ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Returning vets face 'warring identities' distress
• Marijuana's anxiety relief effects: Receptors found in emotional hub of brain
• Detailed picture created of membrane protein linked to learning, memory, anxiety, pain and brain disorders
• Warmer temperatures push malaria to higher elevations
• Access to social workers could keep veterans out of criminal justice system, researchers find
• Combatting hospital-acquired infections with protein metal complex
• Smart nanofibers to treat kidney failure
• Group A streptococcus in pregnancy: Expert contributes to research
• Common mutation is culprit in acute leukemia relapse
• 'Seeing' bodies with sound (no sight required)
• Some people really just don't like music
• Reelin protein rescues cognitive deficits in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease
• Are you smarter than a 5-year-old? Preschoolers can do algebra
• Complications following surgery predict costly readmissions
• Computers used to 'see' neurons to better understand brain function
• Critical link between obesity, diabetes identified
• E-cigarettes: Gateway to nicotine addiction for U.S. teens
• Misplaced protein causes heart failure
• Strategies on the Internet to discredit generic drugs
• Heart failure unknowns a roadblock to managing health
• Japanese Town: Half the survivors of mega-earthquake, tsunami, have PTSD symptoms
• Classroom focus on social, emotional skills can lead to academic gains, study shows
• Addressing the rapid increase in cesarean birth rates
• Energy drinks linked to teen health risks
• 'Tiger mothers' run risk of raising ethnic outcasts in pursuit of academic success
• Target for shutting down growth of prostate cancer cells identified
• Robotic prosthesis turns drummer into a three-armed cyborg
• Waiting for donor heart: Motion prolongs survival
• Three out of every four European banks fails in handicap accessibility of their websites
• Eating red, processed meat: What scientists say
• Learning how to listen with neurofeedback
• Atypical development in siblings of children with autism is detectable at 12 months
• Pumping iron: A hydrogel actuator with mussel tone
• New structure in dogs' eye linked to blinding retinal diseases
• Long-lasting device protects against HIV, pregnancy
• Potential target found for drug to treat allergic asthma
• Alzheimer's disease much larger cause of death than reported, study shows
• Personalized gene therapy locks out HIV, paving the way to control virus without antiretroviral drugs
• Cocaine, pleasure principle explored in new rat study
• Defining risk factors for falls in post-menopausal women
• Lung transplantation: A treatment option in end-stage lung disease
• Doulas ease stress, increase satisfaction with birthing experience, statistics indicate
• Barbie could dampen a young girl's career dreams, study suggests

Returning vets face 'warring identities' distress Posted: 06 Mar 2014 12:24 PM PST Soldiers returning home from war may find themselves engaged in an even tougher conflict. A new paper examines the 'warring identities' many veterans confront when transitioning from soldier to civilian life. "You can't really do research on veterans mental health without some kind of dialogue on PTSD, but we're trying to move away from the standard PTSD framework to contextualize the veteran experience and get a more accurate picture of what vets returning from war look like as opposed to just looking at the medical side of things," the author said.

Marijuana's anxiety relief effects: Receptors found in emotional hub of brain Posted: 06 Mar 2014 11:28 AM PST Cannabinoid receptors, through which marijuana exerts its effects, have been found in a key emotional hub in the brain involved in regulating anxiety and the flight-or-fight response. This is the first time cannabinoid receptors have been identified in the central nucleus of the amygdala in a mouse model.

Detailed picture created of membrane protein linked to learning, memory, anxiety, pain and brain disorders Posted: 06 Mar 2014 11:25 AM PST The most detailed 3-D picture yet has been created of a membrane protein linked to learning, memory, anxiety, pain and brain disorders such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and autism. The mGlu1 receptor, which helps regulate the neurotransmitter glutamate, belongs to a superfamily of molecules known as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). GPCRs sit in the cell membrane and sense various molecules outside the cell, including odors, hormones, neurotransmitters and light. After binding these molecules, GPCRs trigger a specific response inside the cell. More than one-third of therapeutic drugs target GPCRs -— including allergy and heart medications, drugs that target the central nervous system and anti-depressants.

