ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Workings of molecular motor revealed
• New drug shows promise against multiple sclerosis
• Crowdsourcing nutrition in a snap: Counting calories in photos, PlateMate proves the wisdom of the (well-managed) crowd
• Use of low-toxicity conditioning regimen prior to cell transplantation appears promising for older adults with blood, bone marrow cancers
• Recipients of organ transplants at increased risk for broad range of cancers, study finds
• Low levels of alcohol consumption associated with small increased risk of breast cancer, study finds
• Age no longer a barrier to stem cell transplantation for older patients
• Novel technique switches triple-negative breast cancer cells to hormone-receptor positive cells
• Obese adolescents benefit from high-dose vitamin D supplements: High doses safely combat nutritional deficiencies, study suggests
• Anti-clotting drugs do not increase bleeding risk in GI procedure, study finds
• How a cancer-causing bacterium spurs cell death
• Improving patients’ experience in the emergency department by changing staff perceptions of their roles
• New algorithm could substantially speed up MRI scans
• Acute kidney injury in hospitalized diabetic patients linked to chronic kidney disease
• Research into unexplained miscarriages could impact heart and stroke treatment
• Key element of cell division: How daughter cells receive the same number of chromosomes
• Health risk from eating well-done meat may be underestimated
• More radionuclide therapy is better for prostate cancer patients, study suggests
• Vitamin D study suggests no mortality benefit for older women
• Digging up clues: Research on buried blow flies to help crime scene investigators
• Could social media be used to detect disease outbreaks?
• Hormone in birth control shot linked to memory loss
• Bilateral hand transplant performed
• Scientists design experimental treatment for iron-overload diseases
• Underage drinking by black teens
• Molecule that prevents Type 1 diabetes in mice discovered; Has similar effect on human cells
• Personal stem cell banks could be staple of future health care
• New tool developed for the study of spatial patterns in living cells
• 'Protein microarrays' may reveal new weapons against malaria
• Preterm birth rate shows three year improvement in most states
• Overweight teens want to lose weight, going about it the wrong way
• Abnormal oscillation in the brain causes motor deficits in Parkinson's disease
• Poor sleep quality in first, third trimesters linked to preterm births
• How lonely you are may impact how well you sleep, research shows
• Multidrug-resistant acinetobacter baumannii found growing in nearly half of infected patient rooms
• Yoga aids chronic back pain sufferers, study suggests
• No higher risk of breast cancer for women who don't have BRCA mutation but have relatives who do
• People with dementia less likely to return home after stroke

Workings of molecular motor revealed Posted: 01 Nov 2011 07:31 PM PDT The structure and function of a 'molecular motor' critical to the functioning of human organs and, when malfunctioning, implicated in cancer, kidney failure, and osteoporosis, has been revealed in unprecedented detail.

New drug shows promise against multiple sclerosis Posted: 01 Nov 2011 02:36 PM PDT An experimental drug called Ocrelizumab has shown promise in a phase two clinical trial involving 220 people with multiple sclerosis, an often debilitating, chronic autoimmune disease that affects an increasing number of people in North America. It usually strikes young adults and is more common in women than in men.

Crowdsourcing nutrition in a snap: Counting calories in photos, PlateMate proves the wisdom of the (well-managed) crowd Posted: 01 Nov 2011 02:10 PM PDT If keeping a food diary seems like too much effort, despair not: Computer scientists ahave devised a tool that lets you snap a photo of your meal and let the crowd do the rest. PlateMate's calorie estimates have proved, in tests, to be just as accurate as those of trained nutritionists, and more accurate than the user's own logs.

Use of low-toxicity conditioning regimen prior to cell transplantation appears promising for older adults with blood, bone marrow cancers Posted: 01 Nov 2011 02:10 PM PDT Older patients with advanced hematologic malignancies, such as leukemia and lymphoma, who received a conditioning regimen that included minimal-intensity radiation therapy prior to allogeneic (genetically different) hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT; receipt of bone marrow or stem cells transplant) had survival and progression-free survival outcomes suggesting that this treatment approach may be a viable option for older patients with these malignancies, according to a new study.

Recipients of organ transplants at increased risk for broad range of cancers, study finds Posted: 01 Nov 2011 02:10 PM PDT Patients who have received a solid organ transplant, such as kidney, liver, heart or lung, have an overall cancer risk that is double that of the general population, with an increased risk for many different types of malignancies, according to a new study.

Low levels of alcohol consumption associated with small increased risk of breast cancer, study finds Posted: 01 Nov 2011 02:10 PM PDT Consumption of three to six alcoholic drinks per week is associated with a small increase in the risk of breast cancer, and consumption in both earlier and later adult life is also associated with an increased risk, according to a new study.

Age no longer a barrier to stem cell transplantation for older patients Posted: 01 Nov 2011 02:10 PM PDT Age alone no longer should be considered a defining factor when determining whether an older patient with blood cancer is a candidate for stem cell transplantation. That's the conclusion of the first study summarizing long-term outcomes from a series of prospective clinical trials of patients age 60 and over who were treated with the mini-transplant, a "kinder, gentler" form of allogeneic (donor cell) stem cell transplantation.

