ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Breast cancer risk can be lowered by avoiding unnecessary medical imaging
• Sick from your stomach: Bacterial changes may trigger diseases like rheumatoid arthritis
• Never too late to quit: Quitting smoking reduces mortality, even in older patients
• Keeping pace: Walking speed may signal thinking problems ahead
• New molecules important for vision and brain function identified
• Kill the germs, spare the ears: Encouraging study shows how
• Are feminism and attachment parenting practices compatible?
• Long-ignored enzyme turns out to be key to killing infectious bacteria
• Treating childhood anxiety with computers, not drugs
• Molecular imaging detects signs of Alzheimer's in healthy patients
• Clues found to way embryonic kidney maintains its fleeting stem cells
• Gene inactivation drives spread of melanoma
• New therapy extends life for prostate cancer patients
• New skin patch treatment kills most common form of skin cancer
• Molecular imaging finds link between low dopamine levels and aggression
• Beating hearts are finally still with 4D PET image reconstruction
• Have no fear: Most cases of thyroid cancer do not affect survival
• Computer model successfully predicts drug side effects
• Normal gene hinders breast cancer chemotherapy
• New stroke treatment could prevent and reduce brain damage
• Immune cells in the gut may improve control of HIV growth
• Painkiller abuse linked to depression, suicide in college students
• Nanoparticles in polluted air, smoke & nanotechnology products have serious impact on health
• The doping-drug Epo has an impact in the brain
• Hope for new imaging isotope source
• Unusual 'altruistic' stem cell behavior with possible link to cancer identified
• Fruit flies reveal mechanism behind ALS-like disease
• 'Bad' dieting increases cardiovascular disease risk
• A SMART(er) way to track influenza
• Some adults with sleep disturbances are actually afraid of the dark, study says
• Top risk of stroke for normal-weight adults: Getting under 6 hours of sleep
• A better way to grow bone: Fresh, purified fat stem cells grow bone better, faster
• Scientists reveal structure of bacterial chainmail
• Decoding DNA finds breast tumor signatures that predict treatment response
• MRI scans show how sleep loss affects the ability to choose proper foods
• Scientists develop new tools to unveil mystery of the ‘Glycome’
• More can mean less when it comes to being happier, especially if you are neurotic
• Killer hospital bacteria: Cracking a superbug's armour

Breast cancer risk can be lowered by avoiding unnecessary medical imaging Posted: 11 Jun 2012 04:36 PM PDT A new reviewed all the available scientific data compiled to date about potential environmental risks of breast cancer -- factors such as pesticides, beauty products, household chemicals, and the plastics used to make water bottles.

Sick from your stomach: Bacterial changes may trigger diseases like rheumatoid arthritis Posted: 11 Jun 2012 04:33 PM PDT Larger-than-normal populations of specific gut bacteria may trigger the development of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and possibly fuel disease progression in people genetically predisposed to this crippling and confounding condition, say the researchers.

Never too late to quit: Quitting smoking reduces mortality, even in older patients Posted: 11 Jun 2012 04:33 PM PDT An analysis of available medical literature suggests smoking was linked to increased mortality in older patients and that smoking cessation was associated with reduced mortality at an older age.

Keeping pace: Walking speed may signal thinking problems ahead Posted: 11 Jun 2012 04:33 PM PDT A new study shows that changes in walking speed in late life may signal the early stages of dementia known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

New molecules important for vision and brain function identified Posted: 11 Jun 2012 12:32 PM PDT In a pair of related studies, scientists have identified several proteins that help regulate cells' response to light -- and the development of night blindness, a rare disease that abolishes the ability to see in dim light.

Kill the germs, spare the ears: Encouraging study shows how Posted: 11 Jun 2012 12:28 PM PDT The world needs new antibiotics to overcome the ever-increasing resistance of disease-causing bacteria – but it doesn't need the side effect that comes with some of the most powerful ones now available: hearing loss. Researchers report they have developed a new approach to designing antibiotics that kill even "superbugs" but spare the inner ear.

Are feminism and attachment parenting practices compatible? Posted: 11 Jun 2012 10:42 AM PDT What kind of mothers do feminists make? According to a new study, feminist mothers endorse the importance of the time-intensive, hands-on parenting practices associated with attachment parenting -- a child-centric parenting technique in which children's needs are ideally met on the child's schedule rather than the parent's.

Long-ignored enzyme turns out to be key to killing infectious bacteria Posted: 11 Jun 2012 10:42 AM PDT New research shows that an enzyme that has long been considered relatively useless to the immune response instead has an important role in setting up immune cells to kill infection-causing bacteria.

Treating childhood anxiety with computers, not drugs Posted: 11 Jun 2012 10:42 AM PDT Psychologists have turned a common computer-based test for childhood anxiety into a form of therapeutic treatment. In its initial clinical trial, the new approach was as effective as medication and cognitive therapy for children, eliminating the need for medication or expensive in-person therapeutic treatment by professionals.

