ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Examining the source behind Sherpa mountain fitness
• E-readers can make reading easier for those with dyslexia
• Researchers demonstrate a new strategy to stop the TB bacterium
• African dust storms in our air: Dust storms in Africa affect U.S. and the Caribbean's air quality
• Different stories play different roles in patients' health decision-making
• How old memories fade away
• National registry report shows increase in radial stenting, other CV trends
• Colonoscopy screening every ten years could prevent 40% of colorectal cancers
• What's that smell? Ten basic odor categories sniffed out with math
• Hospital readmission rates linked with quality of surgical care
• Coma: researchers observe never-before-detected brain activity
• Tiny bottles and melting corks: Temperature regulates a new delivery system for drugs and fragrances
• Study helps deconstruct estrogen's role in memory
• New way to identify good fat
• New treatment for 'arthritis of the spine' prevents paralysis
• Genomic test accurately sorts viral vs bacterial infections
• Smartphone app found to be valid tool in screening for cognitive dysfunction
• Novel gene discovery could lead to new HIV treatments
• Origins of genomic 'dark matter' discovered
• Stem cell reprogramming made easier
• Shared mechanisms in fragile X syndrome, autism and schizophrenia at neuronal synapses
• School is in session - so are germs
• Motor control development continues longer than previously believed
• Lifestyle, age linked to diabetes-related protein
• Inhaled corticosteroids raise pneumonia risk
• Fluorescent compounds allow clinicians to visualize Alzheimer's disease as it progresses
• Higher lead levels may lie just below soil surface
• Mild HIV-related cognitive impairments may be overlooked due to inadequate screening tools
• New HIV-1 replication pathway discovered
• Patient isolation tied to dissatisfaction with care
• Are nanodiamond-encrusted teeth the future of dental implants?
• Modeling and managing schizophrenia
• 'Live vaccine' for gonorrhea prevents reinfection
• Signal gradients in 3-D guide stem cell behavior
• Chronic inflammation of blood vessels connected to childhood mortality in malaria regions
• Breast conserving treatment with radiotherapy reduces risk of local recurrence
• Shining light on neurodegenerative pathway
• Doctors 'vacuum' 2-foot blood clot out of patient's heart
• Hormone therapy formulations may pose varying risks for heart attack and stroke
• Novel vaccine approach to human cytomegalovirus found effective
• Moderate exercising encourages a healthier lifestyle
• Subset of children considered to have autism may be misdiagnosed
• Plastics from renewable raw materials: Body automatically breaks down implants
• 2008 economic crisis could be to blame for thousands of excess suicides worldwide
• Insight into protective mechanisms for hearing loss
• Uncovering cancer's inner workings by capturing live images of growing tumors
• New muscular dystrophy treatment shows promise
• Impact of FDA decisions on extended-release and long-acting opioids for people with pain
• Adults with medicaid coverage have highest increase in emergency department visits
• Chronic care management does not result in increased abstinence from alcohol
• Mobility is key to healthy aging
• Binge eating more likely to lead to health risks in men
• Fully dissolvable, temporary stent for opening heart artery blockages now being tested
• Driving cessation hinders aging adults' volunteer and work lives, social lives okay in short term

Examining the source behind Sherpa mountain fitness Posted: 18 Sep 2013 05:51 PM PDT The Sherpa population in Tibet is world-renowned for their extraordinary high-altitude fitness, as most famously demonstrated by Tenzing Norgay's ability to conquer Mount Everest alongside Sir Edmund Hillary. The genetic adaptation behind this fitness has been a topic of hot debate in human evolution, with recent full genome sequencing efforts completed to look for candidate genes necessary for low oxygen adaptation. However, few have looked at the Sherpa population by sequencing their mitochondrial genomes -- the powerhouse of every cell that helps determine the degree of respiratory fitness by providing 90 percent of the human body's energy demand, as well as controlling the metabolic rate and use of oxygen.

E-readers can make reading easier for those with dyslexia Posted: 18 Sep 2013 03:11 PM PDT As e-readers grow in popularity as convenient alternatives to traditional books, researchers have found that convenience may not be their only benefit. The team discovered that when e-readers are set up to display only a few words per line, some people with dyslexia can read more easily, quickly and with greater comprehension.

