ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Wednesday, December 8, 2010
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Desensitization approaches effective against hayfever-like allergies, research suggests (December 8, 2010) -- Immunotherapy given as pills or drops under the tongue is a safe and effective way to treat hayfever-like allergies caused by pollen and dust mites, according to a new review. The researchers say the approach is an attractive alternative to immunotherapy injections in children. ... > full story
Melanopsin looks on the bright side of life (December 8, 2010) -- Better known as the light sensor that sets the body's biological clock, melanopsin also plays an important role in vision: Via its messengers-so-called melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells, or mRGCs-it forwards information about the brightness of incoming light directly to conventional visual centers in the brain, report scientists. ... > full story
New formulation of Leishmaniasis drug shown to be stable, effective in tropical temperatures (December 8, 2010) -- A new formulation of Amphotericin B (AmB) has been shown to be stable in tropical climates and effective in treating Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) in mouse models. ... > full story
Music relieves stress of assisted breathing (December 8, 2010) -- Patients who need assistance to breathe through mechanical ventilation may benefit from listening to music, a new review shows. The researchers found that music listening may relax patients, potentially resulting in fewer complications. ... > full story
Tobacco cessation medication may reduce hospitalization for heart attacks (December 8, 2010) -- The use of tobacco cessation medication in a population may lead to reduced hospital admissions for heart attacks and for coronary atherosclerosis within the two years after use according to a new study. ... > full story
Even with helicopter EMS, hospital transfer can delay treatment for heart attacks (December 8, 2010) -- Helicopter emergency medical services can be a life saver for patients needing immediate care. But, according to a new study, the process of activating them often delays treatment beyond recommended times. Researchers found that a majority of STEMI heart attack patients transferred by a hospital-based helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) in 2007 did not receive treatment within the time period recommended by national physician groups. ... > full story
People in jobs traditionally held by the other sex are judged more harshly for mistakes (December 8, 2010) -- In these modern times, people can have jobs that weren't traditionally associated with their genders. Men are nurses; women are CEOs. A new study examines perceptions of people in high-powered jobs and finds that they're likely to be judged more harshly for mistakes if they're in a job that's not normally associated with their gender. ... > full story
Small molecule may disarm enemy of cancer-fighting p53 (December 7, 2010) -- A pioneering clinical trial is testing the effectiveness in leukemia of a small molecule that shuts down MDM2, a protein that can disable the well-known tumor suppressor p53. ... > full story
Metabolism models may explain why Alzheimer's disease kills some neuron types first (December 7, 2010) -- Bioengineers developed an explanation for why some types of neurons die sooner than others in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. These insights come from detailed models of brain energy metabolism. ... > full story
'Vast majority' of acoustic tumor patients benefit from surgery, study suggests (December 7, 2010) -- Surgery to remove tumors under the brain known as acoustic neuromas produces favorable outcomes in the "vast majority" of patients, according to one of the largest studies of its kind. ... > full story
Scientists map changes in genetic networks caused by DNA damage (December 7, 2010) -- Using a new technology called "differential epistasis maps," scientists have documented for the first time how a cellular genetic network completely rewires itself in response to stress by DNA-damaging agents. ... > full story
Including smoking cessation program with treatment for PTSD shows higher rate of quitting (December 7, 2010) -- Among smokers with military-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), integrating smoking cessation treatment with mental health care for PTSD resulted in higher rates of prolonged smoking abstinence, compared to referral for assistance with quitting smoking, according to a new study. ... > full story
Bioactive peptides found to promote wound healing (December 7, 2010) -- Newly identified bioactive peptides promote wound healing through the growth of new blood vessels and epithelial tissue. These wound-healing peptides increased angiogenesis in vitro by 200 percent. The discovery may lead to new therapies for acute and chronic wound healing. ... > full story
IV drug could be major advance in halting acute seizures in newborns (December 7, 2010) -- Seizures that occur in the first few weeks of life are a major predictor of future adverse neurological outcomes. Currently approved antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are effective in stopping seizures in less than 50% of these neonatal cases. The approved therapies can also have undesirable side effects. ... > full story
Milestone in fight against deadly disease: 500 protein structures mapped and solved (December 7, 2010) -- Scientists have reached a major milestone in the effort to wipe out some of the most lethal diseases on the planet. They've experimentally determined 500 three-dimensional protein structures from a number of bacterial and protozoan pathogens, which could potentially lead to new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics to combat deadly infectious diseases. ... > full story
Teens get more ear infections when someone smokes at home (December 7, 2010) -- Family members who smoke are more apt to feel it is OK to smoke indoors as their children get older. But in households with secondhand smoke, children between 12 and 17 are 1.67 times more prone to have recurrent ear infections compared to adolescents who live in a smoke-free environment, a large new study reveals. ... > full story
