ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Doctors happily cite alcohol as cause of death, but not smoking, for fear of stigmatization, UK study finds
• High fizzy soft drink consumption linked to violence among teens
• Rural women more likely to be diagnosed with most serious form of breast cancer, study finds
• Antidepressant linked to developmental brain abnormalities in rodents
• Blood vessel mapping reveals four new 'ZIP codes'; Targeting specific addresses could help fight cancer, obesity and other diseases
• Could additives in hot dogs affect incidence of colon cancer?
• High fluid intake appears to reduce bladder cancer risk
• Dietary patterns may be linked to increased colorectal cancer risk in women
• Analgesics use associated with increased risk for renal cell carcinoma
• Coffee consumption associated with decreased risk for basal cell carcinoma
• Increased tanning bed use increases risk for deadly skin cancers
• Math disability linked to problem relating quantities to numerals
• Non-targeted HIV testing in emergency departments identifies only a few new cases, French study finds
• Probability model examines proportion of women who survive following detection of breast cancer through screening
• Study evaluates industry payments to orthopedic surgeons
• Yoga and stretching exercises beneficial for chronic low back pain, study finds
• Yoga eases back pain in largest U.S. yoga study to date
• Insomnia could moderately raise your heart attack risk, study suggests
• HPV linked to cardiovascular disease in women
• High-dose vitamin D may not be better than low-dose vitamin D in treating multiple sclerosis
• Water disinfection byproducts linked to adverse health effects
• Perinatal antidepressant stunts brain development in rats; Miswired brain circuitry traced to early exposure
• Genetic difference in staph infects some heart devices, not others
• Study offers clues as to why some patients get infections from cardiac implants
• Morning UV exposure may be less damaging to the skin
• British study may improve glaucoma assessment and treatment
• Studying depression: Researchers demonstrate rare animal model
• Physical fitness could have a positive effect on eye health
• Novel oral treatment for leishmaniasis has potential to save thousands of lives
• Fewer drugs listed on public drug plans after introduction of Canada’s common drug review but faster listing for coverage
• Daily smoking, low mastery associated with repeat episodes of depression in people with a history of depression
• Structure of key protein associated with Parkinson's disease determined
• Unraveling the mysteries of the natural killer within us
• Researchers identify a genetic mutation associated with high risk of age-related macular degeneration
• Planning for life beyond a cancer diagnosis: Clinicians offer options to protect fertility prior to cancer treatment
• Study confirms males and females have at least one thing in common: Upregulating X
• Hold your forces: Mechanical stress can help or hinder wound healing depending on time of application
• Gene variant increases risk of kidney disease in African-Americans
• Gallium nitride is non-toxic, biocompatible; holds promise for implants, research finds
• Independent life after a death: Spousal death can lead to loss of independent living for seniors
• Researchers' detective work shows possible side effect in macular degeneration drug
• Liver parasite lacks key genes for fatty acid synthesis: Genome sequencing of Clonorchis sinensis
• Body weight, diet may be risk factors for non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Sleeping sickness drug may provide long-term protection against nonmelanoma skin cancers
• Significant weight gain in postmenopausal women increases risk for endometrial cancer, research suggests
• NSAID use associated with lower colorectal cancer mortality rates among postmenopausal women
• Vitamin B-based treatment for corneal disease may offer some patients a permanent solution
• More time outdoors may reduce kids' risk for nearsightedness, research suggests
• Exposure to chemical BPA before birth linked to behavioral, emotional difficulties in girls
• Consumers don't pay as much attention to nutrition fact labels as they think, eye-tracking study finds
• Advanced post-mastectomy breast reconstruction improves women's psychosocial and sexual well-being
• Heart transplant surgery safe and effective: Canadian retrospective spanning three decades finds survival rates now close to 90 per cent
• Spinal cord injuries associated with increased risk of heart disease, study finds
• Heart surgeons-in-training benefit from hands-on homework
• Bio-engineered protein shows promise as new hemophilia therapy
• Laser's precision and simplicity could revolutionize cataract surgery
• Video games used in new treatment that may fix 'lazy eye' in older children

Doctors happily cite alcohol as cause of death, but not smoking, for fear of stigmatization, UK study finds Posted: 24 Oct 2011 06:34 PM PDT UK doctors are willing to cite alcohol as a cause of death on death certificates, but not smoking, for fear of stigmatizing the deceased, new research from the UK shows.

