ScienceDaily: Top Health News

---

• Biological evidence of positive and negative people in the world
• Good diet boosts health but not wealth
• Contrary to expectations, life experiences better use of money than material items
• Coffee Consumption Reduces Mortality Risk from Liver Cirrhosis
• Night owls, unlike early birds, tend to be unmarried risk-takers
• Similarities between HIV/AIDS, opioid addiction epidemics
• Overuse of blood transfusions increases infection risk
• The mammography dilemma: 50 years of analysis
• Adult tonsillectomy complications and health care expenses
• Schools have limited success in reducing bullying, new analysis finds
• Emergency department dental care treatment raises access, cost issues for policymakers
• Epilepsy drug target implications for sleep disruption in brain disorders
• Twenty Years Later: How Breast Cancer Risk Genes are Changing Patient Care
• Low sodium levels pre-transplant does not affect liver transplant recipient survival
• Depressed young men at highest risk of becoming sedentary later
• Good vibrations: Using light-heated water to deliver drugs
• Factor present in gestational, type 2 diabetes could provide new treatment options
• 'Sewing machine' idea gives insight into origins of Alzheimer's
• Common molecular defect offers treatment hope for group of rare disorders
• Should family businesses always keep it in the family?
• Spine surgeons need to screen more patients for anxiety, depression, study suggests
• Breast milk and diet up to two years old: A means of preventing the risk of child obesity
• Human 'hairless' gene identified: One form of baldness explained
• Monkey caloric restriction study shows big benefit; contradicts earlier study
• Male-dominated societies are not more violent, study says
• Clinical trial results inconsistently reported among journals, government website, study suggests
• Better way to grow motor neurons from stem cells
• Early intervention reduces aggressive behavior in adulthood
• Simple changes in ICU can help heart attack patients: Study
• Customers prefer restaurants that offer nutrition facts, healthful foods
• 1.1 million Americans caring for recently wounded veterans, study finds
• New screening tool to diagnose common sleep problem in children
• Lose the paunch, halt the hair loss?
• Knowledge transfer between computers: Computers teach each other Pac-Man
• Need to regulate antimicrobial ingredients in consumer products, scientific evidence shows
• Beer lovers tweet what they drink: Twitter maps show Americans' beer preferences
• Attention changes in the course of a dog's life mirror those of humans
• Switching brain cells with less light
• Universal syllables: Some innate preferences shape the sound of words from birth
• Higher risk of death from skin cancer among men living alone
• For most adolescents, popularity increases risk of getting bullied
• Hospital Readmission Rates Not Reliable Measure of Hospital Quality in Cardiac Surgical Care
• Clinical habits die hard: Nursing traditions often trump evidence-based practice
• Why vitamin D deficiency diagnoses surged
• Want spring allergy relief? Avoid stress
• Gratitude, not 'gimme,' makes for more satisfaction, study finds
• Heart health as young adult linked to mental function in mid-life
• Fast food giants' ads for healthier kids meals don't send the right message
• Limiting screen time improves sleep, academics, behavior, study finds
• Nearly 97 percent of health professionals wash their hands when patients are asked to watch: Study

Biological evidence of positive and negative people in the world Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:00 AM PDT The ability to stay positive when times get tough -- and, conversely, of being negative -- may be hardwired in the brain, finds new research. The study focused on women because they are twice as likely as men to suffer from anxiety related problems and previously reported sex differences in brain structure and function could have obscured the results.

Good diet boosts health but not wealth Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:58 AM PDT The idea that a good diet means a healthy population with lower health costs only holds true when it comes to emergency care, a study shows. Although men and women aged over 65 years who ate healthily had shorter stays in hospital, they were strong users of other medical services. In fact, they tended to make greater use of outpatient services, preventive care and dental care than those who did not follow a healthy eating plan.

