ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• HIV self-testing: The key to controlling the global epidemic
• Telerobotic system designed to treat bladder cancer better
• Feeling hungry may protect the brain against Alzheimer's disease
• New genetic evidence suggests a continuum among neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders
• Old drug offers new hope against rare, deadly childhood disease​
• White blood cell enzyme contributes to inflammation and obesity
• Heart failure doesn't discriminate
• Investigational vaccine not effective in reducing post-operative staph infections
• Decreased melatonin secretion associated with higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes
• Mortality rates have increased at hospitals in rural communities for certain conditions
• Medication duloxetine helps reduce pain from chemotherapy
• Negative emotions in response to daily stress take a toll on long-term mental health
• Few effective, evidence-based interventions to prevent posttraumatic stress disorder, review finds
• College athletes twice as likely to have depression than retired collegiate athletes
• Landmark study describes prostate cancer metastasis switch
• BRAIN initiative launched to unlock mysteries of human mind
• Epileptic seizures can propagate using functional brain networks
• Access to mental health care lacking for children, teens across the U.S.
• Fatty acid metabolite shows promise against cancer in mice
• How antibodies neutralize mosquito-borne virus
• Stillbirth or pre-term birth outcomes linked to elevated risk of blood clots after pregnancy
• Mental illness linked to heavy cannabis use
• 3-D scaffolds a new tool to fight cancer
• Fast track to mouse modeling
• New light shed on common sexually transmitted infection
• Cholesterol buildup links atherosclerosis and macular degeneration
• Surprising findings in mitochondrial biology change long-standing ideas on the protein MTERF1
• Cartilage damaged from exercise may aid in early osteoarthritis detection
• Organ donation shortfall at large general hospitals in Ontario
• Tonsillectomy in adults with severe recurrent sore throats may benefit some people
• Study reveals risk factors for blood clots in pregnant and postnatal women
• Cell reprogramming to cure leukemia and lymphoma?
• Gynecomastia has psychological impact on adolescent boys, researchers report
• New Jersey prohibits indoor tanning for minors under 17
• Fighting listeria and other food-borne illnesses with nanobiotechnology
• Vitamin P as a potential approach for the treatment of damaged motor neurons
• Scientists test new formulation of novel, low-toxicity anticancer agent
• 'Sharps' injuries have major health and cost impact for surgeons
• 3-D stem cell culture technique developed to better understand Alzheimer's disease
• Dental bib clips can harbor oral and skin bacteria even after disinfection, study finds
• Bioglass helping to mend bones
• Coronary heart disease increases with body mass index, as well as with age: study
• Promising stem cell therapy for leukemia patients
• Regaining proper hearing at last
• Sampling of embryonic DNA after IVF without biopsy
• Finnish children sent to Sweden to avoid war suffered more than those who stayed
• New promise for an HIV vaccine as researchers overcome crucial obstacle
• Cancer drugs an unexpected ally in the battle against malaria
• Have asthma? You likely have an allergy as well
• Diet shown to be critical factor in improving type 2 diabetes after bariatric surgery
• Cells culled from adults may grow human bone
• Newly identified tumor suppressor provides therapeutic target for prostate cancer
• Eating fish associated with lower risk of dying among older adults: Risk of dying from heart disease significantly lowered
• Understanding statin discontinuation

HIV self-testing: The key to controlling the global epidemic Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:26 PM PDT A new international study has confirmed that self-testing for HIV is effective and could be the answer to controlling the global epidemic. This systematic review shows HIV self-testing removes much of the fear and stigma associated with being tested for the disease. This study could pave the way for early detection and treatment around the world, thereby reducing transmission.

Telerobotic system designed to treat bladder cancer better Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:26 PM PDT Engineers and doctors have designed a robotic surgery system specifically designed to treat bladder cancer, the sixth most common form of cancer in the US and the most expensive to treat.

Feeling hungry may protect the brain against Alzheimer's disease Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:24 PM PDT A study in mice with genetic mutations seen in human Alzheimer's disease found that the feeling of hunger itself may protect against the disease.

New genetic evidence suggests a continuum among neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:24 PM PDT A broad spectrum of developmental and psychiatric disorders, ranging from autism and intellectual disability to schizophrenia, should be conceptualized as different manifestations of a common underlying denominator, "developmental brain dysfunction," rather than completely independent conditions with distinct causes, new research suggests.

Old drug offers new hope against rare, deadly childhood disease​ Posted: 02 Apr 2013 02:11 PM PDT Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is playing a leading role in one of the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) first clinical trials to improve treatments for rare and neglected diseases. In this case, the disease is Niemann-Pick Type C, a disorder that causes excess cholesterol to accumulate in the brain, liver and spleen. It affects about 500 children worldwide, leads to neurodegeneration, and usually causes death in the first two decades of life. The compound to be tested is called cyclodextrin, a cyclic sugar long used as an ingredient in other drugs.