Warmer temperatures push malaria to higher elevations Posted: 06 Mar 2014 11:25 AM PST Researchers have debated for more than two decades the likely impacts, if any, of global warming on the worldwide incidence of malaria, a mosquito-borne disease that infects more than 300 million people each year. Now, ecologists are reporting the first hard evidence that malaria does -- as had long been predicted -- creep to higher elevations during warmer years and back down to lower altitudes when temperatures cool.

Access to social workers could keep veterans out of criminal justice system, researchers find Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:29 AM PST Approximately one in six veterans struggles with substance abuse, and 20 percent show signs of mental health issues or cognitive impairments, previous research has shown. These risk factors, combined with a lack of resources, could be contributing to an increase of veterans entering the criminal justice system, according to a report. Researchers have investigated ways that social workers can address veterans' needs and keep them out of jail.

Combatting hospital-acquired infections with protein metal complex Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:28 AM PST A protein containing a metal complex for blue paint inhibits growth of a pathogenic bacterium through iron deprivation. Scientists have found a new method using an artificial metalloprotein (a protein that contains a metal) to inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, which is a common bacterium that can cause diseases in humans and evolves to exhibit multiple antibiotic resistance.

Smart nanofibers to treat kidney failure Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:28 AM PST A simple way to treat kidney failure. A new technique for purifying blood using a nanofiber mesh could prove useful as a cheap, wearable alternative to kidney dialysis.

Group A streptococcus in pregnancy: Expert contributes to research Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:04 AM PST A physician offers a description of the recommended approach to diagnosing and treating Group A streptococcus (GAS) in pregnant and postpartum women. Group A streptococcus can cause invasive infections in the form of endometritis, necrotizing fasciitis, or streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. These infections, when associated with sepsis, have associated mortality rates of 30 to 50 percent. When a pregnant woman presents with GAS infection, her symptoms are often atypical, with extremes of temperature, unusual and vague pain, and pain in the extremities. Imaging may appear normal, but removing a small sample from the uterus along with a blood culture may be a useful, rapid diagnostic tool.

Common mutation is culprit in acute leukemia relapse Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:04 AM PST Stem cell scientists have identified a mutation in human cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia that likely drives relapse. The research could translate into improved patient care strategies for this particular blood cancer, which typically affects children but is more deadly in adults.

'Seeing' bodies with sound (no sight required) Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:04 AM PST People born unable to see are readily capable of learning to perceive the shape of the human body through soundscapes that translate images into sound, according to researchers. With a little training, soundscapes representing the outlines and silhouettes of bodies cause the brain's visual cortex -- and specifically an area dedicated in normally sighted people to processing body shapes -- to light up with activity.

Some people really just don't like music Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:04 AM PST It is often said that music is a universal language. However, a new report finds that music doesn't speak to everyone. There are people who are perfectly able to experience pleasure in other ways who simply don't get music in the way the rest of us do.

Reelin protein rescues cognitive deficits in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:02 AM PST Reelin, a crucial protein for adult brain plasticity, recovers cognitive functions in mice with Alzheimer's disease. This is one of the main results a new study. Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive deficits, synaptic loss and neuronal death. This new preclinical study demonstrates that an increase in Reelin brain levels avoids cognitive deterioration in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, Reelin delays amyloid-beta fibril formation in vitro and reduces amyloid deposits in mice with Alzheimer's.

Are you smarter than a 5-year-old? Preschoolers can do algebra Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:00 AM PST Millions of high school and college algebra students are united in a shared agony over solving for x and y, and for those to whom the answers don't come easily, it gets worse: Most preschoolers and kindergarteners can do some algebra before even entering a math class. A new study finds that most preschoolers and kindergarteners, or children between 4 and 6, can do basic algebra naturally.

Complications following surgery predict costly readmissions Posted: 06 Mar 2014 08:23 AM PST The presence -- or absence -- of complications following surgery is a strong indicator of which patients are likely to be readmitted to the hospital in the 30 days following their procedure. Predicting which patients are most likely to experience complications using a simple online tool may allow healthcare professionals to flag patients at high risk of readmission in real time and alter care to reduce expensive trips back to the hospital.

