ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Extra exercise helps depressed smokers kick the habit faster
• Are state Medicaid policies sentencing people with mental illnesses to prison?
• Therapeutic bacteria prevent obesity in mice, study finds
• Preschoolers can reflect on what they don't know
• Enhanced instrument enables high-speed chemical imaging of tissues
• Vitamin D deficiency raises risk of schizophrenia diagnosis
• High-salt diet doubles threat of cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes
• 3-D-printed tissues advance stem cell research
• How children categorize living things
• Understanding how neuro cells turn cancerous
• Communication between nostril/skin microbiome bacteria can influence pathogen behavior
• Report on viruses looks beyond disease
• The heart of an astronaut, five years on
• Why consumers choose high-effort products
• Overdoing it: Multiple perspectives confuse consumers
• Cost-effectiveness of weight-loss programs, drugs
• Dangers of desert dust: New diagnostic tool for valley fever
• Fly-inspired sound detector: New device based on a fly's freakishly acute hearing for futuristic hearing aids
• Study reveals 'unhappiest' cities in the U.S.
• Anti-cancer drug kicks HIV out of hiding
• Can strong parental bond protect infants down to their DNA?
• Schizophrenia's genetic 'skyline' rising as genetic code linked to illness grows
• Control of HIV pandemic will not be achieved without radical improvement in support for sex workers
• HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis: Success of the Millennium shown in most comprehensive study to date
• Neuroprotective role of immune cell discovered
• High school lacrosse players at risk for concussions, other injuries, study finds
• Viral therapy could boost limb-saving cancer treatment
• Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus detected in air of Saudi Arabian camel barn
• Low strength brain stimulation may be effective for depression
• Rigid connections: Molecular basis of age-related memory loss explained
• High-precision software developed for diagnosing eye sensitivity
• First total synthesis of madangamine D, a molecule of biomedical interest
• Innovative system anticipates driver fatigue in the vehicle to prevent accidents
• Children's impulsive behaviour is related to brain connectivity
• Supermaterial gives rejected drugs a new chance
• Improving life before it begins: Surgeries in utero aim to improve quality of life for babies
• 'Moral victories' might spare you from losing again
• Comparing deep vein thrombosis therapies
• Eating probiotics regularly may improve your blood pressure
• New, accurate epigenetic test could eliminate unnecessary repeat biopsies for prostate cancer
• Mothers of children with autism benefit from peer-led intervention
• Iodine may alleviate swelling in retinitis pigmentosa patients' retinas

Extra exercise helps depressed smokers kick the habit faster Posted: 22 Jul 2014 11:27 AM PDT People diagnosed with depression need to step out for a cigarette twice as often as smokers who are not dealing with a mood disorder. And those who have the hardest time shaking off the habit may have more mental health issues than they are actually aware of, research suggests. While nearly one in five North American adults are regular smokers, a figure that continues to steadily decline, about 40 per cent of depressed people are in need of a regular drag.

Are state Medicaid policies sentencing people with mental illnesses to prison? Posted: 22 Jul 2014 11:26 AM PDT A link between Medicaid policies on antipsychotic drugs and incarceration rates for schizophrenic individuals has been uncovered by a new study. Researchers found that states requiring prior authorization for atypical antipsychotics had less serious mental illness overall but higher shares of inmates with psychotic symptoms than the national average. The study concluded that prior authorization of atypical antipsychotics was associated with a 22 percent increase in the likelihood of imprisonment, compared with the likelihood in a state without such a requirement.

Therapeutic bacteria prevent obesity in mice, study finds Posted: 22 Jul 2014 11:25 AM PDT A probiotic that prevents obesity could be on the horizon. Bacteria that produce a therapeutic compound in the gut inhibit weight gain, insulin resistance and other adverse effects of a high-fat diet in mice, investigators have discovered. Regulatory issues must be addressed before moving to human studies, but the findings suggest that it may be possible to manipulate the bacterial residents of the gut -- the gut microbiota -- to treat obesity and other chronic diseases.