Novel technique switches triple-negative breast cancer cells to hormone-receptor positive cells Posted: 01 Nov 2011 11:13 AM PDT Within many hormone-receptor positive breast cancers lives a subpopulation of receptor-negative cells – knock down the hormone-receptor positive cells with anti-estrogen drugs and you may inadvertently promote tumor takeover by more dangerous, receptor-negative cells. A new study describes how to switch these receptor-negative cells back to a state that can be targeted by existing hormone therapies.

Obese adolescents benefit from high-dose vitamin D supplements: High doses safely combat nutritional deficiencies, study suggests Posted: 01 Nov 2011 11:13 AM PDT Vitamin D deficiency is common in Americans, and especially in overweight and obese adolescents, according to the National Institutes of Health. Researchers have found that providing obese adolescents with a high daily dose of vitamin D3 is safe and effective in improving their vitamin D status.

Anti-clotting drugs do not increase bleeding risk in GI procedure, study finds Posted: 01 Nov 2011 11:13 AM PDT Patients with recent use of aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or anti-clotting drugs such as clopidogreal do not appear to have an increased risk of bleeding during or after removal of precancerous lesions in the digestive tract, according to new results.

How a cancer-causing bacterium spurs cell death Posted: 01 Nov 2011 10:02 AM PDT Researchers report they have figured out how the cancer-causing bacterium Helicobacter pylori attacks a cell's energy infrastructure, sparking a series of events in the cell that ultimately lead it to self-destruct. H. pylori are the only bacteria known to survive in the human stomach. Infection with the bacterium is associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer, the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.

Improving patients’ experience in the emergency department by changing staff perceptions of their roles Posted: 01 Nov 2011 10:01 AM PDT A study from Rhode Island Hospital examined how the perception of roles among emergency department staff can impact patient satisfaction. Through a web survey with embedded interventions, the researchers were able to determine where gaps exist in key indicators of patient satisfaction, while staff reported changing or reconsidering how these factors play into their roles.

New algorithm could substantially speed up MRI scans Posted: 01 Nov 2011 09:59 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new algorithm that could substantially speed up MRI scans from 45 to 15 minutes.

Acute kidney injury in hospitalized diabetic patients linked to chronic kidney disease Posted: 01 Nov 2011 09:59 AM PDT A recent study shows that multiple episodes of acute kidney injury during hospital stays for patients with diabetes are associated with a risk for developing chronic kidney disease.

Research into unexplained miscarriages could impact heart and stroke treatment Posted: 01 Nov 2011 09:59 AM PDT Researchers have identified a potential new cause for unexplained miscarriages in mice.

Key element of cell division: How daughter cells receive the same number of chromosomes Posted: 01 Nov 2011 09:59 AM PDT Scientists have uncovered the molecular process of how cells are bypassing the body's inbuilt "health checkpoint" with unequal numbers of chromosomes that have a higher risk of developing cancer.

Health risk from eating well-done meat may be underestimated Posted: 01 Nov 2011 09:59 AM PDT Mice are often used to test whether substances in food are harmful to humans. This requires that mice and humans metabolize substances in the same way. Humans have certain enzymes in more parts of the body than mice. The health risk associated with harmful substances in food may therefore be underestimated.

More radionuclide therapy is better for prostate cancer patients, study suggests Posted: 01 Nov 2011 09:58 AM PDT For prostate cancer patients with bone metastases, repeated administrations of radionuclide therapy with 188Re-HEDP are shown to improve overall survival rates and reduce pain, according to new research.

Vitamin D study suggests no mortality benefit for older women Posted: 01 Nov 2011 09:58 AM PDT A study of postmenopausal women found no significant mortality benefit from vitamin D after controlling for health risk factors such as abdominal obesity. The only exception was that thin-waisted women with low vitamin D levels might face some risk. The results agree with advice issued last year by the Institute of Medicine that cautioned against vitamin D having a benefit beyond bone health.

Digging up clues: Research on buried blow flies to help crime scene investigators Posted: 01 Nov 2011 09:58 AM PDT When investigating a murder, every clue helps. New research sheds light on how -- and whether -- blow flies survive when buried underground during their development. It's an advance that will help forensic investigators understand how long a body may have been left above ground before being buried -- or possibly whether remains were moved from one grave to another.

Could social media be used to detect disease outbreaks? Posted: 01 Nov 2011 09:58 AM PDT New research has looked at whether social media could be used to track an event or phenomenon, such as flu outbreaks and rainfall rates.

Hormone in birth control shot linked to memory loss Posted: 01 Nov 2011 09:55 AM PDT The birth control shot Depo Provera offers a convenient alternative for women who don't want to remember to take a daily pill. Ironically, new research has shown the shot actually may impair a person's memory.

