ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Air pollution increases risk of insulin resistance in children
• Pets may help reduce your risk of heart disease
• Sense of touch reproduced through prosthetic hand
• Unleashing the watchdog protein: Research opens door to new drug therapies for Parkinson's disease
• Biomaterial shows promise for Type 1 diabetes treatment
• Nobody likes a 'fat-talker,' study shows
• How state and local governments can address the obesity epidemic
• Dynamic behavior of progenitor cells in brain discovered
• Women altering menstruation cycles in large numbers
• Using bacteria to stop malaria
• New tool for identifying powerful HIV antibodies
• Bacterial infection in mosquitoes renders them immune to malaria parasites
• Gene identified, responsible for a spectrum of disorders affecting the bones and connective tissue
• Epigenomics of stem cells that mimic early human development charted
• Elevated cadmium levels linked to disease: Men especially affected
• Popular diabetes drug does not improve survival rates after cancer
• Mapping the embryonic epigenome: How genes are turned on and off during early human development
• Positive social support at work shown to reduce risk of diabetes
• Social connections drive the 'upward spiral' of positive emotions and health
• Research reveals cancer-suppressing protein 'multitasks'
• How nerve wiring self-destructs
• Studies generate comprehensive list of genes required by innate system to defend sex cells
• Dad's genome more ready at fertilization than mom's is -- but hers catches up
• Advance in tuberous sclerosis brain science
• Turning old hearts
• Rejuvenating hormone found to reverse symptoms of heart failure
• Patients should have right to control genomic health information, experts say
• Parental addictions linked to adult children's depression
• Your immune system: On surveillance in the war against cancer
• Methylphenidate 'normalizes' activation in key brain areas in kids with ADHD, study suggests
• Local health departments find Twitter effective in spreading diabetes information
• Sexual harassment linked to 'purging' -- in men
• Fun and friends help ease the pain of breast cancer
• Could eating peppers prevent Parkinson's? Dietary nicotine may hold protective key
• Early infant growth rate linked to composition of gut microbiota
• Toddlers from socially-deprived homes most at risk of scalds, study finds
• Scientists find key to gene-silencing activity
• Chronic pain sufferers likely to have anxiety
• Credit card debt leads some to skip medical care
• Brain, not eye mechanisms keep color vision constant across lifespan

Air pollution increases risk of insulin resistance in children Posted: 09 May 2013 03:48 PM PDT New research shows that growing up in areas where air pollution is increased raises the risk of insulin resistance (the prescursor to diabetes) in children.

Pets may help reduce your risk of heart disease Posted: 09 May 2013 01:39 PM PDT Owning a pet, particularly a dog, could reduce your risk of heart disease. It is unclear whether owning a pet directly reduces risk. Despite the likely positive link, people shouldn't get a pet solely to reduce heart disease risk.

Sense of touch reproduced through prosthetic hand Posted: 09 May 2013 01:38 PM PDT Neurobiologists have shown how an organism can sense a tactile stimulus, in real time, through an artificial sensor for the first time.

Unleashing the watchdog protein: Research opens door to new drug therapies for Parkinson's disease Posted: 09 May 2013 12:45 PM PDT Researchers have unlocked a new door to developing drugs to slow the progression of Parkinson's disease.

Biomaterial shows promise for Type 1 diabetes treatment Posted: 09 May 2013 12:45 PM PDT Researchers have made a significant first step with newly engineered biomaterials for cell transplantation that could help lead to a possible cure for Type 1 diabetes, which affects about 3 million Americans. Engineers and clinicians have successfully engrafted insulin-producing cells into a diabetic mouse model, reversing diabetic symptoms in the animal in as little as 10 days.

Nobody likes a 'fat-talker,' study shows Posted: 09 May 2013 12:45 PM PDT Women who engage in "fat talk" -- the self-disparaging remarks girls and women make in relation to eating, exercise or their bodies -- are less liked by their peers, a new study from the University of Notre Dame finds.

How state and local governments can address the obesity epidemic Posted: 09 May 2013 11:21 AM PDT Researchers suggest that simple and innovative measures at the state and local level can play a significant role in promoting healthier eating habits.

Dynamic behavior of progenitor cells in brain discovered Posted: 09 May 2013 11:21 AM PDT By monitoring the behavior of a class of cells in the brains of living mice, neuroscientists have discovered that these cells remain highly dynamic in the adult brain, where they transform into cells that insulate nerve fibers and help form scars that aid in tissue repair.

