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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

ScienceDaily: Top Health News

ScienceDaily: Top Health News

Diets high in animal protein may help prevent functional decline in elderly individuals

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 01:31 PM PDT

A diet high in protein, particularly animal protein, may help elderly individuals function at higher levels physically, psychologically, and socially, according to a study. The research suggests that as people age, their ability to absorb or process protein may decline. To compensate for this loss, protein requirements may increase with age.

Prosocial youth less likely to associate with deviant peers, engage in problem behaviors

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 01:30 PM PDT

Prosocial behaviors, or actions intended to help others, remain an important area of focus for researchers interested in factors that reduce violence and other behavioral problems in youth. However, little is known regarding the connection between prosocial and antisocial behaviors. A new study by a human development expert found that prosocial behaviors can prevent youth from associating with deviant peers, thereby making the youth less likely to exhibit antisocial or problem behaviors, such as aggression and delinquency.

Scientists 'herd' cells in new approach to tissue engineering

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 12:19 PM PDT

An electrical current can be used to orchestrate the flow of a group of cells, engineers have discovered. This achievement sets the stage for more controlled forms of tissue engineering and for potential applications such as 'smart bandages' that use electrical stimulation to help heal wounds. "This is the first data showing that direct current fields can be used to deliberately guide migration of a sheet of epithelial cells," said the study's lead author.

Link between missing DNA, birth defects confirmed

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 12:19 PM PDT

The genetic basis for a particular human syndrome that involves cleft palate, epilepsy and respiratory difficulties has been identified by researchers. Better understanding of these genes could help guide treatments for related conditions. "Epilepsy and cleft palate affect tens of thousands of children in the U.S. alone each year," authors said, "and respiratory failure is a particular problem in premature and low birth weight babies. Finding the causative genes for these conditions could have some very clinically important implications."

Substance naturally found in humans effective in fighting brain damage from stroke

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 12:19 PM PDT

A molecular substance that occurs naturally in humans and rats was found to 'substantially reduce' brain damage after an acute stroke and contribute to a better recovery, according to a newly released animal study. The study was the first ever to show that the peptide AcSDKP provides neurological protection when administered one to four hours after the onset of an ischemic stroke.

Lack of sleep, stress describe a mother's experience after child's ALL treatment

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 11:15 AM PDT

Many months after their child's diagnosis and treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 46 percent of mothers exhibited symptoms of clinical anxiety and 26 percent of mothers showed depressive symptoms. The researchers chose to work with mothers in this maintenance period of relative stability following treatment so as to avoid making further demands on mothers during the acute period of their child's illness. This allowed them to look at the mid- and longer-term effects of a child's diagnosis on a mother's wellbeing.

Cellular alchemy: How to make insulin-producing cells from gut cells

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 11:15 AM PDT

Introducing three proteins that control the regulation of DNA in the nucleus -- called transcription factors -- into an immune-deficient mouse turned a specific group of cells in the gut lining into beta-like cells. "Our results demonstrate that the intestine could be an accessible and abundant source of functional insulin-producing cells," says the lead author of the study. "Our ultimate goal is to obtain epithelial cells from diabetes patients who have had endoscopies, expand these cells, add PMN to them to make beta-like cells, and then give them back to the patient as an alternate therapy."

Free online software helps speed up genetic discoveries

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 11:14 AM PDT

Microarray analysis -- a complex technology commonly used in many applications such as discovering genes, disease diagnosis, drug development and toxicological research -- has just become easier and more user-friendly. Scientists have created free software that makes detection of genetic components of disease faster and easier; could help speed up genetic discoveries.

Why antisocial youth are less able to see perspective of others

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 10:36 AM PDT

Adolescents with antisocial personality disorder inflict serious physical and psychological harm on both themselves and others. However, little is yet known about the underlying neural processes. Researchers have pinpointed a possible explanation: Their brain regions responsible for social information processing and impulse control are less developed.

MRI to 'see through' metal screws developed to follow patients after hip fracture surgery

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 10:36 AM PDT

People who sustain the most common type of hip fracture are at increased risk of complications. A special type of MRI has been developed that can show a detailed image following fracture repair, without the distortion caused by metal surgical screws that are problematic in standard MRIs. Each year, more than 340,000 people suffer a broken hip in the United States.

