ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Adult obesity rates could exceed 60 percent in 13 U.S. states by 2030, according to new study
• Prejudice can cause depression at the societal, interpersonal, and intrapersonal levels
• Statins are unlikely to prevent blood clots, large analysis finds
• Food supplements have little effect on the weight of malnourished children
• Extreme temperatures may raise risk of premature cardiovascular death
• Nanoparticles detect biochemistry of inflammation
• The cost of glaucoma care: Small group of patients accounts for large part of costs
• Compound found in purple corn may aid in developing future treatments for type 2 diabetes, kidney disease
• Is magnetic therapy effective for tinnitus?
• Erroneous link between prostate cancer and retrovirus from mice confirmed: Contamination of XMRV in cancer tissue sample
• Discovery of reprogramming signature may help overcome barriers to stem cell-based regenerative medicine
• Engineering a better hip implant
• Pacifiers may have emotional consequences for boys
• New research could provide new insights into tuberculosis and other diseases
• New tools help nursing homes track and prevent deadly infections
• Psychologists study the effects of diagram orientation on comprehension
• Least aggressive form of breast cancer still poses risk for death years later
• Rating HPV biomarkers in head, neck cancers
• Like a spring in a toy car: Catalysis mechanism of cell growth protein Ras clarified
• One in three victims of teen dating violence has had more than one abuser
• Assessment of HPV DNA Alone Insufficient to Identify HPV-Driven Head and Neck Cancers
• Lack of sleep affects bone health and bone marrow activity
• Oral bacteria may signal pancreatic cancer risk
• Protection for humans on Mars
• Time will tell if fast food giants are ready to battle obesity
• Neurodegenerative diseases: New findings on protein misfolding
• Obesity is major contributor to heart disease, impediment to diagnosis and treatment
• Longer exercise provides added benefit to children's health
• Body fat location may determine type 2 diabetes risk for obese patients
• Disability caused by traumatic brain injury in children may persist and stop improving after two years
• Brain neurons and diet influence onset of obesity and diabetes in mice
• Delirium has a dramatic impact on older people but is frequently undiagnosed
• App lets you monitor lung health using only a smartphone
• Early menopause associated with increased risk of heart disease, stroke, study suggests
• Substance-use disorders linked to increased risk of death for veterans with PTSD
• Government can play important role in obesity epidemic, expert argues
• Higher levels of BPA in children and teens significantly associated with obesity
• Alzheimer's breaks brain networks' coordination
• Tasered youth fare as well as adults, study finds
• Chronic fatigue syndrome not linked to suspect viruses; Study puts to rest notion that XMRV or pMLV cause the mysterious ailment
• Viruses not to blame for chronic fatigue syndrome after all
• New gene offers hope for preventive medicine against fractures
• 'Brain training' may lessen cognitive impairments associated with coronary bypass surgery
• Cancer and chronic disease causes almost half of gradual deaths in Europe
• Millions of Europeans still at risk from high trans fatty acid content in popular foods

Adult obesity rates could exceed 60 percent in 13 U.S. states by 2030, according to new study Posted: 18 Sep 2012 04:09 PM PDT The number of obese adults, along with related disease rates and health care costs, are on course to increase dramatically in every state in the United States over the next 20 years, according to a new report.

Prejudice can cause depression at the societal, interpersonal, and intrapersonal levels Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:56 PM PDT Although depression and prejudice traditionally fall into different areas of study and treatment, a new article suggests that many cases of depression may be caused by prejudice from the self or from another person. In a new article, experts argue that prejudice and depression are fundamentally connected.

Statins are unlikely to prevent blood clots, large analysis finds Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:56 PM PDT Despite previous studies suggesting the contrary, statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) may not prevent blood clots (venous thrombo-embolism) in adults, according to a large analysis.

Food supplements have little effect on the weight of malnourished children Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:56 PM PDT Providing energy dense food supplements within a general household food distribution has little effect on the weight of children at risk of malnutrition, new research shows.

Extreme temperatures may raise risk of premature cardiovascular death Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:48 PM PDT Extreme temperatures during heat waves and cold spells may increase the risk of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) death, according to new research.