Contrary to expectations, life experiences better use of money than material items Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:58 AM PDT Why do shoppers continue to buy material items, despite research showing that purchasing life experiences will make them happier? A new study says they believe material items will be the best use of their money, despite the fact that, after the purchase, experiential items are considered the better value. The research suggests these individuals are sacrificing well-being for a sense of value that never materializes.

Coffee Consumption Reduces Mortality Risk from Liver Cirrhosis Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:56 AM PDT Consuming two or more cups of coffee each day reduces the risk of death from liver cirrhosis by 66%, specifically cirrhosis caused by non-viral hepatitis, new research reveals. Findings show that tea, fruit juice, and soft drink consumption are not linked to cirrhosis mortality risk. As with previous studies, heavy alcohol use was found to increase risk of death from cirrhosis.

Night owls, unlike early birds, tend to be unmarried risk-takers Posted: 01 Apr 2014 01:22 PM PDT Women who are night owls share the same high propensity for risk-taking as men, according to a recent study. The research suggests that sleep patterns are linked with important character traits and behavior, said a study author. Night owls -- people who tend to stay up late and wake up late in the morning -- are different in many important ways from early risers, he found.

Similarities between HIV/AIDS, opioid addiction epidemics Posted: 01 Apr 2014 01:22 PM PDT There are important parallels between the early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the current epidemic of opioid addiction -- ones that could trigger a significant shift in opioid addiction prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Researchers detail how the HIV/AIDS epidemic spurred a public health approach centered on human rights, which included biomedical breakthroughs and life-saving treatment. Fast forward 30 years and the response to HIV/AIDS has attracted an unprecedented commitment of resources and international aid. Researchers assert that a parallel response is needed in response to the epidemic of addiction.

Overuse of blood transfusions increases infection risk Posted: 01 Apr 2014 01:21 PM PDT The fewer the red blood cell transfusions, the less likely patients were to develop infections like pneumonia, a new study has illustrated. Elderly patients undergoing hip or knee surgeries were most susceptible, with a 30 percent lower risk of infection when fewer transfusions were used. Overall, for every 38 hospitalized patients considered for a red blood cell transfusion (RBC), one patient would be spared a serious infection if fewer transfusions were used.

The mammography dilemma: 50 years of analysis Posted: 01 Apr 2014 01:21 PM PDT A comprehensive review of 50 year's worth of international studies assessing the benefits and harms of mammography screening suggests that the benefits of the screening are often overestimated, while harms are underestimated. The authors report that the best estimate of the reduction in mortality from breast cancer due to annual screening for women overall is about 19 percent. For women in their 40s, the reduction in risk was about 15 percent, and for women in their 60s, about 32 percent. But how much a woman benefits depends on her underlying risk of breast cancer.

Adult tonsillectomy complications and health care expenses Posted: 01 Apr 2014 11:22 AM PDT A study of 36,210 adult tonsillectomy patients finds that 20 percent will have a complication, offering valuable new insights to a decades long discussion. The study examines the prevalence of complications in adult tonsillectomies and the impact on health care expenditures. "Researchers have been examining variation in tonsillectomy for years," explained a corresponding author. "Yet most research has been documented in pediatric populations. Much less is known about the safety and risks to adult patients that undergo the procedure."

Schools have limited success in reducing bullying, new analysis finds Posted: 01 Apr 2014 11:22 AM PDT School efforts to reduce bullying are often disappointing; year-round, comprehensive programs appear to be more effective than one-time activities, researchers report. The study revealed that schools are trying many different approaches to protect students, and while the more comprehensive programs have been the most effective, they require substantial commitment and school resources to be successful.

Emergency department dental care treatment raises access, cost issues for policymakers Posted: 01 Apr 2014 11:22 AM PDT The use of emergency departments for dental care -- especially by young adults in low-income communities -- is presenting policymakers with a challenge, according to a report that offers several remedies including expanding hours at the dentist's office.

