ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Thursday, September 15, 2011 ~ Technology

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Thursday, September 15, 2011

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Newly discovered protein discovered may suppress breast cancer growth (September 15, 2011) -- Researchers have found that a protein discovered by his laboratory can inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. Building upon the earlier discovery of nischarin, a novel protein that regulates breast cancer cell migration and movement, a new study examined the presence and levels of nischarin in breast cancer tumor tissue from 300 women as well as normal breast tissue samples. The researchers also generated derivatives of human metastatic breast cancer cells to test by manipulating the protein in a mouse model. ... > full story

Researchers develop mouse genetic blueprint; Mouse study drives forward understanding of human biology (September 15, 2011) -- An international team of researchers has decoded and compared the genome sequence of 17 mouse strains, developing a valuable mouse genetic blueprint that will accelerate future research and understanding of human genetics. The team found an astonishing 56.7 million SNPs among the strains, in addition to other more complex differences, and used these sequence differences to uncover genetic associations with more than 700 biological differences, including markers for diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. ... > full story

Heart failure: Doing what your doctor says works, new research suggests (September 15, 2011) -- Doctors have been dispensing advice to heart failure patients and for the first time researchers have found that it works. While self-care is believed to improve heart failure outcomes, a highlight of the recent American Heart Association scientific statement on promoting heart failure self-care was the need to establish the mechanisms by which self-care may influence neurohormonal, inflammatory, and hemodynamic function. ... > full story

When do products (and money) literally make your mouth water? (September 15, 2011) -- In certain situations, people actually salivate when they desire material things, like money and sports cars, according to a new study. ... > full story

Key signal that prompts production of insulin-producing beta cells points way toward diabetes cure (September 15, 2011) -- Researchers have identified the key signal that prompts production of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas -- a breakthrough discovery that may ultimately help researchers find ways to restore or increase beta cell function in people with type 1 diabetes. ... > full story

Cancer-killing cells are caught on film in more 3-D detail than ever before (September 15, 2011) -- Scientists reveal in more detail than ever before how white blood cells kill diseased tissue using deadly granules. The researchers used 'optical' laser tweezers and a super-resolution microscope to see the inner workings of white blood cells at the highest resolution ever. The researchers describe how a white blood cell rearranges its scaffolding of actin proteins on the inside of its membrane, to create a hole through which it delivers deadly enzyme-filled granules to kill diseased tissue. ... > full story

Huge gaps in use of simple, cheap and proven drugs worldwide, say researchers (September 15, 2011) -- A global study in 17 countries has found too few patients are using drugs proven to give significant benefits in warding off a heart attack or stroke. This is true in high income countries as well as middle and low income countries. ... > full story

It's all about autonomy: Consumers react negatively when prompted to think about money (September 15, 2011) -- Whether they are aware of it or not, consumers dislike being reminded of money -- so much that they will rebel against authority figures, according to a new study. ... > full story

Evolution of a gene provides a possible explanation for the development of metastases and mental retardation (September 14, 2011) -- In the course of examining the Drosophila tumor suppressor gene (Dlg), scientists have succeeded in decoding a new mechanism that regulates cell polarity in epithelial tissues or in neurons in the brain. The findings will help to enhance the understanding of how metastases and mental retardation occur and enable targeted, long-term therapeutic approaches to their treatment to be developed. ... > full story

Sickle cell trait is not risk factor for kidney disease: Study contradicts earlier findings (September 14, 2011) -- Researchers report that sickle cell trait is not a risk factor for the development of severe kidney disease in African-Americans. The study contradicts findings from a 2010 study that first suggested that having one copy of the sickle cell gene was a kidney disease risk factor. ... > full story

New imaging technique evaluates nerve damage (September 14, 2011) -- A new imaging technique could help doctors and researchers more accurately assess the extent of nerve damage and healing in a live patient. Researchers aimed lasers at rats' damaged sciatic nerves to create images of the individual neurons' insulating sheath called myelin. ... > full story

