ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Nasal inhalation of oxytocin improves face blindness
• Mindfulness training improves attention in children
• Researchers pin down the genetics of going under
• New form of irritable bowel syndrome occurs after patients suffer acute diverticulitis
• Molecular beacons light path to cardiac muscle repair
• Inner-ear disorders may cause hyperactivity
• New system developed to better study behavior, cell function
• Peering into genetic defects, scientists discover a new metabolic disease
• Prion-like proteins drive several diseases of aging
• Body's 'safety procedure' could explain autoimmune disease
• Space around others perceived just as our own
• Cell death protein could offer new anti-inflammatory drug target
• Some immune cells appear to aid cancer cell growth
• Molecular marker predicts patients most likely to benefit longest from two popular cancer drugs
• Sleep deprivation increases food purchasing the next day
• Wide range of differences, mostly unseen, among humans
• Telemedicine initiative allows remote hearing tests for newborns
• Smoking with asthma during pregnancy is particularly dangerous
• Robots could one day help surgeons remove hard to reach brain tumors
• Children with behavioral problems more at risk of inflammation, health problems later in life
• Human Urine Metabolome: What scientists can see in your urine
• Dishonest deeds lead to 'cheater's high,' as long as no one gets hurt, study finds
• Cause of cystic kidneys explained: Novel gene responsible for cystic kidney disease in children identified
• What is the brain telling us about the diagnoses of schizophrenia?
• Brown algae reveal antioxidant production secrets
• Life purpose buffers negative moods triggered by diversity
• Chlamydia and gonorrhoea infections linked to pregnancy complications
• Back of pack health warnings make little impact on teen smokers
• Ashtray availability, signage may determine success of smoke-free legislation

Nasal inhalation of oxytocin improves face blindness Posted: 05 Sep 2013 05:28 PM PDT Prosopagnosia (face blindness) may be temporarily improved following inhalation of the hormone oxytocin.

Mindfulness training improves attention in children Posted: 05 Sep 2013 05:28 PM PDT A short training course in mindfulness improves children's ability to ignore distractions and concentrate better.

Researchers pin down the genetics of going under Posted: 05 Sep 2013 05:28 PM PDT Researchers have explored the distinctions between anesthetic unconsciousness and sleep by manipulating the genetic pathways known to be involved in natural sleep, and studying the resulting effects on anesthetic states.

New form of irritable bowel syndrome occurs after patients suffer acute diverticulitis Posted: 05 Sep 2013 01:04 PM PDT Researchers have described a new form of irritable bowel syndrome that occurs after an acute bout of diverticulitis, a finding that may help lead to better management of symptoms and relief for patients.

Molecular beacons light path to cardiac muscle repair Posted: 05 Sep 2013 11:28 AM PDT Having a pure population of cardiac muscle cells is essential for avoiding tumor formation after transplantation, but has been technically challenging. Researchers have developed a method for purifying cardiac muscle cells from stem cell cultures using molecular beacons.

Inner-ear disorders may cause hyperactivity Posted: 05 Sep 2013 11:28 AM PDT Behavioral abnormalities are traditionally thought to originate in the brain. But a new study has found that inner-ear dysfunction can directly cause neurological changes that increase hyperactivity. The study, conducted in mice, also implicated two brain proteins in this process, providing potential targets for intervention.

New system developed to better study behavior, cell function Posted: 05 Sep 2013 10:41 AM PDT A team of researchers has successfully translated a new technology to better study behaviors and cellular function of fruit flies. This powerful genetic tool allows scientists to selectively, rapidly, reversibly, and dose-dependently remotely control behaviors and physiological processes in the fly which shares a significant degree of similarity to humans.

Peering into genetic defects, scientists discover a new metabolic disease Posted: 05 Sep 2013 10:40 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new disease related to an inability to process Vitamin B12. The disorder is rare but can be devastating.

Prion-like proteins drive several diseases of aging Posted: 05 Sep 2013 10:40 AM PDT Two leading neurology researchers have proposed a theory that could unify scientists' thinking about several neurodegenerative diseases and suggest therapeutic strategies to combat them.

Body's 'safety procedure' could explain autoimmune disease Posted: 05 Sep 2013 10:40 AM PDT Researchers have found an important safety mechanism in the immune system that may malfunction in people with autoimmune diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis, potentially paving the way for innovative treatments.

Space around others perceived just as our own Posted: 05 Sep 2013 10:40 AM PDT A new study has shown that neurons in our brain 'mirror' the space near others, just as if this was the space near ourselves. The study sheds new light on a question that has long preoccupied psychologists and neuroscientists regarding the way in which the brain represents other people and the events that happens to those people.

Cell death protein could offer new anti-inflammatory drug target Posted: 05 Sep 2013 10:39 AM PDT Scientists have revealed the structure of a protein that is essential for triggering a form of programmed cell death called necroptosis, making possible the development of new drugs to treat chronic inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

Some immune cells appear to aid cancer cell growth Posted: 05 Sep 2013 10:37 AM PDT A new study found that a subset of immune cells provide a niche where cancer stem cells survive.

Molecular marker predicts patients most likely to benefit longest from two popular cancer drugs Posted: 05 Sep 2013 10:37 AM PDT Scientists have identified a molecular marker called "Mig 6" that appears to accurately predict longer survival -- up to two years -- among patients prescribed two of the most widely used drugs in a class of anticancer agents called EGFR inhibitors.