High fizzy soft drink consumption linked to violence among teens Posted: 24 Oct 2011 06:34 PM PDT Teens who drink more than five cans of non-diet, fizzy soft drinks every week are significantly more likely to behave aggressively, new research suggests. This includes carrying a weapon and perpetrating violence against peers and siblings.

Rural women more likely to be diagnosed with most serious form of breast cancer, study finds Posted: 24 Oct 2011 02:27 PM PDT Women living in rural areas face unique challenges concerning health and wellness issues. Now, a researcher has found that rural women are more likely than women living in cities to be diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer, the most severe form of the disease.

Antidepressant linked to developmental brain abnormalities in rodents Posted: 24 Oct 2011 02:27 PM PDT A new study shows that rats given a popularly prescribed antidepressant during development exhibit brain abnormalities and behaviors characteristic of autism spectrum disorders.

Blood vessel mapping reveals four new 'ZIP codes'; Targeting specific addresses could help fight cancer, obesity and other diseases Posted: 24 Oct 2011 02:27 PM PDT A research team has discovered four new "ZIP codes" in their quest to map the vast blood vessel network of the human body. The study brings science one step closer to the goal of using the vascular system to personalize cancer therapy, as well as fight obesity, heart disease and other disorders. Researchers also found that some addresses are shared in vasculature across the board instead of always being organ-specific.

Could additives in hot dogs affect incidence of colon cancer? Posted: 24 Oct 2011 02:26 PM PDT The addition of ascorbate (vitamin C) or its close relative, erythorbate, and the reduced amount of nitrite added in hot dogs, mandated in 1978, have been accompanied by a steep drop in the death rate from colon cancer, according to new research.

High fluid intake appears to reduce bladder cancer risk Posted: 24 Oct 2011 02:26 PM PDT Drinking plenty of fluids may provide men with some protection against bladder cancer, according to a study.

Dietary patterns may be linked to increased colorectal cancer risk in women Posted: 24 Oct 2011 02:26 PM PDT Researchers may have found a specific dietary pattern linked to levels of C-peptide concentrations that increase a woman's risk for colorectal cancer.

Analgesics use associated with increased risk for renal cell carcinoma Posted: 24 Oct 2011 02:26 PM PDT Use of acetaminophen and nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was associated with a significantly increased risk for developing renal cell carcinoma, according to new research.

Coffee consumption associated with decreased risk for basal cell carcinoma Posted: 24 Oct 2011 02:26 PM PDT Caffeine could be related to an inverse association between basal cell carcinoma risk and consumption of coffee, a study found.

Increased tanning bed use increases risk for deadly skin cancers Posted: 24 Oct 2011 02:26 PM PDT Researchers confirmed an association between tanning bed use and an increased risk for three common skin cancers -- basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, according to new research.

Math disability linked to problem relating quantities to numerals Posted: 24 Oct 2011 01:55 PM PDT Children who start elementary school with difficulty associating small exact quantities of items with the printed numerals that represent those quantities are more likely to develop a math-related learning disability than are their peers, according to a new study.

Non-targeted HIV testing in emergency departments identifies only a few new cases, French study finds Posted: 24 Oct 2011 01:47 PM PDT Non-targeted HIV rapid test screening among emergency department patients in metropolitan Paris resulted in identifying only a few new HIV diagnoses, often at late stages and mostly among patients who are in a high-risk group, according to a new study.

Probability model examines proportion of women who survive following detection of breast cancer through screening Posted: 24 Oct 2011 01:47 PM PDT A model used to estimate breast cancer survival rates found that the probability that a woman with screen-detected breast cancer will avoid a breast cancer death because of screening mammography may be lower than previously thought, according to a new report.

Study evaluates industry payments to orthopedic surgeons Posted: 24 Oct 2011 01:47 PM PDT An analysis of financial payments made by orthopedic device manufacturers to orthopedic surgeons shows that the patterns of payments from 2007 to 2010 appear to be complex with a reduction in the total number of payments and the total amount of funds distributed after payment disclosure was required, as well as an increase in the proportion of consultants with academic affiliations, according to a new report.

Yoga and stretching exercises beneficial for chronic low back pain, study finds Posted: 24 Oct 2011 01:47 PM PDT Yoga classes were found to be more effective than a self-care book for patients with chronic low back pain at reducing symptoms and improving function, but they were not more effective than stretching classes, according to a new study.

Yoga eases back pain in largest U.S. yoga study to date Posted: 24 Oct 2011 01:47 PM PDT Yoga classes were linked to better back-related function and diminished symptoms from chronic low back pain in the largest U.S. randomized controlled trial of yoga to date.

