Futurity.org

Alzheimer’s gene opens floodgate in brain

Tom Rickey-Rochester — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:16:21 +0000

U. ROCHESTER (US) — A genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease triggers a cascade of signaling that results in leaky blood vessels in the brain, allowing toxic substances to pour into brain tissue.

The findings come from an investigation into why a gene called ApoE4 makes people more prone to developing Alzheimer’s. People who carry two copies of the gene have roughly eight to 10 times the risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease than people who don’t.

To kill cancer, don’t let genes go silent

Alison Trinidad-USC — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:05:53 +0000

USC (US) — Researchers have identified a small number of specific genes that need to be silenced for cancer cells to survive.

The discovery—detailed in the May 15 issue of Cancer Cell—means the genes may be good targets for new, more effective treatments.

Time of year matters for vitamin D risk

Leila Gray-UW — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:32:30 +0000

U. WASHINGTON (US) — When considering a patient’s blood vitamin D levels, it may be best to consider a lower threshold for concern, as well as the time of year.

The threshold amount for older patients’ vitamin D levels has become controversial as several scientific societies set different targets.

But a new study at the University of Washington supports recent recommendations for a lower threshold level, considerably lower than the recommendations of other expert panels.

Mammals may not get to cool climates in time

Sandra Hines-UW — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:44:19 +0000

U. WASHINGTON (US) — Nine percent of the Western Hemisphere’s mammals—and up to 40 percent in some regions—may not be able to outpace climate change.

A new study is the first to consider whether mammals will actually be able to move to those new areas suitable for mammals before they are overrun by climate change.

Carrie Schloss, University of Washington research analyst in environmental and forest sciences, is lead author of the paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Why parents can’t rely on video game ratings

Mike Ferlazzo-Iowa State — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:25:19 +0000

IOWA STATE (US) —Not all E-rated video games are created equal. New research indicates content matters more than ratings when it comes to effects on kids.

The findings come from three studies, one of which is the first experimental study on children (ages 9-14) comparing the short-term behavioral effects of playing prosocial, neutral, and violent video games.

Top-educated women picking family track

Bert Gambini-Buffalo — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:43:18 +0000

U. BUFFALO (US) — More older, highly educated women are choosing to have a family, but it remains unclear whether they are having children in addition to—or instead of—careers.

While it is still too early to be certain, research clearly shows fertility rising for older, highly educated women since the 1990s. (Fertility is defined as the number of children a woman has had.) Childlessness also declined by roughly 5 percentage points between 1998 and 2008.

Images show risk of sudden heart failure

Ellen Goldbaum-Buffalo — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:32:45 +0000

U. BUFFALO (US) — Doctors may have a new way to identify patients who are at the highest risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and the most likely to benefit from an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD).

ICDs are used to prevent sudden cardiac arrest in patients with advanced heart disease, but many patients’ devices are never triggered. New research suggests that imaging the loss of nerve function in the heart may identify those patients at greatest risk of developing a life-threatening arrhythmia.

Feeding tube may flare some ulcer risks

David Orenstein-Brown — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:10:18 +0000

BROWN (US) — Gastric feeding tubes may do more harm than good for bedridden dementia patients, new research shows.

As reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine, an analysis of thousands of nursing home patients reports that percutaneous endoscopic gastric (PEG) feeding tubes, long assumed to help bedridden dementia patients stave off or overcome pressure ulcers, may instead make the sores more likely to develop or not improve.

Clean air improves heart health, Olympics show

Alison Trinidad-USC — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:43:02 +0000

USC / U. ROCHESTER (US) — Using the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a lab, researchers found evidence that even short-term reduction in air pollution exposure improves a person’s cardiovascular health.

The results of the study appear this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Girls take longer to heal from concussions

Jason Cody-Michigan State — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:39:21 +0000

MICHIGAN STATE (US) — Females and younger athletes take longer to recover from concussions, new research shows.

The findings suggest physicians and athletic trainers should take sex and age into account when dealing with the injury.