White blood cell enzyme contributes to inflammation and obesity Posted: 02 Apr 2013 01:32 PM PDT Researchers have discovered that an imbalance between the enzyme neutrophil elastase and its inhibitor, ±1-antitrypsin, causes inflammation, obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease.

Heart failure doesn't discriminate Posted: 02 Apr 2013 01:32 PM PDT Lifetime risk for heart failure is similar for blacks and whites and higher than expected for both groups -- ranging from 20 to 45 percent -- according to a new study.

Investigational vaccine not effective in reducing post-operative staph infections Posted: 02 Apr 2013 01:24 PM PDT Use of a vaccine to prevent Staphylococcus aureus infections among patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery did not reduce the rate of serious postoperative S aureus infections compared with placebo and was associated with increased mortality among patients who developed S aureus infections, according to a new study.

Decreased melatonin secretion associated with higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes Posted: 02 Apr 2013 01:24 PM PDT With previous evidence suggesting that melatonin may have a role in glucose metabolism, researchers have found an independent association between decreased secretion of melatonin and an increased risk for the development of type 2 diabetes.

Mortality rates have increased at hospitals in rural communities for certain conditions Posted: 02 Apr 2013 01:24 PM PDT In an analysis that included data on more than 10 million Medicare beneficiaries admitted to acute care hospitals with a heart attack, congestive heart failure, or pneumonia between 2002 and 2010, 30-day mortality rates for those admitted to critical access hospitals (designated hospitals that provide inpatient care to individuals living in rural communities) increased during this time period compared with patients admitted to other acute care hospitals.

Medication duloxetine helps reduce pain from chemotherapy Posted: 02 Apr 2013 01:24 PM PDT Among patients with painful chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, use of the anti-depressant drug duloxetine for 5 weeks resulted in a greater reduction in pain compared with placebo.

Negative emotions in response to daily stress take a toll on long-term mental health Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:01 PM PDT Our emotional responses to the stresses of daily life may predict our long-term mental health, according to a new study.

Few effective, evidence-based interventions to prevent posttraumatic stress disorder, review finds Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:01 PM PDT A new review summarizes the results of a systematic review of clinical interventions for adults exposed to at least one traumatic event such as war, a natural or human-made disaster, motor vehicle accidents, community violence, sexual assault or domestic violence.

College athletes twice as likely to have depression than retired collegiate athletes Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:01 PM PDT A survey of current and former college athletes finds depression levels significantly higher in current athletes, a result that upended the researchers' hypothesis.

Landmark study describes prostate cancer metastasis switch Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:01 PM PDT SPDEF acts as a switch, regulating production of E-Cadherin, the loss of which is a prerequisite of metastasis in many cancers.

BRAIN initiative launched to unlock mysteries of human mind Posted: 02 Apr 2013 11:58 AM PDT Today at the White House, President Barak Obama unveiled the "BRAIN" Initiative -- a bold new research effort to revolutionize our understanding of the human mind and uncover new ways to treat, prevent, and cure brain disorders like Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, autism, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.

Epileptic seizures can propagate using functional brain networks Posted: 02 Apr 2013 11:46 AM PDT The seizures that affect people with temporal-lobe epilepsy usually start in a region of the brain called the hippocampus. But they are often able to involve other areas outside the temporal lobe, propagating via anatomically and functionally connected networks in the brain. New research findings that link decreased brain cell concentration to altered functional connectivity in temporal-lobe epilepsy are reported in a new article.

Access to mental health care lacking for children, teens across the U.S. Posted: 02 Apr 2013 11:39 AM PDT A new national U.S. survey shows adults who work and volunteer with children and teens do not believe youth have appropriate access to mental health care.

Fatty acid metabolite shows promise against cancer in mice Posted: 02 Apr 2013 11:39 AM PDT Scientists have found that a product resulting from a metabolized omega-3 fatty acid helps combat cancer by cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrients that fuel tumor growth and spread of the disease.

How antibodies neutralize mosquito-borne virus Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:50 AM PDT Researchers have learned the precise structure of the mosquito-transmitted chikungunya virus pathogen while it is bound to antibodies, showing how the infection is likely neutralized.

Stillbirth or pre-term birth outcomes linked to elevated risk of blood clots after pregnancy Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT Newly identified pregnancy-related events, such as stillbirth or pre-term birth, may dramatically increase a woman's risk of developing a potentially deadly blood clot immediately after pregnancy, according to the results of a large, population-based study.

