ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Can repurposed cancer drugs counter bioterror threats?
• Marriage can threaten health: Study finds satisfied newlyweds more likely to gain weight
• First data released from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer
• Scientists develop monkey model to study novel coronavirus infection
• Exhaled breath carries a molecular 'breathprint' unique to each individual
• Brain cell signal network genes linked to schizophrenia risk in families
• Dementia costs top those for heart disease or cancer, study finds
• Assessing disease surveillance and notification systems after a pandemic
• Low testosterone levels may herald rheumatoid arthritis in men
• Baldness linked to increased risk of coronary heart disease
• Advances in molecular testing offer new hope for lung cancer patients
• On-and-off approach to prostate cancer treatment may compromise survival
• Potential therapy for human prion disease
• One specific microRNA promotes tumor growth and cancer spread
• Phase 1 ALS trial is first to test antisense treatment of neurodegenerative disease: No serious adverse effects reported
• Accused of complicity in Alzheimer's, amyloid proteins may be getting a bad rap
• Third-generation device significantly improves capture of circulating tumor cells
• Will cell therapy become a 'third pillar' of medicine?
• Breakthrough cancer-killing treatment has no side-effects in mice: New chemistry may cure human cancers
• Laser light zaps away cocaine addiction
• Potential map to more effective HIV vaccine
• Brain-imaging tool and stroke risk test help identify cognitive decline early
• New relief for gynecological disorders: Injectable protein to reverse symptoms of dangerous conditions
• New system to study trigger of cell death in nervous system developed
• Urinary tract infections 29 times more likely in schizophrenia relapse
• Smoking and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls are 'red flag' for postmenopausal osteoporosis
• Dental anesthesia may interrupt development of wisdom teeth in children, study suggests
• Study looks at importance of coping skills during hospital stays
• Ophthalmologists urge early diagnosis and treatment of age-related macular degeneration
• Verifying that sorghum is a new safe grain for people with celiac disease
• Scientists build material that mimics squid beak: Promising step toward safer, more comfortable implants
• Brain Activity Mapping Project aims to understand the brain
• Medical enigma: The healing element is also the enemy
• Research identifies co-factors critical to PTSD development
• New view of origins of eye diseases
• Autism linked to increased genetic change in regions of genome instability
• New protocol to ready clinical applications of induced pluripotent stem cells
• High blood pressure in pregnancy may spell hot flashes later
• Study confirms effectiveness of spray that improves dry mouth sensation caused by anti-depressants
• Immune system: The healing element is also the enemy
• Targeting mental defeat among pain patients could prevent anxiety and depression
• Cisplatin-resistant cancer cells sensitive to experimental anticancer drugs called PARP inhibitors

Can repurposed cancer drugs counter bioterror threats? Posted: 03 Apr 2013 06:55 PM PDT Scientists are investigating whether two cancer medications have the potential of protecting U.S. troops from biological agents that could be unleashed during an attack.

Marriage can threaten health: Study finds satisfied newlyweds more likely to gain weight Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:04 PM PDT A study of 169 newlywed couples finds that spouses who are more satisfied with their marriage are more likely to gain weight because they are less likely to consider divorce and thus find a new partner.

First data released from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:03 PM PDT The first published results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), a major physics experiment operating on the International Space Station, were announced today. The result is the most precise measurement to date of the ratio of positrons to electrons in cosmic rays. Measurements of this key ratio may eventually provide the world with our first glimpse into dark matter.

Scientists develop monkey model to study novel coronavirus infection Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:02 PM PDT Researchers have developed a model of infection in rhesus macaques that will help scientists around the world better understand how an emerging coronavirus, first identified in Sept. 2012, affects people. The virus has so far infected at least 17 people in the Middle East and Europe, killing 11 of them.