Nanoparticles detect biochemistry of inflammation Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:48 PM PDT Researchers have developed the first degradable polymer that is extremely sensitive to low but biologically relevant concentrations of hydrogen peroxide.

The cost of glaucoma care: Small group of patients accounts for large part of costs Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:47 PM PDT A small subset of patients account for a large proportion of all glaucoma-related charges in the U.S., according to new data. These findings have importance for future evaluations of the cost-effectiveness of screening and treatment for glaucoma.

Compound found in purple corn may aid in developing future treatments for type 2 diabetes, kidney disease Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:47 PM PDT Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most serious complications related to diabetes, often leading to end-stage kidney disease. Purple corn grown in Peru and Chile is a relative of blue corn, which is readily available in the U.S. The maize is rich in anthocyanins (also known as flavonoids), which are reported to have anti-diabetic properties. Scientists investigated the cellular and molecular activity of purple corn anthocyanins (PCA) to determine whether and how it affects the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Their findings suggest that PCA inhibits multiple pathways involved in the development of DN, which may help in developing therapies aimed at type 2 diabetes and kidney disease.

Is magnetic therapy effective for tinnitus? Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:47 PM PDT Loyola University Medical Center is studying whether a new form of non-invasive magnetic therapy can help people who suffer debilitating tinnitus (ringing in the ears). The therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), sends short pulses of magnetic fields to the brain. TMS has been approved since 2009 for patients who have major depression and have failed at least one antidepressant.

Erroneous link between prostate cancer and retrovirus from mice confirmed: Contamination of XMRV in cancer tissue sample Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:47 PM PDT A once-promising discovery linking prostate cancer to an obscure retrovirus derived from mice was the result of an inadvertent laboratory contamination, a forensic analysis of tissue samples and lab experiments -- some dating back nearly a decade -- has confirmed.

Discovery of reprogramming signature may help overcome barriers to stem cell-based regenerative medicine Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:47 PM PDT Scientists have identified a unique molecular signature in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), "reprogrammed" cells that show great promise in regenerative medicine thanks to their ability to generate a range of body tissues.

Engineering a better hip implant Posted: 18 Sep 2012 12:41 PM PDT Researchers have engineered a better design for hip implants for obese patients. The team learned that thigh size is a reason why hip implants fail, and why it contributes to an increased rate of failure for the morbidly obese.

Pacifiers may have emotional consequences for boys Posted: 18 Sep 2012 12:41 PM PDT Pacifiers may stunt the emotional development of baby boys by robbing them of the opportunity to try on facial expressions during infancy.

New research could provide new insights into tuberculosis and other diseases Posted: 18 Sep 2012 12:00 PM PDT Scientists have developed a method to directly detect bacterial protein secretion, which could provide new insights into a variety of diseases including tuberculosis.

New tools help nursing homes track and prevent deadly infections Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:56 AM PDT Scientists have new tools and information to help track deadly healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in nursing homes and other long-term care settings. Potentially deadly HAIs strike volumes of nursing home residents each year, with best estimates suggesting that up to 2.8 million infections can occur in this population annually.

Psychologists study the effects of diagram orientation on comprehension Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:56 AM PDT The orientation of a diagram on the page of a textbook may seem inconsequential, but it can have a significant impact on a reader's ability to comprehend the information as presented, according to a team of researchers.

Least aggressive form of breast cancer still poses risk for death years later Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:56 AM PDT Women with the most common and least aggressive subtype of breast cancer were still at risk of death from the disease more than 10 years after diagnosis, according to a new study.

Rating HPV biomarkers in head, neck cancers Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:56 AM PDT A new study of head and neck cancers finds that combinations of biomarkers are better than DNA alone in determining whether the human papillomavirus is involved. That's important because people with HPV-caused cancers are likely to fare much better than people whose cancer came from causes like smoking. Reliably assessing HPV's presence could prevent overtreatment.

