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Thursday, October 18, 2012

ScienceDaily: Top Health News

ScienceDaily: Top Health News


Association between rare neuromuscular disorder and loss of smell identified

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 03:12 PM PDT

Changes in the ability to smell and taste can be caused by a simple cold or upper respiratory tract infection, but they may also be among the first signs of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. New research has revealed an association between an impaired sense of smell and myasthenia gravis, a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease.

Children with autism can identify misbehavior but have trouble putting it in words, study finds

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 03:12 PM PDT

Children with autism have difficulty identifying inappropriate social behavior, and even when successful, they are often unable to justify why the behavior seemed inappropriate. New brain imaging studies show that children with autism may recognize socially inappropriate behavior, but have difficulty using spoken language to explain why the behavior is considered inappropriate, according to new research.

Impact of autism may be different in men and women

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 03:12 PM PDT

Men and women with autism spectrum conditions may show subtle but significant differences in the cognitive functions impacted by the condition, according to new research.

Potential new drug therapy for Crohn's disease

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 03:02 PM PDT

Ustekinumab, an antibody proven to treat the skin condition psoriasis, has now shown positive results in decreasing the debilitating effects of Crohn's Disease, according to new research.

Leading bone marrow transplant expert recommends significant change to current practice

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 03:02 PM PDT

One of the world's leading bone marrow transplant experts is recommending a significant change to current transplant practice for patients who need marrow or adult stem cells from an unrelated donor to treat hematologic malignancies.

Elevated indoor carbon dioxide impairs decision-making performance

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 01:24 PM PDT

Overturning decades of conventional wisdom, researchers have found that moderately high indoor concentrations of carbon dioxide can significantly impair people's decision-making performance. The results were unexpected and may have particular implications for schools and other spaces with high occupant density.

Antidepressants linked to increased risk of stroke, but risk is low, study finds

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 01:08 PM PDT

Research shows that use of popular antidepressants is linked to an increased risk of some strokes caused by bleeding in the brain, but that the risk is low, according to a multi-study analysis.

Nearly four out of ten lesbians not routinely screened for cervical cancer, U.S. study finds

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 12:48 PM PDT

Nearly 38% of lesbians polled in a national U.S. survey were not routinely screened for cervical cancer, putting them at risk of developing a highly preventable cancer, according to a new study. Cervical cancer is caused by a sexually transmitted virus, the human papillomavirus, and can be detected through regular Pap smears.

Bloodstream infections cut by 44 percent in sickest hospital patients, study concludes

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 12:48 PM PDT

A sweeping study on the issue of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospitals shows that using antimicrobial soap and ointment on all intensive-care patients significantly decreases bloodstream infection.

Overeating impairs brain insulin function, a mechanism that can lead to diabetes and obesity

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 12:39 PM PDT

New research sheds light on how overeating can cause a malfunction in brain insulin signaling, and lead to obesity and diabetes. Researchers found that overeating impairs the ability of brain insulin to suppress the breakdown of fat in adipose tissue.

Two components of red meat combined with alteration in DNA repair increase risk for bladder cancer

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 12:39 PM PDT

Two components of red meat -- dietary protein and dietary iron -- may combine to form powerful carcinogens, N-nitroso compounds, which increase risk for bladder cancer. Moreover, individuals with reduced ability to reverse the effects of N-nitroso compounds because of a genetic variation in their RAD52 gene could be at particularly high risk.

Depression and shortened telomeres increased bladder cancer mortality

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 12:39 PM PDT

The combination of shortened telomeres, a biological marker of aging associated with cancer development, and elevated depression significantly impacted bladder cancer mortality, according to new data.

New fruit fly model of epilepsy reveals mechanisms behind fever-induced seizures

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 11:18 AM PDT

Researchers have created a new fruit fly model of inherited epilepsy that's providing insights into the mechanisms underlying temperature-dependent seizures while establishing a platform from which to develop therapies for these disorders.

Leaves of carob tree, source of chocolate substitute, fight food-poisoning bacteria

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 11:18 AM PDT

Leaves of the plant that yields carob -- the substitute for chocolate that some consider healthier than chocolate -- are a rich source of antibacterial substances ideal for fighting the microbe responsible for listeriosis, a serious form of food poisoning, according to a new report.

New malaria drug requires just one dose and appears twice as effective as existing regimen

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 11:18 AM PDT

Scientists are reporting development of a new malaria drug that, in laboratory tests, has been twice as effective as the best current medicine against this global scourge and may fight off the disease with one dose, instead of the multiple doses that people often fail to take.

