Heart Care For You: October 2008

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Thursday, October 16, 2008

Gene With Probable Role In Human Susceptibility To Pulmonary Tuberculosis Identified (October 16, 2008) -- A new gene that may confer susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis has been identified. First time that gene, toll-like receptor 8, linked to bacterial infections. ... > full story

Simpler Diagnostic Method May Be As Effective At Detecting Blood Clot In The Leg (October 16, 2008) -- A comparison of two diagnostic methods used to detect deep vein thrombosis (DVT; a blood clot in a deep vein in the leg or thigh) of the lower extremities indicates that a simpler method, with wider availability, has rates of DVT detection that are equivalent to a more complex method, according to a new study. ... > full story

Probiotic Bacteria Don't Make Eczema Better, And May Have Side Effects, Study Shows (October 16, 2008) -- There is no evidence probiotics can relieve the symptoms of eczema, but there is some evidence that they may occasionally cause infections and gut problems. These findings from the Cochrane Library come at a time when use of probiotics to treat eczema is increasing. ... > full story

Important New Hair-loss Gene Discovered (October 16, 2008) -- Scientists have discovered an important hair-loss gene. In 2005, these scientists had already characterized the first hair-loss gene inherited through the maternal line, which explained why hair-loss in men often reflects that of their maternal grandfathers. This newly discovered gene, on the other hand, may now account for the similarity in cranial hair growth between father and son. ... > full story

Novel Imaging Approach May Assist In Predicting Success Of Treatment For Atrial Fibrillation (October 16, 2008) -- Researchers have developed a magnetic resonance imaging-based method for detecting and quantifying injury to the wall of the heart's left atrium in patients who have undergone a procedure to treat atrial fibrillation. ... > full story

Deal Or No Deal? The Role Of Emotions In Negotiating Offers (October 16, 2008) -- Do skilled negotiators simply go with their gut instinct every time or are they just extremely calculating, figuring out all possible outcomes before making a choice? Researchers examined how emotions affect our negotiating skills by having participants play a negotiation game. Their results show that emotional players were more focused on the "gist" of the offer itself (and what felt good), rather than on calculating the probabilities of payoff. ... > full story

Brain-nourishing Molecule May Predict Schizophrenia Relapse (October 15, 2008) -- A factor that helps optimize brain formation and function may also provide clues about whether patients suffering with schizophrenia are headed toward relapse, researchers say. ... > full story

Being Altruistic May Make You Attractive (October 15, 2008) -- Displays of altruism or selflessness towards others can be sexually attractive in a mate. In three studies of more than 1,000 people, researchers discovered that women place significantly greater importance on altruistic traits than anything else. ... > full story

Public Health Experts Discover New Information About Diabetes' Link To Tuberculosis (October 15, 2008) -- New evidence shows that patients with type 2 diabetes may be at increased risk of contracting tuberculosis because of a compromised immune system, resulting in life-threatening lung infections that are more difficult to treat. ... > full story

A Walk In The Park Improves Attention In Children With ADHD (October 15, 2008) -- For children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder tasks that require concentration such as doing homework or taking a test can be very difficult. A simple, inexpensive remedy may be a "dose of nature." ... > full story

Breast Is Best In Fight Against Childhood Asthma (October 15, 2008) -- Breast feeding is linked to a lower incidence in asthma in young children, according to a new study. ... > full story

Vulnerable Plaque May Be Easier To Detect Through New Imaging Technology (October 15, 2008) -- Research results indicate that optical coherence tomography, a newly evolving imaging method, may be the best tool available to detect vulnerable plaque in coronary arteries. ... > full story

Searching The Internet Increases Brain Function (October 15, 2008) -- Scientists have found that for computer-savvy middle-aged older adults, searching the Internet triggers key centers in the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning. The findings demonstrate that Web search activity may help stimulate and possibly improve brain function. ... > full story

People With Autism Make More Rational Decisions, Study Shows (October 15, 2008) -- People with autism-related disorders are less likely to make irrational decisions, and are less influenced by gut instincts, according to new research. The study adds to the growing body of research implicating altered emotional processing in autism. ... > full story

Resveratrol Prevents Fat Accumulation In Livers Of 'Alcoholic' Mice (October 15, 2008) -- A new study shows that a substance found in grapes, red wine and peanuts, prevents alcoholic fatty liver by coordinating molecules that control fat metabolism. The accumulation of fat in the liver as a result of chronic alcohol consumption could be prevented by consuming resveratrol, according to the study with mice. The research found that resveratrol reduced the amount of fat produced in the liver of mice fed alcohol and, at the same time, increased the rate at which fat within the liver is broken down. ... > full story

Why Do Women Get More Cavities Than Men? (October 15, 2008) -- Reproduction pressures and rising fertility explain why women suffered a more rapid decline in dental health than did men as humans transitioned from hunter-and-gatherers to farmers and more sedentary pursuits, says an anthropologist. ... > full story

More Americans Have, Get Treated For High Blood Pressure (October 15, 2008) -- An analysis of data from two national health studies shows that more US adults have hypertension than ever before. The percent of those aware of, being treated for and having the disorder under control has increased and as a result more people are living with rather than dying from hypertension. Researchers say the nation's obesity epidemic is a major factor for the increase in hypertension prevalence. ... > full story

Subconscious Encounters: How Brand Exposure Affects Your Choices (October 15, 2008) -- Products with visible brand names are everywhere; many times we don't even notice them. But how much do those unnoticed exposures affect brand choices? Quite a bit, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. ... > full story

Earliest Known Human TB Found In 9,000 Year-old Skeletons (October 15, 2008) -- The discovery of the earliest known cases of human tuberculosis in bones found submerged off the coast of Israel shows that the disease is 3000 years older than previously thought. Direct examination of this ancient DNA confirms the latest theory that bovine TB evolved later than human TB. ... > full story

Vitamin B Does Not Slow Cognitive Decline In Alzheimer's, Study Finds (October 15, 2008) -- A new clinical trial shows that high-dose vitamin B supplements did not slow the rate of cognitive decline in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease. ... > full story

New Approach To Genetic Testing Could Halve Deaths From Inherited Bowel Cancer (October 15, 2008) -- Changing the approach to genetic screening for cancers in Australia could effectively halve deaths caused by an inherited form of bowel cancer, says a University of Melbourne expert. ... > full story

English Northerners' Hands Up To 3 Times Dirtier Than Those Living In England's South (October 15, 2008) -- The further north you go in England, the more likely you are to have fecal bacteria on your hands, especially if you are a man, according to a preliminary study conducted by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. ... > full story

Marijuana Use Takes Toll On Adolescent Brain Function, Research Finds (October 15, 2008) -- Brain imaging shows that the brains of teens that use marijuana are working harder than the brains of their peers who abstain from the drug. ... > full story

Nanodiamond Drug Device Could Transform Cancer Treatment (October 15, 2008) -- Researchers have developed a promising nanomaterial-based biomedical device that could be used to deliver chemotherapy drugs locally to sites where cancerous tumors have been surgically removed. The team demonstrated that the flexible microfilm device, which resembles a piece of plastic wrap and can be customized easily into different shapes, releases the chemotherapy agent doxorubicin in a sustained and consistent manner. The device takes advantage of nanodiamonds, an emergent technology. ... > full story

Key Mechanism Regulating Neural Stem Cell Development Uncovered (October 15, 2008) -- Scintists have discovered a novel mechanism that regulates how neural stem cells of the retina generate the appropriate cell type at the right time during normal development. These findings could influence the development of future cell replacement therapies for genetic eye diseases that cause blindness. ... > full story

What Do You Know? Not As Much As You Think (October 15, 2008) -- We've all met know-it-alls -- people who think they know more than they actually do. If they're talking about products, like wine or motorcycles, they might actually know as much as they think. But when it comes to health plans, social policy, or nutrition, they might not, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. ... > full story

Protein Made In Liver Restores Blood Glucose In Type 1 Diabetes Model (October 15, 2008) -- A protein made by the liver in response to inflammation and used to treat patients suffering from a genetic form of emphysema has been shown to restore blood glucose levels in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes mellitus, according to a new study led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. ... > full story

Neurons In Zebrafish May Reveal Clues To The Wiring Of The Human Ear (October 15, 2008) -- Developing neurons tend to play the field, making more connections than they will ever need. Then the weakest are cut. But scientists now show that neurons in young zebrafish -- vertebrates, like humans -- behave differently: They immediately find a cluster of specialized cells and make the right match. The findings may help reveal the mechanism by which analogous cells are wired in the human ear and eventually help those who are deaf or hard of hearing. ... > full story

Memory Improves If Neurons Are New (October 15, 2008) -- The birth of new neurons (neurogenesis) does not end completely during development but continues throughout all life in two areas of the adult nervous system, i.e. subventricular zone and hippocampus. Recent research has shown that hippocampal neurogenesis is crucial for memory formation. These studies, however, have not yet clarified how the newborn neurons are integrated in the existing circuits and thus contribute to new memories formation and to the maintenance of old ones. ... > full story

Pajama Gamblers Could Lose Their Shirts: Online Gambling Can Be Dangerously Comfortable (October 15, 2008) -- People who gamble from the comfort of their home tend to think they're more in control of their gambling than people who gamble in casinos, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. ... > full story

Ancient Chinese Salad Plant Transformed Into New Cancer-killing Compound (October 15, 2008) -- Researchers have updated a traditional Chinese medicine to create a compound that is more than 1,200 times more specific in killing certain kinds of cancer cells than currently available drugs, heralding the possibility of a more effective chemotherapy drug with minimal side effects. ... > full story

Herbal Menopause Therapy A Good Fit For Breast Cancer Patients? (October 15, 2008) -- When it comes to understanding the effectiveness and safety of using herbal therapies with other drugs, much is unknown. Now, a researcher will study how black cohosh -- an herbal supplement often used to relieve hot flashes in menopausal women -- interacts with tamoxifen, a common drug used to treat breast cancer. ... > full story

