ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Research highlights necessity of simulation training for improved operative performance and increased patient safety
• Patients tell how magnetic therapy lifted their depression
• Researchers set sights on new era in neuroprotection
• Personalized genomic medicine: How much can it really empower patients?
• New rapid and point of care hepatitis C tests could be global game changers
• New light shed on cancer risks associated with night work
• Realizing the potential of stem cell therapy: Studies report progress in developing treatments for diseases and injuries
• New findings could help speed recovery, alleviate pain associated with spinal cord injury
• Can vaccines be delivered via the lungs instead of by injection?
• Even your fat cells need sleep, according to new research
• People with severe psoriasis nearly twice at risk for diabetes
• Compounds that could thwart post-traumatic stress disorder identified
• Study identifies characteristics of sunbed users, motivation for tanning
• Weight loss surgery may be associated with increased substance use following surgery
• Men diagnosed with ADHD as children had worse outcomes as adults, study suggests
• Does motherhood dampen cocaine’s effects?
• Wide discrepancy in surveillance and control of infections in ICUs
• A better way to prevent deadly blood clots?
• Plaque build-up in your brain may be more harmful than having Alzheimer's gene
• Substandard, non-approved drugs put patients at risk: Physicians urged to think twice before they prescribe compounded drugs
• Gold nanoparticle prostate cancer treatment found safe in dogs, study shows
• Stem cell model for hereditary disease developed
• Ebola antibody treatment, produced in plants, protects monkeys from lethal disease
• Intermittent binge drinking could cause significant brain impairment within months, study suggests
• New research moves scientists closer to lung cancer blood test
• Halloween candy: How much is too much?
• Researcher pieces together AML prognosis puzzle
• Neuroscientists find the molecular 'when' and 'where' of memory formation
• Additive effect of small gene variations can increase risk of autism spectrum disorders
• Prebiotic may help patients with intestinal failure grow new and better gut
• 'Biggest Loser' study finds modest diet and exercise can sustain weight loss
• Medication beliefs strongly affect individuals' management of chronic diseases, expert says
• Missing link between mental health disorders and chronic diseases in Iraq war refugees
• Mystery of nematode pest-resistant soybeans cracked: Gene also correlates with human diseases
• Higher-dose use of certain statins often best for cholesterol issues
• Research reveals decline in illicit drug abuse; Prescription drug abuse on the rise
• Early exposure to cigarette smoke leads to greater risk for respiratory disease
• Social contact can ease pain related to nerve damage, animal study suggests
• Computer interventions on college drinking don't last, researchers find
• Suicide attempts by poisoning found to be less likely around major holidays
• Study to test pneumococcal vaccine in older adult
• Study sheds light on role of exercise and androgens such as testosterone on nerve damage repair
• 'Mother's kiss' safe and effective for removing foreign objects from children's noses
• Bicycle helmets prevent fatal head injuries, study finds
• Drug-eluting angioplasty treatment for peripheral artery disease shows promise
• Bacterial protein in house dust spurs asthma, study finds
• Using food for comfort and coping leads to unwanted holiday pounds
• Mice at risk of asthma, allergies can fight off skin cancer
• Immunosuppressive drug could delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases
• Programs for treating addiction in doctors pose ethical issues
• Protein could be key for drugs that promote bone growth
• Aggregation of proteins in cells may result in diseases
• Football (soccer) scores a health hat trick for hypertensive men
• Urgent need for tuberculosis vaccines; Experts report progress, obstacles in growing drug resistance
• New tools for Alzheimer's may aid early diagnosis and treatment
• New treatment method for children with brain tumours
• Space station and space flight gravity influence immune system development
• DNA method can provide more effective treatment of childhood cancer
• Antibiotic contamination a threat to humans and the environment
• Breakthrough could help sufferers of fatal lung disease

Research highlights necessity of simulation training for improved operative performance and increased patient safety Posted: 15 Oct 2012 03:24 PM PDT A new study shows surgical proficiency levels are achieved at variable rates and suggests current protocols insufficiently evaluate residents' skills.

Patients tell how magnetic therapy lifted their depression Posted: 15 Oct 2012 03:24 PM PDT Three patients who have suffered periodic major depression tell how their lives have been transformed by a new magnetic therapy.

