ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Asthma rate and costs from traffic pollution higher: Much higher than past traditional risk assessments have indicated
• Prenatal testosterone linked to increased risk of language delay for male infants, study shows
• Morgellons: Unexplained skin condition is non-infectious, not linked to environmental cause: CDC report
• Engineered bacteria effectively target tumors, enabling tumor imaging potential in mice
• Working too much is correlated with two-fold increase in likelihood of depression
• Will you have a heart attack or stroke?
• Middle-age risk factors drive greater lifetime risk for heart disease
• Mild cognitive impairment is common, affects men most, study finds
• High animal fat diet increases gestational diabetes risk, study finds
• Brachytherapy reduced death rates in high-risk prostate cancer patients, analysis finds
• Men at higher risk for mild memory loss than women, study finds
• Neurologists should ask patients about abuse: New position statement from American Academy of Neurology
• Genes influence criminal behavior, research suggests
• Adolescents with autism spend free time using solitary, screen-based media
• Limiting protein or certain amino acids before surgery may reduce risk of surgical complications
• How kids with autism spend screen time
• Appetite accomplice: Ghrelin receptor alters dopamine signaling
• Mechanism sheds light on how the brain adapts to stress
• Scientists identify protein that contributes to symptoms of Parkinson's disease
• New fluorescent dyes highlight neuronal activity
• Environment that nurtures blood-forming stem cells' growth identified
• Alzheimer's neurons from pluripotent stem cells: First-ever feat provides new method to understand cause of disease, develop drugs
• Researchers discover method to unravel malaria's genetic secrets
• Strategic research plan needed to help avoid potential risks of nanomaterials
• Could Alzheimer's disease be diagnosed with a simple blood test?
• Protein in brain could be a key target in controlling Alzheimer’s
• New standard for vitamin D testing to ensure accurate test results
• Avastin, Sutent increase breast cancer stem cells, study suggests
• In schizophrenia research, a path to the brain through the nose
• Where there's a worm there's a whale: First distribution model of marine parasites provides revealing insights
• Generation X: How young adults deal with influenza

Asthma rate and costs from traffic pollution higher: Much higher than past traditional risk assessments have indicated Posted: 25 Jan 2012 05:27 PM PST A team of resource economist researchers has revised the cost burden sharply upward for childhood asthma and for the first time include the number of cases attributable to air pollution, in a new study.

Prenatal testosterone linked to increased risk of language delay for male infants, study shows Posted: 25 Jan 2012 04:55 PM PST New research by Australian scientists reveals that males who are exposed to high levels of testosterone before birth are twice as likely to experience delays in language development compared to females. The research, published in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, focused on umbilical cord blood to explore the presence of testosterone when the language-related regions of a fetus' brain are undergoing a critical period of growth.

Morgellons: Unexplained skin condition is non-infectious, not linked to environmental cause: CDC report Posted: 25 Jan 2012 02:23 PM PST The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has completed a comprehensive study of an unexplained skin condition commonly referred to as Morgellons.

Engineered bacteria effectively target tumors, enabling tumor imaging potential in mice Posted: 25 Jan 2012 02:23 PM PST Tumor-targeted bioluminescent bacteria have been shown for the first time to provide accurate 3-D images of tumors in mice, further advancing the potential for targeted cancer drug delivery.

Working too much is correlated with two-fold increase in likelihood of depression Posted: 25 Jan 2012 02:23 PM PST The odds of a major depressive episode are more than double for those working 11 or more hours a day compared to those working seven to eight hours a day.

Will you have a heart attack or stroke? Posted: 25 Jan 2012 02:23 PM PST Your risk of having a heart attack or stroke may be worse than you think. Currently, risk is assessed by projecting 10 years ahead. New research shows a young or middle-aged adult at low risk in the short term may be at high risk in the long term, if they have only one risk factor. This is the first study to examine the lifetime risk of heart disease in white and black men and women.

Middle-age risk factors drive greater lifetime risk for heart disease Posted: 25 Jan 2012 02:20 PM PST A new study reports that while an individual's risk of heart disease may be low in the next five or 10 years, the lifetime risk could still be very high, findings that could have implications for both clinical practice and public health policy.

