http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/ Medical Research News. Health news on everything from cancer to nutrition. Updated daily. en-us Wed, 16 May 2012 16:05:02 EDT Wed, 16 May 2012 16:05:02 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516152532.htm Why are men generally more reluctant to try vegetarian products? According to a new study consumers are influenced by a strong association of meat with masculinity. Wed, 16 May 2012 15:25:25 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516152532.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516152242.htm A new study suggests that men undergoing robotic-assisted surgery for prostate cancer should look for a doctor who has performed at least 1,000 surgeries and who actively seeks to improve and enhance his surgical skills to help ensure a successful post-surgery recovery of erectile function. Wed, 16 May 2012 15:22:22 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516152242.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516140016.htm ApoE4, a well-known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease triggers a cascade of signaling that ultimately results in leaky blood vessels in the brain, allowing toxic substances to pour into brain tissue in large amounts, scientists report. Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516140016.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516140012.htm Researchers have transplanted a set of human genes into a zebrafish and then used it to identify genes responsible for head size at birth. This finding also is related to some cases of autism and possibly schizophrenia and childhood obesity. Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516140012.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516140010.htm Common variants of the ApoE gene are strongly associated with the risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease, but the gene's role in the disease has been unclear. Now, researchers have found that in mice, having the most risky variant of ApoE damages the blood vessels that feed the brain. Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516140010.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516140002.htm In an ongoing clinical trial, a paralyzed woman was able to reach for and sip from a drink on her own -- for the first time in nearly 15 years -- by using her thoughts to direct a robotic arm. The trial, funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, is evaluating the safety and feasibility of an investigational device called the BrainGate neural interface system, which is intended to put robotics and other assistive technology under the brain's control. Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516140002.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516140000.htm Two people with tetraplegia were able to reach for and grasp objects in three-dimensional space with robotic arms that they controlled directly with brain activity. They used the BrainGate neural interface system, an investigational device currently being studied under an IDE. One participant used the system to serve herself coffee for the first time since becoming paralyzed nearly 15 years ago. Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516140000.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516115908.htm Scientists have shed new light on one of the great unanswered questions of neuroscience: How the brain initiates rhythmic movements like walking, running and swimming. Wed, 16 May 2012 11:59:59 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516115908.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515181256.htm A new study suggests that the guidelines governments use to determine when to evacuate people following a nuclear accident may be too conservative. Tue, 15 May 2012 18:12:12 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515181256.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515165407.htm During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, changes in air pollution were associated with changes in biomarkers of systemic inflammation and thrombosis (formation of blood clot) as well as measures of cardiovascular physiology in healthy young persons, according to a new study. Tue, 15 May 2012 16:54:54 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515165407.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515165405.htm A drug made from the saliva of the Gila monster lizard is effective in reducing the craving for food. Researchers have tested the drug on rats, who after treatment ceased their cravings for both food and chocolate. Tue, 15 May 2012 16:54:54 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515165405.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515150938.htm A new study is the first to show how a diet steadily high in fructose slows the brain, hampering memory and learning -- and how omega-3 fatty acids can minimize the damage. Tue, 15 May 2012 15:09:09 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515150938.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515131715.htm A novel mechanism for anxiety behaviors, including a previously unrecognized inhibitory brain signal, may inspire new strategies for treating psychiatric disorders, researchers report. By testing the controversial role of a gene called Glo1 in anxiety, scientists uncovered a new inhibitory factor in the brain: The metabolic by-product methylglyoxal. The system offers a tantalizing new target for drugs designed to treat conditions such as anxiety disorder, epilepsy, and sleep disorders. Tue, 15 May 2012 13:17:17 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515131715.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515131321.htm Child abuse or neglect are strong predictors of major health and emotional problems, but little is known about how the chronicity of the maltreatment may increase future harm apart from other risk factors in a child’s life. Scientist have now taken a closer look at how chronic maltreatment has impacted the future health and behavior of children and adults. Tue, 15 May 2012 13:13:13 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515131321.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515104735.htm Researchers have created an ultrasensitive biosensor that could open up new opportunities for early detection of cancer and "personalized medicine" tailored to the specific biochemistry of individual patients. Tue, 15 May 2012 10:47:47 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515104735.