Researchers demonstrate a new strategy to stop the TB bacterium Posted: 18 Sep 2013 03:11 PM PDT Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, may have an Achilles' heel: it needs a particular enzyme to survive. Inhibiting that enzyme's function, researchers have shown, will kill the bacteria, pointing toward a design strategy for new TB drugs.

African dust storms in our air: Dust storms in Africa affect U.S. and the Caribbean's air quality Posted: 18 Sep 2013 03:09 PM PDT Dust clouds from the African Sahara can travel thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean, every year and in large quantities. Scientists found that the average air concentrations of inhalable particles more than doubled during a major Saharan dust intrusion in Houston, Texas.

Different stories play different roles in patients' health decision-making Posted: 18 Sep 2013 03:09 PM PDT Health communicators have debated whether stories should be included in patient decision-aids (which are informational materials designed to help patients make educated choices about their health) because they worry stories are too biased. Now, a researcher has found that stories used in decision-aids don't necessarily bias patients' decision-making; rather, certain types of stories can help patients confidently make informed decisions that fit their individual health needs.

How old memories fade away Posted: 18 Sep 2013 03:09 PM PDT The discovery of a gene essential for memory extinction could lead to new PTSD treatments.

National registry report shows increase in radial stenting, other CV trends Posted: 18 Sep 2013 03:09 PM PDT Cardiologists are increasingly accessing coronary arteries by way of the wrist rather than the groin to insert life-saving stents into patients with blocked arteries.

Colonoscopy screening every ten years could prevent 40% of colorectal cancers Posted: 18 Sep 2013 03:04 PM PDT According to a large, long-term study, 40% of all colorectal cancers might be prevented if people underwent regular colonoscopy screening. The new research also supports existing guidelines that recommend that people with an average risk of colorectal cancer should have a colonoscopy every 10 years.

What's that smell? Ten basic odor categories sniffed out with math Posted: 18 Sep 2013 03:04 PM PDT Taste can be classified into five flavors that we sense, but how many odors can we smell? There are likely about 10 basic categories of odor.

Hospital readmission rates linked with quality of surgical care Posted: 18 Sep 2013 03:04 PM PDT Researchers have found strong evidence of a relationship between surgical readmission rates and quality of surgical care.

Coma: researchers observe never-before-detected brain activity Posted: 18 Sep 2013 03:02 PM PDT Researchers have found brain activity beyond a flat line EEG, which they have called Nu-complexes (from the Greek letter n). According to existing scientific data, researchers and doctors had established that beyond the so-called "flat line" (flat electroencephalogram or EEG), there is nothing at all, no brain activity, no possibility of life. This major discovery suggests that there is a whole new frontier in animal and human brain functioning.

Tiny bottles and melting corks: Temperature regulates a new delivery system for drugs and fragrances Posted: 18 Sep 2013 02:55 PM PDT Microscopic, bottle-like structures with corks that melt at precisely-controlled temperatures could potentially release drugs inside the body or fragrances onto the skin, according to a recently published study.

Study helps deconstruct estrogen's role in memory Posted: 18 Sep 2013 11:33 AM PDT Deciphering the exact mechanism of estrogen activation in the brain could lead to new targets for drug development that would provide middle-aged women the cognitive benefits of hormone replacement therapy without increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease or breast cancer.

New way to identify good fat Posted: 18 Sep 2013 11:33 AM PDT When it comes to fat, you want the brown type and not so much of the white variety because brown fat burns energy to keep you warm and metabolically active, while white fat stores excess energy around your waist, causing health problems. Researchers are studying brown fat with a goal of fighting obesity.

New treatment for 'arthritis of the spine' prevents paralysis Posted: 18 Sep 2013 11:33 AM PDT In a world-first, decompression surgery has been shown to be an effective procedure to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) – a common progressive, degenerative disease of the spine that can lead to paralysis – according to the results of a multi-centre clinical trial.

Genomic test accurately sorts viral vs bacterial infections Posted: 18 Sep 2013 11:33 AM PDT A blood test developed has showed more than 90-percent accuracy in distinguishing between viral and bacterial infections when tested in people with respiratory illnesses.