Like a spring in a toy car: Catalysis mechanism of cell growth protein Ras clarified Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:50 AM PDT Proteins accelerate certain chemical reactions in cells by several orders of magnitude. The molecular mechanism by which the Ras protein accelerates the cleavage of the molecule GTP and thus slows cell growth is described by biophysicists. Using a combination of infrared spectroscopy and computer simulations, they showed that Ras puts a phosphate chain under tension to such an extent that a phosphate group can very easily detach -- the brake for cell growth. Mutated Ras is involved in tumor formation, because this reaction slows down and the brake for cell growth fails.

One in three victims of teen dating violence has had more than one abuser Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:50 AM PDT More than one-third of young adults who reported being victims of dating violence as teenagers had two or more abusive partners, a new study suggests.

Assessment of HPV DNA Alone Insufficient to Identify HPV-Driven Head and Neck Cancers Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:50 AM PDT Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA positivity alone, particularly when assessed using polymerase chain reaction methods, is a poor biomarker for HPV-driven head and neck cancers, according to two new studies.

Lack of sleep affects bone health and bone marrow activity Posted: 18 Sep 2012 09:15 AM PDT Scientists specializing in neurology, cell biology, neurobiology and anatomy have discovered abnormalities in bone and bone marrow in rats undergoing chronic lack of sleep. They discovered abnormalities in serum markers of bone metabolism in sleep-deprived rats, which led them to conduct direct measurements of bone parameters; this time in rats experiencing recurrent sleep restriction during a large portion of their young adulthood.

Oral bacteria may signal pancreatic cancer risk Posted: 18 Sep 2012 09:15 AM PDT Pancreatic cancer is highly lethal and difficult to detect early. In a new study, researchers report that people who had high levels of antibodies for an infectious oral bacterium turned out to have double the risk for developing the cancer. High antibody levels for harmless oral bacteria, meanwhile, predicted a reduced pancreatic cancer risk.

Protection for humans on Mars Posted: 18 Sep 2012 09:15 AM PDT For six weeks NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has been working on the Red Planet. NASA also plans to send humans to Mars within the next 20 years. On the flight and during the stay on Moon or Mars, the astronauts have to be protected against long exposure to cosmic radiation that might cause cancer. Scientists are testing whether Moon and Mars regolith can be used to build shieldings for ground stations.

Time will tell if fast food giants are ready to battle obesity Posted: 18 Sep 2012 09:12 AM PDT A professor of communication is exploring the effects of mass media on health behavior and social policy. He welcomes the move by McDonald's to post calorie information, but calls on the fast food giant to lead the way toward changes that will have broader health benefits.

Neurodegenerative diseases: New findings on protein misfolding Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:30 AM PDT Misfolded proteins can cause various neurodegenerative diseases such as spinocerebellar ataxias or Huntington's disease, which are characterized by a progressive loss of neurons in the brain. Researchers have now identified 21 proteins that specifically bind to the protein ataxin-1. Twelve of these proteins enhance the misfolding of ataxin-1 and thus promote the formation of harmful protein aggregate structures.

Obesity is major contributor to heart disease, impediment to diagnosis and treatment Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:28 AM PDT Obesity is a major contributor to heart disease that substantially hinders the disease's proper diagnosis and treatment, says a cardiologist researching the impact of obesity and weight loss on the heart. With obese youth as the fastest-growing demographic group, the country's problem is only going to get worse, a preventive cardiologist says.

Longer exercise provides added benefit to children's health Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:28 AM PDT Twenty minutes of daily, vigorous physical activity over just three months can reduce a child's risk of diabetes as well as his total body fat -- including dangerous, deep abdominal fat -- but 40 minutes works even better, researchers report.

Body fat location may determine type 2 diabetes risk for obese patients Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:28 AM PDT Obese individuals with excess visceral fat (abdominal fat that surrounds the body's internal organs) have an increased risk for the development of Type 2 diabetes, according to a new study by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Disability caused by traumatic brain injury in children may persist and stop improving after two years Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:16 AM PDT A child who suffers a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) may still have substantial functional disabilities and reduced quality of life 2 years after the injury. After those first 2 years, further improvement may be minimal.