Filling In The Blanks: Consumers Want Complete Information To Make Choices (October 15, 2008) -- A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research examines the way consumers behave when information about a purchase is incomplete. The study suggests that there are ways for marketers to reduce the number of customers who leave empty handed. ... > full story

Critical Genetic Link Found Between Human Taste Differences And Nicotine Dependence (October 15, 2008) -- Researchers report that two interacting genes related to bitter taste sensitivity, TAS2R16 and TAS2R38, play an important role in a person's development of nicotine dependence and smoking behavior. The researchers found that people with higher taste sensitivity aren't as likely to become dependent on nicotine as people with decreased taste sensitivity. ... > full story

Insight On Common Heart Rhythm Disorder (October 15, 2008) -- Researchers have identified a gene variant that causes a potentially fatal human heart rhythm disorder called sinus node disease. While the newly discovered gene variant is rare, the study provides insight into cellular mechanisms that regulate sinus node function and identifies an unanticipated new pathway for developing future therapies to regulate more common forms of sinus node disease. ... > full story

Early-stage Gene Transcription Creates Access To DNA (October 15, 2008) -- An international team of researchers, probing how a yeast cell senses its cellular environment and makes decisions about whether or not to express a gene, finds the process of transcribing non-coding RNAs is required for the eventual production of the protein-encoding RNA. The transient synthesis of these non-coding RNAs serves to unfurl the tightly wound DNA, essentially loosening the structure to allow for gene expression. ... > full story

Landmark Study Links Sleep, Memory Problems In Elderly African-Americans (October 15, 2008) -- A landmark study shows that African-American seniors who have trouble falling asleep are at higher risk of having memory problems -- raising the possibility that identifying and treating sleep difficulties in the elderly may help preserve their cognitive functioning. The study is the first to examine the link between sleep and cognitive functioning in older African-Americans. ... > full story

Discovery May Lead To Treatment For Neurodegenerative Diseases (October 14, 2008) -- Over the past several decades, many laboratories have studied the communication between nerve cells and muscle fibers that are crucial to form and maintain neuromuscular synapses. Now, researchers have found that a protein named Lrp4 is the missing link that allows communication between two crucial molecules -- one derived from the nerve and the other from muscle -- that enables the formation of the synapse. ... > full story

New Therapeutic Treatment Approach Improves Survival In Esophageal Cancer Patients (October 14, 2008) -- A new study has found that a new therapeutic treatment, when delivered endoscopically and used in combination with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, improved survival rates in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. Cancer of the esophagus often has a poor survival rate. ... > full story

Time Of Day Influences Yield For Pharmacologically Stimulated Stem Cell Mobilization (October 14, 2008) -- A new study uncovers a previously unrecognized, species-specific impact of circadian rhythms on the production of mobilized stem cells. The research suggests that when it comes to collecting human stem cells for clinical transplantation, picking the right time of day to harvest cells may result in a greater yield. ... > full story

How Are Children Choosing Their Food Portions? (October 14, 2008) -- Researchers are trying to pinpoint the factors that affect how much food a child eats, to stave off unhealthy relationships with food later in life. ... > full story

Why Sufferers From Alzheimer's Disease Might Have Lower Blood Pressure (October 14, 2008) -- A new study proposes that some people suffering from Alzheimer's disease experience a reduction in their high blood pressure because of cognitive decline. ... > full story

New Risk Factor For Prostate Cancer (October 14, 2008) -- The greater the levels of a protein called Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), the greater the risk of prostate cancer, a new study has found. ... > full story

Genome Of A Monkey-human Malaria Parasite (October 14, 2008) -- Researchers have decoded the genome of a malaria parasite that infects humans and monkeys. Human infection with P. knowlesi was first reported just over 40 years ago. It is the fifth and emerging human malaria parasite: recent surveys that many P. knowlesi infections have been misdiagnosed, underestimating its prevalence. The genome sequence reveals a dramatic example of 'molecular mimicry' that is likely to be crucial for survival and propagation of the parasite in the body. ... > full story

When Seeing IS Believing (October 14, 2008) -- New research published in the journal Science explains why individuals seek to find and impose order on an unruly world through superstition, rituals and conspiratorial explanations by linking a loss of control to individual perceptions. ... > full story

Scientists Trigger Cancer-like Response From Embryonic Stem Cells (October 14, 2008) -- Scientists have discovered a new control over embryonic stem cells' behavior. The researchers disrupted a natural bioelectrical mechanism within frog embryonic stem cells and trigged a cancer-like response, including increased cell growth, change in cell shape, and invasion of the major body organs. This research shows that electrical signals are a powerful control mechanism that can be used to modulate cell behavior. ... > full story

Noxious Gas Stove Emissions Worsen Asthma Symptoms In Young Children (October 14, 2008) -- Scientists report that high levels of a noxious gas from stoves can be added to the list of indoor pollutants that aggravate asthma symptoms of inner-city children, especially preschoolers. ... > full story

Computers That Understand How You Feel (October 14, 2008) -- A navigation system able to provide emergency services with the quickest route while at the same time taking stress into account; this is an example of a new type of dialogue system just developed. The dialogue system recognizes the user's emotions and is able to react to them. ... > full story

An Expert Answers Your Questions About the Flu


	General Health NEWS AND VIEWS
	October 15, 2008

Exclusive Interview with Debbie Phelps Check out Expert Eileen Bailey's exclusive interview with Debbie Phelps, mother of famed Olympic swimmer, Michael Phelps.

		Answers To Your Questions About the Flu Flu vaccine, flu season, flu therapy -- whatever you wanted to know, Dr. James Thompson has helpful answers for you about the influenza. Read more>

This Week's News

Holistic cures for cold and flu symptoms When cold and flu season strikes, many doctors find themselves on the front lines of infection. Read more>

Social class can affect cancer risk An analysis of more than 300,000 patients has found that social class may influence what type of cancer you're at risk for. Read more>

Some U.S. cereals more than half sugar: report Some breakfast cereals marketed to U.S. children are more than half sugar by weight and many get only fair scores on nutritional value, Consumer Reports said on Wednesday. Read more>

Big babies have a higher risk of breast cancer New research suggests that if you were longer or heavier than average at birth, you may be more likely to develop breast cancer in your lifetime. Read more>

	Quiz of the Week
	The Truth About the Flu Vaccine Every year, flu vaccine are big news and given by doctors, pharmacies, even grocery stores! Do you need to get the facts straight before you agree to a flu shot? Take this quiz to get the info you need.

This Week's Allergy Poll

Are you allergic to latex?

Your options are:

Yes, severely allergic.
Yes, mildly allergic.
No.
I'm not sure.

News You Can Use

The Health Insurance Dilemma - Part 1

My husband, an insurance broker, is for universal health insurance, which would make his job harder, but would level the playing field between corporate profit and the people who need help the most. Read more>

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

Olive Oil Linked to Reduced Brachial Artery Blood Flow


	Cholesterol NEWS AND VIEWS
	October 14, 2008

		Q&A: Can I Lower My Cholesterol Without Statins? A reader asks Joe and Teresa Graedon of the People's Pharmacy if it's possible to lower cholesterol without taking statins. Read more>

This Week's News	See all Cholesterol news

Simpler Test May Be Best for Diagnosing Blood Clots in Leg Compression ultrasound similar to more expensive whole-leg color ultrasound, study finds Read more>

Pneumonia vaccine lowers heart attack risk Canadian researchers say people who receive a pneumonia vaccine may halve their risk of having a heart attack two years later. Read more>

Four healthy foods for a tight budget Food prices have soared, experts say nutritious foods can still be on your shopping list. Read more>

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

	Quiz of the Week
	Quiz: Olive Oil, Omega 9, and Your Heart Confused about which oils are healthiest for your heart? Take Expert Lisa Nelson's quiz and look the vital differences between each.

Today's Poll

Which oil do you use in your cooking?

Your options are:

Olive oil
Vegetable oil
Canola oil

News You Can Use

Olive Oil, Omega 9, and Your Heart

Learn about olive oil's link to reduced brachial artery blood flow and the heart benefits of omega 9. Read more>

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

Little-Known Fat Can Be a Heartbreaker


	Heart Disease NEWS AND VIEWS
	October 14, 2008

Little-Known Fat Can Be a Heartbreaker Elevated lipoprotein (a) levels boost cardiovascular disease risk for some. Read more>

		COMMENTARY What Your Doctor Didn't Tell You About Lipoprotein(a) Whenever you hear about families in which heart attacks occur in people in their 40s and 50s, always think Lp(a) until proven otherwise. Read more>

This Week's News	See all Heart Disease news

Pneumonia vaccine lowers heart attack risk Canadian researchers say people who receive a pneumonia vaccine may halve their risk of having a heart attack two years later. Read more>

Doctors offer guidelines for cutting heart patients' GI risks Three medical associations have teamed up to help heart disease patients reduce the gastrointestinal and ulcer risks associated with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antiplatelet meds, the drugs commonly used to treat the condition. Read more>

Q&A: Coumadin may interact with Pepto-Bismol, Bengay Joe and Teresa Graedon of The People's Pharmacy caution Coumadin users about such over-the-counter remedies as Pepto-Bismol and Bengay. Read more>

Eating dark chocolate may keep heart healthy Eating dark chocolate regularly may help lower levels of inflammation, which is strongly associated with heart and blood vessel disease, Italian researchers report. Read more>

Blood Cell Genes May Signal Heart Disease Small study finds their levels correlate with cardiovascular trouble Read more>

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

	Quiz of the Week
	Quiz: Olive Oil, Omega 9, and Your Heart Confused about which oils are healthiest for your heart? Take Expert Lisa Nelson's quiz and look the vital differences between each.

Today's Poll

Have you had your Lp(a) tested?

