ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Apixaban superior to warfarin across range of patient risk scores, study finds
• Snakes in the wild harbor deadly mosquito-borne EEEV virus through hibernation, study finds
• Obese brain may thwart weight loss: Diets high in saturated fat, refined sugar may cause brain changes that fuel overconsumption
• Immune system harnessed to improve stem cell transplant outcomes
• Study affirms safety of HPV4 vaccine for adolescents and young women in routine clinical care
• Breakthrough in understanding lung cancer vulnerabilities points the way to new targeted therapy
• Potential new class of drugs blocks nerve cell death
• Auto experts recognize cars like most people recognize faces
• Tolerance for ambiguity explains adolescents' penchant for risky behaviors
• Fluoxetine increases aggressive behavior, affects brain development among adolescent hamsters
• Form of small pox virus shows potential for treating triple-negative breast cancer
• Stem cells improve visual function in blind mice
• Popular antidepressant might prevent heart failure
• Zinc deficiency mechanism linked to aging, multiple diseases
• Smartphone technology acceptable for telemedicine
• Omega-3 supplements may slow a biological effect of aging
• No relief for relief workers: Humanitarian aid work raises risk of depression and anxiety
• Marine animals could hold key to looking young: Sea cucumbers, sea urchins can change elasticity of collagen
• Severely obese are fastest growing group of overweight Americans, study finds
• Biological markers increase clinical trial success rate of new breast cancer drugs
• Low birth weight may increase risk for cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and diabetes
• Camels to help fight Alzheimer's? New class of antibody from camelids that can cross the blood-brain barrier
• PET predicts early response to treatment for head and neck cancer patients
• Association between common heartburn drugs and risk of pneumonia questioned
• Macrophage accumulation of triglycerides yields insights into atherosclerosis
• Baby communication gives clues to autism
• Poor sleep in adolescents may increase risk of heart disease
• Sugar-free approach to treating Kaposi sarcoma
• Engineering the immune system to fight melanoma
• As flu season approaches, why do college students ignore the H1N1 vaccine?
• Moderate alcohol consumption may increase risk of atrial fibrillation in people with heart disease
• Reduced glaucoma risk found in patients who take statins
• How immune cells defend themselves against HIV
• How memory load leaves us 'blind' to new visual information
• Immune cells could protect against obesity, scientists discover
• A step towards the prevention of collagen-related diseases
• Understanding aging: Stem cell dysfunction links cancer and aging
• Tobacco contains highly toxic compounds not regulated by law, Spanish researchers find
• Researchers halt autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis in mice
• Dance Dance Revolution makes a difference in kids' physical activity levels
• Eliminating visual clutter helps people with mild cognitive impairment
• Should aspirin be used to help prevent cancer?
• Serious child abuse injuries creep up, study shows
• First large scale trial of whole-genome cancer testing for clinical decision-making reported
• Overweight teens get mental health boost from even small amounts of exercise
• Rehabilitation robots uncover stroke disabilities and improve care
• Exercise improves memory, thinking after stroke, study finds
• 'Cafeteria diet' hastens stroke risk: High-sugar, high-salt intake creates 'a ticking time bomb of health problems'
• Hidden stroke impairment leaves thousands suffering in silence
• Breast cancer recurrence defined by hormone receptor status
• The genetics of vibration-induced white finger disease
• Physiological role of a novel hormone FNDC5/irisin revealed in humans
• End your child’s allergy suffering within three years? Immunotherapy can provide long-term relief, study shows
• Smoking, heavy drinking linked to earlier onset of pancreatic cancer
• Evolutionary analysis improves ability to predict the spread of flu

Apixaban superior to warfarin across range of patient risk scores, study finds Posted: 01 Oct 2012 04:15 PM PDT A new anticoagulant called apixaban is superior to warfarin in preventing stroke with consistent effects across a wide range of stroke and bleeding risk in patients with atrial fibrillation, according to researchers.

Snakes in the wild harbor deadly mosquito-borne EEEV virus through hibernation, study finds Posted: 01 Oct 2012 02:12 PM PDT Snakes in the wild serve as hosts for the deadly mosquito-borne Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus, possibly acting as a "bridge" to the next season, according to researchers studying endemic areas in the Tuskegee National Forest in Alabama.

