ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Researcher finds way to convert blood cells into autoimmune disease treatment
• Compounds outsmart solid tumors' malfunctioning machinery
• Bodychecking rules don't reduce concussions in elite hockey, study finds
• Mutation linked to congenital urinary tract defects
• Study first to identify heart attack-causing plaque in living patients
• Probiotic bacterium lessens severity of Salmonella infections by hoarding iron
• Poor sleep in pregnancy can disrupt the immune system and cause birth-related complications
• Uncovering a healthier remedy for chronic pain
• Compound discovered at sea shows potency against anthrax
• Splitting donated livers shown to be safe, allowing doctors to save two lives from single organ, study suggests
• Nano drug crosses blood-brain tumor barrier, targets brain-tumor cells and blood vessels
• 'Intelligent knife' tells surgeon which tissue is cancerous
• Empty decoys divert antibodies from neutralizing gene therapy in cell, animal studies
• Personality may predict if you like spicy foods
• BPA and chlorine means bad news: Modified forms of bisphenol A found to alter hormone signaling in new, disturbing ways
• A heart of gold: Gold nanofibers in engineered heart tissue can enhance electrical signalling
• Targeting malaria: Engineered liver tissue could help scientists test new drugs and vaccines
• Scientists show proof-of-principle for silencing extra chromosome responsible for Down syndrome
• Protein responsible for 'bad' blood vessel growth discovered
• Scientists find 3-D structure of key drug target for diabetes
• Molecular switch controls the destiny of self-eating cells
• Seafood still considered a good source of nutrients but consumers confused on safety
• Genomic imprinting maintains a reserve pool of blood-forming stem cells in mouse bone marrow
• Monitoring nutrient intake can help vegetarian athletes stay competitive
• Injectable 'smart sponge' holds promise for controlled drug delivery
• Cost of treating dizziness in the emergency room soars
• Researchers target Achilles' heel of bacteria behind hospital-associated infections
• Single dose of ADHD drug can reduce fall risk in older adults, study suggests
• Discovery of a new class of white blood cells uncovers target for better vaccine design
• New technology will improve neuron activation induced by cochlear implants
• Bird brain? Birds and humans have similar brain wiring
• Chromosomal abnormalities may explain increased cancer risk in type 2 diabetes
• Information in brain cells' electrical activity combines memory, environment, and state of mind

Researcher finds way to convert blood cells into autoimmune disease treatment Posted: 17 Jul 2013 05:01 PM PDT Cells from one's own blood could be converted into a treatment for autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, thanks to new research.

Compounds outsmart solid tumors' malfunctioning machinery Posted: 17 Jul 2013 02:30 PM PDT Molecular biologists have found a novel way to fine-tune the activity of cells' protein-disposing machinery, with potentially cancer-fighting effects.

Bodychecking rules don't reduce concussions in elite hockey, study finds Posted: 17 Jul 2013 02:30 PM PDT Recent changes in hockey rules regulating contact to the head have not reduced the number of concussions suffered by players during National Hockey League season, according to a new study.

Mutation linked to congenital urinary tract defects Posted: 17 Jul 2013 02:28 PM PDT Researchers have identified a genetic mutation that causes congenital malformations of the kidney and urinary tract, a common form of birth defect and the most common cause of kidney failure in children. It is the first time that a specific genetic mutation has been linked to a non-syndromic form of urinary tract malformation.

Study first to identify heart attack-causing plaque in living patients Posted: 17 Jul 2013 01:47 PM PDT Scientists may be closer to predicting who is at risk for a heart attack, according to a recently published study. Researchers used new imaging technology on patients being treated for heart attacks.

Probiotic bacterium lessens severity of Salmonella infections by hoarding iron Posted: 17 Jul 2013 01:47 PM PDT Microbiologists have learned how a probiotic bacterium used to treat irritable bowel syndrome can soothe gut bacterial infections caused by salmonella, paving the way for potential relief from foodborne illnesses that affect millions of people annually.

