ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Mind reading from brain recordings? 'Neural fingerprints' of memory associations decoded
• New role for RNAi discovered: Epigenetic memory may pass RNA silencing from one generation to the next
• Lab-on-a-chip detects trace levels of toxic vapors in homes near Utah Air Force Base
• Effect of three common diets on energy expenditure following weight loss detailed
• Dieting? Study challenges notion that a calorie is just a calorie
• Touch therapy helps reduce pain, nausea in cancer patients, study suggests
• Genetic variant is linked to obesity and insulin resistance
• Duplicate spending on US veterans' care costs billions
• Healthcare law gender gap: New U.S. poll shows women favor mandate more than men
• Glucose deprivation activates feedback loop that kills cancer cells, study shows
• Moderate coffee consumption offers protection against heart failure, study suggests
• Tiny magnetic coils modulate neural activity, may be safer for deep-brain implants
• Long-term calcium and vitamin D supplement use may be linked to increased risk of kidney stones
• Monitored vitamin d therapy safe for patients with high blood calcium levels
• Asthma linked to congested highways: Those living near heavily traveled interstate have higher rates of disease
• Biomarker test for rheumatoid arthritis proves effective in study
• Link between brain insulin resistance, neuronal stress in worsening Alzheimer's disease
• Study reveals flu-fighting role for well-known immune component
• Seeing inside tissue for no-cut surgeries: Researchers develop technique to focus light inside biological tissue
• Curry spice, omega-3 fatty acid preserve walking ability following spinal-cord injury
• Fetal growth restriction affected by formation of maternal gene
• Researchers test drug combinations to prevent graft vs. host disease
• Protocols for identifying endocrine-disrupting chemicals inadequate, experts say
• Exposure to environmental chemicals in the womb reprograms the rodent brain to disrupt reproduction
• Phthalate, environmental chemical is linked to higher rates of childhood obesity
• BPA exposure in pregnant mice changes gene expression of female offspring
• Pollutants may contribute to illness and becoming overweight
• Mechanism prevents alterations in neuronal production during embryonic development
• Simpler lifestyle found to reduce exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals
• iPad 2 and other tablet computers may interfere with magnetically programmable shunt valve settings
• Prenatal exposure to common household chemical, phthalate, increases risk for childhood eczema
• Cartilage regeneration for bone and joint repair is closer for patients, researchers say
• Human insulin suppresses mosquito immune system: increasing cases of type II diabetes could abet malaria’s spread
• Vitamin D deficiency common among adolescents evaluated for weight-loss surgery
• Elderly diabetics have fewer bouts of hypoglycemia at night with new insulin
• Computer program aids blood-sugar control among critically ill
• Two new vitamin D blood tests are often highly inaccurate, researchers say
• Hormonal treatment associated with better test performance after stroke
• Sun exposure and cutaneous HPV infection found synergistic in skin cancers

Mind reading from brain recordings? 'Neural fingerprints' of memory associations decoded Posted: 26 Jun 2012 02:27 PM PDT Researchers have begun to show that it is possible to use brain recordings to reconstruct aspects of an image or movie clip someone is viewing, a sound someone is hearing or even the text someone is reading. A new study brings this work one step closer to actual mind reading by using brain recordings to infer the way people organize associations between words in their memories.

New role for RNAi discovered: Epigenetic memory may pass RNA silencing from one generation to the next Posted: 26 Jun 2012 01:38 PM PDT Researchers have identified a mechanism related to RNAi that scans for intruders not by recognizing dsRNA or some other aberrant feature of the foreign sequence, but rather by comparing the foreign sequences to a memory of previously expressed native RNA. Once identified, an "epigenetic memory" of the foreign DNA fragments is created and can be passed on from one generation to the next, permanently silencing the gene.

Lab-on-a-chip detects trace levels of toxic vapors in homes near Utah Air Force Base Posted: 26 Jun 2012 01:38 PM PDT A lab-on-a-chip technology that measures trace amounts of air contaminants in homes was successfully field-tested.

Effect of three common diets on energy expenditure following weight loss detailed Posted: 26 Jun 2012 01:38 PM PDT In an examination of the effect on energy expenditure and components of the metabolic syndrome of three types of commonly consumed diets following weight loss, decreases in resting energy expenditure and total energy expenditure were greatest with a low-fat diet, intermediate with a low-glycemic index diet, and least with a very low-carbohydrate diet, suggesting that a low-fat diet may increase the risk for weight regain compared to the other diets.

Dieting? Study challenges notion that a calorie is just a calorie Posted: 26 Jun 2012 01:38 PM PDT A new study challenges the notion that "a calorie is a calorie." The study finds diets that reduce the surge in blood sugar after a meal -- either low-glycemic index or very-low carbohydrate -- may be preferable to a low-fat diet for those trying to achieve lasting weight loss.

Touch therapy helps reduce pain, nausea in cancer patients, study suggests Posted: 26 Jun 2012 01:36 PM PDT Patients reported significant improvement in side effects of cancer treatment following just one Jin Shin Jyutsu session. Jin Shin Jyutsu is an ancient form of touch therapy similar to acupuncture in philosophy.

