ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• New study aims to predict risk of cancer
• Clinical trials: Around half of new treatments perform better than existing treatments, review finds
• Cranberry juice now unlikely to prevent cystitis, review finds
• No benefit from routine health checks, review finds
• Shape of urine can indicate prostate issues: Characteristic shape of a man's urine can help diagnose urinary problems
• Mother's touch could change effects of prenatal stress
• New blood-vessel-generating cell with therapeutic potential discovered
• Immune response may link social rejection to later health outcomes
• Common birth control device may be cost-effective treatment for early endometrial cancer
• Many options available to help smokers kick the habit
• No benefit from high-dose multivitamins seen for HIV patients receiving antiretroviral therapy
• Family history of alcoholism may add to damaging effects of prenatal alcohol exposure
• Alcohol dependence seems to shorten life more than smoking, especially among women
• Recovery of brain volumes with abstinence may vary for different brain regions
• Abnormal involuntary eye movements in 'lazy eye' disease amblyopia linked to changes in subcortical regions of the brain
• Cognitive training helps adults with HIV
• Common medical screen predicts liver cancer risk in general population
• Cholesterol levels improving among U.S. adults
• Study identifies strategy for improved screening for type of hereditary colorectal cancer
• Lower use of chloride in intravenous fluids for critically ill patients associated with decreased risk of kidney injury
• Cold viruses point the way to new cancer therapies
• Scientists to EPA: Include women in reproductive health research
• Novel intravaginal ring shows promise in HIV prevention
• Targeting cancers' 'addiction' to cell-cycle proteins shuts down tumors in mice
• Attack! Silent watchmen charge to defend the nervous system
• New diabetes screening guidelines released; Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care issues updated guidelines
• Patient-reported outcomes essential to comparative effectiveness research
• Reprogramming cell identity in the pituitary gland: Discovery could lead to new treatments for Cushing's disease
• Findings reveal brain mechanisms at work during sleep
• Studies report early childhood trauma takes visible toll on brain
• Exercise may lead to better school performance for kids with ADHD
• Sickle cell disease: Physics explains how sickling cells make people sick
• New noninvasive test for colorectal cancer shows promise
• Study finds rise in maternal sepsis-related mortality
• Is immediate and long-term pain after a motor vehicle collision hereditary?
• Novel discovery links anti-cancer drugs to muscle repair
• Prion protein hints at role in aiding learning and memory
• New dissolvable oral strip provides instant pain relief for burns
• New radiation treatment significantly increases survival rate, researchers find
• Study sheds new light on the progression and invasiveness of ductal breast cancer
• Foot, knee and hip pain a problem in obese children
• Marriage, education can help improve well-being of adults abused as children
• Nursing workloads multiply likelihood of death among black patients over white patients
• Obese teen boys have up to 50 percent less testosterone than lean boys
• Two-gene test predicts which patients with heart failure respond best to beta-blocker drug
• Less-invasive method of brain stimulation helps patients with Parkinson's disease
• Starvation hormone markedly extends mouse life span, without need for calorie restriction
• Young people driving epidemic of prescription drug abuse, study finds; Abuse of nonmedical analgesics up 40 percent
• How 'cleaving' protein drives tumor growth in prostate, other cancers
• Stat5 predicts outcomes for prostate cancer patients after radical prostatectomy
• Eating lots of carbs, sugar may raise risk of cognitive impairment
• Fathers matter when it comes to their teenager's sexual behavior
• Proteins in DNA damage response network targeted for new therapies, researchers say
• Genetic protection against arsenic
• Non-coding antisense RNA can be used to stimulate protein production
• Menopause does not cause weight gain, but increases belly fat, major review finds
• Link between creativity and mental illness confirmed in large-scale Swedish study
• New ways of eating fruit
• Nearly one-third of kidney transplant patients readmitted to hospital within 30 days
• Sick doctors returning to work struggle with feelings of shame and failure, researchers find

New study aims to predict risk of cancer Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:41 PM PDT New research in the United Kingdom aims to develop a way of predicting who is more at risk of getting cancer.

Clinical trials: Around half of new treatments perform better than existing treatments, review finds Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:41 PM PDT On average, new treatments perform better in clinical trials only slightly more often than existing treatments, according to a new systematic review published in the Cochrane Library. The fact that experimental treatments are not more effective may seem disappointing, but the authors of the review say their findings satisfy an important ethical requirement for clinical trials.

