ScienceDaily: Living Well News

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• Frequent childhood nightmares may indicate an increased risk of psychotic traits
• Do obesity, birth control pills raise risk of multiple sclerosis?
• Majority of children unaware of cigarette warning labels, international study shows
• Physicians' stethoscopes more contaminated than palms of their hands
• Will your grandmother's diet increase your risk of colon cancer?
• Famed Milwaukee County Zoo orangutan's death caused by strange infection
• More dangerous chemicals in everyday life: Now experts warn against nanosilver
• Don't throw out old, sprouting garlic -- it has heart-healthy antioxidants
• Vinegar kills tuberculosis, other mycobacteria
• You can die of a broken heart, research shows
• Warning: Your open-plan office can make you ill
• Vegetarian diets associated with lower blood pressure
• Warm weather in Texas means watch out for snakes, says expert

Frequent childhood nightmares may indicate an increased risk of psychotic traits Posted: 28 Feb 2014 01:06 PM PST Children who suffer from frequent nightmares or bouts of night terrors may be at an increased risk of psychotic experiences in adolescence, according to new research that shows that children reporting frequent nightmares before the age of 12 were three and a half times more likely to suffer from psychotic experiences in early adolescence. Similarly, experiencing night terrors doubled the risk of such problems, including hallucinations, interrupted thoughts or delusions. Younger children, between two and nine years old, who had persistent nightmares reported by parents had up to one and a half times increased risk of developing psychotic experiences.

Do obesity, birth control pills raise risk of multiple sclerosis? Posted: 27 Feb 2014 01:38 PM PST The role of the so-called "obesity hormone" leptin and hormones used for birth control in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) is examined in two new studies. For the obesity study, BMI was calculated for 210 people with MS and 210 people of the same age and sex who did not have MS at ages 15 and 20 and at the time of the study. The study found that people who are obese at age 20 are twice as likely to later develop MS as people who are not obese. For the birth control hormone study, researchers identified 305 women who had been diagnosed with MS or its precursor, clinically isolated syndrome, during a three-year period. Women who had used hormonal contraceptives were 35 percent more likely to develop MS than those who did not use them.

Majority of children unaware of cigarette warning labels, international study shows Posted: 27 Feb 2014 11:26 AM PST An international study of children's perceptions of cigarette package warning labels found that the majority of children are unaware that they exist. Public health researchers found that children in countries where larger warning labels are used that include a compelling graphic image of the negative health impacts of smoking, were more likely to be aware of and understand the health risks of tobacco products.

Physicians' stethoscopes more contaminated than palms of their hands Posted: 27 Feb 2014 10:48 AM PST Although healthcare workers' hands are the main source of bacterial transmission in hospitals, physicians' stethoscopes appear to play a role. To explore this question, investigators assessed the level of bacterial contamination on physicians' hands and stethoscopes following a single physical examination. Two parts of the stethoscope (the tube and diaphragm) and four regions of the physician's hands (back, fingertips, and thenar and hypothenar eminences) were measured for the total number of bacteria present in a new study. The stethoscope's diaphragm was more contaminated than all regions of the physician's hand except the fingertips. Further, the tube of the stethoscope was more heavily contaminated than the back of the physician's hand.

Will your grandmother's diet increase your risk of colon cancer? Posted: 27 Feb 2014 10:47 AM PST Will a multi-generational exposure to a western type diet increase offspring's chance of developing colon cancer? Will cancer-fighting agents, like green tea, help combat that increased risk? Those are the two questions driving new research. Researchers have developed a diet that mimics typical U.S. nutrition for studies of human cancer using animal models. In this case, rodents with cancer will be studied, which will allow them to look at the effects of the diet on multiple generations in a short period of time. The researchers predicts that green tea will have a greater benefit to those mice that are exposed to the western diet than those on a healthy diet.