Smartphone app found to be valid tool in screening for cognitive dysfunction Posted: 18 Sep 2013 10:24 AM PDT A smartphone app can quickly screen for cognitive dysfunction often found in patients with cirrhosis, known as minimal hepatic encephalopathy, has been difficult to diagnose.

Novel gene discovery could lead to new HIV treatments Posted: 18 Sep 2013 10:24 AM PDT Medical researchers have for the first time identified a new gene which may have the ability to prevent HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, from spreading after it enters the body.

Origins of genomic 'dark matter' discovered Posted: 18 Sep 2013 10:24 AM PDT A major milestone has been achieved in understanding genomic "dark matter" -- called non-coding RNA. This "dark matter" is difficult to detect and no one knows exactly what it is doing or why it is there in our genome, but scientists suspect it may be the source of inherited diseases. This research achievement may help to pinpoint exactly where complex-disease traits reside in the human genome.

Stem cell reprogramming made easier Posted: 18 Sep 2013 10:24 AM PDT Embryonic stem cells have the enormous potential to treat and cure many medical problems. That is why the discovery that induced embryonic-like stem cells can be created from skin cells (iPS cells) was rewarded with a Nobel Prize in 2012. But the process has remained frustratingly slow and inefficient, and the resulting stem cells are not yet ready for medical use. New research dramatically changes that: Scientists have revealed the "brake" that holds back the production of stem cells, and found that releasing this brake can both synchronize the process and increase its efficiency from around 1% or less today to 100%. These findings may help facilitate the production of stem cells for medical use, as well as advancing our understanding of the mysterious process by which adult cells can revert back into their original, embryonic state.

Shared mechanisms in fragile X syndrome, autism and schizophrenia at neuronal synapses Posted: 18 Sep 2013 10:24 AM PDT Several psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, autism and intellectual disabilities share the same brain cell abnormalities: the contacts (synapses) between brain cells are poorly developed and not functional. Researchers have unraveled how a single protein orchestrates two biological processes to form proper contacts between brain cells. Importantly, the researchers identified various proteins that are important for the balance of the two processes and associated with several neurological disorders.

School is in session - so are germs Posted: 18 Sep 2013 10:23 AM PDT Most parents are all too familiar with the equation school + kids = sick days. With more than 200 cold viruses it's no wonder parents feel like they are fighting a losing battle when it comes to keeping their kids healthy.

Motor control development continues longer than previously believed Posted: 18 Sep 2013 10:08 AM PDT Research into fine motor control in children shows that developmental improvements continue much later than previously believed, and aren't isolated to the brain.

Lifestyle, age linked to diabetes-related protein Posted: 18 Sep 2013 10:06 AM PDT A large, newly published study that includes more than 13,500 postmenopausal women has yielded the most definitive associations yet between certain lifestyle and demographic factors and levels of a promising early biomarker of type 2 diabetes risk.

Inhaled corticosteroids raise pneumonia risk Posted: 18 Sep 2013 10:06 AM PDT Use of inhaled corticosteroids leads to twofold risk of repeat pneumonia among older populations, according to results of a new study.

Fluorescent compounds allow clinicians to visualize Alzheimer's disease as it progresses Posted: 18 Sep 2013 10:06 AM PDT What if doctors could visualize all of the processes that take place in the brain during the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease? Such a window would provide a powerful aid for diagnosing the condition. Now, researchers have developed a new class of imaging agents that enables them to visualize tau protein aggregates, a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders, directly in the brains of living patients.

Higher lead levels may lie just below soil surface Posted: 18 Sep 2013 08:17 AM PDT A study of data from hundreds of soil samples taken around six old water tower sites in southern Rhode Island finds that even when lead levels on the surface are low, concentrations can sometimes be greater at depths down to a foot. The findings inform efforts in Rhode Island to assess the effect of lead paint from old water towers on surrounding properties.

Mild HIV-related cognitive impairments may be overlooked due to inadequate screening tools Posted: 18 Sep 2013 08:17 AM PDT One of the common side effects of HIV and AIDS is neurocognitive impairments -- changes in how fast a person can process information, pay attention, multi-task and remember things -- yet there are no adequate tests to screen patients for these problems.

New HIV-1 replication pathway discovered Posted: 18 Sep 2013 08:17 AM PDT A team of researchers has discovered a new way that HIV-1 reproduces itself, which could advance the search for new ways to combat infection.

