ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Calcium supplements linked to significantly increased heart attack risk, study suggests
• Caesarean section delivery may double risk of childhood obesity: May be due to different gut bacteria
• IUDs, implants most effective birth control, study suggests
• The goldilocks effect: Babies choose ‘Just right’ experiences
• Fukushima's radiation effects: World experts to assess impacts from Japanese power plant
• Fever during pregnancy more than doubles the risk of autism or developmental delay
• RNA: From messenger to guardian of genome integrity
• Stem-cell-growing surface enables bone repair
• Americans find doing their own taxes simpler than improving diet and health
• Hormone plays surprise role in fighting skin infections
• Wearing two different hats: Moral decisions may depend on the situation
• How immune cells change wiring of developing mouse brain
• Reverse engineering epilepsy's 'miracle' diet
• Children's body fat linked to Vitamin D insufficiency in mothers
• Chronic pain is relieved by cell transplantation in lab study
• New ways sleep-wake patterns are like clockwork
• Common acne medication doubles risk of eye infection, study suggests
• Hazelnuts: New source of key fat for infant formula that's more like mother's milk
• 'Obesity genes' may influence food choices, eating patterns
• Well-connected brains make you smarter in older age
• Genetic markers to predict male fertility identified
• Phthalates in PVC floors taken up by the body in infants
• Viral infections in infancy not linked to childhood wheezing, study suggests
• Pathological aging brains contain the same amyloid plaques as Alzheimer’s disease
• Array of light for early disease detection?
• Possible role of autoantibodies in Alzheimer’s
• Newly discovered breast milk antibodies help neutralize HIV
• Inhaled anticholinergics linked with arrhythmias in children, young adults
• Novel biomarkers reveal evidence of radiation exposure
• Excess maternal weight before and during pregnancy can result in larger babies
• Bias found in mental health drug research
• Task force recommends against PSA-based screening for prostate cancer
• Touching tarantulas: Overcoming phobias with brief therapy
• 'Orphan' sleep drug may be potent cancer-fighting agent
• Pandemic 2009 H1N1 vaccination produces antibodies against multiple flu strains

Calcium supplements linked to significantly increased heart attack risk, study suggests Posted: 23 May 2012 05:07 PM PDT Calcium supplements might increase the risk of having a heart attack, and should be "taken with caution," concludes new research. Furthermore, boosting overall calcium intake from dietary sources confers no significant advantage in terms of staving off heart disease and stroke, the findings indicate.

Caesarean section delivery may double risk of childhood obesity: May be due to different gut bacteria Posted: 23 May 2012 05:07 PM PDT Caesarean section delivery may double the risk of subsequent childhood obesity, finds new research.

IUDs, implants most effective birth control, study suggests Posted: 23 May 2012 05:02 PM PDT A study to evaluate birth control methods has found dramatic differences in their effectiveness. Women who used birth control pills, the patch or vaginal ring were 20 times more likely to have an unintended pregnancy than those who used longer-acting forms such as an intrauterine device (IUD) or implant.

The goldilocks effect: Babies choose ‘Just right’ experiences Posted: 23 May 2012 05:02 PM PDT Infants ignore information that is too simple or too complex, focusing instead on situations that are "just right," according to a new study. Dubbed the "Goldilocks effect" by the people that discovered it, the attention pattern sheds light on how babies learn to make sense of a world full of complex sights, sounds, and movements.

Fukushima's radiation effects: World experts to assess impacts from Japanese power plant Posted: 23 May 2012 02:05 PM PDT World experts on the effects of atomic radiation have agreed to start an assessment of the radiological impact of the events at the TEPCO (Fukushima-Daiichi) nuclear power plant following the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Fever during pregnancy more than doubles the risk of autism or developmental delay Posted: 23 May 2012 01:19 PM PDT Mothers who had fevers during their pregnancies were more than twice as likely to have a child with autism or developmental delay than were mothers of typically developing children, and that taking medication to treat fever countered its effect.

RNA: From messenger to guardian of genome integrity Posted: 23 May 2012 01:13 PM PDT A new and unexpected role for RNA is identified: the defence of genome integrity and stability. New research shows that an until now unknown class of RNA -- the newly christened DDRNA -- plays a key role in activation of the molecular alarms necessary to safeguard our genome when DNA damage from internal or external factors occurs.

