Τετάρτη 26 Ιουνίου 2013

ScienceDaily: Top Health News

ScienceDaily: Top Health News

Researchers strike gold with nanotech vaccine

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 04:25 PM PDT

Scientists have developed a novel vaccination method that uses tiny gold particles to mimic a virus and carry specific proteins to the body's specialist immune cells. The technique differs from the traditional approach of using dead or inactive viruses as a vaccine and was demonstrated in the lab using a specific protein that sits on the surface of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

One in five students in Grades 7-12 say they have had a traumatic brain injury in their lifetime

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 02:23 PM PDT

One in five adolescents surveyed in Ontario said they have suffered a traumatic brain injury that left them unconscious for five minutes or required them to be hospitalized overnight, a statistic researchers say is much higher than previously thought.

Memory improves for older adults using computerized brain-fitness program

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 02:23 PM PDT

Researchers have found that older adults who regularly used a brain-fitness program on a computer demonstrated significantly improved memory and language skills.

Overweight causes heart failure: Large study with new method clarifies the association

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 02:22 PM PDT

Scientists have used a new method to investigate obesity and overweight as a cause of cardiovascular disease. Strong association have been found previously, but it has not been clear whether it was overweight as such that was the cause, or if the overweight was just a marker of another underlying cause, as clinical trials with long-term follow-ups are difficult to implement.

Language intervention levels playing field for English language learners

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 02:22 PM PDT

A new approach to teaching pre-kindergarten could take a bite out of the achievement gap and level the playing field for America's growing population of English language learners, according to a recent study.

Flu shot effective regardless of circulating flu strain, research finds

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 01:22 PM PDT

New research has found that despite popular belief, the flu shot is effective in preventing the flu, even if the virus going around does not match the vaccine.

Vietnam vets with PTSD more than twice as likely to have heart disease

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 01:22 PM PDT

Male twin Vietnam veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were more than twice as likely as those without PTSD to develop heart disease during a 13-year period, according to a new study.

Heart failure survivors at greater risk for cancer, study shows

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 01:22 PM PDT

Heart failure patients are surviving more often with the heart condition but they are increasingly more likely to be diagnosed with cancer, a trend that could be attributed to increased surveillance, side effects of treatments, or other causes, according to a new study.

Researchers identify novel therapy to treat muscular dystrophy

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 01:18 PM PDT

Researchers have identified a combinatorial therapeutic approach that has proven effective in treating muscular dystrophy in a mouse model.

Gene mutation may have effect on benefit of aspirin use for colorectal cancer

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 01:18 PM PDT

In two large studies, the association between aspirin use and risk of colorectal cancer was affected by mutation of the gene BRAF, with regular aspirin use associated with a lower risk of BRAF-wild-type colorectal cancer but not with risk of BRAF-mutated cancer, findings that suggest that BRAF-mutant colon tumor cells may be less sensitive to the effect of aspirin, according to a new study.

Research IDs potential treatment for deadly, HIV-related blood cancer

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 12:09 PM PDT

Researchers have discovered a promising new way to treat a rare and aggressive blood cancer most commonly found in people infected with HIV.

Study details cancer-promoting mechanisms of overlooked components in secondhand smoke

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 12:09 PM PDT

A new study shows that overlooked components of secondhand smoke may help the more well known molecules like BaP cause and promote cancer.

'Active surveillance' may miss aggressive prostate cancers in black men

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 12:07 PM PDT

A new study of more than 1,800 men ages 52 to 62 suggests that African-Americans diagnosed with very-low-risk prostate cancers are much more likely than white men to actually have aggressive disease that goes unrecognized with current diagnostic approaches. Although prior studies have found it safe to delay treatment and monitor some presumably slow-growing or low-risk prostate cancers, such "active surveillance" (AS) does not appear to be a good idea for black men, the study concludes.

Antibiotic shows analgesic action following surgery

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 12:07 PM PDT

A single dose of the antibiotic ceftriaxone given for antimicrobial prophylaxis prior to surgery enhanced patient pain thresholds after the procedure, according to a new study.

