ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Insomnia is linked to increased risk of heart failure
• Putting HiFi into cochlear implants
• Key to heart failure: New therapies on horizon
• Focal therapy offers middle ground for some prostate cancer patients
• Safe, long-term opioid therapy is possible
• New tool better estimates pandemic threats
• Scientists discover new mechanisms for relaxing airways using bitter tasting substances
• MRI saves heart muscle
• New clinical tool assesses health risks for older adults
• Scarring of heart muscle linked with increased risk of death in patients with type of cardiomyopathy
• Use of certain therapies for inflammatory diseases does not appear to increase risk of shingles
• Is it a stroke or benign dizziness? A simple bedside test can tell
• Why fish is better than supplements: Omega-3s from fish vs. fish oil pills better at maintaining blood pressure in mouse model
• Age-related dementia may begin with neurons' inability to rid themselves of unwanted proteins
• Human Y chromosome much older than previously thought
• Stressed proteins can cause blood clots for hours
• Computer model may help athletes and soldiers avoid brain damage and concussions
• Obesity makes fat cells act like they're infected
• Turf battle in retina helps internal clocks see the light
• Green tea extract interferes with the formation of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease
• Connectome project releases brain data
• First single gene mutation shown to result in type 1 diabetes
• Walking away from back pain
• Better understanding of peripheral neuropathy
• Gene identified that causes obesity in mice: Deleting gene eliminates obesity, could work for humans
• Survey of clinicians: User satisfaction with electronic health records has decreased since 2010
• Seniors who play video games report better sense of emotional well-being
• Genetically corrected stem cells spark muscle regeneration
• On the trail of mucus-eaters in the gut
• Amputee phantom pain linked to brain retaining picture of missing limb
• 'Selfish' gene may undermine genome police
• Health benefits of marriage may not extend to all
• Mental picture of others can be seen using fMRI, finds new study
• Single gene might explain dramatic differences among people with schizophrenia
• New gene variant may explain psychotic features in bipolar disorder
• Traceable nanoparticles may be the next weapon in cancer treatment
• Ostracism cuts both ways: Hurting someone else can hurt the one who inflicts pain just as much
• Study uncovers enzyme's double life, critical role in cancer blood supply
• New data show countries around the world grappling with changing health challenges
• A vaccine that works in newborns? Promising compound may help protect babies during vulnerable window
• Antigen-encapsulated chitosan particles improve immune response
• Stress hormone foreshadows postpartum depression in new mothers
• Protein synthesis blocker may hold key to reducing effects of traumatic events
• Early antiretroviral treatment reduces viral reservoirs in HIV-infected teens

Insomnia is linked to increased risk of heart failure Posted: 05 Mar 2013 05:03 PM PST People who suffer from insomnia appear to have an increased risk of developing heart failure, according to the largest study to investigate the link.

Putting HiFi into cochlear implants Posted: 05 Mar 2013 05:02 PM PST Scientists have developed a way to reprogram cochlear implants that dramatically improves the quality and clarity of users' hearing.

Key to heart failure: New therapies on horizon Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:46 PM PST Some 5.8 million Americans suffer from heart failure, a currently incurable disease. But scientists have discovered a key biochemical step underlying the condition that could aid the development of new drugs to treat and possibly prevent it.

Focal therapy offers middle ground for some prostate cancer patients Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:46 PM PST For men with low-risk prostate cancer, focal laser ablation treats just the diseased portion of the prostate rather than the entire gland. A phase 1 trial found it was safe. None of the nine men in the study had a significant side effect. Seven of the nine patients had no evidence of disease six months later.

Safe, long-term opioid therapy is possible Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:45 PM PST Medical researchers say that prescription opioid abuse can be minimized by monitoring patients closely for harm by using urine drug testing, pill counts, and reviewing prescription drug monitoring program data when available.

New tool better estimates pandemic threats Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:45 PM PST A simple new method better assesses the risks posed by emerging zoonotic viruses (those transmissible from animals to humans), according to a new study. Scientists have shown that the new tool can produce transmissibility estimates for swine flu (the H3N2v-M virus), allowing researchers to better evaluate the possible pandemic threat posed by this virus.

Scientists discover new mechanisms for relaxing airways using bitter tasting substances Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:45 PM PST An interdisciplinary team of scientists have taken a step forward in understanding how the substances that give some foods their bitter flavor also act to reverse the contraction of airway cells, a process known as bronchodilation. This effect may one day be harnessed to provide improved treatments for airway obstructive diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

MRI saves heart muscle Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:44 PM PST Researchers using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) discovered that thinned non-contracting heart muscle caused by a heart attack can potentially improve in function and be reversed after cardiac bypass surgery. This was found to be true in a small number of patients who had limited scarring of the heart, as detected by MRI.

New clinical tool assesses health risks for older adults Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:44 PM PST Medical researchers have developed a tool that can help determine – and perhaps influence – senior citizens' 10-year survivability rates.

