RefBan

Referral Banners

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

ScienceDaily: Top Health News

ScienceDaily: Top Health News


Scan then surgery: Best route to trauma management?

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 06:56 PM PDT

Giving severe trauma victims a computed tomography (CT) scan before managing their bleeding could boost their chances of survival, suggests a new study. The findings are at odds with current guidelines, and so contribute to the on-going debate about how best to treat patients with severe trauma injuries. Trauma is the leading cause of death in young adults in many countries.

Not guility: Parkinson and protein phosphorylation

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 03:29 PM PDT

Clues left at the scene of the crime don't always point to the guilty party, as researchers investigating Parkinson's disease have discovered. It is generally accepted that the disease is aggravated when a specific protein is phosohorylated -- that is to say chemically transformed -- by an enzyme. Now neuroscientists have been able to show that, on the contrary, this transformation tends to protect against the progression of the disease. This conclusion could change therapeutic approaches currently being developed by pharmas.

Disabling enzyme reduces tumor growth, cripples cancer cells, finds new study

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 03:28 PM PDT

Researchers have found that knocking out an enzyme needed to make lipids can dramatically cripple the ability of aggressive cancer cells to spread and grow tumors. The discovery points to a promising new target for treatment of aggressive cancers.

Thyroid cancer biopsy guidelines should be simplified, researchers say

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 03:28 PM PDT

Researchers have called for simplified guidelines on when to biopsy thyroid nodules for cancer, which they say would result in fewer unnecessary biopsies.

New implanted defibrillator works well without touching heart

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 03:26 PM PDT

A new type of defibrillator implanted under the skin can detect dangerously abnormal heart rhythms and deliver shocks to restore a normal heartbeat without wires touching the heart, according to new research.

Language can reveal the invisible, study shows

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 03:05 PM PDT

It is natural to imagine that the sense of sight takes in the world as it is -- simply passing on what the eyes collect from light reflected by the objects around us. But the eyes do not work alone. What we see is a function not only of incoming visual information, but also how that information is interpreted in light of other visual experiences, and may even be influenced by language.

Even mild stress can make it difficult to control your emotions

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 03:05 PM PDT

Even mild stress can thwart therapeutic measures to control emotions, a team of neuroscientists has found. Their findings point to the limits of clinical techniques while also shedding new light on the barriers that must be overcome in addressing afflictions such as fear or anxiety.

Touch and movement neurons shape the brain's internal image of the body

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 03:05 PM PDT

The brain's tactile and motor neurons, which perceive touch and control movement, may also respond to visual cues, according to researchers.

Immune system, skin microbiome 'complement' one another

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 03:05 PM PDT

Researchers demonstrate for the first time that the immune system influences the skin microbiome. A new study found that the skin microbiome -- a collection of microorganisms inhabiting the human body -- is governed, at least in part, by an ancient branch of the immune system called complement.

Breakthrough in DNA editing technology

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 03:05 PM PDT

Scientists have found a way to apply a powerful new DNA-editing technology more broadly than ever before.

Interpretation of do-not-resuscitate order appears to vary among pediatric physicians

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 03:02 PM PDT

Clinicians use the do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order not only as a guide for therapeutic decisions during a cardiopulmonary arrest but also as a surrogate for broader treatment directives, according to a new study.

Extremely preterm infants and risk of developing neurodevelopmental impairment later in childhood

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 03:02 PM PDT

A meta-analysis of previously reported studies examined the rate of moderate to severe and severe neurodevelopmental impairment by gestational age in extremely preterm survivors followed up between ages 4 and 8 years, and determined whether there is a significant difference in impairment rates between the successive weeks of gestation of survivors.

Intervention appears effective to prevent weight gain among disadvantaged women

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 03:02 PM PDT

An intervention not focused on weight loss was effective for weight gain prevention among socioeconomically disadvantaged black women, according to a new report.

Comprehensive Parkinson's biomarker test has prognostic and diagnostic value

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 03:02 PM PDT

Researchers report the first biomarker results reported from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), showing that a comprehensive test of protein biomarkers in spinal fluid have prognostic and diagnostic value in early stages of Parkinson's disease.

Oxygen-generating compound shows promise for saving tissue after severe injury

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 03:02 PM PDT

The same compound in a common household clothes detergent shows promise as a treatment to preserve muscle tissue after severe injury. Researchers hope the oxygen-generating compound could one day aid in saving and repairing limbs and tissue.

New, 'robust' treatment for stroke uses genetic material from bone marrow

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 11:38 AM PDT

In the latest in a series of experiments testing the use of stem cells to treat neurological disease, researchers have shown for the first time that microscopic material in the cells offers a "robust" treatment for crippling stroke.

Researchers develop software tool for cancer genomics

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 11:37 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a new bioinformatics software tool designed to more easily identify genetic mutations responsible for cancers.

Four or more cups of coffee a day may keep prostate cancer recurrence and progression away

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 11:36 AM PDT

Coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer recurrence and progression, according to a new study.

New minimally invasive technique for melanoma

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 09:31 AM PDT

Surgical oncologists are now using laparoscopic procedure to remove lymph nodes, cutting chance of infection and reducing recovery time in half.

Why do haters have to hate? Newly identified personality trait holds clues

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 09:31 AM PDT

New research has uncovered the reason why some people seem to dislike everything while others seem to like everything. Apparently, it's all part of our individual personality -- a dimension that researchers have coined "dispositional attitude."

