ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Novel type 2 diabetes genetic study involves five major ancestry groups
• Grape seed extract bollixes norovirus
• Antibiotics disrupt gut flora in infants: Recovery still incomplete after eight weeks
• Cigarette smoke boosts virulence in Staphylococcus aureus
• Antioxidants may ease peripheral arterial disease (PAD) blood pressure increase, study suggests
• Alcoholic men demonstrate a deficit in empathy and distorted view of irony
• College women who act impulsively when distressed are at risk for alcohol problems
• Why nicotine in cigarettes can relieve anxiety in smokers
• Molecular ‘portraits’ of tumours match patients with trials in everyday clinical practice
• Mesothelioma drug slows disease progression in patients with an inactive NF2 gene
• First trial in humans of 'minicells': a completely new way of delivering anti-cancer drugs
• Child care providers can be part of solution for childhood obesity
• War's impact can haunt veterans long after combat
• Diabetes study: 'Mindful eating' equals traditional education in lowering weight and blood sugar
• New technique to protect astronauts from space radiation
• Young adults with addiction benefit from active Twelve Step group participation, study suggests
• Ovarian cancer patients have lower mortality rates when treated at high-volume hospitals
• Preschoolers' counting abilities relate to future math performance, researcher says
• Stem cell scientists discover potential way to expand cells for use with patients
• Unexplained intellectual disability explained by state-of-the-art genetic analysis
• Significant relationship between mortality and telomere length discovered
• DNA variants explain over ten percent of inherited genetic risk for heart disease
• Women and exercise: It may not always be fun, but it's beneficial
• Computational neuroscience: Memory-making is all about the connection
• Going with your gut feeling: Intuition alone can guide right choice, study suggests
• Making memories: Exploring the anatomy of recollection
• Feel-good hormone helps jog memory, finds study of seniors
• Software improves quality of sound for hearing aid users
• Learning who's the top dog: Study reveals how the brain stores information about social rank
• Cell biologists identify new protein key to asymmetric cell division
• Scientists uncover secrets of how intellect and behavior emerge during childhood
• Scientists reveal key protein interactions involved in neurodegenerative disease
• Unique spinal nerve cell activity: Novel forms of activity linked to development of motor behaviors such as swimming
• Vitamin D could hold vital key to arresting development of Alzheimer’s disease
• New, improved mouse model of human Alzheimer's may enable drug discovery
• Stem cell scientists discover potential way to expand cells for use with patients
• Preclinical muscular dystrophy data shows promise
• Gene find turns soldier beetle defense into biotech opportunity
• 'Read my lips' - it's easier when they're your own
• New cells found that could help save people's sight
• Cells from skin create model of blinding eye disease
• Dream symbols could help in psychotherapy
• Brain of OCD sufferers is more active when faced with a moral dilemma, study finds
• Testing pain killers on humans could save money and speed the arrival of new drugs, experts say
• Sugar and spice and everything not so nice: Spice allergy affects foodies and cosmetic users alike
• Rethinking body mass index (BMI) for assessing cancer risk
• Chernobyl cleanup workers had significantly increased risk of leukemia
• Low prevalence of type 2 diabetes among regular black tea drinkers

Novel type 2 diabetes genetic study involves five major ancestry groups Posted: 08 Nov 2012 05:58 PM PST A consortium of scientists is taking a novel approach to detect the genetic variations that predispose individuals to type 2 diabetes. The 10,000 individuals (patients and controls) whose exomes, the 18,000 protein-coding genes, are from five major ancestry groups: African-American, East Asian, European, Hispanic and South Asian.

Grape seed extract bollixes norovirus Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:57 PM PST Norovirus causes more than half of all food-born illnesses in the United States, and is the second greatest source of reported food borne illness outbreaks in the European Union. A recent study found that grape seed extract could reduce the infectivity of Norovirus surrogates (Norovirus surrogates are viruses that share pathological and/or biological features with human norovirus). Now, researchers have shown that grape seed extract does so by denaturing the capsid protein, which is the coat of the virus, thereby disabling the virus.

Antibiotics disrupt gut flora in infants: Recovery still incomplete after eight weeks Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:54 PM PST Eight weeks after antibiotic treatment of infants, the diversity of gastrointestinal flora remained diminished, although the number of individual bacteria was back to normal, according to a new paper. Additionally, the potentially disease-causing Proteobacteria were now the dominant population in the treated infants.