Novel compounds show early promise in treatment of Parkinson's, Huntington's, Alzheimer's (December 7, 2010) -- Investigators have discovered a family of small molecules that shows promise in protecting brain cells against nerve-degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Huntington's, which afflict millions. ... > full story
Butter contaminated by PBDE flame retardant (December 7, 2010) -- A new study reports what scientists believe is the worst documented U.S. case of food contamination with polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants. The incident also marks the first time food contamination has been thought to result from PBDEs in a food's packaging. ... > full story
Mechanism that controls cell movement linked to tumors becoming more aggressive (December 7, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered a central switch that controls whether cells move or remain stationary. The misregulation of this switch may play a role in the increased movement of tumor cells and in the aggressiveness of tumors themselves. ... > full story
Sensitive testosterone detector linked to less aggression (December 7, 2010) -- New research suggests a link between fetal testosterone and social behaviour, like aggression, in adults. ... > full story
Drugs can pass through human body almost intact: New concerns for antibiotic resistance, pollution identified (December 7, 2010) -- When an antibiotic is consumed, researchers have learned that up to 90 percent passes through a body without metabolizing. This means the drugs can leave the body almost intact through normal bodily functions. ... > full story
Stroke damage reversed by jumpstarting nerve fibers (December 7, 2010) -- A new technique that jumpstarts the growth of nerve fibers could reverse much of the damage caused by strokes, researchers report. ... > full story
Ultraviolet light helps skin cancer cells thrive, researchers report (December 7, 2010) -- The sun's ultraviolet light activates an enzyme that helps skin cancer cells survive and proliferate, researchers report. ... > full story
Combining exenatide with insulin may be 'best result ever' for diabetes patients, study suggests (December 7, 2010) -- A new study finds that combining the newer diabetes drug exenatide with insulin provides better blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes than insulin alone and helps promote weight loss. ... > full story
Sleep deprivation eliminates fear generalization: New way to treat PTSD? (December 7, 2010) -- We commonly think of sleep as a healing process that melts away the stresses of the day, preparing us to deal with new challenges. Research has also shown that sleep plays a crucial role in the development of memories. Now, a new study reveals that sleep deprivation can eliminate fear-associated memories, suggesting new approaches to treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). ... > full story
Flu vaccine grown in bacteria works like vaccine grown in chicken eggs (December 7, 2010) -- Only the fragile chicken egg stands between Americans and a flu pandemic that would claim tens of thousands more lives than are usually lost to the flu each year. Now scientists have taken an important step toward ending the dominance of the oval, showing that an experimental flu vaccine grown entirely in bacteria triggers in people an immune response that would protect them against the flu. ... > full story
Exposure to mobile phones before and after birth linked to kids' behavioral problems (December 7, 2010) -- Pregnant mums who regularly use mobile phones may be more likely to have kids with behavioral problems, particularly if those children start using mobile phones early themselves, suggests new research. ... > full story
Mammogram sensitivity depends on menstrual cycle, experts recommend (December 7, 2010) -- Try to schedule your screening mammogram during the first week of your menstrual cycle. It might make breast cancer screening more accurate for pre-menopausal women who choose to have regular mammograms, a new recommendation states. ... > full story
Exposure to more diverse objects speeds word learning in tots (December 7, 2010) -- Two toddlers are learning the word "cup." One sees three nearly identical cups; the other sees a tea cup, a sippy cup and a Styrofoam cup. Chances are, the second child will have a better sense of what a cup is and -- according to a new study -- may even have an advantage as he learns new words. ... > full story
Daily aspirin at low doses reduces cancer deaths, study finds -- but caution urged (December 7, 2010) -- A daily low dose of aspirin significantly reduces the number of deaths from a whole range of common cancers, a new study has found. The 20 percent drop in all cancer deaths seen in the study adds new evidence to the debate about whether otherwise healthy people in their 40s and 50s should consider taking a low dose of aspirin each day. ... > full story
Decoding the disease that perplexes: Scientists discover new target for multiple sclerosis (December 7, 2010) -- Scientists are closer to solving one of the many mysteries of multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases. New research revealed a previously unknown connection between two ion channels, which, when misaligned, can cause the many bizarre symptoms that characterize the condition. ... > full story
Breaching the breech protocol: Researcher advocates returning to old-school methods for delivering breech babies (December 7, 2010) -- Most babies are delivered head-first, but in about 4% of all deliveries babies are "born breech" -- with their buttocks or feet first. Doctors usually exercise caution and use caesarean sections (C-sections) as the delivery method of choice for such births, believing it safer for the baby. After a large-scale international study in 2000, C-sections became the near-universal choice for such births. But now a group of researchers is saying that, under certain circumstances, traditional vaginal delivery for breech babies is not only safe for baby, but even safer for mommy. ... > full story
Why married men tend to behave better (December 7, 2010) -- Researchers found that less antisocial men were more likely to get married. Once they were wed, however, the marriage itself appeared to further inhibit antisocial behavior. ... > full story
Plants engineered to produce new drugs (December 7, 2010) -- Humans have long taken advantage of the huge variety of medicinal compounds produced by plants. Now chemists have found a new way to expand plants' pharmaceutical repertoire by genetically engineering them to produce unnatural variants of their usual products. ... > full story