Cranberry juice now unlikely to prevent cystitis, review finds Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:41 PM PDT Cranberry juice is unlikely to prevent bladder and kidney infections, according to an updated systematic review published in the Cochrane Library. The authors analysed the most up-to-date evidence and concluded that any benefit, if present at all, is likely to be small and only for women with recurrent UTI.

No benefit from routine health checks, review finds Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:41 PM PDT Carrying out general health checks does not reduce deaths overall or from serious diseases like cancer and heart disease, according to Cochrane researchers. The researchers, who carried out a systematic review on the subject for the Cochrane Library, warn against offering general health checks as part of a public health program.

Shape of urine can indicate prostate issues: Characteristic shape of a man's urine can help diagnose urinary problems Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:31 PM PDT Scientists have discovered a simple test which uses the biomechanics of the shape of urine to help diagnose urinary problems.

Mother's touch could change effects of prenatal stress Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:31 PM PDT Scientists have found that mothers who stroke their baby's body in the first few weeks after birth may change the effects that stress during pregnancy can have on an infant's early-life development.

New blood-vessel-generating cell with therapeutic potential discovered Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:31 PM PDT Researchers in Finland believe they have discovered stem cells that play a decisive role in new blood vessel growth. These stem cells found in blood vessel walls may offer new opportunities in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and many other diseases.

Immune response may link social rejection to later health outcomes Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:32 PM PDT No matter how you look at it, rejection hurts. Experiencing rejection from a boss, a friend, or a partner is difficult for many adults to handle. But adolescents, who are dealing with the one-two punch of biological and social change, may be most vulnerable to its negative effects. A new study examines the immune response as a potential link between social stressors like rejection and later mental and physical health outcomes.

Common birth control device may be cost-effective treatment for early endometrial cancer Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:32 PM PDT An intrauterine device is effective in treating early-stage endometrial cancer in morbidly obese and high-risk surgery patients, according to researchers, and could lead to a cost-effective treatment for all women with this cancer type.

Many options available to help smokers kick the habit Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:31 PM PDT Smokers who have tried to quit and failed may be tempted to just give up, particularly if they hear statistics like the fact that most quit attempts will be unsuccessful. But smokers today have many options to help them quit, and those who think they have "tried it all" usually have not, according to a new article.

No benefit from high-dose multivitamins seen for HIV patients receiving antiretroviral therapy Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:31 PM PDT A new study suggests that for HIV patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to treat HIV, there is no benefit from high- vs. standard-dose micronutrient supplementation -- and that, in fact, high-dose supplements may cause harm. The study is the first large randomized trial to look at how high-dose multivitamin supplementation affects clinical outcomes among people on HAART.

Family history of alcoholism may add to damaging effects of prenatal alcohol exposure Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:31 PM PDT Prenatal exposure to alcohol (PAE) can lead to serious deficiencies, including deficits in spatial working memory. This is the first study to examine the role of family history of alcoholism (FHP) in the neurocognitive effects of PAE. Results suggest that some of the PAE neural effects are related to factors such as FHP.

Alcohol dependence seems to shorten life more than smoking, especially among women Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:31 PM PDT While researchers and clinicians know that the mortality rates among alcohol dependent (AD) individuals are high, most of that knowledge is based on clinical populations. A new study examines excess mortality and its predictors among AD individuals in the general population throughout a 14-year span, finding that annualized death rates were 4.6-fold higher for AD females and 1.9-fold higher for AD males when compared to the general population, indicating that females with AD merit particular attention.

Recovery of brain volumes with abstinence may vary for different brain regions Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:31 PM PDT A new study examined what brain volume recovery may take place during the first 14 days of abstinence from alcohol. Findings indicate that recovery of cerebral gray matter volume can begin for alcoholic patients after only a few days of detoxification. Recovery may vary among brain regions.

Abnormal involuntary eye movements in 'lazy eye' disease amblyopia linked to changes in subcortical regions of the brain Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:28 PM PDT The neural mechanism underlying amblyopia, also called "lazy eye" is still not completely clear. A new study now reports abnormal eye movements of the lazy eye, which suggests that disturbed functioning of eye movement coordination between both eyes and not primarily the dysfunction of the visual cortex may be a cause of amblyopia.

Cognitive training helps adults with HIV Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:28 PM PDT Cognitive training exercises can help improve mental processing speed and ability to complete daily tasks in middle-age and older adults with HIV, a population that is experiencing cognitive impairments at a higher rate than those without the disease.