Epigenetic analysis of stomach cancer finds new disease subtypes

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 11:18 AM PDT

Researchers have identified numerous new subtypes of gastric cancer that are triggered by environmental factors.

Do lefties, righties benefit differently from power nap? At 'rest,' brain's right hemisphere 'talks' more than left hemisphere does

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 11:17 AM PDT

This study supports the benefits of a power nap. At rest, the right hemisphere talks more to itself and to the left hemisphere than the left hemisphere communicates -- whether the subject is right or left handed. Researchers explain that the brain could be doing housecleaning, classifying data, or consolidating memories, which could explain the power of napping. But could a power nap benefit righties more then lefties?

New advance could help soldiers, athletes, others rebound from traumatic brain injuries

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 10:20 AM PDT

A potential treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI), which affects thousands of soldiers, auto accident victims, athletes and others each year, has shown promise in laboratory research, scientists are reporting. TBI can occur in individuals who experience a violent blow to the head, a gunshot injury or exposure to an explosion. TBI currently cannot be treated and may result in permanent brain damage or death.

Infertility: How can ovulation function be restored?

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 10:20 AM PDT

It is well known that breast feeding increases the secretion of the prolactin hormone and inhibits ovulation in women. This prevents the onset of a new pregnancy too soon, and so breast feeding was used in the past as a method of contraception. In addition to this physiological condition, there are many other pathological conditions in which the production of prolactin is increased. Thanks to new research, the intimate mechanism of the hyperprolactinaemia alterations affecting reproduction in mice has been discovered.

Pathology of Huntington's disease identified

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 10:20 AM PDT

A new study provides novel insight into the impact that Huntington's disease has on the brain.

Does true love wait? Age of first sexual experience predicts romantic outcomes in adulthood

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 10:18 AM PDT

It's a common lament among parents: Kids are growing up too fast these days. Parents worry about their kids getting involved in all kinds of risky behavior, but they worry especially about their kids' forays into sexual relationships. A new study examines whether timing of sexual initiation in adolescence predicts romantic outcomes -- such as whether people get married or live with their partners, number of romantic partners, and relationship satisfaction -- later in adulthood.

Calcium reveals connections between neurons

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 10:18 AM PDT

Neuroscientists have developed a way to monitor how brain cells coordinate with each other to control specific behaviors, such as initiating movement or detecting an odor.

Evolutionary origins of our pretty smile

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 10:18 AM PDT

It takes both teeth and jaws to make a pretty smile, but the evolutionary origins of these parts of our anatomy have only just been discovered, thanks to a particle accelerator and a long dead fish.

Breech births cause more problems for moms and babies when water breaks early

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 10:15 AM PDT

Breech births increase the risk of complications for the mother and baby when the amniotic sac ruptures early.

Plant-based diets can remedy chronic diseases

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 10:15 AM PDT

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 63 percent of the deaths that occurred in 2008 were attributed to non-communicable chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, Type 2 diabetes and obesity—for which poor diets are contributing factors. Yet people that live in societies that eat healthy, plant-based diets rarely fall victim to these ailments. Research studies have long indicated that a high consumption of plant foods is associated with lower incidents of chronic disease. Recent discoveries in nutritional genomics now explain how plant-based diets are effective at warding off disease.

New technique for sorting live cells may expedite biomedical research

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:41 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a new technique that uses sound waves to rapidly separate selected collections of cells for use in biomedical research.

Process controlling night vision clarifled

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:39 AM PDT

On the road at night or on a tennis court at dusk, the eye can be deceived. Vision is not as sharp as in the light of day, and detecting a bicyclist on the road or a careening tennis ball can be tough. New research reveals the key chemical process that corrects for potential visual errors in low-light conditions. Understanding this fundamental step could lead to new treatments for visual deficits, or might one day boost normal night vision to new levels.

Multivitamin use among middle-aged, older men results in modest reduction in cancer, study finds

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:39 AM PDT

In a randomized trial that included nearly 15,000 male physicians, long-term daily multivitamin use resulted in a modest but statistically significant reduction in cancer after more than a decade of treatment and follow-up.

Discovery of two opposite ways humans voluntarily forget unwanted memories

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:39 AM PDT

If only there were a way to forget that humiliating faux pas at last night's dinner party. It turns out there's not one, but two opposite ways in which the brain allows us to voluntarily forget unwanted memories, according to a new study. The findings may explain how individuals can cope with undesirable experiences and could lead to the development of treatments to improve disorders of memory control.