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515104500.htm Surgeons have restored some hand function in a quadriplegic patient with a spinal cord injury at the C7 vertebra, the lowest bone in the neck. Instead of operating on the spine itself, the surgeons rerouted working nerves in the upper arms. These nerves still “talk” to the brain because they attach to the spine above the injury. Tue, 15 May 2012 10:45:45 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515104500.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515094134.htm Our decisions to trust people with our money are based more on how they look then how they behave, according to new research. Tue, 15 May 2012 09:41:41 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515094134.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515094132.htm Scientists have discovered that mice that lack a gene called Snf2l have brains that are 35 percent larger than normal. The research could lead to new approaches to stimulate brain regeneration and may provide important insight into developmental disorders such as autism and Rett syndrome. Tue, 15 May 2012 09:41:41 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515094132.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515070441.htm A DNA-covered submicroscopic bead used to deliver genes or drugs directly into cells to treat disease appears to have therapeutic value just by showing up, researchers report. Tue, 15 May 2012 07:04:04 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515070441.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515070437.htm Medical researchers have identified and prioritized a comprehensive group of genes most associated with schizophrenia that together can generate a score indicating whether an individual is at higher or lower risk of developing the disease. Tue, 15 May 2012 07:04:04 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515070437.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515070307.htm Scientists have identified how skeletal muscle stem cells respond to muscle injury and may be stimulated to improve muscle repair in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a severe inherited disease of muscle that causes weakness, disability and, ultimately, heart and respiratory failure. Tue, 15 May 2012 07:03:03 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515070307.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515070305.htm Researchers have identified a new biomarker and therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer, an often-fatal disease for which there is currently no reliable method for early detection or therapeutic intervention. Tue, 15 May 2012 07:03:03 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515070305.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515052531.htm Food allergies pose a serious and growing problem in the West. Many foods can lead to allergic reactions and this situation is further complicated by so-called cross-reactions, whereby an allergy to one particular food can trigger allergic reactions to another food. There are no treatments available for food allergies, but the establishment of two mouse models can be used to develop and test new forms of treatment, for example vaccines. Tue, 15 May 2012 05:25:25 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515052531.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514204050.htm A new study consisting of inducing cells to express telomerase, the enzyme which -- metaphorically -- slows down the biological clock -- was successful. The research provides a "proof-of-principle" that this "feasible and safe" approach can effectively "improve health span." Mon, 14 May 2012 20:40:40 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514204050.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514203929.htm Following a stroke, factors as varied as blood sugar, body temperature and position in bed can affect patient outcomes, researchers report. Mon, 14 May 2012 20:39:39 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514203929.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514203927.htm Researchers have developed a genetic test that can accurately predict whether the most common form of eye cancer will spread to other parts of the body, particularly the liver. The test successfully classified tumors more than 97 percent of the time. Mon, 14 May 2012 20:39:39 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514203927.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514161618.htm Why does one person become anorexic and another obese? Researchers have now shown that reward circuits in the brain are sensitized in anorexic women and desensitized in obese women. Mon, 14 May 2012 16:16:16 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514161618.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514161616.htm Human embryonic stem cells can now be used to grow bone tissue grafts for use in research and potential therapeutic application. The study is the first example of using bone cell progenitors derived from human embryonic stem cells to grow compact bone tissue in quantities large enough to repair centimeter-sized defects. Mon, 14 May 2012 16:16:16 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514161616.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514161614.htm What goes bump in the night? In many U.S. households: people. About 3.6 percent of US adults -- or upward of 8.4 million -- are prone to sleepwalking, new research shows. The work also showed an association between nocturnal wanderings and certain psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety. A large number of people reported sleepwalking in childhood or adolescence making the lifetime prevalence of sleepwalking 29.2 percent. Mon, 14 May 2012 16:16:16 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514161614.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514153117.htm Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the cause of bile duct cancer, a deadly type of liver cancer. By identifying several new genes frequently mutated in bile duct cancers, researchers are paving the way for better understanding of how bile duct cancers develop. Mon, 14 May 2012 15:31:31 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514153117.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514153111.htm Hospitals in large cities act as breeding grounds for the superbug MRSA prior to it spreading to smaller hospitals, a study suggests. Researchers found evidence that shows for the first time how the superbug spreads between different hospitals throughout the country. Mon, 14 May 2012 15:31:31 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514153111.