ScienceDaily: Top Health News

---

• Preterm birth is associated with increased risk of asthma and wheezing disorders
• Malaria screening unsuccessful in some schools
• Brain structure, function predict future memory performance in children, adolescents
• 'Weeding the garden' lets ALK+ lung cancer patients continue crizotinib
• Researchers find culprit behind skeletal muscle disease
• Brain regions thought to be uniquely human share many similarities with monkeys
• Aspirin still overprescribed for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation
• Choosing Wisely: Five common clinical practices to reconsider in critical care
• Measuring waist circumference would improve detection of children, adolescents with cardiometabolic risk
• Study shows value of HRQOL assessment in small cell lung cancer
• Parenting plays key role when African-American boys move from preschool to kindergarten
• New imaging technique speeds removal of non-melanoma skin cancers
• H.M.'s brain yields new evidence: 3-D model of famous amnesiac's brain helps illuminate human memory
• Don't judge older drivers by age
• Price highlighting helps consumers stick to longer-term product preferences
• Certain probiotics could help women lose weight, study finds
• Labeling obesity as a disease may have psychological costs
• The Super Bowl: A 'spiritual sugar high? '
• Targeted tutoring can reduce 'achievement gap' for disadvantaged students
• Vacuum technology removes dangerous blood clots in heart
• Melatonin shows potential to slow tumor growth in certain breast cancers
• Drugs cut need for surgery for Crohn's disease patients by more than half
• New operating principle of potassium channels discovered
• New technique developed to control cervical cancer
• Using silver nanoparticles, researchers create cream that avoids transmission of HIV
• Availability of transcatheter repair of aortic stenosis benefits patients
• Long-term survival possible for pediatric heart transplant patients
• Exhaled breath may help identify early lung cancer
• Study analyzes content of nightmares, bad dreams
• Converting adult human cells to hair follicle-generating stem cells
• DNA-built nanostructures safely target, image cancer tumors
• Health care savings: Reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions
• Taking vitamin D2 is a poor choice for athletes, research shows
• Exercise may be best medicine to treat post-concussion syndrome
• First ever implantation of new device for thoracic aneurysm performed in Michigan
• New hope for Gaucher patients with brain pathology
• DDT pesticide exposure linked to Alzheimer's disease, study shows

Preterm birth is associated with increased risk of asthma and wheezing disorders Posted: 28 Jan 2014 03:48 PM PST Children who are born preterm have an increased risk developing asthma and wheezing disorders during childhood according to new research.

Malaria screening unsuccessful in some schools Posted: 28 Jan 2014 03:48 PM PST A school-based intermittent screening and treatment program for malaria in rural coastal Kenya had no benefits on the health and education of school children, according to a new study.

Brain structure, function predict future memory performance in children, adolescents Posted: 28 Jan 2014 03:47 PM PST Assessing structural and functional changes in the brain may predict future memory performance in healthy children and adolescents, according to a new study. The findings shed new light on cognitive development and suggest MRI and other tools may one day help identify children at risk for developmental challenges earlier than current testing methods allow.

'Weeding the garden' lets ALK+ lung cancer patients continue crizotinib Posted: 28 Jan 2014 01:34 PM PST Patients taking crizotinib for ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer may safely and durably use up to three courses of targeted radiation therapy to eradicate pockets of drug-resistant disease.

Researchers find culprit behind skeletal muscle disease Posted: 28 Jan 2014 10:05 AM PST Genetic mutations in titin, a protein that is vital for proper muscular function, can cause skeletal muscle disease, according to a new study. The work answers a question that remained after previous studies, which couldn't say if the deviations caused myopathies, or merely resulted from them.

Brain regions thought to be uniquely human share many similarities with monkeys Posted: 28 Jan 2014 09:46 AM PST New research suggests a surprising degree of similarity in the organization of regions of the brain that control language and complex thought processes in humans and monkeys. The study also revealed some key differences. The findings may provide valuable insights into the evolutionary processes that established our ties to other primates but also made us distinctly human.

Aspirin still overprescribed for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation Posted: 28 Jan 2014 09:46 AM PST Aspirin is still overprescribed for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) despite the potential for dangerous side effects, according to new research.

Choosing Wisely: Five common clinical practices to reconsider in critical care Posted: 28 Jan 2014 09:45 AM PST As part of the national "Choosing Wisely" initiative, the Critical Care Societies Collaborative has identified five routine clinical practices that should be questioned because they may not always be necessary and could, in fact, be harmful.

Measuring waist circumference would improve detection of children, adolescents with cardiometabolic risk Posted: 28 Jan 2014 08:33 AM PST A study concludes that including waist circumference measurements in clinical practice, together with the traditional height and weight measurements, would make it easier to detect children and adolescents with cardiometabolic risk. This study is the first of its kind in Spain on abdominal obesity in children and adolescents, one of the most important risk factors associated to this disorder, which has increased in recent years.

Study shows value of HRQOL assessment in small cell lung cancer Posted: 28 Jan 2014 08:33 AM PST A new study found that health-related quality of life assessment in small-cell lung cancer randomized clinical trials provides relevant added information in studies where the treatment arms do not differ in terms of efficacy. It provides valuable information for those treatments where better health-related quality of life is associated with overall survival benefit. The study also found that even though the overall standard for reporting health-related quality of life was acceptable, there is still need for improvement regarding reporting in randomized clinical trials to optimize value.

Parenting plays key role when African-American boys move from preschool to kindergarten Posted: 28 Jan 2014 08:33 AM PST With implications for all children, a new study has found that parenting affects the academic and social performance of African-American boys as they move from preschool to kindergarten. In fact, parent-child interactions influence whether or not a high-achieving African American boy stays on course.

New imaging technique speeds removal of non-melanoma skin cancers Posted: 28 Jan 2014 08:32 AM PST Skin cancer surgery involves successive removal of tissue, which is processed using a 45-minute procedure to determine if residual cancer remains and is often repeated several times. Now, researchers have developed a microscopic technique that identifies residual cancer tissue in 90 seconds, promising to dramatically reduce the length, inefficiency, and cost of this common surgery.

H.M.'s brain yields new evidence: 3-D model of famous amnesiac's brain helps illuminate human memory Posted: 28 Jan 2014 08:32 AM PST During his lifetime, Henry G. Molaison (H.M.) was the best known and possibly the most studied patient of modern neuroscience. Now, thanks to the postmortem study of his brain, based on histological sectioning and digital three-dimensional construction, scientists around the globe will finally have insight into the neurological basis of the case that defined modern studies of human memory.

Don't judge older drivers by age Posted: 28 Jan 2014 07:35 AM PST Encouraging older drivers to self-regulate their driving, rather than revoking their license based on age, has the potential to improve their safety and maintain their independence, a study has found.

Price highlighting helps consumers stick to longer-term product preferences Posted: 28 Jan 2014 07:35 AM PST Just when that new gym membership is looking like a mistake, recent marketing research shows that reminding consumers of the price strengthens their purchase choices and leads to long-term satisfaction. The research says that even though most people value higher functionality over the long-term, they tend to prefer no-hassle convenience in the short-run.

Certain probiotics could help women lose weight, study finds Posted: 28 Jan 2014 07:35 AM PST Certain probiotics could help women lose weight and keep it off, according to a recent study. Studies have already demonstrated that the intestinal flora of obese individuals differs from that of thin people. That difference may be due to the fact that a diet high in fat and low in fiber promotes certain bacteria at the expense of others. Researchers tried to determine if the consumption of probiotics could help reset the balance of the intestinal microbiota in favor of bacteria that promote a healthy weight.

Labeling obesity as a disease may have psychological costs Posted: 28 Jan 2014 07:35 AM PST Messages that describe obesity as a disease may undermine healthy behaviors and beliefs among obese individuals, according to a new study. The findings show that obese individuals exposed to such messages placed less importance on health-focused dieting and reported less concern about weight. These beliefs, in turn, predicted unhealthier food choices.

The Super Bowl: A 'spiritual sugar high? ' Posted: 28 Jan 2014 07:33 AM PST The ultimate play-off is the ultimate unifier, chasing away everyday cares and cutting across cultural, economic and gender lines that divide people, says a pop culture observer. But then what?

Targeted tutoring can reduce 'achievement gap' for disadvantaged students Posted: 28 Jan 2014 07:31 AM PST High school students who were at risk for dropping out greatly improved their math test scores and school attendance with the help of intensive tutoring and mentoring, according to a new study. The program's benefits were equivalent to closing nearly two-thirds of the average gap in math test scores between white and black students, or the equivalent of what the average American high school student learns in math over three years.

Vacuum technology removes dangerous blood clots in heart Posted: 28 Jan 2014 07:31 AM PST An innovative vacuum technology can remove potentially deadly, large clots.

Melatonin shows potential to slow tumor growth in certain breast cancers Posted: 28 Jan 2014 07:31 AM PST An early stage study shows melatonin -- a hormone that regulates the body's sleep and awake cycles -- may have the potential to help slow the growth of certain breast cancer tumors, according to researchers.

Drugs cut need for surgery for Crohn's disease patients by more than half Posted: 28 Jan 2014 06:46 AM PST The requirement of bowel surgery is dramatically reduced by up to 60 percent in patients who develop Crohn's disease if they receive prolonged treatment with drugs called thiopurines, says a new study.

