ScienceDaily: Top Health News |
- It slices, it dices, and it protects the body from harm: 3-D structure of enzyme that helps defend against bacteria
- 3-D imaging sheds light on Apert syndrome development
- Poor sleep quality linked to reduced brain gray matter in Gulf War vets
- Frequent childhood nightmares may indicate an increased risk of psychotic traits
- Brain differences linked to insomnia identified by researchers
- To teach scientific reproducibility, start young
- Diabetes, obesity more common in socioeconomically deprived regions
- Nobelist proposes unconventional view of type 2 diabetes causation
| Posted: 28 Feb 2014 06:06 PM PST An essential weapon in the body's fight against infection has come into sharper view. Researchers have discovered the 3-D structure of an enzyme that cuts to ribbons the genetic material of viruses and helps defend against bacteria. The discovery of the structure of this enzyme, a first-responder in the body's "innate immune system," could enable new strategies for fighting infectious agents and possibly prostate cancer and obesity. "This work illustrates the wonderful usefulness of doing both crystallography and careful kinetic and enzymatic studies at the same time," said one scientist. |
| 3-D imaging sheds light on Apert syndrome development Posted: 28 Feb 2014 01:06 PM PST Three-dimensional imaging of two different mouse models of Apert Syndrome shows that cranial deformation begins before birth and continues, worsening with time, according to a team of researchers who studied mice to better understand and treat the disorder in humans. |
| Poor sleep quality linked to reduced brain gray matter in Gulf War vets Posted: 28 Feb 2014 01:06 PM PST A new study of Gulf War veterans found an association between poor sleep quality and reduced gray matter volume in the brain's frontal lobe, which helps control important processes such as working memory and executive function. "This study emphasizes the importance of seeking medical help if you are troubled by the poor quality of your sleep," said American Academy of Sleep Medicine President. "A board certified sleep medicine physician can identify the cause of your sleep problem and develop an effective treatment plan for you." |
| 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. |
| Brain differences linked to insomnia identified by researchers Posted: 28 Feb 2014 12:57 PM PST Researchers report that people with chronic insomnia show more plasticity and activity than good sleepers in the part of the brain that controls movement. "Insomnia is not a nighttime disorder," says study leader. "It's a 24-hour brain condition, like a light switch that is always on. Our research adds information about differences in the brain associated with it." The researchers say they hope their study opens the door to better diagnosis and treatment of the most common and often intractable sleep disorder that affects an estimated 15 percent of the United States population. |
| To teach scientific reproducibility, start young Posted: 28 Feb 2014 11:01 AM PST In the wake of retraction scandals and studies showing reproducibility rates as low as 10 percent for peer-reviewed articles, the scientific community has focused attention on ways to improve transparency and duplication. A team of math and statistics professors has proposed a way to address one root of that problem: teach and emphasize reproducibility to aspiring scientists, using software that makes the concept feel logical rather than cumbersome. |
| Diabetes, obesity more common in socioeconomically deprived regions Posted: 28 Feb 2014 05:06 AM PST Living in a socioeconomically deprived region is a risk factor for being affected by diabetes mellitus and obesity. This holds true regardless of the individual social status of the inhabitants. This is the conclusion reached by scientists who state that "regional factors, such as the population's average income, unemployment or quality of the living environment can affect the health of all inhabitants, regardless of the educational level of the individual people", explains the lead author. |
| Nobelist proposes unconventional view of type 2 diabetes causation Posted: 27 Feb 2014 06:34 PM PST At 85, Nobel laureate James D. Watson, the co-discoverer of the double-helix structure of DNA, continues to advance intriguing scientific ideas. His latest, a hypothesis on the causation of type 2 diabetes, suggests that diabetes, dementias, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers are linked to a failure to generate sufficient biological oxidants, called reactive oxygen species (ROS). Watson also argues the case for a better understanding of the role of exercise in helping to remedy this deficiency. |
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