Mental illness linked to heavy cannabis use Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT People with mental illnesses are more than seven times more likely to use cannabis weekly compared to people without a mental illness, according to new research.

3-D scaffolds a new tool to fight cancer Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT Porous polymer scaffolds fabricated to support the growth of biological tissue for implantation may hold the potential to greatly accelerate the development of cancer therapeutics. Researchers report that three-dimensional scaffolds used to culture Ewing's sarcoma cells were effective at mimicking the environment in which such tumors develop.

Fast track to mouse modeling Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT What genes are responsible for the development of breast cancer? What are the brain cell mutations that lead to the onset of Alzheimer's? To find new therapies, scientists have to understand how diseases are triggered at cell level. Experiments on genetically modified mice are an indispensable part of basic medical research. Now a method has been found to help laboratories carry out their work with fewer test animals.

New light shed on common sexually transmitted infection Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT Medical researchers have found that a common sexually transmitted infection-causing parasite "cultivates" bacteria beneficial to it, changing thinking about which comes first -- infection or bacteria. The researchers also discovered a previously unknown species of these bacteria.

Cholesterol buildup links atherosclerosis and macular degeneration Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT A new study raises the intriguing possibility that drugs prescribed to lower cholesterol may be effective against macular degeneration, a blinding eye disease.

Surprising findings in mitochondrial biology change long-standing ideas on the protein MTERF1 Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT New findings in mitochondrial biology thoroughly change the idea scientists had for 20 years on the role and importance of the protein MTERF1. For the first time, scientists now have investigated in vivo what was up to now only explored in cell culture.

Cartilage damaged from exercise may aid in early osteoarthritis detection Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder and currently there is no cure. A new study reveals how the nanoscale biomechanical properties of cartilage at joints change at the earliest stages of osteoarthritis, making the tissue more prone to damage during fast physical activities. The findings could improve early detection of the disease as well as tissue engineering strategies to repair damaged cartilage in patients.

Organ donation shortfall at large general hospitals in Ontario Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT Organ donation in Ontario is significantly less common at large general hospitals than at hospitals with clinical programs for transplant recipients, which points to missed opportunities to optimize organ donation, according to a new study.

Tonsillectomy in adults with severe recurrent sore throats may benefit some people Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT Tonsillectomy may result in fewer severe sore throats and could benefit some adult patients, according to a randomized trial.

Study reveals risk factors for blood clots in pregnant and postnatal women Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:45 AM PDT Women who have suffered a still birth or have medical conditions including varicose veins, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or heart disease are at greater risk of developing dangerous blood clots after giving birth, a study has revealed.

Cell reprogramming to cure leukemia and lymphoma? Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:45 AM PDT Researchers have reprogrammed lymphoma and leukemia cells to halt their malignancy. Resulting cells remained benign even when no longer subjected to treatment and patients were less likely to develop new tumors.

Gynecomastia has psychological impact on adolescent boys, researchers report Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:43 AM PDT Persistent breast enlargement (gynecomastia) negatively affects self-esteem and other areas of mental and emotional health in adolescent males, researchers report.

New Jersey prohibits indoor tanning for minors under 17 Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:43 AM PDT New Jersey sent a strong message to young people that indoor tanning salons can be dangerous to their health. New Jersey has passed a law that bans minors under the age of 17 years old from using indoor tanning devices. The law is based on significant scientific evidence that links indoor tanning to increased risk of developing melanoma and other forms of skin cancer.

Fighting listeria and other food-borne illnesses with nanobiotechnology Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:43 AM PDT Engineering researchers have developed a new method to kill deadly pathogenic bacteria, including listeria, in food handling and packaging. This innovation represents an alternative to the use of antibiotics or chemical decontamination in food supply systems.

Vitamin P as a potential approach for the treatment of damaged motor neurons Posted: 02 Apr 2013 07:11 AM PDT Biologists in Germany have explored how to protect neurons that control movements from dying off. In a new paper, they report that the molecule 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone, also known as vitamin P, ensures the survival of motor neurons in culture. It sends the survival signal on another path than the molecule Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which was previously considered a candidate for the treatment of motoneuron diseases or after spinal cord damage.

Scientists test new formulation of novel, low-toxicity anticancer agent Posted: 02 Apr 2013 07:11 AM PDT Researchers have found that a new formulation of a promising anticancer agent, the small chemical molecule FL118, is even more effective in controlling two types of cancer than a version reported six months earlier proved to be. Additional evidence also suggests that the agent may successfully treat other solid tumors as well.

'Sharps' injuries have major health and cost impact for surgeons Posted: 02 Apr 2013 07:11 AM PDT Injuries caused by needles and other sharp instruments are a major occupational hazard for surgeons -- with high costs related to the risk of contracting serious infectious diseases, according to a new article.

