Current Event Articles
ScienceDaily Health Headlines
for Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's.
North America's first peoples more genetically diverse than thought, mitochondrial genome analysis reveals (June 29, 2010) -- The initial peopling of North America from Asia occurred approximately 15,000-18,000 years ago. However, estimations of the genetic diversity of the first settlers have remained inaccurate. In a new study, researchers have found that the diversity of the first Americans has been significantly underestimated, underscoring the importance of comprehensive sampling for accurate analysis of human migrations. ... > full story12 new genetic risk factors for type 2 diabetes identified in new study (June 29, 2010) -- An international consortium has identified 12 new gene variants which impact the individual's risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study represents a major contribution towards elucidating the complex pathogenesis of this important widespread disease. ... > full story
Type 2 diabetes medication rosiglitazone associated with increased cardiovascular risks and death, study finds (June 29, 2010) -- A new study shows that among patients age 65 years and older, rosiglitazone (a medication for treating Type 2 diabetes) is associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart failure, and all-cause mortality (death) when compared with pioglitazone (another medication for diabetes). ... > full story
Public transit systems contribute to weight loss and improved health, study finds (June 29, 2010) -- Increasing the availability of public transit systems is one among a number of modifications to the built environment that offers opportunities for increasing physical activity and reducing the prevalence of obesity and its associated problems. In a new study, researchers found that construction of a light-rail system (LRT) resulted in increased physical activity (walking) and subsequent weight loss by people served by the LRT. These findings suggest that improving neighborhood environments and increasing the public's use of LRT systems could improve health outcomes and potentially impact millions of individuals. ... > full story
Statins associated with lower cancer recurrence following prostatectomy (June 29, 2010) -- Men who use statins to lower their cholesterol are 30 percent less likely to see their prostate cancer come back after surgery compared to men who do not use the drugs, according to a new study. Researchers also found that higher doses of the drugs were associated with lower risk of recurrence. ... > full story
Adults with newly diagnosed diabetes at risk of liver disease, study finds (June 29, 2010) -- Adults with newly diagnosed diabetes are at higher long-term risk of serious liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver failure, according to a new study. ... > full story
National School Lunch Program increases educational achievement, study finds (June 29, 2010) -- A new study is the first to evaluate the long-term health and educational effects of participation in the National School Lunch Program. Researchers found that the program leads to a significant increase in educational opportunity and attainment, but an insignificant increase in health levels from childhood to adulthood. ... > full story
Physics of the 'bends': New study helps explain decompression sickness (June 28, 2010) -- As you go about your day-to-day activities, tiny bubbles of nitrogen come and go inside your tissues. This is not a problem unless you happen to experience large changes in pressure, as scuba divers and astronauts may. During large, fast pressure drops, bubbles can grow, causing "the bends." A new study may provide a physical basis for the existence of these bubbles and help explain decompression sickness. ... > full storyDark chocolate lowers blood pressure, research finds (June 28, 2010) -- For people with hypertension, eating dark chocolate can significantly reduce blood pressure. Researchers combined the results of 15 studies into the effects of flavanols, the compounds in chocolate which cause dilation of blood vessels, on blood pressure. ... > full story
Immune system important in fight against stomach cancer (June 28, 2010) -- Researchers have identified cells in the immune system that react to the stomach ulcer bacterium Helicobacter pylori, one of the risk factors for the development of stomach cancer. This discovery could lead to faster diagnosis and treatment as well as a better prognosis for patients with stomach cancer. ... > full story
Manipulating microbes in the gut may remedy disease and enhance health (June 28, 2010) -- We are what we eat, but who are "we?" New, high-powered genomic analytical techniques have established that as many as 1,000 different single-celled species coexist in relative harmony in every healthy human gut. ... > full storyBursting bubbles with sound offers new treatments for cancer (June 28, 2010) -- A new way to deliver cancer drugs using gas bubbles and sound waves is being developed. The project will enable highly toxic drugs to be delivered in small doses directly to tumors, where their toxicity can safely be put to good use. If successful, the technique could easily be adapted for other diseases. ... > full story
New measurement of telomere DNA could help identify most viable embryos for IVF (June 28, 2010) -- Scientists have directly measured a specific region of DNA in human embryos -- telomeres -- and discovered that the length of telomeres could be a quality marker for embryonic development. ... > full story
High sugar content in packaged toddler and baby food products (June 28, 2010) -- More than half of foods specifically targeted to babies and toddlers in Canada have excessive sugar content, says a new study. ... > full story
Agent Orange exposure linked to Graves' disease in Vietnam veterans, study finds (June 28, 2010) -- Vietnam-War-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange appear to have significantly more Graves' disease, a thyroid disorder, than veterans with no exposure, a new study by endocrinologists has shown. ... > full story