Mild cognitive impairment is common, affects men most, study finds Posted: 25 Jan 2012 01:34 PM PST Researchers report that more than 6 percent of Americans age 70 to 89 develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) every year. Also, the condition appears to affect men and those who only have a high school education more than women and those who have completed some higher education. People with MCI are at the stage between suffering the normal forgetfulness associated with aging and developing dementia, such as that caused by Alzheimer's disease.

High animal fat diet increases gestational diabetes risk, study finds Posted: 25 Jan 2012 01:34 PM PST Women who consumed a diet high in animal fat and cholesterol before pregnancy were at higher risk for gestational diabetes than women whose diets were lower in animal fat and cholesterol, according to researchers.

Brachytherapy reduced death rates in high-risk prostate cancer patients, analysis finds Posted: 25 Jan 2012 01:26 PM PST A population-based analysis looking at almost 13,000 cases revealed that men who received brachytherapy alone or in combination with external beam radiation therapy had significantly reduced mortality rates.

Men at higher risk for mild memory loss than women, study finds Posted: 25 Jan 2012 01:26 PM PST Men may be at higher risk of experiencing mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or the stage of mild memory loss that occurs between normal aging and dementia, than women, according to a new study.

Neurologists should ask patients about abuse: New position statement from American Academy of Neurology Posted: 25 Jan 2012 01:26 PM PST A new position statement issued by the American Academy of Neurology calls on neurologists to begin screening their patients for abusive or violent treatment by family, caretakers or others. Types of abuse include elder abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, emotional abuse, bullying, cyberbullying and violence.

Genes influence criminal behavior, research suggests Posted: 25 Jan 2012 12:18 PM PST Your genes could be a strong predictor of whether you stray into a life of crime, according to a new research paper. The study focused on whether genes are likely to cause a person to become a life-course persistent offender, which is characterized by antisocial behavior during childhood that can later progress to violent or serious criminal acts later in life.

Adolescents with autism spend free time using solitary, screen-based media Posted: 25 Jan 2012 11:31 AM PST Children with autism spectrum disorders tend to be fascinated by screen-based technology. A new study found that adolescents with autism (64.2 percent) spend most of their free time using solitary, or non-social, screen-based media (television and video games) while only 13.2 percent spend time on socially interactive media (e-mail, Internet chatting).

Limiting protein or certain amino acids before surgery may reduce risk of surgical complications Posted: 25 Jan 2012 11:31 AM PST Limiting certain essential nutrients for several days before surgery -- either protein or amino acids -- may reduce the risk of serious surgical complications such as heart attack or stroke, according to a new study.

How kids with autism spend screen time Posted: 25 Jan 2012 11:22 AM PST Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) tend to be preoccupied with screen-based media. A new study looks at how children with ASDs spend their "screen time." Researchers found a very high rate of use of solitary screen-based media such as video games and television with a markedly lower rate of use of social interactive media, including email.

Appetite accomplice: Ghrelin receptor alters dopamine signaling Posted: 25 Jan 2012 10:26 AM PST New research reveals a fascinating and unexpected molecular partnership within the brain neurons that regulate appetite. The study resolves a paradox regarding a receptor without its hormone and may lead to more specific therapeutic interventions for obesity and disorders of dopamine signaling.

Mechanism sheds light on how the brain adapts to stress Posted: 25 Jan 2012 10:26 AM PST Scientists now have a better understanding of the way that stress impacts the brain. New research reveals pioneering evidence for a new mechanism of stress adaptation and may eventually lead to a better understanding of why prolonged and repeated exposure to stress can lead to anxiety disorders and depression.

Scientists identify protein that contributes to symptoms of Parkinson's disease Posted: 25 Jan 2012 10:26 AM PST Scientists have identified a protein that exacerbates symptoms of Parkinson's disease -- a discovery that could one day lead to new treatments for people who suffer from this devastating neurodegenerative illness.