Your options are:

News You Can Use

The Heart Profiler and You

MyHeartCentral.com recently licensed this assessment tool from Harvard and it's ready for you to use! The Health Profiler provides a comprehensive assessment and recommendations based on the specifics of your health situation. Read more>

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

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Soothing Music Reduces Stress, Anxiety And Depression During Pregnancy (October 14, 2008) -- Music therapy can reduce psychological stress among pregnant women, according to research just published in a special complementary and alternative therapy medicine issue of the UK-based Journal of Clinical Nursing. ... > full story

Men Who Never Smoke Live Longer, Better Lives Than Heavy Smokers (October 14, 2008) -- Health-related quality of life appears to deteriorate as the number of cigarettes smoked per day increases, even in individuals who subsequently quit smoking, according to new research. ... > full story

Pectin Power: Why Fruits And Vegetables May Protect Against Cancer's Spread (October 14, 2008) -- Scientists from the UK's Institute of Food Research have found a new possible explanation for why people who eat more fruit and vegetables may gain protection against the spread of cancers. They have shown that a fragment released from pectin, found in all fruits and vegetables, binds to and is believed to inhibit galectin 3, a protein that plays a role in all stages of cancer progression. ... > full story

Caffeine Consumption Not Associated With Breast Cancer Risk In Most Women, Study Suggests (October 14, 2008) -- Caffeine consumption does not appear to be associated with overall breast cancer risk, according to a new report. However, there is a possibility of increased risk for women with benign breast disease or for tumors that are hormone-receptor negative or larger than 2 centimeters. ... > full story

Longtime Visual Puzzler Explained In New Way (October 14, 2008) -- Neuroscientists have suggested an entirely new way to explain a puzzling visual phenomenon called the flash-lag effect. ... > full story

Personal Music Players: Scientists Warn Of Health Risks From Exposure To Noise (October 14, 2008) -- Listening to personal music players at a high volume over a sustained period can lead to permanent hearing damage, according to an opinion of the European Union Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks released this week. ... > full story

Toward An Effective Treatment For Spinal Muscular Atrophy (October 14, 2008) -- Scientists are reporting a key advance toward developing the first effective drug treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic disease that involves motor neuron loss and occurs in 1 out of every 6,000 births. SMA is the leading cause of hereditary infant death in the United States. ... > full story

Nanoscopic Screening Process To Speed Drug Discovery (October 14, 2008) -- Researchers are using nanotechnology to search for new cancer-fighting drugs through a process that could be up to 10,000 times faster than current methods. ... > full story

Bacteria That Can Cause Bone Infections Related To Tuberculosis Pathogen (October 14, 2008) -- Scientists have discovered that a bone infection is caused by a newly described species of bacteria that is related to the tuberculosis pathogen. The discovery may help improve the diagnosis and treatment of similar infections, according to an article in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. ... > full story

Drinking Alcohol Associated With Smaller Brain Volume (October 14, 2008) -- The more alcohol an individual drinks, the smaller his or her total brain volume. Brain volume decreases with age at an estimated rate of 1.9 percent per decade, accompanied by an increase in white matter lesions, according to background information in the article. ... > full story

Common Variant Increase Risk Of Most Common Form Of Skin Cancer By 170% (October 14, 2008) -- Scientists report the discovery of common versions of two single-letter variations in the human genome (SNPs) that confer risk of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common cancer among people of European ancestry. Unlike the four sets of SNPs previously found by deCODE to confer risk of BCC and cutaneous melanoma, those reported today are not linked to fair pigmentation traits that also make certain people prone to freckling and sunburn. ... > full story

Vision Loss More Common In People With Diabetes (October 14, 2008) -- Visual impairment appears to be more common in people with diabetes than in those without the disease, according to a new report. ... > full story

Signs Of Heart Disease Are Attributed To Stress More Frequently In Women Than Men (October 14, 2008) -- Coronary heart disease symptoms presented in the context of a stressful life event were identified as psychogenic in origin when presented by women and organic in origin when presented by men. The study could help explain why there is often a delay in the assessment of women with heart disease. ... > full story

Embryonic Heart Exhibits Impressive Regenerative Capacity (October 14, 2008) -- A new study demonstrates that the embryonic mouse heart has an astounding capacity to regenerate, a phenomenon previously observed only in non-mammalian species. The research describes the previously unrecognized potential of the embryonic heart to replace diseased tissue through compensatory proliferation of healthy cells. ... > full story

Unraveling The Complexity Of Human Disease (October 14, 2008) -- The mysteries of the human genome are slowly being revealed -- but the more we uncover the more complicated the picture becomes. This was one key message to emerge from the European Science Foundation's 3rd Functional Genomics Conference. Functional genomics describes the way in which genes and their products, proteins, interact together in complex networks in living cells. If these interactions are abnormal, diseases can result. ... > full story

Five Basic Things To Know About Stem Cell Research (October 14, 2008) -- In just a few weeks, voters will have an important decision to make when casting their ballots. Not just who they want to be president, or to represent them in Congress, but what they want the state to do about stem cells. And the way they vote on a ballot measure called Proposal 2 will determine the fate of a Michigan law that currently restricts research using embryonic stem cells. ... > full story

New Guidelines Double Amount Of Recommended Vitamin D For Young (October 14, 2008) -- The American Academy of Pediatrics is doubling the amount of vitamin D it recommends for infants, children and adolescents. The new clinical report, "Prevention of Rickets and Vitamin D Deficiency in Infants, Children, and Adolescents," recommends all children receive 400 IU a day of vitamin D, beginning in the first few days of life. ... > full story

Why Starving Cells Prolong Life (October 14, 2008) -- Cellular damage due to stress is an important factor in aging processes. It is, thus, amazing that starving, which is a stress factor per se, decelerates ageing processes and extends the lifespan of organisms. It has long been known that proteins from the sirtuin family contribute to this mechanism. ... > full story

Circumcision Not Associated With Reduced Risk Of HIV For Men Who Have Sex With Men (October 14, 2008) -- An analysis of previous research indicates there is a lack of sufficient evidence that circumcision reduces the risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection or other sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men, according to a new article. ... > full story

Pregnancy Does Not Affect Cognitive Functions, Despite Mothers' Fears: Australian Study (October 14, 2008) -- Pregnancy and motherhood may make us all go a little gooey, but it's not turning mums' brains into mush, according to mental health researchers in Australia. ... > full story

First Evidence That Common Pollutant May Reduce Iodine Levels In Breast Milk (October 13, 2008) -- Researchers in Texas are reporting the first evidence from human studies that perchlorate, a common pollutant increasingly found in food and water, may interfere with an infant's availability of iodine in breast milk. Iodine deficiency in infants can cause mental retardation and other health problems, the scientists note. The study also provides further evidence that iodine intake in U.S. mothers is low and that perchlorate may play a key role. ... > full story

Wheezing And Asthma In Young Children (October 13, 2008) -- The diagnosis of asthma in a young child may well be more challenging to pediatricians than previously appreciated, according to a review of research and clinical experience literature. ... > full story

Sound Is An Integral Part Of Products, Industrial Designer Says (October 13, 2008) -- Does coffee taste better when your coffee machine produces a particular sound? According to one industrial designer, the sound a product makes is an integral part of that product. ... > full story

Just A Numbers Game? Making Sense Of Health Statistics (October 13, 2008) -- Health statistics fill today's information environment, but even most doctors, who must make daily decisions and recommendations based on numerical data, lack the basic statistical literacy they require to make such decisions effectively. A major new report in Psychological Science in the Public Interest shows that statistical illiteracy is a significant problem having widespread negative impact on healthcare and society. ... > full story

Response To Immune Protein Determines Pathology Of Multiple Sclerosis (October 13, 2008) -- New research may help reveal why different parts of the brain can come under attack in patients with multiple sclerosis. According to a new study in mice with an MS-like disease, the brain's response to a protein produced by invading T cells dictates whether it's the spinal cord or cerebellum that comes under fire. ... > full story

New Properties Of Skin Stem Cells (October 13, 2008) -- New research reveals completely new properties of the skin's stem cells – discoveries that contradict previous findings. The studies, which are published in Nature Genetics, show amongst other things, that hair follicle stem cells can divide actively and transport themselves through the skin tissue. ... > full story

Reason For Body's Response To Borrelia Discovered (October 13, 2008) -- Inside a cell it is so crowded that a certain protein from borrelia winds up being crunched. From having been like an oblong rugby football, it gets bent and then collapses into a lump. At this point a previously hidden part appears, known to trigger the formation of antibodies. This explains how Borrelia can be diagnosed, a process that was previously unknown. ... > full story

One Hour Of Moderate Daily Exercise Insufficient To Curb Childhood Obesity, Experts Argue (October 13, 2008) -- One hour of moderate exercise a day recommended to children from health experts may not be enough to tackle the rising problem of childhood obesity. ... > full story

Potential Non-invasive Optical Detection Of Pancreatic Cancer (October 13, 2008) -- Researchers are investigating whether tissue optical spectroscopy can be employed for early cancer detection in the pancreas during minimally-invasive endoscopic diagnostic procedures. ... > full story

Vitamin D A Key Player In Overall Health Of Several Body Organs, Says Biochemist (October 13, 2008) -- Vitamin D, once linked to only bone diseases, is now recognized as a major player in contributing to overall human health, emphasizes UC Riverside's Anthony Norman, an international expert on vitamin D. He lists 36 organ tissues in the body whose cells respond biologically to vitamin D. The list includes bone marrow, breast, colon, intestine, kidney, lung, prostate, retina, skin, stomach and the uterus. According to Norman, vitamin D deficiency can impact all 36 organs. ... > full story

Blood Pressure Drug Combo Cuts Deaths in Elderly


	High Blood Pressure NEWS AND VIEWS
	October 14, 2008

Blood Pressure Drug Combo Cuts Deaths in Elderly Using two drugs rather than one to combat high blood pressure in elderly individuals can reduce their chances of dying over a given period of time, according to a report in the Journal of the American Society of Hypertension. Read more>

		COMMENTARY Treating High Blood Pressure in the Elderly Dr. Davis discusses how blood pressure management in the elderly can prevent death by other cardiovascular events. Read more>

This Week's News	See all High Blood Pressure news

Chicken legs may control high blood pressure: study Scientists in Japan have identified four proteins in chicken legs which appear to be effective in controlling high blood pressure, a study has said. Read more>

Menopause does not raise blood pressure, study finds Two new studies suggest that the increase in blood pressure and cardiovascular risk that starts in many women after menopause is not caused by menopause itself. Read more>

Ginkgo Prevented Stroke Damage in Mice But it's not clear if the popular extract would be effective in humans Read more>

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

	Quiz of the Week
	Quiz: Do You Know the Signs of a Blood Clot? Deep vein thrombosis (also called DVT or blood clot) occurs when a blood clot forms in a large vein. Part of a clot may break off and travel through the bloodstream to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism (PE) and, possibly, death. Find out if you are at risk by taking our quiz!