Preschoolers can reflect on what they don't know Posted: 22 Jul 2014 11:25 AM PDT Contrary to previous assumptions, researchers find that preschoolers are able to gauge the strength of their memories and make decisions based on their self-assessments. The findings contribute to research on the reliability of children's eyewitness testimony in a court of law, and they carry important implications for educational practices. "Previous emphasis on the development of metacognition during middle childhood has influenced education practices," says an author. "Now we know that some of these ideas may be adapted to meet preschoolers' learning needs."

Enhanced instrument enables high-speed chemical imaging of tissues Posted: 22 Jul 2014 11:25 AM PDT A research team has demonstrated a dramatically improved technique for analyzing biological cells and tissues based on characteristic molecular vibrations. The new technique is an advanced form of Raman spectroscopy that is fast and accurate enough to create high-resolution images of biological specimens, with detailed spatial information on specific biomolecules, at speeds fast enough to observe changes in living cells.

Vitamin D deficiency raises risk of schizophrenia diagnosis Posted: 22 Jul 2014 11:25 AM PDT Vitamin D-deficient individuals are twice as likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia as people who have sufficient levels of the vitamin, according to a new study. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and is needed for bone and muscle health. The skin naturally produces this vitamin after exposure to sunlight. People also obtain smaller amounts of the vitamin through foods, such as milk fortified with vitamin D. More than 1 billion people worldwide are estimated to have deficient levels of vitamin D due to limited sunshine exposure.

High-salt diet doubles threat of cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes Posted: 22 Jul 2014 11:25 AM PDT People with Type 2 diabetes who eat a diet high in salt face twice the risk of developing cardiovascular disease as those who consume less sodium, according to a new study. Diabetes occurs when there is too much sugar in the bloodstream. People develop Type 2 diabetes when their bodies become resistant to the hormone insulin, which carries sugar from the blood to cells.

3-D-printed tissues advance stem cell research Posted: 22 Jul 2014 11:24 AM PDT A tissue engineering and vascular biology expert recently won a Faculty Early Career Development Award for his work on 3D tissue printing, and its contribution of the advancement of stem cell research.

How children categorize living things Posted: 22 Jul 2014 10:06 AM PDT "Name everything you can think of that is alive." How would a child respond to this question? Would his or her list be full of relatives, animals from movies and books, or perhaps neighborhood pets? Would the poppies blooming on the front steps make the list or the oak tree towering over the backyard? The children's responses in a recent study revealed clear convergences among distinct communities but also illuminated differences among them.

Understanding how neuro cells turn cancerous Posted: 22 Jul 2014 10:06 AM PDT New research, for the first time, brings scientists nearer to understanding how some cells in the brain and nervous system become cancerous. The team studied a tumor suppressor called Merlin. Their results have identified a new mechanism whereby Merlin suppresses tumors, and that the mechanism operates within the nucleus. The research team has discovered that unsuppressed tumor cells increase via a core signalling system, the hippo pathway, and they have identified the route and method by which this signalling occurs.

Communication between nostril/skin microbiome bacteria can influence pathogen behavior Posted: 22 Jul 2014 10:06 AM PDT Scientists have made an important discovery about the molecular interactions that occur between generally benign species of Propionibacterium bacteria and the pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, the cause of most 'staph' infections.

Report on viruses looks beyond disease Posted: 22 Jul 2014 10:06 AM PDT In contrast to their negative reputation as disease causing agents, some viruses can perform crucial biological and evolutionary functions that help to shape the world we live in today, according to a new report. "Viruses participate in essential Earth processes and influence all life forms on the planet, from contributing to biogeochemical cycles, shaping the atmospheric composition, and driving major speciation events," states one researcher.

The heart of an astronaut, five years on Posted: 22 Jul 2014 09:56 AM PDT The heart of an astronaut is a much-studied thing. Scientists have analyzed its blood flow, rhythms, atrophy and, through journal studies, even matters of the heart. But for the first time, researchers are looking at how oxidative stress and inflammation caused by the conditions of space flight affect those hearts for up to five years after astronauts fly on the International Space Station. Lessons learned may help improve cardiovascular health on Earth as well.

