaria transmission. The research focuses on potential targets to inhibit transmission of the parasite Plasmodium that causes malaria. ... > full story
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