ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Proteins that control energy use necessary to form stem cells
• Childhood abuse may impair weight-regulating hormones
• Braking system for immune responses
• As age-friendly technologies emerge, experts recommend policy changes
• What singing fruit flies can tell us about quick decisions
• Inhibition of CDK4 might promote lymphoma development, progression
• New approach makes cancer cells explode
• Scientists find mechanism to reset body clock
• Computers see through faked expressions of pain better than people
• Future generations could inherit drug and alcohol use
• Improved pavement markings can save lives
• Cognitive function and oral perception in independently-living octogenarians
• Genes play key role in parenting: Children also shape parents' behavior
• Stem cell combination therapy improves traumatic brain injury outcomes
• Surgery after major stroke also improves survival odds in elderly patients
• Stem cells created from a drop of blood: DIY finger-prick technique opens door for extensive stem cell banking
• Why do more people watch men's soccer? Different ball game for male and female soccer players
• Regular physical activity reduces breast cancer risk irrespective of age
• Eyes are windows to the soul -- and evolution
• Safety first, children: How parents can help kids recognize danger
• Can 'love hormone' protect against addiction?
• Fake laughter doesn't fool the brain, research reveals
• Past HIV vaccine trials reveal new path to success
• Noninvasive colorectal cancer screening tool shows unprecedented detection rates
• New guidelines deem 13 million more Americans eligible for statins
• Impaired new learning found in persons with Parkinson's disease
• Patients enjoy good quality of life 10 years after esophagectomy, gastric pull-up
• Antibodies that may cut risk of HIV infection better understood
• Alzheimer's prevention trial to monitor reactions to higher disease risk status
• Gene fusion likely cause of rare type of thyroid cancer
• Social groups alleviate depression
• People with leukemia are more prone to infection -- but not from one particular herpes virus
• Small step towards growing tissue in the lab

Proteins that control energy use necessary to form stem cells Posted: 20 Mar 2014 11:08 AM PDT Two proteins that control how cells metabolize glucose play a key role in the formation of human stem cells. Studies suggest these proteins which also play a role in the process that transforms normal cells into cancer stem cells, might also be targets for new cancer therapies.

Childhood abuse may impair weight-regulating hormones Posted: 20 Mar 2014 10:47 AM PDT Childhood abuse or neglect can lead to long-term hormone impairment that raises the risk of developing obesity, diabetes or other metabolic disorders in adulthood, according to a new study. The study examined levels of the weight-regulating hormones leptin, adiponectin and irisin in the blood of adults who endured physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect as children. The study found dysregulation of certain hormones in people who had been abused or neglected as children.

Braking system for immune responses Posted: 20 Mar 2014 10:14 AM PDT The surface of immune system cells is home to a number of receptors which are able to detect pathogens. As soon as these receptors are activated, inflammation occurs and the body's defense mechanisms kick in. A receptor on human cells that specifically recognizes crystals has been identified by researchers for the first time. It is found on immune cells and binds uric acid crystals, which trigger gout but also control immune responses.

As age-friendly technologies emerge, experts recommend policy changes Posted: 20 Mar 2014 10:14 AM PDT From smart phones to smart cars, both public and private entities must consider the needs of older adults in order to help them optimize the use of new technologies, according to experts.

What singing fruit flies can tell us about quick decisions Posted: 20 Mar 2014 10:14 AM PDT The pitch and tempo of the male fruit fly's mating song is based on environmental cues rather than a stereotyped pattern, researchers have discovered. These findings could be substantial for understanding rapid decision-making in more advanced beings such as humans.

Inhibition of CDK4 might promote lymphoma development, progression Posted: 20 Mar 2014 09:19 AM PDT Anticancer agents that inhibit tumor growth by targeting a cell-cycle regulatory protein called CDK4 might actually promote the development and progression of certain B-cell lymphomas. The research suggests that CDK4 inhibitors, which are now in clinical testing, should be used cautiously, particularly in patients with B-cell lymphomas. The findings raise the possibility that these inhibitors work through off-target effects and require further investigation.

New approach makes cancer cells explode Posted: 20 Mar 2014 09:19 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that a substance called Vacquinol-1 makes cells from glioblastoma, the most aggressive type of brain tumor, literally explode. The established treatments that are available for glioblastoma include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. But even if this treatment is given the average survival is just 15 months. It is therefore critical to find better treatments for malignant brain tumors.

Scientists find mechanism to reset body clock Posted: 20 Mar 2014 09:19 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a new mechanism that governs how body clocks react to changes in the environment. The discovery could provide a solution for alleviating the detrimental effects of chronic shift work and jet-lag.

