ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Thursday, April 28, 2011 ~ Technology

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Thursday, April 28, 2011

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Microsleep: Brain regions can take short naps during wakefulness, leading to errors (April 28, 2011) -- If you've ever lost your keys or stuck the milk in the cupboard and the cereal in the refrigerator, you may have been the victim of a tired brain region that was taking a quick nap. ... > full story

New technique extends cancer-fighting cells' potency in melanoma patients (April 28, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a technique -- a form of "adoptive immunotherapy" -- that can enable anti-tumor T cells to survive in melanoma patients' bloodstreams for well over a year, in some cases. The results represent the longest that injected anti-tumor T cells have ever endured in cancer patients without the use of supplemental treatments. ... > full story

Indigenous cases of leprosy found in the Southern United States: Human contamination through contact with armadillos (April 28, 2011) -- Using advanced DNA analysis and extensive field work, an international research team has confirmed the link between leprosy infection in Americans and direct contact with armadillos. Clear evidence was found that a never-before-seen strain of Mycobacterium leprae has emerged in the Southern United States and that it is transmitted through contact with armadillos carrying the disease. ... > full story

Americans still may not be getting enough calcium (April 28, 2011) -- Americans may not be getting enough calcium in their diets, according to a new study. This study is unique among those focusing on calcium intake in the US population because both dietary and supplemental sources were evaluated across adult age groups and compared to accompanying patterns in energy intake. ... > full story

Carbohydrate adhesion gives stainless steel implants beneficial new functions (April 28, 2011) -- A new chemical bonding process can add new functions to stainless steel and make it a more useful material for implanted biomedical devices. This new process was developed to address some of the problems associated with the introduction of stainless steel into the human body. ... > full story

Power and choice are interchangeable: It's all about controlling your life (April 28, 2011) -- Having power over others and having choices in your own life share a critical foundation: control, according to a new study. New research finds that people are willing to trade one source of control for the other. For example, if people lack power, they clamor for choice, and if they have an abundance of choice they don't strive as much for power. ... > full story

Vitamin E helps diminish a type of fatty liver disease in children, study suggests (April 28, 2011) -- A specific form of vitamin E improved the most severe form of fatty liver disease in some children, according to a new study. A previous study found vitamin E effective in some adults with the disease. ... > full story

Severity of hepatitis C and HIV co-infection in mothers contribute to HCV transmission to child (April 28, 2011) -- New research shows that high maternal viral load and co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are the only risk factors associated with vertical transmission of the hepatitis C virus (HCV-VT). A variation in the infant's IL28B gene is associated independently with the spontaneous clearance of HCV genotype-1 among infected children. ... > full story

Leader beliefs about followers impact company success (April 28, 2011) -- How leaders view their employees tends to become a self-fulfilling prophecy, which affects company success. Managers’ conceptions of employees affect job satisfaction, relationships and trust. ... > full story

Neurorobotics reveals brain mechanisms of self-consciousness (April 27, 2011) -- A new study uses creative engineering to unravel brain mechanisms associated with one of the most fundamental subjective human feelings: self-consciousness. The research identifies a brain region called the temporo-parietal junction as being critical for the feeling of being an entity localized at a particular position in space and for perceiving the world from this position and perspective. ... > full story

Comprehensive collection of approved drugs created to identify new therapies (April 27, 2011) -- Researchers have begun screening the first definitive collection of thousands of approved drugs for clinical use against rare and neglected diseases. They are hunting for additional uses of the drugs hoping to find off-label therapies, for some of the 6,000 rare diseases that afflict 25 million Americans. ... > full story

Medical sleuthing linked muscle, kidney problems to kava tea (April 27, 2011) -- When a 34-year-old bicyclist was found collapsed on a roadside and rushed to the emergency room on the verge of kidney failure and muscle breakdown, doctors were surprised to discover that a trendy tea derived from the kava plant was the cause of his ills. ... > full story

1918 influenza pandemic (Spanish flu): Large differences in mortality between urban and isolated rural areas (April 27, 2011) -- In urban communities, less than 1 in 100 inhabitants died from Spanish flu in 1918, but in isolated communities up to 9 out of 10 died. An important explanation for the differences is due to different exposure to influenza in the decades before the Spanish flu came. Those living in urban communities probably had a higher degree of pre-existing immunity that protected against illness and death in 1918 than those living in very isolated rural areas. ... > full story

Cholesterol drugs may improve blood flow after stroke (April 27, 2011) -- Cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins may help clot-busting drugs treat strokes, according to researchers. ... > full story

Promising pancreatic cancer screening marker identified (April 27, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a protein that shows distinct changes in structure between pancreatic cancer, non-cancerous diseases and normal blood serum. The finding suggests a blood test could serve as a potential screening tool to detect pancreatic cancer. ... > full story

