(www.americanheart.org)Every year, in the United States about 1,500 people have surgical objects accidentally left inside them after surgery, according to medical studies. About two-thirds of the surgical objects left behind are sponges, which can lead to pain, infection, bowel obstructions, problems in healing, longer hospital stays, additional surgeries and in rare cases, death.

Labels: genetic, health, symptoms

(www.americanheart.org)One type of over-the-counter product for topical wound care is more effective than others in killing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, or MRSA, which is potentially deadly and in recent years has moved from its historic hospital setting to a much broader public concern.

Labels: genetic, health, symptoms

(www.americanheart.org)Researchers have used PET imaging to see hyperactive cancer genes inside breast tumors in laboratory animals, marking the first time such gene activity has been observed from outside the body. This technology might someday help physicians to detect and classify cancer, enabling them to find cancerous breast tumors as early as possible, and determine the appropriate treatment.

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(www.americanheart.org)With the holiday season's hustle and bustle in full swing, most of us will race to our favorite coffee shop to get that caffeine boost to make it through the day. However, that daily jolt that we crave might be the reason we need the caffeine in the first place.

Labels: genetic, health, symptoms

(www.americanheart.org)One version of a gene puts women who are under chronic stress at risk for more severe depressive symptoms. But among men, the same gene variant appeared to be protective against depression. In fact, men with the opposite gene variant were the ones who experienced more depressive symptoms when under chronic stress. The researchers analyzed two independent samples of healthy individuals for the presence of a genetic variant that regulates levels of serotonin -- a neurotransmitter that is linked to health in numerous ways, including emotion regulation.

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(www.americanheart.org)Scientists have genetic reprogrammed human skin cells to create cells indistinguishable from embryonic stem cells. The finding is not only a critical scientific accomplishment, but potentially remakes the tumultuous political and ethical landscape of stem cell biology as human embryos may no longer be needed to obtain the blank slate stem cells capable of becoming any of the 220 types of cells in the human body. Perfected, the new technique would bring stem cells within easy reach of many more scientists as they could be easily made in labs of moderate sophistication, and without the ethical and legal constraints that now hamper their use by scientists.

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(www.americanheart.org)A new "lung-on-a-chip" mimics the fluid mechanics of the real thing on a plastic wafer just bigger than a quarter. It allows researchers to grow lung airway cells that act more like they're in a human body instead of a Petri dish. Biomedical engineers used the device to show that the respiratory crackles stethoscopes pick up in patients with diseases including asthma, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia and congestive heart failure aren't just symptoms, but may actually cause lung damage.

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(www.americanheart.org)New research suggests that the presence or absence of two proteins may be important markers for long-term survival in some breast cancer patients. One of the proteins, called ErbB-4, is important for the growth and differentiation of several types of cells in the body. The second protein, called Wwox, is a tumor suppressor – it helps prevent cells from becoming cancerous – and it is missing in many breast cancers.

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(www.americanheart.org)Researchers used their expertise in radiation science to help a young company create weakened, harmless versions of malaria-causing parasites that, in turn, are being used to create a new type of vaccine that shows promise of being more effective than current malaria vaccines.

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(www.americanheart.org)Our brains, unlike the skin covering our bodies, do not wrinkle and sag as we age. But new studies show that our brains do change structurally and functionally in ways that may underlie the memory and thinking impairments that can limit independence and quality of life for senior citizens. Neuroscientists have recently discovered that the region of the brain that stores episodic memories -- those for specific events and their context -- was less engaged in older people, particularly those who have a common variant of a particular gene. Researchers also have determined that senior citizens who suspect that their sense of direction is declining are astute observers of a newly discovered age-related mental change.

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(www.americanheart.org)An international team of scientists have announced the results of a systematic effort to map the genetic changes underlying lung cancer, the world's leading cause of cancer deaths. Comprehensive analysis of DNA from human lung tumors uncovers more than 50 common genetic abnormalities, less than half involve known cancer genes.

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(www.americanheart.org)A region of the brain -- the insular cortex -- plays a role in drug craving in amphetamine-addicted rats, according to an article in Science. This finding ultimately may help support the development of new therapies to treat drug addiction as well as certain behavioral side effects of medications.

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(www.americanheart.org)A neural network that may generate the human tendency to be optimistic has been identified. As humans, we expect to live longer and be more successful than average, and we underestimate our likelihood of getting a divorce or having cancer. The results, reported in the most recent issue of Nature, link the optimism bias to the same brain regions that show irregularities in depression.

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(www.americanheart.org)A common human virus may prove useful in attacking the deadliest form of brain tumors, according to a new study. The researchers said the finding is an important step in developing a vaccine that can attack the tumors by enlisting the help of the body's immune system.

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(www.americanheart.org)Giving a daily antiretroviral pill to people could profoundly slow the spread of the infection in sub-Saharan Africa by potentially preventing 3.2 million cases of HIV in 10 years. The findings are based on a mathematical model developed to predict the public-health impact of pre-exposure chemoprophylaxis -- an HIV prevention strategy that uses antiretroviral drugs to stop the infection from occurring in the first place.

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(www.americanheart.org)Scientists have identified the process that causes blood vessels to constrict during and after a heart attack. They've also demonstrated that delivering a vital molecule that is depleted during this process directly to those blood vessels can reverse damage and help restore blood flow. The medical researchers say these findings have the potential to improve outcomes for patients with acute coronary episodes related to ischemia, and to ameliorate the restriction of blood supply to the heart.

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(www.americanheart.org)Medical research shows that mothers' milk satisfies babies' nutritional needs far better than any manufactured infant formula. It also protects babies against many common infectious diseases and certain inflammatory diseases, and probably helps lower the risk of a child later developing diabetes, lymphoma and some types of leukemia. These conclusions appear in a major new review of the medical literature published this month entitled "Benefits and Risks of Breastfeeding."

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(www.americanheart.org)A sweeping review of research studies of aspartame says there is no evidence that the non-nutritive sweetener causes cancer, neurological damage or other health problems in humans. Looking at more than 500 reports, including toxicological, clinical and epidemiological studies dating from 1970's pre-clinical work to the latest studies on the high-intensity sweetener, along with use levels and regulations data, an international expert panel from 10 universities and medical schools evaluated the safety of aspartame for people of all ages and with a variety of health conditions.

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