Obese brain may thwart weight loss: Diets high in saturated fat, refined sugar may cause brain changes that fuel overconsumption Posted: 01 Oct 2012 02:11 PM PDT New research indicates that diets that lead to obesity -- diets high in saturated fat and refined sugar -- may cause changes to the brains of obese people that in turn may fuel overconsumption of those same foods and make weight loss more challenging.

Immune system harnessed to improve stem cell transplant outcomes Posted: 01 Oct 2012 01:14 PM PDT A novel therapy in the early stages of development shows promise in providing lasting protection against the progression of multiple myeloma following a stem cell transplant by making the cancer cells easier targets for the immune system.

Study affirms safety of HPV4 vaccine for adolescents and young women in routine clinical care Posted: 01 Oct 2012 01:14 PM PDT A study of almost 200,000 young females who received the quadrivalent human papilloma virus vaccine found that immunization was associated only with same-day syncope and skin infections in the two weeks after vaccination. These findings support the general safety of routine vaccination with HPV4 in a clinical care setting to prevent cervical and other genital and reproductive cancers.

Breakthrough in understanding lung cancer vulnerabilities points the way to new targeted therapy Posted: 01 Oct 2012 12:19 PM PDT More effective treatments for one of the deadliest forms of cancer are one step closer thanks to groundbreaking research.

Potential new class of drugs blocks nerve cell death Posted: 01 Oct 2012 12:19 PM PDT Researchers have identified a new class of small molecules that block nerve cell death in animal models of Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These small molecules could be a starting point for developing drugs that might help treat patients with these diseases.

Auto experts recognize cars like most people recognize faces Posted: 01 Oct 2012 12:10 PM PDT The most detailed brain meapping study to date has found that the area of the brain that recognizes faces is also used to identify objects of expertise.

Tolerance for ambiguity explains adolescents' penchant for risky behaviors Posted: 01 Oct 2012 12:10 PM PDT It is widely believed that adolescents engage in risky behaviors because of an innate tolerance for risks, but a new study has found this is not the case.

Fluoxetine increases aggressive behavior, affects brain development among adolescent hamsters Posted: 01 Oct 2012 11:14 AM PDT Repeated administration of a low dose of fluoxetine to adolescent hamsters dramatically increased offensive aggression and altered the development of brain areas directly associated with controlling the aggressive response. Fluoxetine is one of only two selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors registered for treatment of major depressive disorder in children and adolescents.

Form of small pox virus shows potential for treating triple-negative breast cancer Posted: 01 Oct 2012 11:14 AM PDT A new vaccinia virus, acting as both an oncolytic and anti-angiogenic agent, can enter and kill triple-negative breast cancer cells and could lead to a more targeted therapy against this deadly form of breast cancer, according to new research.

Stem cells improve visual function in blind mice Posted: 01 Oct 2012 11:11 AM PDT An experimental treatment for blindness, developed from a patient's skin cells, improved the vision of blind mice in a study conducted by ophthalmologists and stem cell researchers.

Popular antidepressant might prevent heart failure Posted: 01 Oct 2012 11:10 AM PDT A medication usually used to help treat depression and anxiety disorders has the potential to help prevent heart failure, according to researchers.

Zinc deficiency mechanism linked to aging, multiple diseases Posted: 01 Oct 2012 11:10 AM PDT A new study has outlined for the first time a biological mechanism by which zinc deficiency can develop with age, leading to a decline of the immune system and increased inflammation associated with many health problems, including cancer, heart disease, autoimmune disease and diabetes.

Smartphone technology acceptable for telemedicine Posted: 01 Oct 2012 11:09 AM PDT A new study confirms the use of smartphones medical images to evaluate stroke patients in remote locations through telemedicine. The study is the first to test the effectiveness of smartphone teleradiology applications in a real-world telestroke network, researchers say.

Omega-3 supplements may slow a biological effect of aging Posted: 01 Oct 2012 11:09 AM PDT Taking enough omega-3 fatty acid supplements to change the balance of oils in the diet could slow a key biological process linked to aging, new research suggests.

