ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Likely causes and treatment strategies for systemic scleroderma identified
• I'm OK, you're not OK: Right supramarginal gyrus plays an important role in empathy
• Gene and stem cell therapy combination could aid wound healing
• Novel way discovered to 'switch on' tumor suppressors that have been silenced
• Running a marathon hard on heart, especially in less prepared runners
• Scientists use blur to sharpen DNA mapping
• High dietary intake of polyphenols are associated with longevity
• Visits to multiple HIV clinics linked to poorer outcomes
• Does good cholesterol increase breast cancer risk?
• Multivitamins with minerals may protect older women with invasive breast cancer
• Cellular signals between pancreatic cancer tumors, saliva
• Aircraft noise linked to heart disease, study suggests
• Teachers should refrain from self-deprecation when trying to engage students
• Better community engagement and stronger health systems are needed to tackle polio
• Explaining why infections in newborns link to later behavior problems
• New urine test could diagnose eye disease
• Screening tool for detecting intimate partner violence among women veterans
• Blood vessel cells can repair, regenerate organs
• Growing bacteria keep time, know their place
• Study finds biomarker differentiating the inattentive, combined subtypes of ADHD
• Where does dizziness come from?
• Poor nutritional status before bladder operation causes higher risk of complications
• New diagnostic test for detecting BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations
• Health care providers should aggressively treat unhealthy lifestyles
• Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy may not increase life expectancy
• Pediatric atrial fibrillation has risk of serious complications, recurrence
• Pathway uncovered linking heartburn, esophageal cancer
• Abnormal heart muscle thickening - potential treatment
• Scientists find soaring variety of malaria parasites in bats
• PET imaging effective in predicting lung cancer outcomes
• Sending multiple sclerosis up in smoke
• Central line safety intervention lowers pediatric oncology infection rates
• How do stress hormones during pregnancy predict adult nicotine addiction?
• Seniors in long-term care residences: high risk of head injuries
• Study identifies essential molecule in formation of differentiated blood cells

Likely causes and treatment strategies for systemic scleroderma identified Posted: 09 Oct 2013 11:15 AM PDT Using mice, lab-grown cells and clues from a related disorder, researchers have greatly increased understanding of the causes of systemic sclerosis, showing that a critical culprit is a defect in the way certain cells communicate with their structural scaffolding. They say the new insights point the way toward potentially developing drugs for the disease, which affects approximately 100,000 people in the United States.

I'm OK, you're not OK: Right supramarginal gyrus plays an important role in empathy Posted: 09 Oct 2013 10:30 AM PDT Egoism and narcissism appear to be on the rise in our society, while empathy is on the decline. And yet, the ability to put ourselves in other people's shoes is extremely important for our coexistence. Scientists have discovered that our own feelings can distort our capacity for empathy. This emotionally driven egocentricity is recognized and corrected by the brain. When, however, the right supramarginal gyrus doesn't function properly or when we have to make particularly quick decisions, our empathy is severely limited.

Gene and stem cell therapy combination could aid wound healing Posted: 09 Oct 2013 10:22 AM PDT Researchers, working with elderly mice, have determined that combining gene therapy with an extra boost of the same stem cells the body already uses to repair itself leads to faster healing of burns and greater blood flow to the site of the wound.

Novel way discovered to 'switch on' tumor suppressors that have been silenced Posted: 09 Oct 2013 10:22 AM PDT Scientists have found that a novel noncoding ribonucleic acid (RNA) offers the potential for "switching on" of tumor suppressors that have been shut off.

Running a marathon hard on heart, especially in less prepared runners Posted: 09 Oct 2013 10:01 AM PDT Investigators who studied a group of recreational marathon runners have established that strenuous exercise, such as running a marathon, can damage the heart muscle. Although they found the effect is temporary and reversible, they warn that these effects are more widespread in less fit distance runners and that recreational distance runners should prepare properly before marathons.

Scientists use blur to sharpen DNA mapping Posted: 09 Oct 2013 08:11 AM PDT Researchers have found a simple way to pinpoint the location of specific sequences along single strands of DNA, a technique that could someday help diagnose genetic diseases.

High dietary intake of polyphenols are associated with longevity Posted: 09 Oct 2013 08:10 AM PDT A scientific study has, for the first time, associated high polyphenols intake with a 30% reduction in mortality in older adults. The research evaluated the total dietary polyphenol intake by using a nutritional biomarker.

