ScienceDaily: Top Health News

---

• Dying of cold: Hypothermia in trauma victims
• Mechanism of lung cancer-associated mutations suggests new therapeutic approaches
• Brains are different in people with highly superior autobiographical memory
• New coating evicts biofilms for good
• Stem cells repair hearts early in life, but not in adults
• Stem cell therapy could offer new hope for defects and injuries to head, mouth
• New genetic target found for diuretic therapy
• Grin and bear it: Smiling facilitates stress recovery
• Liver cancer cells stop making glucose as they become cancerous
• Infection warning system in cells contains targets for antiviral and vaccine strategies
• In Massachusetts, 'individual mandate' led to decreased hospital productivity
• Sunburn a common result of indoor tanning by college-aged females
• When rules change, brain falters
• Emotion detectives uncover new ways to fight-off youth anxiety and depression
• Scientists pinpoint genetic changes that spell cancer
• Computer scientists present smile database
• What would happen without PSA testing?
• Mindreading hormone? A better judge of character with nasal spray?
• Brain development delayed in ADHD, study shows
• Psychological abuse puts children at risk

Dying of cold: Hypothermia in trauma victims Posted: 30 Jul 2012 06:41 PM PDT Hypothermia in trauma victims is a serious complication and is associated with an increased risk of dying. A new study has found that the key risk factor was severity of injury. However, environmental conditions and medical care, such as the temperature of the ambulance or temperature of any fluids administered intravenously, also increased risk.

Mechanism of lung cancer-associated mutations suggests new therapeutic approaches Posted: 30 Jul 2012 02:03 PM PDT Researchers have identified how one of the genes most commonly mutated in lung cancer may promote such tumors. The investigators found that the protein encoded by this gene, called EPHA3, normally inhibits tumor formation, and that loss or mutation of the gene -- as often happens in lung cancer -- diminishes this tumor-suppressive effect, potentially sparking the formation of lung cancer.

Brains are different in people with highly superior autobiographical memory Posted: 30 Jul 2012 02:03 PM PDT Scientists have discovered intriguing differences in the brains and mental processes of an extraordinary group of people who can effortlessly recall every moment of their lives since about age 10.

New coating evicts biofilms for good Posted: 30 Jul 2012 02:02 PM PDT Biofilms may no longer have any solid ground upon which to stand. Scientists have developed a slick way to prevent the troublesome bacterial communities from ever forming on a surface. Biofilms stick to just about everything, from copper pipes to steel ship hulls to glass catheters. The slimy coatings are more than just a nuisance, resulting in decreased energy efficiency, contamination of water and food supplies, and -- especially in medical settings -- persistent infections. Even cavities in teeth are the unwelcome result of bacterial colonies.

Stem cells repair hearts early in life, but not in adults Posted: 30 Jul 2012 02:01 PM PDT Stem cells can actually replace dead heart tissue after a heart attack very early in life — but those same cells lose that regenerative ability in adults, according to new research. The study, using mice as subjects, found that undifferentiated precursor cells grow new heart cells in a two-day-old mouse, but not in adult mice, settling a decades-old controversy about whether stem cells can play a role in the recovery of the adult mammalian heart following infarction — where heart tissue dies due to artery blockage.

Stem cell therapy could offer new hope for defects and injuries to head, mouth Posted: 30 Jul 2012 02:01 PM PDT In the first human study of its kind, researchers found that using stem cells to re-grow craniofacial tissues—mainly bone—proved quicker, more effective and less invasive than traditional bone regeneration treatments.

New genetic target found for diuretic therapy Posted: 30 Jul 2012 12:50 PM PDT Researchers have identified a new genetic target for diuretic therapy in patients with fluid overload -- like those with congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis or kidney failure.

Grin and bear it: Smiling facilitates stress recovery Posted: 30 Jul 2012 12:01 PM PDT Just grin and bear it! At some point, we have all probably heard or thought something like this when facing a tough situation. But is there any truth to this piece of advice? Feeling good usually makes us smile, but does it work the other way around? Researchers have now examined how different types of smiling, and the awareness of smiling, affects our ability to recover from episodes of stress.

Liver cancer cells stop making glucose as they become cancerous Posted: 30 Jul 2012 11:16 AM PDT Research has shown that as liver cancer develops, tumor cells lose the ability to produce and release glucose into the bloodstream. The change might aid cancer-cell growth and proliferation by helping to maintain high levels of glycolysis under conditions of drastically reduced mitochondrial respiration, also known as the Warburg effect. The findings suggest that reversing this process might offer a new treatment for the most common form of liver cancer.