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514153109.htm Researchers have found a previously unknown mechanism through which pain is signaled by nerve cells -- a discovery that could explain the current failings in the drug development process for painkillers and which may offer opportunities for a new approach. Mon, 14 May 2012 15:31:31 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514153109.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514152954.htm In today’s technology-driven world, batteries, especially button batteries, are everywhere. They power countless gadgets and electronic items that we use every day. While they may seem harmless, button batteries can be dangerous if swallowed by children. A new study found that the annual number of battery-related emergency department visits among children younger than 18 years of age more than doubled over the 20-year study period, jumping from 2,591 emergency department visits in 1990 to 5,525 emergency department visits in 2009. The number of button batteries swallowed by children also doubled during this period. Mon, 14 May 2012 15:29:29 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514152954.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514144651.htm A new study examined pediatric injuries associated with baby bottles, pacifiers and sippy cups. Researchers found that from 1991 to 2010, an estimated 45,398 children younger than three years of age were treated in U.S. emergency departments for injuries related to the use of these products. This equates to an average of 2,270 injuries per year, or one child treated in a hospital emergency department every four hours for these injuries. Mon, 14 May 2012 14:46:46 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514144651.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514134307.htm A study has identified microRNA-3151 as a new independent prognostic marker in patients with acute myeloid leukemia that has normal-looking chromosomes. High levels of this microRNA in cancer cells indicates patients will experience shorter remissions and survival periods. Additionally, the microRNA is encoded within a gene called BAALC, which itself is an independent marker of poor survival when overexpressed in these patients. Mon, 14 May 2012 13:43:43 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514134307.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514134303.htm In one of the first studies to examine the effect of nature walks on cognition and mood in people with major depression, researchers in Canada and the US have found promising evidence that a walk in the park may provide some cognitive benefits. Mon, 14 May 2012 13:43:43 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514134303.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514134301.htm Nice guys do finish last at least when it comes to procreation, according to a new study that answers the question of why women choose bad boys. New research has demonstrated that hormones associated with ovulation influence women's perceptions of men as potential fathers. Mon, 14 May 2012 13:43:43 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514134301.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514122844.htm Water could change the way we eat. That's the conclusion of new research. Mon, 14 May 2012 12:28:28 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514122844.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514122836.htm A new study shows that human milk oligosaccharides, or HMO, produce short-chain fatty acids that feed a beneficial microbial population in the infant gut. Not only that, the bacterial composition adjusts as the baby grows older and its needs change. For the first time, scientists have shown that a complex mixture of HMO and a single HMO component produce patterns of short-chain fatty acids that change as the infant gets older. Mon, 14 May 2012 12:28:28 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514122836.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514122751.htm According to a small clinical trial reported by investigators from Japan, acupuncture appears to be associated with improvement of dyspnea (labored breathing) on exertion, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Mon, 14 May 2012 12:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514122751.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514122747.htm New research uses a novel, computer based strategy to identify potential anti-cancer drugs, including one that targets the third most common p53 mutation in human cancer, p53-R175H. The number of new cancer patients harboring this mutation in the United States who would potentially benefit from this drug is estimated to be 30,000 annually. Mon, 14 May 2012 12:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514122747.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514122743.htm For people receiving health care for acute and persistent low-back pain, symptoms will improve significantly in the first six weeks, but pain and disability may linger even after one year, states a large study. Mon, 14 May 2012 12:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514122743.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514122607.htm A clinical study of 30 adult patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) has shown that smoked cannabis may be an effective treatment for spasticity – a common and disabling symptom of this neurological disease. Mon, 14 May 2012 12:26:26 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514122607.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514112826.htm Prickly pufferfish could hold the key to why humans do not continually replace their teeth and may lead to advances in dental therapies. Mon, 14 May 2012 11:28:28 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514112826.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514104959.htm Researchers have discovered a mechanism involving the neurotransmitter dopamine that switches fruit fly behavior from being active during the day (diurnal) to nocturnal. This change parallels a human disorder in which increased agitation occurs in the evening hours near sunset and may also be due to higher than normal dopamine levels in the brain. Mon, 14 May 2012 10:49:49 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514104959.