ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Think you have Alzheimer's? You just might be right, study says
• 'Skin-like' device monitors cardiovascular and skin health
• Bacterial 'communication system' could be used to stop, kill cancer cells, study finds
• A way to kill chemo-resistant ovarian cancer cells: Cut down its protector
• Realizing the promise of education: An effective early intervention program for substance exposed babies and toddlers
• Brain scans reveal 'gray matter' differences in media multitaskers
• Stem cells used to learn how common mutation in Asians affects heart health
• Immune activity shortly after surgery holds big clue to recovery rate
• Alzheimer's patients can still feel emotion long after memories have vanished
• Single statistic can strengthen public support for traffic safety laws
• Indian scientists significantly more religious than UK scientists
• Modest acute changes in cardiac biomarkers, electrocardiogram findings following thoracic radiation therapy
• Less costly to screen for, treat early-stage lung than to treat late-stage lung cancer
• Costs of ACA health insurance in Texas vary significantly depending on income
• Pain keeps surgery patients awake, extends hospital stay, study finds
• Diabetes researchers urge for new screening and management approach
• Modest effect of statins on diabetes risk, bodyweight related to mechanism of action
• New analysis of human genetic history reveals female dominance
• New anti-cancer peptide vaccines and inhibitors developed
• Alcohol consumption influenced by genes, research shows
• Brain areas activated by itch-relieving drug identified
• Enzyme discovery paves way to tackling deadly parasite diseases
• Buffet pricing affects satisfaction of food
• New linguistic tools can predict your dialect characteristics
• University health schools' use of holistic admissions has positive impact, study finds
• Gang life is short-lived, study finds
• 'Fracking' wastewater that is treated for drinking downstream produces potentially harmful compounds
• Southern European healthcare systems in the economic crisis
• False memories could be a side-effect of human ability to learn rules
• Surgeon employs novel technique using cadaver meniscus to reconstruct finger joints
• States need to assume greater role in regulating dietary supplements for weight loss, muscle building, experts say
• Many elite college athletes return to play after ACL surgery
• Wavefront optics emerging as new tool for measuring and correcting vision
• New mobile solar unit is designed to save lives when the power goes out
• Most breast cancer patients who had healthy breast removed at peace with decision
• Tonsil stem cells could someday help repair liver damage without surgery
• Gender barriers: History of discrimination against women in engineering
• Imaging studies open a window on how effective antibodies are formed
• Good news for young patients with a leukemia subtype associated with a poor prognosis
• New 'designer proteins' in fight against Alzheimer's, cancer
• Organ donation: Do we opt-in or opt-out?
• Cardiorespiratory fitness is often misdiagnosed
• Look into my eyes: Children can be trained to improve recognition of other people's emotions
• Higher risk of autism found in children born at short and long interpregnancy intervals
• Skin cells can be engineered into pulmonary valves for pediatric patients
• New EEG electrode set for fast, easy measurement of brain function abnormalities
• Avoiding falls: Math model helps researchers aid diagnosis, treatment of stability problems
• Simulation's 50% solution: Similar educational outcomes when half of hard-to-find clinical hours are replaced with clinical simulation
• Best friends' drinking can negate protective effects of an alcohol dehydrogenase 1B gene variant
• Drug users' opinions on genetic testing explored
• 'Tissue chip' to screen neurological toxins, researchers report
• Effect of intervention, removal of costs, on prenatal genetic testing
• Rate of diabetes in U.S. may be leveling off
• Immune system is key ally in cyberwar against cancer

Think you have Alzheimer's? You just might be right, study says Posted: 24 Sep 2014 06:18 PM PDT New research suggests that people who notice their memory is slipping may be on to something. The research appears to confirm that self-reported memory complaints are strong predictors of clinical memory impairment later in life.

'Skin-like' device monitors cardiovascular and skin health Posted: 24 Sep 2014 12:39 PM PDT A new wearable medical device can quickly alert a person if they are having cardiovascular trouble or if it's simply time to put on some skin moisturizer, researchers report. The small device, approximately five centimeters square, can be placed directly on the skin and worn 24/7 for around-the-clock health monitoring. The wireless technology uses thousands of tiny liquid crystals on a flexible substrate to sense heat. When the device turns color, the wearer knows something is awry.

