ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Do wearable lifestyle activity monitors really work?
• Study identifies when and how much various prostate cancer treatments will impact urinary and sexual functioning
• Healthy humans make nice homes for viruses
• Lifesaving protocol for school children with severe allergies developed
• Intravascular ultrasound-guided intervention in patients with chronic total occlusion
• Optical coherence tomography in primary percutaneous coronary intervention
• Don't underestimate your mind's eye: Objects don't need to be seen to impact decision-making
• Computerized emotion detector
• The genetics of coping with HIV
• Access to female-controlled contraception needed in intimate partner violence
• World Health Organization policy improves use of medicines
• Slowed processing speed linked with executive deficits in multiple sclerosis
• Patients waiting too long to see the doctor? Try 'just-in-time' management methods, researchers urge
• Ebola outbreak 'out of all proportion' and severity cannot be predicated, expert says
• 'Compassionate use' and other means of accessing unproven, unapproved treatments could impact long-term medical benefits
• Patients who never smoked or who quit smoking have lower risk of developing secondary cancers
• New gene research helps pinpoint prostate cancer risk
• How learning to talk is in the genes
• Human faces are so variable because we evolved to look unique
• Scientists create therapy-grade stem cells using new cocktail to reprogram adult cells
• Can consumers use an easy trick to extend wonderful experiences, shorten bad ones?
• Why are consumers willing to spend more money on ethical products?
• Do you always get what you pay for? How consumers mispredict product quality
• Do ads showing sexy women make male consumers less charitable?
• Gene variant that dramatically reduces 'bad' lipids: Role of rare APOC3 variant in reducing triglyceride levels identified
• Chemotherapy and stereotactic ablative radiation consecutively may be promising for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer
• Mobility in cancer patients with malignant spinal cord compression
• The benefits and dangers of supplements
• Patients with inoperable, early-stage lung cancer who receive stereotactic body radiation therapy have 40% five-year survival rate
• Endocrine-related protein found to be master regulator in other important diseases
• Improved means of detecting mismatched DNA
• We see art more as a person than an object: 'Magical contagion' spreads creator's essence to pieces
• A heart-felt need for dairy food: Small serving beneficial, large not necessary
• Neuroimaging technique identifies concussion-related brain disease in living brain
• Exxon Valdez 2014: Does media coverage of humanmade disasters contribute to consumer complacency?
• Analysis finds select group of stage IV lung cancer patient population achieves long-term survival after aggressive treatments
• Cats lend a helping paw in search for anti-HIV drugs
• New drug formulations to boost fight against respiratory illnesses, antibiotic-resistant superbugs
• Cancer-fighting cocktail demonstrates promising results as treatment for advanced cervical cancer
• More cheese, please! News study shows dairy is good for your metabolic health
• Burnout caused by more than just job stress
• Most prostate cancer patients surveyed five years after vessel-sparing radiation therapy report preserved sexual function
• Long-term androgen deprivation therapy combined with high-dose radiation therapy for prostate cancer improves biochemical control and survival rates
• New therapeutic target may prevent blindness in premature babies at risk of retinopathy
• Myth about Parkinson's disease debunked
• Imaging identifies asymptomatic people at risk for stroke
• Poor body size judgement can lead to increased tolerance of obesity
• Smoking, schizophrenia linked by alterations in brain nicotine signals
• Sport, physical activity help against depression
• Dental, nutrition experts call for radical rethink on free sugars intake
• Consumption of high-fat dairy products associated with lower risk of developing diabetes
• How bacteria ward off viruses: New molecular machinery discovered
• Cells simply avoid chromosome confusion

Do wearable lifestyle activity monitors really work? Posted: 16 Sep 2014 03:22 PM PDT Wearable electronic activity monitors hold great promise in helping people to reach their wellness goals. These increasingly sophisticated devices help the wearers improve their wellness by constantly monitoring their activities and bodily responses through companion computer programs and mobile apps. Given the large market for these devices, researchers analyzed 13 of these devices to compare how the devices and their apps work to motivate the wearer.

Study identifies when and how much various prostate cancer treatments will impact urinary and sexual functioning Posted: 16 Sep 2014 01:25 PM PDT Men with prostate cancer may one day be able to predict when and how much various treatments will impact their urinary and sexual functioning, thanks in part to new findings.