Molecular imaging detects signs of Alzheimer's in healthy patients Posted: 11 Jun 2012 10:42 AM PDT An arsenal of new Alzheimer's research indicates that beta-amyloid plaque in the brain not only is involved in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease but may also precede even mild cognitive decline. These and other studies advance molecular imaging for the early detection of beta-amyloid, for which one product is now approved in the United States, as a major push forward in the race for better treatments.

Clues found to way embryonic kidney maintains its fleeting stem cells Posted: 11 Jun 2012 10:42 AM PDT Studying mice and humans, researchers have identified two proteins that are required to maintain a supply of stem cells in the developing kidney. The work is a small step toward the future goal of growing kidney stem cells in the lab.

Gene inactivation drives spread of melanoma Posted: 11 Jun 2012 10:40 AM PDT Scientists have demonstrated that inactivating a gene called LKB1 (or STK11) causes non-aggressive melanoma cells to become highly metastatic when tested in a variety of models using tumors from humans and mice. While scientists showed a role for LKB1 inactivation in lung cancer metastasis, the effects of LKB1 loss on melanoma spread is even more dramatic.

New therapy extends life for prostate cancer patients Posted: 11 Jun 2012 10:40 AM PDT Prostate cancer patients with advanced tumors that have spread to bone have a poor chance of surviving. Patients with the disease may now live longer with a new line of radioisotope therapy, say researchers.

New skin patch treatment kills most common form of skin cancer Posted: 11 Jun 2012 10:40 AM PDT A customized patch treatment for basal cell carcinoma completely destroys facial tumors without surgery or major radiation therapy in 80 percent of patients studied, say researchers.

Molecular imaging finds link between low dopamine levels and aggression Posted: 11 Jun 2012 10:40 AM PDT Out of control competitive aggression could be a result of a lagging neurotransmitter called dopamine, say researchers. During a computer game against a putative cheating adversary, participants who had a lower capacity to synthesize this neurotransmitter in the brain were more distracted from their basic motivation to earn money and were more likely to act out with aggression.

Beating hearts are finally still with 4D PET image reconstruction Posted: 11 Jun 2012 10:39 AM PDT A development in 4D image reconstruction compensates for blurring caused by the beating of the heart, say researchers. The new method provides sharper-than-ever images of cardiac function to help pinpoint heart defects for better diagnoses and treatment.

Have no fear: Most cases of thyroid cancer do not affect survival Posted: 11 Jun 2012 10:39 AM PDT New research reveals that patients with differentiated thyroid cancer live as long as people in perfect health, unless they are in the minority and have reached the most advanced stages of disease. Survival did not vary based on age, sex, or even if patients' cancer had reached the beginning of stage IV.

Computer model successfully predicts drug side effects Posted: 11 Jun 2012 10:37 AM PDT A new set of computer models has successfully predicted negative side effects in hundreds of current drugs, based on the similarity between their chemical structures and those molecules known to cause side effects, according to a new article.

Normal gene hinders breast cancer chemotherapy Posted: 11 Jun 2012 10:37 AM PDT Presence of normal p53, a tumor suppressor gene, instead of a mutated version, makes breast cancer chemotherapy with doxorubicin less effective.

New stroke treatment could prevent and reduce brain damage Posted: 11 Jun 2012 09:26 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of a potential new therapy for stroke patients. Created to target a specific enzyme known to affect important brain functions, the new compound is designed to stop the spread of brain bleeds and protect brain cells from further damage in the crucial hours after a stroke.

Immune cells in the gut may improve control of HIV growth Posted: 11 Jun 2012 09:22 AM PDT A new study may help clarify why some people infected with HIV are better able to control the virus. It may also pinpoint a target for treatment during early HIV infection aimed at increasing the supply of certain immune cells in the gut.

Painkiller abuse linked to depression, suicide in college students Posted: 11 Jun 2012 09:22 AM PDT Medical researchers have recently conducted and published a study that explores non-medical prescription drug use and depressive symptoms in college students.

Nanoparticles in polluted air, smoke & nanotechnology products have serious impact on health Posted: 11 Jun 2012 07:53 AM PDT New groundbreaking research has found that exposure to nanoparticles can have a serious impact on health, linking it to rheumatoid arthritis and the development of other serious autoimmune diseases. The findings have health and safety implications for the manufacture, use and ultimate disposal of nanotechnology products and materials. They also identified new cellular targets for the development of potential drug therapies in combating the development of autoimmune diseases.

The doping-drug Epo has an impact in the brain Posted: 11 Jun 2012 07:53 AM PDT Sportsmen and women have been known to dope with the blood hormone Epo to enhance their performance. Researchers have now discovered, through animal testing, that Epo has a performance-enhancing effect in the brain shortly after an injection by improving oxygen transport in blood. As Epo also increases motivation, it could be useful in treating depression, experts say.