Novel chewing gum formulation helps prevent motion sickness

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:39 AM PDT

A new prototype for medicated chewing gum has been developed for motion sickness that may offer many advantages over conventional oral solid dosage forms. About 33 percent of people are susceptible to motion sickness in mild circumstances and 66 percent are affected in more severe conditions.

Vegetable-derived compound effective in treating triple-negative breast cancer, research suggests

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:39 AM PDT

A new compound created from a rich source in vegetables including broccoli and brussel sprouts has been developed to combat triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC is one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer; it grows faster, spreads to other parts of the body earlier, is harder to detect on a mammogram and recurs more often.

Increased flavonoid intake reduced risk for aggressive prostate cancer

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:28 AM PDT

A high total intake of flavonoids, a group of compounds found in plants, was inversely associated with the risk for highly aggressive prostate cancer, according to new data.

Prolonged formula feeding, delay in solid foods was associated with increased risk for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:28 AM PDT

Results of one study indicate that the risk for developing pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia increased the longer a baby was fed formula and the longer solid foods were delayed.

College students' sexual hookups more complex than originally thought

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:28 AM PDT

Researchers prepared a comprehensive academic review of the sexual hookup culture. Their finding concluded that these encounters, which are increasingly becoming the 'norm,' mark a shift in the openness and acceptance of uncommitted sex among U.S. "emerging adults" during the transitional developmental period between adolescence and young adulthood.

Epigenetic difference in twins explains different risk of breast cancer

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 07:29 AM PDT

Researchers have identified an epigenetic change in a twin who will develop breast cancer but not in her healthy sister.

Even professional scientists are compelled to see purpose in nature, psychologists find

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 07:24 AM PDT

A team of psychology researchers has found that, despite years of scientific training, even professional chemists, geologists, and physicists from major universities such as Harvard, MIT, and Yale cannot escape a deep-seated belief that natural phenomena exist for a purpose.

Overcoming memories that trigger cocaine relapse

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 06:19 AM PDT

Researchers have identified mechanisms in the brain responsible for regulating cocaine-seeking behavior, providing an avenue for drug development that could greatly reduce the high relapse rate in cocaine addiction.

New insights into how genetic differences influence breast cancer risk from low-dose radiation

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 06:19 AM PDT

Scientists have identified tissue mechanisms that may influence a woman's susceptibility or resistance to breast cancer after exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation, such as the levels used in full-body CT scans and radiotherapy.

Children with ADHD find medication frees them to choose between right and wrong, study suggests

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 06:19 AM PDT

Children living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder tend to feel that they benefit from medication to treat the condition and do not feel that the medication turns them into "robots", according to a new report. In fact, they report feeling that medication helps them to control their behavior and make better decisions. The study, which gives a voice to the children themselves, provides valuable insights into their experiences and the stigma they face.

Study questions feasibility of entire genome sequencing in minutes

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 06:17 AM PDT

The claim that nanopore technology is on the verge of making DNA analysis so fast and cheap that a person's entire genome could be sequenced in just minutes and at a fraction of the cost of available commercial methods, has resulted in overwhelming academic, industrial, and global interest. But a new review on nanopore sequencing, questions whether the remaining technical hurdles can be overcome to create a workable, easily produced commercial device.

Multiple sclerosis: Using the eye as a 'window into the brain'

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 06:12 AM PDT

An inexpensive, five-minute eye scan can accurately assess the amount of brain damage in people with the debilitating autoimmune disorder multiple sclerosis (MS), and offer clues about how quickly the disease is progressing, according to new results.

Vitamin D supplements may benefit lupus patients

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:39 PM PDT

A new clinical study provides preliminary evidence that vitamin D supplementation could be considered an immunomodulatory agent for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a debilitating autoimmune disease characterized not only by skin, joint, neurological and renal symptoms, but also by inflammation of tissue linings in the body.

Drugs used to immobilize patients during surgery raise risk of respiratory complications, study finds

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 04:06 PM PDT

Researchers have found that medications currently used to immobilize patients during surgery can increase the risk of postoperative respiratory complications. Their study also found that the agent most commonly used to reverse the action of the immobilizing drug does not prevent and may possibly increase the risk that patients will need to receive postoperative respiratory support.

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