Health News: Singing's secret power ♦ Why many alcohol drinkers also are smokers ♦ Let your head do the talking

Singing's secret power: The Ice-breaker Effect A study with adult learners showed groups doing singing bonded faster than others. The study looked at how people attending adult education classes grew closer over seven months. The conclusion -- singing groups bonded more quickly than creative writing or craft classes.

New finding helps explain why many alcohol drinkers also are smokers Alcohol and nicotine use have long been known to go hand in hand. Previous research shows that more than 85 percent of US adults who are alcohol-dependent also are nicotine-dependent. Now, researchers have found that nicotine cancels out the sleep-inducing effects of alcohol. It's a finding that sheds light on the reason alcohol and nicotine usage are so closely linked.

Let your head do the talking When people talk or sing, they often nod, tilt or bow their heads to reinforce verbal messages. But how effective are these head gestures at conveying emotions? Very effective.

Intestinal worms 'talk' to gut bacteria to boost immune system Researchers have discovered how intestinal worm infections cross-talk with gut bacteria to help the immune system. Intestinal worms infect over 2 billion people across the world, mostly children, in areas with poor sanitation. But despite causing serious health problems, worms can actually help the immune system of its host as an indirect way of protecting themselves.

Cancer Research: Lung cancer survival rates improve with CT scan follow-up ♦ COPD heightens deadly lung cancer risk in smokers ♦ Genetic screening of brain metastases reveals new treatment

Differences between tumors of younger and older colorectal cancer patients  Tumors in younger colorectal cancer patients may be molecularly distinct from those of older patients, and that these differences are related to the way genes are switched on and off (epigenetics) in the tumors of the younger patients and may lead to better treatment options.

Genetic screening of brain metastases could reveal new targets for treatment Unravelling the genetic sequences of cancer that has spread to the brain could offer unexpected targets for effective treatment

Lung cancer survival rates improve with CT scan follow-up Patients with recurrent lung cancer have better post-surgery survival rates if their management includes a follow-up program based on computer tomography of the chest.

Differences found between smokers and nonsmokers who develop lung cancer Tobacco smoke is known to be the main risk factor for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), although non-smokers can get it too. The incidence among non-smokers is increasing in many countries. Now a group of researchers has found significant differences in clinical particularities and survival between smokers and nonsmokers who develop NSCLC.

COPD heightens deadly lung cancer risk in smokers Smokers who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder may face nearly twice the risk of getting small cell lung cancer -- the deadliest form of lung cancer -- than smokers who don't have COPD.

Health Research: Smokers at higher risk of losing their teeth ♦ Long sleep and high blood copper levels go hand in hand ♦ Social factors may impact young leukemia patients' survival

Low vitamin D among elderly associated with decline in cognition, dementia Vitamin D insufficiency among the elderly is highly correlated with accelerated cognitive decline and impaired performance, particularly in domains such as memory loss that are associated with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, researchers have found.

Smokers at higher risk of losing their teeth, Regular smokers have a significantly increased risk of tooth loss, a new study has confirmed. Male smokers are up to 3.6 times more likely to lose their teeth than non-smokers, whereas female smokers were found to be 2.5 times more likely.

Long sleep and high blood copper levels go hand in hand People who sleep fewer than 6 hours or more than 10 hours per night suffer from low-grade inflammation more often than people who sleep 7-8 hours per night. Earlier studies have found a relation between reduced sleep and low-grade inflammation, according to one of the study researchers. Furthermore, low-grade inflammation occurs in overweight, depression and diabetes. This new study is the first to analyze the association between sleep duration and serum micronutrient concentrations in a large sample, and it found a link between high serum copper concentration and long sleep duration.

Social factors may impact young leukemia patients' survival A new study reveals that insurance status, marital status, and county-level income may affect the chances of survival in young patients with acute myelogenous leukemia

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Cancer Research; Long-term NSAID use may reduce colorectal cancer risk ♦ Divide and rule: A tumor's strategy ♦ Imaging software could speed up breast cancer diagnosis

Imaging software could speed up breast cancer diagnosis New software could speed up breast cancer diagnosis with 90 percent accuracy without the need for a specialist. This could improve breast cancer management, particularly in developing countries where pathologists are not routinely available.

Divide and rule: A tumor's strategy Researchers have discovered how aggressive cells can invade healthy tissue during the earliest stage of tumor development. This opens up new ways of attacking cancer at its root, they say

Light/moderate drinking linked to increased risk of some cancers in women, male smokers Even light and moderate drinking (up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men) is associated with an increased risk of certain alcohol related cancers in women and male smokers.

Electronic trigger reduces delays in evaluation for cancer diagnosis Electronic triggers designed to search for key data, developed by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, were able to identify and reduce follow-up delays for patients being evaluated for a diagnosis of colon or prostate cancer.

