ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Novel type 2 diabetes genetic study involves five major ancestry groups
• Grape seed extract bollixes norovirus
• Antibiotics disrupt gut flora in infants: Recovery still incomplete after eight weeks
• Norovirus disinfection: How much is enough?
• Cigarette smoke boosts virulence in Staphylococcus aureus
• Is housework a health hazard? Sheet-fitting palsy described by physicians
• Antioxidants may ease peripheral arterial disease (PAD) blood pressure increase, study suggests
• Alcoholic men demonstrate a deficit in empathy and distorted view of irony
• Environmental factors can mitigate genetic risk for developing alcohol problems
• College women who act impulsively when distressed are at risk for alcohol problems
• Pre-drinking is a risky way to begin an evening out
• Why nicotine in cigarettes can relieve anxiety in smokers
• Molecular ‘portraits’ of tumours match patients with trials in everyday clinical practice
• Mesothelioma drug slows disease progression in patients with an inactive NF2 gene
• First trial in humans of 'minicells': a completely new way of delivering anti-cancer drugs
• Child care providers can be part of solution for childhood obesity
• Burn doctors treat more patients during cold-weather months, urge caution with home heating
• War's impact can haunt veterans long after combat
• Diabetes study: 'Mindful eating' equals traditional education in lowering weight and blood sugar
• Circulating blood factor linked with a leading cause of kidney failure
• New technique to protect astronauts from space radiation
• Young adults with addiction benefit from active Twelve Step group participation, study suggests
• Ovarian cancer patients have lower mortality rates when treated at high-volume hospitals
• Medical devices powered by the ear itself
• Stem cell scientists discover potential way to expand cells for use with patients
• Unexplained intellectual disability explained by state-of-the-art genetic analysis
• Significant relationship between mortality and telomere length discovered
• Exome sequencing: Potential diagnostic assay for unexplained intellectual disability
• DNA variants explain over ten percent of inherited genetic risk for heart disease
• Women and exercise: It may not always be fun, but it's beneficial
• Inpatient brain injury education increases bike helmet use, study finds
• Going with your gut feeling: Intuition alone can guide right choice, study suggests
• Making memories: Exploring the anatomy of recollection
• Feel-good hormone helps jog memory, finds study of seniors
• Education levels in Asian American neighborhoods affect residents' health, study finds
• Software improves quality of sound for hearing aid users
• Cell biologists identify new protein key to asymmetric cell division
• Scientists uncover secrets of how intellect and behavior emerge during childhood
• Scientists reveal key protein interactions involved in neurodegenerative disease
• Unique spinal nerve cell activity: Novel forms of activity linked to development of motor behaviors such as swimming
• Being overweight: How parents can help their teen children achieve a healthier lifestyle
• Vitamin D could hold vital key to arresting development of Alzheimer’s disease
• Engineering professor developing better ankle prosthesis
• Screening for lung cancer saves lives
• New, improved mouse model of human Alzheimer's may enable drug discovery
• Stem cell scientists discover potential way to expand cells for use with patients
• Preclinical muscular dystrophy data shows promise
• Gene find turns soldier beetle defense into biotech opportunity
• New cells found that could help save people's sight
• Cells from skin create model of blinding eye disease
• Interventions needed to promote healthy behaviors among perinatally HIV-infected youth
• Molecular epidemiological conditions relating to tuberculous and non-tuberculous mycobacteria
• Brain of OCD sufferers is more active when faced with a moral dilemma, study finds
• Environmentally friendly chemistry important for manufacturing pharmaceuticals
• New guideline for DNA sequences could prevent erroneous data
• Testing pain killers on humans could save money and speed the arrival of new drugs, experts say
• Stress alarm for smoke divers
• Sugar and spice and everything not so nice: Spice allergy affects foodies and cosmetic users alike
• Rethinking body mass index (BMI) for assessing cancer risk
• Chernobyl cleanup workers had significantly increased risk of leukemia

Novel type 2 diabetes genetic study involves five major ancestry groups Posted: 08 Nov 2012 05:58 PM PST A consortium of scientists is taking a novel approach to detect the genetic variations that predispose individuals to type 2 diabetes. The 10,000 individuals (patients and controls) whose exomes, the 18,000 protein-coding genes, are from five major ancestry groups: African-American, East Asian, European, Hispanic and South Asian.

Grape seed extract bollixes norovirus Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:57 PM PST Norovirus causes more than half of all food-born illnesses in the United States, and is the second greatest source of reported food borne illness outbreaks in the European Union. A recent study found that grape seed extract could reduce the infectivity of Norovirus surrogates (Norovirus surrogates are viruses that share pathological and/or biological features with human norovirus). Now, researchers have shown that grape seed extract does so by denaturing the capsid protein, which is the coat of the virus, thereby disabling the virus.