Symptoms of Prader-Willi syndrome associated with interference in circadian, metabolic genes

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 11:12 AM PDT

Researchers have found that Prader-Willi syndrome -- a genetic disorder best known for causing an insatiable appetite that can lead to morbid obesity -- is associated with the loss of non-coding RNAs, resulting in the dysregulation of circadian and metabolic genes, accelerated energy expenditure and metabolic differences during sleep.

Autism in children affects not only social abilities, but also a broad range of sensory and motor skills

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 11:12 AM PDT

Scientists are shedding a new light on the effects of autism on the brain. Researchers have identified that connectivity between the thalamus, a deep brain structure crucial for sensory and motor functions, and the cerebral cortex, the brain's outer layer, is impaired in children with autism spectrum disorders.

Dramatic increase in hospitalization of US children with inflammatory bowel disease

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 11:12 AM PDT

The largest investigation to date has found a dramatic increase in hospitalizations for children with inflammatory bowel disease during the past decade in the US. The study found a 65 percent increase in IBD hospital discharges from 2000 - 2009.

Human and canine lymphomas share molecular similarities, first large-scale comparison shows

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 11:09 AM PDT

Humans and their pet dogs are close, so close that they both develop a type of cancer called diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. In humans it's the most common lymphoma subtype while in dogs, it's one of the most common cancers in veterinary oncology.

Blind(fold)ed by science: Study shows the strategy humans use to chase objects

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 11:09 AM PDT

A study found that people who are blindfolded employ the same strategy to intercept a running ball carrier as people who can see, which suggests that multiple areas of the brain cooperate to accomplish the task.

Preventing skin cancer in children begins with the right sunscreen

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 11:09 AM PDT

While most parents are aware that applying sunscreen to their children is important, many go wrong by not taking the time to choose the most effective sunscreen, or they don't understand the limitations of sunscreen.

Kids' reading success boosted by long-term individualized instruction

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 09:13 AM PDT

Students who consistently receive individualized reading instruction from first through third grade become better readers than those who don't, according to new research.

Past brain activation revealed in scans: Brain activity patterns preserve traces of previous cognitive activity

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 09:11 AM PDT

What if experts could dig into the brain, like archaeologists, and uncover the history of past experiences? This ability might reveal what makes each of us a unique individual, and it could enable the objective diagnosis of a wide range of neuropsychological diseases. New research hints that such a scenario is within the realm of possibility: It shows that spontaneous waves of neuronal activity in the brain bear the imprints of earlier events for at least 24 hours after the experience has taken place.

Problem-solving governs how we process sensory stimuli

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 09:11 AM PDT

Various areas of the brain process our sensory experiences. How the areas of the cerebral cortex communicate with each other and process sensory information has long puzzled neuroscientists. Exploring the sense of touch in mice, brain researchers now demonstrate that the transmission of sensory information from one cortical area to connected areas depends on the specific task to solve and the goal-directed behavior. These findings can serve as a basis for an improved understanding of cognitive disorders.

Using serial neuroimaging studies to identify timing of abusive head trauma in infants

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 09:11 AM PDT

Researchers have categorized the appearance and evolution of abnormalities on neuroimages that represent abusive head trauma (AHT) in infants. Descriptions of these abnormalities are important for narrowing down the timing of AHT, which can aid police in identifying and excluding potential perpetrators. Appearances of various abusive traumatic injuries on cranial CT scans and MRIs at different time points are described and discussed.

First-ever therapeutic offers hope for improving blood transfusions

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 09:09 AM PDT

Researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have developed an unprecedented approach to restore nitric oxide (NO) to donated blood, a breakthrough that could dramatically reduce harmful effects from transfusions.

Protein that contributes to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's identified

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 09:09 AM PDT

Researchers have demonstrated that a protein called caspase-2 is a key regulator of a signaling pathway that leads to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. The findings, made in a mouse model of Alzheimer's, suggest that inhibiting this protein could prevent the neuronal damage and subsequent cognitive decline associated with the disease.