Exhaled breath carries a molecular 'breathprint' unique to each individual Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:02 PM PDT Researchers have shown that exhaled human breath contains a characteristic molecular "fingerprint". Stable, specific 'breathprints' unique to an individual exist and may have applications as diagnostic tools in personalized medicine. The scientists want to use this finding to diagnose diseases based on the chemical analysis of patient's exhaled breath, using highly sensitive and precise instrumental methods.

Brain cell signal network genes linked to schizophrenia risk in families Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:02 PM PDT New genetic factors predisposing to schizophrenia have been uncovered in five families with several affected relatives. These gene variants weaken NMDA receptors. Found throughout the brain, NMDA receptors normally influence the strength of brain cell connections and the ongoing remodeling of brain networks.

Dementia costs top those for heart disease or cancer, study finds Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:02 PM PDT The most-detailed examination of the costs of dementia in the United States finds the disease is more costly to the nation than either heart disease or cancer. The analysis suggests that the costs of dementia could more than double by 2040 if the rate of the disease remains constant as the nation's population continues to grow older.

Assessing disease surveillance and notification systems after a pandemic Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:02 PM PDT Significant investments over the past decade into disease surveillance and notification systems appear to have "paid off" and the systems "work remarkably well," says a researcher who examined the public health response systems during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic.

Low testosterone levels may herald rheumatoid arthritis in men Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:01 PM PDT Low testosterone levels may herald the subsequent development of rheumatoid arthritis in men, new research suggests.

Baldness linked to increased risk of coronary heart disease Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:01 PM PDT Male pattern baldness is linked to an increased risk of coronary heart disease, but only if it's on the top/crown of the head, rather than at the front, a new analysis finds.

Advances in molecular testing offer new hope for lung cancer patients Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:00 PM PDT The emergence of molecular diagnostic testing in lung cancer offers new hope for patients battling the number one cancer killer in the United States and abroad. Now, for the first time after a decade of biomarker testing in lung cancer, a uniform approach for testing for the EGFR mutation and ALK rearrangement along with the availability of targeted therapies offer lung cancer patients the chance for improved quality of life and more time with their loved ones.

On-and-off approach to prostate cancer treatment may compromise survival Posted: 03 Apr 2013 05:00 PM PDT Taking a break from hormone-blocking prostate cancer treatments once the cancer seems to be stabilized is not equivalent to continuing therapy, a new large-scale international study finds.

Potential therapy for human prion disease Posted: 03 Apr 2013 12:43 PM PDT Scientists have for the first time identified a pair of drugs already approved for human use that show anti-prion activity and, for one of them, great promise in treating rare and universally fatal disorders, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, caused by misfolded proteins called prions.

One specific microRNA promotes tumor growth and cancer spread Posted: 03 Apr 2013 12:43 PM PDT Researchers have determined that the overexpression of microRNA-155 (miR-155), a short, single strand of ribonucleic acid encoded by the miR-155 host gene, promotes the growth of blood vessels in tumors, tumor inflammation, and metastasis. As a therapeutic target, miR-155 could potentially provide a new avenue of treatment when targeted with drugs to suppress its activity.

Phase 1 ALS trial is first to test antisense treatment of neurodegenerative disease: No serious adverse effects reported Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT The initial clinical trial of a novel approach to treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -- blocking production of a mutant protein that causes an inherited form of the progressive neurodegererative disease -- may be a first step towards a new era in the treatment of such disorders.

Accused of complicity in Alzheimer's, amyloid proteins may be getting a bad rap Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT Amyloids -- clumps of misfolded proteins found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders -- are the quintessential bad boys of neurobiology. But now a pair of recent research studies sets a solid course toward rehabilitating the reputation of the proteins that form these amyloid tangles, or plaques. In the process, they appear poised to turn the field of neurobiology on its head.

Third-generation device significantly improves capture of circulating tumor cells Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT A new system for isolating rare circulating tumor cells -- living solid tumor cells found at low levels in the bloodstream -- shows significant improvement over previously developed devices and does not require prior identification of tumor-specific target molecules.

