ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Speaking a tonal language (such as Cantonese) primes the brain for musical training
• HIV self-testing: The key to controlling the global epidemic
• Telerobotic system designed to treat bladder cancer better
• Pedestrians at serious risk when drivers are 'permitted' to turn left
• Feeling hungry may protect the brain against Alzheimer's disease
• New genetic evidence suggests a continuum among neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders
• White blood cell enzyme contributes to inflammation and obesity
• Heart failure doesn't discriminate
• Decreased melatonin secretion associated with higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes
• Negative emotions in response to daily stress take a toll on long-term mental health
• College athletes twice as likely to have depression than retired collegiate athletes
• Landmark study describes prostate cancer metastasis switch
• BRAIN initiative launched to unlock mysteries of human mind
• Epileptic seizures can propagate using functional brain networks
• Fatty acid metabolite shows promise against cancer in mice
• How antibodies neutralize mosquito-borne virus
• Stop 'bad guys with guns' by implementing good policies
• Stillbirth or pre-term birth outcomes linked to elevated risk of blood clots after pregnancy
• Mental illness linked to heavy cannabis use
• 3-D scaffolds a new tool to fight cancer
• Fast track to mouse modeling
• New light shed on common sexually transmitted infection
• Cholesterol buildup links atherosclerosis and macular degeneration
• Cartilage damaged from exercise may aid in early osteoarthritis detection
• Tonsillectomy in adults with severe recurrent sore throats may benefit some people
• Study reveals risk factors for blood clots in pregnant and postnatal women
• Cell reprogramming to cure leukemia and lymphoma?
• Fighting listeria and other food-borne illnesses with nanobiotechnology
• Vitamin P as a potential approach for the treatment of damaged motor neurons
• Scientists test new formulation of novel, low-toxicity anticancer agent
• 'Sharps' injuries have major health and cost impact for surgeons
• 3-D stem cell culture technique developed to better understand Alzheimer's disease
• Dental bib clips can harbor oral and skin bacteria even after disinfection, study finds
• Coronary heart disease increases with body mass index, as well as with age: study
• Promising stem cell therapy for leukemia patients
• Regaining proper hearing at last
• Monkey study reveals why middle managers suffer the most stress
• Sampling of embryonic DNA after IVF without biopsy
• Greater recognition of face blindness needed, experts say
• The hunt for the creative individual
• New promise for an HIV vaccine as researchers overcome crucial obstacle
• Cancer drugs an unexpected ally in the battle against malaria
• Have asthma? You likely have an allergy as well
• Diet shown to be critical factor in improving type 2 diabetes after bariatric surgery
• Cells culled from adults may grow human bone
• Eating fish associated with lower risk of dying among older adults: Risk of dying from heart disease significantly lowered

Speaking a tonal language (such as Cantonese) primes the brain for musical training Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:26 PM PDT Non-musicians who speak tonal languages may have a better ear for learning musical notes, according to researchers.

HIV self-testing: The key to controlling the global epidemic Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:26 PM PDT A new international study has confirmed that self-testing for HIV is effective and could be the answer to controlling the global epidemic. This systematic review shows HIV self-testing removes much of the fear and stigma associated with being tested for the disease. This study could pave the way for early detection and treatment around the world, thereby reducing transmission.

Telerobotic system designed to treat bladder cancer better Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:26 PM PDT Engineers and doctors have designed a robotic surgery system specifically designed to treat bladder cancer, the sixth most common form of cancer in the US and the most expensive to treat.

Pedestrians at serious risk when drivers are 'permitted' to turn left Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:26 PM PDT A study to examine driver behavior in permitted left turns has identified what researchers call an "alarming" level of risk to pedestrians crossing the street -- about 4-9 percent of the time, drivers don't even bother to look and see if there are people in the way. The danger to pedestrians, who have a false sense of security, is far higher than had been realized.

Feeling hungry may protect the brain against Alzheimer's disease Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:24 PM PDT A study in mice with genetic mutations seen in human Alzheimer's disease found that the feeling of hunger itself may protect against the disease.

New genetic evidence suggests a continuum among neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:24 PM PDT A broad spectrum of developmental and psychiatric disorders, ranging from autism and intellectual disability to schizophrenia, should be conceptualized as different manifestations of a common underlying denominator, "developmental brain dysfunction," rather than completely independent conditions with distinct causes, new research suggests.

White blood cell enzyme contributes to inflammation and obesity Posted: 02 Apr 2013 01:32 PM PDT Researchers have discovered that an imbalance between the enzyme neutrophil elastase and its inhibitor, ±1-antitrypsin, causes inflammation, obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease.

Heart failure doesn't discriminate Posted: 02 Apr 2013 01:32 PM PDT Lifetime risk for heart failure is similar for blacks and whites and higher than expected for both groups -- ranging from 20 to 45 percent -- according to a new study.

Decreased melatonin secretion associated with higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes Posted: 02 Apr 2013 01:24 PM PDT With previous evidence suggesting that melatonin may have a role in glucose metabolism, researchers have found an independent association between decreased secretion of melatonin and an increased risk for the development of type 2 diabetes.