Researchers set sights on new era in neuroprotection Posted: 15 Oct 2012 03:24 PM PDT A research team has identified a set of experimental drugs called LRRK2 inhibitors that may go beyond symptom relief to directly counter the inflammation and nerve cell death at the root of Parkinson's disease. At least, these effects have been suggested in mouse and cell culture studies meant to approximate human disease.

Personalized genomic medicine: How much can it really empower patients? Posted: 15 Oct 2012 02:13 PM PDT Personalized genomic medicine is hailed as a revolution that will empower patients to take control of their own health care, but it could end up taking control away from patients and limiting their treatment choices, concludes a new article.

New rapid and point of care hepatitis C tests could be global game changers Posted: 15 Oct 2012 02:13 PM PDT Timely screening and diagnosis is critical to the success of new treatments and ultimately to the survival of hepatitis C patients. A new study is the first to show that hepatitis C rapid and point of care tests with a quick turnaround time are highly accurate and reliable as conventional first-line laboratory tests.

New light shed on cancer risks associated with night work Posted: 15 Oct 2012 02:13 PM PDT Night work can increase cancer risk in men, according to a new study. The study is one of the first in the world to provide evidence among men of a possible association between night work and the risk of prostate, colon, lung, bladder, rectal, and pancreatic cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Realizing the potential of stem cell therapy: Studies report progress in developing treatments for diseases and injuries Posted: 15 Oct 2012 02:10 PM PDT New animal studies provide additional support for investigating stem cell treatments for Parkinson's disease, head trauma, and dangerous heart problems that accompany spinal cord injury, according to research findings.

New findings could help speed recovery, alleviate pain associated with spinal cord injury Posted: 15 Oct 2012 02:10 PM PDT New research demonstrates how new scientific knowledge is driving innovative treatments for spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord damage is debilitating and life-altering, limiting or preventing movement and feeling for millions worldwide, and leading to chronic health conditions and pain.

Can vaccines be delivered via the lungs instead of by injection? Posted: 15 Oct 2012 02:10 PM PDT In addition to the obvious benefit of eliminating the need for an injection, new vaccine delivery methods via the lungs offer particular advantages for protecting against infectious agents that enter the body through the respiratory track.

Even your fat cells need sleep, according to new research Posted: 15 Oct 2012 02:08 PM PDT Challenging the old notion that the function of sleep is to rest the brain, researchers show that not getting enough sleep can harm fat cells, reducing by 30 percent their ability to respond to insulin, a hormone that regulates energy. This is the first description of a molecular mechanism directly connecting sleep loss to the disruption of energy regulation.

People with severe psoriasis nearly twice at risk for diabetes Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:24 PM PDT An analysis of 27 studies linking psoriasis in 314,000 individuals with diabetes has found strong correlation between the scaly skin rash and the blood sugar disorder that predisposes patients to heart disease.

Compounds that could thwart post-traumatic stress disorder identified Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:24 PM PDT A brain pathway that is stimulated by traumatic or fearful experiences can be disrupted by two compounds that show promise for preventing post-traumatic stress disorder, researchers have reported.

Study identifies characteristics of sunbed users, motivation for tanning Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:24 PM PDT A telephone survey of 4,851 individuals in Germany suggests the overall prevalence of sunbed use was nearly 40 percent for participants who had ever used one and 14.6 percent had used a tanning bed within the last 12 months.

Weight loss surgery may be associated with increased substance use following surgery Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:24 PM PDT Patients who undergo bariatric weight loss surgery may be at increased risk for substance use (drug use, alcohol use and cigarette smoking) following surgery, particularly among patients who undergo laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery who appear to be at increased risk for alcohol use following surgery.

Men diagnosed with ADHD as children had worse outcomes as adults, study suggests Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:24 PM PDT Men who were diagnosed as children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) appeared to have significantly worse educational, occupational, economic and social outcomes in a 33-year, follow-up study that compared them with men without childhood ADHD.

Does motherhood dampen cocaine’s effects? Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:19 PM PDT Mother rats respond much differently to cocaine than female rats that have never given birth, according to new research that looks at both behavior and brain chemistry. The findings may help lay the groundwork for more tailored human addiction treatment.

Wide discrepancy in surveillance and control of infections in ICUs Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:19 PM PDT Screening practices for multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in intensive care units (ICUs) vary widely from hospital to hospital, according to a new study.