Will cell therapy become a 'third pillar' of medicine? Posted: 03 Apr 2013 11:14 AM PDT Treating patients with cells may one day become as common as it is now to treat the sick with drugs made from engineered proteins, antibodies or smaller chemicals, according to UC San Francisco researchers. They have outlined their vision of cell-based therapeutics as a "third pillar of medicine."

Breakthrough cancer-killing treatment has no side-effects in mice: New chemistry may cure human cancers Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT The scientific crusade against cancer recently achieved a victory. Medical researchers have developed a new form of radiation therapy that successfully put cancer into remission in mice. This innovative treatment produced none of the harmful side-effects of conventional chemo and radiation cancer therapies.

Laser light zaps away cocaine addiction Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT By stimulating one part of the brain with laser light, researchers have shown that they can wipe away addictive behavior in rats -- or conversely turn non-addicted rats into compulsive cocaine seekers.

Potential map to more effective HIV vaccine Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT By tracking the very earliest days of one person's robust immune response to HIV, researchers have charted a new route for developing a long-sought vaccine that could boost the body's ability to neutralize the virus.

Brain-imaging tool and stroke risk test help identify cognitive decline early Posted: 03 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT Medical researchers have used a brain-imaging tool and stroke risk assessment to identify signs of cognitive decline early on in individuals who don't yet show symptoms of dementia.

New relief for gynecological disorders: Injectable protein to reverse symptoms of dangerous conditions Posted: 03 Apr 2013 09:20 AM PDT Researchers have discovered an injectable protein that reverses symptoms of two dangerous gynecological conditions, endometriosis and overian hyperstimulation syndrome. Because there are currently no treatment options for women suffering from these diseases, this breakthrough promises long-awaited relief from severe abdominal pain and infertility issues.

New system to study trigger of cell death in nervous system developed Posted: 03 Apr 2013 09:19 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new model system to study a receptor protein that controls cell death in both humans and fruit flies.

Urinary tract infections 29 times more likely in schizophrenia relapse Posted: 03 Apr 2013 08:27 AM PDT Schizophrenia patients experiencing relapse are 29 times more likely than healthy individuals to have a urinary tract infection, researchers report.

Smoking and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls are 'red flag' for postmenopausal osteoporosis Posted: 03 Apr 2013 08:26 AM PDT Depression, anxiety, and smoking are associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD) in adults, but these factors have not previously been studied during adolescence, when more than 50% of bone accrual occurs. This longitudinal preliminary study is the first to demonstrate that smoking and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls have a negative impact on adolescent bone accrual and may become a red flag for a future constrained by low bone mass or osteoporosis and higher fracture rates in postmenopausal years.

Dental anesthesia may interrupt development of wisdom teeth in children, study suggests Posted: 03 Apr 2013 08:26 AM PDT Researchers have discovered an association between local dental anesthesia given to children ages two to six and evidence of missing lower wisdom teeth. The results of this epidemiological study suggest that injecting anesthesia into the gums of young children could interrupt the development of lower wisdom teeth.

Study looks at importance of coping skills during hospital stays Posted: 03 Apr 2013 08:26 AM PDT New research looks at how coping strategies used by a mother when her child is hospitalized impacts that child's anxiety level.

Ophthalmologists urge early diagnosis and treatment of age-related macular degeneration Posted: 03 Apr 2013 08:26 AM PDT A new study shows that AMD still causes severe vision loss in approximately 15 percent of Americans 85 and older. This study tracked vision loss in relation to eye disease and treatment response in nearly 5,000 patients over a 20-year period.

Verifying that sorghum is a new safe grain for people with celiac disease Posted: 03 Apr 2013 07:42 AM PDT Strong new biochemical evidence exists showing that the cereal grain sorghum is a safe food for people with celiac disease, who must avoid wheat and certain other grains, scientists are reporting. Their study includes molecular evidence that sorghum lacks the proteins toxic to people with celiac disease.