Cigarette smoke boosts virulence in Staphylococcus aureus Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:49 PM PST Exposure to cigarette smoke has long been associated with increased frequency of respiratory infections -- which are harder to treat in smoke-exposed people than in those who lack such exposures. Now researchers show that cigarette smoke actually boosts virulence of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.

Antioxidants may ease peripheral arterial disease (PAD) blood pressure increase, study suggests Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:19 PM PST Low antioxidant levels contribute to increased blood pressure during exercise for people with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), according to researchers. Their study shows that blood pressure increases more with exercise in more severe PAD cases. By infusing the antioxidant vitamin C into the blood, the researchers were able to lessen the increase in blood pressure during exercise.

Alcoholic men demonstrate a deficit in empathy and distorted view of irony Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:19 PM PST Emotions are often implicit undertones to our communication interactions, and decoding them requires substantial social and cognitive abilities. Prior research has shown that chronic alcoholics often demonstrate impaired socio-cognitive and communicative abilities as well as emotion-related behaviors. Male alcoholics in particular suffer from dysfunctions in empathy. A study of the ability of chronic male alcoholics to recognize the emotional component of irony in relation to their empathic abilities has found a clear deficit.

College women who act impulsively when distressed are at risk for alcohol problems Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:19 PM PST Young adult women are engaging in heavy drinking behavior in greater numbers. A new study has looked at the influence of impulsivity-related traits and drinking motives on symptoms of alcohol dependence (AD) among college women in their first semester. Findings indicate an impulsivity trait called 'negative urgency' can predict increases in AD symptoms.

Why nicotine in cigarettes can relieve anxiety in smokers Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:17 PM PST Preclinical data suggests inactivation of a specific sub-class of nicotinic receptors may be an effective strategy to help smokers quit without feeling anxious, according to researchers.

Molecular ‘portraits’ of tumours match patients with trials in everyday clinical practice Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:14 PM PST Researchers in France are taking advantage of the progress in genetic and molecular profiling to analyse the make-up of individual cancer patients' tumours and, using this information, assign them to particular treatments and phase I clinical trials – an approach that could become part of everyday clinical practice.

Mesothelioma drug slows disease progression in patients with an inactive NF2 gene Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:14 PM PST Preliminary findings from the first trial of a new drug for patients with mesothelioma show that it has some success in preventing the spread of the deadly disease in patients lacking an active tumour suppressor gene called NF2.

First trial in humans of 'minicells': a completely new way of delivering anti-cancer drugs Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:14 PM PST A completely new way of delivering anti-cancer drugs to tumors, using "minicells" derived from bacteria, has been tested for the first time in humans and found to be safe, well-tolerated and even induced stable disease in patients with advanced, incurable cancers with no treatment options remaining.

Child care providers can be part of solution for childhood obesity Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:14 PM PST A new study highlights how child care providers can be part of the solution for childhood obesity.

War's impact can haunt veterans long after combat Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:11 PM PST As the nation marks Veteran's Day to honor those who have served their country, it's important to remember that many soldiers battle mental health conditions such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression long after they return from combat.

Diabetes study: 'Mindful eating' equals traditional education in lowering weight and blood sugar Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:11 PM PST Eating mindfully, or consuming food in response to physical cues of hunger and fullness, is just as effective as adhering to nutrition-based guidelines in reducing weight and blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests.

New technique to protect astronauts from space radiation Posted: 08 Nov 2012 12:35 PM PST The complexities of traveling to and working in space present challenges to astronauts that NASA scientists and engineers have been working on since Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first stepped on the moon more than 43 years ago. One of the challenges facing humans when they go outside Earth's protective atmosphere and magnetic field is space radiation. Sending astronauts farther into our solar system than ever before will require advanced instruments designed for monitoring and detecting radiation in space vehicles and habitats.

Young adults with addiction benefit from active Twelve Step group participation, study suggests Posted: 08 Nov 2012 12:17 PM PST Young adults undergoing addiction treatment benefit from regular participation in Twelve Step-based self-help groups after discharge, according to a naturalistic study.

Ovarian cancer patients have lower mortality rates when treated at high-volume hospitals Posted: 08 Nov 2012 12:17 PM PST Women who have surgery for ovarian cancer at high-volume hospitals have superior outcomes than similar patients at low-volume hospitals, new research suggests.

Preschoolers' counting abilities relate to future math performance, researcher says Posted: 08 Nov 2012 11:28 AM PST New research suggests reciting numbers is not enough to prepare children for math success in elementary school. The research indicates that counting, which requires assigning numerical values to objects in chronological order, is more important for helping preschoolers acquire math skills.