A better way to prevent deadly blood clots? Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:19 PM PDT A computerized checklist system designed to help physicians identify and use the best methods of preventing potentially deadly blood clots in hospitalized trauma patients dramatically reduced the number of these dangerous venous thromboembolisms (VTEs), new research suggests.

Plaque build-up in your brain may be more harmful than having Alzheimer's gene Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:19 PM PDT A new study shows that having a high amount of beta amyloid or "plaques" in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease may cause steeper memory decline in mentally healthy older people than does having the APOE [4 allele, also associated with the disease.

Substandard, non-approved drugs put patients at risk: Physicians urged to think twice before they prescribe compounded drugs Posted: 15 Oct 2012 12:25 PM PDT The recent outbreak of meningitis in the US -- and the subsequent deaths of 15 individuals -- has renewed scrutiny on the contemporary practice of pharmacy compounding. The risks to patients, and associated liability risk to prescribing physicians, largely outweigh the benefits when the practice goes beyond the traditional, extemporaneous role, according to experts.

Gold nanoparticle prostate cancer treatment found safe in dogs, study shows Posted: 15 Oct 2012 12:20 PM PDT Scientists have demonstrated that a new form of prostate cancer treatment that uses radioactive gold nanoparticles is safe to use in dogs.

Stem cell model for hereditary disease developed Posted: 15 Oct 2012 12:20 PM PDT Scientists have reprogrammed stem cells to develop into cells that are genetically similar to and react to drugs in a similar way as cells from patients with Gaucher disease. The stem cells will allow the scientists to test potential new therapies in a dish, accelerating the process toward drug discovery, according to a new article.

Ebola antibody treatment, produced in plants, protects monkeys from lethal disease Posted: 15 Oct 2012 12:20 PM PDT A new Ebola virus study has shown promising preliminary results, preventing disease in infected nonhuman primates using monoclonal antibodies. When treatment was administered one hour after infection, all animals survived. Two-thirds of the animals were protected even when the treatment, known as MB-003, was administered 48 hours after infection.

Intermittent binge drinking could cause significant brain impairment within months, study suggests Posted: 15 Oct 2012 12:20 PM PDT A study of binge-drinking rodents suggests that knocking back a few drinks every few days may swiftly reduce one's capacity to control alcohol intake. Scientists found signs of cognitive impairment in rats similar to that seen in established alcoholism after the animals had only a few months of intermittent access to alcohol. Remarkably, these impairments did not appear at all in rats with 24/7 access to alcohol, whose alcohol intake remained stable.

New research moves scientists closer to lung cancer blood test Posted: 15 Oct 2012 12:12 PM PDT Early signs of lung cancer could be diagnosed using a simple blood test following a new discovery.

Halloween candy: How much is too much? Posted: 15 Oct 2012 12:11 PM PDT As we enter the sweet season, parents are worried kids might indulge their way to obesity by gobbling up too many Halloween candy. But having a little fun with candy once a year will not lead to childhood obesity, says a pediatrics expert.

Researcher pieces together AML prognosis puzzle Posted: 15 Oct 2012 12:11 PM PDT When patients suffering from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) express high levels of the gene, MN1, an already aggressive leukemia is accelerated and shortens survival time. While that's a known fact, the mechanisms involved aren't well understood -- which is why a researcher decided to take a closer look.

Neuroscientists find the molecular 'when' and 'where' of memory formation Posted: 15 Oct 2012 12:11 PM PDT Neuroscientists have isolated the "when" and "where" of molecular activity that occurs in the formation of short-, intermediate-, and long-term memories. Their findings offer new insights into the molecular architecture of memory formation and, with it, a better road map for developing therapeutic interventions for related afflictions.

Additive effect of small gene variations can increase risk of autism spectrum disorders Posted: 15 Oct 2012 11:24 AM PDT An increased risk of autism spectrum disorders could result from an accumulation of many small, common gene genetic variations rather than large-effect, rare changes in the genetic code, according to a multi-center team. Their findings provide new insights into the genetic factors that underlie the neurodevelopmental condition.

Prebiotic may help patients with intestinal failure grow new and better gut Posted: 15 Oct 2012 11:24 AM PDT Adding the right prebiotic to the diets of pediatric patients with intestinal failure could replace intravenous feeding, according to a new study.

