Παρασκευή 31 Ιανουαρίου 2014

ScienceDaily: Top Health News

ScienceDaily: Top Health News

When the job search becomes a blame game

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 06:14 PM PST

A new book explores how white-collar job hunters in the U.S. blame themselves unnecessarily -- and suffer as a result -- when they cannot find work.

Detailed look at HIV in action: Researchers gain a better understanding of the virus through electron microscopy

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 04:04 PM PST

Researchers reporting today are the first to have utilized high-resolution electron microscopy to look at HIV infection within the actual tissue of an infected organism, providing perhaps the most detailed characterization yet of HIV infection in the gut.

Up close and 3-dimensional: HIV caught in the act inside the gut

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 04:04 PM PST

HIV infection has many unhealthy consequences on the body, but in particular it messes up the gut. A new study reports the first three-dimensional ultra-structural study of HIV infection in vivo. Not only does it reveal details on how the virus quickly infects immune cells in the gut, using them as virus-producing factories, but it also highlights where the virus "hides out" deep within the intestinal tissue.

Childhood depression may increase risk of heart disease by teen years

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 01:44 PM PST

Children with depression are more likely to be obese, smoke and be inactive, and can show the effects of heart disease as early as their teen years, according to a newly published.

Video game teaches kids about stroke symptoms, calling 9-1-1

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 01:44 PM PST

Children improved their knowledge of stroke symptoms and how to respond after playing a stroke education video game. They retained that knowledge for several weeks.

Researcher turns sights on prostate cancer, tissue engineering, blood vessel repair

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 01:43 PM PST

When biology and materials science converge, the results can be new materials that can be used to deliver targeted drugs, repair damaged arteries or rebuild failing tissues, such as the anterior cruciate ligament, the ACL injury that can end sports careers. One bioengineer is developing polymers designed to target all three.

Genetically diverse cancer cells key to brain tumor resistance

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 12:58 PM PST

For a cancer cell, it pays to have a group of eccentric friends. Like X-Men characters, a group of cancer cells with diverse physical traits is safer, because it takes different strategies to kill each member. The more diverse the group, the better the chances are for individual cells to survive and join forces as a cohesive tumor.

Study supports new safety rule for truck drivers

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 12:29 PM PST

The US Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration today released the findings of a field study that provides evidence that a revised provision in new hours-of-service regulations for truck drivers is more effective at combating fatigue than the previous version. The new trucking regulations took effect last July.

Sex-specific patterns of recovery from newborn brain injury revealed by animal study

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 12:28 PM PST

Physicians have long known that oxygen deprivation to the brain around the time of birth causes worse damage in boys than girls. Now a study by researchers conducted in mice reveals one possible reason behind this gender disparity and points to gender-specific mechanisms of brain repair following such injury.

More than one-third of women have hot flashes 10 years after menopause

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 12:28 PM PST

A team of researchers has found that moderate to severe hot flashes continue, on average, for nearly five years after menopause, and more than a third of women experience moderate/severe hot flashes for 10 years or more after menopause. Current guidelines recommend that hormone therapy, the primary medical treatment for hot flashes, not continue for more than 5 years.

Don't believe everything you read on the net about vertebroplasty, study says

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 11:13 AM PST

Most websites with information on vertebroplasty do not paint the full picture about the pros, cons and alternatives of the treatment. Therefore patients should always sit down with their physicians to thoroughly discuss their options, rather than take everything they read on the Internet as the full gospel, according to a new study.

Does caregiving cause psychological stress? It depends, says study of female twins

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 11:13 AM PST

A newly published study shows that the associations between caregiving and different types of psychological distress (depression, anxiety, perceived stress and perceived mental health) depend largely on a person's genes and upbringing -- and less so on the difficulty of caregiving.

Worry on the brain: Researchers find new area linked to anxiety

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 11:13 AM PST

Previous studies of anxiety in the brain have focused on the amygdala, but a team of researchers had a hunch that understanding a different brain area, the lateral septum (LS), could provide more clues into how the brain processes anxiety. Their instincts paid off -- the team has found a neural circuit that connects the LS with other brain structures in a manner that directly influences anxiety.

Complaints: Flying the not-so-friendly skies

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 11:13 AM PST

A new study shows that network carriers receive more complaints than cheaper airlines, regardless of actual service quality.

Trick identified that aids viral infection

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 11:12 AM PST

Scientists have identified a way some viruses protect themselves from the immune system's efforts to stop infections, a finding that may make new approaches to treating viral infections possible.