Epilepsy drug target implications for sleep disruption in brain disorders Posted: 01 Apr 2014 11:21 AM PDT A study using the mutant fruitfly sleepless confirmed that the enzyme GABA transaminase, a target of some epilepsy drugs, contributes to sleep loss. The findings shed light on mechanisms that may be shared between sleep disruption and some neurological disorders. A better understanding of this connection could enable treatments that target both types of symptoms and perhaps provide better therapeutic efficacy.

Twenty Years Later: How Breast Cancer Risk Genes are Changing Patient Care Posted: 01 Apr 2014 11:21 AM PDT In the mid-1990s, scientists for the first time were able to isolate and clone the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, mutations in which were thought to increase susceptibility to early onset breast and ovarian cancers. A article takes a look back at the last twenty years to show how the identification of these genes set in motion a firestorm of research aimed at exploring how genetic information can be used to create both standards of care and strategies for all patients at a high-risk of developing cancer.

Low sodium levels pre-transplant does not affect liver transplant recipient survival Posted: 01 Apr 2014 10:10 AM PDT Low levels of sodium, known as hyponatremia, prior to transplantation does not increase the risk of death following liver transplant. Medical evidence shows that low sodium concentration is common in patients with end stage liver disease (ESLD), with roughly half of those with cirrhosis having sodium levels below the normal range. Following liver transplantation, sodium levels will generally return to normal.

Depressed young men at highest risk of becoming sedentary later Posted: 01 Apr 2014 10:10 AM PDT Young men may be more vulnerable to becoming sedentary later on than women are if they are depressed at a young age, a study finds. It's not news that being a couch potato is bad for your health. Lack of physical activity is associated with a range of diseases from diabetes to heart attacks. Findings from this new study show that young men who have experienced depression early in life may be especially vulnerable to becoming sedentary later in life, and particularly to spending large amounts of time online each day.

Good vibrations: Using light-heated water to deliver drugs Posted: 01 Apr 2014 10:10 AM PDT A new mechanism for using light to activate drug-delivering nanoparticles and other targeted therapeutic substances inside the body has been developed by a collaboration of materials scientists, engineers and neurobiologists. This discovery represents a major innovation. Up to now, only a handful of strategies using light-triggered release from nanoparticles have been reported.

Factor present in gestational, type 2 diabetes could provide new treatment options Posted: 01 Apr 2014 09:23 AM PDT Both pregnant women with diabetes and with type 2 diabetics have high levels of a fat metabolite that impairs pancreatic cells from secreting insulin. These findings suggest that blocking the effects of this fat metabolite may help prevent and treat diabetes.

'Sewing machine' idea gives insight into origins of Alzheimer's Posted: 01 Apr 2014 09:23 AM PDT A new imaging tool inspired by the humble sewing machine has been invented, providing fresh insight into the origins of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. These diseases are caused by tiny toxic proteins too small to be studied with traditional optical microscopy.

Common molecular defect offers treatment hope for group of rare disorders Posted: 01 Apr 2014 09:23 AM PDT Researchers studying tiny, antennae-like structures called cilia have found a potential way to ease some of the physical damage of numerous genetic disorders that result when these essential cellular components are defective. Different genetic defects cause dysfunction of the cilia, which often act as sensory organs that receive signals from other cells. Individually, disorders involving cilia are rare, but collectively the more than 100 diseases in the category known as ciliopathies affect as many as one in 1,000 people.

Should family businesses always keep it in the family? Posted: 01 Apr 2014 08:21 AM PDT From the Murdochs to the Hiltons, families have long sought to keep their businesses in the bloodline. But new research shows that's not necessarily the best method of management.

Spine surgeons need to screen more patients for anxiety, depression, study suggests Posted: 01 Apr 2014 08:21 AM PDT Only 10 percent of orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons follow professional guidelines recommending routine psychological screenings of patients prior to major surgery for severe back and leg pain, a study shows. The oversight, researchers say, may pose a serious risk to patients' surgical recovery. Previous reports have tied bouts of depression to longer recuperations, delayed returns to work, more postsurgical complications and failures to comply with medication schedules after patients leave the hospital.

