ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• 3-D-printed splint saves infant's life
• Protein targeted for cancer drug development is essential for normal heart function
• Link between omega-3 fatty acids and increased prostate cancer risk confirmed
• Location of body fat can elevate heart disease, cancer risk
• Brain's response to sweets may indicate risk for development of alcoholism
• 'Wasted' and 'hammered' versus 'buzzed' and 'tipsy' is more than just semantics
• Personality differences linked to later drinking have roots in early childhood
• People with Alzheimer's disease may have lower risk of cancer and vice versa
• Vaccinated children: A powerful protection for older adults
• 'Kangaroo care' offers developmental benefits for premature newborns
• Vitamin D deficiency linked to accelerated aging of bones
• Intestinal bacteria may fuel inflammation and worsen HIV disease
• Intelligence agents may be prone to irrational decision making
• Researchers perform DNA computation in living cells
• Jagged graphene edges can slice into cell membranes
• Scientists decode mystery sequences involved in gene regulation
• Researchers create inner ear from stem cells, opening potential for new treatments
• Typhoid's lethal secret revealed
• Pandemic risk? Troubling traits of H7N9 avian flu virus
• New method rapidly identifies specific strains of illness
• The dark side of artificial sweeteners: Expert reviews negative imact
• 'Bath salts' stimulant could be more addictive than meth, study shows
• Researchers identify new source of powerful immunity protein
• Jealousy can drive us to view ourselves more like our rivals
• Toward a safer form of acetaminophen
• Cigarette smoke impacts genes linked to health of heart and lungs
• Nanoparticles, 'pH phoresis' could improve cancer drug delivery
• Acid reflux drug may cause heart disease, study suggests
• Fundamental problem for brain mapping
• Excessive cerebral spinal fluid and enlarged brain size in infancy are potential biomarkers for autism
• Stroke recovery theories challenged by new studies looking at brain lesions, bionic arms
• Vascular link in Alzheimer's disease with cognition
• Females respond better to stress because of estrogen in the brain, animal study finds
• Don't worry, be healthy: Cheerful people significantly less likely to suffer a coronary event
• Losing weight over the phone
• The study of resting brain connections predicts learning ability
• Tumor-suppressor protein gives up its secrets
• Microparticles create localized control of stem cells
• Placebo effect largely ignored in psychological intervention studies
• Exposure to maternal antibodies affects behavior, researchers find
• Researchers identify specific fetal antigens attacked by maternal antibodies

3-D-printed splint saves infant's life Posted: 10 Jul 2013 03:36 PM PDT Medical researchers printed a 3-D splint that saved the life of an infant born with severe tracheobronchomalacia, a birth defect that causes the airway to collapse. While similar surgeries have been preformed using tissue donations and windpipes created from stem cells, this is the first time 3D printing has been used to treat tracheobronchomalacia -- at least in a human.

Protein targeted for cancer drug development is essential for normal heart function Posted: 10 Jul 2013 03:36 PM PDT Scientists have discovered that a protein used by cancer cells to evade death also plays a vital role in heart health.

Link between omega-3 fatty acids and increased prostate cancer risk confirmed Posted: 10 Jul 2013 03:36 PM PDT A second large, prospective study has confirmed the link between high blood concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids and an increased risk of prostate cancer.

Location of body fat can elevate heart disease, cancer risk Posted: 10 Jul 2013 03:29 PM PDT Individuals with excessive abdominal fat have a greater risk of heart disease and cancer than individuals with a similar body mass index who carry their fat in other areas of the body, according to a new study.

Brain's response to sweets may indicate risk for development of alcoholism Posted: 10 Jul 2013 03:29 PM PDT Several human and animal studies have shown a relationship between a preference for highly sweet tastes and alcohol use disorders. Furthermore, the brain mechanisms of sweet-taste responses may share common neural pathways with responses to alcohol and other drugs. A new study using functional magnetic resonance imaging has found that recent drinking is related to the orbitofrontal-region brain response to an intensely sweet stimulus, a brain response that may serve as an important phenotype, or observable characteristic, of alcoholism risk.