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514104949.htm Researchers are developing a way to 'barcode' viral diseases to rapidly test new outbreaks for potentially lethal mutations. Mon, 14 May 2012 10:49:49 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514104949.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514104945.htm Nearly one in five lower-income parents report costs forced their children to cut back on sports. Mon, 14 May 2012 10:49:49 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514104945.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514104856.htm Scientists have identified the genetic cause of a birth defect known as Hamamy syndrome. Their findings lend new insights into common ailments such as heart disease, osteoporosis, blood disorders and possibly sterility. Mon, 14 May 2012 10:48:48 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514104856.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514104738.htm Health professionals commonly say, "Don't look and it won't hurt" before administering an injection, but is there any scientific basis for the advice? A group of German investigators has found that, in fact, your past experience with needle pricks, along with information you receive before an injection, shape your pain experience. Mon, 14 May 2012 10:47:47 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514104738.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514104458.htm Can the temperature of the food we eat affect the intensity of its taste? It depends on the taste, according to a new study. New research shows that changes in the temperature of foods and drinks have an effect on the intensity of sour, bitter and astringent (e.g. cranberry juice) tastes but not sweetness. In addition, research suggests that in 20-30 percent of the population, heating or cooling small areas of the tongue draws out a taste sensation without the presence of food or drink. These individuals are known as 'thermal' tasters. They seem to taste foods more intensely than others people do. Mon, 14 May 2012 10:44:44 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514104458.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514104420.htm In order to test a new 'smart' protective vest, an experimenter wearing one jogged several kilometers on a treadmill in a climate-controlled chamber. During the jog he lost 544 grams in weight through sweating –  but thanks to the vest‘s integrated cooling system this was still 191 grams less than if he had been wearing a conventional garment. Mon, 14 May 2012 10:44:44 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514104420.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514104301.htm The first U.S. outpatient trial of an artificial pancreas could make it easier for type 1 diabetes patients to manage their condition. Mon, 14 May 2012 10:43:43 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514104301.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120513144630.htm Scientists have discovered that a protein known as Cdt1, which is required for DNA replication, also plays an important role in a later step of the cell cycle, mitosis. The finding presents a possible explanation for why so many cancers possess not just genomic instability, but also more or less than the usual 46 DNA-containing chromosomes. Sun, 13 May 2012 14:46:46 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120513144630.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120513144617.htm Using tiny solar-panel-like cells surgically placed underneath the retina, scientists have devised a system that may someday restore sight to people who have lost vision because of certain types of degenerative eye diseases. Sun, 13 May 2012 14:46:46 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120513144617.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120513144533.htm Why diabetics suffer from increased pain and temperature sensitivity is a step closer to being understood and effectively treated. Sun, 13 May 2012 14:45:45 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120513144533.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120513144531.htm That overweight during pregnancy can lead to overweight children and adolescents has been known for some time, but new research indicates that excess weight before and during pregnancy can have long-lasting health consequences for the offspring of such mothers even later in life. Sun, 13 May 2012 14:45:45 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120513144531.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120513144512.htm Scientists have discovered that the single protein -- alpha 2 delta -- exerts a spigot-like function, controlling the volume of neurotransmitters and other chemicals that flow between the synapses of brain neurons. The study shows how brain cells talk to each other through these signals, relaying thoughts, feelings and action, and this powerful molecule plays a crucial role in regulating effective communication. Sun, 13 May 2012 14:45:45 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120513144512.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120512144236.htm More than 75 percent of cardiac arrest victims are stricken too far away from an automated external defibrillator for the lifesaving device to be obtained quickly enough to offer the best chance at saving their lives, according to new research. Sat, 12 May 2012 14:42:42 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120512144236.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120512100826.htm Imagine you're an astronaut exploring the surface of Mars, when suddenly you fall ill or injure yourself. As your team struggles to get you safely back to base, you become seriously dehydrated. With their trusty -- and ingenious -- kit, the medical officer hooks into the drinking water supply, using it to create a saline solution that they can inject directly into your blood stream for quick and safe rehydration. Sat, 12 May 2012 10:08:08 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120512100826.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120511175011.htm Researchers have uncovered a new way to stimulate activity of immune cell opiate receptors, leading to efficient tumor cell clearance. The researchers have been able to take a new pharmacological approach to activate the immune cells to prevent cancer growth through stimulation of the opiate receptors found on immune cells. Fri, 11 May 2012 17:50:50 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120511175011.htm