Genetic variant is linked to obesity and insulin resistance Posted: 26 Jun 2012 12:11 PM PDT A large study in people at risk of diabetes has found a direct association between the presence of a small genetic alteration in a hormone receptor and increased body fat and insulin resistance. The results suggest an adverse role for a previously described genetic variant, the BclI polymorphism.

Duplicate spending on US veterans' care costs billions Posted: 26 Jun 2012 11:22 AM PDT The US federal government made about $13 billion in duplicative payments to provide health-care services to veterans who were simultaneously enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans from 2004-2009.

Healthcare law gender gap: New U.S. poll shows women favor mandate more than men Posted: 26 Jun 2012 11:09 AM PDT Americans are divided along party, ideology and gender lines on a key provision of the healthcare law. A new poll reveals women are significantly more likely to support health insurance requirements than men. Additionally, Democrats and liberals overwhelmingly favor insurance mandates, whereas large majorities of Republicans and conservatives oppose them.

Glucose deprivation activates feedback loop that kills cancer cells, study shows Posted: 26 Jun 2012 10:18 AM PDT Researchers demonstrate the power of systems biology to uncover relationships between metabolism and signaling at the network level. The findings add to the emerging concept of systems integration between oncogenic signaling networks and metabolism of malignant tumors. The work lays a foundation for future studies delineating how signaling and metabolism are linked, with the ultimate goal of refining therapeutic strategies targeting cancer metabolism.

Moderate coffee consumption offers protection against heart failure, study suggests Posted: 26 Jun 2012 10:18 AM PDT While current American Heart Association heart failure prevention guidelines warn against habitual coffee consumption, some studies propose a protective benefit, and still others find no association at all. Amidst this conflicting information, new research attempts to shift the conversation from a definitive yes or no, to a question of how much.

Tiny magnetic coils modulate neural activity, may be safer for deep-brain implants Posted: 26 Jun 2012 10:18 AM PDT Magnetic fields generated by microscopic devices implanted into the brain may be able to modulate brain-cell activity and reduce symptoms of several neurological disorders.

Long-term calcium and vitamin D supplement use may be linked to increased risk of kidney stones Posted: 26 Jun 2012 10:17 AM PDT Calcium and vitamin D supplements are associated with high calcium levels in the blood and urine, which could increase the risk of kidney stones, a new study finds.

Monitored vitamin d therapy safe for patients with high blood calcium levels Posted: 26 Jun 2012 10:17 AM PDT Patients with a gland disorder that causes excessive calcium in their blood who also have vitamin D deficiency can safely receive vitamin D treatment without it raising their calcium levels, a new study has determined.

Asthma linked to congested highways: Those living near heavily traveled interstate have higher rates of disease Posted: 26 Jun 2012 10:17 AM PDT Researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, found that living near a heavily congested highway correlates with a higher presence of asthma.

Biomarker test for rheumatoid arthritis proves effective in study Posted: 26 Jun 2012 09:10 AM PDT A simple blood test may help physicians track the progression of rheumatoid arthritis disease activity, say researchers. The international research team says that a blood test measuring 12 biomarkers for RA is a valid and potentially useful tool in managing the disease.

Link between brain insulin resistance, neuronal stress in worsening Alzheimer's disease Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:52 AM PDT A new study has revealed a link between brain insulin resistance (diabetes) and two other key mediators of neuronal injury that help Alzheimer's disease to propagate. The research found that once Alzheimer's is established, therapeutic efforts must also work to reduce toxin production in the brain.

Study reveals flu-fighting role for well-known immune component Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:49 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new flu-fighting role for a well-known component of the immune system. The researchers found that administering a cell-signaling protein known as IL-15 to mice infected with influenza reduces their peak viral load by nearly three times.

Seeing inside tissue for no-cut surgeries: Researchers develop technique to focus light inside biological tissue Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:43 AM PDT Imagine if doctors could perform surgery without ever having to cut through your skin. Or if they could diagnose cancer by seeing tumors inside the body with a procedure that is as simple as an ultrasound. Thanks to a new technique, all of that may be possible in the not-so-distant future.

Curry spice, omega-3 fatty acid preserve walking ability following spinal-cord injury Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:39 AM PDT Researchers discovered that a diet enriched with a popular omega-3 fatty acid and an ingredient in curry spice preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury. The findings suggest that these dietary supplements help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.

Fetal growth restriction affected by formation of maternal gene Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:39 AM PDT A Japanese study has found that maternal rather than fetal factors are associated with fetal growth restriction. A comparison of maternal and fetal angiotensin-converting enzyme genotypes with the size of babies at birth found evidence of this connection. This finding lends support to the hypothesis that reduced placental blood flow leads to fetal growth restriction.

Researchers test drug combinations to prevent graft vs. host disease Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:39 AM PDT Researchers have conducted a clinical trial aimed at preventing graft vs. host disease (GVHD) in patients who have received hematopoietic (blood) cell transplants (HCT). The study, comparing the drug tacrolimus (TAC) in combination with either methotrexate (MTX) or sirolimus (SIR), found that the sirolimus/tacrolimus (SIR/TAC) combination was more effective in preventing grades II-IV acute GVHD and moderate-severe chronic GVHD after allogeneic blood cell transplantation.

