ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Abuse, lack of parental warmth in childhood linked to multiple health risks in adulthood
• Biologists confirm role of sperm competition in formation of new species
• Hospital-grade lightweight blood flow imager on the cheap
• How viral infection disrupts neural development in offspring, increasing risk of autism
• Hidden genetic code for better designer genes
• How to make ceramics that bend without breaking: Self-deploying medical devices?
• Scientists identify brain circuitry that triggers overeating
• Bats and rabies virus: More data on colonies at high risk
• Differences in post-operative complications across race, ethnicity, and sex
• Growing use of clinical registry data for post-market device surveillance
• Bone hormone influences brain development and cognition
• Genetic map developed linking complex diseases
• Concerns with intraprosthetic dislocation of dual-mobility hip implants
• Study links heavy texting, sleep problems in college freshmen
• Getting better together: Study looks at shared medical decision making
• Texas colleges surveyed on sexual assault resources
• Lithium in the brain
• Analgesic molecule discovered in its natural state in Africa
• Quitting smoking easier for social media users
• Aphasia and bilingualism: Using one language to relearn another
• Debt linked to mental health problems
• Seeking new methods to treat heroin addiction
• Malignant brain tumours can be transformed into benign forms
• Start travelling and change your life perceptions
• Booster seats not safer than booster cushions for older children, study suggests
• Without a trace: Cells keep to one direction by erasing the path
• Experts confirm that fruit and vegetable consumption reduces risk of mortality
• New dwarfism mutation identified in dogs
• False alarm on hepatitis virus highlights challenges of pathogen sleuthing
• Women in Appalachia have higher rates of late stage breast cancer
• Study unlocks origin of brown fat cells, important in weight maintenance
• Investigating mercury pollution in Indonesia
• Drivers who test positive for drugs have triple the risk of fatal car crash
• Pharmacy research can help raise health literacy standards
• Restricting antibiotics could be key to fighting 'superbug'
• Study shows over 200 mobile apps related to dermatology
• Novel drug prevents common viral disease in stem-cell transplant patients
• Heart health danger: Global survey finds 1 in 4 people report not knowing how much they walk each day
• New mechanism for protein misfolding may link to ALS
• Study shines new light on consequences of preterm births
• Why won't she leave him? Abused women often fear for pets left behind
• Eating fish, nuts may not help thinking skills after all
• Michigan’s medicaid expansion: A model for pragmatic, bipartisan health reform?
• Cancer cells propagated from early prostate cancer
• Model developed for studying tissue pattern formation during embryonic development
• New study identifies preferred method to assess patient reactions to radiation therapy

Abuse, lack of parental warmth in childhood linked to multiple health risks in adulthood Posted: 26 Sep 2013 05:50 PM PDT A new study for the first time examines the effects of abuse and lack of parental affection across the body's entire regulatory system, and finds a strong biological link for how negative early life experiences affect physical health.

Biologists confirm role of sperm competition in formation of new species Posted: 26 Sep 2013 05:50 PM PDT Female promiscuity -- something that occurs in a majority of species, including humans -- results in the ejaculates from two or more males overlapping within her reproductive tract. When this happens, sperm compete for fertilization of the female's eggs. In addition, the female has the opportunity to bias fertilization of her eggs in favor of one male's sperm over others.

Hospital-grade lightweight blood flow imager on the cheap Posted: 26 Sep 2013 05:49 PM PDT Tracking blood flow in the laboratory is an important tool for studying ailments like migraines or strokes and designing new ways to address them. Now, using $90 worth of off-the-shelf commercial parts including a webcam and a laser pointer, researchers have duplicated the performance of expensive, scientific-grade LSCI instruments at a fraction of the cost.

How viral infection disrupts neural development in offspring, increasing risk of autism Posted: 26 Sep 2013 05:47 PM PDT Activating a mother's immune system during her pregnancy disrupts the development of neural cells in the brain of her offspring and damages the cells' ability to transmit signals and communicate with one another, an animal study suggests. They said the finding suggests how maternal viral infection might increase the risk of having a child with autism spectrum disorder or schizophrenia.

Hidden genetic code for better designer genes Posted: 26 Sep 2013 11:32 AM PDT The relative abundance of rare "words," or codons, in bacterial genes helps control how much of the corresponding protein the bacteria produce. The results could help scientists engineer bacteria more precisely than ever before, and greatly increase the efficiency of microbial manufacturing.