No relief for relief workers: Humanitarian aid work raises risk of depression and anxiety Posted: 01 Oct 2012 10:21 AM PDT Humanitarian workers are at significant risk for mental health problems, both in the field and after returning home. The good news is that there are steps that they and their employers can take to mitigate this risk.

Marine animals could hold key to looking young: Sea cucumbers, sea urchins can change elasticity of collagen Posted: 01 Oct 2012 10:21 AM PDT Sea cucumbers and sea urchins are able to change the elasticity of collagen within their bodies, and could hold the key to maintaining a youthful appearance, according to scientists. The researchers investigated the genes of marine creatures such as sea urchins and sea cucumbers, known as echinoderms. They found the genes for "messenger molecules" known as peptides, which are released by cells and tell other cells in their bodies what to do.

Severely obese are fastest growing group of overweight Americans, study finds Posted: 01 Oct 2012 10:21 AM PDT The proportion of Americans who are severely obese -- those people 100 pounds or more overweight -- continues to increase rapidly and much faster than those with moderate obesity, but the rate of growth has slowed, according to a new study.

Biological markers increase clinical trial success rate of new breast cancer drugs Posted: 01 Oct 2012 09:54 AM PDT Using biological markers -- genetic characteristics that are associated with some patients with breast cancer -- can increase the success rate of clinical trials for breast cancer drugs by almost 50 per cent, says new research.

Low birth weight may increase risk for cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and diabetes Posted: 01 Oct 2012 09:54 AM PDT Being born underweight may have consequences other than the known short-term effects according to researchers. Low birth weight rats have an increased long-term risk for cardiovascular and kidney disease, and diabetes. Also, older females are at higher risk of developing high blood pressure before and during pregnancy, which may restrict growth in the womb, causing offspring to born at a low birth weight.

Camels to help fight Alzheimer's? New class of antibody from camelids that can cross the blood-brain barrier Posted: 01 Oct 2012 09:52 AM PDT Could camels help fight Alzheimer's disease? Scientists have announced a discovery that may lead to enhanced imaging of, and improved drug delivery to the brain. New research describes a new class of antibody from camelids that can cross the blood-brain barrier, diffuse into brain tissue, and reach specific targets. These antibodies may be instrumental for people with brain diseases poorly diagnosed and treated using today's tools.

PET predicts early response to treatment for head and neck cancer patients Posted: 01 Oct 2012 09:52 AM PDT Determining the optimal treatment course and predicting outcomes may get easier in the future for patients with head and neck sqaumous cell carcinomas with the use of an investigational imaging agent. New research shows that positron emission tomography imaging with 3'-deoxy-3'F-18-fluorothymidine during treatment and early follow-up has the potential to predict therapeutic responses.

Association between common heartburn drugs and risk of pneumonia questioned Posted: 01 Oct 2012 09:52 AM PDT Previous studies associating the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) -- which include popular anti-heartburn medications like Prilosec and Nexium -- with an increased incidence of pneumonia may not have found a true cause-and-effect relationship. A new study outlines a strategy for determining when the results of such observational studies may have been distorted by unmeasured factors and then finds that may be the case with the association between PPIs and pneumonia risk.

Macrophage accumulation of triglycerides yields insights into atherosclerosis Posted: 01 Oct 2012 09:52 AM PDT A new report helps explain how specific immune cells, called macrophages, accumulate triglycerides to support their function. Because a characteristic finding in atherosclerosis is the accumulation of fat in macrophages in the arterial wall, understanding how macrophages accumulate triglycerides may lead to new approaches toward slowing or stopping the development of atherosclerosis.

Baby communication gives clues to autism Posted: 01 Oct 2012 09:48 AM PDT Babies' non-verbal communication skills can help predict outcomes in children at high risk of developing autism, new research shows.

Poor sleep in adolescents may increase risk of heart disease Posted: 01 Oct 2012 09:47 AM PDT Adolescents who sleep poorly may be at risk of cardiovascular disease in later life, according to a new study.

Sugar-free approach to treating Kaposi sarcoma Posted: 01 Oct 2012 09:47 AM PDT A sugar-loving protein drives the growth of Kaposi sarcoma tumors, according to a new study. Interfering with these sugary interactions inhibited growth of Kaposi sarcomas in mice, hinting at the potential for new treatment strategies in humans.