Mechanism responsible for spreading biofilm infections identified (December 7, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered how catheter-related bacterial infection develops and disseminates to become a potentially life-threatening condition. The study, which included research on Staphylococcus epidermidis in mice implanted with catheters, could have important implications for understanding many types of bacterial biofilm infections, including those caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus. ... > full story
Small-molecule inhibitors effectively targeted active colon cancer enzyme (December 7, 2010) -- Researchers have identified two small-molecule inhibitors that effectively targeted the focal adhesion kinase (FAK), an enzyme present in certain cancers that helps tumors thrive and survive. ... > full story
Life-saving in the bacterial world: How Campylobacter rely on Pseudomonas to infect humans (December 7, 2010) -- The bacterium Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of food poisoning in humans. It is normally transmitted from contaminated chicken meat, as it is frequently found in the intestines of chickens, where it apparently does not result in any symptoms. Campylobacter jejuni is well adapted to life in the intestines of animals -- and humans -- so it is surprising that it is able to survive on the surface of meat, which is generally stored in a much more oxygen-rich atmosphere. Researchers have now solved the puzzle, showing that Campylobacter can survive ambient oxygen levels thanks to the presence of other bacteria, species of Pseudomonas. ... > full story
K-12 computer science education declining (December 7, 2010) -- Computer-related technology is increasingly driving the US economy, yet computer science education is scant in most American elementary and secondary school classrooms and the number of introductory and Advanced Placement courses in computer science has actually declined in the last five years, according to a new report. ... > full story
Spontaneous mutations important cause of mental retardation, research finds (December 7, 2010) -- New research by Dutch geneticists demonstrates that spontaneous mutations are an important cause of mental retardation. The majority of mental retardation is caused by spontaneous mutations in paternal sperm or maternal egg cells, the scientists say. ... > full story
High-dose, short-course radiation for prostate cancer does not increase side effects, study finds (December 7, 2010) -- When treating prostate cancer with radiation therapy, side effects such as urinary problems and rectal pain and bleeding are a concern, as is impact on the patient's overall quality of life. So when new, more efficient treatment methods are developed, one important question is whether better treatment comes at the cost of increased side effects and decreased quality of life. ... > full story
Slurry sanitation using heat, a new, simple, low-energy method (December 7, 2010) -- Livestock effluents have always been spread as fertiliser on fields. But they can also transmit diseases to humans and animals, for example, over 100 pathogenic micro-organisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites) have been identified in pig slurry. To destroy the main causes of illness and avoid epidemics, scientists use heat exchangers for thermal treatment of the slurry, a well known technique that they are trying to make more energy efficient. ... > full story
For elderly, even short falls can be deadly; Adults 70-plus three times as likely to die following low-level falls (December 7, 2010) -- While simple falls, such as slipping while walking off a curb, may seem harmless, they can lead to severe injury and death in elderly individuals, according to a new study. As the population continues to age, it's important for physicians and caregivers to be aware of and prepared to deal with this issue, which could significantly impact the health and well-being of older adults. ... > full story
Diners may be willing to pay more to eat at 'green' restaurants (December 7, 2010) -- Many US restaurants may be ignoring a desire by American consumers to dine at environmentally friendly restaurants, according to a small exploratory study. Researchers found that more than eight out of 10 restaurant patrons surveyed in Columbus said they would be willing to pay more to dine at "green" restaurants. More than seven out of 10 said it was good for restaurants to protect the environment. ... > full story
Private insurers control health care spending better than Medicare, study suggests (December 7, 2010) -- Private insurers appear to be more effective in controlling health care spending differences between two Texas cities than Medicare, according to researchers. Researchers found that sharp disparities in per-capita Medicare healthcare spending between McAllen and El Paso were significantly diminished when private insurance paid for health care costs in the under-65 population. ... > full story
US healthcare: Medicaid-funded ADHD treatment for children misses the mark, experts argue (December 7, 2010) -- The enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 expands Medicare benefits to scores of previously uninsured individuals including many American children. While access to treatment is laudable, the quality of such treatment misses the mark, according to experts in a new article. ... > full story
Secondhand smoke exposure increases risk of hearing loss (December 6, 2010) -- Non-smokers who regularly breathe in others' tobacco smoke are at increased risk of some degree of hearing loss, reveals new research. ... > full story
LouseBuster: Head lice shrivel with chemical-free warm-air device (December 6, 2010) -- Four years after the LouseBuster prototype made headlines when research showed the chemical-free, warm-air device wiped out head lice on children, a new study reveals that a revamped, government-cleared model is highly effective. ... > full story
Some kids with spinal cord injury may be overlooked for walking rehabilitation (December 6, 2010) -- The traditional way to predict whether children can regain movement after spinal cord injuries may exclude a small subset of patients who could benefit from therapy, according to two new studies. ... > full story
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