BCG vaccination appears promising as a treatment for people with existing type 1 diabetes, Phase I trial results show (June 28, 2010) -- Researchers in Massachusetts have announced the completion of the Phase I BCG clinical trial in type 1 diabetes. Plans for the Phase II clinical study, which will continue the investigation of bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination as a treatment type 1 diabetes, are actively underway. ... > full story
Piglets open doors to study infant brain development (June 28, 2010) -- Events occurring during the development of an infant's brain can leave behind fingerprints. And researchers are interested in learning how these fingerprints can predict future behavioral problems such as cognitive deficits, anxiety disorders, depression and even autism. New research shows that the baby pig may provide some answers. ... > full story
'Copy and paste DNA' more common than previously thought (June 28, 2010) -- Researchers have examined L1 (or LINE-1) retrotransposons: DNA sequences which can ‘copy and paste’ their genetic code around the genome. By breaking up genes, L1s can be responsible for some rare instances of genetic disease. ... > full story
Subchondral bone changes: Cartilage loss plays a role in development of osteoarthritis, study says (June 28, 2010) -- A recent study determined that bone area predicted the development of medial (inner side) and lateral (outer side) knee cartilage damage and loss of medial cartilage volume. Subchondral bone mineral density was associated with medial defect development but not cartilage loss. Researchers believe subchondral bone changes and loss of cartilage contribute to the development of osteoarthritis. ... > full story
Parkinson's patients' 'risky behavior' explained (June 28, 2010) -- Scientists have explained Parkinson's patients' risky behavior, a rare side effect of standard treatments for the disease. The finding has implications for future medication of patients. ... > full story
Accurate way to predict the age when women will hit the menopause developed (June 28, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a way of accurately predicting when women will hit the menopause using a simple blood test. The average difference between the predicted age and the actual age that the women in their study reached the menopause was only a third of a year, and the maximum margin of error was between three and four years. ... > full story
Do spending cuts cost lives? (June 28, 2010) -- Radical cuts to social welfare spending to reduce budget deficits could cause not just economic pain but cost lives, warn experts in a new study. ... > full story
Scientists grow new lungs using 'skeletons' of old ones (June 28, 2010) -- Tissue engineers' progress toward growing new lungs for transplantation or research has long been frustrated by the problem of coaxing stem cells to develop into the varied cell types that populate different locations in the lung. Now, researchers have found a possible solution by seeding mouse embryonic stem cells into "acellular" rat lungs -- organs whose original cells have been destroyed, leaving behind empty, lung-shaped scaffolds of structural proteins. ... > full storyGestational diabetes linked to serotonin and dietary protein (June 28, 2010) -- The cause of diabetes during pregnancy is directly controlled by serotonin, a chemical produced by the body and normally known as a neurotransmitter, and is influenced by the amount of protein in the mother's diet early in pregnancy, according to new findings. ... > full story
Same types of cell respond differently to stimulus, study shows (June 28, 2010) -- Using new technology that allows scientists to monitor how individual cells react in the complex system of cell signaling, researchers have uncovered a much larger spectrum of differences between each cell than ever seen before. ... > full story
Healthier cafeteria food, more intense gym classes lower students' diabetes risk (June 28, 2010) -- Healthier cafeteria choices, longer and more intense periods of physical activity and robust in-school education programs can lower rates of obesity and other risk factors for type 2 diabetes, according to a national US study. ... > full story
Antioxidants may help prevent malaria complicaton that leads to learning impairment (June 28, 2010) -- Using an experimental mouse model for malaria, scientists have discovered that adding antioxidant therapy to traditional antimalarial treatment may prevent long-lasting cognitive impairment in cerebral malaria. ... > full story
Traditional neurologic exams inadequate for predicting survival of cardiac arrest patients (June 28, 2010) -- Traditional methods for assessing patients after cardiac arrest may be underestimating their chances for survival and good outcomes, according to a new study. ... > full story
Psychotropic medications can cause birth defects, study finds (June 27, 2010) -- The use of psychotropic medications during pregnancy increases the probability of birth defects, according to a new study. Researchers have documented the serious side effects that can be associated with these types of medications. ... > full storyTargeting flight-or-fight hormone response to combat heart failure (June 27, 2010) -- Scientists found that two experimental drugs have the potential to restore pumping strength to failing hearts by ensuring adrenalin's ability to drive heartbeat strength is maintained, and not thwarted, as it typically is in heart failure patients. When tested in human-like mouse models of heart failure, the therapies were found to slow, and in some cases halt, the progression of the disease. ... > full story
Scientific expertise lacking among 'doubters' of climate change, says new analysis (June 27, 2010) -- An analysis of the scientific prominence and expertise of climate researchers shows that the few who are unconvinced of human-caused climate change rank far below researchers who are convinced. Most news media accounts fail to include that context when reporting claims from the doubters. ... > full storyHigher cancer rates found in liver transplant patients receiving cyclosporine for immunosuppression (June 27, 2010) -- Researchers have found that cyclosporine treatment is a significant risk factor for the development of de novo cancer in liver transplant patients. ... > full story