Poor sleep in pregnancy can disrupt the immune system and cause birth-related complications Posted: 17 Jul 2013 01:47 PM PDT Poor sleep quality and quantity during pregnancy can disrupt normal immune processes and lead to lower birth weights and other complications, a new study finds. Women with depression also are more likely than non-depressed women to suffer from disturbed sleep and to experience immune system disruption and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Uncovering a healthier remedy for chronic pain Posted: 17 Jul 2013 01:47 PM PDT Physicians and patients who are wary of addiction to pain medication and opioids may soon have a healthier and more natural alternative. A study revealed that a derivative of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), a main ingredient of over-the-counter fish oil supplements, can sooth and prevent neuropathic pain caused by injuries to the sensory system.

Compound discovered at sea shows potency against anthrax Posted: 17 Jul 2013 01:44 PM PDT Scientists have discovered anthracimycin, a new chemical compound from an ocean microbe that could one day set the stage for new treatments for anthrax and other ailments such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Splitting donated livers shown to be safe, allowing doctors to save two lives from single organ, study suggests Posted: 17 Jul 2013 01:44 PM PDT Split liver transplantation carries no increased risk of failure in either recipient, allowing surgeons to safely save two lives from a single donated organ, according to new research.

Nano drug crosses blood-brain tumor barrier, targets brain-tumor cells and blood vessels Posted: 17 Jul 2013 01:44 PM PDT The blood-brain barrier protects the brain from poisons but also prevents drugs from reaching brain tumors. A preclinical study shows that an experimental nanotechnology drug called SapC-DOPS crosses the tumor blood-brain barrier, targets brain-tumor cells and retards growth of tumor blood vessels. The findings also show why the agent targets tumor cells and recommend the drug's further development as a novel treatment for glioblastoma.

'Intelligent knife' tells surgeon which tissue is cancerous Posted: 17 Jul 2013 11:17 AM PDT Scientists have developed an "intelligent knife" that can tell surgeons immediately whether the tissue they are cutting is cancerous or not. In the first study to test the invention in the operating theatre, the "iKnife" diagnosed tissue samples from 91 patients with 100 per cent accuracy, instantly providing information that normally takes up to half an hour to reveal using laboratory tests.

Empty decoys divert antibodies from neutralizing gene therapy in cell, animal studies Posted: 17 Jul 2013 11:17 AM PDT Gene therapy researchers have produced a bioengineered decoy that fools the immune system and prevents it from mistakenly defeating the benefits delivered by a corrective gene. The decoy was effective in animal studies, and if the approach succeeds in humans, it offers a potential new treatment for genetic diseases such as hemophilia, while advancing the broader field of gene therapy.

Personality may predict if you like spicy foods Posted: 17 Jul 2013 11:17 AM PDT Certain aspects of an individual's personality may be a determining factor in whether they like their food plain and bland or spicy and hot, according to new research.

BPA and chlorine means bad news: Modified forms of bisphenol A found to alter hormone signaling in new, disturbing ways Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:24 AM PDT The ubiquity of the endocrine-disrupting chemical bisphenol A led researchers to ask what it might be doing in publicly supplied, chlorinated drinking water. The answer: Chlorinated BPA has different, but no less profound effects on cell-signaling networks than unmodified BPA.

A heart of gold: Gold nanofibers in engineered heart tissue can enhance electrical signalling Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:24 AM PDT Scientists have integrated cardiac cells with nanofibers made of real gold particles to create functional engineered cardiac tissues. With the gold particles, these tissues contract much faster and stronger as a whole, he reports, making them more viable for transplants and post-heart-attack therapies.

Targeting malaria: Engineered liver tissue could help scientists test new drugs and vaccines Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:23 AM PDT A team of researchers has now developed a way to grow liver tissue that can support the liver stage of the life cycle of the two most common species of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax.

Scientists show proof-of-principle for silencing extra chromosome responsible for Down syndrome Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:23 AM PDT Scientists have established that a naturally occurring X chromosome "off switch" can be rerouted to neutralize the extra chromosome responsible for trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by cognitive impairment. The discovery provides the first evidence that the underlying genetic defect responsible for Down syndrome can be suppressed in cells in culture.

Protein responsible for 'bad' blood vessel growth discovered Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:23 AM PDT The discovery of a protein that encourages blood vessel growth, and especially "bad" blood vessels -- the kind that characterize diseases as diverse as cancer, age-related macular degeneration and rheumatoid arthritis -- has been reported.

Scientists find 3-D structure of key drug target for diabetes Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:22 AM PDT Scientists have determined and analyzed the three-dimensional atomic structure of the human glucagon receptor. The receptor, found mainly on liver and kidney cells, helps regulate glucose levels in the bloodstream and is the target of potential therapeutic agents for type 2 diabetes.