Campus smoking ban reduced students' smoking, changed attitudes (September 14, 2011) -- Smoking bans have become more common on university campuses, but do they work? Do they help reduce smoking in this newly independent age group? According to a new study by tobacco control and health behavior experts, they do. ... > full story

Facial expressions develop before birth, researchers show (September 14, 2011) -- Babies in the womb develop a range of facial movements in such a way that it is possible to identify facial expressions such as laughter and crying. For the first time, a group of researchers was able to show that recognizable facial expressions develop before birth and that, as the pregnancy progresses from 24 to 36 weeks gestation, fetal facial movements become more complex. ... > full story

Engineers probe mechanics behind rapid-aging disease (September 14, 2011) -- Researchers are using both civil engineering and bioengineering approaches to study the behavior of a protein associated with progeria, a rare disorder in children that causes extremely rapid aging and usually ends in death from cardiovascular disease before age 16. The disease is marked by the deletion of 50 amino acids near the end of the lamin A protein, which helps support a cell's nuclear membrane. Pulling the tail of mutated protein could help illuminate problems with misfolding. ... > full story

Breakthrough opens new avenues for hep C vaccine (September 14, 2011) -- Hopes for an effective vaccine and treatment against the potentially fatal hepatitis C virus (HCV) have received a major boost following the discovery of two 'Achilles' heels' within the virus. ... > full story

Older musicians experience less age-related decline in hearing abilities than non-musicians (September 14, 2011) -- A study led by Canadian researchers has found the first evidence that lifelong musicians experience less age-related hearing problems than non-musicians. While hearing studies have already shown that trained musicians have highly developed auditory abilities compared to non-musicians, this is the first study to examine hearing abilities in musicians and non-musicians across the age spectrum -- from 18 to 91 years of age. ... > full story

Breaching the blood-brain barrier: Finding may permit drug delivery to the brain for Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis and brain cancers (September 14, 2011) -- Researchers may have solved a 100-year puzzle: How to safely open and close the blood-brain barrier so that therapies to treat Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and cancers of the central nervous system might effectively be delivered. ... > full story

New invention unravels mystery of protein folding (September 14, 2011) -- A new invention able to quickly predict three-dimensional structure of protein could have huge implications for drug discovery and human health. ... > full story

Screen finds an antidepressant and other drugs that might work against brain-wasting prion diseases (September 14, 2011) -- In a new study, researchers report that they have found several chemical compounds, including an antidepressant, that have powerful effects against brain-destroying prion infections in mice, opening the door to potential treatments for human prion diseases. ... > full story

Self-delusion is a winning survival strategy, study suggests (September 14, 2011) -- Harboring a mistakenly inflated belief that we can easily meet challenges or win conflicts is actually good for us, a new study suggests. ... > full story

Psychologists discover oxytocin receptor gene's link to optimism, self-esteem (September 14, 2011) -- Life scientists have identified for the first time a particular gene's link to optimism, self-esteem and "mastery," the belief that one has control over one's own life -- three critical psychological resources for coping well with stress and depression. ... > full story

Blood proteins associated with early development of lung cancer: Discovery brings promise of blood test to detect the disease a step closer (September 14, 2011) -- A research team has discovered proteins in the blood that are associated with early lung cancer development in mice and humans. The advance brings the reality of a blood test for the early detection and diagnosis of lung cancer a step closer. ... > full story

Study of metabolites reveals health implications from small molecules (September 14, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered 37 new genetic variants associated with concentrations of metabolites in the blood: many of these match variants associated with diseases such as kidney disease and type 2 diabetes. The team looked for genetic influences on levels of more than 250 compounds in blood, including lipids, sugars, and amino acids. The effects of variants discovered in genome-wide association analyses can be modest and biological understanding poor: this new approach can overcome these problems. ... > full story

Does that hurt? Objective way to measure pain being developed (September 14, 2011) -- Researchers have taken a first step toward developing a diagnostic tool that could eliminate a major hurdle in pain medicine -- the dependency on self-reporting to measure the presence or absence of pain. The new tool would use patterns of brain activity to give an objective physiologic assessment of whether someone is in pain. ... > full story