Bacterial 'communication system' could be used to stop, kill cancer cells, study finds Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:50 AM PDT A molecule used as a communication system by bacteria can be manipulated to prevent cancer cells from spreading, a study has demonstrated. "During an infection, bacteria release molecules which allow them to 'talk' to each other," said the lead author of the study. "Depending on the type of molecule released, the signal will tell other bacteria to multiply, escape the immune system or even stop spreading."

A way to kill chemo-resistant ovarian cancer cells: Cut down its protector Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:50 AM PDT Ovarian cancer is the most deadly gynecological cancer, claiming the lives of more than 50 percent of women who are diagnosed with the disease. A new study provides new insight into why ovarian cancer is often resistant to chemotherapy, as well as a potential way to improve its diagnosis and treatment.

Realizing the promise of education: An effective early intervention program for substance exposed babies and toddlers Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT Two decades after its initiation, a program launched for substance-exposed babies and toddlers demonstrates long-term success. The program is designed to help children from birth to three years of age who are developmentally delayed, prenatally exposed to drugs and often with the additional risk of maltreatment, ultimately achieve their developmental milestones and be ready to enter kindergarten ready to learn.

Brain scans reveal 'gray matter' differences in media multitaskers Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT Simultaneously using mobile phones, laptops and other media devices could be changing the structure of our brains, according to new research. People who frequently use several media devices at the same time have lower grey-matter density in one particular region of the brain compared to those who use just one device occasionally.

Stem cells used to learn how common mutation in Asians affects heart health Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT Over 500 million people worldwide carry a genetic mutation that disables a common metabolic protein called ALDH2. The mutation, which predominantly occurs in people of East Asian descent, leads to an increased risk of heart disease and poorer outcomes after a heart attack.

Immune activity shortly after surgery holds big clue to recovery rate Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT The millions of people who undergo major surgery each year have no way of knowing how long it will take them to recover from the operation. Some will feel better within days. For others, it will take a month or more. Right now, doctors can't tell patients which category they'll fit into. Now, researcher have discovered that the activity level of a small set of immune cells during the first 24 hours after surgery provides strong clues to how quickly patients will bounce back.

Alzheimer's patients can still feel emotion long after memories have vanished Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:50 AM PDT A new study further supports an inescapable message: caregivers have a profound influence -- good or bad -- on the emotional state of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Patients may not remember a recent visit by a loved one or having been neglected by staff at a nursing home, but those actions can have a lasting impact on how they feel.

Single statistic can strengthen public support for traffic safety laws Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:50 AM PDT Public support for effective road safety laws, already solid, can be strengthened by a single number: a statistic that quantifies the traffic-related injury risks associated with a given law, according to a new study.

Indian scientists significantly more religious than UK scientists Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:49 AM PDT Indian scientists are significantly more religious than United Kingdom scientists, according to the first cross-national study of religion and spirituality among scientists.

Modest acute changes in cardiac biomarkers, electrocardiogram findings following thoracic radiation therapy Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:49 AM PDT There were only modest acute changes in cardiac biomarkers and electrocardiograms and there were no clinically significant cardiac events in patients with high-dose radiation exposure to the heart following thoracic radiation therapy and short-term follow-up, a study has concluded.

Less costly to screen for, treat early-stage lung than to treat late-stage lung cancer Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:49 AM PDT The average cost to screen high-risk individuals for developing lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography plus the average cost of curative intent treatment, like surgery, is lower than the average cost to treat advanced stage lung cancer, which quite rarely results in a cure.

Costs of ACA health insurance in Texas vary significantly depending on income Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:49 AM PDT The cost of monthly premiums for health insurance plans for Texans under the Affordable Care Act can vary by hundreds of dollars, depending on a person's income and the level of coverage chosen, according to a report.

Pain keeps surgery patients awake, extends hospital stay, study finds Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:46 AM PDT Pain can make it difficult for some patients to get a good night's rest while recovering in the hospital following certain surgical procedures, often resulting in longer hospital stays, according to researchers.

Diabetes researchers urge for new screening and management approach Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:46 AM PDT Treating patients with prediabetes as if they had diabetes could help prevent or delay the most severe complications associated with this chronic disease, experts say. The researchers say that by not devising a treatment strategy for people with prediabetes, doctors run the risk of creating a pool of future patients with high blood sugar who then become more likely to develop serious complications, such as kidney disease, blindness, amputations, and heart disease.