Breast milk and diet up to two years old: A means of preventing the risk of child obesity Posted: 01 Apr 2014 08:21 AM PDT Scientists have shown that breast-feeding has a protective effect on the risk of obesity at 20 years of age. Researchers also emphasize that nutritional intake at the age of 2 years are critical in providing this beneficial effect.

Human 'hairless' gene identified: One form of baldness explained Posted: 01 Apr 2014 08:21 AM PDT It's not a hair-brained idea: A new research report explains why people with a rare balding condition called 'atrichia with papular lesions' lose their hair, and it identifies a strategy for reversing this hair loss. "Identification of hairless as a histone demethylase may shed new insights into its mechanism of action in regulating skin and hair disorders," said the lead author.

Monkey caloric restriction study shows big benefit; contradicts earlier study Posted: 01 Apr 2014 08:19 AM PDT The latest results from a 25-year study of diet and aging in monkeys shows a significant reduction in mortality and in age-associated diseases among those with calorie-restricted diets. The study, begun in 1989, is one of two ongoing, long-term U.S. efforts to examine the effects of a reduced-calorie diet on nonhuman primates.

Male-dominated societies are not more violent, study says Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:30 AM PDT Conventional wisdom and scientific arguments have claimed that societies with more men than women, such as China, will become more violent, but a new study has found that a male-biased sex ratio does not lead to more crime. Rates of rape, sexual assault and homicide are actually lower in societies with more men than women, the study found. And, evolutionary theories predicting that when males outnumber females, males will compete vigorously for the limited number of mates don't bear out.

Clinical trial results inconsistently reported among journals, government website, study suggests Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:30 AM PDT Medical researchers often presented the findings of their clinical trials in a different way on a federal government website than they did in the medical journals where their studies were ultimately published, according to a recent analysis.

Better way to grow motor neurons from stem cells Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:29 AM PDT Researchers report they can generate human motor neurons from stem cells much more quickly and efficiently than previous methods allowed. The finding will aid efforts to model human motor neuron development, and to understand and treat spinal cord injuries and motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Early intervention reduces aggressive behavior in adulthood Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:29 AM PDT An educational intervention program for children between kindergarten and 10th grade, known as Fast Track, reduces aggressive behavior later in life by dampening testosterone levels in response to social threats, according to research. The Fast Track intervention program teaches children social cognitive skills, such as emotional regulation and social problem solving, and previous research suggests that the program may lead to decreased antisocial behavior and aggression in childhood and adolescence.

Simple changes in ICU can help heart attack patients: Study Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:29 AM PDT To improve recovery for heart attack patients, hospitals should maintain normal day and night cycles for those patients during the first few days after the attack, say researchers. The new study shows for the first time that interrupting diurnal rhythms impairs healing immediately after a heart attack.

Customers prefer restaurants that offer nutrition facts, healthful foods Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:29 AM PDT Customers are more likely to frequent restaurants that provide both healthful foods and nutrition information, according to researchers. "The Affordable Care Act has mandated that chain restaurants provide nutrition information to customers," said an author. "Many restaurants had been fighting this legislation because they thought they would lose customers if the customers knew how unhealthy their food was. We found that customers perceive restaurants to be socially responsible when they are provided with nutrition facts and healthful options and, therefore, are more likely to patronize those restaurants."

1.1 million Americans caring for recently wounded veterans, study finds Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:29 AM PDT The spouses, parents and friends who care for the injured and disabled who have served in the US military since Sept. 11, 2001, often do so without a formal support network and put their own well-being at risk. Researchers find that this group is younger than other caregivers, are usually employed outside the home and are more likely to care for someone who has a behavioral health problem.