Stem cell scientists discover potential way to expand cells for use with patients Posted: 08 Nov 2012 11:10 AM PST Stem cell researchers have discovered a new "master control gene" for human blood stem cells and found that manipulating its levels could potentially create a way to expand these cells for clinical use.

Unexplained intellectual disability explained by state-of-the-art genetic analysis Posted: 08 Nov 2012 11:10 AM PST A research team reported that next generation sequencing of the exome, the one to two percent of the DNA containing the genes that code for proteins, enabled the identification of the genetic causes of unexplained intellectual disability in over 50 percent of patients in a study.

Significant relationship between mortality and telomere length discovered Posted: 08 Nov 2012 11:10 AM PST Researchers have identified a significant relationship between mortality and the length of telomeres, the stretches of DNA that protect the ends of chromosomes. The prospective study of 100,000 multi-ethnic individuals, whose average age was 63, found that an association between telomere length and mortality existed and persisted even after data were adjusted for education, smoking and alcohol consumption.

DNA variants explain over ten percent of inherited genetic risk for heart disease Posted: 08 Nov 2012 11:10 AM PST Researchers have pinpointed 20 previously unidentified DNA mutations during a meta-analysis of 63,746 patients with coronary heart disease. Many of the newly identified variations are in genes that operate in biological pathways involved in the body's metabolism of lipids or fats as well as in inflammation.

Women and exercise: It may not always be fun, but it's beneficial Posted: 08 Nov 2012 11:09 AM PST Experts say that while physical activity is necessary for both men and women, there are gender-specific benefits that women need to know.

Computational neuroscience: Memory-making is all about the connection Posted: 08 Nov 2012 11:08 AM PST A model that shows how connections in the brain must change to form memories could help to develop artificial cognitive computers

Going with your gut feeling: Intuition alone can guide right choice, study suggests Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:17 AM PST Decision-making is one of the most mysterious parts of the human experience, and we're taught to weigh our options carefully before deciding. Now a researcher says that, surprisingly, intuition alone can guide the right choice.

Making memories: Exploring the anatomy of recollection Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:17 AM PST With the help of data collected from intracranial electrodes implanted on epilepsy patients, researchers are getting a rare look inside the brain in hopes of discovering the exact pattern of activity that produces a memory.

Feel-good hormone helps jog memory, finds study of seniors Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:17 AM PST The feel-good hormone dopamine improves long-term memory. Neuroscientists investigated test subjects ranging in age from 65 to 75 years, who were given a precursor of dopamine. Treated subjects performed better in a memory test than a comparison group, who had taken a placebo.

Software improves quality of sound for hearing aid users Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:16 AM PST New software could greatly improve sound perception for users of hearing aids. The software prescribes the amount of amplification of high-frequency sounds required to restore the audibility of such sounds. This increases the frequency range of sound that individuals with hearing loss are able to detect, improving speech perception, sound localisation and the ability to hear certain musical sounds, when compared with current methods.

Learning who's the top dog: Study reveals how the brain stores information about social rank Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:16 AM PST Researchers have discovered that we use a different part of our brain to learn about social hierarchies than we do to learn ordinary information. The study provides clues as to how this information is stored in memory and also reveals that you can tell a lot about how good somebody is likely to be at judging social rank by looking at the structure of their brain.

Cell biologists identify new protein key to asymmetric cell division Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:16 AM PST Biologists have identified a new molecular player in asymmetric cell division, a regulatory protein named She1 whose role in chromosome- and spindle positioning wasn't known before. Asymmetric cell division is important in the self-renewal of stem cells and because it ensures that daughter cells have different fates and functions.

Scientists uncover secrets of how intellect and behavior emerge during childhood Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:16 AM PST Scientists have shown that a single protein plays an oversized role in intellectual and behavioral development. The scientists found that mutations in a single gene, which is known to cause intellectual disability and increase the risk of developing autism spectrum disorder, severely disrupts the organization of developing brain circuits during early childhood. This study helps explain how genetic mutations can cause profound cognitive and behavioral problems.

Scientists reveal key protein interactions involved in neurodegenerative disease Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:15 AM PST Scientists have defined the molecular structure of an enzyme as it interacts with several proteins involved in outcomes that can influence neurodegenerative disease and insulin resistance. The enzymes in question, which play a critical role in nerve cell (neuron) survival, are among the most prized targets for drugs to treat brain disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Unique spinal nerve cell activity: Novel forms of activity linked to development of motor behaviors such as swimming Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:14 AM PST Scientists have hit upon unique forms of spinal nerve activity that shape output of nerve cell networks controlling motor behaviors.

