ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Lung cancer drug could aid plight of ectopic pregnancy patients
• Closing in on risk factors for cerebral palsy and infant death
• Copper destroys highly infectious norovirus
• Hypertensive smoking women have an exceptionally high risk of a fatal brain bleeding
• Turning to parasites as potential disease fighters
• Doctors look at treating specific types of pediatric cancer with viral therapy
• Ferritin plays central role in kidney damage by controlling iron
• University nonprofit poised to bridge 'Valley of Death' and spur drug development
• Toward treating disease the way artificial limbs replace the function of lost arms and legs
• Translating nature's library yields drug leads for aids, cancer, Alzheimer's disease
• Toward making people invisible to mosquitoes
• eButton health monitor gets a facelift
• Most statin-intolerant patients can eventually tolerate statins
• Cancer researchers discover root cause of multiple myeloma relapse
• Amino acid with promising anti-diabetic effects
• Programmable glue made of DNA directs tiny gel bricks to self-assemble
• Parents' genes may influence children's back to school fears
• How bedbugs shrug off pesticides and simple measures to deal with it
• Moving genes have scientists seeing spots
• Singapore scientists discover new RNA processing pathway important in human embryonic stem cells
• A tiny channel and a large vessel: a new clue for heart attack
• BPA exposure and obesity in children: just a correlation?
• Early detection of Parkinson’s disease through handwriting
• Recycled sewage water is safe for crop irrigation, study suggests
• Autoimmune disease strategy emerges from immune cell discovery
• Diet experience can alter taste preferences
• Young adults reminisce about music from before their time
• Should happiness be a key measure and target of development?
• First animal model of adult-onset SMA sheds light on disease progression & treatment
• More breast cancer screening needed in younger women
• Wireless network detects falls by the elderly
• Children referred for chest pain rarely have cardiac disease
• Argan powder found in some cosmetics linked with occupational asthma
• Fumes from military small arms lead to decline in lung function
• Trying to be happier really can work
• Capturing brain activity with sculpted light
• New muscular dystrophy treatment shows promise in early study
• Is bigger really better when it comes to size of labor wards?
• Severity of sleep apnoea predicts aggressiveness of melanoma
• Severe asthma patients less responsive to treatment
• Breath tests could be used to diagnose lung cancer
• New 'artificial nose' device can speed diagnosis of sepsis
• E-cigarettes and nicotine patches have comparable success in helping smokers to quit
• Road traffic pollution increases risk of death for bronchiectasis patients
• Virtual monitoring could aid adherence to TB medication
• Rapid diagnostic tests decrease waiting time for TB patients
• Disparities in lung function found worldwide may impact health

Lung cancer drug could aid plight of ectopic pregnancy patients Posted: 09 Sep 2013 05:13 PM PDT Women with ectopic pregnancies could be spared surgery if they are treated with a lung cancer drug, a study suggests. Researchers treated ectopic pregnancies -- where an embryo implants inside the Fallopian tube -- by combining an existing treatment with a lung cancer therapy.

Closing in on risk factors for cerebral palsy and infant death Posted: 09 Sep 2013 05:13 PM PDT Researchers examined the degree to which four specific risk factors contributed to cerebral palsy and young infant death.

Copper destroys highly infectious norovirus Posted: 09 Sep 2013 05:12 PM PDT Scientists have discovered that copper and copper alloys rapidly destroy norovirus – the highly-infectious sickness bug. Worldwide, norovirus is responsible for more than 267 million cases of acute gastroenteritis every year.

Hypertensive smoking women have an exceptionally high risk of a fatal brain bleeding Posted: 09 Sep 2013 05:12 PM PDT Aneurysms can be an extreme, and sometimes fatal situation. If the aneurysm can be found, it can be treated before a potential rupture. Some intracranial aneurysms will never rupture -- the problem is that the doctors are challenged to know which aneurysms will and which will not.

