New Therapeutic Target Identified For Rheumatoid Arthritis (November 6, 2008) -- Researchers have identified a potential new therapeutic target that could be used to treat inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Drugs that hit this new target are actually in trials for the treatment of another disease, leukemia. ... > full story
Gene Against Bacterial Attack Unraveled (November 6, 2008) -- Researchers have unraveled a genetic defense mechanism against the lethal bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei. The research is the next step towards a vaccine against this bacterium suitable for bioweapons. ... > full story
Minor Shift In Vaccine Schedule Has Potential To Reduce Infant Illness, Death (November 6, 2008) -- A new study suggests that protecting infants from a common, highly contagious and even deadly disease may be as easy as administering a routine vaccine two weeks earlier than it is typically given. ... > full story
West Nile's North American Spread Described (November 6, 2008) -- Most affected bird species have not yet recovered from the rapid spread of West Nile virus in North America after 1999, and the long-term ecological implications of the pathogen seem likely to be substantial. Annual outbreaks continue, and more research is needed to identify predictive factors that could lead to stepped-up countermeasures in vulnerable areas. ... > full story
War Affects Iraqis' Health More After Fleeing (November 6, 2008) -- The risk of depression is greater among Iraqi soldiers who took part in the Gulf War than among civilians. Surprisingly, on the other hand, neither of these groups showed any signs of post-traumatic stress ten years after that war-with the exception of those Iraqis who have left Iraq. ... > full story
DNA Chunks, Chimps And Humans: Marks Of Differences Between Human And Chimp Genomes (November 6, 2008) -- Researchers have carried out the largest study of differences between human and chimpanzee genomes, identifying regions that have been duplicated or lost during evolution of the two lineages. The study, the first to compare many human and chimpanzee genomes in the same fashion, shows that particular types of genes are more commonly involved in gain or loss. It also provides new evidence for a gene associated with susceptibility to infection by HIV. ... > full story
Gene Variations Alter Risk Of Esophageal Cancer (November 6, 2008) -- Variations in a common gene pathway may affect esophageal cancer risk, a dangerous and rapidly increasing type of cancer, according to new research. ... > full story
Flu Vaccination Rates Lag For At-risk Adolescents (November 6, 2008) -- Influenza vaccination rates are still far too low for adolescents who suffer from asthma and other illnesses that predispose them to complications from the flu. ... > full story
Alcohol Advice Needs To Play Greater Role In Sex Education For Teenagers, Experts Urge (November 6, 2008) -- Alcohol and attitudes are two of the key factors that health professionals need to be aware of when they are dealing with sexually active teenagers. ... > full story
Double-barreled Immune Cell Approach For Neuroblastoma (November 5, 2008) -- Adding an artificial tumor-specific receptor to immune system cells called T-lymphocytes that target a particular virus extended and improved the cells' ability to fight a form of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma, said researchers. ... > full story
Stressed Older Drivers Are Three Times More Likely To Brake Than Calm Drivers (November 5, 2008) -- Life can be stressful, whether you're an individual watching the stock market crash or a commuter stuck in traffic. A new study, forthcoming in the journal Psychological Science, examines how stress affects decision-making and finds that older adults alter their behavior more than young adults when under stress -- particularly in situations involving risk. ... > full story
How To Stop Winter From Weathering Your Skin (November 5, 2008) -- All winter flakes are not made of snow. Cold weather wreaks havoc on our skin, sometimes making it dry and flaky. Skin dries out if it's deprived of water and this dryness often causes itchiness, resulting in a condition commonly referred to as "winter itch." ... > full story
Rates Of Psychosis Higher Among Minority Groups In Britain (November 5, 2008) -- Both first- and second-generation immigrants to the United Kingdom appear to have a higher risk of psychoses than white British individuals, according to a new report. ... > full story
Seizures Following Parasitic Infection Associated With Brain Swelling (November 5, 2008) -- A new study provides strong evidence associating seizures with areas of brain tissue swelling in people infected by a parasitic tapeworm. The swellings, called perilesional edemas, form around dead, calcified cysts that result when larvae of Taenia solium tapeworms lodge in the brain. The illness caused by T. solium infection -- neurocysticercosis -- is the most common cause of adult-onset seizures and epilepsy in developing countries where the tapeworm is endemic. ... > full story
Time Invested In Practicing Pays Off For Young Musicians, Research Shows (November 5, 2008) -- A new study has found that children who study a musical instrument for at least three years outperform children with no instrumental training -- not only in tests of auditory discrimination and finger dexterity (skills honed by the study of a musical instrument), but also on tests measuring verbal ability and visual pattern completion (skills not normally associated with music). ... > full story
Lung Airway Cells Activate Vitamin D And Increase Immune Response (November 5, 2008) -- Essential to good health, vitamin D requires activation to function properly in the body. Until recently, this activation was thought to occur primarily in the kidneys. A new study finds it can occur in lung airway cells. The investigation also links the vitamin D produced in the lung airway cells to activation of infection-fighting genes. ... > full story