Tool manipulation is represented similarly in the brains of the blind and the sighted (June 27, 2010) -- Blind people think about manipulating tools in the same regions of the brain as do people who can see, according to a new study. The researchers say this adds to evidence that the brain has a fairly defined organization, while still being able to adapt to unusual conditions, such as not having any vision. ... > full story
Early and aggressive arthritis treatment recommended, based on results of 11-year trial (June 27, 2010) -- Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs should be used early and aggressively at the first sign of rheumatoid arthritis. The results of an 11-year trial demonstrate that active treatment from the very beginning pays off, even in the long run. ... > full story
Quantifying human behavior one MoCap data point at a time (June 27, 2010) -- Two actors wrapped in motion sensors circle each other, as engineering researchers stand at the perimeter of a laboratory, taking note. It's an unusual partnership between artists and engineers, a union expected to provide researchers with more precise methods of modeling human behavior. ... > full storyProfiling prostate cancer (June 27, 2010) -- A large scale genetic analysis of multiple prostate cancer samples is providing exciting new insight into the disease and may lead to more effective treatment strategies. In addition, the freely available genetic and clinical outcome data obtained in the study represents a valuable public resource for the cancer research community. ... > full story
Messenger RNAs are regulated in far more ways than previously appreciated (June 27, 2010) -- One way of regulating protein levels in cells is to shorten the lifespan of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), intermediary molecules that get translated into proteins. Researchers have now discovered that mRNAs can be targeted for destruction by several modes and molecules, highlighting a previously unanticipated complexity in the control and regulation of the cell's genetic messages. ... > full story
Friendships, family relationships get better with age thanks to forgiveness, stereotypes (June 27, 2010) -- Part of what makes those relationships so golden during the golden years is that people of all ages are more likely to forgive and respect one's elders, according to new research. ... > full story
Mechanism that may trigger degenerative disease identified (June 26, 2010) -- A mechanism that regulates stem-cell differentiation in mice testes suggests a similar process that may trigger degenerative disease in humans, according to a reproductive physiologist. ... > full story
Chemists find an easier way to synthesize new drug candidates; New method could have a big impact on pharmaceutical business (June 26, 2010) -- Chemists have designed a new way to attach a trifluoromethyl group to certain compounds, which they believe could allow pharmaceutical companies to create and test new drugs much faster and potentially reduce the cost of drug discovery. The new synthesis could have an immediate impact. ... > full storyNovel radiotracer shines new light on the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients (June 26, 2010) -- A trial of a novel radioactive compound readily and safely distinguished the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients from healthy volunteers on brain scans and opens the doors to making such imaging available beyond facilities that can manufacture their own radioactive compounds. ... > full story
Scientists create 3-D models of whole mouse organs (June 26, 2010) -- Engineers have for the first time created 3-D models of whole intact mouse organs, a feat they accomplished using fluorescence microscopy. ... > full story
Ingredient in red wine may prevent some blinding diseases (June 26, 2010) -- Resveratrol -- found in red wine, grapes, blueberries, peanuts and other plants -- stops out-of-control blood vessel growth in the eye, according to vision researchers. The discovery has implications for preserving vision in blinding eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in Americans over 50. ... > full story
Gene therapy a step closer to mass production (June 26, 2010) -- Researchers in Latvia and Finland have synthesized and studied a range of organic compounds able to carry genetic material into individual cells where it can remedy the diseases caused by defective genes. Still under development, these compounds are much more readily produced than the viral carriers now in use and avoid their side-effects. Most importantly, they are much more effective than other organic carrier substances developed so far. ... > full storyDetecting eye injury (June 26, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a noninvasive imaging technique to detect early stages of eye disease. ... > full story
Study identifies couples’ underlying concerns during a fight (June 26, 2010) -- A new study has found that there are two fundamental underlying concerns when partners in a committed relationship fight. Researchers have identified the first type of underlying concern as perceived threat, which involves a perception that one's partner is being hostile, critical, blaming or controlling. The second type of concern is called perceived neglect, which involves a perception that one's partner is failing to make a desired contribution or failing to demonstrate an ideal level of commitment or investment in the relationship. ... > full storyVirus works with gene to cause Crohn's-like illness (June 25, 2010) -- Scientists have shown that a specific virus can interact with a mutation in the host's genes to trigger disease. The observation may help explain why many people with disease risk genes do not actually develop disease. ... > full story
Silencing hepatitis B virus prevents recurrence of liver cancer (June 25, 2010) -- Previous studies have shown that antiviral treatment reduces the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B. But now, researchers are reporting that the antiviral therapy also prevents recurrence of HCC and extends patients' lives. ... > full story
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