http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/diseases_and_conditions/ Read the latest research on diseases and conditions, symptoms, new treatment options and more. Updated daily. en-us Sat, 26 May 2012 13:05:01 EDT Sat, 26 May 2012 13:05:01 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/diseases_and_conditions/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120525165224.htm Scientists have described the three-dimensional atomic structure of a human protein bound to a piece of RNA that "guides" the protein's ability to silence genes. The protein, Argonaute-2, is a key player in RNA interference, a powerful cellular phenomenon that has important roles in diverse biological processes, including an organism's development. Fri, 25 May 2012 16:52:52 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120525165224.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120525140146.htm Scientists have long known that cancer cells can proliferate by deleting both copies of the tumor suppressor genes that would otherwise kill them. Now research shows they can also grow by deleting single copies of the genes, especially when clusters of those genes appear randomly on a chromosome. The discovery sheds new light on tumorigenesis and explains why large genomic deletions show up so often in cancer cells. Fri, 25 May 2012 14:01:01 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120525140146.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120525103915.htm Scientists have just identified a new reason why some curry dishes, made with spices humans have used for thousands of years, might be good for you. They have discovered that curcumin, a compound found in the cooking spice turmeric, can cause a modest but measurable increase in levels of a protein that's known to be important in the "innate" immune system, helping to prevent infection in humans and other animals. Fri, 25 May 2012 10:39:39 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120525103915.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120525103748.htm Contraceptive use in Spain during the first sexual encounter is similar to other European countries. Contraceptive use shows positive correlation in women with a university education and negative correlation amongst women from poor backgrounds. Fri, 25 May 2012 10:37:37 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120525103748.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120525103616.htm Millions of Europeans undergo abdominal surgery each year to treat a range of different disorders, from cancer and heart disease to obesity. Researchers are now developing innovative micro-robotics and micro-system technologies to make such surgeries less complicated, invasive and costly. Fri, 25 May 2012 10:36:36 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120525103616.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120525103354.htm An overgrowth of bacteria in the gut has been definitively linked to Irritable Bowel Syndrome in the results of a new study which used cultures from the small intestine. This is the first study to use this “gold standard” method of connecting bacteria to the cause of the disease that affects an estimated 30 million people in the United States. Fri, 25 May 2012 10:33:33 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120525103354.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524215339.htm Researchers have found that personality traits like being extroverted, enjoying laughter and staying engaged may also be part of the longevity genes mix that allows some people to reach age 100 and beyond. Thu, 24 May 2012 21:53:53 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524215339.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524215249.htm A new type of male contraceptive could be created thanks to the discovery of a key gene essential for sperm development. The finding could lead to alternatives to the conventional male contraceptives that rely on disrupting the production of hormones, such as testosterone. These treatments can cause side effects such as irritability, mood swings and acne. Thu, 24 May 2012 21:52:52 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524215249.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524143500.htm Research into how carbohydrates are converted into energy has led to a surprising discovery with implications for the treatment of a perplexing and potentially fatal neuromuscular disorder and possibly even cancer and heart disease. Thu, 24 May 2012 14:35:35 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524143500.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524143446.htm Researchers have looked across 60 well-studied cancer cell lines, analyzing which of more than 200 metabolites were consumed or released by the fastest dividing cells. Their research yields the first large-scale atlas of cancer metabolism and points to a key role for the smallest amino acid, glycine, in cancer cell proliferation. Thu, 24 May 2012 14:34:34 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524143446.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524134703.htm A new device delivers a tiny, high-pressure jet of medicine through the skin without the use of a hypodermic needle. Thu, 24 May 2012 13:47:47 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524134703.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524123207.htm Researchers have found that detailed knowledge about your genetic makeup -- the interplay between genetic variants and other genetic variants, or between genetic variants and environmental risk factors -- may only change your estimated disease prediction risk for three common diseases by a few percentage points, which is typically not enough to make a difference in prevention or treatment plans. Thu, 24 May 2012 12:32:32 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524123207.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524123205.htm A seaweed considered a threat to the healthy growth of coral reefs in Hawaii may possess the ability to produce substances that could one day treat human diseases, a new study has revealed. Thu, 24 May 2012 12:32:32 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524123205.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524123201.htm Scientists have developed a compound that enhance cell death in cancer cells. Thu, 24 May 2012 12:32:32 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524123201.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524123023.htm Scientists found that loss of the ADA gene directly contributes to B cell tolerance problems and that these defects are mostly corrected after gene therapy. Thu, 24 May 2012 12:30:30 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524123023.