Engineering the immune system to fight melanoma Posted: 01 Oct 2012 09:38 AM PDT Medical researchers have launched the first clinical trial in the Midwest of an experimental melanoma treatment that genetically engineers a patient's immune system to fight the deadly cancer.

As flu season approaches, why do college students ignore the H1N1 vaccine? Posted: 01 Oct 2012 09:38 AM PDT A risk communication study focuses on perceptions, information seeking and intent in coming to grips with a 13 percent flu vaccination rate among students sampled despite a strong CDC health outreach campaign.

Moderate alcohol consumption may increase risk of atrial fibrillation in people with heart disease Posted: 01 Oct 2012 09:38 AM PDT Moderate drinking is common for more than a third of the population. A new study suggests the effect of alcohol consumption, even in moderate amounts, on atrial fibrillation risk in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease may be considerable.

Reduced glaucoma risk found in patients who take statins Posted: 01 Oct 2012 07:24 AM PDT People who take statins to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease are less likely to be diagnosed with the most common form of glaucoma, according to a U.S. nationwide study of more than 300,000 patients. Scientists found the risk for glaucoma was reduced by eight percent in patients who took statins continuously for two years, compared with patients who did not take statins.

How immune cells defend themselves against HIV Posted: 01 Oct 2012 06:59 AM PDT Scientists have decoded a mechanism used by the human immune system to protect itself from HIV viruses. The results provide new insights into the molecular background of AIDS and could open up starting points for new treatments.

How memory load leaves us 'blind' to new visual information Posted: 01 Oct 2012 06:59 AM PDT Trying to keep an image we've just seen in memory can leave us blind to things we are "looking" at, according to the results of a new study.

Immune cells could protect against obesity, scientists discover Posted: 01 Oct 2012 06:55 AM PDT New research has found that a type of anti-tumor immune cell protects against obesity and the metabolic syndrome that leads to diabetes.  Results show that immune cells known to be protective against malignancy called invariant natural killer T-cells (iNKT), are lost when humans become obese, but can be restored through weight loss.

A step towards the prevention of collagen-related diseases Posted: 01 Oct 2012 06:55 AM PDT Scientists have just determined the three-dimensional structure of a key region of the procollagen molecule, the precursor form of collagen, the most abundant protein in the body. This region, called the C-propeptide domain, plays an extremely important role in collagen assembly, defects in which can lead to serious, often lethal diseases.

Understanding aging: Stem cell dysfunction links cancer and aging Posted: 01 Oct 2012 06:54 AM PDT Aging is a complex biological process whereby the functional capacity of the body diminishes with time, ultimately leading to the death of the individual. However, aging is also associated with the onset of many diseases, including cancer, which is often called a "disease of aging". While aging has major effects on the individual, it also represents a significant burden on society as a major healthcare cost. Therefore, it is of chief importance to understand the normal process of aging to help improve not only the lifespan of individuals, but also their healthspan; in other words, to enable people to live longer, healthier lives.

Tobacco contains highly toxic compounds not regulated by law, Spanish researchers find Posted: 01 Oct 2012 06:54 AM PDT Researchers have analyzed ten brands of cigarettes and found that the concentrations of certain harmful and carcinogenic substances vary significantly from one brand to another. Until now legislation has not covered these compounds and only establishes limits for nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide. Scientists have also developed catalysts to reduce the harmful products in tobacco.

Researchers halt autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis in mice Posted: 01 Oct 2012 06:50 AM PDT Working with mice, researchers say they have developed a gene-based therapy to stop the rodent equivalent of the autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis by specifically targeting the destructive immune response the disorder triggers in the body.

Dance Dance Revolution makes a difference in kids' physical activity levels Posted: 01 Oct 2012 06:50 AM PDT A new study offers positive news for Wii-loving teenagers and their parents: games such as Wii Sports and Dance Dance Revolution can bring them closer to recommended physical activity levels.

Eliminating visual clutter helps people with mild cognitive impairment Posted: 01 Oct 2012 06:50 AM PDT A new study suggests that memory impairments for people diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer's disease may be due, in part, to problems in determining the differences between similar objects. The findings also support growing research indicating that a part of the brain once believed to support memory exclusively -- the medial temporal lobe -- also plays a role in object perception.