Antibiotics disrupt gut flora in infants: Recovery still incomplete after eight weeks Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:54 PM PST Eight weeks after antibiotic treatment of infants, the diversity of gastrointestinal flora remained diminished, although the number of individual bacteria was back to normal, according to a new paper. Additionally, the potentially disease-causing Proteobacteria were now the dominant population in the treated infants.

Norovirus disinfection: How much is enough? Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:51 PM PST A variety of institutions and governments have developed "commonsense-based" disinfection guidelines to control norovirus contamination, but now, for the first time, a Dutch team has come up with science-based guidelines.

Cigarette smoke boosts virulence in Staphylococcus aureus Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:49 PM PST Exposure to cigarette smoke has long been associated with increased frequency of respiratory infections -- which are harder to treat in smoke-exposed people than in those who lack such exposures. Now researchers show that cigarette smoke actually boosts virulence of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.

Is housework a health hazard? Sheet-fitting palsy described by physicians Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:19 PM PST What do a tight, fitted bed sheet and a blood clot in the wrist have in common? Both are associated with a condition called sheet-fitting palsy. True to its name, the palsy is reported in those who spend a long period of time repeatedly trying to pull a fitted bed sheet over the corner of a mattress. But it has also been reported in basketball players and in those who do push-ups as exercise.

Antioxidants may ease peripheral arterial disease (PAD) blood pressure increase, study suggests Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:19 PM PST Low antioxidant levels contribute to increased blood pressure during exercise for people with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), according to researchers. Their study shows that blood pressure increases more with exercise in more severe PAD cases. By infusing the antioxidant vitamin C into the blood, the researchers were able to lessen the increase in blood pressure during exercise.

Alcoholic men demonstrate a deficit in empathy and distorted view of irony Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:19 PM PST Emotions are often implicit undertones to our communication interactions, and decoding them requires substantial social and cognitive abilities. Prior research has shown that chronic alcoholics often demonstrate impaired socio-cognitive and communicative abilities as well as emotion-related behaviors. Male alcoholics in particular suffer from dysfunctions in empathy. A study of the ability of chronic male alcoholics to recognize the emotional component of irony in relation to their empathic abilities has found a clear deficit.

Environmental factors can mitigate genetic risk for developing alcohol problems Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:19 PM PST Previous research suggests that genetic influences on drinking are moderated by environmental factors. A new study has looked at gene-environment interactions between a functional single nucleotide polymorphism of the ¼-opioid receptor gene (A118G) and the risk for developing an AUD during adolescence. Findings confirm that environmental factors can moderate this association.

College women who act impulsively when distressed are at risk for alcohol problems Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:19 PM PST Young adult women are engaging in heavy drinking behavior in greater numbers. A new study has looked at the influence of impulsivity-related traits and drinking motives on symptoms of alcohol dependence (AD) among college women in their first semester. Findings indicate an impulsivity trait called 'negative urgency' can predict increases in AD symptoms.

Pre-drinking is a risky way to begin an evening out Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:19 PM PST Prior research has shown that "pre-drinking" by young people leads to heavier drinking and greater harm. A study using Internet cell-phone questionnaires examined pre-drinking by young adults in Switzerland. Results showed that pre-drinking, when combined with subsequent on-premise drinking, is associated with almost twice-as-heavy consumption and adverse outcomes.

Why nicotine in cigarettes can relieve anxiety in smokers Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:17 PM PST Preclinical data suggests inactivation of a specific sub-class of nicotinic receptors may be an effective strategy to help smokers quit without feeling anxious, according to researchers.

Molecular ‘portraits’ of tumours match patients with trials in everyday clinical practice Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:14 PM PST Researchers in France are taking advantage of the progress in genetic and molecular profiling to analyse the make-up of individual cancer patients' tumours and, using this information, assign them to particular treatments and phase I clinical trials – an approach that could become part of everyday clinical practice.

Mesothelioma drug slows disease progression in patients with an inactive NF2 gene Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:14 PM PST Preliminary findings from the first trial of a new drug for patients with mesothelioma show that it has some success in preventing the spread of the deadly disease in patients lacking an active tumour suppressor gene called NF2.

First trial in humans of 'minicells': a completely new way of delivering anti-cancer drugs Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:14 PM PST A completely new way of delivering anti-cancer drugs to tumors, using "minicells" derived from bacteria, has been tested for the first time in humans and found to be safe, well-tolerated and even induced stable disease in patients with advanced, incurable cancers with no treatment options remaining.

