Heart Care For You: September 2008

Dark Chocolate: A Little Goes a Long Way

Week of September 28

In This Issue:

  • Cardiac Arrest Survival and Geography
  • His and Her Heart Attack Symptoms
  • Can Ginseng Cause Irregular Heartbeat?

Today's Top Story

Dark Chocolate: A Little
Goes a Long Way
A study shows that a daily dose of dark chocolate may reduce the inflammation that leads to heart disease, but there's a catch.
Also see:
• What's the Story With Chocolate?
• Inflammation and Heart Disease

• Not All Carotid Patients Need Surgery

Health News & Features

Cardiac Arrest Survival and Geography
If your heart stops beating in Seattle, consider yourself lucky. A new study shows you're five times more likely to survive than if you were in Alabama.

More Headlines You Shouldn't Miss:
  • Late Stroke Treatment Better Than None
  • Drug-Coated Stents Safe for Heart Patients
  • 2 COPD Drugs Linked to Risk of Heart Attack, Cardiovascular Death
  • Relax and Lower Your Blood Pressure

Do You Have a Health Question for the Presidential Candidates?
WebMD is proud to collaborate with the Commission on Presidential Debates to gather your questions for its town hall debate. Ask your questions here and watch the town hall debate on Oct. 7 at 9 p.m. ET
(6 p.m. PT).

Soy-Rich Diet Improves Arteries in Stroke Patients


	Heart Disease NEWS AND VIEWS
	September 29, 2008

Soy-Rich Diet Improves Arteries in Stroke Patients Isoflavone, a chemical found in soybeans, chickpeas, legumes and clovers, can improve artery function in stroke patients, a study in Hong Kong has found. Read more>

		COMMENTARY Soy and Your Heart: The Truth Behind the Hype Soy products have been a subject of regular discussion, and wide debate down through the years, and it seems that confusing claims about the benefits of soy are in abundance. Read more>

This Week's News	See all Heart Disease news

Secondhand smoke tied to artery disease in women Exposure to secondhand smoke is an important risk factor for peripheral arterial disease, which affects arteries in the legs and may lead to amputation if severe, according to a study among Chinese women. Read more>

Ex-smokers lower stroke, heart risks A study of more than 475,000 Korean men has found a significant decrease in stroke and heart attack risks among men who quit smoking. Read more>

Clinical trial: New drug for atherosclerosis Call for people ages 18 years to 75 years old who have coronary heart disease (CHD) or other risk factors for CHD to participate in a study. Read more>

Sponsored Health Center Find options for heart valve replacement. Read more>

	Quiz of the Week
	Quiz: Do You Know How to Raise Your HDL? If you just received your latest cholesterol results and you're wondering how you can raise that elusive HDL, take this quiz to find out.

Today's Poll

Do you consume at least one soy product on a daily basis?

Your options are:

News You Can Use

Spice Up Your Heart Health with Herbal Medicine

Spices can do a whole lot more than improve the taste of food. Learn which spices are most effective in preventing and reversing heart conditions. Read more>

The HealthCentral Network, 1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, #400, Arlington, VA 22209

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Parental Warning: Second-hand Smoke May Trigger Nicotine Dependence Symptoms In Kids (September 30, 2008) -- Parents who smoke cigarettes around their kids in cars and homes beware -- second-hand smoke may trigger symptoms of nicotine dependence in children. The findings are published in the September edition of the journal Addictive Behaviors in a joint study from nine Canadian institutions. ... > full story

New Way To Control Protein Activity Could Lead To Cancer Therapies (September 30, 2008) -- Investigators at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found a way to quickly and reversibly fine-tune the activity of individual proteins in cells and living mammals, providing a powerful new laboratory tool for identifying — more precisely than ever before — the functions of different proteins. ... > full story

Robotic Surgery Lowers Risk Of A Rare But Serious Complication Of Gastric Bypass, Study Suggests (September 30, 2008) -- The use of a robot to assist with the most commonly performed weight-loss surgery appears to significantly lower a patient's risk of developing a rare but serious complication, according to a study published in the Journal of Robotic Surgery. ... > full story

Community-based Behavior Change Management Cuts Neonatal Mortality In Half (September 30, 2008) -- A community-based program that reinforces basic childbirth and newborn care practices can reduce a baby's risk of death within the first month of life by as much as 54 percent, according to a new study. ... > full story

How A 'Stuck Accelerator' Causes Cancer Cell Expansion (September 30, 2008) -- What allows cancer cells to divide uncontrolled? The cellular oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are analogous to the accelerator and brake pedals in a car. If an oncogene is permanently active, similar to a stuck accelerator in a car, cells divide without restraints and a tumor develops. ... > full story

Age Alone Should Not Be Used To Determine Whether To Treat Prostate Cancer With Hormones, Research Suggests (September 30, 2008) -- Concerns regarding the association of hormone therapy used to treat prostate cancer with cardiovascular disease in some older men may lead doctors to forgo hormone treatment solely on the basis of age. But a new study shows that men over age 70 with high-risk prostate cancer lived longer and experienced increases in PSA less frequently when treated with long-term androgen deprivation therapy. ... > full story

Drinking Alcohol Before 15 Years Of Age Is Risky For Later Alcohol Problems (September 30, 2008) -- Researchers have known that age of first drink (AFD) is associated with the later development of alcohol-use disorders (AUDs). New findings show that an early AFD, before the age of 15, is especially risky for later AUDs. Experts recommend delaying the onset of drinking behavior as late as possible, until 18 or older. ... > full story

Out Of Iraq Emerges Hope For Those With Severest Of Head Injuries (September 29, 2008) -- There may be more hope than has been recognized for some people with severe brain injuries, according to a US neurosurgeon who earlier this year spent four months in Iraq treating soldiers and civilians. ... > full story

Popular COPD Treatment Increases Risk For Cardiac Events, Cardiac Death (September 29, 2008) -- The use of the most commonly prescribed once-a-day treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for longer than one month increases the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack or stroke by more than 50 percent, according to new research. ... > full story

Helping Dogs With Cancer May Benefit People (September 29, 2008) -- A new study may one day help not only our canine friends with cancer, but also people with the human form of the disease. ... > full story

New Predictive Tool Can Help Determine Treatment Of Breast Cancer Patients (September 29, 2008) -- A new predictive measurement, called a PEPI score, could bring good news to many women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer -- a low PEPI (preoperative endocrine prognostic index) score could show that they have little risk of relapse, and can safely avoid chemotherapy after surgery. ... > full story

Helping Students With Mental Illnesses: Support Services Prepare For 'What If' Scenarios (September 29, 2008) -- Nationally, an estimated 15 percent of students experience some form of mental illness such as major depression while in college. Many often struggle with where to get support. ... > full story

Getting Lost: A Newly Discovered Developmental Brain Disorder (September 29, 2008) -- Researchers have recently documented the first case of a patient who, without apparent brain damage or cognitive impairment, is unable to orient within any environment. Researchers also believe that there are many others in the general population who may be affected by this developmental topographical disorder. ... > full story

Deadly Rugby Virus Spreads In Sumo Wrestlers (September 29, 2008) -- Rugby players may get more than just the ball out of a scrum -- herpes virus can cause a skin disease called "scrumpox" and it spreads through physical contact. Researchers have studied the spread of the disease among sumo wrestlers in Japan and have discovered that a new strain of the virus could be even more pathogenic, according to an article in the Journal of General Virology. ... > full story

Black Patients At Higher Risk For Colon Polyps (September 29, 2008) -- Compared with white patients, black patients undergoing screening colonoscopy have a higher prevalence of colon polyps. ... > full story

Independent Brain Pathways Generate Positive Or Negative Reappraisals Of Emotional Events (September 29, 2008) -- Scientists now have a better understanding of how the human brain orchestrates the sophisticated pathways involved in the regulation of emotions. New research identifies brain pathways that underlie reinterpretation of aversive images in ways that reduce or enhance their negative emotional intensity. ... > full story

Do 'Light' Cigarettes Deliver Less Nicotine To The Brain Than Regular Cigarettes? (September 29, 2008) -- So-called light (low) nicotine cigarettes act in a similar way to regular cigarettes by occupying most of the common nicotine receptors in the brain. ... > full story

Childhood Cancer Survivors Continue To Have Higher Mortality Rates than the General Population (September 29, 2008) -- Survivors of childhood or adolescent cancer have a greater than 8-fold increased risk of death than the general U.S. population 16 to 32 years after hitting the five-year survival mark. ... > full story

Sexual Practice Of Polygyny Skews Genetic Variability (September 29, 2008) -- Researchers have found DNA evidence that polygyny, the practice among males of siring children with multiple female partners at the same time or successively, has led to an excess of genetic diversity on the X chromosome relative to the autosomes. ... > full story

Microscopic Version Of CT Scan Reveals Secrets Of Bone Formation (September 29, 2008) -- A new version of the computerized tomography (CT) scan, which revolutionized medical imaging during the last 25 years, is giving scientists precious new information about how Mother Nature forms shells, bones, and other hard structures in animals ranging from guppies to mice. ... > full story

Discovery May Help Diabetic Gastric Problem (September 29, 2008) -- Researchers have found what may provide a solution to one of the more troubling complications of diabetes -- delayed gastric emptying or gastroparesis. The researchers showed in animal models that a red blood cell derivative increases production of a key molecule, normalizing the digestive process. ... > full story

Why Does Gecko, A Chinese Traditional Medicine, Have Anti-tumor Effects? (September 29, 2008) -- Gecko is a Chinese traditional medicine. It has definite effect on malignant tumor, especially on digestive system tumor. A research group in China found that Gecko powder could inhibit EC9706 and EC1 growth and proliferation. Gecko can also decrease vascular endothelin growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor expression in tumor tissue and induce tumor cell apoptosis. ... > full story

Protecting Patient Privacy The New Fashioned Way (September 29, 2008) -- The Medical De-identification System (MeDS) is a highly accurate and speedy computer software program designed to de-identify patient information while retaining the essential data key to medical research, according to a new study. ... > full story

Risky Behaviors On TV May Be Modeled By Inexperienced Viewers (September 29, 2008) -- Inexperienced viewers are more likely to mimic unsafe behavior on TV, regardless of the consequences displayed, a new study finds. ... > full story

Existing Anti-obesity Drugs May Be Effective Against Flu, Hepatitis And HIV (September 29, 2008) -- Viruses dramatically increase cellular metabolism, and existing anti-obesity drugs may represent a new way to block these metabolic changes and inhibit viral infection, according to a new study in the journal Nature Biotechnology. ... > full story

Is The Salad Bar Safe? Produce Concerns Linger After Summer Scares (September 29, 2008) -- Widespread reports had most people afraid to eat tomatoes this summer and when tomatoes were vindicated, eating peppers became a fear. A food safety expert says there is only so much that can be done to assure produce is safe to eat. ... > full story

Vascular Marker Of Ovarian Cancer Identified (September 29, 2008) -- Researchers have identified TEM1 as a specific genetic marker for the vascular cells associated with tumor growth, a finding that could aid in diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer. ... > full story

Voice-Commanded Robot Wheelchair Finds Its Own Way (September 29, 2008) -- A new kind of autonomous wheelchair under development can learn all about the locations in a given building, and then take its occupant to a given place in response to a verbal command. ... > full story