Gene therapy kills breast cancer stem cells, boosts chemotherapy (September 14, 2011) -- Selectively expressing a cell-killing gene in tumors controls breast cancer stem cells, researchers report. The gene therapy approach, now shown to work in breast, lung, liver, pancreatic and ovarian cancers in animal models, is headed for phase I trial. ... > full story

Polonium poisoning case sheds light on infection control practices (September 14, 2011) -- A new study uses a famous case of international intrigue and murder to shed new light on the risks health care workers face while treating patients with radiation poisoning. ... > full story

Stronger graduated driver licensing programs for teens show mixed results for rates of teen involvement in fatal crashes (September 14, 2011) -- The use of stronger graduated driver licensing programs for 16- to 19-year old drivers in the US that included restrictions on nighttime driving and allowed passengers were associated with a lower incidence of fatal crashes among 16-year-old drivers, but a higher incidence among 18-year-olds, according to a new study. ... > full story

High-fat diet and lack of enzyme can lead to heart disease in mice (September 14, 2011) -- It's no secret that a high-fat diet isn't healthy. Now researchers have discovered a molecular clue as to precisely why that is. Mice lacking a gene-expression-controlling enzyme fed a high-fat diet experience rapid thickening of the heart muscle and heart failure. This link -- at least in mice -- has implications for people on so-called Western diets and combating heart disease. Modulating the enzyme's activity could be a new pharmaceutical target. ... > full story

New hybrid imaging device shows promise in spotting hard-to-detect ovarian cancer (September 14, 2011) -- By combining three previously unrelated imaging tools into one new device, scientists have proposed a new way to diagnose early-stage ovarian cancer in high-risk women through minimally invasive surgery. The new technique may be better than the current standard procedure of preemptively removing the ovaries. ... > full story

Separating a cancer prevention drug from heart disease risk (September 14, 2011) -- Celecoxib reduces the risk of developing precancerous colon polyps, at the cost of increased heart disease risk. By looking closely at how celecoxib acts in the cell, it may be possible to get the benefit without the added risk. Celecoxib inhibits the enzyme GSK3, possibly accounting for its anticancer effects in multiple cell types. ... > full story

Identifying dangerous intersections with help of new computer simulation (September 14, 2011) -- Researchers have developed SAFEPED, a computer simulation that integrates robots and driver statistics to identify traffic "black spots" and allows traffic planners to analyze and fix dangerous intersections. Based on a theory of human cognition, SAFEPED is far more true-to-life than other computer traffic models. ... > full story

Risk of suffering from insomnia higher if family member is insomniac (September 14, 2011) -- The risk of insomnia is 67 percent higher in people from families in which at least one member is an insomniac, according to a new study. ... > full story

Primary component in curry spice kicks off cancer-killing mechanisms in human saliva (September 14, 2011) -- Curcumin, the main component in the spice turmeric used in curry, suppresses a cell signaling pathway that drives the growth of head and neck cancer, according to a pilot study using human saliva. ... > full story

Even low-dose aspirin may increase risk of GI bleeding, study suggests (September 14, 2011) -- The use of low-dose aspirin increases the risk for GI bleeding, with the risk being increased further with accompanying use of cardiovascular disease-preventing therapies, such as clopidogrel and anticoagulants. In patients who took proton pump inhibitors, bleeding risk decreased. ... > full story

In immune cells, super-resolution imaging reveals natural killers' M.O. (September 14, 2011) -- Making use of a new "super resolution" microscope that provides sharp images at extremely small scales, scientists have achieved unprecedented views of the immune system in action. The new tool, a stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscope, shows how granules from natural killer cells pass through openings in dynamic cell structures to destroy their targets: tumor cells and cells infected by viruses. ... > full story

