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Brain :: Deal or no deal – Need for immediate reward linked to more active brain region

How people might play the popular game show — whether they’d accept an offer for quick cash or hold out for the chance to win $1 million — probably has less to do with what?s inside each briefcase than what’s inside each contestant’s brain, suggests a study. While researchers didn’t study players of the game, their research in normal adults provides new insight about reward-based decision making and may have implications for understanding and treating addiction.

Kidney Transplant :: Kidney transplantation linked with increased risk of various cancers

Following kidney transplantation, some recipients may face a three-fold increased risk of certain cancer types, according to a study in the Dec. 20 issue of JAMA.

Colorectal Cancer :: More patients diagnosed at earlier stage of colon cancer

Since Medicare raised the amount it will reimburse for colon cancer screening in 1998, there has been an increase in use of colonoscopies by Medicare beneficiaries, and a rise in the proportion of patients being diagnosed with colon cancer at an early stage, according to a study in the Dec. 20 issue of JAMA.

Brain :: Cognitive training for older adults may help slow decline of daily functioning abilities

Older adults who received cognitive training reported improved cognitive function for up to five years afterwards and less decline in the ability to perform daily activities as compared to those who did not receive the training, according to a study in the Dec. 20 issue of JAMA.

Breast Cancer :: Breast cancer stem cells resist radiation treatment

The population of breast cancer cells that gives rise to a tumor may be relatively resistant to radiotherapy and may even increase when given multiple treatments of radiation, a new study shows.

Leukemia :: Predicting risk of leukemia induced by radiation therapy

A new analysis shows that it may be possible to accurately predict a cancer patient?s risk of developing leukemia as a result of receiving radiation therapy for a primary tumor. Understanding these risks may help doctors optimize radiation treatment to minimize the side effects of this therapy, the authors say.

Pancreatic Cancer :: Asthma medicine cromolyn halts pancreatic cancer cell growth

A common asthma drug reduced pancreatic cancer cell growth in laboratory experiments and animal tests, a new study reports.

Lung Cancer :: Palliative radiotherapy better in late-stage lung cancer

A longer, less intense course of radiotherapy provides better value for the money than a shorter, more intense regimen when given to ease pain and other complaints in patients with late-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to a study in the December 20 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Brain :: Electrical activity alters language used by nerve cells

University of California, San Diego biologists have shown that the chemical language with which neurons communicate depends on the pattern of electrical activity in the developing nervous system. The findings suggest that modification of nerve activity could have potential as a treatment for a wide range of brain disorders.

Heart Disease :: Blood transfusions raise heart patients’ infection risk

Blood transfusions save the lives of millions of heart surgery patients and others each year. But a new study suggests that patients who receive transfusions during heart bypass surgery have a higher risk of developing potentially dangerous infections, and dying, after their operation.