Magnet hospitals have higher quality of care, researcher finds

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 09:43 AM PDT

Research provides insight on the factors contributing to the differences between Magnet® and Non-Magnet hospitals as well as an analysis of the links between Magnet Recognition and better nurse-reported quality of care. Magnet recognition is considered a leading source for measuring organizational success in nursing. The research team found a clear positive correlation between positive nurses work environments and nurse-reported quality of care.

Improving safety, effectiveness of lithium therapy: Closer than ever

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 09:43 AM PDT

Lithium, one of the oldest and most widely used drugs to treat neuropsychiatric illnesses, such as bipolar disorder, has a serious drawback -- toxicity. In a continued effort to find a safer form of lithium, researchers have discovered that lithium salicylate, an alternative salt form, might be the answer.

Education boosts brain function long after school, study shows

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 09:43 AM PDT

Education significantly improves mental functioning in seniors even four decades after finishing school, shows a new study. The study shows that people who attended school for longer periods performed better in terms of cognitive functioning than those who did not. Using data from individuals aged around 60, the researchers found a positive impact of schooling on memory scores. The fact that young people or their parents did not choose whether to go longer to school strongly suggests that schooling is the cause rather than personal characteristics that would affect this choice and could also explain the differences in cognitive function.

Gesturing with hands a powerful tool for children's math learning

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 09:42 AM PDT

Children who use their hands to gesture during a math lesson gain a deep understanding of the problems they are taught, according to new research. Previous research has found that gestures can help children learn. This study in particular was designed to answer whether abstract gesture can support generalization beyond a particular problem and whether abstract gesture is a more effective teaching tool than concrete action.

Tracking neighborhood eating habits to promote healthier diets

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 09:42 AM PDT

Using checkout grocery data from Montreal neighborhoods as a tool to combat unhealthy food choices, a new study has developed a way for health agencies to track Montreal consumers' food choices, neighborhood by neighborhood. This novel approach could pave the way to better monitoring of consumers' behavior and more targeted efforts to encourage healthier diets.

Restoring order in brain: Brain cell regeneration may alleviate symptoms of Alzheimer's disease

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 09:42 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered that when they re-established a population of new cells in the part of the brain associated with behavior, some symptoms of Alzheimer's disease significantly decreased or were reversed altogether. While memory loss is a common symptom of Alzheimer's, other behavioral manifestations -- depression, loss of inhibition, delusions, agitation, anxiety, and aggression -- can be even more challenging for victims and their families to live with. The research was conducted on mouse models; it provides a promising target for Alzheimer's symptoms in human beings as well.

Time versus money? Placing a value on buyer's remorse

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 09:39 AM PDT

From a product's price to its convenience, ease of use, and number of overall features, many factors play into getting the most "bang for your buck." According to a new study, when it comes to weighing tradeoffs, selecting something more expensive based on perceived value might lead to buyer's remorse in the long run. 

Cancer cells don't take 'drunken' walks through body

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 09:38 AM PDT

Biologists have believed that cancers cells spread through the body in a slow, aimless fashion, resembling a drunk who can't walk three steps in a straight line. They now know that's true in a flat petri dish, but not in the three-dimensional space of an actual body. This finding is important because it should lead to more accurate results for scientists studying how cancer spreads through the body, often leading to a grim prognosis. To address this dimensional disagreement, the study's authors have produced a new mathematical formula that they say better reflects the behavior of cells migrating through 3D environments.

How Twitter shapes public opinion

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 09:38 AM PDT

How exactly does Twitter, with its 241 million users tweeting out 500 million messages daily, shape public opinion? That question was tackled by a group of researchers in China, who investigated how opinions evolve on Twitter by gathering about 6 million messages (tweeted over a six month period), which they ran through algorithms and analyzed. The work reveals several surprises about how Twitter shapes public opinion, researchers say.

Anesthetic technique improves quality of recovery for women having breast cancer surgery

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 07:58 AM PDT

Anesthesiologists using a technique similar to a dental freeze can improve the quality of recovery and decrease recovery time for breast cancer surgery patients, according to a new study. The paravertebral block technique uses ultrasound to precisely guide a needle to intercostal nerves reaching the breast and deliver local anesthetic to freeze these nerves. In total, five blocks are needed to freeze the five nerves involved. The freeze blocks the transmission of pain from the breast where surgeons can perform full or partial mastectomies, or even reconstructive breast surgery. At the same time, patients are given an intravenous drug called propofol which allows them to sleep through the surgery and continue breathing on their own, without needing a breathing tube or a ventilator.

