ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• High heart rate at rest signals higher risk of death even in fit healthy people
• England's smoking ban linked to annual 5 percent drop in emergency admissions for asthma
• Biomarker for devastating intestinal disease, necrotizing enterocolitis, found in early preterm infants
• Cholesterol increases risk of Alzheimer's and heart disease
• New training package could help doctors cut rates of sudden cardiac death in athletes
• Bad decisions arise from faulty information, not faulty brain circuits
• Training the brain to improve on new tasks
• Drug could improve working memory of people with autism, study finds
• Sharing individual health information could improve care and reduce costs for all
• The bigger the group, the smaller the chance of interracial friendship
• Nanodiamonds could improve effectiveness of breast cancer treatment
• Concert cacophony: Short-term hearing loss can be protective, not damaging, researchers find
• Drinking cup of beetroot juice daily may help lower blood pressure
• Cancer cell metabolism kills: Possible new therapies targeting energy supply of cancer cells?
• Scientists learn what makes nerve cells so strong
• Fainting may run in families while triggers may not
• Brain development is guided by junk DNA that isn't really junk
• Medical researchers implant telescope for macular degeneration
• New light shed on traumatic brain injuries
• Gene-expression signature may signify risk for recurrence, metastasis in prostate cancer
• No evidence drugs, vitamins, supplements help prevent cognitive decline in healthy older adults
• Excess vitamin E intake not a health concern, study suggests
• Electroconvulsive therapy can restore quality of life for some severely depressed patients
• Laser liposuction melts fat, results in tighter skin
• Nonsurgical treatment turns back the clock, shrinks enlarged prostate
• Stenting dramatically improves treatment access for dialysis patients
• Key bone marrow protein identified as potential new leukemia treatment target
• Skin cells turned directly into the cells that insulate neurons
• Musicians who learn a new melody demonstrate enhanced skill after a night's sleep
• In sex, happiness hinges on keeping up with the Joneses
• Our futures look bright, because we reject the possibility that bad things will happen
• Taste of beer, without effect from alcohol, triggers dopamine release in the brain
• C-peptide levels linked to death and heart disease in nondiabetic adults
• Can new plasma-based biomaterials speed healing of injured tissues?
• Following a Western style diet may lead to greater risk of premature death
• Early investment in families helps children succeed in school
• Rigid growth matrix: A key to success of cardiac tissue engineering
• High glucose levels could impair ferroelectricity in body's connective tissues
• Picture this: A dramatic drop in wrong patient errors
• Mathematics provides a shortcut to timely, cost-effective interventions for HIV
• Personalizing prostate specific antigen testing may improve specificity, reduce biopsies
• Surprising finding could alter the face of dengue vaccine development
• Vitamin D may reduce risk of uterine fibroids

High heart rate at rest signals higher risk of death even in fit healthy people Posted: 15 Apr 2013 05:49 PM PDT A high heart rate (pulse) at rest is linked to a higher risk of death even in physically fit, healthy people, suggests new research.

England's smoking ban linked to annual 5 percent drop in emergency admissions for asthma Posted: 15 Apr 2013 05:49 PM PDT Emergency admissions for asthma among adults fell by just under five percent in each of the first three years after the ban on smoking in public places was introduced in England, reveals the largest study of its kind.

Biomarker for devastating intestinal disease, necrotizing enterocolitis, found in early preterm infants Posted: 15 Apr 2013 05:49 PM PDT Researchers have discovered a biomarker that may help prevent a devastating intestinal disease that occurs in one of every 10 early preterm infants. The study may help prevent necrotizing enterocolitis, a condition primarily seen in preemies in which bowel tissue dies.

Cholesterol increases risk of Alzheimer's and heart disease Posted: 15 Apr 2013 03:25 PM PDT Using insights gained from studying two much rarer disorders, Down Syndrome and Niemann Pick-C disease, researchers found that cholesterol wreaks havoc on the orderly process of cell division, leading to defective daughter cells throughout the body.

New training package could help doctors cut rates of sudden cardiac death in athletes Posted: 15 Apr 2013 03:23 PM PDT New training modules guide doctors on how to recognize ECG changes that indicate problems rather than healthy cardiac adaptation.

Bad decisions arise from faulty information, not faulty brain circuits Posted: 15 Apr 2013 02:24 PM PDT Researchers have found that it might be the information rather than the brain's decision-making process that is to blame. The researchers report that erroneous decisions tend to arise from errors, or "noise," in the information coming into the brain rather than errors in how the brain accumulates information.

Training the brain to improve on new tasks Posted: 15 Apr 2013 02:24 PM PDT A brain-training task that increases the number of items an individual can remember over a short period of time may boost performance in other problem-solving tasks by enhancing communication between different brain areas. The new study is one of a growing number of experiments on how working-memory training can measurably improve a range of skills -- from multiplying in your head to reading a complex paragraph.

Drug could improve working memory of people with autism, study finds Posted: 15 Apr 2013 02:24 PM PDT Investigators found that propranolol, a drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure, anxiety and panic, improves the working memory performance of individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

Sharing individual health information could improve care and reduce costs for all Posted: 15 Apr 2013 02:24 PM PDT Information collected from individual patients at doctor's office and hospital visits could be used to improve health care and reduce costs on a national scale, according to a new article.