Ethical Argument: Include Pregnant Women In Research (September 29, 2008) -- Why aren't pregnant women included in most clinical trials? That's the question posed by leading bioethicists, who say it's time to confront the challenges that have led to the exclusion of pregnant women from important research that could positively impact maternal and fetal health. ... > full story

New Understanding Of Diabetes Drug Target (September 29, 2008) -- Scientists have made a new advance in the study of major diabetes drug target. The advance -- described by the researchers as 'very significant' -- could lead to new drugs being developed to target a protein that plays a critical role in controlling the way the body breaks down sugar. ... > full story

Pistachio Nuts May Improve Heart Health (September 29, 2008) -- Going green may be heart healthy if the green you choose is pistachio nuts, according to researchers who conducted the first study to investigate the way pistachios lower cholesterol. ... > full story

Hormone Therapy May Be Safe For Postmenopausal BRCA Mutation Carriers (September 29, 2008) -- The use of hormone therapy was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women who carry BRCA mutations, according to a case-control study. ... > full story

Optimism Experts Handicap The Presidential Election With About 6 Weeks Remaining Until Nov. 4 (September 29, 2008) -- Researchers have determined that the most optimistic candidates win more than 80 percent of presidential elections dating back to 1900. A new study measures the optimism of this year's candidates. ... > full story

Novel Attempt Of Gene Therapy For Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (September 29, 2008) -- There are considerable endocrine cells in gastrointestinal tracts. These cells may be the potential and ideal target cells in gene therapy of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Chitosan nanoparticle is a kind of non-viral vector. A research group in China investigated the gene therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus in rats by gastrointestinal administration of chitosan nanoparticles containing human insulin gene. ... > full story

New Tool To Assess Speech Development In Infants, Toddlers With Hearing Impairments (September 29, 2008) -- The number of hearing impaired infants and toddlers who are successfully aided by technological devices, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, continues to grow, but there are still unknowns about these children's speaking abilities. ... > full story

Side Effects Severely Under-reported In ENT Medical Journals (September 29, 2008) -- Harms and adverse events (untoward side effects of surgery or medicine) have been under-reported or poorly described at an alarming low rate by the publishing authors in the four leading otolaryngology medical journals, according to new research. ... > full story

Promising Approach In Prevention And Treatment Of Pancreatic Cancer (September 29, 2008) -- Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal human cancers and continues to be a major unsolved health problem. The overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor and its ligands correlates with rapidly progressive disease and resistance to chemotherapy. ... > full story

Neuropeptide Y System Linked To More Severe Form Of Alcohol Dependence (September 29, 2008) -- Prior animal research showed an association between the neuropeptide Y (NPY) pathway and its three receptor genes and alcohol dependence, alcohol withdrawal and cocaine use. New human findings link two NPY receptor genes, NPY2R and NPY5R, with a more severe form of AD, and cocaine dependence. ... > full story

Impact Of Stress On Police Officers' Physical And Mental Health (September 29, 2008) -- Policing is dangerous work, and the danger lurks not on the streets alone. The pressures of law enforcement put officers at risk for high blood pressure, insomnia, increased levels of destructive stress hormones, heart problems, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide, researchers have found through a decade of studies of police officers. ... > full story

Novel Mechanism To Reduce Nervous System Inflammation Identified (September 28, 2008) -- Researchers have discovered a new way to limit inflammation caused by the activation of microglia -- key immune cells in the brain. Although the role of such cells is to "clean up damage" after injury, they often worsen the damage by releasing toxic inflammatory factors. ... > full story

Brain Imaging Study Provides New Insight Into Why People Pay Too Much In Auctions (September 28, 2008) -- Auctions are an old and widely used method for allocating goods that have become increasingly common with the advent of internet auctions sites such as Ebay. Previous economic research has shown that in an auction people tend to bid "too high," or overbid, given the value of the item for sale. By combining brain imaging techniques with behavioral economic research, neuroscientists and economists were able to provide new insight into this tendency to overbid. ... > full story

Inhibiting Cholesterol-associated Protein Reduces High-risk Blockages In Arteries (September 28, 2008) -- Using the drug darapladib, researchers have inhibited a cholesterol-and immune system-associated protein, thereby reducing the development of heart-disease plaques that may cause death, heart attacks, and strokes in a pig model of atherosclerosis and diabetes. ... > full story

Workers More Prone To Lie In E-mail, And Feel Justified In Lying (September 28, 2008) -- A pair of recent studies suggest that E-mail is the most deceptive form of communications in the workplace -- even more so than more traditional kinds of written communications, like pen-and-paper. More surprising is that people actually feel justified when lying using E-mail, the studies show. ... > full story

CDC Urges More Children To Get Flu Shots (September 28, 2008) -- For the first time, health officials are urging all kids going back to school to get a flu shot. It's one of the changes being made after last year's bad influenza season. The Food and Drug Administration has also reformulated the vaccine to better combat the virus. The vaccine was largely ineffective last year, blocking only 40 percent of the strains of influenza virus, compared to the usual 70 to 90 percent protection rate. ... > full story

Majority Of Children Vaccinated Against Hepatitis B Not At Increased Risk Of Multiple Sclerosis, Study Shows (September 28, 2008) -- The majority of children vaccinated against hepatitis B are not at an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study in Neurology. ... > full story

Most Elementary Schools In California Will Fail To Meet Proficiency Requirements By 2014, Study Shows (September 28, 2008) -- A new study shows that nearly all elementary schools in California will fail to meet the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements for proficiency by 2014, the year when all students in the nation need to be proficient in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics, per the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. For most schools, the greatest risk of failing AYP lies with ELA proficiency, the study finds. ... > full story

Brand Attitudes Improve When Product Is Paired With Favorable Actor (September 28, 2008) -- Love a rap artist's music, and you may develop fond feelings for the products placed in that artist's rap video. But, researchers recently found that the evaluation of brand decreases when paired with a negatively viewed actor. ... > full story

Working Environment Is One Cause Of Rheumatoid Arthritis (September 28, 2008) -- It has long been known that environmental factors play a part in the development of rheumatoid arthritis; smoking and drinking alcohol, along with heredity, are particularly instrumental in increasing the risk of the disease. Scientists have now produced results that suggest that working environment factors can also increase the chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis. ... > full story

Moderate Drinking May Help Lower Heart Failure Risk


	High Blood Pressure NEWS AND VIEWS
	September 29, 2008

		Moderate Drinking May Help Lower Heart Failure Risk In a study of men enrolled in the Physicians' Health Study I, consuming low-to-moderate amounts of alcohol appeared to reduce the risk of heart failure in subjects with high blood pressure, or hypertension. Read more>

This Week's News	See all High Blood Pressure news

Inexpensive ways to lower blood pressure In this article from U.S. News & World Report, a reporter has compiled a list of five cheap ways to lower blood pressure. Read more>

Clinical trial: New device for hard-to-treat hypertension Call for people ages 21 years to 80 years old who have hard-to-treat high blood pressure to participate in a study. Read more>

Six ways to save money on health care A reporter has compiled six Web sites that may help you save money on such health care expenses as dental work, prescriptions, and contact lenses. Read more>

Sponsored Health Center Find options for heart valve replacement. Read more>

	Quiz of the Week
	Quiz: Do You Know How to Raise Your HDL? If you just received your latest cholesterol results and you're wondering how you can raise that elusive HDL, take this quiz to find out.

Today's Poll

How many alcoholic drinks do you consume, on average, in a week?

Your options are:

1
2
3
4+
None, I don't drink

News You Can Use

Blood Pressure Facts and Myths: A Heart Health Consumer Guide

Join our very own heart health consumer advocate, HeartHawk, as he debunks many popular health claims about high blood pressure. Read more>

The HealthCentral Network, 1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, #400, Arlington, VA 22209

Long Term Statin Use May Hinder Muscle Repair


	Cholesterol NEWS AND VIEWS
	September 29, 2008

Statins Can Hinder Muscle Repair Statins, taken by millions to lower cholesterol, may hinder the body's ability to repair muscles, University of Alabama researchers report. Read more>

		COMMENTARY Lower Cholesterol with Effortless Exercises, Part 1 Here are some examples from Expert Lisa Nelson on how to boost your fitness when at home and work. Read more>

This Week's News	See all Cholesterol news

Lowering cholesterol with better eating Maintaining a healthy weight and eating a heart-friendly diet are just as important as taking statins for reducing cholesterol's risks. Read more>

Study: Lipitor ads may mislead women Researchers say that though the cholesterol-lowering drug has long been marketed to both men and women, they have been unable to find adequate evidence that Lipitor actually helps women lower their risk of having a heart attack. Read more>

Sponsored Health Center Find options for heart valve replacement. Read more>

	Quiz of the Week
	Quiz: Do You Know How to Raise Your HDL? If you just received your latest cholesterol results and you're wondering how you can raise that elusive HDL, take this quiz to find out.

Today's Poll

Do you strength train on a regular basis?

Your options are:

News You Can Use

Tips on How to Raise Your HDL

Learn top tips on how to raise your HDL - the "good" cholesterol. Read more>

The HealthCentral Network, 1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, #400, Arlington, VA 22209

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Monday, September 29, 2008

Deactivating A Cancer Growth Promoter (September 28, 2008) -- Three enzymes called phosphatases that shut down a molecule called SRC-3 (steroid receptor coactivator 3) could provide a new pathway for fighting cancer, particularly tumors of the breast and prostate, said researchers in the journal Molecular Cell. ... > full story

Hospital Patients Are Discharged Earlier On Busier Days (September 28, 2008) -- A new study suggests that patients are discharged earlier than expected on days when hospitals face highest demand. ... > full story

Learning From Mistakes Only Works After Age 12, Study Suggests (September 27, 2008) -- Eight-year-old children have a radically different learning strategy from twelve-year-olds. Eight-year-olds learn primarily from positive feedback, whereas negative feedback scarcely causes any alarm bells to ring. Twelve-year-olds are better able to process negative feedback, and use it to learn from their mistakes. The switch in learning strategy can be seen in the brain areas responsible for cognitive control. ... > full story

Lung Cancer: Radiation, Immunotherapy Gives Greater Effectiveness, Study Suggests (September 27, 2008) -- Scientists have found the right formula of radiation and immunotherapy for fighting lung cancer tumors in mice, which they hope will translate to better treatment in human lung cancers. ... > full story

New Tool Helps Physicians Tailor Hormone Therapy For High-risk Prostate Cancer Patients (September 27, 2008) -- Using one of the largest databases of prostate cancer outcomes in the United States, Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers have developed a prediction tool that uses a patient's clinical information to estimate the benefit of adding androgen deprivation therapy of various durations to radiation therapy. ... > full story

Size And Fitness Levels Of NHL Players Have Improved, Study Shows (September 27, 2008) -- Researchers looked at a National Hockey League team over a 26-year cycle and discovered players have become bigger and fitter. ... > full story

Tobacco-movie Industry Ties Traced To Hollywood's Early Years (September 27, 2008) -- Today's movie industry still draws on those images to justify smoking in movies -- even as public health experts call for smoking to be eliminated from youth-rated films. Last month the National Cancer Institute concluded that on-screen smoking causes youth to start smoking. ... > full story

Gene Variant Boosts Risk Of Fatty Liver Disease (September 27, 2008) -- Researchers have found that individuals who carry a specific form of the gene PNPLA3 have more fat in their livers and a greater risk of developing liver inflammation. ... > full story