'Biggest Loser' study finds modest diet and exercise can sustain weight loss Posted: 15 Oct 2012 11:24 AM PDT Exercise and healthy eating reduce body fat and preserve muscle in adults better than diet alone, according to a new study.

Medication beliefs strongly affect individuals' management of chronic diseases, expert says Posted: 15 Oct 2012 10:26 AM PDT Aging adults' poor adherence to prescribed medication regimens is connected to their beliefs about the necessity of prescriptions and concerns about long-term effects and dependency, a researcher finds. Failure to use medications as directed increases patients' risk for side effects, hospitalizations, reduced quality of life and shortened lifespans. Researcher recommends that health practitioners use behavior-change tactics to encourage patients to take medications as prescribed.

Missing link between mental health disorders and chronic diseases in Iraq war refugees Posted: 15 Oct 2012 10:18 AM PDT Researchers may have discovered why people exposed to war are at increased risk to develop chronic problems like heart disease years later. And the culprit that links the two is surprising.

Mystery of nematode pest-resistant soybeans cracked: Gene also correlates with human diseases Posted: 15 Oct 2012 10:18 AM PDT The secrets of nematode resistant soybean plants are finally coming to light. Surprisingly, one of the genes related to nematode resistance in soybeans also has been associated with human diseases including lymphocytic leukemia, spina bifida and cardiovascular disease, according to a team of researchers.

Higher-dose use of certain statins often best for cholesterol issues Posted: 15 Oct 2012 10:15 AM PDT A comprehensive new review on how to treat high cholesterol and other blood lipid problems suggests that intensive treatment with high doses of statin drugs is usually the best approach. But some statins work much better for this than others, the review concluded, and additional lipid-lowering medications added to a statin have far less value.

Research reveals decline in illicit drug abuse; Prescription drug abuse on the rise Posted: 15 Oct 2012 10:15 AM PDT New research shows that while there has been an encouraging decline in illicit drug abuse across most major metropolitan areas in recent years, prescription drug abuse is climbing.

Early exposure to cigarette smoke leads to greater risk for respiratory disease Posted: 15 Oct 2012 10:15 AM PDT New research reveals cigarette smoke adversely affects the developing human airway, especially in prematurity. Fetuses and premature babies exposed to cigarette smoke are at greater risk for developing childhood respiratory diseases, such as asthma.

Social contact can ease pain related to nerve damage, animal study suggests Posted: 15 Oct 2012 10:15 AM PDT Companionship has the potential to reduce pain linked to nerve damage, according to a new study. This animal research suggests that the social contact had both behavioral and physiological influences.

Computer interventions on college drinking don't last, researchers find Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:24 AM PDT Colleges have increased use of computer-delivered interventions to provide alcohol counseling because they can reach more students while using fewer resources. But in a new systematic review, researchers found that the impact of CDIs on students was weaker and more short-lived than the effect of face-to-face counseling.

Suicide attempts by poisoning found to be less likely around major holidays Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:24 AM PDT A new study has found that major holidays are associated with a lower number of suicide attempts by poisoning. The study found holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving may actually be protective against attempts, possibly due to the increased family or support structures present. In contrast, New Year's Day had significantly higher numbers of suicide attempts by overdose.

Study to test pneumococcal vaccine in older adult Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:24 AM PDT Researchers plan to see if a higher dose of a pneumococcal vaccine will create a stronger immune response in older adults who received an earlier generation vaccine against pneumonia and other pneumococcal diseases.

Study sheds light on role of exercise and androgens such as testosterone on nerve damage repair Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:22 AM PDT A new study has found that the beneficial effects daily exercise can have on the regeneration of nerves also require androgens such as testosterone in both males and females. It is the first report of both androgen-dependence of exercise on nerve regeneration and of an androgenic effect of exercise in females.

'Mother's kiss' safe and effective for removing foreign objects from children's noses Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:22 AM PDT A technique called the "mother's kiss" for removing foreign objects from the nasal passages of young children appears to be a safe and effective approach, a new study finds.

Bicycle helmets prevent fatal head injuries, study finds Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:21 AM PDT Cyclists who died of a head injury were three times as likely to not be wearing a helmet compared with those who died of other injuries, according to a new study.

Drug-eluting angioplasty treatment for peripheral artery disease shows promise Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:17 AM PDT Use of balloon angioplasty and placement of stents to widen clogged arteries have become standard medical procedure. Further advancing this treatment, drug-eluting devices are now delivering medication directly to the site where it can be most effective. While this technique has met with success in coronary arteries, its use in peripheral arteries is still under study.