Stem-cell-growing surface enables bone repair Posted: 23 May 2012 11:57 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated that a special surface, free of biological contaminants, allows adult-derived stem cells to thrive and transform into multiple cell types. Their success brings stem cell therapies another step closer.

Americans find doing their own taxes simpler than improving diet and health Posted: 23 May 2012 11:56 AM PDT Most Americans (52 percent) have concluded that figuring out their income taxes is easier than knowing what they should and shouldn't eat to be healthier, according to a new survey.

Hormone plays surprise role in fighting skin infections Posted: 23 May 2012 11:56 AM PDT Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are molecules produced in the skin to fend off infection-causing microbes. Vitamin D has been credited with a role in their production and in the body's overall immune response, but scientists say a hormone previously associated only with maintaining calcium homeostasis and bone health is also critical, boosting AMP expression when dietary vitamin D levels are inadequate.

Wearing two different hats: Moral decisions may depend on the situation Posted: 23 May 2012 10:55 AM PDT An individual's sense of right or wrong may change depending on their activities at the time -- and they may not be aware of their own shifting moral integrity -- according to a new study looking at why people make ethical or unethical decisions.

How immune cells change wiring of developing mouse brain Posted: 23 May 2012 10:55 AM PDT Researchers have shown in mice how immune cells in the brain target and remove unused connections between brain cells during normal development. This research sheds light on how brain activity influences brain development, and highlights the newly found importance of the immune system in how the brain is wired, as well as how the brain forms new connections throughout life in response to change.

Reverse engineering epilepsy's 'miracle' diet Posted: 23 May 2012 10:32 AM PDT Researchers link seizure resistance to a protein that modifies cellular metabolism in the brain. The findings, which shed light on the extremely low-carb ketogenic diet, may lead to the development of new treatments for epilepsy.

Children's body fat linked to Vitamin D insufficiency in mothers Posted: 23 May 2012 10:31 AM PDT Children are more likely to have more body fat during childhood if their mother has low levels of Vitamin D during pregnancy, according to scientists. Low vitamin D status has been linked to obesity in adults and children, but little is known about how variation in a mother's status affects the body composition of her child.

Chronic pain is relieved by cell transplantation in lab study Posted: 23 May 2012 10:30 AM PDT Chronic pain, by definition, is difficult to manage, but a new study shows how a cell therapy might one day be used not only to quell some common types of persistent and difficult-to-treat pain, but also to cure the conditions that give rise to them.

New ways sleep-wake patterns are like clockwork Posted: 23 May 2012 10:30 AM PDT Researchers have discovered new ways neurons work together to ease the transition between sleep and wakefulness. Their findings provide additional insights into sleep-wake patterns and offer methods to explore what may disrupt them.

Common acne medication doubles risk of eye infection, study suggests Posted: 23 May 2012 08:50 AM PDT Acne patients who take oral medications like Accutane double their risk of developing an eye infection compared to those who do not, new research suggests. Researchers say that the use of inexpensive artificial tears or eyedrops, which are available over-the-counter at the local pharmacy, can minimize the risk.

Hazelnuts: New source of key fat for infant formula that's more like mother's milk Posted: 23 May 2012 08:50 AM PDT Scientists are reporting development of a healthy "designer fat" that, when added to infant formula, provides a key nutrient that premature babies need in high quantities, but isn't available in large enough amounts in their mothers' milk. The new nutrient, based on hazelnut oil, also could boost nutrition for babies who are bottle-fed for other reasons.

'Obesity genes' may influence food choices, eating patterns Posted: 23 May 2012 08:48 AM PDT Blame it on your genes? Researchers say individuals with variations in certain "obesity genes" tend to eat more meals and snacks, consume more calories per day and choose the same high fat, sugary foods.

Well-connected brains make you smarter in older age Posted: 23 May 2012 07:29 AM PDT Brains that maintain healthy nerve connections as we age help keep us sharp in later life, new research has found.

Genetic markers to predict male fertility identified Posted: 23 May 2012 07:29 AM PDT Scientists have identified a gene expression fingerprint associated with very low pregnancy rates in semen donors with normal seminal quality.

Phthalates in PVC floors taken up by the body in infants Posted: 23 May 2012 07:21 AM PDT Phthalates from PVC flooring materials is taken up by our bodies, according to new research. Phthalates are substances suspected to cause asthma and allergies, as well as other chronic diseases in children. The study shows that children can ingest these softening agents with food but also by breathing and through the skin.