Vaccine For Pneumococcus Disease Possible, With New Immune System Finding (September 27, 2008) -- New research has shown how the immune system detects and destroys the bug, pneumococcus, which could help in the development of a new vaccine against the disease. ... > full story

Breast Cancer Treatment Resistance Linked To Signaling Pathway (September 27, 2008) -- Activation of the Src signaling pathway may cause resistance to standard medical treatment in some patients with breast cancer, and inhibition of this pathway holds the potential to overcome that resistance, according to new data. ... > full story

Weak Bladders Deter Many Young Women From Sports Participation (September 27, 2008) -- A weak bladder is putting many young women off participating in sport, or prompting them to give it up altogether, suggests new research. ... > full story

Open Cancer Surgery Set To Become A Thing Of The Past, According To Experts (September 27, 2008) -- The surgeon's knife is playing an ever smaller role in the treatment of cancer, as it is replaced by increasingly efficient and safe radiation therapy techniques. Progress in radiation technology will also lead to better detection rates for cancer, according to experts. ... > full story

Toward A Fast, Life-saving Test For Identifying The Purity Of Heroin (September 27, 2008) -- Scientists are reporting an advance toward a new method for determining the purity of heroin that could save lives by allowing investigators to quickly identify impure and more toxic forms of the drug being sold on the street. Unlike conventional tests, it does not destroy the original drug sample, according to their report. ... > full story

Calorie Restriction Does Not Appear To Induce Bone Loss In Overweight Adults (September 27, 2008) -- Young adults who follow a diet that is low in calories but nutritionally sound for six months appear to lose weight and fat without significant bone loss, according to a new article. ... > full story

Personality Can Hamper Physician's Assessment Of Depression (September 27, 2008) -- A physician's personality can affect practice behavior in inquiries about patient mood symptoms and the diagnosis of depression, according to a new study. ... > full story

Animals Farmed For Meat Are The No. 1 Source Of Food Poisoning Bug, Study Shows (September 26, 2008) -- A study, based on DNA-sequence comparison of thousands of bacterial samples collected from human patients and animal carriers, found that 97 percent of campylobacteriosis cases sampled in Lancashire, UK, were caused by bacteria typically found in chicken and livestock. ... > full story

Peptide Ghrelin May Be Involved In Both Alcohol Dependence And Overeating (September 26, 2008) -- Ghrelin is a peptide found mostly in the stomach but also in the brain. Ghrelin is known to have an effect on food intake by increasing feelings of hunger and the urge to eat. New findings show that the ghrelin system may also be involved in addictive behaviors and brain reward. ... > full story

Social Class Dictates Cancer Risk (September 26, 2008) -- Cervical and lung cancer are more common in poor people while rates of breast cancer and melanoma are higher in the wealthy. A detailed analysis of the incidence of these four different kinds of cancer, carried out on more than 300,000 English cancer patients and published in BMC Cancer, describes the effects of socioeconomic group, region and age. ... > full story

Scientists Unmask Key HIV Protein, Open Door For More Powerful AIDS Drugs (September 26, 2008) -- Scientists have provided the most detailed picture yet of a key HIV accessory protein that foils the body's normal immune response. Based on the findings, the team is searching for new drugs that may someday allow infected people to be cured and no longer need today's AIDS drugs for a lifetime. ... > full story

Weight Loss Surgery May Be Associated With Bone Loss (September 26, 2008) -- Weight loss surgery may be linked to deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D and bone loss, according to a new study. ... > full story

Post-traumatic Stress Experienced By Family Members Months After Loved One's Stay In Intensive Care Unit (September 26, 2008) -- Family members may experience post-traumatic stress as many as six months after a loved one's stay in a hospital's intensive care unit (ICU), according to a new study. The study found that symptoms of anxiety and depression in family members of ICU patients diminished over time, but high rates of post-traumatic stress and complicated grief remained. ... > full story

Pigs Bred With Cystic Fibrosis Provide Model To Mimic Human Disease (September 26, 2008) -- Cystic fibrosis continues to be a lethal disease for humans despite the identification of the problematic gene two decades ago. Many humans born with CF -- the most common genetic disease in Caucasians -- often die because of a lung disease developed later. Scientists have been unable to develop an animal model that develops the fatal lung disease. Now, one researcher is producing pigs born with cystic fibrosis that mimic the exact symptoms of a newborn with CF. ... > full story

Broken Arm? Women Recover Muscle Strength More Slowly Than Men, After Cast Is Removed (September 26, 2008) -- Women are four times more likely than men to experience a broken forearm and require a cast (immobilization). To examine if casting had an effect on gender, researchers immobilized a limb from among volunteers of both sexes. They found men were able to regain 99 percent of their strength within a week of removing the cast, but women's strength was still 30 percent lower than before the cast was applied. ... > full story

Low Sperm Count May Be Associated With Prenatal Testosterone Excess (September 26, 2008) -- Exposure to an excess of sexual steroids, like testosterone, during fetal development may be a potential risk factor for low sperm count and motility, according to a new study. ... > full story

Unraveling 'Math Dyslexia' (September 26, 2008) -- New research could change the way we view math difficulties and how we assist children who face those problems. Scientists are using brain imaging to understand how children develop math skills, and what kind of brain development is associated with those skills. ... > full story

New Approach To Gene Therapy May Shrink Brain Tumors, Prevent Their Spread (September 26, 2008) -- Researchers are investigating a new approach to gene therapy for brain tumors -- delivering a cancer-fighting gene to normal brain tissue around the tumor to keep it from spreading. They have found that inducing mouse brain cells to secrete human interferon-beta suppressed and eliminated growth of human glioblastoma cells implanted nearby. ... > full story

Differences Between People And Animals On Calorie Restriction (September 26, 2008) -- Calorie restriction, a diet that is low in calories and high in nutrition, may not be as effective at extending life in people as it is in rodents, according to scientists. ... > full story

Iron-moving Malfunction May Underlie Neurodegenerative Diseases, Aging (September 26, 2008) -- A glitch in the ability to move iron around in cells may underlie a disease known as Type IV mucolipidosis and the suite of symptoms -- mental retardation, poor vision and diminished motor abilities -- that accompany it, new research shows. ... > full story

Avid Online Role-players Do Not Fit Gamer Stereotypes (September 26, 2008) -- Players of online role-playing games tend to be older and fitter than suggested by popular stereotypes, survey finds. Older players also log more playing time, and women tend to be more committed to the game. ... > full story

Fishy Diet In Early Infancy Cuts Eczema Risk (September 26, 2008) -- An infant diet that includes fish before the age of 9 months curbs the risk of developing eczema, indicates research in the Archives of Disease in Childhood. ... > full story

Genetic Testing Anywhere: Micro-sizes Hand-held 'Lab-on-a-chip' Devices Under Development (September 26, 2008) -- Using new "lab on a chip" technology, chemists hope to create a hand-held device that may eventually allow physicians, crime scene investigators, pharmacists, even the general public to quickly and inexpensively conduct DNA tests from almost anywhere, without need for a complex and expensive central laboratory. ... > full story

Mapping The Neuron-behavior Link In Rett Syndrome (September 26, 2008) -- A link between certain behaviors and the lack of the protein associated with Rett Syndrome -- a devastating autism spectrum disorder -- demonstrates the importance of MeCP2 (the protein) and reveals never-before recognized functions associated with aggression and obesity, said researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in the journal Neuron. ... > full story

New Technique Sees Into Tissue At Greater Depth, Resolution (September 26, 2008) -- By coupling a kicked-up version of microscopy with miniscule particles of gold, Duke University scientists are now able to peer so deep into living tissue that they can see molecules interacting. ... > full story

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Sunday, September 28, 2008

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Saturday, September 27, 2008

How to Improve Your Cholesterol Score

Heart Health
September 26, 2008

Staying Heart Healthy
Don't Just Focus on Lowering Bad Cholesterol ...

Do you know what your cholesterol numbers are? If you're trying to control your cholesterol and stay heart healthy, you might want to think about increasing your good cholesterol. Why? Because increasing your good cholesterol actually helps to lower bad cholesterol.

Connect: Learn more and share your stories with others on the Heart Health message board, and test your knowledge with the Cholesterol quiz.

Heart Healthy News

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Many Doctors Don't Know Blood Pressure Guidelines

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Weight Loss Surgery

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Questions for Your Weight Loss Surgeon
Talking with your doctor about weight loss surgery can be difficult. Read our guide on tips for speaking with your physician about the benefits and risks of surgery. Learn more>>>

Achieve Your Weight-Loss Goals
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ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Friday, September 26, 2008

Cochlear Implants In Children A Safe Procedure, Study Suggests (September 26, 2008) -- In the six decades since French and American surgeons implanted the first cochlear hearing devices, the procedure in children has become reliable, safe, and relatively free of severe complications, according to new research. ... > full story

Young Women With Early Form Of Breast Cancer No More Likely To Experience Recurrence Than Older Women (September 26, 2008) -- Young women with DCIS, a common form of early breast cancer that arises in and is confined to the mammary ducts, are presumed more likely to have recurrences than older women with the same diagnosis. But a new study from Fox Chase Cancer Center rebuffs this conventional thinking. ... > full story

Coming Soon: Self-guided, Computer-based Depression Treatment (September 26, 2008) -- Depression is a problem that could affect astronauts during long-duration spaceflights. Scientists are now developing a self-guided, multimedia program that will assist astronauts in recognizing and effectively managing depression and other psychosocial problems. In addition to protecting astronaut health, the system could have applications for health care on Earth, especially in rural locations where access to professional help is limited. ... > full story

Antioxidant Deficiency Linked To Pulmonary Hypertension (September 26, 2008) -- A recent study shows that a loss of antioxidants in the endothelial cells that line blood vessels in the lungs contributes to the loss of vasodilator effects and, ultimately, to the development of pulmonary hypertension. The findings appear in Clinical and Translational Science. ... > full story

Better Understanding Of Blood Vessel Constrictor Needed To Harness Its Power For Patients (September 26, 2008) -- To harness endothelin-1's power to constrict blood vessels and help patients manage high blood pressure or heart failure, scientists must learn more about how endothelin functions naturally and in disease states, says a Medical College of Georgia researcher. ... > full story

Increasing General Practice Opening Hours Could Prevent Recurrent Strokes (September 26, 2008) -- Increasing general practice opening hours would improve the opportunity for assessment and urgent referral to specialist care of patients with a transient ischaemic attack or minor stroke, which could prevent over 500 recurrent strokes a year in England alone, concludes a new study. ... > full story

Hospital Residents Report Patient-handoff Problems Common, Can Lead To Patient Harm (September 26, 2008) -- A significant percentage of resident physicians report that patient handoffs -- transfer of responsibility for a hospitalized patient from one resident to another -- contributed to incidents in which harm was done to patients. A new study identifies situations in which problematic handoffs are more likely to occur and factors that may interfere with the smooth transfer of crucial information. ... > full story

American Kids Most Medicated (September 25, 2008) -- American children are approximately three times more likely to be prescribed psychotropic medication than children in Europe. A new study published in the journal Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health claims that the differences may be accounted for by regulatory practices and cultural beliefs about the role of medication in emotional and behavioral problems. ... > full story

New Laboratory Technique Improves Success In 'Highly Sensitized' Kidney Transplants (September 25, 2008) -- Kidney transplant specialists have developed innovative laboratory techniques to improve opportunities and success rates for kidney transplant candidates who are at high risk of organ rejection because of previous exposure to donor antigens, according to a new article. ... > full story