New screening tool to diagnose common sleep problem in children Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:29 AM PDT A new screening tool to help diagnose obstructive sleep apnea in children has been developed by clinical investigators. Evidence suggests that adults with a large neck circumference are more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), especially males. As neck circumference varies by age and sex, there have been no reference ranges to diagnose pediatric OSA up until now. The new evidence-based diagnostic tool includes reference ranges -- a new pediatric growth curve -- to measure and track neck circumference for boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 17.

Lose the paunch, halt the hair loss? Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:27 AM PDT A new discovery showing how hair growth activated fat tissue growth in the skin below the hair follicle could lead to the development of a cream to dissolve fat. The world first research confirmed that changes in the hair growth cycle led to fluctuations in the thickness of the underlying fat layer of the skin -- essentially meaning that the skin can regulate fat production.

Knowledge transfer between computers: Computers teach each other Pac-Man Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:27 AM PDT Researchers have developed a method to allow a computer to give advice and teach skills to another computer in a way that mimics how a real teacher and student might interact. Researchers had the agents -- as the virtual robots are called -- act like true student and teacher pairs: student agents struggled to learn Pac-Man and a version of the StarCraft video game. The researchers were able to show that the student agent learned the games and, in fact, surpassed the teacher.

Need to regulate antimicrobial ingredients in consumer products, scientific evidence shows Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:25 AM PDT Does the widespread and still proliferating use of antimicrobial household products cause more harm than good to consumers and the environment? Evidence compiled shows that decades of widespread use of antimicrobials has left consumers with no measurable benefits. Worse yet, lax regulation has caused widespread contamination of the environment, wildlife and human populations with compounds that appear more toxic than safe, according to recent scientific research.

Beer lovers tweet what they drink: Twitter maps show Americans' beer preferences Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:23 AM PDT Researchers who mapped tweets revealed how "beer space" on Twitter reflects real-world preferences of brews and beer brands in the United States. For example, tweet preferences for Bud Light were found in the Eastern half of the US, while preferences for Coors Light originate in the Western half, particularly near Colorado and surrounding states. Other beer spaces included Miller Lite preferences in the Midwest and Great Plains, and brands like Corona and Dos Equis in the Southern border regions of the US.

Attention changes in the course of a dog's life mirror those of humans Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:22 AM PDT Dogs are known to be 'Man's best friend'. No other pet has adjusted to human lifestyles as well as this four-legged animal. Scientists have been the first to investigate the evolution of dogs' attentiveness in the course of their lives and to what extent they resemble humans in this regard. The outcome: dogs' attentional and sensorimotor control developmental trajectories are very similar to those found in humans.

Switching brain cells with less light Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:22 AM PDT Networked nerve cells are the control center of organisms. In a nematode, 300 nerve cells are sufficient to initiate complex behavior. To understand the properties of the networks, researchers switch cells on and off with light and observe the resulting behavior of the organism. Scientists now present a protein that facilitates the control of nerve cells by light. It might be used as a basis of studies of diseases of the nervous system.

Universal syllables: Some innate preferences shape the sound of words from birth Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:21 AM PDT Languages are learned, it's true, but are there also innate bases in the structure of language that precede experience? Linguists have noticed that, despite the huge variability of human languages, there are some preferences in the sound of words that can be found across languages.  So they wonder whether this reflects the existence of a universal, innate biological basis of language. A new study provides evidence to support to this hypothesis, demonstrating that certain preferences in the sound of words are already active in newborn infants.

Higher risk of death from skin cancer among men living alone Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:21 AM PDT There are differences in prognosis in cutaneous malignant melanoma depending on cohabitation status and gender, according to a new study. Single men of all ages are more likely to die of their disease. According to the researchers, one possible explanation could relate to insufficient access to skin examinations.

For most adolescents, popularity increases risk of getting bullied Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:18 AM PDT For most adolescents, becoming more popular both increases their risk of getting bullied and worsens the negative consequences of being victimized, research shows. "Most people probably would not think that having a higher social status would increase the risk of being targeted, but with few exceptions, that's what we find," said the study's lead author.