Turning to parasites as potential disease fighters Posted: 09 Sep 2013 05:12 PM PDT Researchers have described exciting progress in harnessing the human immune system's reaction to the presence of parasitic worms, as a way to lessen susceptibility to type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, as well as for use in promoting wound healing.

Doctors look at treating specific types of pediatric cancer with viral therapy Posted: 09 Sep 2013 05:10 PM PDT Parents do everything they can to protect their children against all of the nasty germs floating around classrooms this time of year. Doctors and researchers, however, are looking into how those same types of common viruses can actually help treat a child who is diagnosed with certain cancers.

Ferritin plays central role in kidney damage by controlling iron Posted: 09 Sep 2013 05:10 PM PDT A newly published study is the first to reveal the role of the kidney in the regulation of iron metabolism following injury.

University nonprofit poised to bridge 'Valley of Death' and spur drug development Posted: 09 Sep 2013 01:23 PM PDT With the "Valley of Death" looming as an increasingly serious obstacle to introducing better ways of preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases, a noted scientist recently described a new approach for moving promising drug compounds out of laboratories and into the hands of patients and physicians.

Toward treating disease the way artificial limbs replace the function of lost arms and legs Posted: 09 Sep 2013 01:20 PM PDT The vision for a new branch of medicine, inspired by the ancient field that began with peg legs and hand hooks has been named "molecular prosthetics." Scientists have described advances toward making molecular prosthetics a reality, including progress in developing a platform that would revolutionize the now-tedious processes of making or synthesizing the ingredients for those drugs.

Translating nature's library yields drug leads for aids, cancer, Alzheimer's disease Posted: 09 Sep 2013 01:20 PM PDT An ingredient in a medicinal tea brewed from tree bark by tribal healers on the South Pacific island of Samoa — studied by scientists over the last 25 years — is showing significant promise as a drug lead in the long-sought goal of eliminating the AIDS virus from its sanctuaries in the body and thus eradicating the disease, a scientist said.

Toward making people invisible to mosquitoes Posted: 09 Sep 2013 12:28 PM PDT In an advance toward providing mosquito-plagued people, pets and livestock with an invisibility cloak against these blood-sucking insects, scientists today described discovery of substances that block mosquitoes' ability to smell and target their victims.

eButton health monitor gets a facelift Posted: 09 Sep 2013 10:12 AM PDT A wearable, picture-taking health monitor has received a recent facelift. Now, in addition to documenting what a person eats, the eButton prototype can accurately match those images against a geometric-shape library, providing a much easier method for counting calories.

Most statin-intolerant patients can eventually tolerate statins Posted: 09 Sep 2013 10:11 AM PDT Most patients who report statin intolerance, including muscle aches and other side effects from the cholesterol-lowering drugs, can actually tolerate drugs from this class on subsequent trials.

Cancer researchers discover root cause of multiple myeloma relapse Posted: 09 Sep 2013 10:11 AM PDT Clinical researchers have discovered why multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer of the bone marrow, persistently escapes cure by an initially effective treatment that can keep the disease at bay for up to several years.

Amino acid with promising anti-diabetic effects Posted: 09 Sep 2013 09:19 AM PDT New experiments have found that a wide variety of foods such as salmon, eggs and nuts, greatly improve the body's ability to metabolise glucose and stimulate a hormone linked to the treatment of type 2 diabetes, working just as well as several established drugs on the market.

Programmable glue made of DNA directs tiny gel bricks to self-assemble Posted: 09 Sep 2013 09:19 AM PDT A team of researchers has found a way to self-assemble complex structures out of bricks smaller than a grain of salt. The new method could help solve one of the major challenges in tissue engineering: Creating injectable components that self-assemble into intricately structured, biocompatible scaffolds at an injury site to help regrow human tissues.

Parents' genes may influence children's back to school fears Posted: 09 Sep 2013 09:19 AM PDT Many parents may have noticed their children seemed on edge during their first week of school. They may have been agitated, withdrawn or more focused on themselves, rather than what was going on around them. Such behaviors are classic symptoms of high anxiety.

