ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Childhood cancer drugs cure now, may cause problems later, research shows
• Scientists may be able to double efficacy of radiation therapy
• Researchers urge caution when buying noisy toys
• Traumatic experiences may make you tough
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs may reduce mortality for influenza patients
• First comprehensive DNA study of mast cell leukemia uncovers clues that could improve therapy
• Gene discovered for Weaver syndrome
• Let's do the twist: Spiral proteins are efficient gene delivery agents
• Penicillin doses for children should be reviewed, say experts
• Teens choose water when calorie count of sugary beverages is easier to understand
• Changes to the brain in patients with spinal cord compression identified

Childhood cancer drugs cure now, may cause problems later, research shows Posted: 16 Dec 2011 02:52 PM PST Will a drug used to treat childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and other pediatric cancers cause heart problems later in life? A professor of pharmaceutical sciences, who sees his work as a bridge between research and clinical practice, has focused recent efforts on trying to answer this question.

Scientists may be able to double efficacy of radiation therapy Posted: 16 Dec 2011 02:44 PM PST Scientists may have a way to double the efficacy and reduce the side effects of radiation therapy.

Researchers urge caution when buying noisy toys Posted: 16 Dec 2011 02:44 PM PST While Road Rippers Lightning Rods, Let's Rock Elmo and the I Am T-Pain musical microphone might be sought-after gifts this holiday season, parents should ensure that their children don't risk permanent hearing damage by misusing them.

Traumatic experiences may make you tough Posted: 16 Dec 2011 12:02 PM PST Your parents were right: Hard experiences may indeed make you tough. Psychological scientists have found that, while going through many experiences like assault, hurricanes, and bereavement can be psychologically damaging, small amounts of trauma may help people develop resilience.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs may reduce mortality for influenza patients Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:29 AM PST Statins, traditionally known as cholesterol-lowering drugs, may reduce mortality among patients hospitalized with influenza, according to a new study.

First comprehensive DNA study of mast cell leukemia uncovers clues that could improve therapy Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:28 AM PST Cancer researchers have carried out the first comprehensive study of the changes seen in the DNA of a patient with mast cell leukemia, an extremely aggressive subtype of acute myeloid leukemia with a very poor prognosis. Their genomic survey has helped identify two previously unknown mutations that could directly influence patient response to currently available therapeutic drugs.

Gene discovered for Weaver syndrome Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:27 PM PST Scientists have found a gene that causes Weaver syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that typically causes large size at birth, tall stature, developmental delay during childhood, and intellectual disability. The discovery means that testing the EZH2 gene for mutations could help families who are seeking a diagnosis for their child.

Let's do the twist: Spiral proteins are efficient gene delivery agents Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:26 PM PST Clinical gene therapy may be one step closer, thanks to a new twist on an old class of molecules. Researchers have demonstrated that short spiral-shaped proteins can efficiently deliver DNA segments to cells, with well-controlled toxicity. Their helical polypeptides far exceeded random-coil polypeptide and even outstripped commercial agents in efficiency, even on some of the hardest cells to transfect: stem cells and fibroblast cells.

Penicillin doses for children should be reviewed, say experts Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:25 PM PST A team of scientists and clinicians are calling for a review of penicillin dosing guidelines for children, as the current guidelines have remained unchanged for nearly 50 years. The research indicates some children may not be receiving effective doses, which could potentially lead to failed treatment and contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Teens choose water when calorie count of sugary beverages is easier to understand Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:25 PM PST Providing easily understandable caloric information, specifically in the form of a physical activity equivalent, may reduce the likelihood of sugar-sweetened beverage purchases among adolescents by as much as half.

Changes to the brain in patients with spinal cord compression identified Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:24 PM PST Spinal degeneration is an unavoidable part of aging. For some, it leads to compression of the spinal cord which can cause problems with dexterity, numbness in the hands, and the ability to walk. New research looks beyond the spinal cord injury in these patients, and found they also experience changes in the motor cortex of the brain.

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