Computers see through faked expressions of pain better than people Posted: 20 Mar 2014 09:19 AM PDT Scientists have found that a computer system spots real or faked expressions of pain more accurately than people can. Humans could not discriminate real from faked expressions of pain better than random chance -- and, even after training, only improved accuracy to a modest 55 percent. The computer system attains an 85 percent accuracy.

Future generations could inherit drug and alcohol use Posted: 20 Mar 2014 08:19 AM PDT Parents who use alcohol, marijuana, and drugs have higher frequencies of children who pick up their habits, according to a new study. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2011, about 22.6 million Americans age 12 years and older said they used illicit drugs in the last month.

Improved pavement markings can save lives Posted: 20 Mar 2014 07:15 AM PDT As spring finally emerges after a ferocious winter, our battered roads will soon be re-exposed. While potholes and cracks might make news, a bigger concern should be the deterioration to pavement markings, from yellow to white lines, which are a big factor in preventing traffic accidents. A study from Concordia University, funded by Infrastructure Canada and published in Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, found that snowplows are the biggest culprit in erasing roadway markings.

Cognitive function and oral perception in independently-living octogenarians Posted: 20 Mar 2014 07:15 AM PDT Researchers hypothesized that the decline of cognitive impairment is involved in oral perceptions since its preclinical stage. The aim of this study was to examine association of cognitive function with tactile and taste perceptions in independently-living 80-year-old elderly. These results suggest that the decline of cognitive function was related to tactile and taste perceptions in independently-living octogenarians without dementia.

Genes play key role in parenting: Children also shape parents' behavior Posted: 20 Mar 2014 07:15 AM PDT Scientists have presented the most conclusive evidence yet that genes play a significant role in parenting. The study sheds light on another misconception: that parenting is solely a top-down process from parent to child. While parents certainly seem to shape child behavior, parenting also is influenced by the child's behavior -- in other words, parenting is both a cause and a consequence of child behavior.

Stem cell combination therapy improves traumatic brain injury outcomes Posted: 20 Mar 2014 07:14 AM PDT A combination stem cell therapy utilizing umbilical cord cell and growth factor treatment improves traumatic brain injury outcomes in animal models and could offer hope for millions, including US war veterans with traumatic brain injuries, new research shows. The researchers concluded that additional studies of this combination therapy are warranted in order to better understand their modes of action.

Surgery after major stroke also improves survival odds in elderly patients Posted: 20 Mar 2014 07:14 AM PDT Patients who are over the age of 60 and have suffered a major stroke due to blockage of the middle cerebral artery benefit from hemicraniectomy -- removal of part of the skull located above the affected brain tissue. These patients' chances of survival increase two-fold. However, patients who have been operated on often survive with severe disabilities, while patients who do not undergo the surgery generally die quickly.

Stem cells created from a drop of blood: DIY finger-prick technique opens door for extensive stem cell banking Posted: 20 Mar 2014 07:13 AM PDT Scientists have developed a method to generate human induced pluripotent stem cells from a single drop of finger-pricked blood. The method also enables donors to collect their own blood samples, which they can then send to a laboratory for further processing.

Why do more people watch men's soccer? Different ball game for male and female soccer players Posted: 20 Mar 2014 07:11 AM PDT Every year billions of people across the globe tune in to watch the UEFA Champions League in which men compete in soccer, yet the number who tune-in to watch the female equivalent is miniscule and research has discovered it is a whole different ball game. For the first time both versions of the sport have been compared by the University of Sunderland to discover how the male game differs from that of the female game from a physical and technical point of view.

Regular physical activity reduces breast cancer risk irrespective of age Posted: 20 Mar 2014 07:08 AM PDT Practising sport for more than an hour day reduces the risk of contracting breast cancer, and this applies to women of any age and any weight, and also unaffected by geographical location. Compared with the least active women, those with the highest level of physical activity reduced their risk of breast cancer by 12%, researchers say.

Eyes are windows to the soul -- and evolution Posted: 20 Mar 2014 07:06 AM PDT Why do we become saucer-eyed from fear and squint from disgust? These near-opposite facial expressions are rooted in emotional responses that exploit how our eyes gather and focus light to detect an unknown threat, according to a new study.

Safety first, children: How parents can help kids recognize danger Posted: 20 Mar 2014 07:05 AM PDT Children are experts at getting into danger. So, how can parents help prevent the consequences? One answer, researchers say, is for parents to better understand how their children rate hazards and then use conversation to explain why certain situations can be dangerous.

Can 'love hormone' protect against addiction? Posted: 20 Mar 2014 07:05 AM PDT Addictive behavior such as drug and alcohol abuse could be associated with poor development of the so-called "love hormone" system in our bodies during early childhood, according to researchers. The groundbreaking idea has resulted from a review of worldwide research into oxytocin, known as the "love hormone" or "bonding drug" because of its important role in enhancing social interactions, maternal behavior and partnership.