Emotional People Likely To Move Away, But Not Likely To Move Often (September 25, 2008) -- The results suggest that personality traits determine not only where people relocate to, but also how often they move and how far away they move. People who are very emotional are more likely to move away from home, but do not migrate very far and do not move very often. People with very social personalities are more inclined to leave rural settings for urban areas and are more likely to migrate over long distances. ... > full story

Bladder Cancer Detected Via Amplified Gene In Cells Found In Urine (September 25, 2008) -- Counting the copies of a specific gene in cells gathered from a urine sample may provide a simple, noninvasive way to detect bladder cancer, researchers report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. ... > full story

Aspirin And Atherosclerosis: Mechanism Uncovered (September 25, 2008) -- Researchers have uncovered the mechanism that may explain aspirin's ability to prevent arterial plaque buildup and atherosclerosis. ... > full story

What To Do With Leftover Embryos In Fertility Clinics? (September 25, 2008) -- The majority of infertility patients are in favor of using left-over embryos for stem cell research and would also support selling left-over embryos to other couples, according to a recent survey. ... > full story

Epilepsy, Autism, Schizophrenia: Master Switch That 'Balances The Brain' Found (September 25, 2008) -- Neuroscientists have identified the first known "master switch" to orchestrate the formation and maintenance of inhibitory synapses on neurons, essential for proper brain function. The switch, called Npas4, regulates more than 200 genes that calm over-excited cells, restoring a balance that is thought to go askew in neurologic disorders like epilepsy, autism and schizophrenia. Inhibitory connections are also required to launch critical periods, when the brain can readily rewire and learn. ... > full story

Statins Increase Risk Of Postoperative Delirium In Elderly Patients, Study Suggests (September 25, 2008) -- The use of statins is associated with a 28 percent increased risk of postoperative delirium in elderly patients, scientists found in a retrospective cohort analysis involving more than 280 000 patients. ... > full story

Burden Of Neglected Tropical Diseases In Latin America And Caribbean May Exceed That Of HIV/AIDS, TB And Malaria (September 25, 2008) -- According to a new analysis, neglected tropical diseases as a group may have surpassed HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as the most prevalent infectious diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean. ... > full story

Stopping Cancer Cells Before They Start? Inhibitor Of Gene Regulator Discovered (September 25, 2008) -- A chemist has discovered a molecule that can potentially stop the production of cancer cells at the very beginning of the process by switching off the gene regulators responsible for turning healthy cells into cancer cells. The discovery could lead to the development of drugs that can treat some of the deadliest forms of cancer, including brain cancer. ... > full story

Whole Brain Radiation Increases Risk Of Learning And Memory Problems In Cancer Patients (September 25, 2008) -- Cancer patients who receive stereotactic radiosurgery and whole brain radiation therapy for the treatment of metastatic brain tumors have more than twice the risk of developing learning and memory problems than those treated with SRS alone, according to new research. ... > full story

Obesity Surgery Performed Through Vagina, U.S. First (September 25, 2008) -- Surgeons have performed the nation's first gastrectomy, a partial removal of the stomach, through the vagina. This new "natural orifice" technique may be an attractive alternative for the 200,000 U.S. patients who undergo surgery for the treatment of obesity each year. ... > full story

New Instrument Can Quickly Examine Multiple Proteins In A Single Cancer Sample (September 25, 2008) -- Researchers have demonstrated a new instrument that makes it possible to detect and quantify multiple different clinically important proteins in a single tumor sample using conventional staining. Currently, pathologists usually need a separate tissue slice for each protein they want to examine, making it impossible to see how molecules interact within individual cells. ... > full story

Political Conservatives Fear Chaos; Liberals Fear Emptiness (September 25, 2008) -- Political conservatives operate out of a fear of chaos and absence of order while political liberals operate out of a fear of emptiness, a new study finds. Social scientists long have assumed that liberals are more rational and less fearful than conservatives, but new research finds that both groups view the world as "a dangerous place." To better understand the differences, researchers asked 128 socially active churchgoers: what if there were no God? ... > full story

New Virus Is Culprit, Not Bystander, In Deadly Skin Cancer (September 25, 2008) -- Scientists are uncovering more evidence that a virus they recently discovered is the cause of Merkel cell carcinoma, an aggressive and deadly form of skin cancer. The findings put to rest the possibility that MCV infects tumors that already have formed. If that were the case, the virus would be a passenger rather than the driver of the disease. ... > full story

Study Of 'Big Eaters' Could Lead To Better Asthma Treatments (September 25, 2008) -- A new study into the role of a particular immune cell in the lungs could lead to better treatments for the 5 million people in the UK affected by asthma. ... > full story

Caffeine Experts Call For Warning Labels For Energy Drinks (September 25, 2008) -- Scientists who have spent decades researching the effects of caffeine report that a slew of caffeinated energy drinks now on the market should carry prominent labels that note caffeine doses and warn of potential health risks for consumers. ... > full story

Rare Genetic Disorder Gives Clues To Autism, Epilepsy, Mental Retardation (September 25, 2008) -- Studying a rare genetic disorder called tuberous sclerosis complex, researchers have uncovered a possible cause of some neurodevelopmental disorders: structural abnormalities in neurons. The growth of too many axons, resulting in an exuberance of brain connections, supports recent thinking that autism, epilepsy and mental retardation (all common complications of TSC) stem at least partly from abnormal brain connectivity. The researchers also found, in mice, that normal neuronal structure can potentially be restored. ... > full story

HPV DNA Test Identifies Cervical Pre-cancerous Disease In Developing Countries With 90% Success Rate (September 25, 2008) -- Results of the first study to determine the accuracy of a new rapid screening test for HPV created specifically for use in the developing world, have shown it to be 90 percent accurate in detecting precancerous cervical disease when tested on a group of local women in Shanxi province, eastern China. ... > full story

Split In Perception Of Similarity Could Double Web Advertising (September 25, 2008) -- Psychology researchers have found a radical 50/50 split in how people decide "What makes two things seem similar?". This research could mean that some advertisers and marketers could be failing to reach up to half of their potential audience and it could double the number of opportunities available in key web advertising methods such as Google AdWords. ... > full story

New Drug Target For Inflammatory Disease Discovered (September 25, 2008) -- Researchers have defined a cellular process that promotes inflammation and, at the same time, found an important starting point for identifying and testing new drugs for diseases such as sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. ... > full story

Isoflavone Dietary Supplement Improves Functioning Of Arteries In Stroke Patients (September 25, 2008) -- A dietary supplement containing isoflavone -- a chemical found in soybeans, chickpeas, legumes and clovers -- can improve artery function in stroke patients according to new research. ... > full story

Compounds That Prevent Nerve Damage Discovered (September 24, 2008) -- Scientists have made a significant finding that could lead to better drugs for several degenerative diseases including Huntington's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Compounds that block the activity of a specific enzyme prevented brain injury and greatly improved survival in fruit flies that had the same disease process found in Huntington's disease. ... > full story

European Research Effort Tackles Dangerous Mould (September 24, 2008) -- Ubiquitous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus poses an increasing threat to patients with compromised immune systems. The European Science Foundation has launched a new Research Networking Programme, FUMINOMICS, to study the basic genetic and molecular mechanisms employed by the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus when infecting host cells. ... > full story

What Is The Best Strategy For Treating Helicobacter Pylori? (September 24, 2008) -- The best treatment for Helicobacter pylori is not yet established. The organism is becoming resistant to some of the treatments. This study compared the standard three drug treatment with a four drug treatment in a rural hospital in UK. They concluded that four drugs remain the best option for white Caucasians in rural UK, except for some the side effects. ... > full story

Holiday Drug Taking Linked To Acts Of Violence (September 24, 2008) -- A new study shows that high levels of drug and alcohol consumption are behind the growth in violence among young tourists. The research work, focusing on Mallorca and Ibiza in Spain, shows that 5% of tourists visiting these areas become involved in some kind of violence during their stay. Ecstasy was the only drug consumed that the scientists have not linked to violent acts. ... > full story

Scientists Deliver Toxic Genes To Effectively Kill Pancreatic Cancer Cells (September 24, 2008) -- Investigators have achieved a substantial "kill" of pancreatic cancer cells by using nanoparticles to successfully deliver a deadly diphtheria toxin gene. The findings reflect the first time this unique strategy has been tested in pancreatic cancer cells, and the success seen offers promise for future pre-clinical animal studies, and possibly, a new clinical approach. ... > full story

Human Or Animal Faces Associated With At Least 90 Percent Of Cars By One-third Of Population (September 24, 2008) -- A new study investigated whether people ascribed certain traits to cars, as they do to human faces. One-third of the subjects associated a human or animal face with at least 90 percent of the cars. All subjects marked eyes (headlights), a mouth (air intake/grille), and a nose in more than 50 percent of the cars. Overall, people agreed which type of car possesses certain traits. The authors found that people liked cars most which had a wide stance, a narrow windshield, and/or widely spaced, narrow headlights. ... > full story

Stopping Smoking Reduces Postoperative Complications, Study Shows (September 24, 2008) -- Patients who stop smoking four weeks before an operation reduce the risk of complications, according to a new research. Moreover, many of those who receive help with this ahead of operations remain non-smokers for a long time afterwards. ... > full story

New, More Sensitive Nanotechnology Test For Chemical DNA Modifications Developed (September 24, 2008) -- Researchers have developed a novel test to screen for chemical modifications to DNA known as methylation. The technology potentially could be used both for early cancer diagnoses and for assessing patients' response to cancer therapies. ... > full story

Plant Antioxidant May Protect Against Radiation Exposure (September 24, 2008) -- Resveratrol, the natural antioxidant commonly found in red wine and many plants, may offer protection against radiation exposure, according to a new study. When altered with acetyl, resveratrol administered before radiation exposure proved to protect cells from radiation in mouse models. ... > full story

Breast MRI Scan Could Determine Need For Radiation Therapy (September 24, 2008) -- For women whose breast cancer has spread to their lymph nodes, a magnetic resonance imaging scan could replace exploratory surgery as the method for determining whether those women need radiation therapy to treat their disease, according to a study. ... > full story

New Technology Takes On Food Safety, Wastage And Inaccurate 'Best Before' Dates (September 24, 2008) -- Advances in sensing technology will help to reduce the wastage from 'farm to fork' that's contributing to the UK's £10 billion food wastage bill. ... > full story

'Casual' Smokers Have A Greater Risk Of Hazardous Drinking And Alcohol-use Disorders (September 24, 2008) -- Smokers are more likely to drink and drink heavily, and heavy smokers also tend to be heavy drinkers. New findings indicate that nondaily or "casual" smoking among young adults confers a greater risk of hazardous drinking and alcohol-use disorders. Casual smokers were 16 times more likely than non-smokers to be hazardous drinkers, and five times more likely to meet criteria for an AUD. ... > full story

Source Of Multipotent Stem Cells With Broad Regenerative Potential identified (September 24, 2008) -- In a promising finding for the field of regenerative medicine, stem cell researchers have identified a source of adult stem cells found on the walls of blood vessels with the unlimited potential to differentiate into human tissues such as bone, cartilage and muscle. ... > full story