Today's Poll

Have you found it to be more difficult to manage your blood pressure as you age?

Your options are:

Yes
No
I don't know

News You Can Use

A Daily Dose of Beetroot Juice Can Keep High Blood Pressure Away

A research study conducted by Professor Amrita Ahluwalia and her colleagues emphasizes the potential effectiveness of a natural and low cost approach for treating cardiovascular disease. Read more>

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

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Why Your Boss Is White, Middle-class And A Show-off (October 13, 2008) -- The way male managers power dress, posture and exercise power is due to humans' evolutionary biology, according to new research. ... > full story

Age-related Macular Degeneration: New Genetic Association Identified (October 13, 2008) -- Clinicians and scientists have identified a major new genetic association with age-related macular degeneration, the most common cause of blindness in developed countries. ... > full story

'Caffeine Receptor' Solved: Structure Of Important Neurological Receptor Defined (October 13, 2008) -- Scientists from the Scripps Research Institute have determined the structure of an adenosine receptor that plays a critical role in a number of important physiological processes including pain, breathing, and heart function. The findings could lead to the development of a new class of therapeutics for treating numerous neurological disorders, including Parkinson's and Huntington disease. ... > full story

Potential New Tool For Brain Surgeons (October 13, 2008) -- One of the primary ways of treating brain cancer is surgically removing the tumors. The risk of this sort of procedure is obvious -- it involves cutting away tissue from the brain, potentially severing nerve fibers and causing neurological damage. MRI and CT scans can reveal the extent of tumors, but only prior to surgery. ... > full story

Girls Are Happier Than Boys At Primary School, Study Shows (October 13, 2008) -- Just over one quarter (26 per cent) of primary seven boys are completely happy coming to school, compared with 44 per cent of girls, according to a new survey. ... > full story

Nerve Stimulation Therapy Alleviates Pain For Chronic Headache (October 13, 2008) -- A novel therapy using a miniature nerve stimulator instead of medication for the treatment of profoundly disabling headache disorders improved the experience of pain by 80-95 percent, according to a new study. ... > full story

Tumor Formation In Stem Cells Linked to Mitochondria (October 13, 2008) -- Researchers report on a previously unknown relationship between stem cell potency and the metabolic rate of their mitochondria -- a cell's energy makers. Stem cells with more active mitochondria also have a greater capacity to differentiate and are more likely to form tumors. ... > full story

Millisecond Brain Signals Predict Response To Fast-acting Antidepressant (October 13, 2008) -- Images of the brain's fastest signals reveal an electromagnetic marker that predicts a patient's response to a fast-acting antidepressant. Such use of a brain scanner could someday minimize trial-and-error prescribing and speed delivery of care, say researchers. Depressed patients showed increased activity in a mood-regulating hub near the front of the brain while viewing flashing frightful faces -- the more the increase, the better their response to an experimental fast-acting medication called ketamine. ... > full story

American Culture Derails Girl Math Whizzes, Study Finds (October 13, 2008) -- A culture of neglect and, at some age levels, outright social ostracism, is derailing a generation of students, especially girls, deemed the very best in mathematics, according to a new study. ... > full story

H. Pylori Bacteria May Help Prevent Some Esophageal Cancers (October 13, 2008) -- Some bacteria may help protect against the development of a type of esophageal cancer, known as adenocarcinoma, according to a new review of the medical literature. These bacteria, which are called Helicobacter pylori, live in the stomachs of humans. ... > full story

Endoscopic Therapy May Offer An Alternative To Surgery In Patients With Esophageal Cancer (October 13, 2008) -- New research has evaluated the long-term efficacy of endoscopic mucosal resection, or EMR, in the treatment of patients with early stage esophageal cancer or Barrett's esophagus. Two separate studies suggest EMR is an effective treatment alternative to surgery and generally yields positive long-term results. ... > full story

Connections Between Vision And Movement, As They Relate To Perceived Threats, Autism (October 13, 2008) -- In research designed to assist US Department of Homeland Security and provide insight into how autistic individuals perceive others, scientists are examining how our visual system helps interpret the intent conveyed in subtle body movements. While most autism research has focused on difficulties in face perception, this new research examines autism as it relates to connections between visual analysis, body movement and our ability to interact. ... > full story

St. John's Wort Relieves Symptoms Of Major Depression, Study Shows (October 13, 2008) -- New research provides support for the use of St. John's wort extracts in treating major depression. A Cochrane systematic review backs up previous research that showed the plant extract is effective in treating mild to moderate depressive disorders. ... > full story

Vitamin D Deficiency Common In Patients With IBD, Chronic Liver Disease (October 13, 2008) -- Researchers have found patients with inflammatory bowel disease or chronic liver disease were at increased risk of developing Vitamin D deficiencies. Two separate studies highlight the importance of regular Vitamin D checkups in the evaluation of patients with certain digestive diseases. ... > full story

Mechanism Of Asymmetry In Meiotic Cell Division Probed (October 13, 2008) -- Scientists have characterized a mechanism that allows for asymmetrical cell division during meiosis in oocytes. By tracking chromosome movement in live mouse oocytes, they have discovered that chromosomes can recruit to their vicinity a protein called formin-2. This protein allows the oocyte to retain the majority of the cytoplasm -- a requirement for embryonic development after fertilization -- while the other daughter cell (called a polar body) resulting from the asymmetric division gets only a minimal amount and subsequently dies. ... > full story

Ergonomic Boost: Improving Workers' Posture And Working Conditions In Manufacturing Plant Can Increase Productivity (October 13, 2008) -- New research suggests that teaching staff about improving their posture and working conditions in a manufacturing plant can boost productivity by more than 50 percent. ... > full story

Baldness Gene Discovered: 1 In 7 Men At Risk (October 13, 2008) -- Researchers have identified two genetic variants in Caucasians that together produce an astounding sevenfold increase the risk of male pattern baldness. ... > full story

Thinner Cortex In Cocaine Addicts May Reflect Drug Use And A Pre-existing Disposition To Drug Abuse (October 13, 2008) -- New research findings suggest that structural abnormalities in the brains of cocaine addicts are related in part to drug use and in part to a predisposition toward addiction. The research maps the topography of the addicted brain and provides new insight into the effect of cocaine on neural systems mediating cognition and motivation. ... > full story

Radio-frequency Identification Reduces Specimen Labeling Errors (October 13, 2008) -- With a long-held commitment to continuously improving the quality and safety of patient care, Mayo Clinic researchers are recommending a new technologically-advanced labeling system aimed at reducing specimen labeling errors in a high-volume gastrointestinal endoscopy center. ... > full story

Parents Foster Significant Misperceptions Of Children's Weight (October 13, 2008) -- Results of a survey have revealed that many parents do not accurately perceive their children as overweight or at risk for adulthood obesity. Obesity in the United States is often accompanied by an increased risk of gastrointestinal diseases and has emerged as a major health concern, particularly the issue of obesity among children and adolescents. ... > full story

Fat-regenerating 'Stem Cells' Found In Mice (October 12, 2008) -- Researchers have identified stem cells with the capacity to build fat. Although they have yet to show that the cells can renew themselves, transplants of the progenitor cells isolated from the fat tissue of normal mice can restore normal fat tissue in animals that are otherwise lacking it. The findings may yield insight into the causes of obesity, a condition characterized by an increase in both the size and number of fat cells. ... > full story

Pollution From Livestock Farming Affects Infant Health (October 12, 2008) -- A new study finds that pollution from livestock facilities is associated with an increase in infant mortality. ... > full story

Gut Reaction To Arsenic Exposure Simulated (October 12, 2008) -- A simulated gastrointestinal system is helping scientists test contaminated soil for its potential to harm humans. The method is likely to save time and money for people hoping to repurpose land with an industrial past. Most testing for potential arsenic exposure is conducted in recognition of a dirty little secret of modern life: Humans unknowingly eat a little bit of soil each day. For children who might play on contaminated soil and ingest dirt, the testing is considered particularly important. ... > full story

Babies And Beethoven: Infants Can Tell Happy Songs From Sad (October 12, 2008) -- A new study shows that 5-month-old babies can distinguish an upbeat tune, such as "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, from a lineup of gloomier compositions. By age 9 months, babies can do the opposite and pick out the sorrowful sound of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony from a pack of happy pieces. ... > full story

Brainy Genes, Not Brawn, Key To Success On Mussel Beach (October 12, 2008) -- Scientists have found that mussels in their natural habitat express their genes in cyclic waves, in what appears to be a survival strategy akin to the circadian rhythms that govern sleep. In addition, two sets of genes used to cope with heat stress are identified, in the first real-time molecular sampling of two mussel communities. ... > full story

Important Clue To Learning Deficit In Children With Autism (October 12, 2008) -- An important clue to why children with autism spectrum disorders have trouble imitating others has been discovered: they spend less time looking at the faces of people who are modeling new skills. ... > full story

RNA Molecules, Delivery System Improve Vaccine Responses, Effectiveness (October 12, 2008) -- A novel delivery system that could lead to more efficient and more disease-specific vaccines against infectious diseases has been developed by biomedical engineers. ... > full story

Tamoxifen Chemoprevention Tied To Early Detection Of Breast Cancer (October 12, 2008) -- The drug tamoxifen does not prevent or treat estrogen receptor negative breast cancer, but it can make the disease easier to find, researchers report in the Oct. 1 Journal of the National Cancer Institute. ... > full story