Moms' Smoking Linked To Increased Risk Of Birth Defects (November 5, 2008) -- The damaging effects of smoking and smoke exposure can be seen at any age. Pediatricians have even noted these negative effects in various stages of infant development. The consequences of maternal smoke exposure during pregnancy can range from higher rates of prematurity to increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Two new studies examine several physical and behavioral effects of cigarette smoke exposure on infants. ... > full story
'Natural Killer' Immune Cells Reveal Factors For Reproductive Success (November 5, 2008) -- Immune cells known as natural killer (NK) cells are linked with pregnancy problems including pre-eclampsia and recurrent miscarriage. Scientists are illuminating the role that pregnancy-related NK cells play in moderating the biochemical interactions at the boundary between maternal tissues and the developing fetus. Their findings reveal that uterine NK cells are 'armed' with specific receptors, enabling interaction with other molecules to ensure that the placenta develops normally and the pregnancy is successful. ... > full story
Genes That Prevent Changes In Physical Traits Due To Environmental Changes Identified (November 5, 2008) -- Biologists have identified genes that prevent physical traits from being affected by environmental changes. The research, which studied the genetic makeup of baker's yeast, appears in the Public Library of Science's journal, PloS Biology. ... > full story
MRI Reveals Relationship Between Depression And Pain (November 5, 2008) -- The brains of individuals with major depressive disorder appear to react more strongly when anticipating pain and also display altered functioning of the neural network that modifies pain sensitivity, according to a new report. ... > full story
Vitamin B3 Reduces Alzheimer's Symptoms, Lesions: Clinical Trial On Nicotinamide Effect In Alzheimer's Patients (November 5, 2008) -- An over-the-counter vitamin in high doses prevented memory loss in mice with Alzheimer's disease, and scientists now are conducting a clinical trial to determine its effect in humans. ... > full story
Clue Discovered In Spread Of 'Superbugs' (November 5, 2008) -- Scientists are one step closer to finding a defense against dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria, sometimes called "superbugs." Researchers have obtained the first visual evidence of a key piece in the puzzle of how deadly superbugs spread antibiotic resistance in hospitals and throughout the general population. ... > full story
Anti-VEGF Drugs For Retinal Diseases Could Have Serious Side Effects, Scientists Caution (November 5, 2008) -- Scientists have found that reducing the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is best known as a stimulator of new blood vessel growth, in adult mice causes the death of photoreceptors and Muller glia -- cells of the retina that are essential to visual function. This finding holds implications for the chronic use of promising new anti-VEGF drugs such as Lucentis, which eliminate abnormal and damaging blood vessel growth in the retina by neutralizing VEGF. ... > full story
ADHD As A Serious Driver's Disability (November 5, 2008) -- If your teen can't pass a driver's test, it might not mean more time in driver's ed is needed. It might be due to ADHD. ... > full story
Drug Mimics Low-cal Diet To Ward Off Weight Gain, Boost Running Endurance (November 5, 2008) -- A drug designed to specifically hit a protein linked to the life-extending benefits of a meager diet can essentially trick the body into believing food is scarce even when it isn't, suggests a new report in Cell Metabolism. ... > full story
New Device Controls, Measures Dynamics Of Chemicals In Live Tissue (November 5, 2008) -- The "chemistrode," a droplet-base microfluidic device, provides new exciting opportunities to study stimulus-response dynamics in chemistry and biology. It will help researchers study any surface that responds to chemical stimulation (cells, tissue, biofilms, catalytic surfaces, etc.). It may also help neurologists, cardiologists, and endocrinologists study and diagnose diseases. Researchers have already used it to measure how a single murine islet responds to glucose. They have applied for a patent on the device. ... > full story
Chronic Headaches? 'Medication Overuse Headaches' Surprisingly Common (November 5, 2008) -- There is a critical need to review current treatment strategies for the increasingly common problem of medication overuse headaches (MOH), according to a new research. ... > full story
Is ADHD More Likely To Affect Movement In Boys Or Girls? (November 5, 2008) -- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder appears to affect movement in boys more than it does in girls, according to a new study. ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders found in children. Symptoms include impulsiveness, hyperactivity, such as not being able to sit still, and inattention or constant daydreaming. Few studies have been done that compare ADHD and movement in both boys and girls. ... > full story
'Junk' DNA Proves Functional; Helps Explain Human Differences From Other Species (November 5, 2008) -- In a new study, scientists in Singapore report that what was previously believed to be "junk" DNA is one of the important ingredients distinguishing humans from other species. ... > full story
Folic Acid, B Vitamins Do Not Appear To Affect Cancer Risk (November 5, 2008) -- A daily supplementation combination that included folic acid and vitamin B6 and B12 had no significant effect on the overall risk of cancer, including breast cancer, among women at high risk of cardiovascular disease, according to new study. ... > full story
Steroid Therapies Following Transplant Can Be Eliminated, Study Suggests (November 5, 2008) -- Using modern immunosuppressive drugs eliminates the need for steroid therapy as early as seven days following a transplant surgery while still maintaining kidney function, according to new research. ... > full story
