ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• 'Fitness and fatness': Not all obese people have the same prognosis; second study sheds light on 'obesity paradox'
• That giant tarantula is terrifying, but I'll touch it: Expressing your emotions can reduce fear
• Longer CPR attempts might benefit some patients, research finds
• Rare genetic disease offers insight into common cancers
• Scientists design molecule that reverses some fragile X syndrome defects
• 'Benign' malaria key driver of human evolution in Asia-Pacific
• Stiffening of aortic wall linked with increased risk of high blood pressure
• Vitamin D supplement fails to lower cholesterol in short term
• Study points to new target for cancers resistant to Iressa and Herceptin
• Preeclampsia poses a significant long-term health risk, study finds
• Repeated exposure to traumatic images may be harmful to health
• Reduced brain connections seen in people with generalized anxiety disorder
• Experts propose 'cyber war' on cancer: Universities aim to break cancer's codes for social networking
• Potential drug discovered for deadly brain cancer
• Ovarian cancer cells hijack surrounding tissues to enhance tumor growth
• New gene variants raise risk of neuroblastoma, influence tumor progression
• New genetic clues to why most bone marrow transplant patients develop graft-versus-host disease
• Some evidence for 'chemo brain' in breast cancer survivors, large review finds
• Binding sites for LIN28 protein found in thousands of human genes
• Genes associated with primary angle closure glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness in Chinese people
• Swallowed magnets in children need quick evaluation and treatment
• Sleep apnea linked with increased risk of cancer death
• A new molecule with anti-cancer and anti-metastatic properties
• Anchoring proteins influence glucose metabolism and insulin release
• Even in normal range, high blood sugar linked to brain shrinkage
• Using RNA nanotechnology to treat cancers and viral infections: New study shows promise
• 'Magic carpet' could help prevent falls
• Targeting inflammation to treat depression
• Possible association between cardiovascular disease, chemical exposure, study suggests
• Prenatal maternal smoking associated with increased risk of adolescent obesity
• Little evidence of health benefits from organic foods, study finds
• Cholesterol inhibitors block lymphatic vessel growth
• The eyes have it: Men and women do see things differently, study of brain's visual centers finds
• Plain packaging reduces the appeal of smoking
• New long-term antimicrobial catheter developed
• TB outbreaks could be 'solved' by DNA tracking, scientists say
• Study finds increase in number of non-smokers being diagnosed with lung cancer
• New neural brain-to-bone pathway controls skeletal development

'Fitness and fatness': Not all obese people have the same prognosis; second study sheds light on 'obesity paradox' Posted: 04 Sep 2012 04:30 PM PDT People can be obese but metabolically healthy and fit, with no greater risk of developing or dying from cardiovascular disease or cancer than normal weight people, according to the largest study ever to have investigated this seeming paradox.

That giant tarantula is terrifying, but I'll touch it: Expressing your emotions can reduce fear Posted: 04 Sep 2012 04:20 PM PDT Can simply describing your feelings at stressful times make you less afraid and less anxious? A new psychology study suggests that labeling your emotions at the precise moment you are confronting what you fear can indeed have that effect.

Longer CPR attempts might benefit some patients, research finds Posted: 04 Sep 2012 03:39 PM PDT There isn't a hard and fast rule for how long doctors should perform CPR, but new research shows longer attempts might be beneficial for some patients.

Rare genetic disease offers insight into common cancers Posted: 04 Sep 2012 02:09 PM PDT Fanconi anemia is a rare genetic condition in which cells lose the ability to repair DNA. Fanconi cells are super-sensitive to a common class of cancer drugs, nixing their use. A new study explores resveratrol as chemopreventive in Fanconi anemia patients.

Scientists design molecule that reverses some fragile X syndrome defects Posted: 04 Sep 2012 02:09 PM PDT Scientists have designed a compound that shows promise as a potential therapy for one of the diseases closely linked to fragile X syndrome, a genetic condition that causes mental retardation, infertility, and memory impairment, and is the only known single-gene cause of autism.

'Benign' malaria key driver of human evolution in Asia-Pacific Posted: 04 Sep 2012 02:09 PM PDT The malaria species rampant in the Asia-Pacific region has been a significant driver of evolution of the human genome, a new study has shown. An international team of researchers has shown that Plasmodium vivax malaria, the most prevalent malaria species in the Asia-Pacific, is a significant cause of genetic evolution that provides protection against malaria.

Stiffening of aortic wall linked with increased risk of high blood pressure Posted: 04 Sep 2012 01:25 PM PDT An analysis of the relationship between several vascular function measures and blood pressure levels finds that certain measures including higher aortic stiffness were associated with a higher risk of new hypertension; however, initial blood pressure was not independently associated with risk of progressive aortic stiffening, suggesting that vascular stiffness may be a precursor rather than the result of hypertension.