Scarring of heart muscle linked with increased risk of death in patients with type of cardiomyopathy Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:40 PM PST Detection of midwall fibrosis (the presence of scar tissue in the middle of the heart muscle wall) via magnetic resonance imaging among patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (a condition affecting the heart muscle) was associated with an increased likelihood of death, according to a new study.

Use of certain therapies for inflammatory diseases does not appear to increase risk of shingles Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:40 PM PST Although patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a disproportionately higher incidence of herpes zoster (shingles), an analysis that included nearly 60,000 patients with RA and other inflammatory diseases found that those who initiated anti-tumor necrosis factor therapies were not at higher risk of herpes zoster compared with patients who initiated nonbiologic treatment regimens, according to a new study.

Is it a stroke or benign dizziness? A simple bedside test can tell Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:40 PM PST A bedside electronic device that measures eye movements can successfully determine whether the cause of severe, continuous, disabling dizziness is a stroke or something benign, according to new results.

Why fish is better than supplements: Omega-3s from fish vs. fish oil pills better at maintaining blood pressure in mouse model Posted: 05 Mar 2013 12:45 PM PST Researchers show how fish oils help lower blood pressure via vasodilation at ion channels. In vascular smooth muscle cells, such as those that line blood vessels, ion channels that span the outer membrane of a cell to let such ions as sodium, calcium, and potassium in and out, are critical to maintaining proper vessel pressure.

Age-related dementia may begin with neurons' inability to rid themselves of unwanted proteins Posted: 05 Mar 2013 12:45 PM PST New research explains a novel interaction between aging and how neurons dispose of unwanted proteins and why this impacts the rising prevalence of dementia with advancing age.

Human Y chromosome much older than previously thought Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:58 AM PST The discovery and analysis of an extremely rare African American Y chromosome push back the time of the most recent common ancestor for the Y chromosome lineage tree to 338,000 years ago. This time predates the age of the oldest known anatomically modern human fossils.

Stressed proteins can cause blood clots for hours Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:58 AM PST New research has revealed how stresses of flow in the small blood vessels of the heart and brain could cause a common protein to change shape and form dangerous blood clots. The scientists report that the proteins can remain in the clot-initiating shape for up to five hours before settling back into their normal, healthy shape.

Computer model may help athletes and soldiers avoid brain damage and concussions Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:57 AM PST Concussions can occur in sports and in combat, but health experts do not know precisely which jolts, collisions and awkward head movements during these activities pose the greatest risks to the brain. To find out, engineers have developed a powerful new computer-based process that helps identify the dangerous conditions that lead to concussion-related brain injuries. This approach could lead to new medical treatment options and some sports rule changes to reduce brain trauma among players.

Obesity makes fat cells act like they're infected Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:51 AM PST Scientists report that a high calorie diet causes fat cells to act as if under pathogenic attack. The researchers have identified a root cause of the diet-caused fat tissue inflammation that has baffled medical researchers for decades.

Turf battle in retina helps internal clocks see the light Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:51 AM PST With every sunrise and sunset, our eyes make note of the light as it waxes and wanes, a process that is critical to aligning our circadian rhythms to match the solar day so we are alert during the day and restful at night. Watching the sun come and go sounds like a peaceful process, but scientists have discovered that behind the scenes, millions of specialized cells in our eyes are fighting for their lives to help the retina set the stage to keep our internal clocks ticking.

Green tea extract interferes with the formation of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:51 AM PST Researchers have found a new potential benefit of a molecule in green tea: preventing the misfolding of specific proteins in the brain.

Connectome project releases brain data Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:51 AM PST The Human Connectome Project, a five-year endeavor to link brain connectivity to human behavior, has released a set of high-quality imaging and behavioral data to the scientific community.

First single gene mutation shown to result in type 1 diabetes Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:14 AM PST A new study has shown that a single gene called SIRT1 may be involved in the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and other autoimmune diseases. The study represents the first demonstration of a monogenetic defect leading to the onset of T1D.

Walking away from back pain Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:14 AM PST A new study says a low-cost program of aerobic walking is just as effective as expensive clinical therapy in the treatment of lower back pain.

Better understanding of peripheral neuropathy Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:14 AM PST Researchers have unlocked the key to a mechanism for peripheral neuropathy in people with multiple brain tumors.

Gene identified that causes obesity in mice: Deleting gene eliminates obesity, could work for humans Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:13 AM PST Researchers have discovered that deleting a gene in mice prevents them from becoming obese even on a high fat diet, a finding they believe could be replicated in humans.

Survey of clinicians: User satisfaction with electronic health records has decreased since 2010 Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:12 AM PST Survey results indicate that satisfaction and usability ratings for certified electronic health records (EHRs) have decreased since 2010 among clinicians across a range of indicators. Overall, user satisfaction fell 12 percent from 2010 to 2012. Users who are "very dissatisfied" increased 10 percent during the same time period.

Seniors who play video games report better sense of emotional well-being Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:12 AM PST New research finds that older adults who play video games report higher levels of emotional well-being.