How to make ceramics that bend without breaking: Self-deploying medical devices? Posted: 26 Sep 2013 11:31 AM PDT New materials could lead to actuators on a chip and self-deploying medical devices. Ceramics are not known for their flexibility: they tend to crack under stress. But researchers have just found a way around that problem -- for very tiny objects, at least. The team has developed a way of making minuscule ceramic objects that are not only flexible, but also have a "memory" for shape: When bent and then heated, they return to their original shapes.

Scientists identify brain circuitry that triggers overeating Posted: 26 Sep 2013 11:28 AM PDT Researchers have pinpointed the precise cellular connections responsible for triggering binge eating. The finding lends insight into a cause for obesity and could lead to treatments for anorexia, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder -- the most prevalent eating disorder in the U.S.

Bats and rabies virus: More data on colonies at high risk Posted: 26 Sep 2013 09:32 AM PDT A new approach to rabies virus epidemiology in bats shows that the risk of infection is higher in large and multispecies colonies.

Differences in post-operative complications across race, ethnicity, and sex Posted: 26 Sep 2013 09:32 AM PDT Older black and Hispanic patients have a greater risk than white patients of developing complications following surgery, a difference that can be explained by a patients' gender and pre-existing medical conditions. These findings indicate that efforts to carefully evaluate risk factors prior to surgery need more attention, particularly for older minority patients.

Growing use of clinical registry data for post-market device surveillance Posted: 26 Sep 2013 09:24 AM PDT Signifying an increasing confidence in clinical outcomes registries, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved expanded labeling for the Edwards SAPIEN Transcatheter Heart Valve, making the device available to a larger group of patients with aortic stenosis.

Bone hormone influences brain development and cognition Posted: 26 Sep 2013 09:23 AM PDT Researchers have found that the skeleton, acting through the bone-derived hormone osteocalcin, exerts a powerful influence on prenatal brain development and cognitive functions such as learning, memory, anxiety, and depression in adult mice. Findings from the mouse study could lead to new approaches to the prevention and treatment of neurologic disorders.

Genetic map developed linking complex diseases Posted: 26 Sep 2013 09:23 AM PDT Scientists have created one of the most expansive analyses to date of the genetic factors at play in complex diseases such as autism and heart disease by using diseases with known genetic causes to guide them. Identifying trends of co-occurrence among hundreds of diseases in 120 million patients, they created a unique genetic map that has the potential to help diagnose, identify risk factors for and someday develop therapies against complex diseases.

Concerns with intraprosthetic dislocation of dual-mobility hip implants Posted: 26 Sep 2013 08:19 AM PDT A "Watch" regarding early intraprosthetic dislocation with dual-mobility hip implants has been issued. A "Watch" is issued when two or more peer-reviewed cases indicate a watchable intervention.

Study links heavy texting, sleep problems in college freshmen Posted: 26 Sep 2013 08:19 AM PDT A new study has found that texting was direct predictor of sleep problems in first-year college students.

Getting better together: Study looks at shared medical decision making Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:30 AM PDT A recent study looked at a group of patients with advanced hip and knee osteoarthritis and found that they reached an informed treatment decision after their first visit with an orthopaedic surgeon.

Texas colleges surveyed on sexual assault resources Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:30 AM PDT While research consistently estimates that one in every four women in higher education will experience rape or attempted rape during their college careers, limited proactive approaches to address the issue are found on Texas college campuses, according to one study.

Lithium in the brain Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:30 AM PDT Experiments with neutrons show that the antidepressant lithium accumulates more strongly in white matter of the brain than in grey matter. This leads to the conclusion that it works differently from synthetic psychotropic drugs. Brain tissue samples were examined in one study with the aim of developing a better understanding of the effects this substance has on the human psyche.

Analgesic molecule discovered in its natural state in Africa Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:28 AM PDT A team of researchers has discovered that an African medicinal plant produces large quantities of molecules with analgesic properties.

Quitting smoking easier for social media users Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:28 AM PDT Smoking is a major public health problem, killing approximately 443,000 people every year in the United States. Quitting smoking can have a profound effect on a person's health, but it is also one of the hardest addictions to kick. A recent paper reports that people who engage in health specific social networking sites found it easier to quit smoking.

Aphasia and bilingualism: Using one language to relearn another Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:26 AM PDT In the era of globalization, bilingualism is becoming more and more frequent, and it is considered a plus. However, can this skill turn into a disadvantage, when someone acquires aphasia from brain trauma? Research shows that the skill of speaking two languages can be disrupted, thus increasing the challenge of language rehabilitation.

Debt linked to mental health problems Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:26 AM PDT New research has shown that people in debt are three times more likely to have a mental health problem than those not in debt.