Motivation plays a critical role in determining IQ test scores (April 27, 2011) -- New psychology research demonstrates a correlation between a test-taker's motivation and performance on an IQ test and, more important, between that performance and a person's future success. ... > full story

Increased metabolic rate may lead to accelerated aging (April 27, 2011) -- A recent study found that higher metabolic rates predict early natural mortality, indicating that higher energy turnover may accelerate aging in humans. ... > full story

Studies of mutated protein in Lou Gehrig’s disease reveal new paths for drug discovery (April 27, 2011) -- Several genes have been linked to ALS, with one of the most recent called FUS. Two new studies examined FUS biology in yeast and found that defects in RNA biology may be central to how FUS contributes to ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. These findings point to new targets for developing drugs. ... > full story

Music changes perception, research shows (April 27, 2011) -- Music is not only able to affect your mood -- listening to particularly happy or sad music can even change the way we perceive the world, according to new research. ... > full story

Men's and women's immune systems respond differently to PTSD (April 27, 2011) -- Men and women had starkly different immune system responses to chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, with men showing no response and women showing a strong response, in two new studies. ... > full story

Strides made in understanding amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (April 27, 2011) -- Researchers have made a significant advance in the effort to understand amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by successfully reversing the toxicity of the mutated protein in the familial type of the disease. Currently there is no cure or prevention for the disease, which affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Medical researchers now report success in blocking the lethal effects of the gene by placing several human genes into a yeast cell that shows many similar features to the disease-causing proteins. ... > full story

What can twins tell us about mate choice? (April 27, 2011) -- What factors influence our choice of a mate? Is it our genes? Does a man look for someone like his mother and a woman someone her father? None of the above, according to a study of Australian twins. ... > full story

Topical treatment may prevent melanoma (April 27, 2011) -- While incidents of melanoma continue to increase despite the use of sunscreen and skin screenings, a topical compound called ISC-4 may prevent melanoma lesion formation, according to researchers. ... > full story

Motor protein may offer promise in ovarian cancer treatment (April 27, 2011) -- A motor regulatory protein can block human ovarian tumor growth, leading to eventual cancer cell death and possible new therapies to treat the disease, according to researchers. ... > full story

Brain imaging demonstrates that former smokers have greater willpower than smokers (April 27, 2011) -- A new study compares former smokers to current smokers, and obtains insight into how to quit smoking might be discovered by studying the brains of those who have successfully managed to do so. ... > full story

Vitamin D may help explain racial differences in blood pressure (April 27, 2011) -- High blood pressure, or hypertension, is more common and often more deadly in blacks than in whites, and a new study shows that low vitamin D levels among black people might be a powerful factor that contributes to the racial differences in hypertension. ... > full story

A potential novel drug-target for colorectal cancer treatment comes from the brain (April 27, 2011) -- Scientists have found that a brain-derived protein known to be involved in tumor growth, metastasis and drug resistance in a number of cancers, including some non-neurological cancers, is also found in colorectal cancer. The study provides the first evidence of BDNF presence in colon cancer and offers new insights into its potential contribution to tumor progression and resistance to some types of antitumor drugs. ... > full story

Looks do matter, particularly when it comes to neighborhoods (April 27, 2011) -- It's an unfamiliar neighborhood and you find yourself in the middle of a bunch of streets and buildings you've never seen before. Giving the environment a quick once-over, you make a snap decision about whether you're safe or not. And chances are, that first 'gut' call is the right one, say experts. ... > full story

Protein inhibitor may bring a topical treatment for HPV (April 27, 2011) -- Patients infected with cancer-causing HPV may someday have an alternative to surgical and harsh chemical treatments, thanks to new research. Researchers have developed a protein-based inhibitor that could provide a topical treatment for HPV. ... > full story

Antibiotic may prove beneficial to preterm infant lung health, study suggests (April 27, 2011) -- A new study shows promise for the use of azithromycin in treating Ureaplasma-colonized or infected premature infants to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). ... > full story

Fitness and frailty in adults linked to health outcomes (April 27, 2011) -- The prevalence of frailty, which is linked to earlier death, increases throughout adulthood as people age and not just after age 65, found a new article. Relatively good fitness levels at all ages were predictive of lower mortality and less reliance on health care services. ... > full story

Advice vs. experience: Genes predict learning style (April 27, 2011) -- A new study finds a specific genetic association with adhering to advice that conflicts with experience. Variations in certain genes lead to a strong-willed prefrontal cortex that can bias the striatum, where experience is analyzed. ... > full story