Insomnia could moderately raise your heart attack risk, study suggests Posted: 24 Oct 2011 01:47 PM PDT Having trouble sleeping? If so, you could have a moderately higher risk of having a heart attack, according to new research. In a recent study, the risk of heart attack in people with insomnia ranged from 27 percent to 45 percent greater than for people who rarely experienced trouble sleeping.

HPV linked to cardiovascular disease in women Posted: 24 Oct 2011 01:47 PM PDT Women with cancer-causing strains of human papillomavirus may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke even when no conventional risk factors for CVD are present.

High-dose vitamin D may not be better than low-dose vitamin D in treating multiple sclerosis Posted: 24 Oct 2011 01:47 PM PDT Low vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), but the first randomized, controlled trial using high-dose vitamin D in MS did not find any added benefit over and above ongoing low-dose vitamin D supplementation, according to a new study.

Water disinfection byproducts linked to adverse health effects Posted: 24 Oct 2011 12:34 PM PDT Scientists report the first identification of a cellular mechanism linked to the toxicity of a major class of drinking water disinfection byproducts. This study suggests a possible connection to adverse health effects, including neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Perinatal antidepressant stunts brain development in rats; Miswired brain circuitry traced to early exposure Posted: 24 Oct 2011 12:34 PM PDT Rats exposed to an antidepressant just before and after birth showed substantial brain abnormalities and behaviors, according to a new study. After receiving citalopram, a serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitor, during this critical period, long-distance connections between the two hemispheres of the brain showed stunted growth and degeneration. The animals also became excessively fearful when faced with new situations and failed to play normally with peers.

Genetic difference in staph infects some heart devices, not others Posted: 24 Oct 2011 12:34 PM PDT Infectious films of Staph bacteria around an implanted cardiac device, such as a pacemaker, often force a second surgery to replace the device at a cost of up to $100,000. But not all implanted cardiac devices become infected. Now researchers have discovered how and why certain strains of staphylococcus aureus (SA) bacteria, the leading cause of these device infections, have infected thousands of implanted cardiac devices. About 4 percent of the one million annually implanted devices become infected.

Study offers clues as to why some patients get infections from cardiac implants Posted: 24 Oct 2011 12:34 PM PDT New research suggests that some patients develop a potentially deadly blood infection from their implanted cardiac devices because bacterial cells in their bodies have gene mutations that allow them to stick to the devices. Patients with implants can develop infections because of a biofilm of persistent bacterial bugs on the surfaces of their devices.

Morning UV exposure may be less damaging to the skin Posted: 24 Oct 2011 12:33 PM PDT New research suggests that the timing of exposure to UV rays -- early in the morning or later in the afternoon -- can influence the onset of skin cancer.

British study may improve glaucoma assessment and treatment Posted: 24 Oct 2011 10:30 AM PDT Results from a recent scientific study in the UK may change the way that healthcare professionals measure eye pressure and allow them to assess the risk of glaucoma with greater accuracy. Glaucoma is the second most common cause of irreversible loss of vision worldwide.

Studying depression: Researchers demonstrate rare animal model Posted: 24 Oct 2011 10:30 AM PDT Scientists have taken a promising step toward creating an animal model for decoding the specific brain circuits involved in depression. By electrically stimulating a brain region central to an animal's primary emotions, the researchers saw rats exhibit a variety of behaviors associated with a depressed, negative mood, or affect.

Physical fitness could have a positive effect on eye health Posted: 24 Oct 2011 10:30 AM PDT Physical activity may be what the doctor orders to help patients reduce their risk of developing glaucoma. According to a recently published scientific paper, higher levels of physical exercise appear to have a long-term beneficial impact on low ocular perfusion pressure, an important risk factor for glaucoma.

Novel oral treatment for leishmaniasis has potential to save thousands of lives Posted: 24 Oct 2011 10:30 AM PDT A tropically stable liquid therapy for leishmaniasis, a disease known as the Baghdad boil, shows a significant decrease in infection after less than a week of treatment.

Fewer drugs listed on public drug plans after introduction of Canada’s common drug review but faster listing for coverage Posted: 24 Oct 2011 09:30 AM PDT The number of drugs covered by public drug plans decreased substantially after Canada's Common Drug Review was introduced in 2003, and new drugs were listed more quickly in several of the smaller provinces, a new study finds.