Child care providers can be part of solution for childhood obesity Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:14 PM PST A new study highlights how child care providers can be part of the solution for childhood obesity.

Burn doctors treat more patients during cold-weather months, urge caution with home heating Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:11 PM PST With temperatures falling into the 30s this week, people across the mid-state in the U.S. will be turning up the heat to stay warm. But, as the temperature drops, the number of patients treated typically increases due to unsafe heating methods that result in injury. Heating fires account for 36 percent of all residential home fires every year and are the second leading cause of all residential fires following cooking, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. It is estimated that more than 50,000 heating fires occur in the United States each year and result in 150 deaths, 575 injuries and $326 million in property loss.

War's impact can haunt veterans long after combat Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:11 PM PST As the nation marks Veteran's Day to honor those who have served their country, it's important to remember that many soldiers battle mental health conditions such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression long after they return from combat.

Diabetes study: 'Mindful eating' equals traditional education in lowering weight and blood sugar Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:11 PM PST Eating mindfully, or consuming food in response to physical cues of hunger and fullness, is just as effective as adhering to nutrition-based guidelines in reducing weight and blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests.

Circulating blood factor linked with a leading cause of kidney failure Posted: 08 Nov 2012 03:11 PM PST Patients with a disease that is a leading cause of kidney failure tend to have high levels of a particular factor circulating in their blood, according to a study. The findings suggest that the factor could be used to monitor the disease's progression as well as patients' response to different therapies. It might also be a therapeutic target of future treatments for this difficult-to-treat disease.

New technique to protect astronauts from space radiation Posted: 08 Nov 2012 12:35 PM PST The complexities of traveling to and working in space present challenges to astronauts that NASA scientists and engineers have been working on since Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first stepped on the moon more than 43 years ago. One of the challenges facing humans when they go outside Earth's protective atmosphere and magnetic field is space radiation. Sending astronauts farther into our solar system than ever before will require advanced instruments designed for monitoring and detecting radiation in space vehicles and habitats.

Young adults with addiction benefit from active Twelve Step group participation, study suggests Posted: 08 Nov 2012 12:17 PM PST Young adults undergoing addiction treatment benefit from regular participation in Twelve Step-based self-help groups after discharge, according to a naturalistic study.

Ovarian cancer patients have lower mortality rates when treated at high-volume hospitals Posted: 08 Nov 2012 12:17 PM PST Women who have surgery for ovarian cancer at high-volume hospitals have superior outcomes than similar patients at low-volume hospitals, new research suggests.

Medical devices powered by the ear itself Posted: 08 Nov 2012 12:17 PM PST For the first time, researchers power an implantable electronic device using an electrical potential -- a natural battery -- deep in the inner ear.

Stem cell scientists discover potential way to expand cells for use with patients Posted: 08 Nov 2012 11:10 AM PST Stem cell researchers have discovered a new "master control gene" for human blood stem cells and found that manipulating its levels could potentially create a way to expand these cells for clinical use.

Unexplained intellectual disability explained by state-of-the-art genetic analysis Posted: 08 Nov 2012 11:10 AM PST A research team reported that next generation sequencing of the exome, the one to two percent of the DNA containing the genes that code for proteins, enabled the identification of the genetic causes of unexplained intellectual disability in over 50 percent of patients in a study.

Significant relationship between mortality and telomere length discovered Posted: 08 Nov 2012 11:10 AM PST Researchers have identified a significant relationship between mortality and the length of telomeres, the stretches of DNA that protect the ends of chromosomes. The prospective study of 100,000 multi-ethnic individuals, whose average age was 63, found that an association between telomere length and mortality existed and persisted even after data were adjusted for education, smoking and alcohol consumption.

Exome sequencing: Potential diagnostic assay for unexplained intellectual disability Posted: 08 Nov 2012 11:10 AM PST New research confirms that de novo mutations represent a major cause of previously unexplained intellectual disability. The findings lend support to the use of exome sequencing, which deciphers over 21,000 protein-coding genes, as a diagnostic assay to determine whether one or more genetic mutations explain a patient's intellectual disability.

DNA variants explain over ten percent of inherited genetic risk for heart disease Posted: 08 Nov 2012 11:10 AM PST Researchers have pinpointed 20 previously unidentified DNA mutations during a meta-analysis of 63,746 patients with coronary heart disease. Many of the newly identified variations are in genes that operate in biological pathways involved in the body's metabolism of lipids or fats as well as in inflammation.