Common medical screen predicts liver cancer risk in general population Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:28 PM PDT Enzyme levels in the blood routinely monitored by physicians as liver function indicators are also the best predictor of liver cancer risk for the general population, a team of scientists report.

Cholesterol levels improving among U.S. adults Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:28 PM PDT An analysis of nationally-representative data indicates that between 1988 and 2010 there has been a trend of declining average levels of total cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol for U.S. adults overall.

Study identifies strategy for improved screening for type of hereditary colorectal cancer Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:28 PM PDT In a comparison of strategies to identify individuals with Lynch syndrome, the most common form of hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC), caused by mutations in certain genes (DNA mismatch repair [MMR] genes), universal tumor MMR testing among certain CRC patients had a greater sensitivity for the identification of Lynch syndrome compared with multiple alternative strategies, although the diagnostic improvement was modest.

Lower use of chloride in intravenous fluids for critically ill patients associated with decreased risk of kidney injury Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:28 PM PDT In a pilot study assessing the effect of different levels of chloride in intravenous fluids administered to critically ill patients in an intensive care unit, restricting the amount of chloride administration was associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of acute kidney injury and the use of renal replacement therapy.

Cold viruses point the way to new cancer therapies Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:28 PM PDT Cold viruses generally get a bad rap -- which they've certainly earned -- but new findings by a team of scientists suggest that these viruses might also be a valuable ally in the fight against cancer.

Scientists to EPA: Include women in reproductive health research Posted: 16 Oct 2012 12:07 PM PDT EPA research on reproductive health is not being uniformly investigated in both sexes and across the lifespan due to out-of-date guidelines. Many toxicity studies are only conducted in males, but the effects may be different in women. Scientists will meet with EPA administrators in Washington to press for important changes in the guidelines for reproductive health research.

Novel intravaginal ring shows promise in HIV prevention Posted: 16 Oct 2012 12:07 PM PDT A new 90-day intravaginal ring has been developed that, for the first time, enables the long-lasting vaginal delivery of tenofovir (TFV), the only topical prophylactic shown to be effective at reducing the sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) when formulated in a short-lasting gel.

Targeting cancers' 'addiction' to cell-cycle proteins shuts down tumors in mice Posted: 16 Oct 2012 11:17 AM PDT Scientists have safely shut down breast cancer and a form of leukemia in mice by targeting abnormal proteins that control cells' growth cycles, and to which the cancers are "addicted."

Attack! Silent watchmen charge to defend the nervous system Posted: 16 Oct 2012 11:17 AM PDT In many pathologies of the nervous system, there is a common event -- cells called microglia are activated from surveillant watchmen into fighters. Now new research provides the first evidence that mechanisms regulated by the Runx1 gene control the balance between the surveillant versus activated microglia states.

New diabetes screening guidelines released; Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care issues updated guidelines Posted: 16 Oct 2012 11:17 AM PDT Routine screening for Type 2 diabetes in adults at low and moderate risk is not recommended, although it is recommended for people at high and very high risk of the disease, state new diabetes screening guidelines. The guidelines suggest using a risk calculator and then screening based on the predicted risk of diabetes.

Patient-reported outcomes essential to comparative effectiveness research Posted: 16 Oct 2012 11:16 AM PDT Patient-reported outcomes should be a standard part of evaluating the comparative effectiveness of cancer treatments, according to recommendations put forward by a multi-institution research group.

Reprogramming cell identity in the pituitary gland: Discovery could lead to new treatments for Cushing's disease Posted: 16 Oct 2012 11:16 AM PDT A team of researchers reprogrammed the identity of cells in the pituitary gland and identified critical mechanisms of epigenetic cell programming. The discovery could eventually lead to new pharmacological targets for the treatment of Cushing's disease.

Findings reveal brain mechanisms at work during sleep Posted: 16 Oct 2012 10:21 AM PDT New findings report the important role sleep plays, and the brain mechanisms at work as sleep shapes memory, learning, and behavior.

Studies report early childhood trauma takes visible toll on brain Posted: 16 Oct 2012 10:21 AM PDT Trauma in infancy and childhood shapes the brain, learning, and behavior, and fuels changes that can last a lifetime, according to new human and animal research. The studies delve into the effects of early physical abuse, socioeconomic status, and maternal treatment.

Exercise may lead to better school performance for kids with ADHD Posted: 16 Oct 2012 10:21 AM PDT A few minutes of exercise can help children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder perform better academically, according to a new study.