Does It Matter If Black Plus White Equals Black Or Multiracial? (October 12, 2008) -- "Is Barack Obama Black or Biracial?" a recent CNN.com headline asks. Should such racial characterizations of people like Obama -- who have one black parent and one white parent -- really matter? According to a new study, they do matter. When study participants knew of a person's black-white ancestry, in comparison to not knowing of the parentage, they quickly adhered to the simplistic characterization of biracial people as black. ... > full story

Eliminating Viral Vector In Stem Cell Reprogramming (October 12, 2008) -- Scientists have eliminated the need for a viral vector in the stem cell reprogramming process In a report in Science, they showed the ability to reprogram adult cells into iPS cells without viral integration into the genome which lays to rest concerns that the reprogramming event might be dependent upon viral integration into specific genomic loci that could mediate the genetic switch. ... > full story

Hodgkin Lymphoma: New Characteristics Discovered; Cytokines Help Tumor Cells Evade Immune System (October 12, 2008) -- Researchers are still discovering new characteristics of Hodgkin lymphoma, a common form of cancer of the lymphatic system. Researchers in Germany have now demonstrated the production of interleukin 21 in the tumor cells of Hodgkin lymphoma. IL-21 promotes the growth of cancer cells and helps them evade immune system detection. ... > full story

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Monday, October 13, 2008

Religiosity Curbs Teen Marijuana Use By Half, National Study Finds (October 12, 2008) -- While many congregations of different faiths preach against drug abuse, it has been unclear whether a youth's religious involvement has any effect on his risk of drug abuse. Now a new national study finds that religious involvement makes teens half as likely to use marijuana. ... > full story

Statins May Prevent Miscarriages, Study Suggests (October 11, 2008) -- Hospital for Special Surgery researchers have found that statins may be able to prevent miscarriages in women who are suffering from pregnancy complications caused by antiphospholipid syndrome, according to a study in mice. ... > full story

Key Proteins In Blood Stem Cell Replication Pinpointed (October 11, 2008) -- A discovery from Stanford researchers is the first to directly link the notorious members of the retinoblastoma family of proteins to the cellular production factories responsible for churning out all the blood and immune cells in the body. ... > full story

Tobacco Smuggling Is Killing More People Than Illegal Drugs, Experts Claim (October 11, 2008) -- Tobacco smuggling causes around 4,000 premature deaths a year -- four times the number of deaths caused by the use of all smuggled illegal drugs put together -- but the UK government is not doing enough to tackle the problem, claim experts on the British Medical Journal website. ... > full story

Unlocking Stem Cell, DNA Secrets To Speed Therapies (October 11, 2008) -- Researchers have discovered that as embryonic stem cells turn into different cell types, there are dramatic corresponding changes to the order in which DNA is replicated and reorganized. ... > full story

New Findings May Improve Treatment Of Inherited Breast Cancer (October 11, 2008) -- Scientists have identified some of the elusive downstream molecules that play a critical role in the development and progression of familial breast cancer. The research also identifies a compound found in grapes and red wine as an excellent candidate for treatment of some forms of breast cancer. ... > full story

Understanding The Cycle Of Violence (October 11, 2008) -- Researchers have long known that children who grow up in an aggressive or violent household are more likely to become violent or aggressive in future relationships but the developmental link has been unclear. Researchers now say children who grow up in aggressive households may learn to process social information differently than their peers. "Children with high-conflict parents are more likely to think that aggressive responses would be good ways to handle social conflicts." ... > full story

Breast Stem Cell Fate Is Regulated By 'Notch' (October 11, 2008) -- A normal developmental protein that sometimes goes awry has been implicated in breast cancer. This discovery indicates the mechanism by which inappropriate expression of the notch pathway may contribute to breast cancer. ... > full story

Can Taking Ecstasy Once Damage Your Memory? (October 11, 2008) -- Academics in the UK are issuing new warnings about the dangers of ecstasy and its effects on the brain. ... > full story

Crucial Control In Long-lasting Immunity Discovered (October 11, 2008) -- Scientists have identified a protein that links two key types of white blood cells, T and B cells, letting them interact in a way that is crucial to establishing long-lasting immunity after an infection. Their finding may also explain why some individuals who have a genetic defect that prevents them from making this protein suffer from lethal infections with a common virus that otherwise is rarely fatal, while others have problems with B-cell lymphomas. ... > full story

Implantable Device May Help Manage Congestive Heart Failure Symptoms (October 11, 2008) -- A new study aims to improve the heart's pumping action and help to manage congestive heart failure symptoms. The US PARACHUTE trial tests the effectiveness of placing a small device in the left ventricle, or main pumping chamber of the heart. Physicians recently implanted the sixth person in the United States with the device. ... > full story

Potential New Tool For Brain Surgeons (October 11, 2008) -- One of the primary ways of treating brain cancer is surgically removing the tumors. The risk of this sort of procedure is obvious -- it involves cutting away tissue from the brain, potentially severing nerve fibers and causing neurological damage. ... > full story

Sixties Generation Is Heading For Conventional Old Age (October 11, 2008) -- Britain's post-war baby boomers, associated throughout their lives with social change, are failing to break new ground in their approach to growing old. ... > full story

Rapid Improvement In Overactive Bladder Symptoms, International Drug Study Shows (October 10, 2008) -- Patients with overactive bladders who took part in a multi-centre study to measure the effectiveness of solifenacin noticed improvements in as little as three days, according to new research. ... > full story

Early Breast Cancer: LHRH Agonists Show Considerable Promise (October 10, 2008) -- Women who have had early stage breast cancer surgically removed, and whose tumor cells are stimulated by the hormone estrogen, can benefit from taking luteinizing hormone releasing hormone antagonists, a Cochrane systematic review has concluded. This medication may be taken alone or alongside the use of tamoxifen. ... > full story

Biological Alternatives To Chemical Pesticides (October 10, 2008) -- With increasing consumer pressure on both farmers and supermarkets to minimize the use of chemical pesticides in fruit and vegetables, a new study looks at why there is currently little use of biological alternatives in the UK. ... > full story

Scientists Adapt Economics Theory To Trace Brain's Information Flow (October 10, 2008) -- Scientists have used a technique originally developed for economic study to become the first to overcome a significant challenge in brain research: determining the flow of information from one part of the brain to another. ... > full story

Genetic Finding Implicates Innate Immune System In Major Cause Of Blindness (October 10, 2008) -- Scientists have identified one of the genes implicated in age-related macular degeneration, the most common cause of blindness in developed countries. ... > full story

Daily Dose Of Ginkgo May Prevent Brain Cell Damage After Stroke, Mouse Studies Suggest (October 10, 2008) -- Working with genetically engineered mice, researchers at Johns Hopkins have shown that daily doses of a standardized extract from the leaves of the ginkgo tree can prevent or reduce brain damage after an induced stroke. ... > full story

One Dose Of Hormone May Halt Cell Suicide Following A Heart Attack, Study Suggests (October 10, 2008) -- Two things happen following a heart attack--necrosis (normal cell death) and apoptosis (programmed cell death) -- and both are bad. Now researchers in Japan have found that a single intravenous dose of the hormone erythropoietin immediately after myocardial infarction (heart attack) can drastically reduce or eliminate apoptosis and thereby limit the amount of damage to the heart, according to an article in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine. ... > full story

New Light On Link Between Snoring And Cognitive Deficits In Children (October 10, 2008) -- About two-thirds of children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) -- snoring or obstructive sleep apnea -- have some degree of cognitive deficit, but the severity of the cognitive deficit has been notoriously difficult to correlate to the severity of the SDB, suggesting that other important issues may be at play, or that the right factors were simply not being measured. ... > full story

How Effective Are Probiotics In Irritable Bowel Syndrome? (October 10, 2008) -- Several new studies highlight the safety and efficacy of probiotics in improving symptoms and normalizing bowel movement frequency in patients suffering from constipation or diarrhea related to Irritable Bowel Syndrome. ... > full story

How Fatty Foods Curb Hunger (October 10, 2008) -- Fatty foods may not be the healthiest diet choice, but those rich in unsaturated fats -- such as avocados, nuts and olive oil -- have been found to play a pivotal role in sending this important message to your brain: stop eating, you're full. ... > full story

New Screening Technologies Improve Detection Of Polyps During Colonoscopy (October 10, 2008) -- Two new studies highlight new technologies with the potential to improve the detection of colorectal polyps and flat lesions during colonoscopy. ... > full story

Narcissistic People Most Likely To Emerge As Leaders (October 10, 2008) -- When a group is without a leader, you can often count on a narcissist to take charge, a new study suggests. Researchers found that people who score high in narcissism tend to take control of leaderless groups. Narcissism is a trait in which people are self-centered, exaggerate their talents and abilities and lack empathy for others. ... > full story

Clue To Genetic Cause Of Fatal Birth Defect (October 10, 2008) -- A novel enzyme may play a major role in anencephaly, offering hope for a genetic test or even therapy for the rare fatal birth defect in which the brain fails to develop, according to a new study. ... > full story

Tracking Down The Cause Of Mad Cow Disease: First Synthetic Prion Protein With An Anchor (October 10, 2008) -- Researchers in Germany and Switzerland have developed a new general method for the synthesis of anchored proteins, such as GPI-anchored prions, which cause scrapie and mad cow disease. ... > full story

Outlook For Crohn's Disease Improves Thanks To New Therapies (October 10, 2008) -- A study led by Mayo Clinic has found that infliximab (Remicade) administered alone (monotherapy) or in combination with azathioprine is a more effective treatment for patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease than azathioprine alone. ... > full story

Bipolar Disorder In Children Appears Likely To Continue Into Young Adulthood (October 10, 2008) -- About 44 percent of individuals who had bipolar disorder as children continue to have manic episodes as young adults, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. This rate, along with the severity of the disease at young ages, strongly suggest that bipolar disorder can be continuous from childhood to adulthood, the authors note. ... > full story

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Sunday, October 12, 2008

Can Taking Ecstasy Once Damage Your Memory? (October 11, 2008) -- Academics in the UK are issuing new warnings about the dangers of ecstasy and its effects on the brain. ... > full story