Long-term NSAID use may reduce CRC risk Long-term, continuous use of low-dose aspirin and nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with decreased colorectal cancer risk. The findings of a population-based, case-control study.

Health News: Food inspectors file case against Nestle over noodles ♦ Cancer trial of drug combination yields spectacular results ♦ FDA make its own job on food additives harder

Food inspectors file case against Nestle over noodles Food safety inspectors in Uttar Pradesh said they had filed a criminal complaint against Nestle's local arm after saying they had found high levels of lead in some packets of Maggi instant noodles Nestle India, which disputes the findings, has said the batch in question was manufactured in February 2014 so was already past its sell-by date in April

Why must FDA make its own job on food additives harder Let’s face it: we all make self-destructive choices from time to time.  But when federal regulators illogically shoot themselves in the foot, the harm to public safety can be serious.  Such is the sad situation at the Food and Drug Administration, which just can’t seem to get it right when it comes to the regulation of food additives.

Cancer trial of drug combination yields spectacular results Terminally ill cancer patients could be “effectively cured” of the disease using a powerful new combination of drugs described by scientists as heralding a once-in-a-generation advance in treatment. A British-led trial brought “spectacular” results with more than half of patients with advanced melanoma seeing tumours shrink

Smokers and those exposed to passive smoke require more anesthetic and painkiller during operations New research shows that both smokers and those exposed to passive smoke require more anesthetic and painkillers to reach the same level of anesthesia as non-smokers.

Hypothermia occurs during surgery in around half of patients

A study shows that hypothermia occurs in around half of patients undergoing surgery, despite national guidelines for its prevention.

Pulmonary Research:Air pollution and impaired lung function risk factors for cognitive decline ♦ Risk factors can predict the risk for COPD ♦ Protein causes cystic fibrosis

Certain risk factors can predict the risk for COPD exacerbations in patients using inhaled medications Gastroesophageal reflux disease, being female, and certain scores on the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire were associated with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in subjects using long-acting controller medication.

Air pollution and impaired lung function prove independent risk factors for cognitive decline Studies have shown that both air pollution and impaired lung function can cause cognitive deficits, but it was unclear whether air pollution diminishes cognition by reducing breathing ability first or whether air pollution represents an independent risk factor for cognitive deficit. Now a new study found air pollution directly affects cognition and is not mediated by lung function.

Pulmonary rehabilitation helps patients newly diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea Pulmonary rehabilitation treatment could be a valuable addition to comprehensive therapy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Key component in protein that causes cystic fibrosis identified Nearly 70,000 people worldwide are living with cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening genetic disease. There currently is no cure but researchers have now identified a key component in the protein that causes the disease.The finding may lead to the development of new medications and improved therapies

Adding genetic information changes risk profile of smokers and results in greater adherence to CT lung screening Researchers have found that adding genetic information to a former or current smokers clinical risk profile results in a reclassification of their risk for lung cancer in about one in four patients. Preliminary findings from their lung cancer screening feasibility study also suggests that those whose genetic and clinical risk placed them in the highest risk category were more likely to adhere to follow-up computed tomography (CT) scans during screening.

Brain Research: Drug perks up old muscles and aging brains ♦ Hydrogels' boost ability to restore eyesight and heal brains ♦ Antiviral compound may protect brain from pathogens

Drug perks up old muscles and aging brains We age, in part, because the adult stem cells in our tissues are surrounded by chemicals that prevent them from replacing damaged cells. One of these chemicals is TGF-beta1, known to depress stem cell activity. A new study shows that a drug that blocks TGF-beta1, which is now being tested for its anticancer properties, makes brain and muscle tissue more youthful..

Brains of smokers who quit successfully might be wired for success Smokers who are able to quit might actually be hard-wired for success. The study showed greater connectivity among certain brain regions in people who successfully quit smoking compared to those who tried and failed.

Hydrogels' boost ability of stem cells to restore eyesight and heal brains Scientists and engineers have made a breakthrough in cell transplantation using a gel-like biomaterial that keeps cells alive and helps them integrate better into tissue. In two early lab trials, this has already shown to partially reverse blindness and help the brain recover from stroke.

Antiviral compound may protect brain from pathogens, West Nile virus, study shows

An antiviral compound may protect the brain from invading pathogens, researchers have found. Studying West Nile virus infection in mice, scientists showed that interferon-lambda tightens the blood-brain barrier, making it harder for the virus to invade the brain.