'Wasted' and 'hammered' versus 'buzzed' and 'tipsy' is more than just semantics Posted: 10 Jul 2013 03:29 PM PDT Prior research found that women tended to use moderate self-referral terms for intoxication, whereas men used heavy terms. New findings confirm that men's drinking is generally described in terms indicative of excessive consumption while women tend to couch drinking in more moderate terms. These labels of intoxication may impact perceptions and subsequent behaviors, but also inform tailored measures for prevention and intervention.

Personality differences linked to later drinking have roots in early childhood Posted: 10 Jul 2013 03:29 PM PDT An individual enters adolescence with personality characteristics and life experiences already accumulated. A new study evaluates the impact of childhood temperament on later alcohol use/problems. Results show that childhood temperament prior to age five predicts adolescent alcohol use and problems at age 15.5 years, even after controlling for socio-demographic factors and parental alcohol problems.

People with Alzheimer's disease may have lower risk of cancer and vice versa Posted: 10 Jul 2013 03:24 PM PDT Older people with Alzheimer's disease are less likely to also have cancer, and older people with cancer are less likely to also have Alzheimer's disease, according to the largest study to date on the topic.

Vaccinated children: A powerful protection for older adults Posted: 10 Jul 2013 03:24 PM PDT Children who receive a vaccine to prevent blood and ear infections, appear to be reducing the spread of pneumonia to the rest of the population, especially their grandparents and other older adults.

'Kangaroo care' offers developmental benefits for premature newborns Posted: 10 Jul 2013 12:57 PM PDT Kangaroo Care delivers benefits beyond bonding and breastfeeding for a hospital's tiniest newborns.

Vitamin D deficiency linked to accelerated aging of bones Posted: 10 Jul 2013 12:57 PM PDT Researchers have shown that deficiencies in vitamin D -- the sunshine vitamin -- accelerates the aging of bone, reducing the quality and making it more susceptible to fracturing.

Intestinal bacteria may fuel inflammation and worsen HIV disease Posted: 10 Jul 2013 12:57 PM PDT A new study of HIV infection points to changes in intestinal bacteria as a possible explanation for why successfully treated HIV patients nonetheless prematurely experience life-shortening chronic diseases.

Intelligence agents may be prone to irrational decision making Posted: 10 Jul 2013 12:53 PM PDT U.S. intelligence agents may be more prone to irrational inconsistencies in decision making compared to college students and post-college adults, according to a new study.

Researchers perform DNA computation in living cells Posted: 10 Jul 2013 11:20 AM PDT Chemists have performed a DNA-based logic-gate operation within a human cell. The research may pave the way to more complicated computations in live cells, as well as new methods of disease detection and treatment.

Jagged graphene edges can slice into cell membranes Posted: 10 Jul 2013 11:20 AM PDT Researchers have shown how tiny graphene sheets can be big trouble for cells. Sharp corners and jagged edges on the sheets puncture cell membranes, allowing the sheet to enter the cell and disrupt function. The new understanding of how graphene interacts with cells could lead to safer production of this important nanomaterial.

Scientists decode mystery sequences involved in gene regulation Posted: 10 Jul 2013 11:18 AM PDT The mechanisms behind gene regulation are not well understood because the RNA sequences to which RNA binding proteins bind have been so difficult to decipher. Now, researchers have produced the first-ever compendium of RNA-binding sequences, which will be an important guide to understanding the root of many genetically-linked diseases, such as autism.

Researchers create inner ear from stem cells, opening potential for new treatments Posted: 10 Jul 2013 11:18 AM PDT Scientists have transformed mouse embryonic stem cells into key structures of the inner ear. The discovery provides new insights into the sensory organ's developmental process and sets the stage for laboratory models of disease, drug discovery and potential treatments for hearing loss and balance disorders.