Why consumers choose high-effort products Posted: 22 Jul 2014 08:19 AM PDT Stuck in traffic? On hold for what seems like an eternity? Consumers often face situations that undermine their feelings of control. According to a new study, when a person's sense of control is threatened, they are more likely to seek out products that require hard work.

Overdoing it: Multiple perspectives confuse consumers Posted: 22 Jul 2014 08:19 AM PDT When it comes to television advertising, simple may be best, says one expert, whose study reports that multiple angles and perspectives in commercials may actually prevent consumers from forming positive associations about the products. She found this to be particularly true for consumers who imagine using the products themselves in the course of evaluating them.

Cost-effectiveness of weight-loss programs, drugs Posted: 22 Jul 2014 08:19 AM PDT In a cost-effectiveness analysis of commercial diet programs and pills, the Weight Watchers program and the drug Qsymia showed the best value for the money. The Jenny Craig regimen generated the greatest weight loss, but was also the most expensive option tested, according to researchers.

Dangers of desert dust: New diagnostic tool for valley fever Posted: 22 Jul 2014 08:18 AM PDT Valley fever has been the focus of new research that describes a promising strategy known as immunosignaturing, which can provide clinicians with an accurate identification of valley fever, a potentially serious affliction that is often misdiagnosed. Valley fever is a fungal respiratory infection. It can be acquired when microscopic spores of the soil-dwelling fungus are inhaled. Two forms of the fungus exist, Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii. They are endemic to regions of Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada, Utah, Texas and northern Mexico.

Fly-inspired sound detector: New device based on a fly's freakishly acute hearing for futuristic hearing aids Posted: 22 Jul 2014 08:14 AM PDT The fly can pinpoint the location of a chirping cricket with remarkable accuracy because of its freakishly acute hearing, which relies upon a sophisticated sound processing mechanism that really sets it apart from all other known insects. Researchers have now developed a tiny prototype device that mimics the parasitic fly's hearing mechanism, which may be useful for a new generation of hypersensitive hearing aids.

Study reveals 'unhappiest' cities in the U.S. Posted: 22 Jul 2014 07:39 AM PDT New research identifies the unhappiest cities in the U.S., but finds that some young people are still willing to relocate to them for a good job opportunity or lower housing prices. The analysis suggests people may be deciding to trade happiness for other gains.

Anti-cancer drug kicks HIV out of hiding Posted: 22 Jul 2014 07:22 AM PDT An anti-cancer drug can activate hidden HIV, a pilot study by HIV researchers has shown. The researchers found that the anti-cancer drug romidepsin increased the virus production in HIV-infected cells between 2.1 and 3.9 times above normal and that the viral load in the blood increased to measurable levels in five out of six patients with HIV infection.

Can strong parental bond protect infants down to their DNA? Posted: 22 Jul 2014 07:19 AM PDT Scientists are launching a groundbreaking study looking at critical periods early in a child's life when exposure to stressors matters most. The goal is to track telomeres – a cellular marker for aging and stress – to discover the biological mechanism for how early trauma gets under the skin, potentially stealing time from a child's biological clock. Can parents create a biological buffer that shields children decades later from disease and toxic stress?

Schizophrenia's genetic 'skyline' rising as genetic code linked to illness grows Posted: 22 Jul 2014 06:17 AM PDT The largest genomic dragnet of any psychiatric disorder to date has unmasked 108 chromosomal sites harboring inherited variations in the genetic code linked to schizophrenia, 83 of which had not been previously reported. By contrast, the 'skyline' of such suspect variants associated with the disorder contained only 5 significant peaks in 2011. Researchers combined data from all available schizophrenia genetic samples to boost statistical power high enough to detect subtle effects on risk.