Computers used to 'see' neurons to better understand brain function Posted: 06 Mar 2014 08:22 AM PST A study reveals new information about the motor circuits of the brain that may one day help those developing therapies to treat conditions such as stroke, schizophrenia, spinal cord injury or Alzheimer's disease. In this study, which processed images and reconstructed neuronal motor circuitry in the brain, the researchers collected and analyzed data on minute structures over various developmental stages, linking neuroscience and computer science.

Critical link between obesity, diabetes identified Posted: 06 Mar 2014 08:22 AM PST The RBP4 protein acts like a foreign pathogen to trigger inflammation of fat tissue -- and diabetes risk -- new research shows. Through a series of animal experiments, the authors discovered that high levels of RBP4 -- similar to what would be found in obese or insulin-resistant humans -- was the "foreign invader" that was providing the trigger for activation of the antigen-presenting cells, which then caused CD4 T cells to spring into action.

E-cigarettes: Gateway to nicotine addiction for U.S. teens Posted: 06 Mar 2014 08:22 AM PST E-cigarettes, promoted as a way to quit regular cigarettes, may actually be a new route to conventional smoking and nicotine addiction for teenagers, according to a new study. In the first analysis of the relationship between e-cigarette use and smoking among adolescents in the United States, researchers found that adolescents who used the devices were more likely to smoke cigarettes and less likely to quit smoking. The study of nearly 40,000 youth around the country also found that e-cigarette use among middle and high school students doubled between 2011 and 2012, from 3.1 percent to 6.5 percent.

Misplaced protein causes heart failure Posted: 06 Mar 2014 07:39 AM PST Decreasing the density of microtubules inside heart muscle cells prevents the abnormal localization of a critical protein called junctophilin 2 (JP2), and protects mice from heart failure, new research has found. Conversely, increasing microtubule density causes abnormal localization of JP2, which leads to loss of normal heart cell function and ultimately heart failure.

Strategies on the Internet to discredit generic drugs Posted: 06 Mar 2014 07:39 AM PST Although there is widespread consensus among the scientific community that the composition of generic drugs is identical to that of brand name drugs, this is not the case among the public. In a four-year study of over 3,000 opinions on Spanish web pages, researchers have identified communication strategies aimed at creating risk perceptions about generic drugs, which may influence the low usage of these drugs.

Heart failure unknowns a roadblock to managing health Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:55 AM PST Patients and their families lack basic skills and knowledge to manage a heart condition successfully, new research shows. A systematic review of 49 studies, involving more than 1,600 patients and their caregivers, showed that this lack of knowledge leads to confusion, delays in seeking help, and uncertainty about the long-term outlook and how to manage their own care. Part of the problem is heart failure is not well understood by many patients or their families. Heart failure is not a heart attack, though the latter can cause the condition. Heart failure refers to an overall decline in function in which blood flow can't meet the body's demands.

Japanese Town: Half the survivors of mega-earthquake, tsunami, have PTSD symptoms Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:55 AM PST A new study shows that more than half the survivors in one Japanese town exhibited 'clinically concerning' symptoms of PTSD following the country's mega-earthquake and tsunami. Two-thirds of survivors also reported symptoms of depression. Having work to do has proven important in increasing resilience.

Classroom focus on social, emotional skills can lead to academic gains, study shows Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:55 AM PST Classroom programs designed to improve elementary school students' social and emotional skills can also increase reading and math achievement, even if academic improvement is not a direct goal of the skills building, according to a study. The benefit holds true for students across a range of socio-economic backgrounds.

Addressing the rapid increase in cesarean birth rates Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:55 AM PST A new, joint series called 'Obstetric Care Consensus' is being introduced by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. The first issue addresses the rapid increase in cesarean births. In 2011, one in three pregnant women in the U.S. delivered babies by cesarean delivery. While cesarean delivery may be life-saving for the mother, the baby or both, the rapid increase in cesarean birth rates since 1996 without clear indication raises concerns that this type of delivery may be overused.