Healthy humans make nice homes for viruses Posted: 16 Sep 2014 01:24 PM PDT The same viruses that make us sick can take up residence in and on the human body without provoking a sneeze, cough or other troublesome symptom, according to new research. On average, healthy individuals carry about five types of viruses on their bodies, the researchers report. The study is the first comprehensive analysis to describe the diversity of viruses in healthy people.

Lifesaving protocol for school children with severe allergies developed Posted: 16 Sep 2014 12:52 PM PDT As the number of children with food allergies in the U.S. increases, so does the risk of children having a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis on school campuses. School nurses often have treatment plans in place for students with diagnosed allergies, but many children have their first allergic reactions at school, where a specific medication, such as EpiPen epinephrine injectors, may not be available and a response protocol may not be in place.

Intravascular ultrasound-guided intervention in patients with chronic total occlusion Posted: 16 Sep 2014 12:52 PM PDT A new study found that intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided intervention in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) could improve outcomes compared to a conventional angiography-guided approach during percutaneous coronary intervention. The IVUS-CTO study is the first randomized trial to examine the clinical impact of IVUS guidance for CTO intervention.

Optical coherence tomography in primary percutaneous coronary intervention Posted: 16 Sep 2014 12:52 PM PDT The first randomized trial to examine serial optical coherence tomography in primary percutaneous coronary intervention was reported today.

Don't underestimate your mind's eye: Objects don't need to be seen to impact decision-making Posted: 16 Sep 2014 11:28 AM PDT Objects in our visual environment needn't be seen in order to impact decision making, according to new research. Take a look around, and what do you see? Much more than you think you do, thanks to your finely tuned mind's eye, which processes images without your even knowing.

Computerized emotion detector Posted: 16 Sep 2014 11:15 AM PDT Face recognition software measures various parameters in a mug shot, such as the distance between the person's eyes, the height from lip to top of their nose and various other metrics and then compares it with photos of people in the database that have been tagged with a given name. Now, new research looks to take that one step further in recognizing the emotion portrayed by a face.

The genetics of coping with HIV Posted: 16 Sep 2014 11:15 AM PDT We respond to infections in two fundamental ways. One is 'resistance,' where the body attacks the invading pathogen and reduces its numbers. Another, which is much less well understood, is 'tolerance,' where the body tries to minimize the damage done by the pathogen. A study using data from a large Swiss cohort of HIV-infected individuals gives us a glimpse into why some people cope with HIV better than others.

Access to female-controlled contraception needed in intimate partner violence Posted: 16 Sep 2014 11:15 AM PDT Access to female-controlled contraceptive methods must be improved in order to help women and girls to counteract any risks to their reproductive health caused by intimate partner violence and reproductive coercion, according to experts.

World Health Organization policy improves use of medicines Posted: 16 Sep 2014 11:15 AM PDT Medical researchers evaluated data on reported adherence to World Health Organization essential medicines practices and measures of quality use of medicines from 56 low and middle income countries for 2002-2008. They compared the countries' government-reported implementation of 36 essential medicines policies with independent survey results for 10 validated indicators of quality use of medicines.

Slowed processing speed linked with executive deficits in multiple sclerosis Posted: 16 Sep 2014 10:25 AM PDT A new study supports the role of slowed processing speed in the executive deficits found in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Following this study, experts say that MS cognitive research should focus on two key domains -- processing speed and memory.

Patients waiting too long to see the doctor? Try 'just-in-time' management methods, researchers urge Posted: 16 Sep 2014 10:23 AM PDT Using a pain clinic as a testing ground, researchers have shown that a management process first popularized by Toyota in Japan can substantially reduce patient wait times and possibly improve the teaching of interns and residents.

Ebola outbreak 'out of all proportion' and severity cannot be predicated, expert says Posted: 16 Sep 2014 09:29 AM PDT A mathematical model that replicates Ebola outbreaks can no longer be used to ascertain the eventual scale of the current epidemic, finds new research.

'Compassionate use' and other means of accessing unproven, unapproved treatments could impact long-term medical benefits Posted: 16 Sep 2014 09:28 AM PDT Patients facing death or irreversible disease progression -– most of whom have exhausted all approved treatment options -- sometimes seek access to unapproved and unproven interventions. This type of access, often referred to as "compassionate use," is unregulated by federal authorities, subject to corporate pharmaceutical policies that change mid-stream, and could potentially adversely affect clinical care in the future, according to preliminary studies.