Honeybee Venom Toxin Used To Develop New Tool For Studying Hypertension (September 24, 2008) -- Researchers have modified a honeybee venom toxin so that it can be used as a tool to study the inner workings of ion channels that control heart rate and the recycling of salt in kidneys. ... > full story

Strong Association Found Between Prevalence Of Low White Blood Count And Women Of African Descent (September 24, 2008) -- Researchers found a strong association between women of African descent from the US and Caribbean, who are otherwise healthy, and the prevalence of neutropenia, or low white blood count. Neutropenia, which is associated with race and ethnicity, has essentially been unexplained and, although thought to be benign, may affect therapy for cancer or other illnesses. Among women of African descent who develop a malignancy, this association may contribute to racial disparities in treatment and outcomes. ... > full story

Hidden Infections Crucial To Understanding, Controlling Disease Outbreaks (September 24, 2008) -- Scientists and news organizations typically focus on the number of dead and gravely ill during epidemics, but new research suggests that less dramatic, mild infections lurking in large numbers of people are the key to understanding cycles of at least one potentially fatal infectious disease: cholera. ... > full story

Un-total Recall: Amnesics Remember Grammar, But Not Meaning Of New Sentences (September 24, 2008) -- Scientists examined which type of memory function contributes to syntactic persistence by comparing amnesics with a group of control volunteers. The amnesics in this study experience anterograde amnesia and exhibit problems forming new memories — they cannot remember facts & events that occurred following their head injury. However, their procedural memory is still intact. For example, these patients will not remember that they received a new bike, but they will improve at riding the bike. ... > full story

New Vaccine Element Could Generate Better Protection From Avian Influenza (September 24, 2008) -- Current vaccines for influenza provide protection against specific seasonal influenza A strains and their close relatives, but not against more distant seasonal influenza A viruses and new avian influenza A viruses, such as H5N1, which still poses a real global health concern. However, new data have been generated that suggest adding a new component to vaccines for influenza might enable them to confer protection against a broader range of avian and seasonal influenza A viruses. ... > full story

New 3D Visualization Tool For Early Diagnosis Of Breast Cancer (September 24, 2008) -- Scientists from Finland, Germany and the ESRF have developed a new X-ray technique for the early detection of breast cancer. This allows a 3D visualization of the breast with a high spatial resolution and is extremely sensitive to alterations in the tissue, such as those generated by cancer. This technique could be used in the next years in hospitals. It may help doctors to detect tumours with greater precision than is possible using current X-ray mammography. ... > full story

Fall Recipe: Smoked Chicken and Black Bean Soup


	Cholesterol SHARE AND SUPPORT
	September 24, 2008

		Fall Recipe Allison Bush \| Posted: Sep 23, 2008 Smoked Chicken and Black Bean Soup Fall has arrived and so has the cooler weather. One of my favorite parts of this change in season is the food (naturally!). Try this savory soup from our sister site, FoodFit.com, to warm you up on a chilly night. Read more>

Question of the Week

steve | Posted: Sep 20, 2008

Do high triglycerides mark the onset of diabetes?

Heart-Healthy Eating Tips

		Dr. William Davis \| Posted: Sep 18, 2008 Foods Worse than Table Sugar Dr. Davis talks about everyday foods - most dubbed as "heart-healthy" - and their astounding nutritional facts. Read more>

Today's Poll

Do you like to cook?

Your options are:

The HealthCentral Network, 1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, #400, Arlington, VA 22209

Learn Which Foods Are Worse Than Table Sugar


	Heart Disease SHARE AND SUPPORT
	September 24, 2008

		Foods Worse than Table Sugar? Dr. William Davis \| Posted: Sep 18, 2008 You Don't Want to Know... Dr. Davis talks about everyday foods - most dubbed as "heart-healthy" - and their astounding nutritional facts. Read more>

Question of the Week

nanee seaside | Posted: Sep 22, 2008

If you have diseased arteries, what can be done?

Community Corner

		myownprison \| Posted: Sep 13, 2008 Unable to Take Deep Breath "I was wondering if anyone has been through not being able to take a full deep satisfying breath?" writes community member, myownprison. "I feel like I am suffocating and hungry for air. Sometimes it comes natural and sometimes I have to keep sighing and yawning to get a full deep breath...." Please share your experiences. Read more>

Today's Poll

Do you eat cereal on a regular basis?

Your options are:

The HealthCentral Network, 1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, #400, Arlington, VA 22209

Fwd: ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Thursday, September 25, 2008

High Blood Pressure Takes Big Toll On Small Filtering Units Of The Kidney (September 24, 2008) -- Take a kidney out of the body and it still knows how to filter toxins from the blood. But all bets are off in the face of high blood pressure. "How does the kidney know how to do it and why does it break in hypertension?" says Dr. Edward W. Inscho, physiologist in the Medical College of Georgia Schools of Medicine and Graduate Studies. ... > full story

Republican And Democratic Values Compared (September 24, 2008) -- Hoping to answer the question of which political party has a monopoly on the "best" values and how religion affects these values, a professor compared the "extrinsic" values (financial success, status, appearance) with "intrinsic" values (growth, intimacy, helping) of self-declared Democrats and Republicans in four different samples. ... > full story

When Healing Turns To Scarring: Research Reveals Why It Happens And How To Stop It (September 24, 2008) -- For the first time, research from the University of Western Ontario has revealed the mechanisms involved in the origin of scarring or fibrotic diseases, as well as a way to control it. The study, led by Andrew Leask of the CIHR Group in Skeletal Development and Remodeling, is published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Fibrotic diseases account for 40 percent of all deaths and health care costs in North America. ... > full story

People With Type 2 Diabetes Can Put Fatty Livers On A Diet With Moderate Exercise (September 24, 2008) -- Weekly bouts of moderate aerobic exercise on a bike or treadmill, or a brisk walk, combined with some weightlifting, may cut down levels of fat in the liver by up to 40 percent in people with type 2 diabetes, a study by physical fitness experts. ... > full story

Calorie-free Natural Sweetener Moves One Step Closer To Use In U. S. (September 24, 2008) -- Researchers are reporting an advance toward the possible use of a new natural non-caloric sweetener in soft drinks and other food products in the United States. Stevia, which is 300 times more potent than sugar but calorie-free, is already used in some countries as a food and beverage additive to help fight obesity and diabetes. ... > full story

Step Back To Move Forward Emotionally, Study Suggests (September 24, 2008) -- When you're upset or depressed, should you analyze your feelings to figure out what's wrong? Or should you just forget about it and move on? ... > full story

Dark Chocolate: Half A Bar Per Week May Keep Heart Attack Risk At Bay (September 24, 2008) -- Good news for chocolate lovers: 6.7 grams of chocolate per day represent the ideal amount for a protective effect against inflammation and subsequent cardiovascular disease. ... > full story

Family History Of Brain Tumors Linked To Increased Risk Of Brain Cancer (September 24, 2008) -- People with a family history of cancerous brain tumors appear to be at higher risk of developing the same kind of tumors compared to people with no such family history, according to a new study in Neurology. ... > full story

Exhaled Nitric Oxide Monitoring Does Not Improve On Guidelines-based Asthma Management, Study Finds (September 24, 2008) -- New research indicates that adolescent and young adult patients whose asthma is managed according to the latest NIH guidelines do not benefit from the addition of nitric-oxide monitoring. Nitric oxide is a biomarker for inflammation in the lungs. ... > full story

Severe Stress More Common Among Long-term Cancer Survivors (September 24, 2008) -- Long-term survivors of adult cancers are almost twice as likely to report psychological distress severe enough to cause moderate to serious problems functioning in social, work or school situations, compared to the general population, according to a large, national study. ... > full story

Stroke Incidence May Be Higher And Deadlier In American Indians (September 24, 2008) -- American Indians have a higher incidence of strokes than white or black Americans. Higher rates of hypertension, diabetes and cigarette smoking may account for the higher risk. The findings come from the largest population study of cardiovascular disease and risk factors in American Indians. ... > full story

Second Career For Growth Factor Receptor: Keeping Nerve Axons On Target (September 24, 2008) -- Neurons constituting the optic nerve wire up to the brain in a highly dynamic way. Using the mouse visual system, scientists have identified an unanticipated factor that helps keep retinal axons from going astray. ... > full story

Minimally-invasive Aortic Valve Bypass Benefits High-risk Elderly Patients (September 24, 2008) -- A study conducted at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore concludes that an uncommonly used surgical procedure that bypasses a narrowed aortic valve, rather than replacing it, effectively restores blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body and gives high-risk patients a safe alternative to conventional valve surgery. Aortic valve bypass is an important treatment option for high-risk elderly patients with a narrowed aortic valve, a condition called aortic stenosis. ... > full story

Behavioral Intervention Works To Reduce Risky Behavior (September 24, 2008) -- In an effort to curb the rising rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infections along the Mexico-US border, a binational team of researchers have shown that brief but personalized behavioral counseling significantly reduced rates and improved condom use among female sex workers in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. ... > full story

Benefit Of Combination Therapy For Alzheimer's Disease Confirmed (September 23, 2008) -- The first long-term study of the real-world use of Alzheimer's drugs finds that treatment can significantly slow the rate at which the disorder advances, and combination therapy with two different classes of drugs is even better at helping patients maintain their ability to perform daily activities. ... > full story

Looking Vs. Seeing (September 23, 2008) -- The superior colliculus has long been thought of as a rapid orienting center of the brain that allows the eyes and head to turn swiftly either toward or away from the sights and sounds in our environment. Two complementary studies have revealed that the superior colliculus performs supervisory functions in addition to the motor control it has long been known for. ... > full story

Geriatric Patients Receive Significant Benefit From Cochlear Implantation (September 23, 2008) -- Despite previous inconclusive research, geriatric patients do experience significant quality of life improvement after receiving cochlear implants for hearing loss, says new research. ... > full story

Disposable 'lab-on-a-chip' May Save Costs And Lives (September 23, 2008) -- Low-cost, disposable cartridges that would let doctors perform diagnostic tests at the point-of-care could speed up diagnosis and treatment while lowering costs. Researchers are rapidly closing in on that goal. ... > full story

Preventing Suicide In Low- To Middle-income Countries (September 23, 2008) -- An international study of almost 2,000 people in Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, Iran and China has shown that a low-cost strategy to keep in contact with people who have previously attempted suicide, can reduce the risk of subsequent suicides. ... > full story

Why Chemo Works For Some People And Not Others (September 23, 2008) -- MIT researchers have shown that cells from different people don't all react the same way when exposed to the same DNA-damaging agent -- a finding that could help clinicians predict how patients will respond to chemotherapy. ... > full story

Healthy Blood Vessels May Prevent Fat Growth (September 23, 2008) -- Cells lining blood vessels may perform an unsuspected task -- controlling the development of fat cells. Researchers found that precursor or stem cells have a markedly reduced tendency to develop into fat cells when placed in direct contact with healthy endothelial cells, which are the cells that line blood vessels. ... > full story

Facebook Profiles Can Be Used To Detect Narcissism (September 23, 2008) -- Online social networking sites such as Facebook might be useful tools for detecting whether someone is a narcissist, according to new research. ... > full story

Breast Cancer Survivors Have High Quality Of Life Up To 15 Years After Lumpectomy And Radiation (September 23, 2008) -- Women with breast cancer who are treated with lumpectomy and radiation report a high level of overall quality of life several years after treatment that is comparable to a general sampling of the adult women US population according to a survey conducted by physicians at Fox Chase Cancer Center. ... > full story