Control of HIV pandemic will not be achieved without radical improvement in support for sex workers Posted: 22 Jul 2014 06:17 AM PDT Across the world, in high- and low-income countries, women, men, and transgender people who sell sex are subjected to repressive and discriminatory law, policy, and practice, which in turn fuel human rights violations against them, including violence and discrimination. All of these factors are preventing sex workers from accessing the services which they need in order to effectively prevent and treat HIV infection, according to a major new Series on HIV and sex workers.

HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis: Success of the Millennium shown in most comprehensive study to date Posted: 22 Jul 2014 06:16 AM PDT Accelerated progress against the global burden of HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis (TB) has been made since 2000 when governments worldwide adopted Millennium Development Goal 6 to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and TB. New estimates from a major new analysis show that worldwide, the number of people living with HIV has risen steadily to around 29 million people in 2012. The data also show that malaria is killing more people than previously estimated, although the number of deaths has fallen rapidly since 2004. Progress for TB looks promising.

Neuroprotective role of immune cell discovered Posted: 22 Jul 2014 06:16 AM PDT A type of immune cell widely believed to exacerbate chronic adult brain diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis, can actually protect the brain from traumatic brain injury and may slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, according to research. "Our findings suggest the innate immune system helps protect the brain after injury or during chronic disease, and this role should be further studied," the lead researcher said.

High school lacrosse players at risk for concussions, other injuries, study finds Posted: 22 Jul 2014 06:16 AM PDT High school players experienced 1,406 injuries over the four academic years from 2008 through 2012, a new study reports. The overall injury rate was 20 per 10,000 lacrosse competitions and practices. More than 22 percent of those injuries were concussions, making that the second most common injury diagnosis behind sprains and strains (38 percent).

Viral therapy could boost limb-saving cancer treatment Posted: 22 Jul 2014 06:15 AM PDT Viruses designed to target and kill cancer cells could boost the effectiveness of chemotherapy to the arms and legs and help avoid amputation, a new study reports. Researchers tested the effectiveness of a genetically engineered version of the virus used to vaccinate against smallpox. They found use of the virus alongside isolated limb perfusion chemotherapy -- given directly to blood vessels supplying the affected arm or leg as an alternative to amputation -- was more effective in rats than either treatment on its own.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus detected in air of Saudi Arabian camel barn Posted: 22 Jul 2014 06:15 AM PDT Saudi Arabian researchers have detected genetic fragments of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus in the air of a barn holding a camel infected with the virus. The work indicates that further studies are needed to see if the disease can be transmitted through the air. MERS, a serious viral respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus, has been identified in 699 people as of June 11, according to the World Health Organization; 209 people have died from the condition.

Low strength brain stimulation may be effective for depression Posted: 22 Jul 2014 06:14 AM PDT Brain stimulation treatments, like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), are often effective for the treatment of depression. Like antidepressant medications, however, they typically have a delayed onset. For example, a patient may receive several weeks of regular ECT treatments before a full response is achieved. Thus, there is an impetus to develop antidepressant treatments that act to rapidly improve mood. Low field magnetic stimulation (LFMS) is one such potential new treatment with rapid mood-elevating effects, report scientists.

Rigid connections: Molecular basis of age-related memory loss explained Posted: 22 Jul 2014 06:14 AM PDT From telephone numbers to foreign vocabulary, our brains hold a seemingly endless supply of information. However, as we get older, our ability to learn and remember new things declines. A team of scientists has identified the molecular mechanisms of this cognitive decline using latest high-throughput proteomics and statistical methods.

High-precision software developed for diagnosing eye sensitivity Posted: 22 Jul 2014 06:14 AM PDT High-precision software for diagnosing eye sensitivity has been developed by researchers. This is a new technology that allows to quantify the degree of opacity in the posterior capsule of the eye caused by the growth of cells in the intraocular lens.

First total synthesis of madangamine D, a molecule of biomedical interest Posted: 22 Jul 2014 06:14 AM PDT Madangamines are a group of polycyclic alkaloids from marine sponges which have biomedical interest due to their cytotoxic activity. Chemists have now completed the first total synthesis of madangamine D, a scientific discovery in the field of organic chemistry.