Typhoid's lethal secret revealed Posted: 10 Jul 2013 11:18 AM PDT Typhoid fever is one of the oldest documented diseases known to have afflicted mankind but what makes it so lethal has remained a mystery for centuries. In a new study, researchers offer an explanation of how the devastating disease marked by delirium and stupor still kills 200,000 people every year -- and also suggests the basis of a future vaccine.

Pandemic risk? Troubling traits of H7N9 avian flu virus Posted: 10 Jul 2013 11:08 AM PDT The emerging H7N9 avian influenza virus responsible for at least 37 deaths in China has qualities that could potentially spark a global outbreak of flu, according to a new study.

New method rapidly identifies specific strains of illness Posted: 10 Jul 2013 09:20 AM PDT Researchers have developed a method to rapidly identify pathogenic species and strains causing illnesses, such as pneumonia, that could help lead to earlier detection of disease outbreaks and pinpoint effective treatments more quickly.

The dark side of artificial sweeteners: Expert reviews negative imact Posted: 10 Jul 2013 09:20 AM PDT More and more Americans are consuming artificial sweeteners as an alternative to sugar, but whether this translates into better health has been heavily debated. A new opinion article reviews surprising evidence on the negative impact of artificial sweeteners on health, raising red flags about all sweeteners -- even those that don't have any calories.

'Bath salts' stimulant could be more addictive than meth, study shows Posted: 10 Jul 2013 09:19 AM PDT Scientists have published one of the first laboratory studies of MDPV, an emerging recreational drug that has been sold as "bath salts." The researchers confirmed the drug's powerful stimulant effects in rats and found evidence that it could be more addictive than methamphetamine, one of the most addictive substances to date.

Researchers identify new source of powerful immunity protein Posted: 10 Jul 2013 09:18 AM PDT Researchers report the identification of a new cellular source for an important disease-fighting protein used in the body's earliest response to infection.

Jealousy can drive us to view ourselves more like our rivals Posted: 10 Jul 2013 08:45 AM PDT If you see your partner flirt with someone else, you may feel hurt, angry, and jealous. The last thing you might expect is to start thinking of yourself more like your rival. New research suggests just that: that jealousy can prompt people to change how they view themselves relative to competitors for their partners' attention.

Toward a safer form of acetaminophen Posted: 10 Jul 2013 08:44 AM PDT Efforts to develop a safer form of acetaminophen -- the pain and fever-reducer that is one of the most widely used drugs -- have led to discovery of substances that may have less potentially toxic effects on the liver.

Cigarette smoke impacts genes linked to health of heart and lungs Posted: 10 Jul 2013 08:44 AM PDT New insights into why obese cigarette smokers experience a high risk of heart disease suggest that cigarette smoke affects the activity of hundreds of key genes that both protect the heart and lungs and expose them to damage. The study suggests that the effects may be especially profound in obese nonsmokers who inhale "sidesteam smoke" from cigarettes smoldering nearby.

Nanoparticles, 'pH phoresis' could improve cancer drug delivery Posted: 10 Jul 2013 08:44 AM PDT Researchers have developed a concept to potentially improve delivery of drugs for cancer treatment using nanoparticles that concentrate and expand in the presence of higher acidity found in tumor cells.

Acid reflux drug may cause heart disease, study suggests Posted: 10 Jul 2013 08:42 AM PDT Drugs that help millions of people cope with acid reflux may also cause cardiovascular disease, a new study suggests. It is the first time researchers have shown how proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, might cause cardiovascular problems.

Fundamental problem for brain mapping Posted: 10 Jul 2013 08:42 AM PDT Researchers show a foundational assumption used in brain mapping is flawed, leading them to challenge established works and theories.