Bacterial protein in house dust spurs asthma, study finds Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:17 AM PDT A bacterial protein in common house dust may worsen allergic responses to indoor allergens, according to new research. The finding is the first to document the presence of the protein flagellin in house dust, bolstering the link between allergic asthma and the environment.

Using food for comfort and coping leads to unwanted holiday pounds Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:17 AM PDT Many people use food to deal with stress. Doing this only leads to seriously weight gain, especially this time of year.

Mice at risk of asthma, allergies can fight off skin cancer Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:17 AM PDT A molecule involved in asthma and allergies has now been shown to make mice resistant to skin cancer, according to scientists.

Immunosuppressive drug could delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases Posted: 15 Oct 2012 08:28 AM PDT Rapamycin, a drug used to prevent rejection in transplants, could delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, according to a new study.

Programs for treating addiction in doctors pose ethical issues Posted: 15 Oct 2012 08:28 AM PDT State physician health programs (PHPs) play a key role in helping doctors with substance abuse problems. But the current PHP system is inconsistent and prone to potential conflicts of interest and ethical issues, according to a new review.

Protein could be key for drugs that promote bone growth Posted: 15 Oct 2012 08:28 AM PDT Researchers have developed a mouse that errs on the side of making bone rather than fat, which could eventually lead to better drugs to treat inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Aggregation of proteins in cells may result in diseases Posted: 15 Oct 2012 08:28 AM PDT Changes in the structure of proteins can lead to various diseases, such as Alzheimer's, type 2 diabetes and corneal dystrophy. A research team from Denmark has now discovered how a particular protein can damage cells. These results may lead to the development of drugs to treat corneal dystrophy in the future.

Football (soccer) scores a health hat trick for hypertensive men Posted: 15 Oct 2012 08:27 AM PDT Playing football (soccer) could be the best way for people with high blood pressure (hypertension) to improve their fitness and normalize their blood pressure, according to new research.

Urgent need for tuberculosis vaccines; Experts report progress, obstacles in growing drug resistance Posted: 15 Oct 2012 08:27 AM PDT Drawing on recent findings of a significant rise in cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis in the UK and globally, top TB researchers are calling for greater focus on the quest for new vaccines -- a crucial long-term, cost-effective method for addressing the growing threat.

New tools for Alzheimer's may aid early diagnosis and treatment Posted: 15 Oct 2012 08:24 AM PDT Curtailing the imminent rise in Alzheimer's disease (AD) will require early, accurate diagnostic tests and treatments, and researchers are closer to achieving these two goals.

New treatment method for children with brain tumours Posted: 15 Oct 2012 07:09 AM PDT Children who undergo brain radiation therapy run a significant risk of suffering from permanent neurocognitive adverse effects. These adverse effects are due to the fact that the radiation often encounters healthy tissue. This reduces the formation of new cells, particularly in the hippocampus – the part of the brain involved in memory and learning. Researchers in Sweden have used a model study to test newer radiation therapy techniques which could reduce these harmful adverse effects.

Space station and space flight gravity influence immune system development Posted: 15 Oct 2012 06:37 AM PDT Immune system development is affected by gravity changes, according to new research. Astronauts are exposed to stresses, during launch and landing, which disrupts their body's natural defenses against infection. Changes to the immune system need to be investigated before astronauts undergo longer space missions, experts say.

DNA method can provide more effective treatment of childhood cancer Posted: 15 Oct 2012 06:37 AM PDT After leukemia and brain tumors, neuroblastoma is the most common form of cancer to affect children. Researchers have now studied a DNA method which is now used for all cases of neuroblastoma in Sweden, and which has led to more effective treatment at individual level.

Antibiotic contamination a threat to humans and the environment Posted: 15 Oct 2012 06:37 AM PDT More than 10,000 tons of antibiotics are consumed in Europe each year, and 30-60% pass through animals and humans completely unchanged. The different substances then reach the ocean via hospitals, municipal sewage, fish farms and run-off from agriculture and landfills.

Breakthrough could help sufferers of fatal lung disease Posted: 15 Oct 2012 06:00 AM PDT Pioneering research is paving the way for new treatments which could benefit patients suffering from the fatal lung disease pulmonary arterial hypertension.

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