New fluorescent dyes highlight neuronal activity Posted: 25 Jan 2012 10:10 AM PST Researchers have created a new generation of fast-acting fluorescent dyes that optically highlight electrical activity in neuronal membranes. The ability to visualize these small, fast-changing voltage differences between the interior and exterior of neurons -- known as transmembrane potential -- is considered a powerful method for deciphering how brain cells function and interact.

Environment that nurtures blood-forming stem cells' growth identified Posted: 25 Jan 2012 10:10 AM PST Scientists have identified the environment in which blood-forming stem cells survive and thrive within the body, an important step toward increasing the safety and effectiveness of bone-marrow transplantation.

Alzheimer's neurons from pluripotent stem cells: First-ever feat provides new method to understand cause of disease, develop drugs Posted: 25 Jan 2012 10:10 AM PST Scientists have, for the first time, created stem cell-derived, in vitro models of sporadic and hereditary Alzheimer's disease (AD), using induced pluripotent stem cells from patients with the much-dreaded neurodegenerative disorder.

Researchers discover method to unravel malaria's genetic secrets Posted: 25 Jan 2012 08:31 AM PST Researchers have devised a technique to overcome a genetic oddity of Plasmodium falciparum, the major cause of human malaria, which has stymied research into the organism's genes. The technique opens the door to genetic discovery for the entire organism, which should foster a greater understanding of the parasite, and facilitate discovery of new medications for a disease that infects 200 million people and kills nearly 700,000 every year.

Strategic research plan needed to help avoid potential risks of nanomaterials Posted: 25 Jan 2012 08:31 AM PST Despite extensive investment in nanotechnology and increasing commercialization over the last decade, insufficient understanding remains about the environmental, health, and safety aspects of nanomaterials. Without a coordinated research plan to help guide efforts to manage and avoid potential risks, the future of safe and sustainable nanotechnology is uncertain, says a new report.

Could Alzheimer's disease be diagnosed with a simple blood test? Posted: 25 Jan 2012 08:27 AM PST A pilot study suggests infrared analysis of white blood cells is a promising strategy for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Protein in brain could be a key target in controlling Alzheimer’s Posted: 25 Jan 2012 08:26 AM PST A protein recently discovered in the brain could play a key role in the development of Alzheimer's disease.

New standard for vitamin D testing to ensure accurate test results Posted: 25 Jan 2012 07:19 AM PST At a time of increasing concern about low vitamin D levels in the world's population and increased use of blood tests for the vitamin, scientists are reporting development of a much-needed reference material to assure that measurements of vitamin D levels are accurate.

Avastin, Sutent increase breast cancer stem cells, study suggests Posted: 25 Jan 2012 07:13 AM PST Cancer treatments designed to block the growth of blood vessels were found to increase the number of cancer stem cells in breast tumors in mice, suggesting a possible explanation for why these drugs don't lead to longer survival, according to a new study.

In schizophrenia research, a path to the brain through the nose Posted: 25 Jan 2012 06:11 AM PST A significant obstacle to progress in understanding psychiatric disorders is the difficulty in obtaining living brain tissue for study so that disease processes can be studied directly. Recent advances in basic cellular neuroscience now suggest that, for some purposes, cultured neural stem cells may be studied in order to research psychiatric disease mechanisms. But where can one obtain these cells outside of the brain?

Where there's a worm there's a whale: First distribution model of marine parasites provides revealing insights Posted: 25 Jan 2012 06:10 AM PST Each year around 20,000 people are infected by nematodes of the genus Anisakis and suffer from illnesses ranging from gastrointestinal diseases to serious allergic reactions as a result. For the first time, parasitologists have gathered data on the occurrence of the parasitic worm and have modeled the worldwide distribution of individual species in the ocean. The resulting maps not only enable statements to be made on the occurrence and migration behavior of certain hosts of the parasites, such as Baleen or toothed whales,  but also provide conclusions on the risk of human infection.

Generation X: How young adults deal with influenza Posted: 24 Jan 2012 06:31 AM PST Only about one in five young adults in their late 30s received a flu shot during the 2009-2010 swine flu epidemic, according to a report that details the behavior and attitudes of Generation X.

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