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Saturday, October 11, 2008

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Friday, October 10, 2008

Small Intestine Can Sense And React To Bitter Toxins In Food (October 10, 2008) -- Toxins in food often have a bad, bitter taste that makes people want to spit them out. New research finds that bitterness also slows the digestive process, keeping bad food in the stomach longer and increasing the chances that it will be expelled. ... > full story

Better Insights Needed Into Failure Mechanisms Of Hip Replacements (October 10, 2008) -- If a hip prosthesis implanted to replace a worn-out joint itself fails, then what are the reasons? Until now this problem has been little understood: partly due to incomplete records, partly due to insufficient knowledge of the forces acting on the hip replacement. Computation models developed by the University of Twente and UMC St. Radboud can make an important contribution to our understanding in this field, says Prof. Nico Verdonschot in his inaugural lecture as Professor of Implantation Biomechanics at the University of Twente. Such models can, for instance, predict the strength of a bone much better than a specialist can do visually using an X-ray image. ... > full story

How Much Are You Really Exercising? Obese Women Know Better Than Normal Weight Women (October 10, 2008) -- People struggling with obesity often underestimate how many calories they are actually consuming, which can hinder weight loss efforts. It should follow that the same person would overestimate the amount of exercise they're doing, right? Researchers have found that obese women actually reported their activity levels most accurately, when compared to overweight and normal weight women. ... > full story

Free Drug Samples Carry Risks For Children (October 10, 2008) -- Free prescription drug samples distributed to children may be unsafe, according to a study by physicians from Cambridge Health Alliance and Hasbro Children's Hospital. ... > full story

Turning Cancer Friend Into Cancer Foe (October 10, 2008) -- Scientists have created a peptide that binds to Bcl-2, a protein that protects cancer cells from programmed cell death, and converts it into a cancer cell killer. The research may lead to new cancer treatments. ... > full story

Population Growth Puts Dent In Natural Resources (October 10, 2008) -- It's a 500-pound gorilla that Robert Criss, Ph.D., professor of earth and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, sees standing on the speaker's dais at political rallies, debates and campaigns. Its name is population growth. "Population growth is driving all of our resource problems, including water and energy. The three are intertwined," Criss says. ... > full story

Growing Role Of Molecular Diagnostics (October 10, 2008) -- Novel platform technologies and key advances in genomics are rapidly driving the development of molecular diagnostics, reports Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News. The payoff for successful molecular diagnostic products can be significant as Kalorama Information predicts that this market currently exceeds .2 billion worldwide and will reach .4 billion in four years. ... > full story

Premature Ejaculation? Not Your Fault: Gene Determines Rapidity Of Ejaculation In Men (October 10, 2008) -- The rapidity of ejaculation in men is genetically determined. Neuropsychiatrists studied 89 Dutch men with premature ejaculation and will publish results in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. ... > full story

Post-term Pregnancies Risk Infant's Life And Health, Study Shows (October 9, 2008) -- Infants born more than one week past their due dates have a higher risk of both impaired health and death, according to two new studies. ... > full story

Major Study Of Opiate Use In Children's Hospitals Provides Simple Steps To Alleviate Harm (October 9, 2008) -- Hospitalized kids with painful ailments from broken bones to cancer are often dosed with strong, painkilling drugs known as opiates. The medications block pain, but they can have nasty side effects. Constipation, for instance, is one side effect that can cause discomfort and even extend a child's hospital stay. ... > full story

Car Or Pedestrian? How We Follow Objects With Our Eyes (October 9, 2008) -- When an object moves fast, we follow it with our eyes: our brain correspondingly calculates the speed of the object and adapts our eye movement to it. This in itself is an enormous achievement, yet our brain can do even more than that. In the real world, a car will typically accelerate or brake faster than, say, a pedestrian. But the control of eye movement in fact responds more sensitively to changes in the speed of fast moving objects than slow moving objects. ... > full story

Researchers Discover How Infectious Bacteria Can Switch Species (October 9, 2008) -- Scientists in the UK have developed a rapid new way of checking for toxic genes in disease-causing bacteria which infect insects and humans. Their findings could in the future lead to new vaccines and anti-bacterial drugs. ... > full story

Double Flu Jab Needed Against Bird Flu Pandemic (October 9, 2008) -- Scientists recommend stockpiling influenza vaccine. Researchers have determined that vaccination will be the best way to protect people in the event of the next influenza pandemic -- but that each person would need two doses. ... > full story

Deflated 'Pancake' Breasts Restored After Pregnancy, Weight Loss, Aging (October 9, 2008) -- Women who desire a mommy-makeover, have had major weight loss, or are unhappy with the toll age has taken on their breasts can breathe easier. An innovative procedure to correct severely deflated, sagging breasts left looking like "pancakes" will be presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Plastic Surgery 2008 conference. ... > full story

Learning How Not To Be Afraid (October 9, 2008) -- Scientists are showing how the brain changes when mice learn to feel safe and secure in situations that would normally make them anxious. The mice developed a conditioned inhibition of fear that squelches anxiety as effectively as antidepressant drugs, such as Prozac. ... > full story

Structure Of 'Beneficial' Virus That Can Infect Cancer Cells Solved (October 9, 2008) -- Researchers have, for the first time, solved the structure of a virus that can infect specific cancer cells. This new knowledge may help drug designers tweak the pathogen enough so that it can attack other tumor subtypes. ... > full story

Chemical Found In Plastics, Bisphenol A, Linked To Chemotherapy Resistance (October 9, 2008) -- Exposure to bisphenol A may reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments. BPA -- a man-made chemical found in a number of plastic products, including drinking bottles and the lining of food cans —- actually induces a group of proteins that protect cancer cells from the toxic effects of chemotherapy. ... > full story

Controversial Fat Injections Can Improve Breast Reconstruction; Jury's Out On Augmentation (October 9, 2008) -- Injecting fat after breast reconstruction to correct implant wrinkling or dimpling may be safe and effective to improve breast shape, according to a new study. ... > full story

'Fingerprinting' Method Tracks Mercury Emissions From Coal (October 9, 2008) -- Researchers have developed a new tool that uses natural "fingerprints" in coal to track down sources of mercury polluting the environment. ... > full story

Bad Breath? Mouthrinses Work, But Some Cause Temporary Staining (October 9, 2008) -- Over-the-counter mouthrinses really do put a stop to bad breath. The first systematic review on the effectiveness of mouthrinses shows that they play an important role in reducing levels of bacteria and chemicals that cause mouth odours. Pick which one you use though, because some can temporarily stain your tongue and teeth, warns a new review. ... > full story

Cell Protein Suppresses Pain Eight Times More Effectively Than Morphine (October 9, 2008) -- Researchers have discovered a new therapeutic target for pain control, one that appears to be eight times more effective at suppressing pain than morphine. ... > full story

Chronic Kidney Disease Increased Sharply In The United States In Past Decade (October 9, 2008) -- A 30 percent increase in chronic kidney disease over the past decade has prompted the US Renal Data System to issue for the first time a separate report documenting the magnitude of the disease, which affects an estimated 27 million Americans and accounts for more than 24 percent of Medicare costs. ... > full story

Circadian Clock May Be Critical For Remembering What You Learn, Researchers Say (October 9, 2008) -- The circadian rhythm that quietly pulses inside us all, guiding our daily cycle from sleep to wakefulness and back to sleep again, may be doing much more than just that simple metronomic task, according to researchers. Working with Siberian hamsters, biologist Norman Ruby has shown that having a functioning circadian system is critical to the hamsters' ability to remember what they have learned. Without it, he said, "They can't remember anything." ... > full story

The Pepperoni Pizza Hypothesis (October 9, 2008) -- What's the worst that could happen after eating a slice of pepperoni pizza? A little heartburn, for most people. But for up to a million women in the US who have a chronic bladder condition, enjoying that piece of pizza and other foods can cause intense pelvic pain and an urgent need to frequently urinate. Researchers believe a surprise culprit is causing the pain: the colon. This concept opens up new treatment options for this debilitating condition. ... > full story

Burn Treatment Cream May Delay Healing (October 9, 2008) -- A cream commonly used to treat burns may actually delay healing. In addition, despite the wide range of wound dressings available for burns, there is no consensus on the most effective alternative treatment, say researchers who carried out a systematic review of existing data. ... > full story

Children's Asthma Affected By Parental Expectations (October 9, 2008) -- Asthmatic children whose parents have high expectations for their ability to function normally are less likely to have symptoms than other children dealing with the condition. ... > full story

Honey Helps To Heal Wounds, Review Suggests (October 9, 2008) -- Honey may reduce healing times in patients suffering mild to moderate burn wounds. A systematic review concluded that honey might be useful as an alternative to traditional wound dressings in treating burns. ... > full story

Molecule That Coordinates The Movement Of Cells Identified (October 9, 2008) -- A molecule bridging two proteins that gives cells their shape and ability to migrate in a directed fashion may also shed light on how to keep cancer from spreading. ... > full story

Levels Of Key Hormone During First Trimester Of Pregnancy Could Lead To Earlier Diagnosis Of Gestational Diabetes (October 9, 2008) -- New research shows women who develop diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes mellitus) have reduced levels of an insulin-sensitive hormone, adiponectin, as early as nine weeks into the pregnancy. The findings show early warning signs of gestational diabetes (GDM) are evident months before the clinical diagnosis is currently made (20-22 weeks). ... > full story

School Vending Machines Dole Out Excess Calories, Fat (October 9, 2008) -- Recent figures from the HEALTHY Study, a nationwide effort led by Temple University to curb obesity and type 2 diabetes in middle school students, found vending machines beverages had added sugars, high calorie 100 percent fruit juices, and snacks over 200 calories. ... > full story

Genome Of Parasite That Causes Relapsing Malaria Decoded (October 9, 2008) -- In research aimed at addressing a global epidemic, a team of scientists from around the world has cracked the genetic code for the parasite that is responsible for up to 40 percent of the 515 million annual malaria infections worldwide. Scientists have deciphered the complete genetic sequence of the parasite Plasmodium vivax, the leading cause of relapsing malaria, and compared it with the genomes of other species of malaria parasites. ... > full story