Sickle cell disease: Physics explains how sickling cells make people sick Posted: 16 Oct 2012 10:15 AM PDT Researchers have identified the physical forces in red blood cells and blood vessels underlying the painful symptoms of sickle cell disease. Their experiment, the first to answer a scientific question about sickle cell disease using microfluidics engineering methods, may help future researchers better determine who is at greatest risk of harm from the disease.

New noninvasive test for colorectal cancer shows promise Posted: 16 Oct 2012 10:15 AM PDT A new noninvasive test for colorectal cancer screening demonstrated high sensitivity for detecting colorectal cancer, in particular precancers that are most likely to develop into cancer, according to new data.

Study finds rise in maternal sepsis-related mortality Posted: 16 Oct 2012 10:15 AM PDT A new study reports that severity and death rates are increasing in pregnant and postpartum women with sepsis. More than 30 percent of mothers who develop sepsis will experience some type of organ dysfunction.

Is immediate and long-term pain after a motor vehicle collision hereditary? Posted: 16 Oct 2012 10:15 AM PDT Two studies have found that hereditary genes were responsible for the amount and type of pain experienced after a motor vehicle collision (MVC). Many drivers experience symptoms after an MVC, including musculoskeletal pain in the back, neck and other areas. It has been unknown why some drivers feel pain immediately after a collision or develop persistent pain after a collision, while others do not.

Novel discovery links anti-cancer drugs to muscle repair Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:59 AM PDT Research shows that the IAP-targeting drugs that promote the death of cancer cells also induce the growth and repair of muscle.

Prion protein hints at role in aiding learning and memory Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:56 AM PDT Scientists have found that the protein called prion helps our brains to absorb zinc, which is believed to be crucial to our ability to learn and the well-being of our memory.

New dissolvable oral strip provides instant pain relief for burns Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:56 AM PDT A dissolvable oral strip has been developed to immediately relieve pain from burns caused by ingestion of hot foods and liquids, such as coffee, pizza, and soup.

New radiation treatment significantly increases survival rate, researchers find Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:56 AM PDT A novel drug that mimics a naturally occurring molecule found in coffee and blueberries has been developed to treat radiation exposure. Researchers show that application of this drug, starting 24 hours after radiation exposure, increases survival in animal models by three-fold compared to placebo.

Study sheds new light on the progression and invasiveness of ductal breast cancer Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:55 AM PDT Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is considered a precursor lesion for invasive breast cancer if untreated, and is found in approximately 45% of patients with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Patients with DCIS only (not accompanied by invasive disease) have a 5-year-survival of nearly 100%, compared to 89% for all stages of invasive breast cancer (24% for patients with distant metastasis). A new study has found that despite an enormous degree of intercellular heterogeneity in both DCIS and IDC, the evolution from noninvasive to invasive disease is determined by recurrent patterns of genomic imbalances in most cases.

Foot, knee and hip pain a problem in obese children Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:55 AM PDT Pain in the lower extremities -- feet, ankles, knees and hips -- contributes to both poor physical function and a reduced quality of life in obese children, according to a new study. The research shows that obese children with lower extremity pain have worse physical function and poorer psychological health than obese children without lower extremity pain.

Marriage, education can help improve well-being of adults abused as children Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:52 AM PDT Researchers investigating the long-term consequences of child abuse report that being identified some protective factors that can improve the health of victims during their adulthood. Men and women in their 30s who had been abused or neglected as children reported worse mental and physical health than their non-abused peers. But being married or having graduated from high school buffered the severity of their symptoms.

Nursing workloads multiply likelihood of death among black patients over white patients Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:52 AM PDT Older black patients are three times more likely than older white patients to suffer poorer outcomes after surgery, including death, when cared for by nurses with higher workloads, according to new research. The large-scale study showed higher nurse workloads negatively affected older surgical patients generally and that the rate was more significant in older black individuals.

Obese teen boys have up to 50 percent less testosterone than lean boys Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:52 AM PDT A new study shows for the first time that obese males ages 14 to 20 have up to 50 percent less total testosterone than do normal males of the same age, significantly increasing their potential to be impotent and infertile as adults.

Two-gene test predicts which patients with heart failure respond best to beta-blocker drug Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:39 AM PDT A landmark paper identifying genetic signatures that predict which patients respond to a life-saving drug for congestive heart failure has just been published. Medical researchers discovered and characterized the two genetic variations that determine how patients are likely to respond to the beta-blocker bucindolol.