To drink or not to drink: Decision-making center of brain identified

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 07:58 AM PDT

Although choosing to do something because the perceived benefit outweighs the financial cost is something people do daily, little is known about what happens in the brain when a person makes these kinds of decisions. Studying how these cost-benefit decisions are made when choosing to consume alcohol, a researcher identified distinct profiles of brain activity that are present when making these decisions.

Cosmetic treatment can open door to bacteria

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 07:49 AM PDT

Many people have 'fillers' injected into their facial tissue to give them 'bee-stung lips' or to smooth out their wrinkles. Unfortunately, a lot of cosmetic treatment customers experience unpleasant side effects in the form of tender subcutaneous lumps that are difficult to treat and which -- in isolated cases -- have led to lesions that simply will not heal. Research recently published now supports that, despite the highest levels of hygiene, this unwanted side effect is caused by bacterial infection.

Potential heart attack drug without side effects under development

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 07:49 AM PDT

A team of scientists combining molecular pharmacology and medicinal chemistry reveal new insights into a specific protein belonging to the family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). After successfully combining two molecules, they are a step closer to creating a brand new class of drug that is more targeted and could possess minimal side effects.

Statins may lower blood clot risk following joint replacement surgery

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 07:13 AM PDT

New, first-of-its-kind research has found that statins, when used in conjunction with conventional blood clot prevention therapies, significantly reduced the risk for venous thromboembolic events following total joint replacement surgery. The number of total hip and total knee replacement surgeries continues to rise each year (more than one million were performed in 2011). And while these procedures are safe and effective, and diminish pain and restore mobility in the vast majority of patients, there is a risk for side effects, including the rare formation of a VTE -- a blood clot located within a deep vein in the thigh or calf following surgery.

Hip, knee replacements may boost cardiovascular health in osteoarthritis patients

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 07:13 AM PDT

Total joint replacement may reduce the risk for 'cardiac events,' including heart attack and stroke, and boost long-term survival, new research shows. Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Osteoarthritis ─ a progressive disease of the joints affecting a third of persons over the age of 65 ─ causes pain and limits mobility. The researchers concluded that the results are probably due to the increased capability for moderate physical activity (such as a brisk walk several times a week), which has "direct benefits for hypertension, obesity and diabetes, all of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease and all of which are highly prevalent in individuals with osteoarthritis."

Plaques detected in brain scans forecast cognitive impairment

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 07:03 AM PDT

Brain imaging using radioactive dye can detect early evidence of Alzheimer's disease that may predict future cognitive decline among adults with mild or no cognitive impairment, according to a 36-month follow-up study. Alzheimer's disease -- which currently has no cure -- afflicts an estimated five million U.S. adults, and is the sixth-leading cause of death among adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prior studies have found that changes in the brain begin years, and possibly decades, before cognitive symptoms emerge. A biomarker that could accurately identify those at greatest risk for cognitive decline could help clinicians better evaluate and treat patients, while also accelerating the testing of drugs to treat the disease.

Girls born small or underweight twice as likely to be infertile in adulthood

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 06:06 PM PDT

Girls born unexpectedly small or underweight seem to be twice as likely to have fertility problems in adulthood as those of normal size at birth, suggests new research. "As medical research and care advances, more infants will be born [with low birthweight or small size] and survive, which in turn might influence future need of infertility treatment," the authors conclude.

New treatment for atrial fibrillation reduces stroke risk

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 03:25 PM PDT

A new nonsurgical technique called the LARIAT Suture Delivery Device is now in use to treat patients with atrial fibrillation, or A-Fib, who cannot tolerate blood thinning medication. A-Fib is the most common heart rhythm disorder that causes the upper chambers of the heart to beat fast and erratically. An estimated 2.7 million Americans are living with the disorder, and if uncontrolled, can have serious consequences including stroke and early death. Currently the condition accounts for more than 20 percent of stroke-related deaths.

Poison centers benefit patients, reduce medical costs

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 03:25 PM PDT

Patients who received help from a poison center had shorter hospital stays and lower hospital charges among those who are the most expensive to treat, according to a study. Poison centers provide 24-hour assistance year round to the public and to medical professionals. While studies show that poison centers reduce system-wide costs, their impact on patient outcomes at the hospital level has not been clear, the study's authors report.

Unique individual with lupus and HIV demonstrates desired immune response to HIV

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 03:25 PM PDT

One person's unique ability to fight HIV has provided key insights into an immune response that researchers now hope to trigger with a vaccine, according to new findings. The person had a rare combination of both lupus and HIV. Lupus, specifically systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, is a disease in which the immune system attacks the body's cells and tissue.