Energy drinks linked to teen health risks Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:53 AM PST The uplifting effects of energy drinks are well advertised, but a new report finds consumption among teenagers may be linked with poor mental health and substance use. The researchers found that high school students prone to depression as well as those who are smoke marijuana or drink alcohol are more likely to consume energy drinks than their peers. The researchers are calling for limits on teen's access to the drinks and reduction in the amount of the caffeine in each can.

'Tiger mothers' run risk of raising ethnic outcasts in pursuit of academic success Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:52 AM PST For Chinese and Vietnamese immigrant parents and their children, success is equal to getting straight As, graduating from an elite university and pursuing an advanced degree. However, these narrow measures of success can make those who do not fulfil the strict aspirations feel like ethnic outliers, new research demonstrates. Decoupling race and ethnicity from achievement could give young Asian Americans more freedom in choosing careers.

Target for shutting down growth of prostate cancer cells identified Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:51 AM PST Scientists have identified an important step toward potentially shutting down the growth of prostate cancer cells. Metastatic prostate cancer currently is treated with drugs that inhibit a protein called Androgen Receptor. This treatment initially halts cancer growth, but eventually the cancer becomes resistant to the drugs. These new findings offer a new avenue of research.

Robotic prosthesis turns drummer into a three-armed cyborg Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:51 AM PST Scientists have created a robotic drumming prosthesis with motors that power two drumsticks. The first stick is controlled both physically by the musicians' arms and electronically using electromyography (EMG) muscle sensors. The other stick "listens" to the music being played and improvises.

Waiting for donor heart: Motion prolongs survival Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:37 AM PST For many people with advanced cardiac insufficiency, a heart transplant may be their only hope. But waiting for a donor heart to come along is a race against time. Patients who remain active and stay in good shape psychologically can significantly increase their chances of surviving this period. Anxiety-ridden, depressive and passive patients, on the other hand, run the risk of further serious deterioration of their heart's ability to function, a research study shows.

Three out of every four European banks fails in handicap accessibility of their websites Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:37 AM PST Researchers have analyzed the websites of nearly 50 banks from the EU to check whether any user, even if disabled, has equal access. The results show that this right is not fulfilled in 74 percent of cases, and therefore they demand greater interest from financial entities in this technological and social problem.

Eating red, processed meat: What scientists say Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:37 AM PST Recent reports warn about a link between eating red and processed meat and the risk of developing cancer in the gut. These reports have resulted in new nutritional recommendations that advise people to limit their intake of red and processed meats. A recent perspective paper, authored by 23 scientists, underlines the uncertainties in the scientific evidence and points to further research needed to resolve these issues and improve the foundation for future recommendations on the intake of red meat.

Learning how to listen with neurofeedback Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:36 AM PST When listening to music or learning a new language, auditory perceptual learning occurs: a process in which your recognition of specific sounds improves, making you more efficient in processing and interpreting them. A neuroscientist now shows that auditory perceptual learning can be facilitated using neurofeedback, helping to focus on the sound differences that really matter.

Atypical development in siblings of children with autism is detectable at 12 months Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:17 PM PST Atypical development can be detected as early as 12 months of age among the siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder, a study has found. 28 percent of children with older siblings with ASD showed delays in other areas of development, identified in their social, communication, cognitive or motor development by 12 months. The most common deficits were in the social-communication domain, such as extreme shyness with unfamiliar people, lower levels of eye contact and delayed pointing. "Having a child in the family with autism spectrum disorder means that subsequent infants born into that family should be regularly screened for developmental and behavioral problems by their pediatricians," said the study's lead author.

Pumping iron: A hydrogel actuator with mussel tone Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PST Using iron ions and chemistry found in the adhesive proteins of a certain mollusk, scientists have developed a hydrogel actuator that moves when its pH is raised. Hydrogels are soft networks of polymers with high water content, like jello. Because of their soft, gentle texture, they have the potential to interact safely with living tissues and have applications in a number of medical areas, including tissue engineering. The hydrogel moved on its own, bending like an inchworm where the ions had been deposited.