Study examines risk of aortic complications among patients with common congenital heart valve defect (September 14, 2011) -- While the incidence of the life-threatening condition of aortic dissection is significantly higher than in the general population, it remains low among patients with the congenital heart defect, bicuspid aortic valve; however, the incidence of aortic aneurysms is significantly high, according to a new study. ... > full story

Team finds stable RNA nano-scaffold within virus core (September 14, 2011) -- With the discovery of a RNA nano-scaffold that remains unusually stable in the body, researchers have overcome another barrier to the development of therapeutic RNA nanotechnology. The nanoparticle, constructed from a three-way junction (3WJ) motif of packaging RNA (pRNA) molecules, can serve as a platform for building larger, multifunctional nanoparticles -- which can then be injected into the body to deliver therapeutics to targeted cells. ... > full story

Flu vaccines for nursing home workers effective in reducing outbreaks, study finds (September 14, 2011) -- Higher flu vaccination rates for health care personnel can dramatically reduce the threat of flu outbreak among nursing home residents, according to a new study. ... > full story

IUD reduces the risk of cervical cancer, study suggests (September 14, 2011) -- Intrauterine devices (IUDs) may protect against cervical cancer. This is the conclusion of the broadest epidemiological study to date on the topic. ... > full story

Key protein reveals secret of stem cell pluripotency (September 14, 2011) -- A protein that helps maintain mouse stem cell pluripotency has been identified by researchers in Japan. The finding points the way to advances in regenerative medicine and more effective culturing techniques for human pluripotent stem cells. ... > full story

Large increase seen in number of lymph nodes evaluated for colon cancer, but no corresponding rise in node-positive cancers (September 14, 2011) -- During the past two decades there has been a significant increase in the percentage of patients who have a high number of lymph nodes evaluated during colon cancer operations, but this improvement is not associated with an increase in the overall proportion of colon cancers that are node positive, according to a new study. ... > full story

Allowing part-time surgeons may help address workforce shortage (September 14, 2011) -- More part-time employment for surgeons, particularly retiring older male or young female surgeons taking time off for their families, may considerably reduce the surgeon shortage in the United States by 2030, according to a new study. ... > full story

Chronic vulvar pain a reality for more than 100,000 women in southeast Michigan (September 14, 2011) -- A new study, which surveyed 2,269 women in the metro Detroit area, found that more than 25 percent of women have experienced ongoing vulvar pain at some point in their lives. However, only two percent of women sought treatment for their pain. ... > full story

Gender, insurance type tied to HPV infection in laryngeal cancer patients (September 14, 2011) -- The human papillomavirus (HPV) is more likely to be found in tumors of laryngeal cancer patients who are male and those with private health insurance, according to a new study from researchers at Henry Ford Hospital. The study also reveals that laryngeal cancer patients with Medicare, who tend to be 65 and older, have a lower prevalence of HPV, suggesting that HPV infection may be closely tied to age and changes in sexual behavior with younger generations. ... > full story

Voting causes stress (September 14, 2011) -- Researchers have determined that voting is a stressful event, inducing measurable hormonal changes. Researchers say they were surprised that voting in democratic elections causes emotional reactions accompanied by such physical and psychological stress that can easily influence our decision making. ... > full story

Daily deal companies are here to stay, according to consumers (September 14, 2011) -- Despite recent news reports questioning the long-term viability of daily deal companies, a new study shows that the companies are more popular than ever among consumers. ... > full story

Juvenile delinquency linked to higher suicide risk (September 14, 2011) -- Criminality can be an indicator of a higher risk of suicide in young people. A new study shows that repeat offenders between the ages of 15 and 19 are three times more likely to commit suicide than young people who have not been convicted for a crime during these years. ... > full story

Combined approach to tackling poverty and disease achieves better results for the world's poorest, report says (September 14, 2011) -- As governments prepare to gather at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept. 19 and 20, a new report provides clear and compelling evidence that a combined approach to tackling poverty and disease -- that brings together work on water and sanitation, health, education, and nutrition/food security -- achieves better results for the world's poorest. ... > full story

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