Less-invasive method of brain stimulation helps patients with Parkinson's disease Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:34 AM PDT Electrical stimulation using extradural electrodes—placed underneath the skull but not implanted in the brain—is a safe approach with meaningful benefits for patients with Parkinson's disease, according to new research.

Starvation hormone markedly extends mouse life span, without need for calorie restriction Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:34 AM PDT A starvation hormone markedly extends life span in mice without the need for calorie restriction.

Young people driving epidemic of prescription drug abuse, study finds; Abuse of nonmedical analgesics up 40 percent Posted: 16 Oct 2012 06:28 AM PDT A new study reveals that today's adolescents are abusing prescription drugs at a rate 40 percent higher than previous generations. That makes it the second most common form of illegal drug use in the U.S. after marijuana.

How 'cleaving' protein drives tumor growth in prostate, other cancers Posted: 16 Oct 2012 06:28 AM PDT Researchers have determined how a protein known as Trop2 drives the growth of tumor cells in prostate and other epithelial cancers. This discovery is important because it may prove essential for creating new therapies that stop the growth of cancer, the researchers said.

Stat5 predicts outcomes for prostate cancer patients after radical prostatectomy Posted: 16 Oct 2012 06:21 AM PDT Men who had high levels of the activated Stat5 protein in their prostate cancer after a radical prostatectomy were more likely to have a recurrence or die from the disease compared to men who had little to no presence of the growth protein, according to a recent study.

Eating lots of carbs, sugar may raise risk of cognitive impairment Posted: 16 Oct 2012 06:21 AM PDT People 70 and older who eat food high in carbohydrates have nearly four times the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, and the danger also rises with a diet heavy in sugar, researchers have found. Those who consume a lot of protein and fat relative to carbohydrates are less likely to become cognitively impaired, the study found.

Fathers matter when it comes to their teenager's sexual behavior Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:51 AM PDT A new study suggests that fathers' parenting behavior influences the sexual behavior of their adolescent children, but most parent-based research has neglected to examine the specific role of fathers.

Proteins in DNA damage response network targeted for new therapies, researchers say Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:51 AM PDT An intricate system to repair DNA damage called the "DNA damage response" (DDR) contains previously unknown components, including proteins that could be targeted as sensitizers for chemotherapy. Some of these targets may already have drugs available that have unrecognized uses in cancer therapy, said the researchers.

Genetic protection against arsenic Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:50 AM PDT Evolution has not only controlled human development over millions of years, it also has an impact on modern humans. This is one of the conclusions of a study of Argentinian villagers in the Andes, where the water contains high levels of arsenic. A gene variant that produces efficient and less toxic metabolism of arsenic in the body was much more common among the villagers than among other indigenous groups in South or Central America.

Non-coding antisense RNA can be used to stimulate protein production Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:49 AM PDT While studying Parkinson's disease, an international research group made a discovery which can improve industrial protein synthesis for therapeutic use. They managed to understand a novel function of non-protein coding RNA: the protein synthesis activity of coding genes can be enhanced by the activity of the non-coding one called "antisense."

Menopause does not cause weight gain, but increases belly fat, major review finds Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:49 AM PDT A comprehensive review by the International Menopause Society has found that going through the menopause does not cause a woman to gain weight. However, the hormonal changes at the menopause are associated with a change in the the way that fat is distributed, leading to more belly (abdominal) fat.

Link between creativity and mental illness confirmed in large-scale Swedish study Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:49 AM PDT People in creative professions are treated more often for mental illness than the general population, there being a particularly salient connection between writing and schizophrenia, according to researchers whose large-scale Swedish registry study is the most comprehensive ever in its field.

New ways of eating fruit Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:49 AM PDT Fruit must be an essential part of our diet. Experts recommend eating at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. However, the reality is quite different, since we are witnessing a gradual decline in consumption, especially among children. This is one of the reasons that made a team of Valencian researchers develop new products that could promote fruit consumption.

Nearly one-third of kidney transplant patients readmitted to hospital within 30 days Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:48 AM PDT Three in 10 patients receiving a kidney transplant require readmission to the hospital within 30 days of discharge following surgery, according to an analysis of six years of national U.S. data.

Sick doctors returning to work struggle with feelings of shame and failure, researchers find Posted: 15 Oct 2012 04:36 PM PDT Doctors who have been on long term sick leave find it hard to return to work because they are overwhelmed with feelings of shame and failure, and fear the disapproval of colleagues, new research finds.

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