Scientists build material that mimics squid beak: Promising step toward safer, more comfortable implants Posted: 03 Apr 2013 07:42 AM PDT Researchers have turned to an unlikely model to make medical devices safer and more comfortable -- a squid's beak. Many medical implants require hard materials that have to connect to or pass through soft body tissue. This mechanical mismatch leads to problems. But the beak, which boasts a mechanical gradient that can act as a shock absorber, may provide a solution.

Brain Activity Mapping Project aims to understand the brain Posted: 03 Apr 2013 07:42 AM PDT The scientific tools are not yet available to build a comprehensive map of the activity in the most complicated 3 pounds of material in the world -- the human brain, scientists say in a newly published article. It describes the technologies that could be applied and developed for the Brain Activity Mapping Project, which aims to do for the brain what the Human Genome Project did for genetics.

Medical enigma: The healing element is also the enemy Posted: 03 Apr 2013 07:42 AM PDT The same factor in our immune system that is instrumental in enabling us to fight off severe and dangerous inflammatory ailments is also a player in doing the opposite at a later stage, causing the suppression of our immune response. Why and how this happens and what can be done to mediate this process for the benefit of humankind is the subject of a new article.

Research identifies co-factors critical to PTSD development Posted: 03 Apr 2013 07:42 AM PDT New research has found that the action of a specific gene occurring during exposure to adolescent trauma is critical for the development of adult-onset post-traumatic stress disorder.

New view of origins of eye diseases Posted: 03 Apr 2013 07:41 AM PDT Using new technology and new approaches, researchers in Sweden hope to be able to explain why people suffer vision loss in eye diseases such as retinal detachment and glaucoma.

Autism linked to increased genetic change in regions of genome instability Posted: 03 Apr 2013 06:27 AM PDT Children with autism have increased levels of genetic change in regions of the genome prone to DNA rearrangements, so called "hotspots," according to a new research discovery. The research has relevance in a vigorous ongoing debate in the research community about the degree of genetic versus environmental contributions to autism.

New protocol to ready clinical applications of induced pluripotent stem cells Posted: 03 Apr 2013 06:26 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new way to generate induced pluripotent stem cell lines from human fibroblasts, acquired from both healthy and diseased donors. This cell-sorting method consistently selects the highest quality, standardized iPS cells, representing a major step forward for drug discovery and the development of cell therapies.

High blood pressure in pregnancy may spell hot flashes later Posted: 03 Apr 2013 06:26 AM PDT Women who have hypertensive diseases during pregnancy seem to be at higher risk of having troublesome hot flashes and night sweats at menopause, report researchers from the Netherlands.

Study confirms effectiveness of spray that improves dry mouth sensation caused by anti-depressants Posted: 03 Apr 2013 06:26 AM PDT Researchers in Spain have confirmed the effectiveness of a spray containing 1 percent malic acid, which greatly improves xerostomy, or dry mouth, caused by anti-depressant drugs. This product, combined with xylitol and fluorides, in a spray format, stimulates saliva production in patients with this illness, thus improving their quality of life.

Immune system: The healing element is also the enemy Posted: 03 Apr 2013 04:20 AM PDT The same factor in our immune system that is instrumental in enabling us to fight off severe and dangerous inflammatory ailments is also a player in doing the opposite at a later stage, causing the suppression of our immune response.

Targeting mental defeat among pain patients could prevent anxiety and depression Posted: 03 Apr 2013 04:19 AM PDT A new study of Hong Kong chronic pain patients suggests that targeting feelings of mental defeat could prevent severe depression, anxiety and interference with daily activities.

Cisplatin-resistant cancer cells sensitive to experimental anticancer drugs called PARP inhibitors Posted: 03 Apr 2013 04:14 AM PDT Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors may be a novel treatment strategy for patients with cancer that has become resistant to the commonly used chemotherapy drug cisplatin, according to data from a preclinical study.

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