Παρασκευή 28 Σεπτεμβρίου 2012

ScienceDaily: Top Health News

ScienceDaily: Top Health News


Burden of epilepsy in developing world described

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 05:54 PM PDT

The burden of epilepsy in poorer parts of the world could be readily alleviated by reducing the preventable causes and improving access to treatment, according to a review article.

Helicopter heroes save lives of severely injured patients

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 05:53 PM PDT

The benefits and cost effectiveness of helicopter transport for severely injured patients is of continued debate. New research shows that for severe blunt trauma, patients transported by helicopter had a lower risk of death, compared to those transported by road.

Liver cells, insulin-producing cells, thymus can be grown in lymph nodes, team finds

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 02:49 PM PDT

Lymph nodes can provide a suitable home for a variety of cells and tissues from other organs, suggesting a cell-based alternative to whole organ transplantation might one day be feasible, according to researchers.

Researchers investigate aggression among kindergartners

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 02:49 PM PDT

Not all aggressive children are aggressive for the same reasons, according to researchers, who found that some kindergartners who are aggressive show low verbal abilities while others are more easily physiologically aroused. The findings suggest that different types of treatments may be needed to help kids with different underlying causes for problem behavior.

Hearing brains are 'deaf' to disappearance of sounds, study reveals

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 02:47 PM PDT

Our brains are better at hearing new and approaching sounds than detecting when a sound disappears, according to a new study. The findings could explain why parents often fail to notice the sudden quiet from the playroom that usually accompanies the onset of mischief.

Genetic sleuthing uncovers deadly new virus in Africa

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 02:43 PM PDT

An isolated outbreak of a deadly disease known as acute hemorrhagic fever, which killed two people and left one gravely ill in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the summer of 2009, was probably caused by a novel virus scientists have never seen before.

Deadly complication of stem cell transplants reduced in mice

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 12:25 PM PDT

Studying leukemia in mice, researchers have reduced a life-threatening complication of stem cell transplants, the only curative treatment when leukemia returns.

Dynamics of DNA packaging helps regulate formation of heart

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 11:25 AM PDT

A new regulator for heart formation has been discovered by studying how embryonic stem cells adjust the packaging of their DNA. This approach to finding genetic regulators may have the power to provide insight into the development of any tissue in the body – liver, brain, blood and so on. The impetus for learning how stem cells turn into heart muscle cells was to further research on repairing damaged hearts through tissue regeneration. The work also holds promise for understanding congenital heart defects.

Increased hospital infections linked to nurse burnout

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 11:15 AM PDT

New research concludes that the degree of "burnout" experienced by nurses could relate directly to the frequency with which patients acquire infections during hospital stays.

Electronics that vanish in the environment or the body

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 11:15 AM PDT

Physicians and environmentalists alike could soon be using a new class of electronic devices: small, robust and high performance, yet also biocompatible and capable of dissolving completely in water – or in bodily fluids. Researchers have demonstrated a new type of biodegradable electronics technology that could introduce new design paradigms for medical implants that resorb into the body, environmental monitors and compostable consumer devices.

Key part of old mystery in generating muscle mass solved

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 11:13 AM PDT

Working with mice, researchers have solved a key part of a muscle regeneration mystery plaguing scientists for years, adding strong support to the theory that muscle mass can be built without a complete, fully functional supply of muscle stem cells.

Learning to overcome fear is difficult for teens

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 10:06 AM PDT

A new study shows that adolescents' reactions to threat remain high even when the danger is no longer present. According to researchers, once a teenager's brain is triggered by a threat, the ability to suppress an emotional response to the threat is diminished which may explain the peak in anxiety and stress-related disorders during this developmental period.

Cyborg surgeon: Hand and technology combine in new surgical tool that enables superhuman precision

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 10:02 AM PDT

Normally, surgeons' tiny hand tremors are inconsequential to the task, but for doctors specializing in fine-scale surgery, such as operating inside the human eye, freehand tremors can pose a serious risk for patients. By harnessing a specialized optical fiber sensor, a new "smart" surgical tool can compensate for this unwanted movement by making hundreds of precise position corrections each second – fast enough to keep the surgeon's hand on target.

Single-site laparoscopic surgery reduces pain of tumor removal

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 10:02 AM PDT

Researchers have found that recovery from an emerging, minimally invasive surgical technique called Laparo-Endoscopic Single-Site Surgery was less painful for kidney cancer patients than traditional laparoscopic surgery.