New approach to remedying childhood visual disorders

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 09:31 AM PDT

By discovering the role of key neurons that mediate an important part of vision development, neurobiologists have revealed a new approach to correcting visual disorders in children who suffer from early cataracts or amblyopia, also known as lazy eye.

Skin cell defect is surprising allergy trigger: Skin and food allergies can be result of skin cell 'glue' deficiency

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 09:31 AM PDT

A structural defect in skin cells can contribute to allergy development, including skin and food allergies, traditionally thought primarily to be a dysfunction of the immune system.

Development of a therapeutic algorithm for optimal nosebleed management

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 09:31 AM PDT

Approximately 60 percent of people experience epistaxis, commonly known as nosebleed, at least once in their lifetime. Of those who experience nosebleed, six percent require medical treatment. A new study explores which nosebleed treatment options demonstrate the best outcomes.

Video games do not make vulnerable teens more violent

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 09:31 AM PDT

Do violent video games such as "Mortal Kombat," "Halo" and "Grand Theft Auto" trigger teenagers with symptoms of depression or attention deficit disorder to become aggressive bullies or delinquents? No, according to new research.

Patients leaving hospital against medical advice more likely to be readmitted or die

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 09:31 AM PDT

People who leave hospital against their doctors' orders are more likely to be readmitted to hospital or die, according to a new study.

Women at increasing risk of kidney stones, related ER visits

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 08:33 AM PDT

The risk of women developing kidney stones is rising, as is the number of cases being seen in US emergency departments, while the rate of hospitalization for the disorder has remained stable.

New function for a well-known immune messenger molecule

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 08:33 AM PDT

Scientists have discovered a new function of the well-known messenger protein interleukin-7: It facilitates the drainage of lymph fluid from tissues. In the future, the scientists plan to investigate whether this molecule could be used to prevent or treat lymphedema.

Preschoolers who stutter do just fine emotionally and socially, study finds

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 08:33 AM PDT

Stuttering may be more common than previously thought, but preschool stutterers fair better than first thought, a new study has found.

Shopping in high heels could curb overspending

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 07:00 AM PDT

When shopping for a big ticket item, such as a television, there is a checklist of things you should always do: Read reviews, compare prices and wear high heels. A new study finds that consumers experiencing a heightened sense of balance are more likely to weigh the options and go with a product that falls in the middle of the high-end, low-end scale.

Sweaty palms and racing heart may benefit some negotiators

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 07:00 AM PDT

The idea of having to negotiate over the price of a new car sends many into the cold sweats, but new research suggests that sweaty palms and a racing heart may actually help some people in getting a good deal.

Antisense oligoneucleotide corrects striatal transcriptional abnormalities and protects function in Huntington's disease mice

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 06:58 AM PDT

Findings from postmortem studies of the brains of Huntington's Disease (HD) patients suggest that transcriptional dysregulation may be an early step in the pathogenesis of HD before symptoms appear. Other studies report transcriptional alterations in the brains of some mouse models of HD. A new study has found transcriptional changes in mouse striatum which correlate with progressive motor and psychiatric deficits and, most importantly, reports for the first time, that an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) may be used therapeutically to both correct striatal transcriptional abnormalities and improve motor and behavioral problems.

New study supports intracerebral injections of bone marrow-derived stem cells to prevent or reduce post-stroke cognitive deficits

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 06:58 AM PDT

Cognitive deficits following ischemic stroke are common and debilitating, even in the relatively few patients who are treated expeditiously so that clots are removed or dissolved rapidly and cerebral blood flow restored. A new study demonstrates that intracerebral injection of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BSCs) reduces cognitive deficits produced by temporary occlusion of cerebral blood vessels in a rat model of stroke, suggesting that BSCs may offer a new approach for reducing post-stroke cognitive dysfunction.

New screening strategy may catch ovarian cancer at early stages

Posted: 26 Aug 2013 06:58 AM PDT

A new screening strategy for ovarian cancer appears to be highly specific for detecting the disease before it becomes lethal. If verified in an ongoing clinical trial, it could potentially help save the lives of thousands of women each year in the United States alone. There currently are no established screening strategies for ovarian cancer. The disease often causes no specific symptoms and is difficult to detect in the early stages when it is most responsive to treatment. Therefore, ovarian cancer is highly lethal because most women have advanced disease when they are diagnosed.

Researchers uncover new biological target for combating Parkinson's disease

Posted: 25 Aug 2013 02:15 PM PDT

Researchers have brought new clarity to the picture of what goes awry in the brain during Parkinson's disease and identified a compound that eases the disease's symptoms in mice. Their discoveries also overturn established ideas about the role of a protein considered key to the disease's progress.

Biphasic electrical stimulation: A strategy may bring hope to spinal cord injury patients

Posted: 24 Aug 2013 10:16 AM PDT

Transplantation stem cells is a potential clinical therapy for repair of spinal cord injury. However, transplanted cells are especially vulnerable due to a lack of sufficient growth factors at the transplant site. A new study demonstrates that biphasic electrical stimulation (BES) prevents growth factor-deprived apoptosis through the BDNF-PI3K/Akt signaling in neural stem cells. The findings may guide future efforts to stem cell-based transplantation therapy. It also raises hope that BES may one day be used to restore spinal cord injury.

Nitric oxide can regulate gene expression

Posted: 24 Aug 2013 10:14 AM PDT

Scientists have discovered a new role for nitric oxide, a gas molecule crucial for cellular signaling and health. Researchers found that nitric oxide plays an important role in epigenetics -- heritable alterations in gene expression caused by mechanisms other than changes in DNA sequence.

No comments: