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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

ScienceDaily: Top Health News

ScienceDaily: Top Health News


New look at prolonged radiation exposure: At low dose-rate, radiation poses little risk to DNA, study suggests

Posted: 15 May 2012 03:12 PM PDT

A new study suggests that the guidelines governments use to determine when to evacuate people following a nuclear accident may be too conservative.

Air pollution level changes in Beijing linked with biomarkers of cardiovascular disease

Posted: 15 May 2012 01:54 PM PDT

During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, changes in air pollution were associated with changes in biomarkers of systemic inflammation and thrombosis (formation of blood clot) as well as measures of cardiovascular physiology in healthy young persons, according to a new study.

Drugs from gila monster lizard saliva reduces cravings for chocolate and ordinary food

Posted: 15 May 2012 01:54 PM PDT

A drug made from the saliva of the Gila monster lizard is effective in reducing the craving for food. Researchers have tested the drug on rats, who after treatment ceased their cravings for both food and chocolate.

This is your brain on sugar: Study in rats shows high-fructose diet sabotages learning, memory

Posted: 15 May 2012 12:09 PM PDT

A new study is the first to show how a diet steadily high in fructose slows the brain, hampering memory and learning -- and how omega-3 fatty acids can minimize the damage.

People see sexy pictures of women as objects, not people; sexy-looking men as people

Posted: 15 May 2012 10:17 AM PDT

Perfume ads, beer billboards, movie posters: everywhere you look, women's sexualized bodies are on display. A new study finds that both men and women see images of sexy women's bodies as objects, while they see sexy-looking men as people.

Mystery gene reveals new mechanism for anxiety disorders

Posted: 15 May 2012 10:17 AM PDT

A novel mechanism for anxiety behaviors, including a previously unrecognized inhibitory brain signal, may inspire new strategies for treating psychiatric disorders, researchers report. By testing the controversial role of a gene called Glo1 in anxiety, scientists uncovered a new inhibitory factor in the brain: The metabolic by-product methylglyoxal. The system offers a tantalizing new target for drugs designed to treat conditions such as anxiety disorder, epilepsy, and sleep disorders.

Chronic child abuse strong indicator of negative adult experiences

Posted: 15 May 2012 10:13 AM PDT

Child abuse or neglect are strong predictors of major health and emotional problems, but little is known about how the chronicity of the maltreatment may increase future harm apart from other risk factors in a child's life. Scientist have now taken a closer look at how chronic maltreatment has impacted the future health and behavior of children and adults.

Ultrasensitive biosensor promising for medical diagnostics

Posted: 15 May 2012 07:47 AM PDT

Researchers have created an ultrasensitive biosensor that could open up new opportunities for early detection of cancer and "personalized medicine" tailored to the specific biochemistry of individual patients.

Surgeons restore some hand function to quadriplegic patient

Posted: 15 May 2012 07:45 AM PDT

Surgeons have restored some hand function in a quadriplegic patient with a spinal cord injury at the C7 vertebra, the lowest bone in the neck. Instead of operating on the spine itself, the surgeons rerouted working nerves in the upper arms. These nerves still "talk" to the brain because they attach to the spine above the injury.

Looks matter more than reputation when it comes to trusting people with our money

Posted: 15 May 2012 06:41 AM PDT

Our decisions to trust people with our money are based more on how they look then how they behave, according to new research.

Mice with big brains provide insight into brain regeneration and developmental disorders

Posted: 15 May 2012 06:41 AM PDT

Scientists have discovered that mice that lack a gene called Snf2l have brains that are 35 percent larger than normal. The research could lead to new approaches to stimulate brain regeneration and may provide important insight into developmental disorders such as autism and Rett syndrome.

Female terrorists' bios belie stereotypes, study finds

Posted: 15 May 2012 06:39 AM PDT

Much like their male counterparts, female terrorists are likely to be educated, employed and native residents of the country where they commit a terrorist act, according to new research.

Delivery system for gene therapy may help treat arthritis

Posted: 15 May 2012 04:04 AM PDT

A DNA-covered submicroscopic bead used to deliver genes or drugs directly into cells to treat disease appears to have therapeutic value just by showing up, researchers report.

Key genes and prototype predictive test for schizophrenia identified

Posted: 15 May 2012 04:04 AM PDT

Medical researchers have identified and prioritized a comprehensive group of genes most associated with schizophrenia that together can generate a score indicating whether an individual is at higher or lower risk of developing the disease.

Scientists discover clues to muscle stem cell functions

Posted: 15 May 2012 04:03 AM PDT

Scientists have identified how skeletal muscle stem cells respond to muscle injury and may be stimulated to improve muscle repair in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a severe inherited disease of muscle that causes weakness, disability and, ultimately, heart and respiratory failure.

Early Biomarker for Pancreatic Cancer Identified

Posted: 15 May 2012 04:03 AM PDT

Researchers have identified a new biomarker and therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer, an often-fatal disease for which there is currently no reliable method for early detection or therapeutic intervention.

Cross-reactivity between peanuts and other legumes can lead to serious allergic reactions

Posted: 15 May 2012 02:25 AM PDT

Food allergies pose a serious and growing problem in the West. Many foods can lead to allergic reactions and this situation is further complicated by so-called cross-reactions, whereby an allergy to one particular food can trigger allergic reactions to another food. There are no treatments available for food allergies, but the establishment of two mouse models can be used to develop and test new forms of treatment, for example vaccines.

How to minimize damage from strokes, according to experts

Posted: 14 May 2012 05:39 PM PDT

Following a stroke, factors as varied as blood sugar, body temperature and position in bed can affect patient outcomes, researchers report.

Genetic test identifies eye cancer tumors likely to spread

Posted: 14 May 2012 05:39 PM PDT

Researchers have developed a genetic test that can accurately predict whether the most common form of eye cancer will spread to other parts of the body, particularly the liver. The test successfully classified tumors more than 97 percent of the time.

Breakthrough in bile duct cancer with discovery of new gene mutations

Posted: 14 May 2012 12:31 PM PDT

Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the cause of bile duct cancer, a deadly type of liver cancer. By identifying several new genes frequently mutated in bile duct cancers, researchers are paving the way for better understanding of how bile duct cancers develop.

Superbug spreads from big city hospitals to regional health centers, study suggests

Posted: 14 May 2012 12:31 PM PDT

Hospitals in large cities act as breeding grounds for the superbug MRSA prior to it spreading to smaller hospitals, a study suggests. Researchers found evidence that shows for the first time how the superbug spreads between different hospitals throughout the country.

Acupuncture appears linked with improvement in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Posted: 14 May 2012 09:27 AM PDT

According to a small clinical trial reported by investigators from Japan, acupuncture appears to be associated with improvement of dyspnea (labored breathing) on exertion, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Back pain improves in first six weeks of treatment but lingering effects at one year, study suggests

Posted: 14 May 2012 09:27 AM PDT

For people receiving health care for acute and persistent low-back pain, symptoms will improve significantly in the first six weeks, but pain and disability may linger even after one year, states a large study.

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