Should aspirin be used to help prevent cancer? Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:43 AM PDT Aspirin, the everyday drug taken by countless people around the world to ward off pain and reduce their risk of developing heart disease, may have a new trick up its sleeve –- preventing cancer.

Serious child abuse injuries creep up, study shows Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:43 AM PDT Cases of serious physical abuse in children, such as head injuries, burns, and fractures, increased slightly by about 5 percent in the last 12 years, new research shows. This is in sharp contrast to data from child protective services agencies, which show a 55 percent decrease in physical abuse cases from 1997 to 2009.

First large scale trial of whole-genome cancer testing for clinical decision-making reported Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:41 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have conducted a large trial in which they tested the entire genome of individual breast cancers to help personalize treatment.

Overweight teens get mental health boost from even small amounts of exercise Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:41 AM PDT Even with minimal moderate exercise, teens self-report improvements in perceived scholastic competence, social competence, and several markers of body image including appearance esteem and weight esteem.

Rehabilitation robots uncover stroke disabilities and improve care Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:41 AM PDT Scientists have added a robot to help identify and customize post-stroke therapy.

Exercise improves memory, thinking after stroke, study finds Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:41 AM PDT Just six months of exercise can improve memory, language, thinking and judgment problems by almost 50 percent.

'Cafeteria diet' hastens stroke risk: High-sugar, high-salt intake creates 'a ticking time bomb of health problems' Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:39 AM PDT The fat- and sugar-rich Western diet leads to a lifetime of health problems, dramatically increasing the risk of stroke or death at a younger age, new research suggests.

Hidden stroke impairment leaves thousands suffering in silence Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:39 AM PDT Most people are completely unaware of one of stroke's most common, debilitating but invisible impairments: aphasia.

Breast cancer recurrence defined by hormone receptor status Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:36 AM PDT Human epidermal growth factor (HER2) positive breast cancers are often treated with the same therapy regardless of hormone receptor status. New research shows that women whose HER2 positive cancer was also hormone (estrogen and progesterone) receptor (HR) negative had an increased risk of early death, and that their cancer was less likely to recur in bone than those whose cancer retained hormone sensitivity.

The genetics of vibration-induced white finger disease Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:36 AM PDT Vibration-induced white finger disease (VWF) is caused by continued use of vibrating hand held machinery (high frequency vibration >50 Hz), and affects tens of thousands of people. New research finds that people with a genetic polymorphism (A2191G) in sirtuin1 (SIRT1), a protein involved in the regulation of endothelial NOS (eNOS), are more likely to suffer from vibration-induced white finger disease. VWF (also known as hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS)) is a secondary form of Raynaud's disease involving the blood vessels and nerves of arms, fingers and hands. Affected fingers feel stiff and cold and loose sensation for the duration of the attack, which can be very painful.

Physiological role of a novel hormone FNDC5/irisin revealed in humans Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:35 AM PDT Scientists have elucidated the molecular and clinical role of FNDC5/irisin in humans. Irisin is a recently identified hormone secreted from muscle cells that has been found to serve as a chemical messenger providing key exercise-induced health benefits in mice. In these earlier studies, irisin showed direct effects on 'browning' of white fat which would lead to burning of excess calories. Discovery of irisin therefore raised expectations of potential for developing new therapies for metabolic diseases.

End your child’s allergy suffering within three years? Immunotherapy can provide long-term relief, study shows Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:33 AM PDT When children suffer from dust mite induced allergies and asthma, finding relief can seem impossible. While there isn't a complete cure for childhood respiratory allergies, researchers have found that long term control of allergic asthma can occur after only three years of allergy shots.

Smoking, heavy drinking linked to earlier onset of pancreatic cancer Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:32 AM PDT Those who smoke and drink heavily may develop pancreatic cancer at an earlier age than those who don't. But quitting reduces the extra risk, a new study shows.

Evolutionary analysis improves ability to predict the spread of flu Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:32 AM PDT New research may lead to more protective flu vaccines by helping developers more accurately predict strains most likely to strike the population in the coming season.

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