Proteins In Sperm Unlock Understanding Of Male Infertility, Says New Study (October 9, 2008) -- Proteins found in sperm are central to understanding male infertility and could be used to determine new diagnostic methods and fertility treatments, according to a paper published by the journal Molecular and Cellular Proteomics. The article demonstrates how proteomics, a relatively new field focusing on the function of proteins in a cell, can be successfully applied to infertility, helping identify which proteins in sperm cells are dysfunctional. ... > full story

Belt And Braces Approach May Prevent Deep Vein Thromboses (October 9, 2008) -- Combining short periods of leg compression with medications such as heparin is more effective at preventing blood clots in high-risk patients than using either preventative measure alone. A team of Cochrane researchers believe that this "belt and braces" approach can significantly decrease a patient's risk of deep vein thrombosis. ... > full story

Little Evidence That Sobriety Checkpoints Curb Drunk-Driving Crashes (October 9, 2008) -- Although communities commonly use sobriety checkpoints and increased police patrols to detect drivers under the influence of alcohol, a new review finds that there is not enough evidence to say definitively that the efforts work to cut down the number of accidents and deaths from drunk driving. ... > full story

Can Stem Cells Heal Damaged Hearts? No Easy Answers, But Some Signs Of Hope (October 9, 2008) -- Recent studies indicate that infusing hearts with stem cells taken from bone marrow could improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction (tissue damage that results from a heart attack). But in a recent systematic review researchers concluded that more clinical trials are needed to assess the effectiveness of stem cell therapies for heart patients, as well as studies to establish how these treatments work. ... > full story

Psychologists Show Experience May Be The Best Teacher For Infants (October 9, 2008) -- There's a lot of truth in the old proverb "experience is the best teacher," and apparently it even applies to 10-month-old infants. ... > full story

Carpal Tunnel Surgery Relieves More Symptoms Than Splinting, According To Review (October 9, 2008) -- Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome is more effective at relieving the symptoms of the painful condition than splinting, according to an updated review of studies by Chilean researchers. ... > full story

New Optics For Improved Solar Power Generators (October 9, 2008) -- Researchers are hoping to achieve higher solar cell efficiency involves using special coatings on solar cells that split light into colors like blue and red, which scientists estimate will increase efficiency by 50 percent. ... > full story

Plastic Surgeons Face War Injuries From Iraq To Inner-city Violence (October 9, 2008) -- Born out of war, plastic surgery remains at the forefront of surgical innovation, and advances from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan benefit victims of inner city wars being fought on our streets. ... > full story

Killing 'Angry' Immune Cells In Fat Could Fight Diabetes (October 8, 2008) -- By killing off "angry" immune cells that take up residence in obese fat and muscle tissue, researchers have shown that they can rapidly reverse insulin resistance in obese mice. The findings suggest that treatments aimed at specific subsets of the so-called macrophage cells might offer a very effective new anti-diabetic therapy, according to the researchers. ... > full story

Lifesaving TB Vaccine A Step Closer (October 8, 2008) -- Researchers have licensed ground-breaking research to a non-profit product development partnership working to develop new, more effective vaccines against tuberculosis. This development will give hope that significantly better prevention and treatment of TB will be available within the next few years. ... > full story

Assisted Suicide Laws May Overlook Depressed Patients (October 8, 2008) -- One in four terminally-ill patients in the State of Oregon who opt for physician assisted suicide have clinical depression and the Death with Dignity Act may not be adequately protecting them, concludes a new study. ... > full story

New, Tiny, Super-sensitive Probe Could Cut Colon Polyp Removal In Half, Study Suggests (October 8, 2008) -- Researchers see a future in which virtual biopsies will eliminate the need to remove colon polyps that are not cancerous or will not morph into the disease. ... > full story

Largest Review Of Its Kind Associates Anti-inflammatory Drugs With Reduced Breast Cancer Risk (October 8, 2008) -- Analysis of data from 38 studies that enrolled more than 2.7 million women -- the largest of its kind -- reveals that regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is associated with a 12 per cent relative risk reduction in breast cancer compared to nonusers. ... > full story

Traumatic Brain Injury Common Amongst Homeless People (October 8, 2008) -- Traumatic brain injury is common amongst homeless people and is associated with poorer health, found a study of more than 900 homeless men and women in Toronto. ... > full story

Pneumococcal Vaccine Associated With 50 Percent Lower Risk Of Heart Attacks (October 8, 2008) -- Pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccination was associated with a 50 percent lower risk of heart attacks two years after vaccination, suggests a large hospital-based case-control study. ... > full story

Pediatric Study Finds Alternatives For Radiation Of Low-grade Brain Tumors (October 8, 2008) -- A new study has found that using chemotherapy alone and delaying or avoiding cranial radiation altogether can be effective in treating pediatric patients with unresectable or progressive low-grade glioma. ... > full story

Customers' Fixation On Minimum Payments Drives Up Credit Card Bills (October 8, 2008) -- Many credit card customers become fixated on the level of minimum payments given on credit card bills. The mere presence of a minimum payment is enough to reduce the actual amount many people choose to pay on their bills, leading to further interest payments. ... > full story

What's for Dinner? Chicken Braised in Apple Cider


	Cholesterol SHARE AND SUPPORT
	October 8, 2008

		What's for Dinner? Allison Bush \| Posted: Oct 08, 2008 Chicken Braised in Apple Cider Nothing says "fall" more than a crisp yellow, red, or green apple. Make the most of this deliciously healthy fruit this fall by incorporating it into your snacks and meals. This recipe will surely have you coming back for more throughout the season. Read more>

Question of the Week

Donna Hopper | Posted: Oct 05, 2008

What is the difference in taking Niaspan and taking regular Niacin?

Heart-Healthy Eating Tips

		Dr. William Davis \| Posted: Oct 07, 2008 The Wheat-free Life: Lunch and Dinner "If you've already begun your day with a wheat- and cornstarch-free breakfast, you have likely already begun to lose weight, feel more alert, more energetic, and improve pre-diabetic and diabetic patterns," writes Dr. Davis. "How about compounding the benefits started at breakfast and continuing into lunch and dinner?" Read more>

Today's Poll

Which type of apple is your favorite?

Your options are:

Fuji
Golden Delicious
Granny Smith
McIntosh
None of the above

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

Eating Wheat-free: Lunch and Dinner


	Heart Disease SHARE AND SUPPORT
	October 8, 2008

		The Wheat-free Life Dr. William Davis \| Posted: Oct 07, 2008 Today's Menu: Lunch and Dinner "If you've already begun your day with a wheat- and cornstarch-free breakfast, you have likely already begun to lose weight, feel more alert, more energetic, and improve pre-diabetic and diabetic patterns," writes Dr. Davis. "How about compounding the benefits started at breakfast and continuing into lunch and dinner?" Read more>

Question of the Week

Kay | Posted: Oct 02, 2008

Why does the heart skip beats sometimes?

Community Corner

		Deanne Stein \| Posted: Oct 03, 2008 Remote Presence Technology in Hospital ERs "I've mentioned my misdiagnosed stroke back in 2001 before, but I believe hospitals have come a long way since then," writes Expert Deanne Stein. "In West Virginia and other states across the nation, hospitals are taking a cutting edge approach to diagnosing stroke...They are doing it with the use of an RP-7 robot (RP stands for Remote Presence), which provides two-way audio-visual communication between a doctor and a patient." Read more>

Today's Poll

Which wheat product would be most difficult for you to give up?

Your options are:

Pizza
Sandwiches
Chips, crackers, pretzels
Cereal
None of the above

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

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Thursday, October 9, 2008

Atomic-resolution Views Suggest Function Of Enzyme That Regulates Light-detecting Signals In Eye (October 8, 2008) -- An atomic resolution view of an enzyme found only in the eye is providing clues about how the enzyme is activated. The enzyme, PDE6, is critical to the way light entering the retina is converted into signals to the brain. ... > full story

Possibilities -- But No Proof -- To Prevent Alzheimer's (October 8, 2008) -- No one knows how to prevent or delay Alzheimer's disease. But researchers are finding clues to the mystery by studying exercise, estrogen, diet and drugs, and many other avenues. ... > full story

Contracting Pelvic Floor Muscles Prevents Urine Leakage Before And After Pregnancy (October 8, 2008) -- Women who receive one-to-one instruction on how to contract the pelvic floor muscles and practice pelvic floor muscle exercises with health professional supervision are less likely to suffer urine leakage during or after pregnancy. A systematic review suggests that these exercises are effective for preventing and treating incontinence. ... > full story

Counterterrorism Programs That Collect And Mine Data Should Be Evaluated For Effectiveness, Report Recommends (October 8, 2008) -- All US agencies with counterterrorism programs that collect or "mine" personal data -- such as phone, medical and travel records or Web sites visited -- should be required to systematically evaluate the programs' effectiveness, lawfulness, and impacts on privacy, says a new report from the National Research Council. ... > full story

Even Occasional Smoking Can Impair Arteries (October 8, 2008) -- Even occasional cigarette smoking can impair the functioning of your arteries, according to a new University of Georgia study that used ultrasound to measure how the arteries of young, healthy adults respond to changes in blood flow. ... > full story

Anti-cancer Drug Prevents, Reverses Cardiovascular Damage In Mouse Model Of Premature Aging Disorder (October 8, 2008) -- An experimental anti-cancer drug can prevent -- and even reverse -- potentially fatal cardiovascular damage in a mouse model of progeria, a rare genetic disorder that causes the most dramatic form of human premature aging researchers have reported. ... > full story

Neurotransmitter Defect May Trigger Autoimmune Disease (October 8, 2008) -- A potentially blinding neurological disorder, often confused with multiple sclerosis, has now become a little less mysterious. A new study may have uncovered the cause of Devic's disease. The research could result in new treatment options for this devastating disease. ... > full story