Brain neurons and diet influence onset of obesity and diabetes in mice Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:16 AM PDT The absence of a specific type of neuron in the brain can lead to obesity and diabetes in mice report researchers. The outcome, however, depends on the type of diet that the animals are fed.

Delirium has a dramatic impact on older people but is frequently undiagnosed Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:16 AM PDT Delirium is widespread among older people but often goes ignored and untreated, according to new research by US and UK researchers including the University of East Anglia (UEA).

App lets you monitor lung health using only a smartphone Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:13 AM PDT Feeling wheezy? You could call the doctor. Or soon you could use your smartphone to diagnose your lung health, with a new app that uses the frequencies in the breath to determine how much and how fast you can exhale.

Early menopause associated with increased risk of heart disease, stroke, study suggests Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:13 AM PDT Women who go into early menopause are twice as likely to suffer from coronary heart disease and stroke, new Jresearch suggests. The association holds true in patients from a variety of different ethnic backgrounds, the study found, and is independent of traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors, the scientists say.

Substance-use disorders linked to increased risk of death for veterans with PTSD Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:11 AM PDT Association between drug, alcohol problems and mortality most prominent in younger veterans with PTSD, including those from Iraq, Afghanistan.

Government can play important role in obesity epidemic, expert argues Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:11 AM PDT Addressing the obesity epidemic by preventing excess calorie consumption with government regulation of portion sizes is justifiable and could be an effective measure to help prevent obesity-related health problems and deaths, according to Thomas A. Farley, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Higher levels of BPA in children and teens significantly associated with obesity Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:11 AM PDT Researchers have revealed a significant association between obesity and children and adolescents with higher concentrations of urinary bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical recently banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from sippy cups and baby bottles. Still, the chemical continues to be used in aluminum cans, such as those containing soda.

Alzheimer's breaks brain networks' coordination Posted: 18 Sep 2012 06:08 AM PDT Scientists have taken one of the first detailed looks into how Alzheimer's disease disrupts coordination among several of the brain's networks. The results include some of the earliest assessments of Alzheimer's effects on networks that are active when the brain is at rest.

Tasered youth fare as well as adults, study finds Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:53 AM PDT Adolescents who are tasered by law enforcement officers do not appear to be at higher risk for serious injury than adults, according to new a new study.

Chronic fatigue syndrome not linked to suspect viruses; Study puts to rest notion that XMRV or pMLV cause the mysterious ailment Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:39 AM PDT The causes of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have long eluded scientists. Since investigations by several laboratories have been unable to detect XMRV or pMLV in CFS patients, researchers collaborated on a study to resolve this issue. Findings show no evidence of the xenotropic murine leukemia virus (XMRV) or polytropic MLV in samples from the recruited CFS control subjects.

Viruses not to blame for chronic fatigue syndrome after all Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:39 AM PDT Contrary to previous findings, new research finds no link between chronic fatigue syndrome and the viruses XMRV (xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus) and pMLV (polytropic murine leukemia virus). A new study reveals that research that reported patients with chronic fatigue syndrome carried these two viruses was wrong and that there is still no evidence for an infectious cause behind chronic fatigue syndrome.

New gene offers hope for preventive medicine against fractures Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:34 AM PDT An international study has identified a special gene that regulates bone density and bone strength. The gene can be used as a risk marker for fractures and opens up opportunities for preventive medicine against fractures.

'Brain training' may lessen cognitive impairments associated with coronary bypass surgery Posted: 18 Sep 2012 04:56 AM PDT Recovery from coronary bypass surgery is long and quality of life is greatly affected, in particular because most patients experience cognitive deficits that affect attention and memory for weeks or even months after the surgery. However, cognitive training helps to significantly reduce these postoperative complications, a new study shows.

Cancer and chronic disease causes almost half of gradual deaths in Europe Posted: 17 Sep 2012 05:28 PM PDT Cancer and chronic disease account for almost half of gradual deaths in European Union countries, suggests new research.

Millions of Europeans still at risk from high trans fatty acid content in popular foods Posted: 17 Sep 2012 05:28 PM PDT The heart health of millions of Europeans is still at risk because of the persistently high trans fatty acid content of certain fast and convenience foods, indicates new research.

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