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524123017.htm An anti-psychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia appears to get rid of cancer stem cells by helping them differentiate into less threatening cell types. The discovery comes after researchers screened hundreds of compounds in search of those that would selectively inhibit human cancer stem cells, and it may lead rather swiftly to a clinical trial. Thu, 24 May 2012 12:30:30 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524123017.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524123013.htm A new study has revealed previously undiscovered genetic variants that influence fertility in men. The findings shed much-needed light on human reproduction and might provide answers for countless men suffering from infertility. Thu, 24 May 2012 12:30:30 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524123013.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524123011.htm A molecule responsible for the proper formation of a key portion of the nervous system finds its way to the proper place not because it is actively recruited, but instead because it can't go anywhere else. Researchers have identified a distal axonal cytoskeleton as the boundary that makes sure AnkyrinG clusters where it needs to so it can perform properly. Thu, 24 May 2012 12:30:30 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524123011.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524122855.htm Researchers have identified a protein necessary to maintain behavioral flexibility, which allows us to modify our behaviors to adjust to circumstances that are similar, but not identical, to previous experiences. Their findings may offer new insights into addressing autism and schizophrenia—afflictions marked by impaired behavioral flexibility. Thu, 24 May 2012 12:28:28 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524122855.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524122851.htm Researchers at NYU School of Medicine have, for the first time, identified a single gene that simultaneously controls inflammation, accelerated aging and cancer. Thu, 24 May 2012 12:28:28 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524122851.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524112531.htm Scientists have developed an innovative approach for the modeling of genetic variation in two- or three-dimensional space called spatial ancestry analysis (SPA). With SPA, researchers model the spatial distribution of each genetic variant by assigning a genetic variant's frequency as a continuous function in geographic space. Thu, 24 May 2012 11:25:25 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524112531.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524092930.htm Researchers have delved into a series of high profile court cases testing the limits of patent protection. Thu, 24 May 2012 09:29:29 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524092930.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524092750.htm Researchers have discovered why females with cystic fibrosis do worse than males. The study is the first to show that the female hormone estrogen promotes the presence of a particular form of bacteria which results in more severe symptoms for female cystic fibrosis patients. In addition, females who were taking the oral contraceptive pill, which decreases the amount of naturally occurring estrogen in their bodies, were found to have lower levels of the problematic bacteria. Thu, 24 May 2012 09:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524092750.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524092220.htm A new technique that converts stem cells into brain cells has just been developed. The method is simpler, quicker and safer than previous research has shown and opens the doors to a shorter route to clinical cell transplants. Thu, 24 May 2012 09:22:22 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524092220.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524092046.htm Stem cells are essential building blocks for all organisms, from plants to humans. They can divide and renew themselves throughout life, differentiating into the specialized tissues needed during development, as well as cells necessary to repair adult tissue. Therefore, they can be considered immortal, in that they recreate themselves and regenerate tissues throughout a person’s lifetime, but that doesn’t mean they don’t age. They do, gradually losing their ability to effectively maintain tissues and organs. Now, researchers have uncovered a series of biological events that implicate the stem cells' surroundings, known as their "niche," as the culprit in loss of stem cells due to aging. This research has implications for treatment of age-related diseases and for the effectiveness of regenerative medicine. Thu, 24 May 2012 09:20:20 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524092046.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523200752.htm Calcium supplements might increase the risk of having a heart attack, and should be "taken with caution," concludes new research. Furthermore, boosting overall calcium intake from dietary sources confers no significant advantage in terms of staving off heart disease and stroke, the findings indicate. Wed, 23 May 2012 20:07:07 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523200752.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523200749.htm Caesarean section delivery may double the risk of subsequent childhood obesity, finds new research. Wed, 23 May 2012 20:07:07 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523200749.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523200257.htm After years of reducing their contact with pharmaceutical sales representatives, physicians now risk an unintended consequence: Doctors who rarely meet with pharmaceutical sales representatives — or who do not meet with them — are much slower to drop medicines with the Food and Drug Administration’s “black box” warnings and to adopt first-in-class therapies. Wed, 23 May 2012 20:02:02 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523200257.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523200255.htm A study to evaluate birth control methods has found dramatic differences in their effectiveness. Women who used birth control pills, the patch or vaginal ring were 20 times more likely to have an unintended pregnancy than those who used longer-acting forms such as an intrauterine device (IUD) or implant. Wed, 23 May 2012 20:02:02 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523200255.