ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Food-trade network vulnerable to fast spread of contaminants
• Researchers identify changes in cholesterol metabolic pathways
• Groundbreaking new graphene-based MRI contrast agent
• Mapping genes: New risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases found
• Immune system 'circuitry' that kills malaria in mosquitoes identified
• Previously held beliefs about the role of genetic mutations in colon cancer development challenged
• Molecular mechanism associated with human immune disorder, XLP disease, explained
• Second-hand smoke affects bladder function in children, study suggests
• HIV superinfection rate comparable to initial HIV infection
• Scientists identify first gene in programmed axon degeneration
• Newly identified protein function protects cells during injury
• Manipulating chromatin loops to regulate genes may offer future treatments for blood diseases
• Skin cells reprogrammed into brain cells
• Multi-target approach to treating tumors
• New brain target for appetite control identified
• City kids more likely to have food allergies than rural ones: Population density is key factor, study finds
• How does dolomite form?
• Wider letter spacing helps dyslexic children
• Mystery to the origin of long-lived, skin-deep immune cells uncovered
• New role for p53 genetic mutation -- initiation of prostate cancer
• Pandemic preparedness
• Meditation practice may decrease risk for cardiovascular disease in teens
• Alzheimer’s vaccine trial a success
• Research studies spread of infectious disease on aircraft

Food-trade network vulnerable to fast spread of contaminants Posted: 07 Jun 2012 03:02 PM PDT Physicists and food science experts have recently published a rigorous analysis of the international food-trade network that shows the network's vulnerability to the fast spread of contaminants as well as the correlation between known food poisoning outbreaks and the centrality of countries on the network.

Researchers identify changes in cholesterol metabolic pathways Posted: 07 Jun 2012 02:58 PM PDT A new study has identified molecular changes responsible for abnormal cholesterol production and metabolism in the livers of patients with a common liver condition, and these changes may explain the severity of a patient's liver disease and risks to their heart health.

Groundbreaking new graphene-based MRI contrast agent Posted: 07 Jun 2012 02:58 PM PDT Scientists have developed a new, highly efficacious, potentially safer and more cost effective nanoparticle-based MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) contrast agent for improved disease diagnosis and detection.

Mapping genes: New risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases found Posted: 07 Jun 2012 02:58 PM PDT Using a new and powerful approach to understand the origins of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, researchers are building the case that these diseases are primarily caused by genes that are too active or not active enough, rather than by harmful gene mutations.

Immune system 'circuitry' that kills malaria in mosquitoes identified Posted: 07 Jun 2012 02:58 PM PDT For the first time, researchers have determined the function of a series proteins within the mosquito that transduce a signal that enables the mosquito to fight off infection from the parasite that causes malaria in humans. Together, these proteins are known as immune deficiency (Imd) pathway signal transducing factors, are analogous to an electrical circuit. As each factor is switched on or off it triggers or inhibits the next, finally leading to the launch of an immune response against the malaria parasite.

Previously held beliefs about the role of genetic mutations in colon cancer development challenged Posted: 07 Jun 2012 02:58 PM PDT In exploring the genetics of mitochondria – the powerhouse of the cell – researchers have stumbled upon a finding that challenges previously held beliefs about the role of mutations in cancer development. For the first time, researchers have found that the number of new mutations are significantly lower in cancers than in normal cells.

Molecular mechanism associated with human immune disorder, XLP disease, explained Posted: 07 Jun 2012 12:41 PM PDT Scientists have made an important breakthrough in the field of immunology. They have explained a poorly understood molecular mechanism associated with a human immune disorder known as XLP disease or Duncan's syndrome.

Second-hand smoke affects bladder function in children, study suggests Posted: 07 Jun 2012 12:41 PM PDT Children with mothers who smoke are at even higher-risk for developing health disorders.Medical researchers have shown that second-hand cigarette smoke was associated with moderate to severe irritative bladder symptoms in children.

HIV superinfection rate comparable to initial HIV infection Posted: 07 Jun 2012 12:41 PM PDT A new study finds superinfection may be as common as initial HIV infection and is not limited to high risk-populations.

Scientists identify first gene in programmed axon degeneration Posted: 07 Jun 2012 11:23 AM PDT Researchers have described a gene – dSarm/Sarm1 – responsible for actively promoting axon destruction after injury. The research provides evidence of an exciting new therapeutic target that could be used to delay or even stop axon decay.