New screening approach quickly identifies small proteins unique to melanoma cells

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 09:09 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a new streamlined method to rapidly identify the genetic changes in small protein fragments unique to melanoma cancer cells. These fragments can be used as targets for tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes that have been shown to reduce cancerous lesions.

New study on popular prostate cancer protein provides insight into disease progression

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 06:20 AM PDT

Researchers have uncovered for the first time the vital role a popular protein plays in the stroma, the cell-lined area outside of a prostate tumor.

Feeling stressed? Oxytocin could help you reach out to others for support

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 06:20 AM PDT

Scientists have shown that reaching out to other people during a stressful event is an effective way to improve your mood, and researchers suggest that the hormone oxytocin may help you accomplish just that.

Molecule considered to be a breast cancer indicator also has a protective function

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 06:18 AM PDT

One of the main indicators for determining the activity of a tumor or cancer is cell division. Cancer cells divide more than other types and the genes and molecules involved in the process of division are, often, targets for identifying and treating certain types of cancer. Researchers have now revealed that one of these molecules (PLK1 kinase), up to now thought to be related to cancer, can also be crucial for the proper functioning of the cell.

Vitamin D improves mood and blood pressure in women with diabetes

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 06:18 AM PDT

In women who have type 2 diabetes and show signs of depression, vitamin D supplements significantly lowered blood pressure and improved their moods. Vitamin D even helped the women lose a few pounds.

Weight loss's effect on heart disease risks

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 04:42 AM PDT

A landmark study investigating the long-term effects of weight loss on the risks of cardiovascular disease among patients with Type 2 diabetes has now concluded, with significant results.

Exercise benefits patients with type 2 diabetes

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 04:41 AM PDT

Moderate-intensity exercise reduces fat stored around the heart, in the liver and in the abdomen of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, even in the absence of any changes in diet, according to a new study.

New theory: Emotions arise through the integration of perceptual and cognitive information

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 04:38 AM PDT

A life without feelings -- unimaginable. Although emotions are so important, philosophers are still discussing what they actually are. According to a new theory, emotions are not just special cases of perception or thought but a separate kind of mental state which arises through the integration of feelings of bodily processes and cognitive contents.

Hunger affects decision-making and perception of risk

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 04:38 AM PDT

Hungry people are often difficult to deal with. A good meal can affect more than our mood, it can also influence our willingness to take risks. This phenomenon is also apparent across a very diverse range of species in the animal kingdom. Experiments conducted on the fruit fly, Drosophila, have shown that hunger not only modifies behavior, but also changes pathways in the brain.

Babies know when a cuddle is coming

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 04:35 AM PDT

Babies as young as two months know when they are about to be picked up and change their body posture in preparation, according to new research.

Addiction relapse might be thwarted by turning off brain trigger

Posted: 24 Jun 2013 02:38 PM PDT

A new study offers encouraging findings that researchers hope may one day lead to a treatment option for people who suffer from alcohol abuse disorders and other addictions.

Conversations with teens about weight linked with increased risk of unhealthy eating behaviors

Posted: 24 Jun 2013 02:28 PM PDT

Conversations between parents and adolescents that focus on weight and size are associated with an increased risk for unhealthy adolescent weight-control behaviors, according to a new study.

Genes involved in birth defects may also lead to mental illness

Posted: 24 Jun 2013 02:27 PM PDT

Gene mutations that cause cell signaling networks to go awry during embryonic development and lead to major birth defects may also cause subtle disruptions in the brain that contribute to psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, autism, and bipolar disorder, according to new research.

Computer models shed new light on sickle cell crisis

Posted: 24 Jun 2013 12:26 PM PDT

Sickle cell crisis, a painful blood blockage common in people with sickle cell disease, isn't just about sickle-shaped red blood cells that block capillaries. According to new computer models, a second, stickier kind of red blood cell starts the obstruction, making it difficult for sickle cells to flow past.

New understanding of why anti-cancer therapy stops working at a specific stage

Posted: 24 Jun 2013 06:35 AM PDT

Researchers have achieved a breakthrough in understanding how and why a promising anti-cancer therapy has failed to achieve hoped-for success in killing tumor cells. Their work could lead to new insights into overcoming this impasse.
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