Women and exercise: It may not always be fun, but it's beneficial Posted: 08 Nov 2012 11:09 AM PST Experts say that while physical activity is necessary for both men and women, there are gender-specific benefits that women need to know.

Inpatient brain injury education increases bike helmet use, study finds Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:17 AM PST A 30-minute brain injury education program taught in the hospital may increase children's use of bicycle helmets, researchers report.

Going with your gut feeling: Intuition alone can guide right choice, study suggests Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:17 AM PST Decision-making is one of the most mysterious parts of the human experience, and we're taught to weigh our options carefully before deciding. Now a researcher says that, surprisingly, intuition alone can guide the right choice.

Making memories: Exploring the anatomy of recollection Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:17 AM PST With the help of data collected from intracranial electrodes implanted on epilepsy patients, researchers are getting a rare look inside the brain in hopes of discovering the exact pattern of activity that produces a memory.

Feel-good hormone helps jog memory, finds study of seniors Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:17 AM PST The feel-good hormone dopamine improves long-term memory. Neuroscientists investigated test subjects ranging in age from 65 to 75 years, who were given a precursor of dopamine. Treated subjects performed better in a memory test than a comparison group, who had taken a placebo.

Education levels in Asian American neighborhoods affect residents' health, study finds Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:17 AM PST Higher neighborhood education is associated with better self-rated health among Asian Americans who live in Asian ethnic neighborhoods, but this correlation between individual health and neighborhood education levels does not exist for Asian Americans living in non-Asian neighborhoods, according to a recent study.

Software improves quality of sound for hearing aid users Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:16 AM PST New software could greatly improve sound perception for users of hearing aids. The software prescribes the amount of amplification of high-frequency sounds required to restore the audibility of such sounds. This increases the frequency range of sound that individuals with hearing loss are able to detect, improving speech perception, sound localisation and the ability to hear certain musical sounds, when compared with current methods.

Cell biologists identify new protein key to asymmetric cell division Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:16 AM PST Biologists have identified a new molecular player in asymmetric cell division, a regulatory protein named She1 whose role in chromosome- and spindle positioning wasn't known before. Asymmetric cell division is important in the self-renewal of stem cells and because it ensures that daughter cells have different fates and functions.

Scientists uncover secrets of how intellect and behavior emerge during childhood Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:16 AM PST Scientists have shown that a single protein plays an oversized role in intellectual and behavioral development. The scientists found that mutations in a single gene, which is known to cause intellectual disability and increase the risk of developing autism spectrum disorder, severely disrupts the organization of developing brain circuits during early childhood. This study helps explain how genetic mutations can cause profound cognitive and behavioral problems.

Scientists reveal key protein interactions involved in neurodegenerative disease Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:15 AM PST Scientists have defined the molecular structure of an enzyme as it interacts with several proteins involved in outcomes that can influence neurodegenerative disease and insulin resistance. The enzymes in question, which play a critical role in nerve cell (neuron) survival, are among the most prized targets for drugs to treat brain disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Unique spinal nerve cell activity: Novel forms of activity linked to development of motor behaviors such as swimming Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:14 AM PST Scientists have hit upon unique forms of spinal nerve activity that shape output of nerve cell networks controlling motor behaviors.

Being overweight: How parents can help their teen children achieve a healthier lifestyle Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:14 AM PST According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 28% of adolescents are overweight. This means that about 1 in every 5 parents is thinking about how to discuss this with their child. Creating a healthful home environment, modeling healthful behaviors, and providing encouragement and support to adolescents for positive behavior changes may be more effective than communicating with adolescents about weight-related topics, according to a new study.

Vitamin D could hold vital key to arresting development of Alzheimer’s disease Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:14 AM PST Scientists have uncovered evidence that lack of a particular form of vitamin D is associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Engineering professor developing better ankle prosthesis Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:14 AM PST An engineering professor hopes to develop an alternative below-knee prosthesis capable of actively powering the ankle joint for amputees.

Screening for lung cancer saves lives Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:13 AM PST Lung cancer is the No. 1 cause of cancer deaths in the United States, despite the fact it is largely preventable. For people at high risk of developing lung cancer, such as current or former longtime smokers, screening for the disease with low-dose CT scans is now a viable option that has been shown to significantly reduce mortality rates. In conjunction with National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance wants to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and early detection for at-risk populations.

New, improved mouse model of human Alzheimer's may enable drug discovery Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:13 AM PST Researchers have developed a transgenic mouse that carries a human gene known to increase risk of Alzheimer's 15-fold. The new mouse, which mimics the genetics of the human disease more closely than any existing model, provides new evidence for the earliest cause of Alzheimer's and may prove more useful in the development of drugs to prevent or treat the disease.