Streptococci and E. coli continue to put newborns at risk for sepsis (April 27, 2011) -- Bloodstream infections in newborns can lead to serious complications with substantial morbidity and mortality. In recent years, antibiotic prophylaxis given to at-risk mothers has reduced the incidence of early-onset group B streptococcal infections among their babies. A new nationwide study shows the most frequent pathogens associated with sepsis are group B streptococci (GBS) in full-term infants and Escherichia coli in preterm infants. The study also found that infection rates in newborns increased with decreasing gestational age and birth weight. ... > full story

Gynecologic cancer expert helps pinpoint best treatment for fast-growing gestational tumors (April 27, 2011) -- A clinical trial has sifted out the most effective single-drug chemotherapy regimen for quick-growing but highly curable cancers that arise from the placentas of pregnant women. ... > full story

U.S. health reform to make health insurance affordable for nearly all families (April 27, 2011) -- Ninety percent of American families living above the federal poverty level will be able to afford health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, according to a new report. The report finds that new subsidies available through health insurance exchanges established under the law will make premiums affordable for most families. But the authors also warn that high out-of-pocket costs will likely mean some families will still be unable to afford health-related expenses. ... > full story

Key players identified in cancer cells' survival kit (April 26, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered new details of how cancer cells escape from tumor suppression mechanisms that normally prevent these damaged cells from multiplying. They also demonstrated a potential link between this cell proliferation control mechanism and the cognitive deficits caused by Down syndrome. ... > full story

Chlamydia: New method to probe genes of most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (April 26, 2011) -- In a new study, scientists describe successfully mutating specific genes of Chlamydia bacteria, which cause the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States as well as a type of blindness common in developing nations. ... > full story

Medical evidence of torture neglected in Guantánamo Bay detainees, suggests review of records (April 26, 2011) -- Inspection of medical records, case files and legal affidavits provides compelling evidence that medical personnel who treated detainees at Guantanamo Bay failed to inquire and/or document causes of physical injuries and psychological symptoms they observed in the detainees, according to a new article. ... > full story

New sensor glove may help stroke patients recover mobility (April 26, 2011) -- People who have strokes are often left with moderate to severe physical impairments. Now, thanks to a glove, stroke patients may be able to recover hand motion by playing video games. ... > full story

Scientists identify a surprising new source of cancer stem cells (April 26, 2011) -- Certain differentiated cells in breast tissue can spontaneously convert to a stem-cell-like state, according to Whitehead Institute researchers. Until now, scientific dogma has stated that differentiation is a one-way path; once cells specialize, they cannot return to the flexible stem-cell state on their own. These findings hold true for normal mammary cells as well as for breast cancer cells. ... > full story

Green environments essential for human health, research shows (April 26, 2011) -- Research shows that a walk in the park is more than just a nice way to spend an afternoon. It's an essential component for good health, according to an environment and behavior researcher. ... > full story

Link between high-fat diet and type 2 diabetes clarified (April 26, 2011) -- New research adds clarity to the connection between a high fat diet and type 2 diabetes. The study finds that saturated fatty acids but not the unsaturated type can activate immune cells to produce an inflammatory protein, called interleukin-1beta. ... > full story

How beliefs shape effort and learning (April 26, 2011) -- If it was easy to learn, it will be easy to remember -- right? Psychological scientists have maintained that nearly everyone uses this simple rule to assess their own learning. Now a new study suggests otherwise. ... > full story

King crabs invade Antarctica (April 26, 2011) -- It's like a scene out of a sci-fi movie -- thousands, possibly millions, of king crabs are marching through icy, deep-sea waters and up the Antarctic slope. Shell-crushing crabs haven't been in Antarctica, Earth's southernmost continent, for hundreds or thousands, if not millions, of years. But something has changed, and these crustaceans are poised to move by the droves up the slope and onto the shelf that surrounds Antarctica. ... > full story

A cancer marker and treatment in one? (April 26, 2011) -- Researchers say antibodies to a non-human sugar molecule commonly found in people may be useful as a future biomarker for predicting cancer risk, for diagnosing cancer cases early and, in sufficient concentration, used as a treatment for suppressing tumor growth. ... > full story

Newer oral contraceptive as safe for gall bladder as older birth-control pills, study suggests (April 26, 2011) -- Drospirenone, the top-selling oral contraceptive marketed as Yaz or Yasmin in the US and Canada, doesn't carry any more risk of gall bladder disease than the older generation of birth control pills, despite claims by some consumers and lawyers in both countries, according to a new study. ... > full story

Nanoscience may hold key to surgical recovery (April 26, 2011) -- New nano-systems developed in the UK may eventually help patients recover from surgery without the danger of allergic reactions to drugs. ... > full story

A screening test for cognitive therapy? (April 26, 2011) -- The most effective treatments for depression, including cognitive therapy, are successful for only about half the patients to whom they are given. The ability to predict those individuals who would be most likely to benefit from such treatment would reduce individuals' recovery times, eliminate the delivery of ineffective treatments, and reduce the high costs of care. ... > full story

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