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523200252.htm Infants ignore information that is too simple or too complex, focusing instead on situations that are “just right,” according to a new study. Dubbed the “Goldilocks effect” by the people that discovered it, the attention pattern sheds light on how babies learn to make sense of a world full of complex sights, sounds, and movements. Wed, 23 May 2012 20:02:02 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523200252.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523170536.htm World experts on the effects of atomic radiation have agreed to start an assessment of the radiological impact of the events at the TEPCO (Fukushima-Daiichi) nuclear power plant following the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Wed, 23 May 2012 17:05:05 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523170536.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523161941.htm Mothers who had fevers during their pregnancies were more than twice as likely to have a child with autism or developmental delay than were mothers of typically developing children, and that taking medication to treat fever countered its effect. Wed, 23 May 2012 16:19:19 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523161941.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523161323.htm A new and unexpected role for RNA is identified: the defence of genome integrity and stability. New research shows that an until now unknown class of RNA -- the newly christened DDRNA -- plays a key role in activation of the molecular alarms necessary to safeguard our genome when DNA damage from internal or external factors occurs. Wed, 23 May 2012 16:13:13 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523161323.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523145739.htm Researchers have demonstrated that a special surface, free of biological contaminants, allows adult-derived stem cells to thrive and transform into multiple cell types. Their success brings stem cell therapies another step closer. Wed, 23 May 2012 14:57:57 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523145739.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523145655.htm Most Americans (52 percent) have concluded that figuring out their income taxes is easier than knowing what they should and shouldn’t eat to be healthier, according to a new survey. Wed, 23 May 2012 14:56:56 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523145655.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523145652.htm Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are molecules produced in the skin to fend off infection-causing microbes. Vitamin D has been credited with a role in their production and in the body’s overall immune response, but scientists say a hormone previously associated only with maintaining calcium homeostasis and bone health is also critical, boosting AMP expression when dietary vitamin D levels are inadequate. Wed, 23 May 2012 14:56:56 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523145652.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523135523.htm Researchers have shown in mice how immune cells in the brain target and remove unused connections between brain cells during normal development. This research sheds light on how brain activity influences brain development, and highlights the newly found importance of the immune system in how the brain is wired, as well as how the brain forms new connections throughout life in response to change. Wed, 23 May 2012 13:55:55 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523135523.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523133238.htm Researchers link seizure resistance to a protein that modifies cellular metabolism in the brain. The findings, which shed light on the extremely low-carb ketogenic diet, may lead to the development of new treatments for epilepsy. Wed, 23 May 2012 13:32:32 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523133238.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523133232.htm Transplanting embryonic cells into adult mouse spinal cord can alleviate persistent pain. The research suggests that reduced pain results from successful integration of the embryonic cells into the host spinal cord. The findings open avenues for clinical strategies aimed not just at treating the symptoms of chronic debilitating pain, but correcting the underlying disease pathology. Wed, 23 May 2012 13:32:32 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523133232.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523133136.htm Children are more likely to have more body fat during childhood if their mother has low levels of Vitamin D during pregnancy, according to scientists. Low vitamin D status has been linked to obesity in adults and children, but little is known about how variation in a mother’s status affects the body composition of her child. Wed, 23 May 2012 13:31:31 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523133136.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523133057.htm Chronic pain, by definition, is difficult to manage, but a new study shows how a cell therapy might one day be used not only to quell some common types of persistent and difficult-to-treat pain, but also to cure the conditions that give rise to them. Wed, 23 May 2012 13:30:30 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523133057.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523133055.htm Researchers have discovered new ways neurons work together to ease the transition between sleep and wakefulness. Their findings provide additional insights into sleep-wake patterns and offer methods to explore what may disrupt them. Wed, 23 May 2012 13:30:30 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523133055.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523115055.htm Acne patients who take oral medications like Accutane double their risk of developing an eye infection compared to those who do not, new research suggests. Researchers say that the use of inexpensive artificial tears or eyedrops, which are available over-the-counter at the local pharmacy, can minimize the risk. Wed, 23 May 2012 11:50:50 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523115055.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523115049.htm Scientists are reporting development of a new, higher-yield, two-step, less costly process that may ease supply problems and zigzagging prices for the raw material essential for making the mainstay drug for malaria. That disease sickens 300-500 million people annually and kills more than one million. The report on the process uses readily available substances and could be easily implemented by drug companies. Wed, 23 May 2012 11:50:50 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523115049.