New Fake-Proof Personality Test Created (October 8, 2008) -- Psychologists have developed a personality inventory that can predict who will excel in academic and creative domains, even when respondents are trying hard to fake their answers. ... > full story

Genetic Variant Plays Role In Cleft Lip, Study Finds (October 8, 2008) -- Researchers have found, in a previously identified gene, a variation that likely contributes to one in five cases of isolated cleft lip. It's the first time a genetic variant has been associated with cleft lip alone, rather than both cleft lip and palate. The study provides insight on a previously unknown genetic mechanism and could eventually help with diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cleft lip, which affects more than five million people worldwide. ... > full story

Bird Diversity Lessens Human Exposure To West Nile Virus (October 8, 2008) -- This one's for the birds. A study by biologists shows that the more diverse a bird population is in an area, the less chance humans have of exposure to West Nile Virus. ... > full story

New Diagnostic Test For Rare Leukemia Appears To Give Faster Results, Study Finds (October 8, 2008) -- A new twist on a well-known cell sorting technique may allow physicians to diagnose rare leukemias in hours instead of weeks, according to new study. The clinical promise of the Stanford-developed approach, which eavesdrops on individual cells to decipher potentially dangerous molecular conversations, is likely to extend to many other disorders in which cell-signaling pathways are disrupted. ... > full story

'Deadly Dozen' Reports Diseases Worsened By Climate Change (October 8, 2008) -- A new report lists 12 pathogens that could spread into new regions as a result of climate change, with potential impacts to both human and wildlife health and global economies. ... > full story

Scientists Trace A Novel Way Cells Are Disrupted In Cancer (October 8, 2008) -- A research team at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is clarifying a previously unappreciated way that cellular processes are disrupted in cancer. Following upon previous work showing that a splicing factor called SF2/ASF can induce tumors in cell cultures, the team now shows that the same splicing factor induces changes in proteins in a pathway called PI3K-mTOR well known for its involvement in cancers. ... > full story

Proteins Involved In Blood Vessel Dysfunction In Type 2 Diabetes Are Identified (October 8, 2008) -- Using precise microscopes, researchers are dissecting coronary microvessels and testing which proteins are responsible for inflammation that causes blood-vessel dysfunction. By identifying the proteins that play important roles in blood-vessel dysfunction, they hope to develop new treatments for blood-vessel dysfunction in people with type 2 diabetes. ... > full story

Mentally Ill Smoke At 4 Times The Rate Of General Population, Study Suggests (October 8, 2008) -- Australians with mental illness smoke at four times the rate of the general population, according to a new study. ... > full story

C. Difficile And Antibiotics Not Necessarily Linked, Study Finds (October 8, 2008) -- A new study questions the assumption held by a vast majority of medical professionals that Clostridium difficile (C.difficile) infections are essentially always preceded by antibiotic use. The finding could have a major impact on how patients with diarrhea are evaluated upon their admission to the hospital. ... > full story

Racial Differences For Brain Bleeds Suggest Stroke Risk Greater Than Thought For Blacks (October 8, 2008) -- Small, clinically silent areas of bleeding in the brain appear to be more common in black versus white stroke patients hospitalized for new brain bleeds, say researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center. These findings may help explain the higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke among the black population, especially in those who are medically underserved. ... > full story

ADHD Stimulant Treatment May Decrease Risk Of Substance Abuse In Adolescent Girls; Results Mirror Findings In Boys (October 8, 2008) -- Researchers have found that treatment with stimulant drugs does not increase and appears to significantly decrease the risk that girls with ADHD will begin smoking cigarettes or using alcohol or drugs. ... > full story

Occasional Memory Loss Tied To Lower Brain Volume (October 7, 2008) -- People who occasionally forget an appointment or a friend's name may have a loss of brain volume, even though they don't have memory deficits on regular tests of memory or dementia, according to new study. ... > full story

Many Receptor Models Used In Drug Design May Not Be Useful After All (October 7, 2008) -- It may very well be that models used for the design of new drugs have to be regarded as impractical. Scientists have elucidated the structure of the adenosine A2A receptor, one of caffeine's main targets in the body and a key player in Parkinson's. ... > full story

Presence Of Safety Measures Affects People's Trust In Safety Of Tourist Destinations (October 7, 2008) -- According to the asymmetry principle of trust, information on negative events decreases trust to a much higher extent than information on positive events increases trust. A new study examines whether this notion holds true with respect to trust in the safety of tourist destinations. ... > full story

Red Wine May Lower Lung Cancer Risk (October 7, 2008) -- Moderate consumption of red wine may decrease the risk of lung cancer in men. The most substantial risk reduction was among smokers who drank one to two glasses of red wine per day. The researchers reported a 60 percent reduced lung cancer risk in these men. ... > full story

New Study Examines Effectiveness Of Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests (October 7, 2008) -- New findings from a decision analysis for the US Preventative Services Task Force suggest that routine colorectal cancer screenings can be stopped in patients over the age of 75. ... > full story

Helping People With Disabilities Make Use Of Public Transport (October 7, 2008) -- In an ideal world, all buses would be wheelchair friendly and train timetables would be available as audio recordings for the visually impaired. Reality has yet to catch up with that vision, so instead European researchers have developed a personal navigation aid to help disabled people make use of public transport. ... > full story

Why Current Publication Practices May Distort Science (October 7, 2008) -- The current system of publishing medical and scientific research provides "a distorted view of the reality of scientific data that are generated in the laboratory and clinic," says a team of researchers in PLoS Medicine. ... > full story

New Prenatal Test For Down Syndrome Less Risky Than Amniocentesis, Scientists Say (October 7, 2008) -- Pregnant women worried about their babies' genetic health face a tough decision: get prenatal gene testing and risk miscarriage, or skip the tests and miss the chance to learn of genetic defects before birth. ... > full story

Stool DNA Testing For Colorectal Cancer Has Potential, But Challenges Remain (October 7, 2008) -- The first generation of a stool DNA test to identify early colorectal cancer has limitations, according to a Mayo Clinic-led study published in the Oct. 7, 2008, issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. ... > full story

Microwave Ovens Need Added Safety Controls, Researchers Advise (October 7, 2008) -- Curious toddlers and pre-schoolers are all-too-often scalded by foods heated in microwave ovens, but a locking mechanism could prevent these severe injuries that require hospitalization. Researchers investigated these cases as part of a three-year study of children in their burn unit and found that inadequate safeguards exist on microwave ovens. ... > full story

How And Why Some Children Become Chronically Abused By Peers (October 7, 2008) -- As soon as children are old enough to interact socially, some become entrenched in chronic and increasing patterns of victimization by their peers, according to a new report in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Children who are aggressive in infancy and are from families with harsh parenting styles and insufficient income appear more likely to be consistently victimized. ... > full story

Air Pollution May Increase Risk Of Appendicitis (October 7, 2008) -- Could there be a link between high levels of air pollution and the risk of appendicitis? New research suggests a novel connection. ... > full story

FDA: No Lou Gehrig's Disease Risk with Statins


	Cholesterol NEWS AND VIEWS
	October 6, 2008

Exclusive Interview with Debbie Phelps Check out Expert Eileen Bailey's exclusive interview with Debbie Phelps, mother of famed Olympic swimmer, Michael Phelps.

		FDA: No Lou Gehrig's Disease Risk with Statins An analysis of dozens of studies found the widely used statin cholesterol drugs do not increase the risk of Lou Gehrig's disease, U.S. health officials said on Monday. Read more>

This Week's News	See all Cholesterol news

Statins may slow artery aging in heart disease patients British researchers have found that cholesterol-lowering statins may help prevent premature artery aging in people suffering from advanced heart disease. Read more>

Omega-6 fatty acid intake tied to breast cancer Substances called heterocyclic amines (HAs) found in cooked meat and fish don't appear to boost a woman's risk of developing breast cancer after menopause, Swedish researchers report. Read more>

Drugmakers to report fees to doctors Two drug companies--Eli Lilly and Merck--have announced that they will begin disclosing their payments to doctors who have offered consulting service beginning in 2009. Read more>

	Quiz of the Week
	Quiz: Do You Know the Differences Between Salt and Sodium? One of the easiest ways to take control of your high blood pressure is to lower your sodium intake. Take this quiz and learn the surprising sources of sodium as well as the differences between table salt and sodium.

Today's Poll

Do you think of food as medicine?

Your options are:

News You Can Use

The Primordial Cholesterol Therapy: Exercise

Unfortunately, lost amongst this smorgasbord of pills, capsules, bran muffins, and vegetable oil spreads resides a therapy that has been proven to improve cholesterol ever since the beginning of humankind. That primordial therapy is called exercise. Read more>

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

Blood Thinner Linked to Increased Brain Bleeding


	Heart Disease NEWS AND VIEWS
	October 6, 2008

Exclusive Interview with Debbie Phelps Check out Expert Eileen Bailey's exclusive interview with Debbie Phelps, mother of famed Olympic swimmer, Michael Phelps.

Blood Thinner Linked to Increased Brain Bleeding The amount of bleeding in the brain that occurs when a blood vessel bursts and causes a stroke is greater for some people who take the clot-preventing drug warfarin (Coumadin), a new study shows. Read more>

		COMMENTARY Blood Clots: Signs and Symptoms Expert Deanne Stein gives a personal account of the signs and symptoms of a blood clot as well as what to do if you should experience one. Read more>

This Week's News	See all Heart Disease news

Heart patients should be screened for depression, experts say Experts say that depression is about three times more common in patients following a heart attack than in the general population. Read more>

Statins may slow artery aging in heart disease patients British researchers have found that cholesterol-lowering statins may help prevent premature artery aging in people suffering from advanced heart disease. Read more>

Miniature heart pump used successfully in kids Doctors at St. Louis Children's Hospital have used miniaturized heart-assist devices in children, to keep them alive while they await a heart transplant. Read more>

	Quiz of the Week
	Quiz: Do You Know the Differences Between Salt and Sodium? One of the easiest ways to take control of your high blood pressure is to lower your sodium intake. Take this quiz and learn the surprising sources of sodium as well as the differences between table salt and sodium.