Vitamin D supplement fails to lower cholesterol in short term Posted: 04 Sep 2012 01:21 PM PDT Taking vitamin D supplements to compensate for vitamin D deficiency didn't improve cholesterol — at least in the short term, according to new research.

Study points to new target for cancers resistant to Iressa and Herceptin Posted: 04 Sep 2012 01:15 PM PDT A more-sensitive method to analyze protein interactions has uncovered a new way that cancer cells may use the cell-surface molecule HER3 to drive tumor progression following treatment with HER1 and HER2 inhibitors. This study shows that HER3 could be up to 10 times more effective than HER2 in recruiting the proteins that drive the spread of cancer.

Preeclampsia poses a significant long-term health risk, study finds Posted: 04 Sep 2012 12:16 PM PDT In a new study, researchers found patients with preeclampsia had significantly higher rates of chronic hypertension diagnosed after pregnancy. Patients with preeclampsia were also more likely to be hospitalized at least once. Exposed women had .28 hospitalization per patient rate, while the non-exposed patients had a lower .23 hospitalization per patient rate.

Repeated exposure to traumatic images may be harmful to health Posted: 04 Sep 2012 12:01 PM PDT Repeated exposure to violent images from the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the Iraq War led to an increase in physical and psychological ailments in a nationally representative sample of US adults, according to a new study.

Reduced brain connections seen in people with generalized anxiety disorder Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:48 AM PDT A new imaging study shows the brains of people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have weaker connections between a brain structure that controls emotional response and the amygdala, which suggests the brain's "panic button" may stay on due to lack of regulation.

Experts propose 'cyber war' on cancer: Universities aim to break cancer's codes for social networking Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:17 AM PDT Mounting evidence of intricate social cooperation among cancer cells has led researchers to suggest a new strategy for outsmarting cancer through its own social intelligence. The researchers call for a "cyber war" to co-opt the communications systems that allow cancer cells to work together to sense danger and avoid attacks by the immune system and chemotherapy drugs.

Potential drug discovered for deadly brain cancer Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:14 AM PDT Scientists in Singapore have identified a biomarker of the most lethal form of brain tumors in adults -- glioblastoma multiforme. The scientists found that by targeting this biomarker and depleting it with a potential drug, they were able to prevent the progression and relapse of the brain tumor.

Ovarian cancer cells hijack surrounding tissues to enhance tumor growth Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:14 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that ovarian cancer cells activate the HOXA9 gene to compel stromal cells to create an environment that supports tumor growth.

New gene variants raise risk of neuroblastoma, influence tumor progression Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:11 AM PDT Researchers have discovered two gene variants that raise the risk of the pediatric cancer neuroblastoma, as well as contributing to a tumor's progression. The findings may suggest future targets for new therapies.

New genetic clues to why most bone marrow transplant patients develop graft-versus-host disease Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:11 AM PDT A team of scientists has shed new light on why most bone marrow transplant patients who receive tissue-matched cells from unrelated donors still suffer acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The answer appears to lie in the discovery of previously undetected genetic differences in the DNA of patients and unrelated marrow donors.

Some evidence for 'chemo brain' in breast cancer survivors, large review finds Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:11 AM PDT A large meta-analysis has concluded that breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy are at risk for mild cognitive deficits after treatment. The meta-analysis found that study participants on average had mild impairments in verbal abilities (such as difficulty choosing words) and visuospatial abilities (such as getting lost more easily). The study noted that cognitive functioning varies across survivors, with some reporting no impairments and others reporting more severe or pervasive deficits.

Binding sites for LIN28 protein found in thousands of human genes Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:11 AM PDT A new study looks at an important RNA binding protein called LIN28, which is implicated in pluripotency and reprogramming as well as in cancer and other diseases.

Genes associated with primary angle closure glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness in Chinese people Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:18 AM PDT Singapore scientists have identified three new genes associated with primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), a leading cause of blindness in Chinese people. PACG affects 15 million people worldwide, 80 percent of whom live in Asia.

Swallowed magnets in children need quick evaluation and treatment Posted: 04 Sep 2012 07:08 AM PDT Children who swallow powerful neodymium magnets are at risk of serious complications, requiring emergency evaluation and possible treatment. That's the message of a new clinical algorithm published in the September issue of The Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition.

Sleep apnea linked with increased risk of cancer death Posted: 04 Sep 2012 07:01 AM PDT Sleep apnea severity has been associated with increased cancer mortality in a new study.