Hope for new imaging isotope source Posted: 11 Jun 2012 07:53 AM PDT Scientists have made an important breakthrough in the race to find a viable replacement for supply of technetium-99m, an important isotope produced by Canada's Chalk River reactor.

Unusual 'altruistic' stem cell behavior with possible link to cancer identified Posted: 11 Jun 2012 07:52 AM PDT Certain human embryonic stem cells, in times of stress, produce molecules that not only benefit themselves, but also help nearby cells survive.

Fruit flies reveal mechanism behind ALS-like disease Posted: 11 Jun 2012 07:51 AM PDT Studying how nerve cells send and receive messages, scientists have discovered new ways that genetic mutations can disrupt functions in neurons and lead to neurodegenerative disease, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

'Bad' dieting increases cardiovascular disease risk Posted: 11 Jun 2012 06:23 AM PDT A 25 year study is the first to show that a regional and national dietary intervention to reduce fat intake, decreased cholesterol levels, but a switch to the popular low carbohydrate diet was paralleled by in an increase in cholesterol levels. Over the 25 year period the population BMI continued to increase, regardless of either diet.

A SMART(er) way to track influenza Posted: 11 Jun 2012 06:23 AM PDT Researchers have created a reliable and fast flu-detection test that can be carried in a first-aid kit. The novel prototype device isolates influenza RNA using a combination of magnetics and microfluidics, then amplifies and detects probes bound to the RNA. The technology could lead to real-time tracking of influenza.

Some adults with sleep disturbances are actually afraid of the dark, study says Posted: 11 Jun 2012 06:23 AM PDT Sleep researchers are shedding light on a contributing factor to insomnia maybe hard to admit -- an adult fear of the dark. A pilot study reports that nearly half of the students reporting poor sleep also were found (with objective measurement) to have a phobia of the dark. Researchers said traditional insomnia treatments might not work for these patients, and suggest they be adapted to account for the dark-related phobia.

Top risk of stroke for normal-weight adults: Getting under 6 hours of sleep Posted: 11 Jun 2012 06:23 AM PDT Habitually sleeping less than six hours significantly increases stroke risk among middle-age to older adults of normal weight and at low risk for sleep apnea, study of 5,666 people followed for up to three years reports. Participants started with no stroke history or high risk for sleep apnea, BMI was adjusted for. First stroke symptoms were measured, along with demographic information, stroke risk factors, depression symptoms, health behaviors. Study found no association among overweight participants.

A better way to grow bone: Fresh, purified fat stem cells grow bone better, faster Posted: 11 Jun 2012 06:21 AM PDT Stem cell scientists purified a subset of stem cells found in fat tissue and made from them bone that was formed faster and was of higher quality than bone grown using traditional methods, a finding that may one day eliminate the need for painful bone grafts that use material taken from the patient during invasive procedures.

Scientists reveal structure of bacterial chainmail Posted: 10 Jun 2012 12:15 PM PDT Scientists have uncovered the structure of the protective protein coat which surrounds many bacteria like a miniature suit of armor. The research has far ranging consequences in helping us understand how some pathogenic bacteria infect humans and animals, and could help us develop new vaccines.

Decoding DNA finds breast tumor signatures that predict treatment response Posted: 10 Jun 2012 12:14 PM PDT Decoding the DNA of patients with advanced breast cancer has allowed scientists to identify distinct cancer "signatures" that could help predict which women are most likely to benefit from estrogen-lowering therapy, while sparing others from unnecessary treatment.

MRI scans show how sleep loss affects the ability to choose proper foods Posted: 10 Jun 2012 12:14 PM PDT fMRI scans reveal how sleep deprivation impairs higher-order regions in the human brain where food choices are made – not the deeper brain structures reacting to basic desire. This new evidence offers another explanation for the link between sleep loss and obesity. Impaired brain activity in the frontal lobe was observed but not significant differences in areas traditionally associated with basic reward reactivity. Therefore, sleep loss may be more about higher brain functions than cravings.

Scientists develop new tools to unveil mystery of the ‘Glycome’ Posted: 10 Jun 2012 12:13 PM PDT Scientists have developed chemical compounds that can make key modifications to common sugar molecules ("glycans"), which are found on the surface of all cells in our body. The new study presents powerful new tools for studying these molecules' function, for example in cell signaling and immunity, and for investigating new treatments for chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, cancer metastasis, and related conditions.

More can mean less when it comes to being happier, especially if you are neurotic Posted: 09 Jun 2012 12:24 PM PDT New research suggests getting more money may not make you happier, especially if you are neurotic.

Killer hospital bacteria: Cracking a superbug's armour Posted: 07 Jun 2012 03:00 PM PDT There's new hope for development of an antibiotic that can put down a lethal bacteria or superbug linked to the deaths of hundreds of hospital patients around the world. Researchers found a chink in the molecular armor of the pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. The bacteria first appeared in the 1970s and in the last decade it developed a resistance to most antibiotics.

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