Vitamin D could hold vital key to arresting development of Alzheimer’s disease Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:14 AM PST Scientists have uncovered evidence that lack of a particular form of vitamin D is associated with Alzheimer's disease.

New, improved mouse model of human Alzheimer's may enable drug discovery Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:13 AM PST Researchers have developed a transgenic mouse that carries a human gene known to increase risk of Alzheimer's 15-fold. The new mouse, which mimics the genetics of the human disease more closely than any existing model, provides new evidence for the earliest cause of Alzheimer's and may prove more useful in the development of drugs to prevent or treat the disease.

Stem cell scientists discover potential way to expand cells for use with patients Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:13 AM PST Canadian and Italian stem cell researchers have discovered a new "master control gene" for human blood stem cells and found that manipulating its levels could potentially create a way to expand these cells for clinical use.

Preclinical muscular dystrophy data shows promise Posted: 08 Nov 2012 07:44 AM PST Researchers have found that an experimental compound may help stem the debilitating effects of muscular dystrophy by restoring normal blood flow to muscles affected by the genetic disorder.

Gene find turns soldier beetle defense into biotech opportunity Posted: 08 Nov 2012 07:44 AM PST New antibiotic and anti-cancer chemicals may one day be synthesized using biotechnology, following a discovery of the three genes that combine to provide soldier beetles with their potent predator defense system.

'Read my lips' - it's easier when they're your own Posted: 08 Nov 2012 07:43 AM PST People can lip-read themselves better than they can lip-read others, according to a new study. The work explores the link between speech perception and speech production.

New cells found that could help save people's sight Posted: 08 Nov 2012 07:43 AM PST Eye experts and scientists have discovered specific cells in the eye which could lead to a new procedure to treat and cure blinding eye conditions. The study found that cells called corneal limbal stromal cells, taken from the front surface of the eye have stem cell properties and could be cultured to create retinal cells. This could lead to new treatments for eye conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa or wet age-related macular degeneration, a condition which is a common cause of loss of vision in older people and will affect around one in three people by age 70.

Cells from skin create model of blinding eye disease Posted: 08 Nov 2012 07:42 AM PST For the first time, researchers have taken skin from patients and, using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, turned them into a laboratory model for an inherited type of macular degeneration.

Dream symbols could help in psychotherapy Posted: 08 Nov 2012 07:42 AM PST Dream images could provide insights into people's mental health problems and may help with their treatment, according to a psychology researcher.

Brain of OCD sufferers is more active when faced with a moral dilemma, study finds Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:39 AM PST Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder are characterised by persistent thoughts and repetitive behaviours. A new study reveals that sufferers worry considerably more than the general population in the face of morality problems.

Testing pain killers on humans could save money and speed the arrival of new drugs, experts say Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:38 AM PST Deliberately inflicting carefully controlled painful stimuli on human volunteers and seeing how well specific drugs reduce the feeling of pain can be an effective way of testing new drugs. So conclude two researchers who reviewed the available literature on these types of tests in a new paper.

Sugar and spice and everything not so nice: Spice allergy affects foodies and cosmetic users alike Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:36 AM PST Imagine a world where you could never dine away from home, wear makeup, smell of sweet perfumes or eat a large percentage of food on store shelves. According to allergists, that is the world for 2 to 3 percent of individuals living with a spice allergy.

Rethinking body mass index (BMI) for assessing cancer risk Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:36 AM PST A new study suggests that body mass index (BMI) -- the most commonly used weight-for-height formula for estimating fatness -- may not be the best measure for estimating disease risk, and particularly the risk of certain types of cancer.

Chernobyl cleanup workers had significantly increased risk of leukemia Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:36 AM PST A 20-year study following 110,645 workers who helped clean up after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in the former Soviet territory of Ukraine shows that the workers share a significant increased risk of developing leukemia. The results may help scientists better define cancer risk associated with low doses of radiation from medical diagnostic radiation procedures such as computed tomography scans and other sources.

Low prevalence of type 2 diabetes among regular black tea drinkers Posted: 07 Nov 2012 05:01 PM PST The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is low in countries where consumption of black tea is high, suggests a mathematical analysis of data from 50 countries.

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