Immigrant Children Are Increasingly More Likely To Lack Health Coverage In U.S. (September 23, 2008) -- Contrary to public perceptions, foreign-born children are increasingly uninsured, rather than publicly insured, in the wake of immigration policy changes, according to a study by public health researchers. ... > full story

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Secondhand Smoke Linked To Peripheral Artery Disease In Women (September 23, 2008) -- This is the first study to link secondhand smoke to increased risk of peripheral artery disease in women. Researchers found an increased risk of stroke and coronary heart disease in older Chinese women who were exposed to secondhand smoke compared to those who were not exposed. Researchers said passive smoking is an important health hazard and should be discouraged by public health policy. ... > full story

Indian Spice In Turmeric Reduces Size Of Hemorrhagic Stroke (September 23, 2008) -- You might want to make curcumin part of your daily diet. This active ingredient of the Indian curry spice, turmeric, not only lowers your chances of getting cancer and Alzheimer's disease, but may reduce the size of a hemorrhagic stroke, say Medical College of Georgia researchers. ... > full story

Acupuncture Reduces Side Effects Of Breast Cancer Treatment As Much As Conventional Drug Therapy, Study Suggests (September 23, 2008) -- Acupuncture is as effective and longer-lasting in managing the common debilitating side effects of hot flashes, night sweats and excessive sweating (vasomotor symptoms) associated with breast cancer treatment and has no treatment side effects compared to conventional drug therapy, according to a first-of-its-kind study. ... > full story

Is That Song Sexy Or Just So-so? (September 23, 2008) -- Why is your mate's rendition of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get it On" cute and sexy sometimes and so annoying at other times? A songbird study sheds new light on this question, showing that a change in hormone levels may alter the way we perceive social cues by altering a system of brain nuclei, common to all vertebrates, called the "social behavior network." ... > full story

Key Proteins Identified In The Quest For Male Contraceptive (September 23, 2008) -- In an advance toward a long-sought new male contraceptive, researchers in China have identified key proteins in men that suppress production of sperm and could become new targets for a future male birth control pill. ... > full story

Sinusitis Patients Have Pain Similar To The Elderly And People With Arthritis (September 23, 2008) -- Many patients with sinusitis have aches and pains similar in severity to people in their 80s and those with arthritis or depression. The new study also finds that endoscopic sinus surgery to clear clogged sinuses can bring significant pain relief. ... > full story

Fake Popup Warnings Fool Internet Users Even After Repeated Mistakes (September 23, 2008) -- Most Internet users are unable to distinguish genuine popup warnings messages from false ones -- even after repeated mistakes. The fake ones were designed to trick users into downloading harmful software. ... > full story

Pollution, Everyday Allergens, May Be Sources Of Laryngitis (September 23, 2008) -- Everyday exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, allergens, and air pollution may be the root of chronic cases of laryngitis. ... > full story

Cells That Mediate Steroid-resistant Asthma Identified (September 23, 2008) -- Researchers have identified cells that may play a key role in some forms of steroid-resistant asthma, a complication of the condition that makes treatment even more challenging. ... > full story

Patients Stay With Phone Psychotherapy Longer Than Office Visits (September 23, 2008) -- The problem with psychotherapy is that nearly half the patients quit going to the therapist's office after a few sessions. But a new meta-analysis has found that when patients receive psychotherapy for depression over the phone, more than 90 percent continue with it. The study is the first national "snapshot" of telephone-administered therapy. This therapy, which appears to be as effective for reducing depression as face-to-face therapy, is becoming more prevalent. ... > full story

New Approach To Treating Cystic Fibrosis Lung Infection Shows Promise (September 23, 2008) -- Researchers have found a new method of fighting severe lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis. ... > full story

ATV Guidelines Inadequate, Study Finds (September 23, 2008) -- National size guidelines for all-terrain vehicles (ATV) are inadequate to ensure the safety of young riders, according to preliminary results from a study by researchers at the University of Kentucky. ... > full story

New Diagnostic Tool For Arthritis Could Stop Irreversible Damage (September 23, 2008) -- A new diagnostic tool for arthritis could stop irreversible damage from setting in. ... > full story

New Bluetooth System Orients Blind And Sighted Pedestrians (September 23, 2008) -- A new Bluetooth system designed primarily for blind people places a layer of information technology over the real world to tell pedestrians about points of interest along their path as they pass them. ... > full story

Exercise Effective In Helping Pregnant Women Kick The Habit (September 23, 2008) -- Exercise could be a useful tool in helping pregnant women to give up smoking, according to new research. Despite the warnings, 17% of women in the UK and 20% of women in the US still admit to smoking during pregnancy. This often leads to lower birth weight, higher infant mortality, and is linked to learning difficulties, problem behavior and asthma in childhood. ... > full story

New Insights Into How Cells Accessorize Their Proteins (September 23, 2008) -- Researchers have gained new insight into how the cell's vast array of proteins would instantly be reduced to a confusion of lethally malfunctioning molecules without a system for proteins to "accessorize" in order to regulate their function. ... > full story

Cost-effectiveness Of Genetic Screening To Guide Initial HIV Treatment Evaluated (September 23, 2008) -- A major study from a team of researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College and Massachusetts General Hospital has found that a recent change to HIV-treatment guidelines recommending genetic screening is cost-effective under certain conditions. ... > full story

New Tool For 'Right First Time' Drug Manufacture (September 23, 2008) -- A technology which provides high quality images of the crystallization process marks the next step towards a "right first time" approach to drug manufacture, according to engineers. ... > full story

Physicians Often Miss Opportunities To Show Empathy, Study Finds (September 23, 2008) -- In consultations with patients with lung cancer, physicians rarely responded empathically to the concerns of the patients about mortality, symptoms or treatment options, according to a new study. The study found that physicians missed many opportunities to recognize and possibly ease the concerns of their patients and routinely provided little emotional support. ... > full story

Heart Bypass Surgery: Deadly Delays (September 23, 2008) -- Delaying elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery may be a significant risk factor for post-operative death. Research published in the open access journal BMC Health Services Research reveals that when patients received timely surgery, the risk of death was reduced by a third. ... > full story

What's The Main Risk Factor Of Gallstone Disease? (September 23, 2008) -- Gallstone disease is very common and costly. Preventive strategies are based on the knowledge of GD risk factors. This study reports the results of a multicenter project aimed at evaluating GD incidence and risk factors. 9611 subjects (5477 males, 4134 females, aged: 30-79 years) were evaluated; 4.4 percent had gallstones, 0.6 percent had been cholecystectomized; incidence rate was 0.67 percent per year. Increasing age and body mass index were identified as true risk factors for GD. ... > full story

Virtual Colonoscopy As Good As Other Colon Cancer Screening Methods, Study Finds (September 23, 2008) -- CT colonography, known as virtual colonoscopy, is as accurate at screening for colorectal cancers and pre-cancerous polyps as conventional colonoscopy, the current screening standard, according to the National CT Colonography Trial, a nationwide multi-center study that included the San Francisco VA Medical Center. ... > full story

Culture Shapes Young People's Drinking Habits (September 23, 2008) -- Whether young people get drunk as a purposeful behavior or as an unintended consequence depends on what country they live in, according to new research on young people in seven countries. The research finds that young people's views on alcohol and drunkenness were influenced more by culture than by factors such as age and sex. ... > full story

Political Attitudes Are Predicted By Physiological Traits, Research Finds (September 22, 2008) -- Is America's red-blue divide based on voters' physiology? A new paper in the journal Science explores the link. The study finds that those individuals with "measurably lower physical sensitivities to sudden noises and threatening visual images were more likely to support foreign aid, liberal immigration policies, pacifism and gun control, whereas individuals displaying measurably higher physiological reactions to those same stimuli were more likely to favor defense spending, capital punishment, patriotism and the Iraq War." ... > full story

Protein Identified That Plays Role In Blood Flow (September 22, 2008) -- Using atomic force microscopy -- a microscope with very high resolution -- and isolating blood vessels outside the body, researchers have identified a protein that plays an important role in the control of tissue blood flow and vascular resistance. This new knowledge brings researchers one step closer to understanding vascular diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and other vascular problems. ... > full story

Different Stem Cell Types Defined By Exclusive Combinations Of Genes Working Together (September 22, 2008) -- In the new issue of Cell Stem Cell, scientists report that the same transcription factor, which is crucial for the survival of different stem cell types, can behave differently. This finding reveals important insights about how scientists may be able to manipulate and engineer different stem cells for the treatment of human degenerative disorders. Understanding the behavior of transcription factors, a class of gene regulators, helps pave the way for important advancements in stem cell technology and clinical research. ... > full story

Sexism Pays: Men Who Hold Traditional Views Of Women Earn More Than Men Who Don't, Study Shows (September 22, 2008) -- When it comes to sex roles in society, what you think may affect what you earn. A new study has found that men who believe in traditional roles for women earn more money than men who don't, and women with more egalitarian views don't make much more than women with a more traditional outlook. ... > full story

Scientists To Develop Blood Test For Alzheimer's (September 22, 2008) -- Researchers in the United Kingdom are joining forces to develop a simple blood test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story

Revealing The Regulating Mechanism Behind Signal Transduction In The Brain (September 22, 2008) -- Our brain consists of billions of cells that continually transmit signals to each other. This dynamic process works only when the brain cells make contact correctly, or, in other words, when there is a good "synapse." An essential element in this process is a controlled protein production along with the synapse. VIB researchers are now discovering how the Fragile X protein (FMRP) ensures that protein production is controlled at synapse and regulated by brain activity. ... > full story

What You Smell As You Sleep Influences Your Dreams (September 22, 2008) -- What you smell as you sleep has the power to influence your dreams, says new research. ... > full story

Green Tea to Lower Cholesterol? Not So Fast


	Cholesterol NEWS AND VIEWS
	September 22, 2008

		Green Tea to Lower Cholesterol? Not So Fast Expert Lisa Nelson gets to the bottom of the hype behind the alleged cholesterol-lowering effects of green tea. Read on for her in-depth analysis. Read more>

This Week's News	See all Cholesterol news

Lawmakers investigate Wyeth vitamin claims Two U.S. lawmakers are investigating advertising claims by Wyeth that promote its Centrum Cardio vitamin as a cholesterol-lowering product, according to a letter to the company released on Friday. Read more>

A good time to have your cholesterol checked September is National Cholesterol Education Month, and if you haven't had your blood cholesterol checked in a while, this may be a good month to do it. Read more>

Sponsored Health Center Find options for heart valve replacement. Read more>

	Quiz of the Week
	Tea Trivia Quiz Enjoy a little tea time today with Expert Lisa and learn how this ancient drink can help lower your cholesterol. It's not how much your drink, but what kind.

Today's Poll

Do you regularly drink grean tea?