3-D stem cell culture technique developed to better understand Alzheimer's disease Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:16 AM PDT A team of researchers has developed a technique to produce three-dimensional cultures of induced pluripotent stem cells called embryoid bodies, amenable to live cell imaging and to electrical activity measurement.

Dental bib clips can harbor oral and skin bacteria even after disinfection, study finds Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:16 AM PDT Researchers have found that a significant proportion of dental bib clips harbored bacteria from the patient, dental clinician and the environment even after the clips had undergone standard disinfection procedures in a hygiene clinic.

Bioglass helping to mend bones Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:16 AM PDT Researchers at the University of the Basque Country have been studying new materials or implants that are of interest in medicine and in helping to mend bones, in particular. They have in fact measured the effect that the bioglass has on the thermal degradation of polymers currently used in medicine.

Coronary heart disease increases with body mass index, as well as with age: study Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:13 AM PDT Coronary heart disease (CHD) increases with body mass index (BMI), as well as with age, new research finds. The research from the Million Women Study indicates that increased weight increases risk of CHD equivalent to that caused by getting older.

Promising stem cell therapy for leukemia patients Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:12 AM PDT Leukemia patients receive a bone marrow transplant, which allows them to build a "new" immune system. However, this immune system not only attacks cancer cells but healthy tissue too. Special antibodies will be used to protect healthy tissue in future.

Regaining proper hearing at last Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:12 AM PDT Around 17 million people in Germany suffer from impaired hearing. For many of them, their hearing is so damaged that a standard hearing aid is no longer enough. A new device will improve patients' hearing and can be implanted during outpatient surgery.

Sampling of embryonic DNA after IVF without biopsy Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:11 AM PDT A new shows that fluid-filled cavity in 5-day old human blastocysts may contain DNA from the embryo, allowing diagnosis of genetic disease without a biopsy. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) technologies allow identification of genetic disorders in human preimplantation embryos after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and before the embryo is transferred back to the patient. This technique allows couples with a high-risk of passing on inherited diseases, to increase their chances of having a healthy baby.

Finnish children sent to Sweden to avoid war suffered more than those who stayed Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:11 AM PDT Finnish war children, that is, Finnish children who were evacuated to safety in Sweden during the second world war, faced greater hardships than children who remained in Finland, a new study suggests. In particular, there are marked differences in the risk for heart diseases and diabetes as well as in the prevalence of mental health problems.

New promise for an HIV vaccine as researchers overcome crucial obstacle Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:08 AM PDT For the first time, researchers were able to stimulate immune cells to produce broadly neutralizing antibodies: a critical step that has eluded researchers for decades but that provides promise for a successful HIV vaccine.

Cancer drugs an unexpected ally in the battle against malaria Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:08 AM PDT Scientists tested the efficacy of cancer drugs at killing the malaria parasite during the liver phase with astonishing success. This research paves the way for future studies using cancer drugs that could cause less drug resistance and have more targeted treatments than conventional malaria drugs.

Have asthma? You likely have an allergy as well Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:08 AM PDT A new study found 65 to 75 percent of asthmatic adults have an allergy.

Diet shown to be critical factor in improving type 2 diabetes after bariatric surgery Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:08 AM PDT Patients with type 2 diabetes who consume a diet identical to the strict regimen followed after bariatric surgery are just as likely to see a reduction in blood glucose levels as those who undergo surgery, according to a new study.

Cells culled from adults may grow human bone Posted: 02 Apr 2013 06:08 AM PDT Preparations are underway for the first known human trial to use embryonic-like stem cells collected from adult cells to grow bone.

Newly identified tumor suppressor provides therapeutic target for prostate cancer Posted: 01 Apr 2013 03:15 PM PDT Researchers have found that the enzyme PKCzeta controls the activation of a pro-tumor gene called c-Myc. Normally, PKCzeta's alteration keeps c-Myc in check. But PKCzeta levels are low in prostate and other cancers, leaving c-Myc free to enhance cell growth and metastasis.

Eating fish associated with lower risk of dying among older adults: Risk of dying from heart disease significantly lowered Posted: 01 Apr 2013 03:15 PM PDT Older adults with higher levels of blood omega-3 levels -- fatty acids found in fish and seafood -- may be able to lower their mortality risk by as much as 27 percent and their mortality risk from heart disease by about 35 percent, report researchers. Older adults with the highest blood levels of the fatty acids lived, on average, 2.2 years longer than those with lower levels.

Understanding statin discontinuation Posted: 01 Apr 2013 03:15 PM PDT In a new study, researchers examined the role adverse reactions play in statin discontinuation and found that more than 90 percent of the patients who stopped taking a statin due to an adverse reaction, were able to tolerate it when they tried again.

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