Daily smoking, low mastery associated with repeat episodes of depression in people with a history of depression Posted: 24 Oct 2011 09:29 AM PDT Previous depression, daily smoking and a lack of control over life circumstances -- or "low mastery" -- are risk factors for repeat episodes of depression, a new article finds.

Structure of key protein associated with Parkinson's disease determined Posted: 24 Oct 2011 08:31 AM PDT Researchers have produced and determined the structure of alpha-synuclein, a key protein associated with Parkinson's disease. Information may someday be used to produce a new kind of treatment.

Unraveling the mysteries of the natural killer within us Posted: 24 Oct 2011 08:31 AM PDT Scientists in Australia have discovered more about the intricacies of the immune system in a breakthrough that may help combat viral infections such as HIV. The researchers have discovered more about the critical role Natural Killer cells play in the body's innate immune response.

Researchers identify a genetic mutation associated with high risk of age-related macular degeneration Posted: 24 Oct 2011 08:31 AM PDT Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe visual loss among the elderly. Researchers had previously identified several relatively common genetic variants which together predict a person's increased risk for AMD, but a significant number of persons without the disease also have these variants. Now, for the first time, investigators have been able to clearly show a specific rare mutation called CFH R1210C that predicts a very high risk of disease and is extremely uncommon among individuals who do not have the disease.

Planning for life beyond a cancer diagnosis: Clinicians offer options to protect fertility prior to cancer treatment Posted: 24 Oct 2011 08:31 AM PDT A dedicated fertility preservation patient navigator can guide newly diagnosed cancer patients through a hopeful process -- preserving their future ability to have children in the face of life-saving, yet fertility-threatening treatments.

Study confirms males and females have at least one thing in common: Upregulating X Posted: 24 Oct 2011 08:31 AM PDT In a new study, scientists present experiments supporting a longstanding hypothesis that explains how males can survive with only one copy of the X chromosome. The finding provides clarity to a hotly debated topic in science and provides biologists with more information to interpret experiments involving genetic measurements in males and females.

Hold your forces: Mechanical stress can help or hinder wound healing depending on time of application Posted: 24 Oct 2011 08:30 AM PDT A new study demonstrates that mechanical forces affect the growth and remodeling of blood vessels during tissue regeneration and wound healing. The forces diminish or enhance the vascularization process and tissue regeneration depending on when they are applied during the healing process.

Gene variant increases risk of kidney disease in African-Americans Posted: 24 Oct 2011 08:30 AM PDT African-Americans with two copies of the APOL1 gene have about a four percent lifetime risk of developing a form of kidney disease, according to scientists. The finding brings scientists closer to understanding why African-Americans are four times more likely to develop kidney failure than whites.

Gallium nitride is non-toxic, biocompatible; holds promise for implants, research finds Posted: 24 Oct 2011 08:30 AM PDT Researchers have shown that the semiconductor material gallium nitride is non-toxic and is compatible with human cells -- opening the door to the material's use in a variety of biomedical implant technologies.

Independent life after a death: Spousal death can lead to loss of independent living for seniors Posted: 24 Oct 2011 07:17 AM PDT The death of a spouse is always a tragedy, but for seniors, that tragedy can spur some significant life changes. And one researcher says, the choices they make are something policymakers need to pay attention to.

Researchers' detective work shows possible side effect in macular degeneration drug Posted: 24 Oct 2011 07:17 AM PDT Two major drug trials conclude there was little risk from a drug aimed at age-related macular degeneration. Yet one ophthalmologist began to note something concerning in some of her patients: an increase in pressure inside the eye.

Liver parasite lacks key genes for fatty acid synthesis: Genome sequencing of Clonorchis sinensis Posted: 24 Oct 2011 05:47 AM PDT The human liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis affects more than 35 million people in South East Asia and 15 million in China. The complete genome sequence the genome of C. sinensis has provided insight into the biochemical pathways available to the fluke and shows that they are lacking enzymes required for fatty acid biosynthesis.

Body weight, diet may be risk factors for non-Hodgkin lymphoma Posted: 24 Oct 2011 05:47 AM PDT Body weight in young adulthood and diet appeared to be associated with the risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to new research.

Sleeping sickness drug may provide long-term protection against nonmelanoma skin cancers Posted: 24 Oct 2011 05:47 AM PDT An antiparasitic agent used to treat African sleeping sickness might someday be used to prevent nonmelanoma skin cancers. Researchers found that DFMO, or alpha-difluoromethylornithine, still appeared to protect against nonmelanoma skin cancers years after people stopped taking the drug, according to new research.