'Weapons Of Mass Production', I Mean, 'Mass Destruction!' How The Brain Prevents Verbal Errors (November 5, 2008) -- New research illuminates how the brain prevents verbal errors. Our brain is fairly good at preventing mistakes in speech. Unfortunately it does make the odd mistake. George W. Bush, famous for his verbal errors, made the mistake of referring to weapons of 'mass production' instead of 'mass destruction'. Former UK deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, had the same problem when he spoke of solving industrial disputes through 'meditation' instead of 'mediation'. ... > full story
An Anti-frailty Pill For Seniors? New Drug Increases Muscle Mass In Arms And Legs Of Older Adults (November 5, 2008) -- Researchers report that a daily single oral dose of an investigational drug, MK-677, increased muscle mass in the arms and legs of healthy older adults without serious side effects, suggesting that it may prove safe and effective in reducing age-related frailty. ... > full story
Risk Of Sudden Cardiac Death Appears Increased Within 30 Days Of Heart Attack (November 5, 2008) -- The risk of sudden cardiac death following a heart attack has declined significantly in the past 30 years, although patients appear to be at elevated risk for sudden cardiac death for the first month after having a heart attack, after which time their risk decreases unless they develop heart failure, according to new study. ... > full story
Elderly Women Can Increase Strength But Still Risk Falls (November 5, 2008) -- Elderly women can increase muscle strength as much as young women can, a new study from the University of New Hampshire finds, indicating that decline in muscle function is less a natural part of the aging process than due to a decline in physical activity. Yet while the two groups increased similar percentages of strength, the older group was far less effective in increasing power, which is more closely related to preventing falls. ... > full story
Response Rates To Antidepressants Differ Among English- And Spanish-speaking Hispanics (November 5, 2008) -- In the first-ever study of its kind, Spanish-speaking Hispanics took longer to respond to medication for depression and were less likely to go into remission than English-speaking Hispanics. ... > full story
Previously Unknown Immune Cell May Help Those With Crohn's And Colitis (November 5, 2008) -- The tonsils and lymphoid tissues in the intestinal tract that help protect the body from external pathogens are the home base of a rare newly identified immune cell. Researchers indicate that the immune cells could have a therapeutic role in inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. ... > full story
High Blood Pressure Is Related To Depression In Elderly Subjects (November 5, 2008) -- An epidemiological study performed in Spain discloses a relationship between high blood pressure and depression in the elderly. ... > full story
Consuming Even Small Amounts Of Caffeine When Pregnant May Affect Growth Of Unborn Child (November 4, 2008) -- Consuming caffeine at any time during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of fetal growth restriction (low birth weight), according to new research. ... > full story
Liver Transplant Recipients Have Higher Cancer Risk, Study Suggests (November 4, 2008) -- A new Canadian study comparing cancer rates of liver transplant patients to those of the general population has found that transplant recipients face increased risks of developing cancer, especially non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and colorectal cancer. ... > full story
Novel Therapeutic Compounds For Neurodegenerative Conditions (November 4, 2008) -- Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and ALS affect millions of individuals every year. Current medications are modestly effective, at best, and only target the symptoms associated with these debilitating and fatal disorders. ... > full story
Parents' Wartime Deployment Associated With Children's Behavior Problems (November 4, 2008) -- Children ages 3 to 5 with a parent deployed to a war zone appear to exhibit more behavior problems than their peers whose parents are not deployed, according to a new report. ... > full story
Persistent Bacterial Infection Exploits Killing Machinery Of Immune Cells (November 4, 2008) -- A new study reveals an important and newly discovered pathway used by disease-causing bacteria to evade the host immune system and survive and grow within the very cells meant to destroy them. This discovery may lead to new treatments and vaccines for tuberculosis and certain other chronic bacterial and parasitic infections. ... > full story
Violent Video Game Feed Aggression In Kids In Japan And U.S. (November 4, 2008) -- It's not just American kids who become more aggressive by playing violent video games. A new study showed effects of violent video games on aggression over a 3-6 month period in children from Japan as well as the United States. ... > full story
Heart Rate-lowering Drug Improves Exercise Capacity In Patients With Stable Angina (November 4, 2008) -- An analysis of the data from treadmill exercise tests shows that patients who were treated with ivabradine in addition to a beta blocker demonstrated a threefold improvement in total exercise duration at four months compared to those being treated with standard doses of beta blocker alone. ... > full story
Personalized Learning Puts Students In A Class Of Their Own (November 4, 2008) -- A new learning platform is giving the traditional classroom a radical makeover. Using innovative technology, iClass is putting pupils at the center of the learning experience and providing them with more control over what they learn. ... > full story
While Prevalent, Sexual Problems In Women Not Always Associated With Distress (November 4, 2008) -- The largest such study ever published finds that, while about 40 percent of women surveyed report having sexual problems, only 12 percent indicate that those issues are a source of significant personal distress. ... > full story
Women Have More Diverse Hand Bacteria Than Men (November 4, 2008) -- A new study indicates that not only do human hands harbor far higher numbers of bacteria species than previously believed, women have a significantly greater diversity of microbes on their palms than men. ... > full story
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