Modest effect of statins on diabetes risk, bodyweight related to mechanism of action Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:37 AM PDT The mechanism by which statins increase the risk of type 2 diabetes has been investigated in a large-scale analysis from an international team led by researchers, using information from genetic studies and clinical trials.

New analysis of human genetic history reveals female dominance Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:37 AM PDT Female populations have been larger than male populations throughout human history, according to new research. The research used a new technique to obtain higher quality paternal genetic information to analyze the demographic history of males and females in worldwide populations.

New anti-cancer peptide vaccines and inhibitors developed Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:37 AM PDT Two new anticancer peptide vaccines and two peptide inhibitors have been developed as part of a larger peptide immunotherapy effort. The vaccines and inhibitors are designed to target the HER-3 and IGF-1R receptors, which are over-expressed in cancers of the breast, pancreas, esophagus and colon.

Alcohol consumption influenced by genes, research shows Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:37 AM PDT How people perceive and taste alcohol depends on genetic factors, and that influences whether they 'like' and consume alcoholic beverages, according to researchers. In the first study to show that the sensations from sampled alcohol vary as a function of genetics, researchers focused on three chemosensory genes -- two bitter-taste receptor genes known as TAS2R13 and TAS2R38 and a burn receptor gene, TRPV1.

Brain areas activated by itch-relieving drug identified Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:37 AM PDT Brain areas that respond to reward and pleasure are linked to the ability of the drug butorphanol to relieve itch, according to new research. The findings point to the involvement of the brain's opioid receptors -- known for their roles in pain, reward, and addiction -- in itch relief, potentially opening up new avenues to the development of treatments for chronic itch.

Enzyme discovery paves way to tackling deadly parasite diseases Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:36 AM PDT An enzyme found in all living things could hold the key to combating deadly diseases such as sleeping sickness, a study suggests. Researchers say this discovery creates an opportunity to design drugs that block activity of the enzyme -- known as pyruvate kinase -- in species that cause infection. Blocking the enzyme would effectively kill the parasite, without affecting the same enzyme in the patient.

Buffet pricing affects satisfaction of food Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:36 AM PDT Does the price you pay at a buffet influence how much you like the food? Surprisingly, yes, say researchers. A new study found that when charged more for an all-you-can-eat buffet diners rated the food higher than when charged less for the same food.

New linguistic tools can predict your dialect characteristics Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:36 AM PDT A new linguistic study may make it possible to more accurately predict the dialect features people use based on their demographic characteristics and where they live. In a new article, researchers used statistical modeling techniques to predict whether speakers in Tuscany use words from standard Italian or words unique to local dialects.

University health schools' use of holistic admissions has positive impact, study finds Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:35 AM PDT A new report is the first to examine nationwide the impact and use of holistic review -- a university admissions process that assesses an applicant's unique experiences alongside traditional measures of academic achievement such as grades and test scores -- for students pursuing careers in the health professions.

Gang life is short-lived, study finds Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:35 AM PDT Although membership in a gang often is depicted as a lifelong commitment, the typical gang member joins at age 13 and only stays active for about two years, according to a study.

'Fracking' wastewater that is treated for drinking downstream produces potentially harmful compounds Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:35 AM PDT Concerns that fluids from hydraulic fracturing, or 'fracking,' are contaminating drinking water abound. Now, scientists are bringing to light another angle that adds to the controversy. A new study has found that discharge of fracking wastewaters to rivers, even after passage through wastewater treatment plants, could be putting the drinking water supplies of downstream cities at risk.

Southern European healthcare systems in the economic crisis Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:30 AM PDT Very few matters draw as much public attention as the ongoing debate surrounding national healthcare services. When we speak of even the most basic access to medicines and cures - particularly sensitive topics during times of economic crises - political interference and private interests have dominated much of the discourse.

False memories could be a side-effect of human ability to learn rules Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:30 AM PDT Our tendency to create false memories could be related to our ability to learn rules according to new research. New research suggests that individuals who are particularly good at learning rules and classifying objects by common properties are also particularly prone to false memory illusions.

Surgeon employs novel technique using cadaver meniscus to reconstruct finger joints Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:30 AM PDT Artist Joost van Oss was chopping wood a few years ago when he injured the middle knuckle on his right hand. The intense pain and swelling that followed nearly ended his career as a painter and a sculptor. But thanks to a novel surgery using knee meniscus from a cadaver to reconstruct his finger joint, he's back to cooking, sailing, painting and sculpting – all pain free.