Your options are:

Yes
No
I don't know

News You Can Use

More Practical Consumer Advice on Bisphenol A Risks

HeartHawk breaks down exactly what the latest Bisphenol A (BPA) study found, what the sources of exposure are, and what you can do as a consumer should you choose to avoid the potential heart risks associated with BPA. Read more>

The HealthCentral Network, 1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, #400, Arlington, VA 22209

More Practical Consumer Advice on Bisphenol A Risks

	Heart Disease NEWS AND VIEWS
	September 22, 2008

		More Practical Consumer Advice on Bisphenol A Risks HeartHawk breaks down exactly what the latest Bisphenol A (BPA) study found, what the sources of exposure are, and what you can do as a consumer should you choose to avoid the potential heart risks associated with BPA. Read more>

This Week's News	See all Heart Disease news

Too Few People Know Symptoms of Heart Trouble And that lack of knowledge could cost you your life Read more>

Healthy lifestyle raises beneficial enzyme: study Sweeping lifestyle changes including a better diet and more exercise can raise the body's levels of an enzyme closely involved in controlling the aging process, U.S. researchers reported on Monday. Read more>

Anemia makes heart failure more deadly The results of a review study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology indicates that anemia, a deficiency of oxygen-carrying red blood cells, increases the risk of death in patients with chronic heart failure. Read more>

Lawmakers investigate Wyeth vitamin claims Two U.S. lawmakers are investigating advertising claims by Wyeth that promote its Centrum Cardio vitamin as a cholesterol-lowering product, according to a letter to the company released on Friday. Read more>

Sponsored Health Center Find options for heart valve replacement. Read more>

	Quiz of the Week
	Tea Trivia Quiz Enjoy a little tea time today with Expert Lisa and learn how this ancient drink can help lower your cholesterol. It's not how much your drink, but what kind.

Today's Poll

Have you changed any of your lifestyle habits since the Bisphenol A news last week?

Your options are:

Yes
No
I don't know

News You Can Use

Prevent Iron Deficiency with Healthy Eating

Expert Melanie Thomassian talks about why iron is so important to a healthy diet. Review what your daily intake should be and which foods are the best sources. Read more>

The HealthCentral Network, 1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, #400, Arlington, VA 22209

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Tuesday, September 23, 2008

What You Smell As You Sleep Influences Your Dreams (September 22, 2008) -- What you smell as you sleep has the power to influence your dreams, says new research. ... > full story

Variant Of Vitamin D Receptor Gene Linked To Melanoma Risk (September 22, 2008) -- A new analysis indicates an association between a gene involved in vitamin D metabolism and skin cancer. ... > full story

Expanding Cell Girth Indicates Seriousness Of Breast Cancer (September 22, 2008) -- How fat cells become after being exposed to a specialized electrical field is helping researchers determine whether cells are normal, cancerous or a stage of cancer already invading other parts of the body. ... > full story

Healthy People With Elevated Levels Of Uric Acid Are At Risk Of Developing Kidney Disease (September 22, 2008) -- Elevated uric acid levels in the blood indicate an increased risk of new-onset kidney disease, according to a study appearing in the December 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology. The results suggest that it may be appropriate to prescribe uric acid--lowering drugs, such as allopurinol and probenecid, to these otherwise healthy individuals. ... > full story

Botox Can Improve First Impressions For Attractiveness, Dating Success (September 22, 2008) -- The popular cosmetic enhancement, botulinum toxin A positively effects first impression judgments in relation to attractiveness, dating success, and athleticism, says new research. ... > full story

'Friendly' Bacteria Protect Against Type 1 Diabetes, Researchers Find (September 22, 2008) -- In a dramatic illustration of the potential for microbes to prevent disease, researchers at have shown that mice exposed to common stomach bacteria were protected against the development of type I diabetes. ... > full story

Type 1 Diabetes May Result From Good Genes Behaving Badly (September 22, 2008) -- New research suggests that type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease that develops in children and young adults, may not be due to bad genes but rather to good genes behaving badly. ... > full story

Pancreatic Cancer: New Options When An Old Enemy Returns (September 22, 2008) -- Pancreatic cancer is one of the most challenging malignancies to treat, and recurrence is common, even after initial treatment with surgery and radiation. When the cancer does return, treatment options are often limited to chemotherapy, but researchers are now utilizing the precision allowed by CyberKnife to see if radiosurgery is a viable treatment option in select patients. ... > full story

Work Together Or Face 'Disastrous Consequences' For Health In Africa, Experts Warn (September 22, 2008) -- Faced with the prospect of more variable and changing climates increasing Africa's already intolerable disease burden, scientists must begin to reach out to colleagues in other fields and to the people they want to help if they hope to avert an expected "continental disaster," according to leading climate, health, and information technology experts, who met in Nairobi last week. ... > full story

Genetic Link Between Immune And Nerve Systems Found (September 22, 2008) -- Researchers have discovered genetic links between the nervous system and the immune system in a well-studied worm, and the findings could illuminate new approaches to human therapies. ... > full story

Cancer-causing Gut Bacteria Exposed (September 22, 2008) -- Normal gut bacteria are thought to be involved in colon cancer but the exact mechanisms have remained unknown. Now, scientists have discovered that a molecule produced by a common gut bacterium activates signalling pathways that are associated with cancer cells. The research, published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology, sheds light on the way gut bacteria can cause colon cancer. ... > full story

Audio Relaxation Program May Help Lower Blood Pressure In Elderly (September 22, 2008) -- Study highlights an audio-guided relaxation CD with background sounds of ocean waves and a calming voice may lower blood pressure in elderly people. Listening to Mozart also significantly lowered blood pressure in the study, but to a lesser degree. The technique has been used for chronic pain, but had never been tested in the hypertensive elderly. ... > full story

Why Heart Attack Victims Do Better With Social Support (September 22, 2008) -- Researchers have identified specific damages to the brain that may occur when heart attack victims are socially isolated from others. The study in mice found that those animals that lived alone before undergoing a heart attack showed five to eight times more damage to neurons in one part of the brain than did similar animals that lived with others. ... > full story

Cancer-causing Role Of Gene Proteins Discovered (September 22, 2008) -- Scientists in Toronto, Canada have discovered the role of two "cousins" in the genetic family tree of cancer development. ... > full story

Baby Eyes Are Taking In The World, Applying Self-experience To Other People (September 22, 2008) -- Twelve- and 18-month-old babies not only are observing what is going on around them but also are using their own visual self-experience to judge what other people can and cannot see. ... > full story

Colorful Spy Tactics Track Live Cells Supporting Cancerous Tumors (September 22, 2008) -- A new advance in cellular imaging is allowing scientists to better understand the movement of cells in the area around tumors, also known as the tumor microenvironment. Optimized methods of laser microscopy track the movement of live cells in a mouse model of breast cancer. ... > full story

Older People Who Diet Without Exercising Lose Valuable Muscle Mass (September 22, 2008) -- A group of sedentary and overweight older people placed on a four-month exercise program became more fit and burned off more fat, compared to older sedentary people who dieted but did not exercise. The new study also showed that when older people diet without exercising, they lose more lean muscle compared to those who exercise. When they combined weight loss with exercise, it nearly completely prevented the loss of lean muscle mass. ... > full story

Minimally Invasive Surgery Alleviates Pain Caused By Hip Impingement (September 22, 2008) -- The pain due to injury caused by an impingement within the hip joint can be alleviated by means of two surgical techniques in a minimally invasive manner. Arthroscopy is the technique preferred for those cases where the injury is less serious while the femoroacetabular osteoplastica after a small incision is for more serious injuries, according to doctors. ... > full story

Project To Turn Plant Cells Into Medical Factories (September 22, 2008) -- A large four-year project is launching in Europe to develop methods for production of valuable pharmaceutical compounds using plant cells as a production host in an effective and controlled manner. The methods based on plant biotechnology are an alternative to chemical synthesis. By controlling the cell metabolism of a 'green factory', i.e. a living plant cell, it is possible to affect the production of desired high-value compounds. This kind of metabolic engineering also stimulates the cells towards producing completely new compounds. ... > full story

Monitoring Outcomes Of Suicide Attempts In Pregnancy Can Better Assess Drug Dangers (September 22, 2008) -- Monitoring the health of children born to women who attempted suicide while pregnant can shed light on which medicines and what doses are particularly dangerous to developing fetuses, according to researchers from Hungary who publish their findings in a series of reports in a special issue of Toxicology and Industrial Health. ... > full story

Estrogen Reduces Risk Of Fracture After Menopause, Study Suggests (September 22, 2008) -- From the end of the 1970s to the late 1990s there was a significant reduction in the incidence of hip and distal forearm fractures among Oslo women in the early phase after menopause. Part of this decline can be explained by the large increase in the use of hormone replacement therapy after menopause in the same period, a new study shows. ... > full story

Small Changes To Transport Systems Could Mean Big Benefits For Older People (September 22, 2008) -- A new study has pinpointed how simple, low-cost measures could revolutionize older peoples' ability to use transport systems effectively, safely and with confidence. ... > full story

Vanderbilt Researchers Seek To Make Standardized Tests Accessible (September 22, 2008) -- Standardized testing is an inescapable part of modern education; however, these tests often fail to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities. Researchers have developed a decision-making instrument called the Test Accessibility and Modification Inventory to address the issue of accessibility for students with special needs. ... > full story

Scientists Trace Extensive Networks Regulating Alternative RNA Splicing (September 22, 2008) -- Scientists have succeeded in tracing intricate biochemical networks involving a class of proteins that enable genes to express themselves in specific tissues at particular moments in development. ... > full story

Bisexual Community Reports Need For Improvements In Mental Health Services (September 22, 2008) -- New research sheds light on the mental health of bisexual people in Ontario by looking at the context of mental health issues in this group. The Bisexuality, Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being Research Project evaluated the experiences of bisexual people based on three main determinants of health, and the results demonstrated that social biphobia and stereotypes about bisexuals have far reaching negative effects on the mental health and well-being of bisexual people. ... > full story

Receptor Activation Protects Retina From Diabetes Destruction (September 21, 2008) -- Diabetes can make the beautifully stratified retina look like over-fried bacon. A drug known for it pain-relieving power and believed to stimulate memory appears to prevent this retinal damage that leads to vision loss, researchers say. ... > full story

New Model Predicts Long-term Survival Of Critically Ill Patients (September 21, 2008) -- The long term survival of critically ill patients may now be predicted, using a new model. The study used clinical and long term survival data of a heterogenous group of 11,930 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Royal Perth Hospital in Western Australia. ... > full story

Face Blindness Research Shows Emotions Are Key In The Study Of Face Recognition (September 21, 2008) -- Recognizing faces is usually an effortless process. However, a minority of people have difficulties identifying the person they are meeting or remembering people they have met before. These problems can be dramatic, where those affected fail to recognize the face of their spouse or child or even their own face. New research on face blindness demonstrates the importance of using naturalistic emotional faces and bodies for a better understanding of developmental face disorders. ... > full story

Internationally Adopted Children Hit Puberty Earlier, Study Finds (September 21, 2008) -- A Canadian study has found that some girls adopted from China begin puberty as early as eight and boys as early as 10-years-old. ... > full story

Cardiologists Find Physical Exams Just As Good For Assessing Heart Failure (September 21, 2008) -- Patient history and physical examination, traditionally the cornerstone diagnostic tool for medical care, may still be among the most accurate and cost-efficient methods to assess patients with congestive heart failure, researchers have found. ... > full story

Estrogen 'Flooding Our Rivers,' Montreal Study Finds (September 21, 2008) -- A water treatment plant from Canada's second biggest city, Montreal, is dumping 90 times the critical amount of certain estrogen products into the river. It only takes one nanogram (ng) of steroids per liter of water to disrupt the endocrinal system of fish and decrease their fertility. ... > full story