New genetic forms of neurodegeneration discovered

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 11:12 AM PST

Researchers report doubling the number of known causes for the neurodegenerative disorder known as hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). HSP is characterized by progressive stiffness and contraction of the lower limbs and is associated with epilepsy, cognitive impairment, blindness and other neurological features.

Researchers develop new tool to identify genetic risk factors

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 09:16 AM PST

Researchers developed a new biological pathway-based computational model, called the Pathway-based Human Phenotype Network, to identify underlying genetic connections between different diseases. The Pathway-based Human Phenotype Network mines the data present in large publicly available disease datasets to find shared SNPs, genes, or pathways and expresses them in a visual form.

Cell cycle speed is key to making aging cells young again

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 09:16 AM PST

Researchers identified a major obstacle to converting cells back to their youthful state -- the speed of the cell cycle, or the time required for a cell to divide. When the cell cycle accelerates to a certain speed, the barriers that keep a cell's fate on one path diminish. In such a state, cells are easily persuaded to change their identity and become pluripotent, or capable of becoming multiple cell types.

Precise gene editing in monkeys paves the way for valuable human disease models

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 09:16 AM PST

Monkeys are important for modeling diseases because of their close similarities to humans, but past efforts to precisely modify genes in primates have failed. Researchers have now achieved precise gene modification in monkeys for the first time using an efficient and reliable approach known as the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The study opens promising new avenues for the development of more effective treatments for a range of human diseases.

Antipsychotic prescription for children, adolescents

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 09:13 AM PST

Increasing numbers of children and adolescents are being given antipsychotic drugs in Germany, as Christian Bachmann and colleagues found out in a study. The authors used routine insurance data of the Barmer GEK statutory health insurance company to analyze antipsychotic prescriptions for this age group from 2005 to 2012.

Signs point to sharp rise in drugged driving fatalities

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 08:10 AM PST

The prevalence of non-alcohol drugs detected in fatally injured drivers in the US steadily rose from 1999 to 2010 and especially for drivers who tested positive for marijuana. Researchers found that of 23,591 drivers who were killed within one hour of a crash, 39.7 percent tested positive for alcohol and 24.8 percent for other drugs. The prevalence of non-alcohol drugs rose from 16.6 percent in 1999 to 28.3 percent in 2010; for marijuana, rates rose from 4.2 percent to 12.2 percent.

Make childbirth safer in Indonesia: Report

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 08:09 AM PST

A joint report by US and Indonesian experts provides recommendations to improve the survival of mothers and newborns in Indonesia. That nation, a rising power, must invest in medical infrastructure including facilities and transportation, according to the report.

Parkinson's gene: Nerve growth factor halts mitochondrial degeneration

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 08:09 AM PST

Neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease involve the death of thousands of neurons in the brain. Nerve growth factors produced by the body, such as GDNF, promote the survival of the neurons; however, clinical tests with GDNF have not yielded in any clear improvements. Scientists have now succeeded in demonstrating that GDNF and its receptor Ret also promote the survival of mitochondria, the power plants of the cell. By activating the Ret receptor, the scientists were able to prevent in flies and human cell cultures the degeneration of mitochondria, which is caused by a gene defect related to Parkinson's disease.

Antibiotic 'smart bomb' can target specific strains of bacteria

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 08:09 AM PST

Researchers have developed a de facto antibiotic "smart bomb" that can identify specific strains of bacteria and sever their DNA, eliminating the infection. The technique offers a potential approach to treat infections by multi-drug resistant bacteria.

Researchers find novel approach for controlling deadly C. difficile infections

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 07:21 AM PST

Researchers have revealed the first molecular views showing how highly specific antibodies derived from llamas may provide a new method for controlling deadly infections from the opportunistic bacterial pathogen Clostridium difficile.

'Bubble CPAP' boosts neonatal survival rates: Helps babies struggling to breathe

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 07:21 AM PST

The first clinical study of a low-cost neonatal breathing system demonstrated that the device increased the survival rate of newborns with severe respiratory illness from 44 percent to 71 percent. A 10-month study of 87 patients in Blantyre, Malawi, found that treatment with low-cost "bubble CPAP" increased survival for severely ill premature babies as much as fourfold.

Vitamin A used in acne medicines may help autoimmune, transplant patients

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 07:21 AM PST

The same form of Vitamin A used by teenagers to combat acne might offer benefits that are more than skin deep. That's because an international team of researchers have found that it may also help keep the immune system under control for people with autoimmune disorders or those who have received transplants.