Innovative system anticipates driver fatigue in the vehicle to prevent accidents Posted: 22 Jul 2014 06:13 AM PDT Scientists have created a devise integrated in smart materials capable of monitoring cardiac and respiratory rhythms in order to prevent drivers from falling asleep.

Children's impulsive behaviour is related to brain connectivity Posted: 22 Jul 2014 06:13 AM PDT The changes in the brain that are associated with impulsiveness -- a personality trait that causes difficulties in inhibiting a response in the face of a stimulus and leads to unplanned actions without considering the negative consequences -- has been the focus of recent study. These patterns can serve as an indicator for predicting the risk of behavioral problems. A new study analyzes whether the connectivity of an infant's brain is related to children's impulsiveness.

Supermaterial gives rejected drugs a new chance Posted: 22 Jul 2014 06:13 AM PDT More than 80 percent of all drug candidates in the pharma R&D suffer from poor solubility and are therefore rejected early in the drug discovery process. Now researchers show that a new material, Upsalite (R), has great potential for development of new formulations of these rejected drugs. These findings could allow the pharma companies to open up large libraries of potent drug candidates earlier discarded due to solubility problems and try them again.

Improving life before it begins: Surgeries in utero aim to improve quality of life for babies Posted: 22 Jul 2014 06:13 AM PDT Surgeries on unborn babies, inside the womb of the mother, are becoming more common, with the goal to increase quality of life and decreases chances of high risk babies being born with a condition.

'Moral victories' might spare you from losing again Posted: 21 Jul 2014 03:20 PM PDT Coaches tend to overreact to close losses, and their hasty personnel adjustments tend to backfire in the long run, research shows. Researchers focused on whether coaches adjusted their personnel following games where the margin of victory or defeat was small. After narrow wins, coaches changed their starting lineup one-fourth of the time. But after narrow losses, they changed their starting lineup one-third of the time.

Comparing deep vein thrombosis therapies Posted: 21 Jul 2014 03:20 PM PDT Patients who have a clot in their legs and are considering whether to be treated with traditional blood-thinning medication or undergo a minimally-invasive catheter-based clot removal procedure should feel comfortable that there is no difference in death rates between the two treatments, although there are more bleeding risks with the catheter procedure, according to a study.

Eating probiotics regularly may improve your blood pressure Posted: 21 Jul 2014 03:19 PM PDT Probiotics -- a bacteria in yogurt and supplements -- appear to modestly lower blood pressure, according to a review of nine studies. The blood pressure-lowering effect from probiotics was greatest among people with elevated blood pressure. Additional studies are needed before doctors can confidently recommend probiotics for high blood pressure control and prevention.

New, accurate epigenetic test could eliminate unnecessary repeat biopsies for prostate cancer Posted: 21 Jul 2014 09:37 AM PDT More than one million prostate biopsies are performed each year in the U.S., including many repeat biopsies for fear of cancer missed. Therefore there is a need to develop diagnostic tests that will help avoid unnecessary repeat biopsies. Two independent trials have now validated the performance of an epigenetic test that could provide physicians with a better tool to help eliminate unnecessary repeat prostate biopsies, report investigators.

Mothers of children with autism benefit from peer-led intervention Posted: 21 Jul 2014 09:37 AM PDT Peer-led interventions that target parental well-being can significantly reduce stress, depression and anxiety in mothers of children with disabilities, according to new findings. In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers examined two treatment programs in a large number of primary caregivers of a child with a disability. Participants in both groups experienced improvements in mental health, sleep and overall life satisfaction and showed less dysfunctional parent-child interactions.

Iodine may alleviate swelling in retinitis pigmentosa patients' retinas Posted: 21 Jul 2014 07:57 AM PDT The extent of retinal swelling due to cystoid macular edema is inversely related to dietary iodine intake in patients with retinitis pigmentosa, a new study has confirmed. This finding raises the possibility that an iodine supplement could help limit or reduce central foveal swelling in retinitis pigmentosa patients with cystoid macular edema.

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