Newly identified protein function protects cells during injury Posted: 07 Jun 2012 11:16 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new function for a protein that protects cells during injury and could eventually translate into treatment for conditions ranging from cardiovascular disease to Alzheimer's. Researchers report that a type of protein called thrombospondin activates a protective pathway that prevents heart cell damage in mice undergoing simulated extreme hypertension, cardiac pressure overload and heart attack.

Manipulating chromatin loops to regulate genes may offer future treatments for blood diseases Posted: 07 Jun 2012 11:16 AM PDT In exploring how proteins interact with crucial DNA sequences to regulate gene activity, researchers have shed light on chromatin looping, key biological events that may eventually be manipulated to provide new disease treatments.

Skin cells reprogrammed into brain cells Posted: 07 Jun 2012 09:23 AM PDT Scientists have for the first time transformed skin cells -- with a single genetic factor -- into cells that develop on their own into an interconnected, functional network of brain cells. The research offers new hope in the fight against many neurological conditions because scientists expect that such a transformation -- or reprogramming -- of cells may lead to better models for testing drugs for devastating neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.

Multi-target approach to treating tumors Posted: 07 Jun 2012 09:22 AM PDT Researchers have developed a cancer model built in the fruit fly Drosophila, then used it to create a whole new approach to the discovery of cancer treatments. The result is an investigational compound AD80 that precisely targets multiple cancer genes. Tested in mouse models, the drug proved far more effective and less toxic than standard cancer drugs, which generally focus on a single target. This is the first time that whole-animal screening has been used in a rational, step-wise approach to polypharmacology.

New brain target for appetite control identified Posted: 07 Jun 2012 09:22 AM PDT Researchers have identified a brain receptor that appears to play a central role in regulating appetite. The findings could lead to new drugs for preventing or treating obesity.

City kids more likely to have food allergies than rural ones: Population density is key factor, study finds Posted: 07 Jun 2012 07:58 AM PDT Children living in urban centers have a much higher prevalence of food allergies than those living in rural areas, according to a new study, which is the first to map children's food allergies by geographical location in the United States. In particular, kids in big cities are more than twice as likely to have peanut and shellfish allergies.

How does dolomite form? Posted: 07 Jun 2012 07:58 AM PDT The formation of the mineral dolomite is still puzzling scientists. Researchers have now shown that bacteria can facilitate the formation of dolomite. The study has been published online in the international journal Geology.

Wider letter spacing helps dyslexic children Posted: 07 Jun 2012 07:57 AM PDT Increasing the spacing between characters and words in a text improves the speed and quality of dyslexic children's reading, without prior training. They read 20% faster on average and make half as many errors.

Mystery to the origin of long-lived, skin-deep immune cells uncovered Posted: 07 Jun 2012 06:28 AM PDT Scientists have uncovered the origin of a group of skin-deep immune cells called the Langerhans cells, that act as the first line of defense against harmful germs and skin infections. Identifying the source of these sentry cells of the skin may hold exciting possibilities to novel strategies for vaccination and treatment of autoimmune diseases and inflammatory skin disorders.

New role for p53 genetic mutation -- initiation of prostate cancer Posted: 07 Jun 2012 06:28 AM PDT Researchers have found that a genetic mutation may play an important role in the development of prostate cancer. The mutation of the so-called p53 (or Tp53) gene was previously implicated in late disease progression, but until now has never been shown to act as an initiating factor. The findings may open new avenues for diagnosing and treating the disease.

Pandemic preparedness Posted: 07 Jun 2012 06:28 AM PDT Researchers have developed the "Texas Pandemic Flu Toolkit" to assist public health officials in planning for and managing a disease outbreak. The toolkit is a web-based service that simulates the spread of pandemic flu through the state, forecasts times of peak demand, and determines where and when to place ventilators to minimize fatalities.

Meditation practice may decrease risk for cardiovascular disease in teens Posted: 07 Jun 2012 06:28 AM PDT Regular meditation could decrease the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in teens who are most at risk, according to new research.

Alzheimer’s vaccine trial a success Posted: 07 Jun 2012 06:26 AM PDT Medical researchers report, for the first time, the positive effects of an active vaccine against Alzheimer's disease. The new vaccine, CAD106, can prove a breakthrough in the search for a cure for this seriously debilitating dementia disease.

Research studies spread of infectious disease on aircraft Posted: 07 Jun 2012 06:25 AM PDT A new study is expected to provide the first detailed information on how infectious diseases may be transmitted aboard airliners. Sponsored by Boeing, the research will document patterns of passenger movement inside aircraft cabins and inventory the microbes present in cabin air and on surfaces.

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