New structure in dogs' eye linked to blinding retinal diseases Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PST Vision scientists report that dogs have an area of their retina that strongly resembles the human fovea. What's more, this retinal region is susceptible to genetic blinding diseases in dogs just as it is in humans.

Long-lasting device protects against HIV, pregnancy Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:14 PM PST Women's reproductive health may never be the same, thanks to a biomedical engineer and his first-of-its-kind intravaginal ring that reliably delivers an antiretroviral drug and a contraceptive for months. The ring is designed to protect against HIV and herpes as well as unwanted pregnancy. It will be the first device with the potential to offer this protection to be tested in women. The ring, being manufactured now, soon will undergo its first test in women.

Potential target found for drug to treat allergic asthma Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:12 PM PST An enzyme that helps maintain immune system function by "throwing away" a specific protein has a vital role in controlling symptoms of allergic asthma, new research in mice suggests. The finding suggests the enzyme could be a target for drugs used to treat allergic asthma.

Alzheimer's disease much larger cause of death than reported, study shows Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:12 PM PST Alzheimer's disease may contribute to close to as many deaths in the United States as heart disease or cancer, a new study suggests. Currently, Alzheimer's disease falls sixth on the list of leading causes of death in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whereas heart disease and cancer are numbers one and two, respectively. These numbers are based on what is reported on death certificates.

Personalized gene therapy locks out HIV, paving the way to control virus without antiretroviral drugs Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:11 PM PST The immune cells of 12 HIV positive patients have been successfully genetically engineered by researchers to resist infection, and decrease the viral loads of some patients taken off antiretroviral drug therapy (ADT) entirely -— including one patient whose levels became undetectable. The study is the first published report of any gene editing approach in humans. "This study shows that we can safely and effectively engineer an HIV patient's own T cells to mimic a naturally occurring resistance to the virus, infuse those engineered cells, have them persist in the body, and potentially keep viral loads at bay without the use of drugs," said the senior author.

Cocaine, pleasure principle explored in new rat study Posted: 05 Mar 2014 11:47 AM PST On the other side of the cocaine high is the cocaine crash, and understanding how one follows the other can provide insight into the physiological effects of drug abuse. For decades, brain research has focused on the pleasurable effects of cocaine largely by studying the dopamine pathway. But this approach has left many questions unanswered. The findings of the new study suggest that the same neural mechanism responsible for the negative effects of cocaine likely contribute to the animal's decision to ingest cocaine.

Defining risk factors for falls in post-menopausal women Posted: 05 Mar 2014 11:47 AM PST Women with distal radius (wrist) fractures had decreased strength compared to similar patients without fractures, a new study shows. This could explain why these women were more likely to fall and might sustain future fractures. The investigators used a variety of balance and strength tests combined with patient-provided information about walking habits to evaluate the physical performance and risk of falls for post-menopausal women with and without previous wrist fractures. Wrist fractures are the most common upper-extremity fractures in older women, but little is known about what factors contribute to the risk of falls for these patients.

Lung transplantation: A treatment option in end-stage lung disease Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:51 AM PST In the past five years, the number of lung transplantations carried out has increased by about 20 percent. In the end stage of various lung diseases, transplantation is the last remaining option for treatment, and it can both prolong life and improve its quality. Researchers have studied how patients do after a lung transplant, and their review has recently been published.

Doulas ease stress, increase satisfaction with birthing experience, statistics indicate Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:49 AM PST Fewer medical interventions, fewer hours in labor and increased satisfaction with the birthing experience -— that's what national statistics say a doula's support during labor and delivery means to women and their partners. A doula is a trained woman who provides nonmedical support during labor and delivery.

Barbie could dampen a young girl's career dreams, study suggests Posted: 05 Mar 2014 08:00 AM PST Although the marketing slogan suggests that Barbie can "Be Anything," girls who play with this extremely popular doll see fewer career options available to themselves compared to boys, according to researchers. The study examined girls' career choices after playtime with Barbie dolls and with Mrs. Potato Head. It is one of the first experiments looking at how playing with fashion dolls influences girls' perceptions about their future occupational options. The findings, the psychologists say, are "sobering."

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