Stem cell scientists discover potential way to expand cells for use with patients Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:13 AM PST Canadian and Italian stem cell researchers have discovered a new "master control gene" for human blood stem cells and found that manipulating its levels could potentially create a way to expand these cells for clinical use.

Preclinical muscular dystrophy data shows promise Posted: 08 Nov 2012 07:44 AM PST Researchers have found that an experimental compound may help stem the debilitating effects of muscular dystrophy by restoring normal blood flow to muscles affected by the genetic disorder.

Gene find turns soldier beetle defense into biotech opportunity Posted: 08 Nov 2012 07:44 AM PST New antibiotic and anti-cancer chemicals may one day be synthesized using biotechnology, following a discovery of the three genes that combine to provide soldier beetles with their potent predator defense system.

New cells found that could help save people's sight Posted: 08 Nov 2012 07:43 AM PST Eye experts and scientists have discovered specific cells in the eye which could lead to a new procedure to treat and cure blinding eye conditions. The study found that cells called corneal limbal stromal cells, taken from the front surface of the eye have stem cell properties and could be cultured to create retinal cells. This could lead to new treatments for eye conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa or wet age-related macular degeneration, a condition which is a common cause of loss of vision in older people and will affect around one in three people by age 70.

Cells from skin create model of blinding eye disease Posted: 08 Nov 2012 07:42 AM PST For the first time, researchers have taken skin from patients and, using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, turned them into a laboratory model for an inherited type of macular degeneration.

Interventions needed to promote healthy behaviors among perinatally HIV-infected youth Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:40 AM PST As youth infected at birth with HIV reach adolescence and young adulthood, a new study underscores the need to promote healthy behaviors as some of these young people become sexually active.

Molecular epidemiological conditions relating to tuberculous and non-tuberculous mycobacteria Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:39 AM PST A research project studying molecular epidemiological conditions relating to diseases caused by tuberculous and non-tuberculous mycobacteria in the Mubende region of Uganda has increased our understanding of how the interplay between humans, animals and the environment affects the development of such diseases. The project focused in particular on social and risk factors which may possibly prevent the success of a disease control programme in the region.

Brain of OCD sufferers is more active when faced with a moral dilemma, study finds Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:39 AM PST Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder are characterised by persistent thoughts and repetitive behaviours. A new study reveals that sufferers worry considerably more than the general population in the face of morality problems.

Environmentally friendly chemistry important for manufacturing pharmaceuticals Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:38 AM PST Limiting the quantity of catalysts – substances that trigger a chemical reaction – used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals is important, and new research has now demonstrated that small quantities of copper work well in this respect.

New guideline for DNA sequences could prevent erroneous data Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:38 AM PST DNA sequence data is an indispensable source of research information in biology. But not all data are reliable. Almost 10% of all fungal DNA sequences are, for example, incorrectly identified to species level. A international team of researchers has therefore prepared a guide to assist the scientific community in the quality control process.

Testing pain killers on humans could save money and speed the arrival of new drugs, experts say Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:38 AM PST Deliberately inflicting carefully controlled painful stimuli on human volunteers and seeing how well specific drugs reduce the feeling of pain can be an effective way of testing new drugs. So conclude two researchers who reviewed the available literature on these types of tests in a new paper.

Stress alarm for smoke divers Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:37 AM PST Smoke divers are exposed to high temperatures, physical exhaustion and stress, and they can easily exceed the limits of what good health can tolerate. A new method based on measurements made by a wireless sensor system lets them know when the body has had enough.

Sugar and spice and everything not so nice: Spice allergy affects foodies and cosmetic users alike Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:36 AM PST Imagine a world where you could never dine away from home, wear makeup, smell of sweet perfumes or eat a large percentage of food on store shelves. According to allergists, that is the world for 2 to 3 percent of individuals living with a spice allergy.

Rethinking body mass index (BMI) for assessing cancer risk Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:36 AM PST A new study suggests that body mass index (BMI) -- the most commonly used weight-for-height formula for estimating fatness -- may not be the best measure for estimating disease risk, and particularly the risk of certain types of cancer.

Chernobyl cleanup workers had significantly increased risk of leukemia Posted: 08 Nov 2012 04:36 AM PST A 20-year study following 110,645 workers who helped clean up after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in the former Soviet territory of Ukraine shows that the workers share a significant increased risk of developing leukemia. The results may help scientists better define cancer risk associated with low doses of radiation from medical diagnostic radiation procedures such as computed tomography scans and other sources.

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