Protocols for identifying endocrine-disrupting chemicals inadequate, experts say Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:39 AM PDT The Endocrine Society proposes a streamlined definition for endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and offers recommendations that will strengthen the ability of current screening programs to identify EDCs.

Exposure to environmental chemicals in the womb reprograms the rodent brain to disrupt reproduction Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:39 AM PDT Prenatal exposure to the environmental contaminants polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, causes long-term changes to the developing brain that have adverse effects on reproductive function later in life, a new study finds.

Phthalate, environmental chemical is linked to higher rates of childhood obesity Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:39 AM PDT Obese children show greater exposure than nonobese children to a phthalate, a chemical used to soften plastics in some children's toys and many household products, according to a new study, which found that the obesity risk increases according to the level of the chemical found in the bloodstream.

BPA exposure in pregnant mice changes gene expression of female offspring Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:39 AM PDT Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A, or BPA, a chemical found in many common plastic household items, can cause numerous genes in the uterus to respond differently to estrogen in adulthood, according to a study using a mouse model.

Pollutants may contribute to illness and becoming overweight Posted: 26 Jun 2012 06:26 AM PDT Lack of physical activity and poor diet alone cannot explain the dramatic rise in obesity and diabetes occurring in many countries, believe some researchers. It is time to face the possibility that hazardous chemicals may also share part of the blame.

Mechanism prevents alterations in neuronal production during embryonic development Posted: 26 Jun 2012 06:26 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a mechanism that prevents alterations in neurogenesis, the process of neuronal formation, during the development of the nervous system in vertebrates. The study relates these distortions to the natural presence of a molecule that inhibits the neuronal formation at the regions adjacent to the tissue suitable for neurogenesis.

Simpler lifestyle found to reduce exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals Posted: 26 Jun 2012 06:25 AM PDT A lifestyle that features fresh foods and limited use of products likely to contain environmental chemicals has been shown to reduce exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as BPA and phthalates, in a small population study. EDCs are linked to a number of adverse health complications including neuro-developmental delays, behavioral issues and fertility problems. They are produced by the millions of pounds per year and found extensively in a range of products that contain certain plastics.

iPad 2 and other tablet computers may interfere with magnetically programmable shunt valve settings Posted: 26 Jun 2012 06:25 AM PDT Researchers find that magnets within the Apple iPad 2 tablet may interfere with the settings of magnetically programmable shunt devices, resulting in a shunt malfunction until the problem is discovered and the valve readjusted.

Prenatal exposure to common household chemical, phthalate, increases risk for childhood eczema Posted: 26 Jun 2012 03:51 AM PDT Prenatal exposure to a ubiquitous household chemical called butylbenzyl phthalate can increase a child's risk for developing eczema, according to new research.

Cartilage regeneration for bone and joint repair is closer for patients, researchers say Posted: 26 Jun 2012 03:48 AM PDT Biomedical engineering researchers say better implantable sensors and cartilage-growing techniques are making engineered cartilage a clinical reality for patients suffering from joint damage.

Human insulin suppresses mosquito immune system: increasing cases of type II diabetes could abet malaria’s spread Posted: 26 Jun 2012 03:12 AM PDT Human insulin suppresses the mosquito immune system, according to a new article. And while mosquitoes and malaria might seem to go together like baseball and hotdogs, mosquitoes' immunological resistance to the malaria parasite actually slows its spread among people.

Vitamin D deficiency common among adolescents evaluated for weight-loss surgery Posted: 25 Jun 2012 12:23 PM PDT Most adolescents preparing for weight-loss, or bariatric, surgery are deficient in vitamin D, a new study demonstrates.

Elderly diabetics have fewer bouts of hypoglycemia at night with new insulin Posted: 25 Jun 2012 12:23 PM PDT A new variety of long-lasting insulin, called insulin degludec, lowers the risk of nighttime low blood sugar in elderly diabetic adults compared with insulin glargine, a systematic review of diabetes studies has found.

Computer program aids blood-sugar control among critically ill Posted: 25 Jun 2012 12:23 PM PDT A computer-software program more effectively controlled blood-sugar levels among critically ill patients than nurse-directed care did, according to the first large clinical trial of its kind.

Two new vitamin D blood tests are often highly inaccurate, researchers say Posted: 25 Jun 2012 12:23 PM PDT Two new blood tests for vitamin D are inaccurate in at least 40 percent of laboratory specimens analyzed, a new study finds.

Hormonal treatment associated with better test performance after stroke Posted: 25 Jun 2012 12:23 PM PDT Stroke patients treated who received hormonal treatment, combined with rehabilitation, performed better on functioning and reasoning tests than patients who received rehabilitative therapy alone, a new clinical study from Italy shows.

Sun exposure and cutaneous HPV infection found synergistic in skin cancers Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:51 AM PDT Researchers have found that having antibodies for cutaneous types of human papillomavirus (HPV), coupled with sun exposure (ultraviolet radiation) or poor tanning ability, can act synergistically in the development of non-melanoma skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

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