Engineered cardiac tissue model developed to study human heart

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 07:21 AM PST

When it comes to finding cures for heart disease, scientists have finally developed a tissue model for the human heart that can bridge the gap between animal models and human patients. Specifically, the researchers generated the tissue from human embryonic stem cells with the resulting muscle having significant similarities to human heart muscle.

Engineered virus effective against triple negative breast cancer cells, study shows

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 07:20 AM PST

Scientists have discovered a potential cure for one of the most aggressive and least treatable forms of breast cancer called "triple negative breast cancer."

Thyroid cancer cells become less aggressive in outer space

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 07:20 AM PST

For those who think that space exploration offers no tangible benefits, new research involving thyroid cancer may prove otherwise. Researchers show that some tumors which are aggressive on earth are considerably less aggressive in microgravity. By understanding the genetic and cellular processes that occur in space, scientists may be able to develop treatments that accomplish the same thing on Earth.

Use of testosterone therapy linked to heart attacks in men under 65, study shows

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 06:36 AM PST

A study has observed a two-fold increase in the risk of a heart attack in men under 65 with a history of heart disease, shortly after use of testosterone therapy; that is, the external application of testosterone. Further, the study also confirmed earlier studies that found a two-fold increase in the risk of heart attack shortly after treatment in men older than 65.

First report of management of pediatric trauma in England, Wales

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 06:29 AM PST

Over 4,700 children in England and Wales under the age of 16 suffered significant injuries in 2012. The report looks at 737 children with the most severe injuries.

Ambulance checklists, feedback improve emergency care for stroke, heart attack patients

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 06:28 AM PST

The introduction of checklists and better feedback for ambulance crews as part of a national quality improvement project has significantly improved the standard of care for heart attack and stroke patients across England, a major new study has shown.

Geranium extracts inhibit HIV-1

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 06:28 AM PST

Extracts of the geranium plant Pelargonium sidoides inactivate human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and prevent the virus from invading human cells. Scientists report that these extracts represent a potential new class of anti-HIV-1 agents for the treatment of AIDS.

Mirror-image nucleic acids as molecular scissors in biotechnology and molecular medicine

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 06:28 AM PST

Biochemist have now created mirror-image enzymes -- so-called Spiegelzymes -- out of nucleic acids. The Spiegelzymes can be used in living cells for the targeted cutting of natural nucleic acids.

Gastric banding patients should closely monitor nutrition following surgery

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 06:14 AM PST

Patients who have had bariatric surgery may need to take dietary supplements and pay closer attention to their nutritional intake, a study suggests.

Infants know plants provide food, but need to see they're safe to eat

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 01:08 AM PST

Infants as young as six months old tend to expect that plants are food sources, but only after an adult shows them that the food is safe to eat, according to new research.

Blood and lymphatic capillaries grown for the first time in the lab

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 01:07 AM PST

Researchers have engineered skin cells for the very first time containing blood and lymphatic capillaries. They succeeded in isolating all the necessary types of skin cells from human skin tissue and engineering a skin graft that is similar to full-thickness skin. 

Having a baby after fertility issues improves couples' chances of staying together

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 01:07 AM PST

New research reveals that women who have a child after experiencing fertility problems are more likely to remain with their partner following infertility evaluations. The findings indicate that after 12 years of follow-up, nearly 27% of women were no longer living with the partner, which they had at the time of fertility evaluation, if they did not have a child.

Prediction modeling may lead to more personalized heart care for patients

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 01:06 AM PST

Detailed prediction models that project long-term patient mortality following PCI and CABG surgery can be useful for the heart team when determining the best treatment strategy for individual patients.

Heart transplant success improving, patients living longer

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 01:06 AM PST

Heart transplantation continues to be the "gold standard" treatment for end-stage heart failure, and a large number of patients now live 20 years or more after surgery.

Treatment discovered for rare blood cancer

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 03:48 PM PST

Researchers have discovered a potential new treatment for a rare blood cancer that may also point the way to treating other more common diseases.

Connectedness, human use of buildings shape indoor bacterial communities

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 03:48 PM PST

Microbes drawn from the dust in a university building have provided clues that could inspire future architectural designers to encourage a healthy indoor environment.

Slow reaction time linked with early death

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 03:48 PM PST

Having a slow reaction time in midlife increases risk of having died 15 years later, according to new research. Researchers looked at data from more than 5,000 participants, over a 15 year period. A total of 378 (7.4 percent) people in the sample died, but those with slower reaction times were 25 percent more likely to have died (from any cause) compared to those with average reaction times.

Concerned about the health risk of soda?

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 03:46 PM PST

Toxicological insight into the science behind a recent report highlighting levels of a potential carcinogen in carbonated beverages. Scientists analyzed the data to identify whether or not the carcinogen poses a health risk for humans.