Negative emotions in response to daily stress take a toll on long-term mental health Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:01 PM PDT Our emotional responses to the stresses of daily life may predict our long-term mental health, according to a new study.

College athletes twice as likely to have depression than retired collegiate athletes Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:01 PM PDT A survey of current and former college athletes finds depression levels significantly higher in current athletes, a result that upended the researchers' hypothesis.

Landmark study describes prostate cancer metastasis switch Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:01 PM PDT SPDEF acts as a switch, regulating production of E-Cadherin, the loss of which is a prerequisite of metastasis in many cancers.

BRAIN initiative launched to unlock mysteries of human mind Posted: 02 Apr 2013 11:58 AM PDT Today at the White House, President Barak Obama unveiled the "BRAIN" Initiative -- a bold new research effort to revolutionize our understanding of the human mind and uncover new ways to treat, prevent, and cure brain disorders like Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, autism, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.

Epileptic seizures can propagate using functional brain networks Posted: 02 Apr 2013 11:46 AM PDT The seizures that affect people with temporal-lobe epilepsy usually start in a region of the brain called the hippocampus. But they are often able to involve other areas outside the temporal lobe, propagating via anatomically and functionally connected networks in the brain. New research findings that link decreased brain cell concentration to altered functional connectivity in temporal-lobe epilepsy are reported in a new article.

Fatty acid metabolite shows promise against cancer in mice Posted: 02 Apr 2013 11:39 AM PDT Scientists have found that a product resulting from a metabolized omega-3 fatty acid helps combat cancer by cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrients that fuel tumor growth and spread of the disease.

How antibodies neutralize mosquito-borne virus Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:50 AM PDT Researchers have learned the precise structure of the mosquito-transmitted chikungunya virus pathogen while it is bound to antibodies, showing how the infection is likely neutralized.

Stop 'bad guys with guns' by implementing good policies Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:50 AM PDT The National Rifle Association has put forward a National Shield School Proposal which supports the placement of armed security in all schools. A new review attempts to find a balanced and unbiased view of the facts within this heated and emotional debate.

Stillbirth or pre-term birth outcomes linked to elevated risk of blood clots after pregnancy Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT Newly identified pregnancy-related events, such as stillbirth or pre-term birth, may dramatically increase a woman's risk of developing a potentially deadly blood clot immediately after pregnancy, according to the results of a large, population-based study.

Mental illness linked to heavy cannabis use Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT People with mental illnesses are more than seven times more likely to use cannabis weekly compared to people without a mental illness, according to new research.

3-D scaffolds a new tool to fight cancer Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT Porous polymer scaffolds fabricated to support the growth of biological tissue for implantation may hold the potential to greatly accelerate the development of cancer therapeutics. Researchers report that three-dimensional scaffolds used to culture Ewing's sarcoma cells were effective at mimicking the environment in which such tumors develop.

Fast track to mouse modeling Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT What genes are responsible for the development of breast cancer? What are the brain cell mutations that lead to the onset of Alzheimer's? To find new therapies, scientists have to understand how diseases are triggered at cell level. Experiments on genetically modified mice are an indispensable part of basic medical research. Now a method has been found to help laboratories carry out their work with fewer test animals.

New light shed on common sexually transmitted infection Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT Medical researchers have found that a common sexually transmitted infection-causing parasite "cultivates" bacteria beneficial to it, changing thinking about which comes first -- infection or bacteria. The researchers also discovered a previously unknown species of these bacteria.

Cholesterol buildup links atherosclerosis and macular degeneration Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT A new study raises the intriguing possibility that drugs prescribed to lower cholesterol may be effective against macular degeneration, a blinding eye disease.

Cartilage damaged from exercise may aid in early osteoarthritis detection Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder and currently there is no cure. A new study reveals how the nanoscale biomechanical properties of cartilage at joints change at the earliest stages of osteoarthritis, making the tissue more prone to damage during fast physical activities. The findings could improve early detection of the disease as well as tissue engineering strategies to repair damaged cartilage in patients.

Tonsillectomy in adults with severe recurrent sore throats may benefit some people Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT Tonsillectomy may result in fewer severe sore throats and could benefit some adult patients, according to a randomized trial.

Study reveals risk factors for blood clots in pregnant and postnatal women Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:45 AM PDT Women who have suffered a still birth or have medical conditions including varicose veins, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or heart disease are at greater risk of developing dangerous blood clots after giving birth, a study has revealed.

Cell reprogramming to cure leukemia and lymphoma? Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:45 AM PDT Researchers have reprogrammed lymphoma and leukemia cells to halt their malignancy. Resulting cells remained benign even when no longer subjected to treatment and patients were less likely to develop new tumors.

Fighting listeria and other food-borne illnesses with nanobiotechnology Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:43 AM PDT Engineering researchers have developed a new method to kill deadly pathogenic bacteria, including listeria, in food handling and packaging. This innovation represents an alternative to the use of antibiotics or chemical decontamination in food supply systems.