Genetically corrected stem cells spark muscle regeneration Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:11 AM PST Researchers have combined genetic repair with cellular reprogramming to generate stem cells capable of muscle regeneration in a mouse model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

On the trail of mucus-eaters in the gut Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:10 AM PST Microbiologists have for the first time succeeded in directly observing microorganisms feeding on the intestinal mucosa.

Amputee phantom pain linked to brain retaining picture of missing limb Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:10 AM PST Changes in the brain following amputation have been linked to pain arising from the missing limb, called "phantom pain," in a brain imaging study. Arm amputees experiencing the most phantom limb pain were found to maintain stronger representation of the missing hand in the brain -- to the point where it was indistinguishable from people with both hands.

'Selfish' gene may undermine genome police Posted: 05 Mar 2013 07:09 AM PST Biologists have been observing the "selfish" genetic entity segregation distorter (SD) in fruit flies for decades. Its story is a thriller among molecules, in which the SD gene destroys maturing sperm that have a rival chromosome. A new study reveals a tactic that gives SD's villainy an extra edge.

Health benefits of marriage may not extend to all Posted: 05 Mar 2013 07:09 AM PST Marriage may not always be as beneficial to health as experts have led us to believe, according to a new study.

Mental picture of others can be seen using fMRI, finds new study Posted: 05 Mar 2013 06:10 AM PST It is possible to tell who a person is thinking about by analyzing images of his or her brain. Our mental models of people produce unique patterns of brain activation, which can be detected using advanced imaging techniques according to a new study.

Single gene might explain dramatic differences among people with schizophrenia Posted: 05 Mar 2013 05:07 AM PST Some of the dramatic differences seen among patients with schizophrenia may be explained by a single gene that regulates a group of other schizophrenia risk genes.

New gene variant may explain psychotic features in bipolar disorder Posted: 05 Mar 2013 05:07 AM PST Researchers have found an explanation for why the level of kynurenic acid (KYNA) is higher in the brains of people with schizophrenia or bipolar disease with psychosis. The study identifies a gene variant associated with an increased production of KYNA.

Traceable nanoparticles may be the next weapon in cancer treatment Posted: 05 Mar 2013 05:06 AM PST Small particles loaded with medicine could be a future weapon for cancer treatment. A recently-published study shows how nanoparticles can be formed to efficiently carry cancer drugs to tumor cells. And because the particles can be seen in MRI images, they are traceable.

Ostracism cuts both ways: Hurting someone else can hurt the one who inflicts pain just as much Posted: 05 Mar 2013 05:04 AM PST If you think giving someone the cold shoulder inflicts pain only on them, beware. A new study shows that individuals who deliberately shun another person are equally distressed by the experience.

Study uncovers enzyme's double life, critical role in cancer blood supply Posted: 04 Mar 2013 06:15 PM PST Studied for decades for their essential role in making proteins within cells, several amino acids known as tRNA synthetases were recently found to have an unexpected -- and critical -- additional role in cancer metastasis. Researchers determined that threonyl tRNA synthetase leads a "double life," regulating a pathway used by invasive cancers to induce the formation of new blood vessels, and a new food supply to sustain their growth.

New data show countries around the world grappling with changing health challenges Posted: 04 Mar 2013 06:14 PM PST Alzheimer's disease is the fastest growing threat to health in the US. HIV/AIDS and alcohol are severely eroding the health of Russians. Violence is claiming the lives of young men in large swaths of Latin America. Despite health gains in sub-Saharan Africa, infectious diseases still cause hundreds of thousands of child deaths.

A vaccine that works in newborns? Promising compound may help protect babies during vulnerable window Posted: 04 Mar 2013 06:14 PM PST The underdeveloped immune systems of newborns don't respond to most vaccines, leaving them at high risk for infections like rotavirus, pertussis (whooping cough) and pneumococcus. Researchers have identified a potent compound that activates immune responses in newborns' white blood cells substantially better than anything previously tested, and that could potentially make vaccines effective right at birth.

Antigen-encapsulated chitosan particles improve immune response Posted: 04 Mar 2013 06:12 PM PST Biomedical engineering researchers have encapsulated two types of protein antigens in chitosan and demonstrated that the combined material enables or improves three important immune responses.

Stress hormone foreshadows postpartum depression in new mothers Posted: 04 Mar 2013 01:16 PM PST Women who receive strong social support from their families during pregnancy appear to be protected from sharp increases in a particular stress hormone, making them less likely to develop postpartum depression, according to a new study.

Protein synthesis blocker may hold key to reducing effects of traumatic events Posted: 04 Mar 2013 01:16 PM PST Reducing fear and stress following a traumatic event could be as simple as providing a protein synthesis blocker to the brain, report a team of researchers in a new paper.

Early antiretroviral treatment reduces viral reservoirs in HIV-infected teens Posted: 04 Mar 2013 01:16 PM PST A new study highlights the long-term benefits of early antiretroviral therapy initiated in infants.

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