ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• New method to find novel connections from gene to gene, drug to drug and between scientists
• New drug could treat Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis and brain injury
• How a single brain trauma may lead to Alzheimer's disease
• New target for vaccine development in abundant immune cells
• Knee stress studied at tissue, cellular levels
• How a common fungus knows when to attack
• To understand childhood obesity, researchers look to inactive, fat rats
• Human papillomavirus types do not replace others after large-scale vaccination
• Yoga reduces stress; now it's known why
• New probe provides vital assist in brain cancer surgery
• How chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increases risk of lung cancer
• Under the right conditions, peptide blocks HIV infection at multiple points along the way
• Driver of breast cancer stem cell metastasis found
• Colonoscopy screening markedly reduces colorectal cancer incidence and death
• Diets high in salt could deplete calcium in the body
• Carnivores: Beware of ticks
• New route for tackling treatment-resistant prostate cancer
• Better understanding of memory retrieval between children and adults
• Mindfulness meditation reduces loneliness in older adults, study shows
• Regenerating bone tissue using gene therapy: New method may work with other tissues as well
• Bioactive protein from ancient medicinal plant may help combat melanoma and other cancers
• Breakthrough technology focuses in on disease traits of single cells
• New recruits in the fight against disease: Anti-bacterial 'killing machine' deciphered
• Feces fossils show connection between Native-Americans, diabetes: Did fat-hoarding genes develop from the nature of ancient feasts?
• Rodents seem depressed from dim light at night, but it can be reversed
• Bats, a reservoir of resurgent viruses
• Classifying neural circuit dysfunctions using neuroeconomics
• Half of CVD deaths in Europe could be avoided with proper regulation, experts say

New method to find novel connections from gene to gene, drug to drug and between scientists Posted: 24 Jul 2012 02:13 PM PDT Researchers have developed a new computational method that will make it easier for scientists to identify and prioritize genes, drug targets, and strategies for repositioning drugs that are already on the market. By mining large datasets more simply and efficiently, researchers will be able to better understand gene-gene, protein-protein, and drug/side-effect interactions. The new algorithm will also help scientists identify fellow researchers with whom they can collaborate.

New drug could treat Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis and brain injury Posted: 24 Jul 2012 02:13 PM PDT A new class of drug shows early promise of being a one-size-fits-all therapy for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury by reducing inflammation in the brain. A new study reports when one of the new drugs is given to a mouse genetically engineered to develop Alzheimer's, it prevents the development of the disease when given during a newly identified therapeutic time window.

How a single brain trauma may lead to Alzheimer's disease Posted: 24 Jul 2012 02:12 PM PDT A study, performed in mice and utilizing post-mortem samples of brains from patients with Alzheimer's disease, found that a single event of a moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) can disrupt proteins that regulate an enzyme associated with Alzheimer's. The new article identifies the complex mechanisms that result in a rapid and robust post-injury elevation of the enzyme in the brain.

New target for vaccine development in abundant immune cells Posted: 24 Jul 2012 01:10 PM PDT White blood cells called neutrophils, which are the first line of defense against infection, play an unexpected role by boosting antibody production, according to researchers. The findings suggest neutrophils have multiple roles within the immune system and function at levels previously unknown to the scientific community. The research provides groundbreaking insight into possible new approaches in vaccine development for blood-borne infections and HIV.

Knee stress studied at tissue, cellular levels Posted: 24 Jul 2012 01:10 PM PDT Scientists are developing virtual models of human knee joints to better understand how tissues and their individual cells react to heavy loads – virtual models that someday can be used to understand damage mechanisms caused by the aging process or by debilitating diseases.

How a common fungus knows when to attack Posted: 24 Jul 2012 12:36 PM PDT Researchers have now shown how a common fungus can adjust its physiology to become harmful in a host with compromised immune status. The study is the first to demonstrate that the hospitality of the host alters gene expression in the fungus Candida albicans.

To understand childhood obesity, researchers look to inactive, fat rats Posted: 24 Jul 2012 12:36 PM PDT A new article reviews dozens of studies on animal models of childhood obesity, suggesting that these models contribute knowledge impossible to attain from human research.

Human papillomavirus types do not replace others after large-scale vaccination Posted: 24 Jul 2012 11:45 AM PDT Vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) are now recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for both teenage boys and girls. The vaccine protects against the two most common types of the virus that cause cervical cancer: HPV 16 and 18. Is there a chance that the increased number of people vaccinated might result in an increase of other types of HPV that cause cancer?

Yoga reduces stress; now it's known why Posted: 24 Jul 2012 11:45 AM PDT Researchers have shown that practicing a form of yogic meditation for just 12 minutes daily for eight weeks led to a reduction in the biological mechanisms responsible for an increase in the immune system's inflammation response. Inflammation, if constantly activated, can contribute to a multitude of chronic health problems.

New probe provides vital assist in brain cancer surgery Posted: 24 Jul 2012 11:45 AM PDT A new probe uses an innovative fluorescence-reading technology to help brain surgeons distinguish cancerous tissue from normal tissue. The probe tool, now already in use for brain surgery, may one day be used for surgeries for a variety of cancers.

How chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increases risk of lung cancer Posted: 24 Jul 2012 11:45 AM PDT A new study details novel mechanism of increased lung cancer risk due to COPD: long-term oxygen depletion stimulates signals that promote tumor growth.

Under the right conditions, peptide blocks HIV infection at multiple points along the way Posted: 24 Jul 2012 11:45 AM PDT Using model cell lines, researchers have shown that human neutrophil peptide 1 effectively prevented HIV entry into cells in multiple ways.