Smaller volumes in certain regions of the brain could lead to increased likelihood of drug addiction Individual differences in brain structure could help to determine the risk for future drug addiction, new research suggests. The study found that occasional users who subsequently increased their drug use compared with those who did not, showed brain structural differences when they started using drugs

Health News: More artificial ingredients coming off Panera's menu ♦ Tea tainted with pesticides ♦ Technique helps smokers quit tobacco

More artificial ingredients coming off Panera's menu Fast casual restaurant chain Panera is expanding the list of additives they won’t allow in their food. The company announced Tuesday that, by the end of 2016, all of the food in its U.S. bakery-cafes will be free of artificial preservatives, colors, sweeteners and flavors. New “clean” salad dressings free of artificial ingredients will be

Ten Ren tea tainted with pesticides Fipronil is a pesticide that can cause cancer when consumed by humans. The FDA launched a large-scale investigation into tea chains nationwide after the Stornaway tea scare broke early in April. The Taichung Department of Health discovered 0.003 ppm of fipronil in Easy Way Bubble Tea House's black tea on May 4, which violates the

Psychological technique helps smokers quit tobacco Researchers have demonstrated that motivational interviewing can make smokers see tobacco as something disagreeable, thus helping them to quit the habit. Motivational interviewing is a psychological technique of direct intervention that seeks to produce changes in patient behavior.

Exposure to air pollution in the first year of life increases risk for allergies Exposure to outdoor air pollution during the first year of life increases the risk of developing allergies to food, mould, pets and pests, new research concludes. The study showed that the sensitivity to allergens was associated with exposure to traffic-related air pollution during infancy

Rheumatoid arthritis patients at increased risk of surprise heart attack Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are at increased risk of a surprise heart attack, according to new research. Risk was increased even when patients had no symptoms and was independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking and diabetes, researchers report.

Health Research: 160 people die of rabies every day ♦ Smokers underestimate risks of a few cigarettes ♦ Sleep for helping people absorb new information

Smokers underestimate risks of a few cigarettes Many people still dangerously underestimate the health risks of smoking even a few cigarettes a day, despite decades of public health statements. People who smoke very much tend to underestimate their risks and denial is prevalent.

Experts warn Ebola epidemic could return with a vengeance unless lessons about medical trials are learned  Health experts have warned that a greater flexibility must be brought to medical trials to combat diseases like Ebola to avoid facing another nightmare outbreak. The rapid spread of the Ebola and the urgency of a response led to many challenges of advising  those managing people of the best way to treat the illness.

Nothing beats a good night's sleep for helping people absorb new information Researchers have found that successful long-term learning happens of classroom teaching, after the learners have slept.

9/11 leaves legacy of chronic ill health among emergency medical services workers The 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 have left a legacy of chronic ill health among emergency medical services workers who came to rescue victims. Those who arrived first are most at risk of physical and mental ailments,.

160 people die of rabies every day, says major new study A global study on canine rabies has found that 160 people die every day. The report is the first study to consider the impact in terms of deaths and the economic costs of rabies across all countries. Even though the disease is preventable, 59,000 people die every year of rabies transmitted by dogs, and the disease costs global economies $8.6 billion US.

3/4/15 Health News:E.coli in two Elementary Schools ♦ Food poisoning hits 175 ♦ Infection rates Lower with more Public health spending ♦ Bans don't help smokers quit♦ High-salt diet protects against microbes

E. COLI CONFIRMED IN TWO CALIFORNIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS  Two students at Reese Elementary School in Lodi, CA, have reportedly tested positive for E. coli, and a seven-year-old boy was hospitalized. Lab tests are being done to identify other potential cases. According to the San Joaquin County Health Department in Stockton, CA, an inspection of the school was inconclusive. Questionnaires to pinpoint a common... Continue Reading

Food poisoning hits 175 Queensland school principals  Queensland Health is investigating an outbreak of food poisoning. Photo: Supplied Salmonella is believed to be the culprit behind one of Queensland's worst mass food poisonings. Queensland Health says 175 school principals have contracted food poisoning after attending a conference at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre Continue Reading

 STUDY: INFECTION RATES CORRELATE WITH PUBLIC HEALTH SPENDING  Local government spending on food safety and sanitation programs may significantly influence the number of illnesses occurring in the surrounding areas, according to a new study led by researchers from the University of Washington School of Nursing. Continue Reading

Bans don't help smokers quit.  No significant change in home habits of smokers have been observed in the aftermath of a ban on smoking in public spaces, researchers report. Greater inspiration to kick the habit likely comes from having friends or family who set an example by giving up cigarettes themselves, the authors write. Continue Reading

High-salt diet could protect against invading microbes   Most people consume more salt than they need and therefore have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke, which are the two leading causes of death worldwide. But a new study reveals that dietary salt could have a biological advantage: Defending the body against invading microbes. A high-salt diet increased sodium accumulation in the skin of mice, thereby boosting their immune response to a skin-infecting parasite. Continue Reading