States need to assume greater role in regulating dietary supplements for weight loss, muscle building, experts say Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:30 AM PDT Because of lax federal oversight of dietary supplements, which are marketed to adults and adolescents for weight loss and muscle building, but usually do not deliver promised results and can actually cause severe health issues, state governments need to increase their regulation of these products to protect consumers.

Many elite college athletes return to play after ACL surgery Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:30 AM PDT The majority of athletes included in a new study were able to return to play after having knee surgery to repair an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. "It's very clear from our data that the younger the elite athlete, the higher risk for reinjury," said the lead author of the study.

Wavefront optics emerging as new tool for measuring and correcting vision Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:29 AM PDT A technique developed by astronomers seeking a clear view of distant objects in space is being intensively studied as a new approach to measuring and correcting visual abnormalities.

New mobile solar unit is designed to save lives when the power goes out Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:29 AM PDT Brooke Ellison draws her own power from will, but the ventilator that keeps her alive requires uninterrupted electricity. Dr. Ellison is allowing scientists to field-test, at her home, the Nextek Power Systems STAR, a mobile solar generator.

Most breast cancer patients who had healthy breast removed at peace with decision Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:28 AM PDT More women with cancer in one breast are opting to have both breasts removed to reduce their risk of future cancer. New research shows that in the long term, most have no regrets. Researchers surveyed hundreds of women with breast cancer who had double mastectomies between 1960 and 1993 and found that nearly all would make the same choice again.

Tonsil stem cells could someday help repair liver damage without surgery Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:28 AM PDT The liver provides critical functions, such as ridding the body of toxins. Its failure can be deadly, and there are few options for fixing it. But scientists now report a way to potentially inject stem cells from tonsils, a body part we don't need, to repair damaged livers — all without surgery.

Gender barriers: History of discrimination against women in engineering Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:28 AM PDT To better understand the gender divide that still exists today in engineering, it's necessary to look at the history of the field, says one expert who explored those gender issues in a new book.

Imaging studies open a window on how effective antibodies are formed Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:28 AM PDT Sometimes, in order to understand what's happening in the immune system, you just have to watch it. By imaging the immune response, researchers have observed how two types of immune cells, T and B cells, interact with one another during a critical period following infection in order to prepare the best antibodies and establish long-lasting protection.

Good news for young patients with a leukemia subtype associated with a poor prognosis Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:28 AM PDT Adjusting treatment based on early response to chemotherapy made a life-saving difference to young patients with an acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) subtype associated with a poor outcome, researchers have found. The results are good news for children and adolescents with Philadelphia chromosome-like ALL (Ph-like ALL), a subtype that until now was associated with a poor prognosis. Ph-like ALL accounts for as much as 15 percent of the most common pediatric cancer.

New 'designer proteins' in fight against Alzheimer's, cancer Posted: 24 Sep 2014 05:51 AM PDT Scientists are lending Mother Nature a helping hand in fight against cancer and Alzheimer's with the development of a new, more effective way to make amino acids. The new 'designer proteins' can be used to make more effective drugs with fewer side effects, they report.

Organ donation: Do we opt-in or opt-out? Posted: 24 Sep 2014 05:51 AM PDT Tthere should be an international database containing the very latest information about organ donations and transplants, so policy makers can make informed decisions on whether to adopt an opt-out or opt-in system, researchers say.

Cardiorespiratory fitness is often misdiagnosed Posted: 24 Sep 2014 05:51 AM PDT Scaling maximal oxygen uptake and maximal workload by body weight confounds measures of cardiorespiratory fitness, a recent study has shown. It has been a common practice in exercise testing to scale the results by body weight and, according to researchers, this practice should be abandoned. More reliable data on cardiorespiratory fitness can be observed by using lean mass proportional measures, they say.

Look into my eyes: Children can be trained to improve recognition of other people's emotions Posted: 24 Sep 2014 05:51 AM PDT Children can using training to spot crucial cues on someone's emotional state, new research has shown. It is hoped the findings could lead to new or improved interventions for children and adults who have difficulty recognizing emotional states in others.