Positive Thinking Trial In UK Aims To Prevent Childhood Depression (September 21, 2008) -- More than 7,000 school pupils from across the United Kingdom will be taking part in the trial of a new positive thinking program led by the University of Bath designed to prevent children developing problems with depression. ... > full story

New Colorectal Screening Procedure Is Accurate And Less Invasive, Trial Finds (September 21, 2008) -- A major clinical trial for colorectal screening finds that more patients stand to benefit from a comprehensive, less invasive method to accurately detect colorectal cancer and precancerous polyps. ... > full story

Adults With Aortic Valve Disorder Do Not Experience Reduction In Survival Rate (September 21, 2008) -- Young adults with a bicuspid aortic valve, a congenital heart abnormality, experience subsequent cardiac events but do not appear to have lower survival rates compared to the general population, according to a new study. ... > full story

Beta Blockers Not Effective Against Heart Failure


	High Blood Pressure NEWS AND VIEWS
	September 22, 2008

		Study: Beta Blockers Not Effective Against Heart Failure According to a new analysis, beta blockers don't prevent the development of heart failure in people suffering from high blood pressure, and researchers say they should not be used as a first-line treatment for the condition. Read more>

This Week's News	See all High Blood Pressure news

Abdomen fat tied to high blood pressure in women In a study of African Americans and Hispanic Americans, the fat inside the abdominal cavity, known as "visceral adipose tissue,, was associated with high blood pressure in women. Read more>

Migraine may be a risk factor for blood clots The findings of a new study suggest that, contrary to what some researchers have hypothesized, migraine is not associated with atherosclerosis, also referred to as harding of the arteries, but it may be a risk factor for blood clots in the veins. Read more>

Early weight gain may lead to hypertension - study Babies who gain weight rapidly in the first months after birth may have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure as adults, British researchers said on Tuesday. Read more>

Sponsored Health Center Find options for heart valve replacement. Read more>

	Quiz of the Week
	Tea Trivia Quiz Enjoy a little tea time today with Expert Lisa and learn how this ancient drink can help lower your cholesterol. It's not how much your drink, but what kind.

This Week's Poll

Do you take beta-blockers?

Your options are:

News You Can Use

High Blood Pressure Risk Factors: 5 Factors That You Can Control

Expert Alvin Hopkinson talks about five risk factors you can try to avoid to keep your blood pressure controlled and stable. Read more>

The HealthCentral Network, 1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, #400, Arlington, VA 22209

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Monday, September 22, 2008

Mom's Beliefs May Impact Their Kids' Alcohol Use, Study Finds (September 21, 2008) -- Mothers, take note. If you really want to curb your teens' chances of using alcohol, help them develop a self-view that doesn't include drinking. According to a new Iowa State University study, the power of positive thinking by moms may limit their children's alcohol use. ... > full story

Longevity, Cancer And Diet Connected: New Research In Worms Could Apply To Humans (September 20, 2008) -- Researchers have discovered a connection between genes that could hold the key to a longer, healthier life. Using worms that share similar genetics to humans, scientists have identified a previously unknown link between two genes -- one associated with aging, the other with certain types of cancer. ... > full story

Easier-to-hit 'Targets' Could Help Older People Make The Most Of Computers (September 20, 2008) -- Older people could make better use of computers if icons, links and menu headings automatically grew bigger as the cursor moves towards them. ... > full story

Stem Cells May Solve Mystery Of Early Pregnancy Breast Cancer Protection (September 20, 2008) -- The answer to why an early pregnancy seems to protect against breast cancer could rest with a decrease in stem cells found after animals have given birth, said researchers in a report in the journal Stem Cell. ... > full story

Overbearing Parents Foster Obsessive Children, New Study Finds (September 20, 2008) -- Parents watch your nagging. A new study from the Université de Montréal in Quebec, Canada, has found that parental control directly influences whether a child will develop a harmonious or obsessive passion for their favorite hobby. ... > full story

Programmed Cell Death Contributes Force To Movement Of Cells (September 20, 2008) -- In addition to pruning cells out of the way during embryonic development, the much-studied process of programmed cell death, or apoptosis, has been newly found to exert significant mechanical force on surrounding cells. ... > full story

Prosthetic Vein Valve Designed To Direct Blood Flow Shows Promising Pre-clinical Results (September 20, 2008) -- Engineers have developed a prosthetic vein valve to help improve the lives of those suffering from a condition known as chronic venous insufficiency. The valve was designed to replace damaged, non-functioning valves. ... > full story

Sole Use Of Impaired Limb Improves Recovery In Spinal Cord Injury (September 20, 2008) -- A new study finds that following minor spinal cord injury, rats that had to use impaired limbs showed full recovery due to increased growth of healthy nerve fibers and the formation of new nerve cell connections. These findings help explain how physical therapy advances recovery, and support the use of rehabilitation therapies that specifically target impaired limbs in people with brain and spinal cord injuries. ... > full story

Optical Sensors Make MRI Scans Safer (September 20, 2008) -- Magnetic resonance scans will be safer for children and other patients needing anaesthesia, thanks to new kinds of optical sensors. ... > full story

Collaboration Helps Police Address Job Stress (September 20, 2008) -- Mangled bodies, gunfire, high-speed chases and injured children are just a few events witnessed by police officers and soldiers serving in dangerous hot spots around the world. These traumas take a high toll on the police officers and soldiers, who suppress human emotions to get the job done and can be reluctant to share their experiences in an effort to spare others from their ordeals, according to a September Police Quarterly article. ... > full story

Thin Men More Vulnerable To Osteoporosis And Bone Fractures Than Other Older Men (September 20, 2008) -- Obesity and weight increase leads to an increased risk of many chronic diseases, and the advice is therefore to maintain a stable healthy weight. Now, research shows that there may be disadvantages to being thin. Men who have low weight in middle age and who reduce their weight, increase the chance of osteoporosis and fracture. The findings are now published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. ... > full story

Harnessing New Technology To Keep Older People Behind The Wheel For Longer (September 20, 2008) -- A new study has highlighted the key role technology could play in extending the age at which people can drive safely on our roads. ... > full story

Incontinence Affects A Substantial Proportion Of Women; Prevalence Increases With Age (September 20, 2008) -- Nearly one-quarter of women surveyed, and more than one-third of older women, report at least one pelvic floor disorder, which includes urinary and fecal incontinence and the shifting of a pelvic organ, according to a new study. These disorders become more prevalent with increasing age and weight. ... > full story

Homosexuals' Negative Feelings About Sexuality Predict Poor Mental And Sexual Health (September 20, 2008) -- Researchers have published a study showing that the degree of internalized homonegativity (negative attitude towards homosexuality) among homosexual men is what predicts poor mental and sexual health -- not the act of being homosexual. ... > full story

Natural Childbirth Linked To Stronger Baby Bonding Than C-sections (September 19, 2008) -- The bonds that tie a mother to her newborn may be stronger in women who deliver naturally than in those who deliver by cesarean section, according to a study published by Yale School of Medicine researchers in the October issue of Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. ... > full story

Pictures Of Hot Fudge Sundaes Arouse: Understanding Emotions Improves Our Food Choices (September 19, 2008) -- Menus and advertising affect our emotions, and if we understand those emotions, we make better food choices, according to a new study. ... > full story

Fly Studies Reveal Immune Cell Responses To Tumor And Tissue Damage (September 19, 2008) -- A new report reveals the similarities between the immune response to cancer and and the immune response to tissue damage. ... > full story

Security: Checking People At Airports – With Terahertz Radiation (September 19, 2008) -- Within the last few years the number of transport checks -- above all at airports -- has been increased considerably. A worthwhile effort as, after all, it concerns the protection of passengers. Possibilities for new and safe methods of checking people are offered by terahertz radiation. ... > full story

Key Advance In Treating Spinal Cord Injuries Found In Manipulating Stem Cells (September 19, 2008) -- Manipulating stem cells prior to transplantation may hold the key to overcoming a critical obstacle to using stem cell technology to repair spinal cord injuries, scientists have shown. ... > full story

Smart Desks Make Sci-fi A Reality In The Classroom (September 19, 2008) -- Schools are set for a Star Trek make-over thanks to the development of the world's first interactive classroom by experts at Durham University. Researchers are designing new learning environments using interactive multi-touch desks that look and act like a large version of an Apple iPhone. ... > full story

Muscle Stem Cell Identity Confirmed By Researchers (September 19, 2008) -- A single cell can repopulate damaged skeletal muscle in mice, say scientists who devised a way to track the cell's fate in living animals. The research is the first to confirm that so-called satellite cells encircling muscle fibers harbor an elusive muscle stem cell. ... > full story

Kids With Obese Friends And Family More Likely To Misperceive Weight (September 19, 2008) -- Kids and teens surrounded by overweight peers or parents are more likely to be oblivious to their own extra pounds than kids from thin entourages, according to a new Canadian study. ... > full story

'Baby' Fat Cells May Be Key To Treating Obesity, Say Researchers (September 19, 2008) -- Immature, or "baby," fat cells lurk in the walls of the blood vessels that nourish fatty tissue, just waiting for excess calories to help them grow into the adult monsters responsible for packing on the extra pounds, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found in mice. ... > full story

Novel Anti-cancer Mechanism Found In Long-lived Rodents (September 19, 2008) -- Biologists have found that small-bodied rodents with long lifespans have evolved a previously unknown anti-cancer mechanism that appears to be different from any anticancer mechanisms employed by humans or other large mammals. ... > full story

First Dense Gas Of Ultracold 'Polar' Molecules Created (September 19, 2008) -- Scientists at JILA, a joint institute of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Colorado at Boulder, have applied their expertise in ultracold atoms and lasers to produce the first high-density gas of ultracold molecules -- two different atoms bonded together -- that are both stable and capable of strong interactions. ... > full story

Mother's Flu Shot Protects Newborns (September 19, 2008) -- Newborns can be protected from seasonal flu when their mothers are vaccinated during pregnancy. Researchers observed a 63 percent reduction in proven influenza illness among infants born to vaccinated mothers while the number of serious respiratory illnesses to both mothers and infants dropped by 36 percent. The study is the first to demonstrate that the inactivated influenza vaccine provides protection to both mother and newborn. ... > full story

Finger Lengths Linked To Voluntary Exercise (September 19, 2008) -- If you find yourself lacking in motivation to go for a run or hit the gym, you may want to check your fingers. According to a new study there is a direct correlation between digit length and voluntary exercise. ... > full story

Hormone Discovery Points To Benefits Of 'Home Grown' Fat (September 19, 2008) -- A hormone found at higher levels when the body produces its own "home grown" fat comes with considerable metabolic benefits, according to a new study. The newly discovered signaling molecule is the first example of a lipid-based hormone -- most are made up of proteins -- although the researchers said they expect it will not be the last. ... > full story

Prostate Cancer Genes Behave Like Those In Embryo (September 19, 2008) -- Gene activity in prostate cancer is reminiscent of that in the developing fetal prostate, providing further evidence that all cancers are not equal, researchers report. The finding could help scientists investigate how to manipulate the genetic program to fight a disease whose biology remains poorly understood despite more than half a century of investigation. ... > full story

Accuracy, Efficacy And Ethics Of Abstinence-only Programs Questioned By Public Health Experts (September 19, 2008) -- Studies published in the journal Sexuality Research and Social Policy reveal that abstinence-only-until-marriage sex education programs fail to change sexual behavior in teenagers, provide inaccurate information about condoms and violate human rights principles. ... > full story