Fake laughter doesn't fool the brain, research reveals Posted: 19 Mar 2014 07:25 PM PDT As the world celebrates International Day of Happiness today (Thursday, 20 March), can we tell whether people are truly happy just from their laugh? "During our study, when participants heard a laugh that was posed, they activated regions of the brain associated with mentalizing in an attempt to understand the other person's emotional and mental state," the authors state.

Past HIV vaccine trials reveal new path to success Posted: 19 Mar 2014 04:57 PM PDT A subclass of antibodies associated with an effective immune response to an HIV vaccine has been discovered by a multi-national research team. The finding helps explain why a combination of two vaccines was able to show some effect, when one vaccine alone did not. The study also provides key insights that could aid development of new vaccines.

Noninvasive colorectal cancer screening tool shows unprecedented detection rates Posted: 19 Mar 2014 04:57 PM PDT Results of a clinical trial of Cologuard show unprecedented rates of precancer and cancer detection by a noninvasive test. The detection rates are similar to those reported for colonoscopy. Cologuard, is a noninvasive sDNA test for the early detection of colorectal precancer and cancer. The Cologuard test is based on a stool sample that is analyzed for DNA signatures of precancer or cancer.

New guidelines deem 13 million more Americans eligible for statins Posted: 19 Mar 2014 04:57 PM PDT New guidelines for using statins to treat high cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular disease are projected to result in 12.8 million more U.S. adults taking the drugs, according to a new research. The new guidelines expand the criteria for statin use to include people whose 10-year risk of developing cardiovascular disease, including stroke, is elevated based on a risk-assessment score.

Impaired new learning found in persons with Parkinson's disease Posted: 19 Mar 2014 01:52 PM PDT Memory and learning in patients with Parkinson's disease was the focus of a new international study. The researchers found that the Parkinson's group's ability to learn new information was significantly poorer when compared with controls. "We concluded that the memory deficit in patients with PD without dementia was caused by a deficit in learning new information. Improving new learning is an important factor to consider in the development of cognitive rehabilitation interventions in this population," the authors conclude.

Patients enjoy good quality of life 10 years after esophagectomy, gastric pull-up Posted: 19 Mar 2014 01:52 PM PDT Long-term survivors after esophagectomy with gastric pull-up can enjoy a satisfying meal and good quality of life according to a new study. This study concluded that pessimism about the long-term quality of life after an esophagectomy on the part of treating physicians and patients is unwarranted.

Antibodies that may cut risk of HIV infection better understood Posted: 19 Mar 2014 01:52 PM PDT What immune response should a vaccine elicit to prevent HIV infection? Two studies bring scientists closer to answering this question by identifying previously unrecognized attributes of antibodies that appear to have reduced the risk of HIV infection in the only clinical trial to show efficacy, albeit modest, of an experimental vaccine regimen in people.

Alzheimer's prevention trial to monitor reactions to higher disease risk status Posted: 19 Mar 2014 12:31 PM PDT A new clinical trial will soon begin testing whether early medical intervention in people at risk for Alzheimer's can slow down progression of disease pathology before symptoms emerge. As part of the overall prevention trial, neurodegenerative ethics experts will monitor how learning about their risk of developing Alzheimer's impacts trial participants.

Gene fusion likely cause of rare type of thyroid cancer Posted: 19 Mar 2014 12:31 PM PDT In a scientific first, the fusion of two genes, ALK and EML4, has been identified as the genetic driver in an aggressive type of thyroid cancer, according to a study. These groundbreaking findings are based on genetic sequencing of tumor cells from a 62-year-old patient with an aggressive tall cell variant of papillary thyroid cancer, according to the study.

Social groups alleviate depression Posted: 19 Mar 2014 11:39 AM PDT Building a strong connection to a social group helps clinically depressed patients recover and helps prevent relapse, according to a new study. While past research has looked at the importance of social connections for preventing and treating depression, it has tended to emphasize interpersonal relationships rather than the importance of a sense of group identity. In addition, researchers haven't really understood why group therapy works. "Our work shows that the 'group' aspect of social interaction is critical," the authors note.

People with leukemia are more prone to infection -- but not from one particular herpes virus Posted: 19 Mar 2014 06:39 AM PDT People with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are essentially more prone to infections such as varicella, influenza or pneumococci due to the reduction in the number of antibodies that their condition causes. Researchers have now discovered that this doesn't apply to the cytomegalovirus (CMV).

Small step towards growing tissue in the lab Posted: 19 Mar 2014 06:38 AM PDT Mathematicians have devised a method for identifying how cell clusters have formed by analyzing an image of the cluster. Their modelling tool will be useful in helping biologists and tissue engineers to move towards growing human tissue such as liver in the laboratory.

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