Sleep deprivation increases food purchasing the next day Posted: 05 Sep 2013 08:37 AM PDT People who were deprived of one night's sleep purchased more calories and grams of food in a mock supermarket on the following day in a new study.

Wide range of differences, mostly unseen, among humans Posted: 05 Sep 2013 07:19 AM PDT Bioinformatics researchers have investigated how protein function is affected by changes at the DNA level. Their findings bring new clarity to the wide range of variants, many of which disturb protein function but have no discernible health effect, and highlight especially the role of rare variants in differentiating individuals from their neighbors.

Telemedicine initiative allows remote hearing tests for newborns Posted: 05 Sep 2013 07:17 AM PDT A telemedicine initiative is working to make follow-up hearing tests for newborns more accessible in rural areas of Tennessee, while teaching young pediatric audiology and pediatric speech language pathology students to treat patients remotely.

Smoking with asthma during pregnancy is particularly dangerous Posted: 05 Sep 2013 07:17 AM PDT New research shows that pregnant women who smoke as well as having asthma are greatly increasing the risk of complications for themselves and their unborn children.

Robots could one day help surgeons remove hard to reach brain tumors Posted: 05 Sep 2013 07:17 AM PDT Scientists and engineers are teaming up with neurosurgeons to develop technologies that enable less invasive, image-guided removal of hard-to-reach brain tumors. Their technologies combine novel imaging techniques that allow surgeons to see deep within the brain during surgery with robotic systems that enhance the precision of tissue removal.

Children with behavioral problems more at risk of inflammation, health problems later in life Posted: 05 Sep 2013 05:59 AM PDT Children with behavioral problems may be at risk of many chronic diseases in adulthood including heart disease, obesity, diabetes, as well as inflammatory illnesses (conditions which are caused by cell damage). Researchers found that children with behavioral problems at the age of 8, had higher levels of two proteins (C-reactive protein -- CRP; and Interleukin 6 -- IL-6) in their blood when tested at the age of 10. Having raised levels of CRP and IL-6 can be an early warning sign that a person may be at risk of chronic or inflammatory conditions later in life.

Human Urine Metabolome: What scientists can see in your urine Posted: 05 Sep 2013 05:59 AM PDT Researchers have determined the chemical composition of human urine. The study, which took more than seven years and involved a team of nearly 20 researchers, has revealed that more than 3,000 chemicals or "metabolites" can be detected in urine. The results are expected to have significant implications for medical, nutritional, drug and environmental testing.

Dishonest deeds lead to 'cheater's high,' as long as no one gets hurt, study finds Posted: 05 Sep 2013 05:59 AM PDT People who get away with cheating when they believe no one is hurt by their dishonesty are more likely to feel upbeat than remorseful afterward, according to new research.

Cause of cystic kidneys explained: Novel gene responsible for cystic kidney disease in children identified Posted: 05 Sep 2013 05:57 AM PDT Scientists have identified a new gene that causes cystic kidneys in children and young adults. The research group's results lead to the identification of novel insights into the molecular mechanism underlying NPH, which is a prerequisite for developing pharmacological targets and new therapies for children with nephronophthisis.

What is the brain telling us about the diagnoses of schizophrenia? Posted: 05 Sep 2013 05:56 AM PDT We live in the most exciting and unsettling period in the history of psychiatry since Freud started talking about sex in public. On the one hand, the American Psychiatric Association has introduced the fifth iteration of the psychiatric diagnostic manual, DSM-V, representing the current best effort of the brightest clinical minds in psychiatry to categorize the enormously complex pattern of human emotional, cognitive, and behavioral problems. On the other hand, in new and profound ways, neuroscience and genetics research in psychiatry are yielding insights that challenge the traditional diagnostic schema that have long been at the core of the field.

Brown algae reveal antioxidant production secrets Posted: 05 Sep 2013 05:56 AM PDT Brown algae contain phlorotannins, aromatic (phenolic) compounds that are unique in the plant kingdom. As natural antioxidants, phlorotannins are of great interest for the treatment and prevention of cancer and inflammatory, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers have recently elucidated the key step in the production of these compounds in Ectocarpus siliculosus, a small brown alga model species. The study also revealed the specific mechanism of an enzyme that synthesizes phenolic compounds with commercial applications.

Life purpose buffers negative moods triggered by diversity Posted: 05 Sep 2013 05:55 AM PDT Being in the minority in an ethnically diverse crowd is distressing, regardless of your ethnicity, unless you have a sense of purpose in life, reports a developmental psychologist.

Chlamydia and gonorrhoea infections linked to pregnancy complications Posted: 04 Sep 2013 05:51 PM PDT Becoming infected with chlamydia or gonorrhoea in the lead-up to, or during, pregnancy, increases the risk of complications, such as stillbirth or unplanned premature birth, indicates new research.

Back of pack health warnings make little impact on teen smokers Posted: 04 Sep 2013 05:50 PM PDT Back of pack picture or text warnings depicting the dangers of smoking, make little impact on teen smokers, particularly those who smoke regularly, suggests new research.

Ashtray availability, signage may determine success of smoke-free legislation Posted: 04 Sep 2013 05:41 PM PDT Signs banning smoking may not have as much of an impact on secondhand smoke concentrations as the presence of ashtrays or ashtray equivalents.

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