Visits to multiple HIV clinics linked to poorer outcomes Posted: 09 Oct 2013 07:57 AM PDT Patients who received care at multiple HIV clinics — as opposed to only one — were less likely to take their medication and had higher HIV viral loads, a new study found. The findings reinforce the notion that continuous care with one provider/clinic is optimal for outcomes and even reducing transmissions, and can help cut down on duplicative HIV services that contribute to higher health care costs.

Does good cholesterol increase breast cancer risk? Posted: 09 Oct 2013 07:57 AM PDT A team of researchers has shown that an HDL receptor found on breast cancer cells may be responsible for making this cancer more aggressive, proposing a new molecular target that could help treat the disease.

Multivitamins with minerals may protect older women with invasive breast cancer Posted: 09 Oct 2013 07:57 AM PDT Findings from a study involving thousands of postmenopausal women suggest that women who develop invasive breast cancer may benefit from taking supplements containing both multivitamins and minerals. The new research found that the risk of dying from invasive breast cancer was 30 percent lower among multivitamin/mineral users compared with nonusers.

Cellular signals between pancreatic cancer tumors, saliva Posted: 09 Oct 2013 07:06 AM PDT Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. Most of those with the disease will die within the first year of diagnosis, and just 6 percent will survive five years. The disease is typically diagnosed through an invasive and complicated biopsy. But a discovery by researchers may be one major step toward creating a noninvasive tool that would enable clinicians and oncologists to detect pancreatic cancer through a simple risk assessment test using saliva.

Aircraft noise linked to heart disease, study suggests Posted: 09 Oct 2013 07:06 AM PDT Exposure to high levels of aircraft noise is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, find two studies published on bmj.com today.

Teachers should refrain from self-deprecation when trying to engage students Posted: 09 Oct 2013 06:57 AM PDT A new study finds teachers need to thread the needle between chilly distance and over-exposure of their own foibles if they want to gain the confidence of their students and avoid disruptions in the classroom.

Better community engagement and stronger health systems are needed to tackle polio Posted: 08 Oct 2013 03:23 PM PDT Two independently written articles call for a shift away from the leader-centric approach that polio eradication campaigns are currently pursuing in the three countries (Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan) where the disease remains endemic.

Explaining why infections in newborns link to later behavior problems Posted: 08 Oct 2013 03:21 PM PDT Researchers exploring the link between newborn infections and later behavior and movement problems have found that inflammation in the brain keeps cells from accessing iron that they need to perform a critical role in brain development.

New urine test could diagnose eye disease Posted: 08 Oct 2013 12:22 PM PDT You might not think to look to a urine test to diagnose an eye disease. But a new study says it can link what is in a patient's urine to gene mutations that cause retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited, degenerative disease that results in severe vision impairment and often blindness.

Screening tool for detecting intimate partner violence among women veterans Posted: 08 Oct 2013 12:22 PM PDT Researchers have identified a promising screening tool to detect intimate partner violence in females in the VA Boston Healthcare System. The findings accurately detected 78 percent of women identified as abused within the past year by a more comprehensive and behaviorally specific scale.

Blood vessel cells can repair, regenerate organs Posted: 08 Oct 2013 12:22 PM PDT Damaged or diseased organs may someday be healed with an injection of blood vessel cells, eliminating the need for donated organs and transplants.

Growing bacteria keep time, know their place Posted: 08 Oct 2013 12:22 PM PDT Working with a synthetic gene circuit designed to coax bacteria to grow in a predictable ring pattern, scientists have revealed an under-appreciated contributor to natural pattern formation: Time.

Study finds biomarker differentiating the inattentive, combined subtypes of ADHD Posted: 08 Oct 2013 12:22 PM PDT Using a common test of brain functioning, researchers have found differences in the brains of adolescents with the inattentive and combined subtypes of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and teens who do not have the condition, suggesting that the test may offer a potential biomarker for differentiating the types of the disorder.

Where does dizziness come from? Posted: 08 Oct 2013 12:20 PM PDT Researchers say they have pinpointed a site in a highly developed area of the human brain that plays an important role in the subconscious recognition of which way is straight up and which way is down.

Poor nutritional status before bladder operation causes higher risk of complications Posted: 07 Oct 2013 04:08 PM PDT Patients with bladder cancer are two times more likely to have complications after a radical cystectomy procedure if they have a biomarker for poor nutritional status before the operation, according to study findings.