BMI and shuttle run among techniques new report recommends for youth fitness testing

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 10:02 AM PDT

Techniques ranging from running to push-ups to sit-and-reach tests have been used to measure various aspects of fitness.

First real indicator of longevity in mammals discovered

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 10:02 AM PDT

Scientists have demonstrated that longevity is defined at a molecular level by the length of telomeres. The work opens the door to further study of these cellular components in order to calculate the rate at which cells age and thus be able to determine life expectancy.

Obesity-related hormone discovered in fruit flies

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 09:42 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered in fruit flies a key metabolic hormone thought to be the exclusive property of vertebrates. The hormone, leptin, is a nutrient sensor, regulating energy intake and output and ultimately controlling appetite.

Major cancer protein amplifies global gene expression

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 09:41 AM PDT

Scientists may have discovered why a protein called MYC can provoke a variety of cancers. Like many proteins associated with cancer, MYC helps regulate cell growth. A new study found that, unlike many other cell growth regulators, MYC does not turn genes on or off, but instead boosts the expression of genes that are already turned on.

Shared pathway links Lou Gehrig's disease with spinal muscular atrophy

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 09:41 AM PDT

Scientists have long known the main proteins that lead to the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy, respectively. Now research shows that these two motor neuron diseases likely share a pathway that leads to the development of disease.

Study adds to efforts to find more effective anti-inflammatory drugs

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 09:41 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered a previously unknown function for a protein that could add to the expanding arsenal of potential new drugs for battling inflammation and tissue fibrosis in a number of disease processes. Scientists report that a protein called TRPC6 mediates a molecular pathway critical to the body's repair processes following various forms of injury caused by disease.

Unique genetic marker discovery may help predict multiple sclerosis relapse

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 09:36 AM PDT

Scientists may be one step closer to predicting the uncertain course of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease that can lay dormant for months or years, thanks to the discovery of a unique genetic marker. The marker is the first of its kind to be directly linked to MS.

Aggressive cancer exploits Myc oncogene to amplify global gene activity

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 09:36 AM PDT

Researchers have determined the mechanism used by c-Myc to increase the expression of all active genes in cancer cells. Elevated levels of c-Myc are linked to increased rates of metastasis, disease recurrence, and mortality in cancer patients. Guided by this new model, researchers hope to find ways to restrict c-Myc's activity to eradicate cancer cells that become dependent on c-Myc for their survival.

Scientists find molecular link to obesity/insulin resistance in mice

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 09:36 AM PDT

Researchers have identified a molecular link between thermogenesis and the development of inflammation in fat cells. Activating molecular switch in white fat cells enabled mice to eat a high-calorie diet without becoming obese or developing the inflammation that causes insulin resistance, report scientists.

New way of fighting high cholesterol upends assumptions

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 09:36 AM PDT

Atherosclerosis has been presumed to be the consequence of complicated interactions between overabundant cholesterol and resulting inflammation in the heart and blood vessels. Researchers now say the relationship is not exactly what it appears, and that a precursor to cholesterol actually suppresses inflammatory response genes. This precursor molecule could provide a new target for drugs designed to treat atherosclerosis.

Scientists find way to control sugars

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 07:43 AM PDT

Scientists have found that the intestinal enzymes responsible for processing starchy foods can be turned on and off, helping to better control those processes in people with Type 2 diabetes.

Popular HIV drug may cause memory declines

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 07:38 AM PDT

The way the body metabolizes a commonly prescribed anti-retroviral drug that is used long term by patients infected with HIV may contribute to cognitive impairment by damaging nerve cells, new research suggests.

African-American youth exposed to more magazine and television alcohol advertising than youth in general

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 07:38 AM PDT

new study finds African-American youths are over-exposed to alcohol advertising.

Breakthrough on immune system and brain tumors

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 06:21 AM PDT

In what could be a breakthrough in the treatment of deadly brain tumors, a team of researchers has discovered that the immune system reacts differently to different types of brain tissue, shedding light on why cancerous brain tumors are so difficult to treat.

Evolutionary psychologists study the purpose of punishment and reputation

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 06:21 AM PDT

For two decades, evolutionary scientists have been locked in a debate over the evolved functions of three distinctive human behaviors: the great readiness we show for cooperating with new people, the strong interest we have in tracking others' reputations regarding how well they treat others, and the occasional interest we have in punishing people for selfishly mistreating others.

First use in patient of conditionally reprogrammed cells delivers clinical response

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 06:21 AM PDT

Using a newly discovered cell technology, researchers were able to identify an effective therapy for a patient with a rare type of lung tumor. The single case study provides a snapshot of the new technology's promising potential; however, researchers strongly caution that it could be years before validation studies are completed and regulatory approval received for its broader use.

Researchers find possible key to regulation of ovarian cancer stem cells

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 06:19 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered that the micro ribonucleic acid miR-214 plays a critical role in regulating ovarian cancer stem cell properties. This knowledge, said the researchers, could pave the way for a therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.

Possible link between infants' regulatory behaviors and maternal mental health

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 06:19 AM PDT

Functional somatic symptoms are physical complaints, such as headaches, pain, fatigue, and dizziness, that cannot be explained medically. These symptoms affect 10-30 percent of children and adolescents and account for two - four percent of all pediatric doctor visits. A new study finds that infants with regulatory problems (i.e., feeding, sleeping, and tactile reactivity) and/or maternal psychiatric problems may have an increased risk of FSS in later childhood.

Breakthrough for type 2 diabetes treatment: Therapy involves the blockade of signalling by VEGF-B protein

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 06:15 AM PDT

An international team of scientists has discovered an entirely new approach to the treatment of type II diabetes. The therapy involves the blockade of signalling by a protein known as VEGF-B and this prevents fat from accumulating in the 'wrong' places, such as in muscles and in the heart. As a result the cells within these tissues are once again able to respond to insulin.

Risk markers for erectile dysfunction following radiation treatment in prostate cancer

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 06:14 AM PDT

In the first study of its kind, a research team discovered 12 genetic markers associated with the development of erectile dysfunction (ED) in prostate cancer patients who were treated with radiation.

Shared genetic link in psychiatric and movement disorders

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 06:12 AM PDT

Rapid-onset dystonia-parkinsonism (RDP) is caused by a genetic mutation that often runs in families. Now researchers believe that same genetic predisposition might also be associated with psychiatric problems, such as anxiety, mood disorders and substance abuse/dependence.

New way to weed out problem stem cells, making therapy safer

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 06:12 AM PDT

Researchers have found a way to detect and eliminate potentially troublemaking stem cells to make stem cell therapy safer. Induced Pluripotent Stem cells, also known as iPS cells, are bioengineered from adult tissues to have properties of embryonic stem cells, which have the unlimited capacity to differentiate and grow into any desired types of cells, such as skin, brain, lung and heart cells. However, during the differentiation process, some residual pluripotent or embryonic-like cells may remain and cause them to grow into tumors.

New method of resurfacing bone improves odds of successful grafts

Posted: 26 Sep 2012 06:40 PM PDT

Coating a bone graft with an inorganic compound found in bones and teeth may significantly increase the likelihood of a successful implant, according to researchers.

Dioxin causes disease and reproductive problems across generations, study finds

Posted: 26 Sep 2012 06:39 PM PDT

Since the 1960s, when the defoliant Agent Orange was widely used in Vietnam, military, industry and environmental groups have debated the toxicity of its main ingredient, the chemical dioxin, and how it should be regulated. But even if all the dioxin were eliminated from the planet, researchers say its legacy will live on in the way it turns genes on and off in the descendants of people exposed over the past half century.

Viewing gender-specific objects influences perception of gender identity

Posted: 26 Sep 2012 06:39 PM PDT

Spending too much time looking at high heels may influence how a viewer perceives the gender of an androgynous face, according to new research.

Cannabis withdrawal symptoms might have clinical importance

Posted: 26 Sep 2012 06:39 PM PDT

Cannabis users have a greater chance of relapse to cannabis use when they experience certain withdrawal symptoms, according to new research.

Total knee replacements: Effective, costly and booming

Posted: 26 Sep 2012 06:31 PM PDT

Researchers find that total knee replacement surgeries have more than doubled in 20 years. The study suggests the growth is driven by both the increase in the number of older Americans and increased demand among older adults for total knee replacements.

Male DNA commonly found in women’s brains, likely from prior pregnancy with a male fetus

Posted: 26 Sep 2012 06:31 PM PDT

Male DNA is commonly found in the brains of women, most likely derived from prior pregnancy with a male fetus, according to first-of-its-kind research conducted at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. While the medical implications of male DNA and male cells in the brain are unknown, studies of other kinds of microchimerism – the harboring of genetic material and cells that were exchanged between fetus and mother during pregnancy – have linked the phenomenon to autoimmune diseases and cancer, sometimes for better and other times for worse.

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