Famed Milwaukee County Zoo orangutan's death caused by strange infection Posted: 27 Feb 2014 10:47 AM PST Mahal, the young orangutan who became a star of the Milwaukee County Zoo and an emblem of survival for a dwindling species, led an extraordinary life. It turns out, the young ape died an extraordinary death, too. Rejected by his biological mother at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, Colo., and eventually flown to Milwaukee aboard a private jet to live with a surrogate mother, Mahal became one of the Milwaukee County Zoo's star attractions. His unexpected death at age 5 in late December 2012 was a shock to the community. Now, thanks to cutting-edge genetic diagnostics, a team of researchers has documented the cause of Mahal's death, identifying a species of tapeworm unknown to science and newly recognized as a threat to primates.

More dangerous chemicals in everyday life: Now experts warn against nanosilver Posted: 27 Feb 2014 08:54 AM PST Endocrine disruptors are not the only worrying chemicals that ordinary consumers are exposed to in everyday life. Also nanoparticles of silver, found in dietary supplements, cosmetics and food packaging, now worry scientists. A new study shows that nano-silver can penetrate our cells and cause damage. Nano-silver can be found in drinking bottles, cosmetics, band aids, toothbrushes, running socks, refrigerators, washing machines and food packaging, as some examples of every-day usage.

Don't throw out old, sprouting garlic -- it has heart-healthy antioxidants Posted: 26 Feb 2014 07:18 AM PST 'Sprouted' garlic -- old garlic bulbs with bright green shoots emerging from the cloves -- is considered to be past its prime and usually ends up in the garbage can. But scientists report that this type of garlic has even more heart-healthy antioxidant activity than its fresher counterparts. They found that garlic sprouted for five days had higher antioxidant activity than fresher, younger bulbs, and it had different metabolites, suggesting that it also makes different substances. Extracts from this garlic even protected cells in a laboratory dish from certain types of damage. "Therefore, sprouting may be a useful way to improve the antioxidant potential of garlic," they conclude.

Vinegar kills tuberculosis, other mycobacteria Posted: 25 Feb 2014 07:15 AM PST The active ingredient in vinegar, acetic acid, can effectively kill mycobacteria, even highly drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, an international team of researchers reports. It is possible that acetic acid could therefore be used as an inexpensive and non-toxic disinfectant against drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) bacteria as well as other stubborn, disinfectant-resistant mycobacteria. Research continues into its potential uses, from sterilizing medical equipment to being used as a common disinfectant.

You can die of a broken heart, research shows Posted: 25 Feb 2014 07:12 AM PST Experts studying the impact of bereavement on people's health have found that the chances of a heart or stroke attack doubles after a partner's death. Bereavement has long been known as a risk factor for death and this study increases our understanding of its effects on cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks and strokes. The study showed the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke doubled in the crucial 30 day period after a partner's death for those experiencing loss of a loved one. Grief leads to extra physical stress and also may make people forget or lose interest in taking their medication, according to experts.

Warning: Your open-plan office can make you ill Posted: 25 Feb 2014 07:11 AM PST Don't blame other commuters if you catch a cold this winter: blame the people who designed your office. According to a study, workplace layout has a surprising effect on rates of sick leave. After crunching the numbers, the researchers found a 'significant excess risk' of short sick-leave spells in three types of open-plan office, especially among women. The study also revealed a higher prevalence of both short sick-leave spells and a higher number of sick days among men in flex-offices: open-plan layouts with no individual workstations, but some meeting rooms.

Vegetarian diets associated with lower blood pressure Posted: 24 Feb 2014 02:15 PM PST Eating a vegetarian diet appears to be associated with lower blood pressure, and the diets can also be used to reduce blood pressure. Factors such as diet, body weight, physical activity and alcohol intake play a role in the risk of developing hypertension. Dietary modifications have been shown to be effective for preventing and managing hypertension.

Warm weather in Texas means watch out for snakes, says expert Posted: 24 Feb 2014 02:11 PM PST Visiting your zip code very soon: snakes, and perhaps plenty of them. With warm temperatures and upcoming spring rainfall, experts say it's getting that time of year when snakes are on the prowl, or at least on the slither. With Texas a ground zero for many snake populations, people and pets should be aware that snakes are out and about, says an expert regarding the creatures.

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