Hospital Readmission Rates Not Reliable Measure of Hospital Quality in Cardiac Surgical Care Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:18 AM PDT Hospital readmission rates are not a reliable measure of hospital quality in cardiac surgical care because they are driven by chance rather than statistically significant measurements, a new study concludes. Overall, the researchers found that readmission rates for the majority of hospitals did not reach a minimum acceptable level of reliability. The researchers also found that hospital case volume is a large determinant of the reliability of readmission rates. The more surgeries a hospital performs per year, the higher the reliability in the readmission rate.

Clinical habits die hard: Nursing traditions often trump evidence-based practice Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:18 AM PDT A new article examines the evidence associated with four common clinical practices and encourages nurses to put the current best evidence into practice, rather than providing care based on tradition alone. Current reviews of clinical practice suggest that fewer than 15 percent of clinicians consistently implement evidence-based care and indicate that it can take up to two decades for original research to be put into routine clinical practice, the article notes.

Why vitamin D deficiency diagnoses surged Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:14 AM PDT Physicians are ordering vitamin D deficiency screening tests for preventive care purposes rather than after patients develop conditions caused by decreased bone density, a study has concluded. For older patients, having a low vitamin D level is a condition that can cause weakening of bones, which can lead to fractures, and in children the deficiency can lead to rickets.

Want spring allergy relief? Avoid stress Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:14 AM PDT Stress doesn't cause allergies, but easing your mind might mean less allergy flare-ups this spring. According to a study, allergy sufferers with persistent stress experience more allergy flares. "Stress can cause several negative effects on the body, including causing more symptoms for allergy sufferers," said an allergist.

Gratitude, not 'gimme,' makes for more satisfaction, study finds Posted: 31 Mar 2014 03:06 PM PDT People who are materialistic are more likely to be depressed and unsatisfied, in part because they find it harder to be grateful for what they have, according to a study. "Gratitude is a positive mood. It's about other people," said the study's lead author. "Previous research finds that people are motivated to help people that help them." But materialism tends to be "me-centered." A material outlook focuses on what one does not have, impairing the ability to be grateful for what one already has, researchers said.

Heart health as young adult linked to mental function in mid-life Posted: 31 Mar 2014 02:05 PM PDT Having blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels slightly higher than the recommended guidelines in early adulthood is associated with lower cognitive function in mid-life. "Our study is hopeful, because it tells us we could maybe make a dent in the risks of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia by emphasizing the importance of controlling risk factors among younger people," researchers state.

Fast food giants' ads for healthier kids meals don't send the right message Posted: 31 Mar 2014 02:04 PM PDT Children who viewed TV ads for Kids Meals were commonly unable to recall milk or apples, items added to make the meals healthier. Instead many kids thought apples were french fries. Researchers found that one-half to one-third of children did not identify milk when shown McDonald's and Burger King children's advertising images depicting that product. Sliced apples in Burger King's ads were identified as apples by only 10 percent of young viewers; instead most reported they were french fries.

Limiting screen time improves sleep, academics, behavior, study finds Posted: 31 Mar 2014 02:04 PM PDT Parents may not always see it, but efforts to limit their children's screen time can make a difference. A new study found children get more sleep, do better in school and see other health benefits when parents monitor screen time. The effect is not immediate and that makes it difficult for parents to recognize. As a result, parents may think it is not worth the effort to monitor and limit their children's media use. But researchers say they have more power than they realize.

Nearly 97 percent of health professionals wash their hands when patients are asked to watch: Study Posted: 31 Mar 2014 10:10 AM PDT Improving hand hygiene compliance by healthcare professionals is no easy task, but a first-of-its-kind study shows simply asking patients to audit their healthcare professional is yielding high marks. details the findings of an 11-month pilot project looking at an alternative method of hand hygiene auditing using the patient-as-observer approach. In this method, patients observe and record hand hygiene compliance of their healthcare providers via a survey distributed before their interaction with their healthcare provider.

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