A new molecule with anti-cancer and anti-metastatic properties Posted: 04 Sep 2012 07:00 AM PDT A new molecule with anti-cancer and anti-metastatic properties has been discovered by an international team of researchers. This anticancer drug acts on cells resistant to conventional chemotherapy thanks to an entirely novel action mechanism. It targets not only the multiplication of cells but also their mobility and thus could prevent the formation of metastases. The results obtained in vitro and on animals could, in the medium term, lead to the development of alternative anti-cancer treatments.

Anchoring proteins influence glucose metabolism and insulin release Posted: 04 Sep 2012 07:00 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new control point that could be important as a drug target for the treatment of diabetes and other metabolic diseases. A-kinase anchoring proteins or AKAPs are known to influence the spatial distribution of kinases within the cell, crucial enzymes that control important molecular events related to the regulation of glucose levels in the blood.

Even in normal range, high blood sugar linked to brain shrinkage Posted: 04 Sep 2012 06:58 AM PDT People whose blood sugar is on the high end of the normal range may be at greater risk of brain shrinkage that occurs with aging and diseases such as dementia, according to new research,

Using RNA nanotechnology to treat cancers and viral infections: New study shows promise Posted: 04 Sep 2012 06:58 AM PDT A new study shows promise for developing ultrastable RNA nanoparticles that may help treat cancer and viral infections by regulating cell function and binding to cancers without harming surrounding tissue.

'Magic carpet' could help prevent falls Posted: 03 Sep 2012 07:11 PM PDT A 'magic carpet' can immediately detect when someone has fallen and can help to predict mobility problems.

Targeting inflammation to treat depression Posted: 03 Sep 2012 07:11 PM PDT Researchers have found that a biologic drug that inhibits inflammation may offer new hope for people with difficult-to-treat depression.

Possible association between cardiovascular disease, chemical exposure, study suggests Posted: 03 Sep 2012 07:11 PM PDT Exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid, a manmade chemical used in the manufacture of some common household products, appears to be associated with cardiovascular disease and peripheral arterial disease in a study of 1,216 individuals.

Prenatal maternal smoking associated with increased risk of adolescent obesity Posted: 03 Sep 2012 07:11 PM PDT Prenatal exposure to maternal cigarette smoking appears associated with an increased risk for adolescent obesity, and is possibly related to subtle structural variations in the brain that create a preference for eating fatty foods.

Little evidence of health benefits from organic foods, study finds Posted: 03 Sep 2012 07:11 PM PDT Researchers have carried out the most comprehensive meta-analysis to date of existing studies comparing organic and conventional foods. They did not find strong evidence that organic foods are more nutritious or carry fewer health risks than conventional alternatives, though consumption of organic foods can reduce the risk of pesticide exposure.

Cholesterol inhibitors block lymphatic vessel growth Posted: 03 Sep 2012 07:10 PM PDT One of the world's top selling drugs potentially also acts against the growth of new lymphatic vessels, with potential implications for cancer therapy. This surprising finding was brought forward by researchers with their newly developed three-dimensional cell culture system.

The eyes have it: Men and women do see things differently, study of brain's visual centers finds Posted: 03 Sep 2012 07:10 PM PDT The way that the visual centers of men and women's brains works is different, finds new research. Men have greater sensitivity to fine detail and rapidly moving stimuli, but women are better at discriminating between colors.

Plain packaging reduces the appeal of smoking Posted: 03 Sep 2012 07:10 PM PDT While Australia has recently passed legislation to ban logos from cigarette packages and to make plain packaging mandatory, other countries are still considering whether or not to take similar measures. New research provides a report on the appeal of plain cigarette packs, compared to branded packs, among women in Brazil, and finds that plain packs reduce the appeal of their contents.

New long-term antimicrobial catheter developed Posted: 03 Sep 2012 07:10 PM PDT A novel antimicrobial catheter that remains infection-free for up to twelve weeks could dramatically improve the lives of long-term catheter users.

TB outbreaks could be 'solved' by DNA tracking, scientists say Posted: 03 Sep 2012 07:10 PM PDT Reconstructing the spread of killer diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) from person to person using DNA sequencing quickly identifies the origin and movement of pathogens. This approach is directly informing public health strategies to control infectious disease outbreaks, scientists say.

Study finds increase in number of non-smokers being diagnosed with lung cancer Posted: 03 Sep 2012 07:10 PM PDT There has been an increase in the number of non-smokers being diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer, according to new findings.

New neural brain-to-bone pathway controls skeletal development Posted: 03 Sep 2012 11:31 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that a neuronal pathway -- part of the autonomic nervous system -- reaches the bones and participates in the control of bone development.

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