Patients who never smoked or who quit smoking have lower risk of developing secondary cancers Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:29 AM PDT Non-small cell lung cancer survivors who never smoked or who are former smokers at the time of diagnosis have a lower risk of developing secondary primary lung cancers compared to those who are current smokers, suggesting that increased tobacco exposure is associated with a higher risk of SPLC, according to new research.

New gene research helps pinpoint prostate cancer risk Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:22 AM PDT A consortia of research hubs around the world encompassing 150 researchers has analysed more than 10 million genetic markers in 80,000 men with prostate cancer. "We now have 100 genetic regions and no other cancer has had this many loci identified to be associated with it. What we are looking for is the combination effect of how these loci work together and how much they can explain the heritability of prostate cancer," one researcher explained.

How learning to talk is in the genes Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:22 AM PDT Researchers have found evidence that genetic factors may contribute to the development of language during infancy. Scientists discovered a significant link between genetic changes near the ROBO2 gene and the number of words spoken by children in the early stages of language development.

Human faces are so variable because we evolved to look unique Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:22 AM PDT Why are human faces so variable compared to other animals, from lizards and penguins to dogs and monkeys? Scientists analyzed human faces and the genes that code for facial features and found a high variability that could only be explained by selection for variable faces, probably because of the importance of social interactions in human relationships and the need for humans to be recognizable.

Scientists create therapy-grade stem cells using new cocktail to reprogram adult cells Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:19 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new cocktail that's highly effective at coaxing adult cells to become quality pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Using a new combination of reprogramming factors, they produced a higher quality result than the traditional formula. The new mix delivers fewer colonies of iPSCs, but 80% of them pass the toughest pluripotency test.

Can consumers use an easy trick to extend wonderful experiences, shorten bad ones? Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:19 AM PDT Many experiences rarely seem to last the right amount of time. Vacations feel too short, meetings seem too long, and bad dates never seem to end. A new study finds that simply categorizing experiences can help consumers extend good experiences and shorten the bad ones.

Why are consumers willing to spend more money on ethical products? Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:19 AM PDT What motivates consumers to make ethical choices such as buying clothing not made in a sweat shop, spending more money on fair-trade coffee, and bringing their own bags when they go shopping? According to a new study, ethical consumption is motivated by a need for consumers to turn their emotions about unethical practices into action.

Do you always get what you pay for? How consumers mispredict product quality Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:19 AM PDT Consumers are willing to spend thousands of dollars for luxury brand watches such as Rolex and Cartier because they are synonymous with high quality. But does this mean that inexpensive watches made by low-cost rivals must always be low quality? According to a new study, consumers mistakenly predict product quality based on quality consistency in other price ranges.

Do ads showing sexy women make male consumers less charitable? Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:18 AM PDT What happens when you use images of sexy women to attract men's attention? According to a new study, male consumers who are shown images of sexy women feel less connected to other people and are less likely to purchase products advertised as benefiting others or make charitable contributions.

Gene variant that dramatically reduces 'bad' lipids: Role of rare APOC3 variant in reducing triglyceride levels identified Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:18 AM PDT A rare genetic variant that dramatically reduces levels of certain types of lipids in the blood has been identified in through a study that used data collected from around 4,000 healthy people in the UK. The study is the first to emerge from the UK10K Project's cohort of samples from the general public and demonstrates the power of whole genome sequencing at scale.

Chemotherapy and stereotactic ablative radiation consecutively may be promising for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT For patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, the combination of chemotherapy and stereotactic ablative radiation may be a promising treatment option, ultimately allowing them to undergo surgery that may not otherwise be an option, according to new research.

Mobility in cancer patients with malignant spinal cord compression Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT Mobility is equally preserved in cancer patients suffering from malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) who receive a single dose of 10 Gy of radiation therapy (RT), compared to patients who receive five daily doses of 4 Gy of RT each, according to new research.

The benefits and dangers of supplements Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT From multivitamins to supplements that pledge to help with everything from depression to treating athlete's foot, whole stores are filled with these alternative medications. With so many options out there it can be difficult for patients to know what is beneficial or even where to start.

Patients with inoperable, early-stage lung cancer who receive stereotactic body radiation therapy have 40% five-year survival rate Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT Patients with inoperable, early-stage lung cancer who receive stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) have a five-year survival rate of 40 percent, according to new research.

Endocrine-related protein found to be master regulator in other important diseases Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT Investigating a protein known to influence human glucose levels, scientists found that this factor has a broader reach than first thought, acting on key gene pathways involved in cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric, and cancer-related diseases.