The bigger the group, the smaller the chance of interracial friendship Posted: 15 Apr 2013 02:23 PM PDT The larger the group, the smaller the chance of forming interracial friendships, a new study shows.

Nanodiamonds could improve effectiveness of breast cancer treatment Posted: 15 Apr 2013 02:23 PM PDT Researchers have developed a new drug delivery system based on nanodiamonds to effectively delivery cancer chemotherapy. The agent they created, called a nanodiamond-lipid hybrid particle, or NDLP, was used to deliver the highly toxic chemotherapy drug epirubicin. When tested on mice with highly aggressive triple negative breast cancers the drug-carrying NDLP caused a marked reduction in tumor size while virtually eliminating the drug's devastating side effects.

Concert cacophony: Short-term hearing loss can be protective, not damaging, researchers find Posted: 15 Apr 2013 02:23 PM PDT Contrary to conventional wisdom, short-term hearing loss after sustained exposure to loud noise does not reflect damage to our hearing: Instead, it is the body's way to cope. The landmark finding could lead to improved protection against noise-induced hearing loss in future.

Drinking cup of beetroot juice daily may help lower blood pressure Posted: 15 Apr 2013 02:22 PM PDT A cup of beetroot juice a day may help reduce your blood pressure, according to a small study.

Cancer cell metabolism kills: Possible new therapies targeting energy supply of cancer cells? Posted: 15 Apr 2013 02:22 PM PDT Adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) is the main energy source for all forms of work inside our cells. Scientists have found that even a short-term shortage of ATP supply can be fatal for cancer cells because activation of a mitochondria-addressed cell death pathway. These findings may lead to new therapies specifically targeting the altered energy supply chains of cancer cells to get cancer cells to commit suicide.

Scientists learn what makes nerve cells so strong Posted: 15 Apr 2013 02:20 PM PDT How do nerve cells -- which can each be up to three feet long in humans -- keep from rupturing or falling apart? Axons, the long, cable-like projections on neurons, are made stronger by a unique modification of the common molecular building block of the cell skeleton.

Fainting may run in families while triggers may not Posted: 15 Apr 2013 02:20 PM PDT New research suggests that fainting may be genetic and, in some families, only one gene may be responsible. However, a predisposition to certain triggers, such as emotional distress or the sight of blood, may not be inherited.

Brain development is guided by junk DNA that isn't really junk Posted: 15 Apr 2013 02:20 PM PDT Specific DNA once dismissed as junk plays an important role in brain development and might be involved in several devastating neurological diseases, scientists have found.

Medical researchers implant telescope for macular degeneration Posted: 15 Apr 2013 12:14 PM PDT Physicians have successfully implanted a telescope in a patient's eye to treat macular degeneration.

New light shed on traumatic brain injuries Posted: 15 Apr 2013 12:14 PM PDT A new article offers the latest information concerning a "switch" that turns "on" and "off" inflammation in the brain after trauma.

Gene-expression signature may signify risk for recurrence, metastasis in prostate cancer Posted: 15 Apr 2013 12:14 PM PDT Scientists have identified a genetic signature that appears to reflect the risk of tumor recurrence or spread in men surgically treated for prostate cancer. If confirmed, the finding not only may help determine which patients require additional treatment after surgery, it also may help address the most challenging problem in prostate cancer treatment -- distinguishing tumors that require aggressive treatment from those that can safely be monitored.

No evidence drugs, vitamins, supplements help prevent cognitive decline in healthy older adults Posted: 15 Apr 2013 12:14 PM PDT A review has found no evidence that drugs, herbal products or vitamin supplements help prevent cognitive decline in healthy older adults.

Excess vitamin E intake not a health concern, study suggests Posted: 15 Apr 2013 12:14 PM PDT Despite concerns that have been expressed about possible health risks from high intake of vitamin E, a new review concludes that biological mechanisms exist to routinely eliminate excess levels of the vitamin, and they make it almost impossible to take a harmful amount.

Electroconvulsive therapy can restore quality of life for some severely depressed patients Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:49 AM PDT Patients whose severe depression goes into remission for six months following electroconvulsive therapy report a quality of life similar to that of healthy individuals, researchers say.

Laser liposuction melts fat, results in tighter skin Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT A new, minimally invasive treatment that uses lasers to melt fat could replace the "tummy tuck," suggests research on more than 2,000 people.

Nonsurgical treatment turns back the clock, shrinks enlarged prostate Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT Men with a common condition that causes frequent nighttime trips to the bathroom can get relief with a minimally invasive treatment that shrinks the prostate, suggests a new study. The early findings hail from the first prospective US trial of prostatic artery embolization, which reduces blood flow to the prostate, thus shrinking it.

Stenting dramatically improves treatment access for dialysis patients Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT Kidney failure patients on dialysis derive long-term benefit from the minimally invasive placement of a stent that improves the function of dialysis access grafts, according to 12-month trial results.