Bilateral hand transplant performed Posted: 01 Nov 2011 09:55 AM PDT For the first time in the Delaware Valley region, a patient has undergone a complex and intricate transplant procedure that could significantly enhance the quality-of-life for persons with multiple limb loss.

Scientists design experimental treatment for iron-overload diseases Posted: 01 Nov 2011 09:55 AM PDT Scientists have developed an experimental treatment for iron-overload diseases that affect millions worldwide. Researchers developed a new type of therapy based on small molecules that mimic a hormone that regulates iron called hepcidin. The findings could lead to new drugs to help prevent and treat iron-overload diseases.

Underage drinking by black teens Posted: 01 Nov 2011 06:54 AM PDT New research shows that black middle school students whose close friends drink alcohol are more likely to drink alcohol in high school than their white classmates.

Molecule that prevents Type 1 diabetes in mice discovered; Has similar effect on human cells Posted: 01 Nov 2011 06:54 AM PDT Researchers have found a specific molecule that can prevent the development of type 1 diabetes in mice and has a similar effect on human cells from diabetic patients.

Personal stem cell banks could be staple of future health care Posted: 01 Nov 2011 06:54 AM PDT Taking old stem cells, placing them in a young microenvironment, and increasing their numbers and capabilities raises an intriguing possibility -- that patients could one day be treated for age-related diseases using their own revitalized stem cells.

New tool developed for the study of spatial patterns in living cells Posted: 01 Nov 2011 06:54 AM PDT By embedding fixed arrays of gold nanoparticles into fluid lipid bilayers, scientists can study with unprecedented detail how the spatial patterns of chemical and physical properties on membranes can determine the fate of a cell -- whether it lives or dies, remains normal or turns cancerous.

'Protein microarrays' may reveal new weapons against malaria Posted: 01 Nov 2011 06:54 AM PDT A new research technology is revealing how humans develop immunity to malaria, and could assist programs aimed at eradicating this parasitic disease.

Preterm birth rate shows three year improvement in most states Posted: 01 Nov 2011 06:53 AM PDT Preterm birth rates improved in almost every state between 2006 and 2009, according to the March of Dimes 2011 Premature Birth Report Card. The United States received a "C" based on comparing the nation's 2009 preliminary preterm birth rate of 12.2 percent with the March of Dimes new 2020 goal of 9.6 percent of all live births. The nation's preterm birth rate has declined nearly five percent from the 2006 peak of 12.8 percent.

Overweight teens want to lose weight, going about it the wrong way Posted: 01 Nov 2011 06:53 AM PDT While a majority of teens report wanting to lose weight, many engage in behavior that's counterproductive to that goal, according to new research.

Abnormal oscillation in the brain causes motor deficits in Parkinson's disease Posted: 01 Nov 2011 06:53 AM PDT Scientists have shown that the 'oscillatory' nature of electrical signals in subcortical nuclei, the basal ganglia, causes severe motor deficits in Parkinson's disease, by disturbing the information flow of motor commands.

Poor sleep quality in first, third trimesters linked to preterm births Posted: 01 Nov 2011 06:53 AM PDT Significant risk for preterm birth found in women reporting sleep disruptions during their first and third trimesters, even after medical risk factors and income levels were accounted for. However, it's inexpensive and uncomplicated to assess, and requires only a change in behavior to help reduce risk when intervened early enough.

How lonely you are may impact how well you sleep, research shows Posted: 01 Nov 2011 06:53 AM PDT Study of adults in tight-knit South Dakota community shows lonely feelings associated with compromised sleep -- that is, the stronger the loneliness, the more disruptions during the night, with potentially negative consequences on wellness. Results agree with 2002 study of college students, indicating that individuals young and old, in big towns and small, need to feel secure in their social setting to get a healthy night's rest.

Multidrug-resistant acinetobacter baumannii found growing in nearly half of infected patient rooms Posted: 01 Nov 2011 06:51 AM PDT Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB) was found in the environment of 48 percent of the rooms of patients colonized or infected with the pathogen, according to a new study.

Yoga aids chronic back pain sufferers, study suggests Posted: 31 Oct 2011 07:02 PM PDT Yoga can provide more effective treatment for chronic lower back pain than more conventional methods, according to the UK's largest ever study into the benefits of yoga. The study found that people offered a specially-designed 12-week yoga program experienced greater improvements in back function and more confidence in performing everyday tasks than those offered conventional forms of care.

No higher risk of breast cancer for women who don't have BRCA mutation but have relatives who do Posted: 31 Oct 2011 07:02 PM PDT In the largest study of its kind to date, researchers have shown that women related to a patient with a breast cancer caused by a hereditary mutation -- but who don't have the mutation themselves -- have no higher risk of getting cancer than relatives of patients with other types of breast cancer.

People with dementia less likely to return home after stroke Posted: 31 Oct 2011 07:02 PM PDT New research shows people with dementia who have a stroke are more likely to become disabled and not return home compared to people who didn't have dementia at the time they had a stroke.

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