Improved means of detecting mismatched DNA Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT A highly sensitive means of analyzing very tiny amounts of DNA has been developed by researchers. The discovery, they say, could increase the ability of forensic scientists to match genetic material in some criminal investigations. It could also prevent the need for a painful, invasive test given to transplant patients at risk of rejecting their donor organs and replace it with a blood test that reveals traces of donor DNA.

We see art more as a person than an object: 'Magical contagion' spreads creator's essence to pieces Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT We see art more as a person than an object, according to new research. And in some cases, we make distinctions between artworks — say, an exact replica of a piece created by the artist, versus one created by a different artist. Art, in other words, is an extension of the creator.

A heart-felt need for dairy food: Small serving beneficial, large not necessary Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:22 AM PDT A daily small serve of dairy food may reduce the risk of heart disease or stroke, even in communities where such foods have not traditionally formed part of the diet according to new research.

Neuroimaging technique identifies concussion-related brain disease in living brain Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:22 AM PDT An experimental positron emission tomography (PET) tracer is effective in diagnosing concussion-related brain disease while a person is still alive. A new study suggests that an experimental radiolabeled compound, which is designed to latch onto a protein called tau that accumulates in the brain with repetitive blows to the head, can be registered on a PET scanner to effectively diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Exxon Valdez 2014: Does media coverage of humanmade disasters contribute to consumer complacency? Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:18 AM PDT Twenty-five years ago, the Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons of oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound. Americans found themselves cleaning up another giant oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. According to a new study, news coverage of environmental disasters serves to calm our immediate anxieties instead of catalyzing changes in the way fossil fuels are used.

Analysis finds select group of stage IV lung cancer patient population achieves long-term survival after aggressive treatments Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:18 AM PDT A large, international analysis of patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) indicates that a patient's overall survival (OS) rate can be related to factors including the timing of when metastases develop and lymph node involvement, and that aggressive treatment for "low-risk" patients leads to a five-year OS rate of 47.8 percent, according to new research.

Cats lend a helping paw in search for anti-HIV drugs Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:18 AM PDT A protein found in both the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) -- which causes AIDS in cats -- and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) might inspire new anti-HIV drugs, researchers report. They offer up a detailed, 3-D molecular map of FIV integrase that could help scientists also understand how this protein works in HIV.

New drug formulations to boost fight against respiratory illnesses, antibiotic-resistant superbugs Posted: 16 Sep 2014 06:48 AM PDT Antibiotic resistance is a challenge in the treatment of diseases today as bacteria continuously mutate and develop resistance against multiple drugs designed to kill them, turning them into superbugs. New ways to enhance the efficacy of drugs used to treat respiratory system infections and antibiotic-resistant superbugs have now been uncovered by researchers.

Cancer-fighting cocktail demonstrates promising results as treatment for advanced cervical cancer Posted: 16 Sep 2014 06:27 AM PDT Combining a standard chemotherapy drug with a second drug that stops cells from dividing improves both the survival and response rates for those with advanced cervical cancer, a new study finds. Cervical cancer used to be the leading cause of cancer death for women in the U.S., according to the CDC, but cases and deaths have declined over the years as more women have received regular Pap tests.

More cheese, please! News study shows dairy is good for your metabolic health Posted: 16 Sep 2014 06:27 AM PDT Researchers studied the dairy-eating habits of healthy French-Canadians' and monitored how dairy consumption may have an effect on their overall metabolic health. It's well known that dairy products contain calcium and minerals good for bones, but new research has shown that dairy consumption may also have beneficial effects on metabolic health and can reduce risk of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Burnout caused by more than just job stress Posted: 16 Sep 2014 06:27 AM PDT Impossible deadlines, demanding bosses, abusive colleagues, unpaid overtime: all factors that can lead to a burnout. But when it comes to mental health in the workplace, the influence of home life must also be considered to get the full picture.

Most prostate cancer patients surveyed five years after vessel-sparing radiation therapy report preserved sexual function Posted: 16 Sep 2014 06:20 AM PDT A comparison of five-year sexual function outcomes, as reported by patients treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) versus combination EBRT plus brachytherapy, indicates that the utilization of vessel-sparing radiation therapy makes cure possible without compromising long-term sexual function, according to new research.