Key breaking point involved in traumatic brain injury modeled by researchers

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 12:22 PM PDT

Even the mildest form of a traumatic brain injury, better known as a concussion, can deal permanent, irreparable damage. Now, an interdisciplinary team of researchers is using mathematical modeling to better understand the mechanisms at play in this kind of injury, with an eye toward protecting the brain from its long-term consequences.

One step closer to ovarian cancer marker, researchers report

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 11:39 AM PDT

The hunt is on to find biomarkers that detect cancer, but it's a challenging process. Early successes often are followed by heartbreaking failures. But now, researchers have verified that glycans (sugars attached to proteins) can be used to detect ovarian cancer. Creating a diagnostic tool that identifies ovarian cancer early through analysis of a blood sample would be an enormous benefit. Because the disease produces indistinct symptoms, such as bloating, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late, making it difficult to treat.

Social media and science: Don't choose a diet based on what's trending

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 09:14 AM PDT

Human nutritionist says to look past the social media headline when choosing a diet, because you could be missing important information. "Social media is a great way to get information, but people need a filter and to be educated on what some of the problems may be when looking at health-related information and trying to make judgments or decisions about what might be best for them," the lead author states.

Older people denied proper access to cancer care, according to study

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 08:18 AM PDT

Older people are being denied proper access to cancer care, according to a study. The British lead author of a newly published editorial said: "There is increasing evidence that elderly patients are being 'undertreated,' leading to a 'survival gap' between older and younger patients. We need a fundamental change in cancer policy for the elderly patient. Our current practices are essentially ageist."

Doctors often uncertain in ordering, interpreting lab tests

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 08:17 AM PDT

A survey of primary care physicians suggests they often face uncertainty in ordering and interpreting clinical laboratory tests. Physicians have developed their own strategies for ordering and interpreting lab tests, such as asking a physician colleague or specialist, consulting a text or electronic reference, or calling the laboratory. But physicians reported they would welcome better decision-support software embedded in electronic medical records and direct access to lab personnel through lab hotlines.

Young skin cancer survivors at risk of other cancers later

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 08:15 AM PDT

Young people who have been diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer related to sun exposure, under the age of 25, face a higher risk of developing melanoma and other cancers later in life, a study has shown. The researchers found that those who had NMSC under 25 years of age were 53 times more likely to get bone cancer, 26 times more likely to get blood cancers, 20 times more likely to get brain cancer, and 14 times more likely to get any cancer excluding those of the skin.

Feeding gut microbiota: Nutrition, probiotics key factors for digestive health

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 08:15 AM PDT

A healthy and balanced diet, as well as probiotics, have been known to be helpful in preserving gastrointestinal health for quite a long time. But it is only recently that the underlying mechanisms have become somewhat clearer. A rapidly increasing body of knowledge promises to further clarify the effects of our daily food on the gut microbiota and to indicate more targeted applications of probiotics in the near future.

Tricky balancing act: Antibiotics versus the gut microbiota

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 08:15 AM PDT

Antibiotics are valuable, potentially life-saving tools that have significantly reduced human morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, antibiotics may also have unintended consequences from their off-target effects that may increase the risk of many long-term conditions. Recent epidemiologic studies have detected a possible link between antibiotic use in childhood and weight gain -- with disruption to the normal gut microbiota considered the most likely cause.

Worldwide standard in diagnosing melanoma established

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 08:12 AM PDT

Significant improvements have been made to the diagnostic procedure called sentinel node biopsy for melanoma patients. Sentinel nodes are the first lymph nodes to which cancer cells from a primary tumor like melanoma will spread. In the sentinel node biopsy procedure, a radioactive tracer and a blue-colored dye are injected at or near the melanoma site on the skin and tracked to the first lymph node(s). These sentinel nodes are then surgically removed and analyzed for the presence of cancer cells. If tumor cells are present within the node, the primary tumor has spread and additional lymph nodes may need to be removed and medical treatments tailored accordingly. If tumor cells are not present in the sentinel node, the primary tumor most likely has not spread to lymph nodes or other organs. New research is improving this procedure.

Rare vascular disease raises stroke risk for young women

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 07:16 AM PDT

It would take a year for Pam Mace, a registered nurse living in Gross Ille, to understand why she had a stroke at age 37. Signaled by something as seemingly benign as headaches and high blood pressure or dramatic like a stroke, the vascular disease FMD puts thousands of young women, like Mace, at-risk for life-threatening cardiovascular problems. Through her advocacy, the nation recognizes March 11 at FMD Awareness Day.