New diagnostic test for detecting BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations Posted: 07 Oct 2013 01:25 PM PDT The recognition of a causal link between mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer has intensified the demand for genetic testing. Identifying mutations in these large genes by conventional methods can be time consuming and costly. A recent report describes a new technique using second-generation sequencing technology that is as sensitive as the standard methodology, but has the potential to improve the efficiency and productivity of genetic testing laboratories.

Health care providers should aggressively treat unhealthy lifestyles Posted: 07 Oct 2013 01:23 PM PDT Unhealthy habits, such as smoking, poor diet, and being overweight should be treated as aggressively as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other cardiovascular disease risk factors. Insurance reimbursement policies need to be improved so that registered dietitians, psychologists and others can become part of the primary practice team.

Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy may not increase life expectancy Posted: 07 Oct 2013 01:23 PM PDT Rates of double mastectomies have more than doubled over the last decade for women with early-stage cancer, but for women with cancer in one breast, having the healthy breast removed may not provide a survival benefit, according to new research findings.

Pediatric atrial fibrillation has risk of serious complications, recurrence Posted: 07 Oct 2013 01:22 PM PDT Lone atrial fibrillation in children has substantial symptomatic burden and recurrence rate, say researchers.

Pathway uncovered linking heartburn, esophageal cancer Posted: 07 Oct 2013 12:18 PM PDT More than 60 million adults in the US have acid reflux, or heartburn, and approximately 10 percent are at risk for developing esophageal cancer, due in part to complications from Barrett's esophagus. But researchers have discovered a pathway they believe links Barrett's esophagus to the development of esophageal cancer. Their data suggest that blocking this pathway, such as with a proton pump inhibitor (e.g., omeprazole), may prevent the development of esophageal cancer.

Abnormal heart muscle thickening - potential treatment Posted: 07 Oct 2013 12:17 PM PDT While most people would consider a big heart to be a good thing, for heart disease experts, it is often a sign of serious disease. Now researchers have made the surprising discovery that proteins involved in cell death also play a key role in abnormal heart muscle thickening. The research could lead to new treatments for certain forms of heart disease.

Scientists find soaring variety of malaria parasites in bats Posted: 07 Oct 2013 12:17 PM PDT Researchers have discovered a surprising diversity of malaria parasites in West African bats as well as new evidence of evolutionary jumps to rodent hosts. Led by scientists at the American Museum of Natural History, the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, and the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, the new study reveals that two bat-infecting parasites are closely related to parasites in rodents that are commonly used to model human malaria in laboratory studies.

PET imaging effective in predicting lung cancer outcomes Posted: 07 Oct 2013 12:16 PM PDT Advanced imaging with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan shows great promise in predicting which patients with inoperable lung cancer have more aggressive tumors and need additional treatment following standard chemotherapy/radiation therapy. The multi-site trial, enrolled 250 patients at 60 cancer centers around the country.

Sending multiple sclerosis up in smoke Posted: 07 Oct 2013 10:22 AM PDT In a new study, researchers demonstrate that some chemical compounds in marijuana can help treat multiple sclerosis and similar diseases in mice by preventing inflammation in the brain and spinal cord, holding promise for new treatments in humans as well.

Central line safety intervention lowers pediatric oncology infection rates Posted: 07 Oct 2013 10:17 AM PDT Infection-prevention protocols showed significant reductions in central line-associated blood stream infections and bacteria in the blood of ambulatory pediatric oncology patients.

How do stress hormones during pregnancy predict adult nicotine addiction? Posted: 07 Oct 2013 09:25 AM PDT Adult women whose mothers had increased levels of stress hormones while they were pregnant are at greater risk of becoming addicted to nicotine, according to a new study.

Seniors in long-term care residences: high risk of head injuries Posted: 07 Oct 2013 09:25 AM PDT Seniors in long-term care facilities are at high risk of head injuries, with 37 percent of people experiencing head impact in falls.

Study identifies essential molecule in formation of differentiated blood cells Posted: 07 Oct 2013 08:21 AM PDT New research identifies a protein that controls the formation of different types of mature blood cells -- a finding that could be important to developing new treatments for blood diseases and helping realize the potential of regenerative medicine. The authors of the newly published article on these findings focus on a protein that serves as a molecular switch in the cytoplasm of cells to control cell function.

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