Long-term androgen deprivation therapy combined with high-dose radiation therapy for prostate cancer improves biochemical control and survival rates Posted: 16 Sep 2014 06:20 AM PDT Prostate cancer patients who receive high-dose radiation therapy (HDRT) followed by a longer period of hormone suppression therapy, or androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), have higher five-year biochemical, disease-free survival (bDFS) and overall survival rates compared to patients who receive HDRT and a shorter duration of ADT, according to new research.

New therapeutic target may prevent blindness in premature babies at risk of retinopathy Posted: 16 Sep 2014 06:20 AM PDT New research opens the possibility of developing new, more selective drugs to control the abnormal growth of blood vessels and prevent blindness including retinopathy of prematurity, a disorder that may result in retinal detachment due to abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina of the eye.

Myth about Parkinson's disease debunked Posted: 16 Sep 2014 05:49 AM PDT Using advanced computer models, neuroscience researchers have gained new knowledge about the complex processes that cause Parkinson's disease. Scanning the brain of a patient suffering from Parkinson's disease reveals that in spite of dopamine cell death, there are no signs of a lack of dopamine -- even at a comparatively late stage in the process.

Imaging identifies asymptomatic people at risk for stroke Posted: 16 Sep 2014 05:49 AM PDT Imaging can be a cost-effective way to identify people at risk for stroke who might benefit from aggressive intervention, according to a new modeling study. The study looked at people with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis, a narrowing of the major blood vessels supplying blood to the head due to atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup. Carotid artery stenosis is the primary cause of up to 20 percent of ischemic strokes, which result from an obstruction within a blood vessel and make up 85 percent of all strokes.

Poor body size judgement can lead to increased tolerance of obesity Posted: 16 Sep 2014 05:48 AM PDT Size is relative, especially to people who tend to be on the heavy side. Researchers in the U.S. found that seven in every ten obese adults underestimate how much someone weighs. People of normal weight make this mistake much less often. Mothers of overweight or obese children also tend to misjudge their children's size, as youngsters misjudge their obese mothers' size, says lead author of a new study.

Smoking, schizophrenia linked by alterations in brain nicotine signals Posted: 16 Sep 2014 05:48 AM PDT Schizophrenia is associated with increased rates and intensity of tobacco smoking. A growing body of research suggests that the relationship between schizophrenia and smoking stems, in part, from an effort by patients to use nicotine to self-medicate symptoms and cognitive impairment associated with the disease. A new study sheds light on this hypothesis. The authors found that the level of nicotine receptors in the brain was lower in schizophrenia patients than in a matched healthy group.

Sport, physical activity help against depression Posted: 16 Sep 2014 05:48 AM PDT Depression is the most frequently diagnosed mental illness. In the western industrial nations, at least every tenth person suffers from depression once in the course of their life. Depression influences physical health more than diabetes or arthritis, clinicians say. Treatment of depression traditionally occurs with antidepressants and psychotherapy. But as research has shown, sport and physical activity partially encounters the same neurophysiological changes as antidepressants.

Dental, nutrition experts call for radical rethink on free sugars intake Posted: 15 Sep 2014 05:29 PM PDT Sugars in the diet should make up no more than 3 percent of total energy intake to reduce the significant financial and social burdens of tooth decay, finds new research. Free sugars are defined by the World Health Organization Nutrition Guidance Adivisory Group as follows: "Free sugars include monosaccharides and disaccharides added to foods by the manufacturer, cook or consumer, and sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit concentrates."

Consumption of high-fat dairy products associated with lower risk of developing diabetes Posted: 15 Sep 2014 05:29 PM PDT People with the highest consumption of high-fat dairy products -- eight or more portions per day -- have a 23 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those with the lowest consumption -- one or less per day, a new study shows.

How bacteria ward off viruses: New molecular machinery discovered Posted: 15 Sep 2014 01:52 PM PDT Researchers have provided the first blueprint of a bacterium's "molecular machinery," showing how bacterial immune systems fight off the viruses that infect them. By tracking down how bacterial defense systems work, the scientists can potentially fight infectious diseases and genetic disorders. The key is a repetitive piece of DNA in the bacterial genome called a CRISPR, for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.

Cells simply avoid chromosome confusion Posted: 15 Sep 2014 12:41 PM PDT Reproductive cell division has evolved a simple, mechanical solution to avoid chromosome sorting errors. This natural safeguard prevents incorrect chromosome counts and misalignments that lead to infertility, miscarriage, or congenital conditions, researchers report.

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