New operating principle of potassium channels discovered Posted: 28 Jan 2014 06:45 AM PST Neurons transmit information with the help of special channels that allow the passage of potassium ions. Defective potassium channels play a role in epilepsy and depression. Scientists have now identified the complete 3D structure of a particular potassium channel, a HCN channel. This enabled them to draw conclusions about its mechanism of action, which they describe in a new article.

New technique developed to control cervical cancer Posted: 28 Jan 2014 06:43 AM PST A gene related to the proliferation of cancerous cells has been blocked through molecular technology.

Using silver nanoparticles, researchers create cream that avoids transmission of HIV Posted: 28 Jan 2014 06:43 AM PST After discovering that silver nanoparticles are capable of blocking the entry of HIV into organisms, a group of researchers created a vaginal cream to control the transmission of the virus. The product has proven efficiency in lab tests, although clinical trials are yet to be performed.

Availability of transcatheter repair of aortic stenosis benefits patients Posted: 28 Jan 2014 06:41 AM PST The introduction of minimally invasive transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for treatment of aortic stenos not only has increased the number of patients eligible for aortic valve replacement (AVR), but also has led to a decrease in patient mortality, suggesting that patients fare better when multiple treatment options are available.

Long-term survival possible for pediatric heart transplant patients Posted: 28 Jan 2014 06:41 AM PST Infants and children who undergo heart transplantation are experiencing good outcomes after surgery and may expect to live beyond 15 years post-surgery with reasonable cardiac function and quality of life.

Exhaled breath may help identify early lung cancer Posted: 28 Jan 2014 06:41 AM PST Specific compounds found in exhaled breath may help diagnose lung cancer in its early stages. The discovery was made when researchers examined patients with suspicious lung lesions.

Study analyzes content of nightmares, bad dreams Posted: 28 Jan 2014 06:41 AM PST According to a new study, nightmares have greater emotional impact than bad dreams do, and fear is not always a factor. In fact, it is mostly absent in bad dreams and in a third of nightmares.

Converting adult human cells to hair follicle-generating stem cells Posted: 28 Jan 2014 06:41 AM PST Researchers have come up with a method to convert adult cells into epithelial stem cells, the first time anyone has achieved this in either humans or mice. The epithelial stem cells, when implanted into immunocompromised mice, regenerated the different cell types of human skin and hair follicles, and even produced structurally recognizable hair shaft, raising the possibility that they may eventually enable hair regeneration in people.

DNA-built nanostructures safely target, image cancer tumors Posted: 27 Jan 2014 01:48 PM PST A team of researchers has discovered a method of assembling "building blocks" of gold nanoparticles as the vehicle to deliver cancer medications or cancer-identifying markers directly into cancerous tumors.

Health care savings: Reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions Posted: 27 Jan 2014 01:48 PM PST Despite widely accepted prescription guidelines, physicians continue to prescribe antibiotics for colds even when they won't help. A new study offers an inexpensive and seemingly simple "nudge" that reduced inappropriate antibiotic prescribing by nearly 20 percent.

Taking vitamin D2 is a poor choice for athletes, research shows Posted: 27 Jan 2014 01:45 PM PST Power athletes and others looking for an edge to improve their performance should avoid taking vitamin D2, a new study suggests. Researchers found that taking vitamin D2 supplements decreased levels of vitamin D3 in the body and resulted in higher muscle damage after intense weight lifting.

Exercise may be best medicine to treat post-concussion syndrome Posted: 27 Jan 2014 01:45 PM PST A treatment program for patients who suffer from post-concussion syndrome is being pioneered, showing that gradual exercise, rather than rest alone, actually helps to restore the balance of the brain's auto-regulation mechanism, which controls the blood pressure and supply to the brain.

First ever implantation of new device for thoracic aneurysm performed in Michigan Posted: 27 Jan 2014 01:45 PM PST A new device tested first at the University of Michigan may provide a minimally invasive option for the elderly who are facing life-threatening thoracic aneurysms.

New hope for Gaucher patients with brain pathology Posted: 27 Jan 2014 01:44 PM PST Gaucher disease, a genetic disorder prevalent among Ashkenazi Jews, is devastating for sufferers and their families. Now, scientists have discovered a new cellular pathway implicated in the disease. Their findings may offer a new therapeutic target for treatment of Gaucher and related disorders.

DDT pesticide exposure linked to Alzheimer's disease, study shows Posted: 27 Jan 2014 01:44 PM PST Scientists have known for more than 40 years that the synthetic pesticide DDT is harmful to bird habitats and a threat to the environment. Now researchers say exposure to DDT -- banned in the United States since 1972 but still used as a pesticide in other countries -- may also increase the risk and severity of Alzheimer's disease in some people, particularly those over the age of 60.

You are subscribed to email updates from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610