Significant weight gain in postmenopausal women increases risk for endometrial cancer, research suggests Posted: 24 Oct 2011 05:47 AM PDT Postmenopausal women who gained weight during adulthood had an increased risk for endometrial cancer compared with women who maintained a stable weight, according to new research.

NSAID use associated with lower colorectal cancer mortality rates among postmenopausal women Posted: 24 Oct 2011 05:46 AM PDT Postmenopausal women who reported having used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for at least 10 years at the time of enrollment in the Women's Health Initiative study had a lower risk for death from colorectal cancer compared with women who reported no use of these drugs at enrollment, according to new research.

Vitamin B-based treatment for corneal disease may offer some patients a permanent solution Posted: 24 Oct 2011 05:46 AM PDT Patients in the United States who have the cornea-damaging disease keratoconus may soon be able to benefit from a new treatment that is already proving effective in Europe and other regions. The treatment, collagen crosslinking, improved vision in almost 70 percent of keratoconus patients in a recent three-year clinical trial in Milan, Italy. The treatment is in clinical trials in the United States and is likely to receive FDA approval in 2012.

More time outdoors may reduce kids' risk for nearsightedness, research suggests Posted: 24 Oct 2011 05:46 AM PDT A new analysis of recent eye health studies shows that more time spent outdoors is related to reduced rates of nearsightedness, also known as myopia, in children and adolescents. Myopia is much more common today in the United States and many other countries than it was in the 1970s.

Exposure to chemical BPA before birth linked to behavioral, emotional difficulties in girls Posted: 24 Oct 2011 05:46 AM PDT Exposure in the womb to bisphenol A (BPA) -- a chemical used to make plastic containers and other consumer goods -- is associated with behavior and emotional problems in young girls, according to a new study.

Consumers don't pay as much attention to nutrition fact labels as they think, eye-tracking study finds Posted: 24 Oct 2011 05:46 AM PDT Are Nutrition Facts labels read in detail by consumers when making purchases? Do people read only certain portions of the labels? According to a new study, consumers' self-reported viewing of Nutrition Facts label components was higher than objectively measured viewing using an eye-tracking device. Researchers also determined that centrally located Nutrition Facts labels are viewed more frequently and for longer than those located peripherally.

Advanced post-mastectomy breast reconstruction improves women's psychosocial and sexual well-being Posted: 24 Oct 2011 05:46 AM PDT After a mastectomy, women who undergo breast reconstruction with tissue from their own abdomen experience significant gains in psychological, social, and sexual well-being as soon as three weeks after surgery, according to a new study.

Heart transplant surgery safe and effective: Canadian retrospective spanning three decades finds survival rates now close to 90 per cent Posted: 24 Oct 2011 05:46 AM PDT Researchers in Canada have revealed results from 25 years of follow-up on a total of 461 transplant patients. Mean age at transplant was 49, plus or minus 13 years. Patients were followed and managed according to guidelines in effect at the time. Researchers found that survival rates have improved by more than 20 percent over the years since modern heart transplantation became available in 1980.

Spinal cord injuries associated with increased risk of heart disease, study finds Posted: 24 Oct 2011 05:46 AM PDT New research may help explain why people with spinal cord injury (SCI) have a higher risk of developing heart disease.

Heart surgeons-in-training benefit from hands-on homework Posted: 24 Oct 2011 05:46 AM PDT Residents in cardiac surgery who receive extra training on a take-home simulator do a better job once they get into the operating room, according to researchers in Canada.

Bio-engineered protein shows promise as new hemophilia therapy Posted: 23 Oct 2011 10:57 AM PDT A genetically engineered clotting factor that controlled hemophilia in an animal study offers a novel potential treatment for human hemophilia and a broad range of other bleeding problems. A research team took the naturally occurring coagulation factor Xa and engineered it into a variant that safely controlled bleeding in mouse models of hemophilia.

Laser's precision and simplicity could revolutionize cataract surgery Posted: 23 Oct 2011 10:56 AM PDT Two new studies add to the growing body of evidence that a new approach to cataract surgery may be safer and more efficient than today's standard procedure. The new approach, using a special femtosecond laser, is FDA-approved, but not yet widely available in the United States.

Video games used in new treatment that may fix 'lazy eye' in older children Posted: 23 Oct 2011 10:56 AM PDT A new study conducted in an eye clinic in India found that correction of amblyopia, also called "lazy eye," can be achieved in many older children, if they stick to a regimen that includes playing video games and standard amblyopia treatment.

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