Small effects of social or physical changes to work environment

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 07:16 AM PDT

Changes targeting the social or physical workplace environment have some positive effects on work-related outcomes —- but at least so far, evidence doesn't support a combination of the two approaches, a new report concludes. The social intervention led to improved work task performance, while the physical intervention was associated with improved "absorption" (being fully concentrated and immersed in work tasks).

Employers routinely discriminate against stammerers

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 06:09 AM PDT

Employers are routinely discriminating against people who stammer, rejecting them because of concerns about possible negative reactions from customers or team members, new research suggests. Two-thirds of the participants in this study who were successful in gaining employment believed they were appointed because "the nature of the job meant no-one else would stick it, which often indicated a lonely or repetitive job." As a result, the men often described their workplace experiences as "mindless" or "frustrating." Around one per cent of the population has a stammer, 80 per cent of those are men.

IBS and bloating: When gut microbiota gets out of balance

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 06:09 AM PDT

Irritable bowel syndrome belongs to the most widespread diseases in Western countries, causing up to 60 percent of the workload of gastrointestinal physicians. One of the most frequent symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome is bloating, which reduces quality of life considerably as patients perceive it as particularly bothersome. For quite a long time, irritable bowel syndrome was believed to be a primarily psychological condition.

More than just bacteria: Importance of microbial diversity in gut health, disease

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 06:09 AM PDT

The gut microbiota contains a vast number of microorganisms from all three domains of life, including bacteria, archaea and fungi, as well as viruses. These interact in a complex way to contribute towards both health and the development of disease -- interactions that are only now being elucidated thanks to the application of advanced DNA sequencing technology in this field.

Targeted drug may prolong survival of patients with cervical cancer

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 06:09 AM PDT

Erlotinib, a targeted antitumor agent, has promising potential to improve treatment for cervical cancer, a new clinical study has found. The results indicate that larger trials are warranted to determine whether the drug should become part of standard therapy for women with the disease.

Could sticky cells cause drug resistance in chronic blood cancer?

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 06:07 AM PDT

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is associated with a specific genetic mutation that results from DNA on different chromosomes breaking off and swapping places. This disrupts genes at the breakpoint and the rejoining point. One of these disrupted genes is called BCR-ABL and drugs that target this mutation have transformed the treatment of CML. However, patients can develop resistance to these drugs, which causes their cancer to return. Now scientists have measured the levels of the BCR-ABL genetic mutation in a cell model of CML. In particular, they separated cells into those that stuck to plastic – "sticky", or adherent, cells – and those non-adherent ones that did not, and looked for differences between the two groups of cells.

PSA testing, early treatment decreases risk of prostate cancer death

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 06:07 AM PDT

Mortality in prostate cancer is lower in areas with frequent use of PSA testing compared with areas with little testing shows a new study. Results from the study show that prostate cancer mortality was 20 percent lower in counties with the highest incidence of prostate cancer, which indicates an early and rapid uptake of PSA testing.

Optimized ski sled for Paralympics athlete

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 06:07 AM PDT

At the Paralympics in Sochi, a novel ski sled that has been optimized with respect to biomechanics and friction technology will be used. The high-performance sled might also be of benefit for recreational sports of persons with walking disabilities. With the help of biomechanical movement analyses, the athlete kneels on the metal sled and pushes it forwards with the help of ski poles.

Sweet test to reduce false-positive cancer diagnoses

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 06:07 AM PDT

New sugar-test appears to reduce false-positive cancer diagnoses for ovarian cancer. Currently, the world's most widespread test for ovarian cancer reports false-positives in 94 of 100 diagnosed cases. The newly test, under development, uses a method able to halve this number. When fully developed, the new test will spare a significant number of women from unnecessary worry and further testing. Furthermore, global health care providers stand to save substantial sums -- just by including a test on a certain sugar molecule in tandem with the currently prevailing diagnostic test.

Strong parental networks: Not good for all children

Posted: 10 Mar 2014 06:06 AM PDT

Parents' social networks have an impact on their children's educational attainment. Researchers have studied the details of how parental networks affect the educational careers of adolescents. Their findings show that close contacts among parents primarily benefit students in affluent communities. In economically depressed communities, by contrast, frequent informal parental exchange tends to disadvantage students by reinforcing social inequities and standing in the way of upward social mobility.
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