Patient isolation tied to dissatisfaction with care Posted: 18 Sep 2013 08:17 AM PDT Patient satisfaction has an increasing impact on hospitals' bottom lines, factoring into Medicare reimbursement of hospital care. A new study finds patients placed in Contact Precautions (Contact Isolation) were twice as likely to report perceived problems with care compared to patients without Contact Precautions, placing the common infection control practice at odds with hospital interests.

Are nanodiamond-encrusted teeth the future of dental implants? Posted: 18 Sep 2013 07:20 AM PDT Osteonecrosis, or bone cell death, can result in debilitating damage to prosthetic joint and tooth implants, among others. Failures with these implants often require painful follow-on surgeries and increased medical costs. Nanodiamonds have been developed for the sustained and simultaneous delivery of two proteins that promote bone growth. While conventional approaches require the surgical implantation of a sponge to deliver these proteins, administering the nanodiamonds via injection or as a rinse is non-invasive.

Modeling and managing schizophrenia Posted: 18 Sep 2013 07:19 AM PDT Studies have shown that obstetrical complications during a child's birth play significant roles in the development of schizophrenia in that person's lifetime, especially in males. As such, schizophrenia needs careful management practice from birth onward. One study now demonstrates that schizophrenia needs to be treated as a collaborative process and as a result, the 'awareness' and 'knowledge-sharing' capability of various roles involved in the management process need to be addressed explicitly.

'Live vaccine' for gonorrhea prevents reinfection Posted: 18 Sep 2013 07:19 AM PDT A new gonorrhea treatment, based on an anti-cancer therapy, has successfully eliminated gonococcal infection from female mice and prevented reinfection, according to research published today.

Signal gradients in 3-D guide stem cell behavior Posted: 18 Sep 2013 07:19 AM PDT Researchers have developed an easy and versatile way of forming physical and biochemical gradients in three dimensions -- a step toward identifying the recipes that induce stem cells to generate specific tissues, including multiple tissues, such as a bone-cartilage interface. Ultimately, one of their goals is to engineer systems to manipulate stem cells to repair or replace damaged tissues and organs.

Chronic inflammation of blood vessels connected to childhood mortality in malaria regions Posted: 18 Sep 2013 07:19 AM PDT Recurrent episodes of malaria cause chronic inflammation in blood vessels that might predispose to future infections and may increase susceptibility to cardiovascular disease, a study in Malawian children finds.

Breast conserving treatment with radiotherapy reduces risk of local recurrence Posted: 18 Sep 2013 07:19 AM PDT Results of a study shows that breast conserving treatment combined with radiotherapy reduces the risk of local recurrence in women with ductal carcinoma in situ.

Shining light on neurodegenerative pathway Posted: 18 Sep 2013 07:14 AM PDT Researchers have identified a likely molecular pathway that causes a group of untreatable neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease and Lou Gehrig's disease.

Doctors 'vacuum' 2-foot blood clot out of patient's heart Posted: 18 Sep 2013 07:14 AM PDT Doctors sucked a 24-inch blood clot from a man's heart using a new device that spared him from open-heart surgery. It was the first time the procedure had been successfully performed in California.

Hormone therapy formulations may pose varying risks for heart attack and stroke Posted: 18 Sep 2013 07:14 AM PDT Post-menopausal women whose doctors prescribe hormone replacement therapy for severe hot flashes and other menopause symptoms may want to consider taking low doses of bioidentical forms of estrogen or getting their hormones via a transdermal patch. A new observational study shows bioidentical hormones in transdermal patches may be associated with a lower risk of heart attack may be associated with a slightly lower risk of stroke compared to synthetic hormones in pill form.

Novel vaccine approach to human cytomegalovirus found effective Posted: 18 Sep 2013 06:08 AM PDT An experimental vaccine against human cytomegalovirus infection, which endangers the developing fetus, organ transplant recipients, patients with HIV and others who have a weakened immune system, proved safe and more effective than previous vaccines developed to prevent infection by the ubiquitous virus.

Moderate exercising encourages a healthier lifestyle Posted: 18 Sep 2013 06:08 AM PDT An interdisciplinary research study explains why moderate exercising is more motivating than hard training.