Higher risk of autism found in children born at short and long interpregnancy intervals Posted: 24 Sep 2014 05:51 AM PDT Children who were conceived either less than 1 year or more than 5 years after the birth of their prior sibling were more likely to be diagnosed with autism than children conceived following an interval of 2-5 years, a study concludes.

Skin cells can be engineered into pulmonary valves for pediatric patients Posted: 24 Sep 2014 05:48 AM PDT Researchers have found a way to take a pediatric patient's skin cells, reprogram the skin cells to function as heart valvular cells, and then use the cells as part of a tissue-engineered pulmonary valve. A proof of concept study provides more detail on this scientific development. This study is the first step toward demonstrating the feasibility of creating a patient-specific pulmonary valve that contains live cells from the patient, researchers say.

New EEG electrode set for fast, easy measurement of brain function abnormalities Posted: 24 Sep 2014 05:48 AM PDT A new, easy-to-use EEG electrode set for the measurement of the electrical activity of the brain has been developed, making it possible to attach the electrode set on the patient quickly, resulting in reliable results without any special treatment of the skin. As EEG measurements in emergency care are often performed in challenging conditions, the design of the electrode set pays particular attention to the reduction of electromagnetic interference from external sources.

Avoiding falls: Math model helps researchers aid diagnosis, treatment of stability problems Posted: 24 Sep 2014 05:46 AM PDT A mathematical model has been designed by researchers that lends new insight to how humans walk. Every step we take is a balancing act as the body falls forward and sideways, explains one investigator. "We were able to show that the next foot position can be predicted way in advance of when the foot is placed -- as early as the middle of the previous step -- based on how the body is falling," he said. "Nobody knew that such high predictability was possible with such a simple model and with only normal walking data."

Simulation's 50% solution: Similar educational outcomes when half of hard-to-find clinical hours are replaced with clinical simulation Posted: 24 Sep 2014 05:46 AM PDT Similar educational outcomes were found in a study when half of the hard-to-find clinical hours were replaced with clinical simulation. Students were assessed on clinical competency and nursing knowledge in both scenarios, and also also provided ratings on how well they perceived their learning needs were met in both the clinical and simulation environments.

Best friends' drinking can negate protective effects of an alcohol dehydrogenase 1B gene variant Posted: 23 Sep 2014 01:12 PM PDT Alcohol use that begins during adolescence affects the development of alcohol use disorders during adulthood. A new study looks at the effects of interplay between peer drinking and the functional variant rs1229984 in the alcohol dehydrogenase 1B gene (ADH1B) among adolescents. Peer drinking reduces the protective effects of this ADH1B variant, experts have found.

Drug users' opinions on genetic testing explored Posted: 23 Sep 2014 01:11 PM PDT Drug users' attitudes and understandings of genetics and genetic testing have been explored through six focus groups. The focus groups were segregated by race and ethnicity to increase participants' comfort in talking about racial and ethnic issues. Over half of the participants (53%) reported having either HIV/AIDs or HCV, or a co-infection, and understood the potential value of genetic testing.

'Tissue chip' to screen neurological toxins, researchers report Posted: 23 Sep 2014 01:11 PM PDT A faster, more affordable way to screen for neural toxins is under development, helping flag chemicals that may harm human development. Researchers will collaborate to refine existing 3-D human tissue chips and combine them into an integrated system that can mimic the complex functions of the human body.

Effect of intervention, removal of costs, on prenatal genetic testing Posted: 23 Sep 2014 01:11 PM PDT An intervention for pregnant women that included a computerized, interactive decision-support guide regarding prenatal genetic testing, and no cost for testing, resulted in less prenatal test use and more informed choices, according to a study.

Rate of diabetes in U.S. may be leveling off Posted: 23 Sep 2014 01:11 PM PDT Following a doubling of the incidence and prevalence of diabetes in the U.S. from 1990-2008, new data suggest a plateauing of the rate between 2008 and 2012 for adults, however the incidence continued to increase in Hispanic and non-Hispanic black adults, according to a study.

Immune system is key ally in cyberwar against cancer Posted: 23 Sep 2014 11:28 AM PDT Scientists who are fighting a cyberwar against cancer find that the immune system may be a clinician's most powerful ally. "Recent research has found that cancer is already adept at using cyberwarfare against the immune system, and we studied the interplay between cancer and the immune system to see how we might turn the tables on cancer," said a co-author of a the study.

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