ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Researchers demonstrate efficient method for converting fat cells to liver cells
• Low vitamin D levels raise anemia risk in children
• Anthropologist studies the evolutionary benefit of human personality traits
• New drug reduces negative memory
• A natural boost for MRI scans
• Breast milk protein may be key to protecting babies from HIV
• Parental perceptions are preventing HPV vaccination success
• Drug developed based on zebrafish studies passes Phase I clinical trial
• Traffic-related air pollution substantial public health concern
• West African bats: No safe haven for malaria parasites
• Controlling triggers of age-related inflammation could extend 'healthspan'
• 'Chimera' protein could lead to drug treatments for chronic pain
• Changing the common rule to increase minority voices in research
• Hair regeneration method is first to induce new human hair growth
• Physical cues help mature cells revert into embryonic-like stem cells
• Learning new skills keeps an aging mind sharp
• Fatal cholesterol disease overlooked, untreated
• Do sunny climates reduce ADHD?
• Excessive alcohol consumption increases progression of atherosclerosis, risk of stroke
• New insight in quest for single vaccine against multiple flus
• Scientist uncovers internal clock able to measure age of most human tissues; Women's breast tissue ages faster than rest of body

Researchers demonstrate efficient method for converting fat cells to liver cells Posted: 21 Oct 2013 01:26 PM PDT In a feat of modern-day alchemy with huge potential for regenerative medicine, Sscientists have developed a fast, efficient way to turn cells extracted from routine liposuction into liver cells.

Low vitamin D levels raise anemia risk in children Posted: 21 Oct 2013 12:56 PM PDT Low levels of the "sunshine" vitamin D appear to increase a child's risk of anemia, according to new research. The study is believed to be the first one to extensively explore the link between the two conditions in children.

Anthropologist studies the evolutionary benefit of human personality traits Posted: 21 Oct 2013 12:32 PM PDT Bold and outgoing or shy and retiring -- while many people can shift from one to the other as circumstances warrant, in general they lean toward one disposition or the other. And that inclination changes little over the course of their lives.

New drug reduces negative memory Posted: 21 Oct 2013 12:32 PM PDT Through analysis of the human genome, scientists have identified molecules and compounds that are related to human memory. In a subsequent pharmacological study with one of the identified compounds, the scientists found a drug-induced reduction of aversive memory. This could have implications for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder, which is characterized by intrusive traumatic memories.

A natural boost for MRI scans Posted: 21 Oct 2013 12:32 PM PDT Using an innocuous agent that is already naturally produced in the body, researchers have developed a breakthrough method that can make contrast-enhanced MRI safer and cheaper.

Breast milk protein may be key to protecting babies from HIV Posted: 21 Oct 2013 12:32 PM PDT A substance in breast milk that neutralizes HIV and may protect babies from acquiring HIV from their infected mothers has been identified for the first time by researchers.

Parental perceptions are preventing HPV vaccination success Posted: 21 Oct 2013 11:33 AM PDT Experts in pediatrics say that parental perceptions pose a major barrier to acceptance of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination — and that many of those perceptions are wrong.

Drug developed based on zebrafish studies passes Phase I clinical trial Posted: 21 Oct 2013 10:10 AM PDT Zebrafish research achieved a significant milestone when the first drug developed through studies utilizing the tiny animal and then put into clinical trials passed a Phase 1 trial aimed at establishing its safety. The drug has already advanced to Phase II studies designed to determine its efficacy.

Traffic-related air pollution substantial public health concern Posted: 21 Oct 2013 10:10 AM PDT Traffic-related air pollution is increasingly shown to have negative health effects according to a growing body of epidemiologic evidence and is a substantial public health concern in Canada.

West African bats: No safe haven for malaria parasites Posted: 21 Oct 2013 10:07 AM PDT In Europe, bats are normally discussed in the context of endangered species threatened by loss of their habitats. However, in recent years, bats have caught the eye of infection biologists. The animals are namely hosts to a surprising number of pathogens, many of which could be dangerous to humans. Scientists have been able to identify in West African bats four genera of parasites that are closely related to the malaria pathogen.

Controlling triggers of age-related inflammation could extend 'healthspan' Posted: 21 Oct 2013 08:57 AM PDT Inflammation is the common denominator of many chronic age-related diseases such as arthritis, gout, Alzheimer's, and diabetes. But according to a study, even in the absence of a disease, inflammation can lead to serious loss of function throughout the body, reducing healthspan -- that portion of our lives spent relatively free of serious illness and disability.

'Chimera' protein could lead to drug treatments for chronic pain Posted: 21 Oct 2013 08:55 AM PDT Scientists have manufactured a new bio-therapeutic molecule that could be used to treat neurological disorders such as chronic pain and epilepsy.

Changing the common rule to increase minority voices in research Posted: 21 Oct 2013 07:42 AM PDT Researchers recommend changing the U.S. federal regulations that govern oversight of human subjects research ("the Common Rule") to address continued underrepresentation of minorities in research studies.

Hair regeneration method is first to induce new human hair growth Posted: 21 Oct 2013 07:42 AM PDT Researchers have devised a hair restoration method that can generate new human hair growth, rather than simply redistribute hair from one part of the scalp to another. The approach could significantly expand the use of hair transplantation to women with hair loss, who tend to have insufficient donor hair, as well as to men in early stages of baldness.

Physical cues help mature cells revert into embryonic-like stem cells Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:52 AM PDT Bioengineers have shown that physical cues can help reprogram mature cells back into pluripotent stem cells. The study demonstrates for the first time that biomaterials can help regulate the memory of a cell's identity.

Learning new skills keeps an aging mind sharp Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:50 AM PDT Older adults are often encouraged to stay active and engaged to keep their minds sharp, that they have to "use it or lose it." But new research indicates that only certain activities -- learning a mentally demanding skill like photography, for instance -- are likely to improve cognitive functioning. These findings reveal that less demanding activities, such as listening to classical music or completing word puzzles, probably won't bring noticeable benefits to an aging mind.

Fatal cholesterol disease overlooked, untreated Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:50 AM PDT Hereditary high blood cholesterol leads to premature heart disease. It is overlooked and untreated virtually worldwide. This is a major problem as the disease is dangerous for health. However, this disease is easy to diagnose and treat, according to the conclusion of a consensus report.

Do sunny climates reduce ADHD? Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:46 AM PDT ADHD is the most common childhood psychiatric disorder. Scientists do not know what causes it, but genetics play a clear role. Other risk factors have also been identified, including premature birth, low birth weight, a mother's use of alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy, and environmental exposures to toxins like lead. Regions with high sunlight intensity have a lower prevalence of ADHD, suggesting that high sunlight intensity may exert a 'protective' effect for ADHD.

Excessive alcohol consumption increases progression of atherosclerosis, risk of stroke Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:46 AM PDT A Finnish population-based study showed that binge drinking was associated with increased atherosclerotic progression in an 11-year follow-up of middle-aged men. The progression of atherosclerosis was increased among men who consumed 6 drinks or more on one occasion. In addition, the risk of stroke increased among men who had at least one hangover per year. Hangovers increased the risk of stroke independent of the total amount of alcohol consumed.

New insight in quest for single vaccine against multiple flus Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:41 AM PDT A study highlights a new approach for developing a universal influenza vaccine that could protect against multiple flu strains, including deadly pandemic strains.

Scientist uncovers internal clock able to measure age of most human tissues; Women's breast tissue ages faster than rest of body Posted: 20 Oct 2013 05:30 PM PDT A new study is the first to identify a biological clock able to gauge the age of most human tissues. Some parts of the anatomy, like a woman's breasts, age faster than the rest of the body.

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