Improved ultrasound imaging provides an alternative way of visualizing tumors

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 03:46 PM PST

While ultrasound provides a less expensive and radiation-free alternative to detecting and monitoring cancer compared to technologies such as X-rays, CT scans and MRIs, the lower clarity and resolution of ultrasound has limited its use in cancer treatment. Researchers have overcome this limitation by combining ultrasound with a contrast agent comprised of micro-sized bubbles that pair with an antibody produced at elevated levels by many cancers.

A simple new way to induce pluripotency: Acid

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 03:44 PM PST

An unusual reprogramming phenomenon by which the fate of somatic cells can be drastically altered through changes to the external environment is described in two new articles.

Findings point to potential treatment for virus causing childhood illnesses

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 01:55 PM PST

Researchers have discovered a potential treatment for a viral infection that causes potentially fatal brain swelling and paralysis in children. The findings also point to possible treatments for related viruses including those that cause "common cold" symptoms.

Screening for transformed human mesenchymal stromal cells with tumorigenic potential

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 01:54 PM PST

Spontaneous transformation of human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells has been observed during long-term expansion in cell culture, although it is rare. Engrafting these transformed cells into immunodeficient mice leads to the formation of solid tumors. Using high-throughput profiling methods, a panel of RNA molecules was identified as potential biomarkers for screening for these transformed cells in cell culture.

ADHD medication saves lives on the road

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 01:54 PM PST

New research from Sweden shows that medication used to treat ADHD in adult men can save lives on the road. According to a large registry study, up to half of the transport accidents involving men with ADHD could be avoided if the men were taking medication for their condition.

Said the tumor to its neighbor, 'You’ve got mail': Cell communication via exosomes

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 01:48 PM PST

Cells have their own miniaturized postal service in the shape of vesicles, or tiny bubbles through which molecules crucial for biological processes like communication and food intake are sorted, packaged and delivered. Scientific interest in a particular group of vesicles called exosomes has accelerated over the last several years. Researchers are studying the potential clinical applications of these specialized structures.

Bladder cancer study: Potential drug targets, similarities to several cancers identified

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 01:48 PM PST

Investigators have identified new potential therapeutic targets for a major form of bladder cancer, including important genes and pathways that are disrupted in the disease.

E-cigarettes: Known and unknown dangers

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 01:46 PM PST

It's no easy task to quit smoking and the lure of an e-cigarette, which claims to mimic the smoking experience without the harmful chemicals, seems a dream come true for many smokers. However, that dream, according to researchers, can quickly turn into a nightmare with no FDA product regulations. The truth is little is known about the chemicals e-cigarette smokers are inhaling. What is known is there is an increase in the number of adolescents smoking them.

Extended outcomes of adjuvant accelerated partial breast irradiation show excellent tumor control, breast cosmesis, minimal late toxicity

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 01:46 PM PST

Long-term (five-year) outcomes of breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) after breast-conserving surgery show excellent tumor control and breast cosmesis (cosmetic outcomes) with minimal late toxicity, according to a study.

External beam radiation therapy reduces risk of subsequent mastectomy in patients with invasive breast cancer

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 01:46 PM PST

Standard external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) provided a higher breast preservation rate than brachytherapy in women age 66 and older with invasive breast cancer, according to a study published.

Less than half of children treated for anxiety achieve long-term relief

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 01:46 PM PST

Fewer than one in two children and young adults treated for anxiety achieve long-term relief from symptoms, according to the findings of a study.

Obesity-induced fatty liver disease reversed in mice

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 12:10 PM PST

Researchers have discovered that valproic acid, a widely prescribed drug for treating epilepsy, has the additional benefits of reducing fat accumulation in the liver and lowering blood sugar levels in the blood of obese mice.

Two stressed people equals less stress: Sharing nervous feelings helps reduce stress

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 12:10 PM PST

Does giving a speech in public stress you out? Or writing a big presentation for your boss? What about skydiving? One way to cope, according to a new study, is to share your feelings with someone who is having a similar emotional reaction to the same scenario.

Vaccine used to treat cervical precancers triggers immune cell response

Posted: 29 Jan 2014 12:07 PM PST

Preliminary results of a small clinical trial show that a vaccine used to treat women with high-grade precancerous cervical lesions triggers an immune cell response within the damaged tissue itself. The scientists who conducted the trial said the finding is significant because measuring immune system responses directly in the lesions may be a more accurate way to evaluate so-called "therapeutic" vaccines than by the conventional means of blood analysis.
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