How bedbugs shrug off pesticides and simple measures to deal with it Posted: 09 Sep 2013 09:18 AM PDT The bedbug's most closely guarded secrets — stashed away in protective armor that enables these blood-sucking little nasties to shrug off insecticides and thrive in homes and hotels. The talk includes implications for millions of people trying to cope with bed bug infestations that have been resurging for more than a decade.

Moving genes have scientists seeing spots Posted: 09 Sep 2013 07:53 AM PDT Gene motion is revealed to play a role in gene regulation and could be important in all areas of biology.

Singapore scientists discover new RNA processing pathway important in human embryonic stem cells Posted: 09 Sep 2013 07:52 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a protein mediator SON plays a critical role in the health and proper functioning of human embryonic stem cells.

A tiny channel and a large vessel: a new clue for heart attack Posted: 09 Sep 2013 07:52 AM PDT Scientists have identified a gene variant that predisposes people to a special type of heart attack. This research could lead to the development of new drugs to treat the problem.

BPA exposure and obesity in children: just a correlation? Posted: 09 Sep 2013 07:50 AM PDT Higher levels of bisphenol A were associated with several measures of obesity in children, research has recently found. Specifically, children exposed to higher levels of bisphenol A had increased odds of having a body mass index in the 95th percentile (i.e., greater than 95% of all children) and a waist circumference to height ratio (WC) greater than a value of 0.5.

Early detection of Parkinson’s disease through handwriting Posted: 09 Sep 2013 07:50 AM PDT The primary tool for diagnosing Parkinson's is the diagnostic ability of the physician. A new study compares the writing process of 40 sick and healthy subjects and suggests an innovative and noninvasive method of diagnosing Parkinson's at a fairly early stage.

Recycled sewage water is safe for crop irrigation, study suggests Posted: 09 Sep 2013 07:47 AM PDT The first study under realistic field conditions has found reassuringly low levels of chemicals from pharmaceuticals and personal care products in crops irrigated with recycled sewage water, scientists have reported.

Autoimmune disease strategy emerges from immune cell discovery Posted: 09 Sep 2013 07:47 AM PDT Scientists have identified a new way to manipulate the immune system that may keep it from attacking the body's own molecules in autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

Diet experience can alter taste preferences Posted: 09 Sep 2013 06:31 AM PDT If you've ever wondered how you learn to like a food you dislike, a new study may offer an answer. The work addresses a central question in neurobiology -- how experience can alter animal behavior.

Young adults reminisce about music from before their time Posted: 09 Sep 2013 06:31 AM PDT Music has an uncanny way of bringing us back to a specific point in time, and each generation seems to have its own opinions about which tunes will live on as classics. Young adults today are fond of and have an emotional connection to the music that was popular for their parents' generation, according to new research.

Should happiness be a key measure and target of development? Posted: 09 Sep 2013 06:31 AM PDT The second World Happiness Report further strengthens the case that well-being is a critical component of economic and social development. The report describes how measurements of well-being can be used effectively to assess the progress of nations.

First animal model of adult-onset SMA sheds light on disease progression & treatment Posted: 09 Sep 2013 06:31 AM PDT A research team has used a recently developed technology they call TSUNAMI to create the first animal model of the adult-onset version of spinal muscular atrophy, a devastating motor-neuron illness.

More breast cancer screening needed in younger women Posted: 09 Sep 2013 06:31 AM PDT A new analysis confirms the need for greater use of annual mammography in women ages 40-49. It also confirms that, even with new therapeutics and protocols for treating breast cancer, regular mammography screening is still the best way to significantly reduce breast cancer deaths.

Wireless network detects falls by the elderly Posted: 09 Sep 2013 06:31 AM PDT Electrical engineers have developed a network of wireless sensors that can detect a person falling. This monitoring technology could be linked to a service that would call emergency help for the elderly without requiring them to wear monitoring devices.

Children referred for chest pain rarely have cardiac disease Posted: 09 Sep 2013 06:31 AM PDT Employing a unique quality improvement methodology, physicians have demonstrated that chest pain in children, rarely caused by heart disease, can be effectively evaluated in the ambulatory setting using minimal resources, even across a diverse patient population.