Molecular switch controls the destiny of self-eating cells Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:22 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that controls whether a cell survives autophagy, a process that can be compared to the cell consuming parts of itself. The discovery means that it might now be possible to influence the process, which is involved in a wide variety of diseases.

Seafood still considered a good source of nutrients but consumers confused on safety Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:22 AM PDT Seafood continues to be a proven strong nutrient-rich food providing essential vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids, but consumers and some toxicologists still keep a watchful eye on safety, according to new research.

Genomic imprinting maintains a reserve pool of blood-forming stem cells in mouse bone marrow Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:21 AM PDT Hematopoietic stem cells -- bone marrow-derived adult stem cells that give rise to the wide variety of specialized blood cells -- come in two flavors: the reserve force sits quietly waiting to be called upon while the active arm continually proliferates spawning billions of blood cells every day. In a new study, researchers reveal a new mechanism that is critical in maintaining the delicate balance between the two.

Monitoring nutrient intake can help vegetarian athletes stay competitive Posted: 17 Jul 2013 08:43 AM PDT A balanced plant-based diet provides the same quality of fuel for athletes as a meat-based diet, provided vegetarians seek out other sources of certain nutrients that are more commonly found in animal products, according to new research.

Injectable 'smart sponge' holds promise for controlled drug delivery Posted: 17 Jul 2013 07:59 AM PDT Researchers have developed a drug delivery technique for diabetes treatment in which a sponge-like material surrounds an insulin core. The sponge expands and contracts in response to blood sugar levels to release insulin as needed. The technique could also be used for targeted drug delivery to cancer cells.

Cost of treating dizziness in the emergency room soars Posted: 17 Jul 2013 07:58 AM PDT Emergency room visits for severe dizziness have grown exponentially in recent years, with costs topping $3.9 billion in 2011 and projected to reach $4.4 billion by 2015. The investigators say roughly half a billion a year could be saved immediately if emergency room physicians stopped the routine and excessive use of head CT scans to search for stroke in dizzy patients, and instead used simple bedside physical exams to identify the small group of patients that truly needs imaging.

Researchers target Achilles' heel of bacteria behind hospital-associated infections Posted: 17 Jul 2013 07:57 AM PDT Researchers are defeating persistent bacteria known for causing infections in hospitals. They have discovered how a regulatory system helps this bacteria resist a host's innate immune defense -- a finding that may help develop novel drug compounds to fight the bacteria.

Single dose of ADHD drug can reduce fall risk in older adults, study suggests Posted: 17 Jul 2013 06:55 AM PDT A single dose of MPH improves walking by reducing the number of step errors and the step error rate in both single and dual tasks, a new study suggests.

Discovery of a new class of white blood cells uncovers target for better vaccine design Posted: 17 Jul 2013 06:55 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new class of white blood cells in human lung and gut tissues that play a critical role as the first line of defense against harmful fungal and bacterial infections. This research will have significant impact on the design of vaccines and targeted immunotherapies for diseases caused by infectious microbes such as the hospital-acquired pneumonia.

New technology will improve neuron activation induced by cochlear implants Posted: 17 Jul 2013 06:55 AM PDT Cochlear implants, electrical prosthetic devices that stimulate inner ear neurons of individuals who have lost their cochlear sensory cells, restore usable hearing to deaf patients.

Bird brain? Birds and humans have similar brain wiring Posted: 17 Jul 2013 06:53 AM PDT You may have more in common with a pigeon than you realize, according to research.

Chromosomal abnormalities may explain increased cancer risk in type 2 diabetes Posted: 17 Jul 2013 06:53 AM PDT Certain chromosomal abnormalities of the preleukemic type appear to be over-represented in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who are suffering from vascular complications. This finding may provide a partial explanation for the higher rates of cancer-related mortality observed among patients with this type of diabetes.

Information in brain cells' electrical activity combines memory, environment, and state of mind Posted: 17 Jul 2013 06:52 AM PDT The information carried by the electrical activity of neurons is a mixture of stored memories, environmental circumstances, and current state of mind, scientists have found in a study of laboratory rats. The findings offer new insights into the neurobiological processes that give rise to knowledge and memory recall.

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