Subset of children considered to have autism may be misdiagnosed Posted: 18 Sep 2013 06:08 AM PDT Children with a genetic disorder called 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, who frequently are believed to also have autism, often may be misidentified because the social impairments associated with their developmental delay may mimic the features of autism, a study suggests.

Plastics from renewable raw materials: Body automatically breaks down implants Posted: 18 Sep 2013 06:08 AM PDT Researchers have managed to develop absorbable implants to promote bone healing which are broken down by the body.  In this way, painful multiple operations – especially in children – can be avoided in the future.

2008 economic crisis could be to blame for thousands of excess suicides worldwide Posted: 17 Sep 2013 04:49 PM PDT Researchers are suggesting that the 2008 global economic crisis could be to blame for the increase in suicide rates in European and American countries, particularly among males and in countries with higher levels of job losses.

Insight into protective mechanisms for hearing loss Posted: 17 Sep 2013 03:12 PM PDT Researchers from the Eaton-Peabody Laboratories of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School have created a new mouse model in which by expressing a gene in the inner ear hair cells -- the sensory cells that detect sound and sense balance -- protects the mice from age-related hearing loss and noise-induced hearing loss, the two most common forms of deafness.

Uncovering cancer's inner workings by capturing live images of growing tumors Posted: 17 Sep 2013 01:17 PM PDT Scientists seeking new ways to fight cancer often try to understand the subtle, often invisible, changes to DNA, proteins, cells, and tissue that alter the body's normal biology and cause disease. Now, to aid in that fight, a team of researchers has developed a sophisticated new optical imaging tool that enables scientists to look deep within tumors and uncover their inner workings.

New muscular dystrophy treatment shows promise Posted: 17 Sep 2013 01:17 PM PDT A preclinical study has found that a new oral drug shows early promise for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The results show that the drug, VBP15, decreases inflammation and protects and strengthens muscle without the harsh side effects linked to current treatments with glucocorticoids such as prednisone.

Impact of FDA decisions on extended-release and long-acting opioids for people with pain Posted: 17 Sep 2013 01:17 PM PDT Physiciain leaders in pain care hail long-awaited labeling changes by FDA as a way to enhance patient safety in answer to a 2012 Citizen's Petition.

Adults with medicaid coverage have highest increase in emergency department visits Posted: 17 Sep 2013 01:16 PM PDT Emergency department use has been affected by insurance patterns over time and will likely be further affected by expansions of coverage from health care reform. Uninsured patients are often thought of as high and frequently inappropriate ED users, but insured patients, particularly those with Medicaid coverage, may have difficulties accessing primary care and may rely on EDs more frequently than uninsured patients.

Chronic care management does not result in increased abstinence from alcohol Posted: 17 Sep 2013 01:16 PM PDT Persons with alcohol and other drug dependence who received chronic care management including relapse prevention counseling and medical, addiction and psychiatric treatment were no more abstinent than those who received usual primary care, according to a new study.

Mobility is key to healthy aging Posted: 17 Sep 2013 01:16 PM PDT A clinical review from geriatricians suggests that mobility limitations are a litmus test for healthy aging and urges primary care physicians to take a more aggressive role in ascertaining the mobility of their older patients.

Binge eating more likely to lead to health risks in men Posted: 17 Sep 2013 12:37 PM PDT Binge eating is a problem affecting both men and women, however obese men who binge are more likely than their female counterparts to have elevated cholesterol and high blood pressure, finds a new study.

Fully dissolvable, temporary stent for opening heart artery blockages now being tested Posted: 17 Sep 2013 12:37 PM PDT The Mount Sinai Medical Center is participating in the nationwide ABSORB III clinical trial testing the performance and potential clinical benefits of a fully dissolvable and temporary drug eluting stent to open heart artery blockages. The randomized trial aims to compare the efficiency and safety of Absorb™ Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds (Absorb BVS) in coronary artery disease patients and compare it to the current standard of care — drug eluting metal stents.

Driving cessation hinders aging adults' volunteer and work lives, social lives okay in short term Posted: 17 Sep 2013 11:12 AM PDT Researchers have determined that seniors' loss of driving independence negatively affects their ability to work and their volunteerism; however, the adults' social lives are not immediately affected when they stopped driving.

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