Argan powder found in some cosmetics linked with occupational asthma Posted: 09 Sep 2013 06:29 AM PDT Argan powder, which is used by the cosmetic industry in the production of foundation products, could be linked with occupational asthma.

Fumes from military small arms lead to decline in lung function Posted: 09 Sep 2013 06:29 AM PDT Exposure to fumes released during the firing of military small arms can lead to a decline in lung function, according to a new study.

Trying to be happier really can work Posted: 09 Sep 2013 06:28 AM PDT Is becoming happier as easy as trying to become happier? The latest research suggests it might be.

Capturing brain activity with sculpted light Posted: 09 Sep 2013 06:25 AM PDT A major aim of today's neuroscience is to understand how an organism's nervous system processes sensory input and generates behavior. To achieve this goal, scientists must obtain detailed maps of how the nerve cells are wired up in the brain, as well as information on how these networks interact in real time.

New muscular dystrophy treatment shows promise in early study Posted: 09 Sep 2013 06:25 AM PDT A preclinical study has found that a new oral drug shows early promise for the treatment of muscular dystrophy. The results show that VBP15 decreases inflammation in mice with symptoms similar to those found in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Is bigger really better when it comes to size of labor wards? Posted: 09 Sep 2013 06:25 AM PDT New research reveals that large labor wards — those handling 3,000 to 3,999 deliveries annually — have better overall approval rates compared to small, intermediate or very large obstetric units. The study suggests that greater access to in-house obstetricians and auxiliary specialists contributes to the lower obstetric injury claims from patients at large labor wards in Denmark

Severity of sleep apnoea predicts aggressiveness of melanoma Posted: 09 Sep 2013 06:24 AM PDT The severity of sleep apnoea can independently predict the aggressiveness of malignant skin melanoma, according to a new study.

Severe asthma patients less responsive to treatment Posted: 09 Sep 2013 06:24 AM PDT People with severe asthma, who are often described as 'steroid-dependent', are actually less likely to respond to the treatment they depend on, when compared to people with mild asthma.

Breath tests could be used to diagnose lung cancer Posted: 09 Sep 2013 06:24 AM PDT Collecting samples of exhaled breath from people at a high risk of lung cancer could be a cheap and non-invasive method of diagnosing the disease, according to new research.

New 'artificial nose' device can speed diagnosis of sepsis Posted: 09 Sep 2013 06:23 AM PDT Disease-causing bacteria stink — literally — and the odor released by some of the nastiest microbes has become the basis for a faster and simpler new way to diagnose serious blood infections and finger the specific microbe, scientists have reported.

E-cigarettes and nicotine patches have comparable success in helping smokers to quit Posted: 08 Sep 2013 10:56 AM PDT The first trial to compare e-cigarettes with nicotine patches shows comparable success in helping smokers to quit.

Road traffic pollution increases risk of death for bronchiectasis patients Posted: 08 Sep 2013 10:56 AM PDT Living close to a busy road is associated with a higher risk of death in people with bronchiectasis.

Virtual monitoring could aid adherence to TB medication Posted: 08 Sep 2013 10:56 AM PDT Virtual observation of patients taking their prescribed TB medication, could prove an effective technique for ensuring patients effectively complete their course of treatment.

Rapid diagnostic tests decrease waiting time for TB patients Posted: 08 Sep 2013 10:56 AM PDT Results of a new study suggest that three new diagnostic tests could each be used to successfully diagnose drug resistance in tuberculosis (TB) patients in a quarter of the time taken by the current method.

Disparities in lung function found worldwide may impact health Posted: 08 Sep 2013 10:55 AM PDT A recent study has ranked countries for their citizen lung function. Highest was found in individuals from North America and Europe. This was followed by South America, Middle East, China, sub-Saharan Africa, Malaysia and South Asia. South Asians had the lowest lung function, by 30% compared to North Americans and Europeans.

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