Key bone marrow protein identified as potential new leukemia treatment target Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT A new study on how the progression of acute lymphocytic leukemia is influenced by the bone marrow environment has demonstrated for the first time that targeting a specialized protein known as osteopontin may be an effective strategy to increase the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients with this type of blood cancer.

Skin cells turned directly into the cells that insulate neurons Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT Researchers have succeeded in transforming skin cells directly into oligodendrocyte precursor cells, the cells that wrap nerve cells in the insulating myelin sheaths that help nerve signals propagate. The current research was done in mice and rats. If the approach also works with human cells, it could eventually lead to cell therapies for diseases like inherited leukodystrophies -- disorders of the brain's white matter -- and multiple sclerosis, as well as spinal cord injuries.

Musicians who learn a new melody demonstrate enhanced skill after a night's sleep Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT A new study examining how the brain learns and retains motor skills provides insight into musical skill. Musicians who practiced and learned a new melody and were tested on it again after a night's sleep showed enhanced learning, says a researcher. The study found, however, that when two similar musical pieces were practiced one after the other, followed by sleep, any gains in speed and accuracy were diminished.

In sex, happiness hinges on keeping up with the Joneses Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:47 AM PDT In sex, happiness hinges on keeping up with the Joneses, a new study finds. Sex apparently is like income: People are generally happy when they keep pace with the Joneses and they're even happier if they get a bit more.

Our futures look bright, because we reject the possibility that bad things will happen Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:47 AM PDT People believe they'll be happy in the future, even when they imagine the many bad things that could happen, because they discount the possibility that those bad things will actually occur, according to a new research.

Taste of beer, without effect from alcohol, triggers dopamine release in the brain Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:47 AM PDT The taste of beer, without any effect from alcohol itself, can trigger dopamine release in the brain, which is associated with drinking, and other drugs of abuse.

C-peptide levels linked to death and heart disease in nondiabetic adults Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:47 AM PDT High blood levels of the serum C-peptide are linked to heart disease and death in people without diabetes, according to a large study.

Can new plasma-based biomaterials speed healing of injured tissues? Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:45 AM PDT Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) derived from blood contains growth factors and other bioactive molecules that promote healing at sites of tissue injury. However, it is difficult to deliver and retain these molecules at a target site, and clinical results have proven to be mixed – until now. A new solid form of bioactive plasma-based biomaterials, known as PBMs, can accelerate tissue healing. Not only are PBMs easier to work with, inexpensive to produce, and safe to use, they are available as off-the-shelf products.

Following a Western style diet may lead to greater risk of premature death Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:45 AM PDT Data from a new study of British adults suggest that adherence to a "Western-style" diet (fried and sweet food, processed and red meat, refined grains, and high-fat dairy products) reduces a person's likelihood of achieving older ages in good health and with higher functionality.

Early investment in families helps children succeed in school Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:39 AM PDT An innovative program that supports parents and teachers of public school pre-kindergarten students improves early academic achievement, according to a new study.

Rigid growth matrix: A key to success of cardiac tissue engineering Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:36 AM PDT A new study suggests that the elasticity of the physical matrix used for growing heart muscle cells outside of the body may be critical to the success of cardiac tissue engineering.

High glucose levels could impair ferroelectricity in body's connective tissues Posted: 15 Apr 2013 07:08 AM PDT New research suggests that more sugar in the body could damage the elastic proteins that help us breathe and pump blood. The findings could have health implications for diabetics, who have high blood-glucose levels.

Picture this: A dramatic drop in wrong patient errors Posted: 15 Apr 2013 07:08 AM PDT Adding a photo of a face to X-ray images can reduce "wrong-patient" errors five-fold, a new study finds.

Mathematics provides a shortcut to timely, cost-effective interventions for HIV Posted: 15 Apr 2013 06:59 AM PDT Mathematical estimates of treatment outcomes can cut costs and provide faster delivery of preventative measures. South Africa is home to the largest HIV epidemic in the world with a total of 5.6 million people living with HIV. Large-scale clinical trials evaluating combination methods of prevention and treatment are often prohibitively expensive and take years to complete. In the absence of such trials, mathematical models can help assess the effectiveness of different HIV intervention combinations, as demonstrated in a new study.

Personalizing prostate specific antigen testing may improve specificity, reduce biopsies Posted: 15 Apr 2013 06:48 AM PDT Genetic variants have been identified which can increase serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentrations and prostate cancer risk. A new study reports that correcting PSA levels for these genetic variants can have significant consequences, including avoiding unnecessary biopsies for some men and eliminating false complacency for others.

Surprising finding could alter the face of dengue vaccine development Posted: 15 Apr 2013 06:44 AM PDT As efforts to create a strong and effective vaccine for the dreaded dengue virus continue to hit snags, a new study offers surprising evidence that suggests the need for a revamped approach to dengue vaccine design. The finding runs counter to current scientific understanding of the key cells that need to be induced to develop a successful dengue vaccine.

Vitamin D may reduce risk of uterine fibroids Posted: 15 Apr 2013 06:44 AM PDT Women who had sufficient amounts of vitamin D were 32 percent less likely to develop fibroids than women with insufficient vitamin D, according to a new study.

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