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523115047.htm Scientists have successfully protected laboratory animals from lethal hantavirus disease using a novel approach that combines DNA vaccines and duck eggs. Wed, 23 May 2012 11:50:50 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523115047.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523114847.htm Blame it on your genes? Researchers say individuals with variations in certain "obesity genes" tend to eat more meals and snacks, consume more calories per day and choose the same high fat, sugary foods. Wed, 23 May 2012 11:48:48 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523114847.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523114728.htm More physical education in schools leads to better motor skills and it can also sharpen students’ learning ability, new research shows. The differences are especially clear among boys. Wed, 23 May 2012 11:47:47 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523114728.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523114726.htm When confronted with adverse situations such as the loss of a loved one, some people never fully recover from the pain. Others, the majority, pull through and experience how the intensity of negative emotions (e.g. anxiety, depression) grows dimmer with time until they adapt to the new situation. A third group is made up of individuals whose adversities have made them grow personally and whose life takes on new meaning, making them feel stronger than before. Wed, 23 May 2012 11:47:47 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523114726.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523102958.htm Brains that maintain healthy nerve connections as we age help keep us sharp in later life, new research has found. Wed, 23 May 2012 10:29:29 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523102958.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523102956.htm Scientists have identified a gene expression fingerprint associated with very low pregnancy rates in semen donors with normal seminal quality. Wed, 23 May 2012 10:29:29 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523102956.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523102839.htm A study of toddlers suggests that exposure to potentially toxic flame-retardant chemicals may be higher in nonwhite toddlers than in white toddlers. Wed, 23 May 2012 10:28:28 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523102839.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523102146.htm Researchers have gained new insights into the mechanisms of heart disease. Wed, 23 May 2012 10:21:21 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523102146.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523102142.htm Phthalates from PVC flooring materials is taken up by our bodies, according to new research. Phthalates are substances suspected to cause asthma and allergies, as well as other chronic diseases in children. The study shows that children can ingest these softening agents with food but also by breathing and through the skin. Wed, 23 May 2012 10:21:21 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523102142.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523101929.htm Some people feel depressed because they have been eating too much, then they eat too much because they are feeling depressed. As is the case with drug addicts, a vicious cycle sets in where "food-highs" are used as a way to combat depression, experts say. Wed, 23 May 2012 10:19:19 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523101929.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523101841.htm The number of viral infections during infancy is not associated with wheezing later in childhood, according to a new study. Wed, 23 May 2012 10:18:18 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523101841.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522200629.htm Pathological aging (PA) is used to describe the brains of people which have Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-like pathology but where the person showed no signs of cognitive impairment whilst they were alive. New research shows that PA and AD brains contain similar amyloid β (Aβ) plaques and that while on average AD brains contain more Aβ there was considerable overlap in Aβ subtypes. These results suggest that PA may simply be an early stage of AD. Tue, 22 May 2012 20:06:06 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522200629.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522200627.htm For the first time scientists have succeeded in taking skin cells from heart failure patients and reprogramming them to transform into healthy, new heart muscle cells that are capable of integrating with existing heart tissue. Tue, 22 May 2012 20:06:06 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522200627.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522180622.htm Despite recent recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force, many people simply don't believe that the prostate-specific antigen test is ineffective. Even faced with overwhelming evidence, many activists and medical professionals are clamoring for men to continue receiving their annual PSA test. Why the disconnect? A new article examines the reasons why people are so reluctant to give up the PSA test. Tue, 22 May 2012 18:06:06 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522180622.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522180620.htm With the successful completion of the Human Genome Project, research attention is increasingly focusing on proteins. Versatile products produced from genetic templates, proteins are principle actors in both the maintenance of health and the onset of illness. Protein microarrays are a means of bridging the gap between analysis of the nucleotide sequences that make up DNA and the proteome -- the universe of proteins built from the amino acids coded for by genes. Tue, 22 May 2012 18:06:06 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522180620.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522161338.htm Research demonstrates how dying or damaged brain cells give rise to autoantibodies in blood that can be reliable biomarkers for early AD diagnosis. Key mechanism mirrors process common to autoimmune disorders. Tue, 22 May 2012 16:13:13 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522161338.htm