Vitamin P as a potential approach for the treatment of damaged motor neurons Posted: 02 Apr 2013 07:11 AM PDT Biologists in Germany have explored how to protect neurons that control movements from dying off. In a new paper, they report that the molecule 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone, also known as vitamin P, ensures the survival of motor neurons in culture. It sends the survival signal on another path than the molecule Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which was previously considered a candidate for the treatment of motoneuron diseases or after spinal cord damage.

Scientists test new formulation of novel, low-toxicity anticancer agent Posted: 02 Apr 2013 07:11 AM PDT Researchers have found that a new formulation of a promising anticancer agent, the small chemical molecule FL118, is even more effective in controlling two types of cancer than a version reported six months earlier proved to be. Additional evidence also suggests that the agent may successfully treat other solid tumors as well.

'Sharps' injuries have major health and cost impact for surgeons Posted: 02 Apr 2013 07:11 AM PDT Injuries caused by needles and other sharp instruments are a major occupational hazard for surgeons -- with high costs related to the risk of contracting serious infectious diseases, according to a new article.

3-D stem cell culture technique developed to better understand Alzheimer's disease Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:16 AM PDT A team of researchers has developed a technique to produce three-dimensional cultures of induced pluripotent stem cells called embryoid bodies, amenable to live cell imaging and to electrical activity measurement.

Dental bib clips can harbor oral and skin bacteria even after disinfection, study finds Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:16 AM PDT Researchers have found that a significant proportion of dental bib clips harbored bacteria from the patient, dental clinician and the environment even after the clips had undergone standard disinfection procedures in a hygiene clinic.

Coronary heart disease increases with body mass index, as well as with age: study Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:13 AM PDT Coronary heart disease (CHD) increases with body mass index (BMI), as well as with age, new research finds. The research from the Million Women Study indicates that increased weight increases risk of CHD equivalent to that caused by getting older.

Promising stem cell therapy for leukemia patients Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:12 AM PDT Leukemia patients receive a bone marrow transplant, which allows them to build a "new" immune system. However, this immune system not only attacks cancer cells but healthy tissue too. Special antibodies will be used to protect healthy tissue in future.

Regaining proper hearing at last Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:12 AM PDT Around 17 million people in Germany suffer from impaired hearing. For many of them, their hearing is so damaged that a standard hearing aid is no longer enough. A new device will improve patients' hearing and can be implanted during outpatient surgery.

Monkey study reveals why middle managers suffer the most stress Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:11 AM PDT A study observing monkeys has found that those in the middle hierarchy suffer the most social stress. Their work suggests that the source of this stress is social conflict and may help explain studies in humans that have found that middle managers suffer the most stress at work.

Sampling of embryonic DNA after IVF without biopsy Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:11 AM PDT A new shows that fluid-filled cavity in 5-day old human blastocysts may contain DNA from the embryo, allowing diagnosis of genetic disease without a biopsy. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) technologies allow identification of genetic disorders in human preimplantation embryos after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and before the embryo is transferred back to the patient. This technique allows couples with a high-risk of passing on inherited diseases, to increase their chances of having a healthy baby.

Greater recognition of face blindness needed, experts say Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:11 AM PDT Imagine not being able to recognise your own child at nursery or even pick out your own face from a line-up of photos.

The hunt for the creative individual Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:11 AM PDT Some people are more creative than others and are literally bubbling with ideas, while others rarely or never show signs of creativity. What should we look for when searching for creative people?

New promise for an HIV vaccine as researchers overcome crucial obstacle Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:08 AM PDT For the first time, researchers were able to stimulate immune cells to produce broadly neutralizing antibodies: a critical step that has eluded researchers for decades but that provides promise for a successful HIV vaccine.

Cancer drugs an unexpected ally in the battle against malaria Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:08 AM PDT Scientists tested the efficacy of cancer drugs at killing the malaria parasite during the liver phase with astonishing success. This research paves the way for future studies using cancer drugs that could cause less drug resistance and have more targeted treatments than conventional malaria drugs.

Have asthma? You likely have an allergy as well Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:08 AM PDT A new study found 65 to 75 percent of asthmatic adults have an allergy.

Diet shown to be critical factor in improving type 2 diabetes after bariatric surgery Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:08 AM PDT Patients with type 2 diabetes who consume a diet identical to the strict regimen followed after bariatric surgery are just as likely to see a reduction in blood glucose levels as those who undergo surgery, according to a new study.

Cells culled from adults may grow human bone Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:08 AM PDT Preparations are underway for the first known human trial to use embryonic-like stem cells collected from adult cells to grow bone.

Eating fish associated with lower risk of dying among older adults: Risk of dying from heart disease significantly lowered Posted: 01 Apr 2013 03:15 PM PDT Older adults with higher levels of blood omega-3 levels -- fatty acids found in fish and seafood -- may be able to lower their mortality risk by as much as 27 percent and their mortality risk from heart disease by about 35 percent, report researchers. Older adults with the highest blood levels of the fatty acids lived, on average, 2.2 years longer than those with lower levels.

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