Excessive cerebral spinal fluid and enlarged brain size in infancy are potential biomarkers for autism Posted: 10 Jul 2013 07:38 AM PDT Children who were later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder had excessive cerebrospinal fluid and enlarged brains in infancy, a new study has found, raising the possibility that those brain anomalies may serve as potential biomarkers for the early identification of the neurodevelopmental disorder.

Stroke recovery theories challenged by new studies looking at brain lesions, bionic arms Posted: 10 Jul 2013 07:30 AM PDT Stroke is the country's leading cause of disability, leaving millions with residual arm and leg weakness. However, efforts have usually focused on stroke prevention and acute care. Now, two new studies suggest that stroke survivors left weakened or partially paralyzed may be able to regain more arm and hand movement even years after a stroke -- information that clinicians may not know or pass on to their patients.

Vascular link in Alzheimer's disease with cognition Posted: 10 Jul 2013 03:25 AM PDT Researchers have found that, across a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, cerebrovascular disease affecting circulation of blood in the brain was significantly associated with dementia. The researchers contend that people already exhibiting clinical features of Alzheimer's disease and other memory impairments may benefit from effective therapies currently available to reduce vascular problems.

Females respond better to stress because of estrogen in the brain, animal study finds Posted: 10 Jul 2013 03:18 AM PDT The idea that females are more resilient than males in responding to stress is a popular view, and now researchers have found a scientific explanation.

Don't worry, be healthy: Cheerful people significantly less likely to suffer a coronary event Posted: 09 Jul 2013 12:55 PM PDT People with cheerful temperaments are significantly less likely to suffer a coronary event such as a heart attack or sudden cardiac death, new Johns Hopkins research suggests.

Losing weight over the phone Posted: 09 Jul 2013 08:52 AM PDT Weight loss interventions delivered via conference calls by primary care provider staff are effective, according to new research. An intensive lifestyle intervention, proven to help people lose weight to prevent diabetes, also works in primary care when delivered over the telephone to obese patients with metabolic syndrome. Group telephone sessions appear to be particularly effective for greater weight loss.

The study of resting brain connections predicts learning ability Posted: 09 Jul 2013 08:52 AM PDT An innovative neurocognitive study shows that the individual variability that exists in brain connections affects people's learning ability and, in turn, the learning process produces a change in brain networks associated with the trained areas.

Tumor-suppressor protein gives up its secrets Posted: 09 Jul 2013 08:49 AM PDT Genetic mutations aren't the only thing that can keep a protein called PTEN from doing its tumor-suppressing job. Researchers have now discovered that four small chemical tags attached (reversibly) to the protein's tail can have the same effect, and they say their finding may offer a novel path for drug design to keep PTEN working.

Microparticles create localized control of stem cells Posted: 09 Jul 2013 08:49 AM PDT By using gelatin-based microparticles to deliver growth factors, researchers are creating three-dimensional structures from stem cells and reducing the use of growth factors needed to promote differentiation.

Placebo effect largely ignored in psychological intervention studies Posted: 09 Jul 2013 06:48 AM PDT Many brain-training companies tout the scientific backing of their products -- the laboratory studies that reveal how their programs improve your brainpower. But according to a new report, most intervention studies like these have a critical flaw: they do not adequately account for the placebo effect.

Exposure to maternal antibodies affects behavior, researchers find Posted: 09 Jul 2013 06:47 AM PDT Researchers have found that prenatal exposure to specific combinations of antibodies found only in mothers of children with autism leads to changes in the brain that adversely affect behavior and development.

Researchers identify specific fetal antigens attacked by maternal antibodies Posted: 09 Jul 2013 06:47 AM PDT Researchers have identified the specific antibodies that target fetal brain proteins in the blood of a subset of women whose children are diagnosed with autism. The finding is the first to pinpoint a specific risk factor for a significant subset of autism cases, as well as a biomarker for drug development and early diagnosis. The researchers have named autism related to these antibodies "Maternal Autoantibody-Related," or MAR autism.

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