Infection warning system in cells contains targets for antiviral and vaccine strategies Posted: 30 Jul 2012 11:16 AM PDT Scientists seeking to help the body better defend itself against hepatitis C, West Nile, and other serious virus infections are studying pattern recognition molecules inside living cells, called RIG-I-like receptors. When these receptors detect virus invasions, they alert the immune system to fight infection. Scientists have discovered ways certain proteins interact with RIG-I receptors to more efficiently emit signals in response to viral threats and to recruit killer T-cells. Therapeutics might be designed to mimic these actions.

In Massachusetts, 'individual mandate' led to decreased hospital productivity Posted: 30 Jul 2012 10:44 AM PDT As the "individual mandate" of the Affordable Care Act moves forward, debate and speculation continue as to whether universal health insurance coverage will lead to significant cost savings for hospitals. The assumption is that providing appropriate primary care will improve the overall health of the population, resulting in less need for hospital services and less severe illness among hospitalized patients. Findings from a recent study challenge that assumption.

Sunburn a common result of indoor tanning by college-aged females Posted: 30 Jul 2012 10:44 AM PDT Controversy remains over the risks involved with indoor tanning, especially in children and young adults. Since sunburn serves as a marker for excessive and skin-cell damaging UV exposure -- which can eventually lead to the development of skin cancer -- investigators took a closer look at a college-aged sample of females and their indoor tanning habits. What they found was that sunburn was a frequently reported experience by these young women when they engaged in this activity.

When rules change, brain falters Posted: 30 Jul 2012 09:42 AM PDT For the human brain, learning a new task when rules change can be a surprisingly difficult process marred by repeated mistakes, according to a new study.

Emotion detectives uncover new ways to fight-off youth anxiety and depression Posted: 30 Jul 2012 09:42 AM PDT Emotional problems in childhood are common. Approximately 8 to 22 percent of children suffer from anxiety, often combined with other conditions such as depression. However, most existing therapies are not designed to treat coexisting psychological problems and are therefore not very successful in helping children with complex emotional issues.

Scientists pinpoint genetic changes that spell cancer Posted: 30 Jul 2012 08:20 AM PDT By studying fruit flies, scientists have successfully devised a fast and cost-saving way to uncover genetic changes that have a higher potential to cause cancer. With this new approach, researchers will now be able to rapidly distinguish the range of genetic changes that are causally linked to cancer (i.e. "driver" mutations) versus those with limited impact on cancer progression. This study could help advance the development of personalized medicine in cancer care and treatment.

Computer scientists present smile database Posted: 30 Jul 2012 08:17 AM PDT What exactly happens to your face when you smile spontaneously, and how does that affect how old you look? Computer scientists recorded the smiles of hundreds of people, thus creating the most comprehensive smile database ever. The research also shows that you look younger when you smile, but only if you are over forty. If you are under forty, you should look neutral if you want to come across younger.

What would happen without PSA testing? Posted: 30 Jul 2012 06:49 AM PDT A new analysis has found that doing away with PSA (prostate specific antigen) testing for prostate cancer would likely cause three times as many men to develop advanced disease that has spread to other parts of the body before being diagnosed. The study suggests that PSA testing and early detection may prevent approximately 17,000 men each year from having such advanced prostate cancer at diagnosis.

Mindreading hormone? A better judge of character with nasal spray? Posted: 30 Jul 2012 06:49 AM PDT Ingesting the hormone oxytocin via nasal spray improves the ability to read people's facial expressions. These findings hold great promise for treatment of mental health disorders and drug addiction. In other contexts, oxytocin is already well-known as the "bliss hormone". The hormone is secreted upon stimulation by touch and is known to result in a feeling of calm and physical relaxation. It is also used to induce labor in childbirth and as an aid for women experiencing difficulties in breastfeeding.

Brain development delayed in ADHD, study shows Posted: 30 Jul 2012 06:48 AM PDT Is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) due to a delay in brain development or the result of complete deviation from typical development? Psychologists found that the development of the cortical surface is delayed in frontal brain regions in children with ADHD.

Psychological abuse puts children at risk Posted: 30 Jul 2012 06:41 AM PDT Psychological abuse may be the most challenging and prevalent form of child abuse and neglect, experts say in position statement on psychological maltreatment.

You are subscribed to email updates from ScienceDaily: Top Health News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610