Women altering menstruation cycles in large numbers Posted: 09 May 2013 11:21 AM PDT A surprisingly large number of women 18 or older choose to delay or skip monthly menstruation by deviating from the instructions of birth-control pills and other hormonal contraceptives, scientists have found

Using bacteria to stop malaria Posted: 09 May 2013 11:21 AM PDT Mosquitoes are deadly efficient disease transmitters. New research however, demonstrates that they also can be part of the solution for preventing diseases such as malaria.

New tool for identifying powerful HIV antibodies Posted: 09 May 2013 11:20 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new tool to identify broadly neutralizing antibodies capable of preventing infection by the majority of HIV strains found around the globe, an advance that could help speed HIV vaccine research.

Bacterial infection in mosquitoes renders them immune to malaria parasites Posted: 09 May 2013 11:20 AM PDT Scientists have established an inheritable bacterial infection in malaria-transmitting Anopheles mosquitoes that renders them immune to malaria parasites. Specifically, the scientists infected the mosquitoes with Wolbachia, a bacterium common among insects that previously has been shown to prevent malaria-inducing Plasmodium parasites from developing in Anopheles mosquitoes.

Gene identified, responsible for a spectrum of disorders affecting the bones and connective tissue Posted: 09 May 2013 10:32 AM PDT Researchers have identified a gene that when mutated is responsible for a spectrum of disorders affecting the bones and connective tissue. This finding opens new avenues for research into a diagnosis and treatment for these until now incurable diseases.

Epigenomics of stem cells that mimic early human development charted Posted: 09 May 2013 10:31 AM PDT Scientists have long known that control mechanisms known collectively as "epigenetics" play a critical role in human development, but they did not know precisely how alterations in this extra layer of biochemical instructions in DNA contribute to development.

Elevated cadmium levels linked to disease: Men especially affected Posted: 09 May 2013 09:36 AM PDT People with higher levels of cadmium in their urine -- evidence of chronic exposure to the heavy metal found in industrial emissions and tobacco smoke -- appear to be nearly 3.5 times more likely to die of liver disease than those with lower levels, according to a new study.

Popular diabetes drug does not improve survival rates after cancer Posted: 09 May 2013 09:36 AM PDT Despite previous scientific studies that suggest diabetes drug metformin has anti-cancer properties, a new, first-of-its-kind study has found the drug may not actually improve survival rates after breast cancer in certain patients.

Mapping the embryonic epigenome: How genes are turned on and off during early human development Posted: 09 May 2013 09:36 AM PDT A large, multi-institutional research team has published a sweeping analysis of how genes are turned on and off to direct early human development.

Positive social support at work shown to reduce risk of diabetes Posted: 09 May 2013 09:36 AM PDT Low levels of social support and high levels of stress in the workplace accurately predict the development of diabetes over the long term -- even in employees who appear to be healthy otherwise.

Social connections drive the 'upward spiral' of positive emotions and health Posted: 09 May 2013 09:35 AM PDT People who experience warmer, more upbeat emotions may have better physical health because they make more social connections, according to a new study.

Research reveals cancer-suppressing protein 'multitasks' Posted: 09 May 2013 09:35 AM PDT The understanding of how a powerful protein called p53 protects against cancer development has been upended by a new discovery.

How nerve wiring self-destructs Posted: 09 May 2013 09:35 AM PDT Many medical issues affect nerves, from injuries and chemotherapy to glaucoma and multiple sclerosis. The common theme in these scenarios is destruction of nerve axons, the long wires that transmit signals to other parts of the body. Researchers have now found a way the body can remove injured axons, identifying a potential target for new drugs that could prevent the inappropriate loss of axons.

Studies generate comprehensive list of genes required by innate system to defend sex cells Posted: 09 May 2013 09:35 AM PDT Investigators have published studies revealing many previously unknown components of an innate system that defends sex cells -- the carriers of inheritance across generations -- from the ravages of transposable genetic elements.

Dad's genome more ready at fertilization than mom's is -- but hers catches up Posted: 09 May 2013 09:34 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that while the genes provided by the father arrive at fertilization pre-programmed to the state needed by the embryo, the genes provided by the mother are in a different state and must be reprogrammed to match.

Advance in tuberous sclerosis brain science Posted: 09 May 2013 09:34 AM PDT By manipulating the timing of disease-causing mutations in the brains of developing mice, researchers have found that early genetic deletions in the thalamus may play an important role in course and severity of the developmental disease tuberous sclerosis complex.