Driver of breast cancer stem cell metastasis found Posted: 24 Jul 2012 10:16 AM PDT Researchers have found that a cancer gene linked to aggressive spread of the disease promotes breast cancer stem cells. The finding implies a new way to target the behavior of these lethal cells.

Colonoscopy screening markedly reduces colorectal cancer incidence and death Posted: 24 Jul 2012 10:16 AM PDT A new study found that colonoscopy with polypectomy significantly reduces colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and CRC-related death in the general population. 12 CRC cases were identified in the screening group of 1,912 patients and 213 cases of CRC were found in the non-screened group of 20,774 patients. One of the 12 persons of the screened individuals with CRC and 51 of the 213 persons of the non-screened individuals with CRC died because of their cancers.

Diets high in salt could deplete calcium in the body Posted: 24 Jul 2012 10:16 AM PDT The scientific community has always wanted to know why people who eat high-salt diets are prone to developing medical problems such as kidney stones and osteoporosis. Medical researchers may have solved this puzzle through their work with animal lab models.

Carnivores: Beware of ticks Posted: 24 Jul 2012 08:51 AM PDT If you are a steak lover, enjoy your meat while you can. A new article explains why if you have been bitten by a tick, you may develop an allergy to red meat.

New route for tackling treatment-resistant prostate cancer Posted: 24 Jul 2012 08:51 AM PDT Scientists have identified a new treatment target for men with advanced prostate cancer that no longer responds to hormone therapy – a stage of the disease which usually proves lethal. They found that the protein paxillin regulates growth in advanced, castration-resistant prostate cancer cells – an important first step towards developing a treatment for men whose cancer prevails even after the most aggressive treatment.

Better understanding of memory retrieval between children and adults Posted: 24 Jul 2012 08:51 AM PDT Neuroscientists are taking a deeper look into how the brain mechanisms for memory retrieval differ between adults and children. While the memory systems are the same in many ways, the researchers have learned that crucial functions with relevance to learning and education differ.

Mindfulness meditation reduces loneliness in older adults, study shows Posted: 24 Jul 2012 08:50 AM PDT For older adults, loneliness is a major risk factor for health problems -- such as cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's -- and death. A new study offers the first evidence that mindfulness meditation reduces loneliness in older adults. Researchers also found that mindfulness meditation lowered inflammation levels, which is thought to promote the development and progression of many diseases.

Regenerating bone tissue using gene therapy: New method may work with other tissues as well Posted: 24 Jul 2012 08:49 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new method of repairing bone using synthetic bone graft substitute material, which combined with gene therapy, can mimic real bone tissue and has potential to regenerate bone in patients who have lost large areas of bone from either disease or trauma.

Bioactive protein from ancient medicinal plant may help combat melanoma and other cancers Posted: 24 Jul 2012 08:48 AM PDT A protein extracted from the seeds of a legume tree that is native to parts of Asia has been found to inhibit cancer cell growth and also to discourage the spread of melanoma to other parts of the body in animal models. This tree has been used for centuries in traditional medicines.

Breakthrough technology focuses in on disease traits of single cells Posted: 24 Jul 2012 07:46 AM PDT Scientists are pioneering a kind of miniaturized laboratory for the investigation of single cells. Known as the Cellarium, this live cell array technology will enable researchers to investigate the detailed behavior of individual cells -- providing unprecedented insights into their role in disease processes.

New recruits in the fight against disease: Anti-bacterial 'killing machine' deciphered Posted: 24 Jul 2012 07:46 AM PDT Scientists have discovered the structure and operating procedures of a powerful anti-bacterial killing machine that could become an alternative to antibiotics.

Feces fossils show connection between Native-Americans, diabetes: Did fat-hoarding genes develop from the nature of ancient feasts? Posted: 24 Jul 2012 07:44 AM PDT A new analysis suggests Natives' "thrifty" gene may not have evolved from a feast-and-famine lifestyle, but from high-fiber, low-fat diets in ancient times.

Rodents seem depressed from dim light at night, but it can be reversed Posted: 24 Jul 2012 07:44 AM PDT Chronic exposure to dim light at night can lead to depressive symptoms in rodents -- but these negative effects can be reversed simply by returning to a standard light-dark cycle, a new study suggests.

Bats, a reservoir of resurgent viruses Posted: 24 Jul 2012 07:42 AM PDT Measles, mumps, pneumonia, influenza and encephalitis in man, Carré's disease in dogs, Ovine Rinderpest (PPR)… all of these diseases are caused by viruses from the same family: Paramyxoviridae. A new study has led to the discovery of more than 60 new species of these dangerous infectious agents, almost double the number previously recorded. This family of highly diverse pathogens affects all animals, from canines to fowl, cattle and humans. As a result, it is not always easy to determine which host is responsible for these viruses. Thanks to testing carried across the globe, the research team has recently discovered their source: bats.

Classifying neural circuit dysfunctions using neuroeconomics Posted: 24 Jul 2012 07:41 AM PDT The traditional approach to psychiatric diagnosis is based on grouping patients on the basis of symptom clusters. This approach to diagnosis has a number of problems, as symptoms are not necessarily specific to a single diagnosis. Symptoms may vary among patients with a particular diagnosis, and there are no clear diagnostic biomarkers or tests for psychiatry as there are for other areas of medicine. Scientists have now introduced a new classification scheme for psychiatric symptoms based on the state of a dysfunctional neural circuit.

Half of CVD deaths in Europe could be avoided with proper regulation, experts say Posted: 24 Jul 2012 07:41 AM PDT Up to 50% of deaths from cardiovascular disease in Europe could be avoided by implementing population level changes such as taxation and regulation of advertising, experts say.

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