Viral infections in infancy not linked to childhood wheezing, study suggests Posted: 23 May 2012 07:18 AM PDT The number of viral infections during infancy is not associated with wheezing later in childhood, according to a new study.

Pathological aging brains contain the same amyloid plaques as Alzheimer’s disease Posted: 22 May 2012 05:06 PM PDT Pathological aging (PA) is used to describe the brains of people which have Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like pathology but where the person showed no signs of cognitive impairment whilst they were alive. New research shows that PA and AD brains contain similar amyloid β (Aβ) plaques and that while on average AD brains contain more Aβ there was considerable overlap in Aβ subtypes. These results suggest that PA may simply be an early stage of AD.

Array of light for early disease detection? Posted: 22 May 2012 03:06 PM PDT With the successful completion of the Human Genome Project, research attention is increasingly focusing on proteins. Versatile products produced from genetic templates, proteins are principle actors in both the maintenance of health and the onset of illness. Protein microarrays are a means of bridging the gap between analysis of the nucleotide sequences that make up DNA and the proteome -- the universe of proteins built from the amino acids coded for by genes.

Possible role of autoantibodies in Alzheimer’s Posted: 22 May 2012 01:13 PM PDT Research demonstrates how dying or damaged brain cells give rise to autoantibodies in blood that can be reliable biomarkers for early AD diagnosis. Key mechanism mirrors process common to autoimmune disorders.

Newly discovered breast milk antibodies help neutralize HIV Posted: 22 May 2012 12:26 PM PDT Antibodies that help to stop the HIV virus have been found in breast milk. Researchers have isolated the antibodies from immune cells called B cells in the breast milk of infected mothers in Malawi, and showed that the B cells in breast milk can generate neutralizing antibodies that may inhibit the virus that causes AIDS.

Inhaled anticholinergics linked with arrhythmias in children, young adults Posted: 22 May 2012 12:24 PM PDT Use of inhaled anticholinergics (IACs) has been associated with an increased risk of potentially dangerous heart arrhythmias among young asthma patients, according to a new study.

Novel biomarkers reveal evidence of radiation exposure Posted: 22 May 2012 10:52 AM PDT Researchers have identified novel biomarkers that could be used to confirm exposure to damaging radiation in large groups of people potentially exposed to unknown and variable doses for the purpose of triage and treatment.

Excess maternal weight before and during pregnancy can result in larger babies Posted: 22 May 2012 10:50 AM PDT Excess weight in pregnant women, both before pregnancy and gained during pregnancy, is the main predictor of whether mothers will have larger than average babies, which can result in increased risk of cesarean section or trauma during delivery, states a new study.

Bias found in mental health drug research Posted: 22 May 2012 08:50 AM PDT Patient care nationwide may be affected when research on medications contain only 'good news' – especially when the research is industry-funded.

Task force recommends against PSA-based screening for prostate cancer Posted: 21 May 2012 06:36 PM PDT Following a period for public comment, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released its final recommendation for prostate cancer screening. The Task Force now recommends against PSA-based screening for all men, regardless of age.

Touching tarantulas: Overcoming phobias with brief therapy Posted: 21 May 2012 01:40 PM PDT A brief therapy session for adults with a lifelong debilitating spider phobia resulted in lasting changes to the brain's response to fear. The therapy was so successful, the adults were able to hold a tarantula in their bare hands six months after the treatment. This is the first study to document the immediate and long-term brain changes after treatment and to illustrate how the brain reorganizes long-term to reduce fear.

'Orphan' sleep drug may be potent cancer-fighting agent Posted: 21 May 2012 01:37 PM PDT An inexpensive "orphan drug" used to treat sleep disorders appears to be a potent inhibitor of cancer cells, according to a new study. The novel approach, using groundbreaking technology that allows rapid analysis of the genome, has broad implications for the development of safer, more effective cancer therapies.

Pandemic 2009 H1N1 vaccination produces antibodies against multiple flu strains Posted: 21 May 2012 01:37 PM PDT The pandemic 2009 H1N1 vaccine can generate antibodies in vaccinated individuals not only against the H1N1 virus, but also against other influenza virus strains including H5N1 and H3N2. This discovery adds an important new dimension to the finding last year that people infected with pandemic 2009 H1N1 virus produced high levels of antibodies that were broadly cross-reactive against a variety of flu strains.

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