Turning old hearts Posted: 09 May 2013 09:34 AM PDT Researchers have identified a protein in the blood of mice and humans that may prove to be the first effective treatment for the form of age-related heart failure that affects millions of Americans.

Rejuvenating hormone found to reverse symptoms of heart failure Posted: 09 May 2013 09:34 AM PDT Heart failure is one of the most debilitating conditions linked to old age. A new study reveals that a blood hormone known as growth differentiation factor 11 declines with age, and old mice injected with this hormone experience a reversal in signs of cardiac aging. The findings shed light on the underlying causes of age-related heart failure and may offer a much-needed strategy for treating this condition in humans.

Patients should have right to control genomic health information, experts say Posted: 09 May 2013 09:34 AM PDT Doctors should not have the right or responsibility to force-feed their patients with genomic information about their future health risks, according to bioethicists. They write in response to controversial recommendations from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics on the reporting of incidental findings in clinical genome sequencing.

Parental addictions linked to adult children's depression Posted: 09 May 2013 09:33 AM PDT The offspring of parents who were addicted to drugs or alcohol are more likely to be depressed in adulthood, according to a new study. Investigators have examined the association between parental addictions and adult depression in a representative sample of 6,268 adults, drawn from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey.

Your immune system: On surveillance in the war against cancer Posted: 09 May 2013 09:33 AM PDT New research looks at gene expression profiling in breast cancer.

Methylphenidate 'normalizes' activation in key brain areas in kids with ADHD, study suggests Posted: 09 May 2013 09:33 AM PDT The stimulant drug methylphenidate "normalizes" activation of several brain areas in young patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new review.

Local health departments find Twitter effective in spreading diabetes information Posted: 09 May 2013 09:33 AM PDT The web-based social media site Twitter is proving to be an effective tool for local health departments in disseminating health information — especially in promoting specific health behaviors.

Sexual harassment linked to 'purging' -- in men Posted: 09 May 2013 07:43 AM PDT Men who experience high levels of sexual harassment are much more likely than women to induce vomiting and take laxatives and diuretics in an attempt to control their weight, according to a surprising finding.

Fun and friends help ease the pain of breast cancer Posted: 09 May 2013 06:12 AM PDT Breast cancer patients who say they have people with whom they have a good time, or have "positive social interactions" with, are better able to deal with pain and other physical symptoms, according to a new study.

Could eating peppers prevent Parkinson's? Dietary nicotine may hold protective key Posted: 09 May 2013 06:12 AM PDT New research reveals that Solanaceae -- a flowering plant family with some species producing foods that are edible sources of nicotine -- may provide a protective effect against Parkinson's disease. The study suggests that eating foods that contain even a small amount of nicotine, such as peppers and tomatoes, may reduce risk of developing Parkinson's.

Early infant growth rate linked to composition of gut microbiota Posted: 09 May 2013 06:12 AM PDT The composition of gut microbiota in a new-born baby's gut has been linked to the rate of early infant growth. The findings support the assertion that the early development of "microbiota" -- the body's microbial ecosystem -- in an infant can influence growth and thereby the likelihood of obesity.

Toddlers from socially-deprived homes most at risk of scalds, study finds Posted: 09 May 2013 06:08 AM PDT Toddlers living in socially-deprived areas are at the greatest risk of suffering a scald in the home, researchers at have found.

Scientists find key to gene-silencing activity Posted: 08 May 2013 06:32 PM PDT Scientists have found how to boost or inhibit a gene-silencing mechanism that normally serves as a major controller of cells' activities. The discovery could lead to a powerful new class of drugs against viral infections, cancers and other diseases.

Chronic pain sufferers likely to have anxiety Posted: 08 May 2013 06:31 PM PDT Patients coping with chronic pain should also be evaluated for anxiety disorders, according to new research.

Credit card debt leads some to skip medical care Posted: 08 May 2013 06:31 PM PDT People with outstanding credit card or medical debt were more likely to delay or avoid medical or dental care, finds a new study.

Brain, not eye mechanisms keep color vision constant across lifespan Posted: 08 May 2013 02:21 PM PDT Cone receptors in the human eye lose their color sensitivity with age, but our subjective experience of color remains largely unchanged over the years. This ability to compensate for age-related changes in color perception rests in higher levels of the visual system, according to new research.

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