Seeking new methods to treat heroin addiction Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:26 AM PDT The heroin high and feelings of pain relief manifest themselves almost immediately after the drug has been injected. Yet it was shown many years ago that heroin is inactive at the opioid receptors in the brain. So what is it about heroin that brings about such a pronounced effect? One widely-held theory has been that heroin passes quickly into the brain where it is converted into morphine, and that what users are actually experiencing are the effects of morphine. As it turns out, however, heroin undergoes a number of important transformations on its way to the brain.

Malignant brain tumours can be transformed into benign forms Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:26 AM PDT Cells of malignant brain tumours deceive our immune system so effectively that it starts working for them. But who lives by the sword, dies by the sword. Researchers show how to deceive brain tumours and change malignant gliomas into benign forms.

Start travelling and change your life perceptions Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:24 AM PDT Do we have a long-term sense of being, direction in life and well-being because of travel and tourism? Tourism psychology research has previously been concerned with tourist motivation, behavior in and satisfaction with destination, but new research explores how tourism might affect people's perceptions.

Booster seats not safer than booster cushions for older children, study suggests Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:24 AM PDT Over the past few years, belt-positioning booster seats (with backrest) have basically out-competed booster cushions (without backrest) for children between the ages of 4 and 12. However, the larger booster seats are not always safer. In some cases, they may even be less safe.

Without a trace: Cells keep to one direction by erasing the path Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:24 AM PDT Migrating cells, it seems, cover their tracks not for fear of being followed, but to keep moving forward. Scientists have now shown that cells in a zebrafish embryo determine which direction they move in by effectively erasing the path behind them. The findings could have implications not just for development but also for cancer and metastasis.

Experts confirm that fruit and vegetable consumption reduces risk of mortality Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:24 AM PDT A European study analyzes the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and the risk of mortality. As previous research has already suggested, this study concludes that fruit and vegetable consumption reduces all-cause mortality, and especially cardiovascular disease mortality.

New dwarfism mutation identified in dogs Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:24 AM PDT Researchers have identified a mutation in ITGA10 gene, causing chondrodysplasia in two dog breeds, the Norwegian Elkhound and the Karelian Bear Dog. The research revealed a new chondrodysplasia gene in dogs, and a candidate gene for human chondrodysplasias. The finding has implications on bone biology as well as canine health. A genetic test can now be used to identify mutation carriers in the two affected dog breeds.

False alarm on hepatitis virus highlights challenges of pathogen sleuthing Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:23 AM PDT A report by scientists on a new hepatitis virus earlier this year was a false alarm, according to the researchers who correctly identified the virus as a contaminant present in a type of glassware used in many research labs.

Women in Appalachia have higher rates of late stage breast cancer Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:23 AM PDT Older women living in the most deprived areas of the U.S. Appalachia had higher rates of late stage breast cancer than women in more affluent areas.

Study unlocks origin of brown fat cells, important in weight maintenance Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:22 AM PDT In ongoing research aimed at battling obesity, researchers have deciphered how new fat cells are formed in energy-storing fat pads.

Investigating mercury pollution in Indonesia Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:20 AM PDT The main source of this pollution today is small-scale gold mining. Gold mining is easy to learn and simple to operate, so for people living on the poverty line, it offers hope for the future, but creates a pollution problem to the local environment.

Drivers who test positive for drugs have triple the risk of fatal car crash Posted: 25 Sep 2013 03:56 PM PDT In a new study researchers assessed the association of driver drug use, as well as the combination of drugs and alcohol, with the risk of fatal crash. They found that drug use is associated with a significantly increased risk of fatal crash involvement, particularly when used in combination with alcohol. The study provides critical data for understanding the joint effect of alcohol and drugs on driving safety.

Pharmacy research can help raise health literacy standards Posted: 25 Sep 2013 03:56 PM PDT Since a considerable amount of health information changes hands in the pharmacy setting, research by pharmacists into evaluating which tools are effective in practice can make a valuable contribution to goals set by the 2010 US National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy, and lead to improvements in communications and health care.

Restricting antibiotics could be key to fighting 'superbug' Posted: 25 Sep 2013 03:56 PM PDT New ways are needed to fight the infection Clostridium difficile and better use of antibiotics could be key, according to the authors of ground-breaking research.

Study shows over 200 mobile apps related to dermatology Posted: 25 Sep 2013 03:56 PM PDT A surge in mobile apps related to dermatology has allowed scores of smart phone users to track and diagnose a wide range of skin diseases, but doctors are urging caution.

Novel drug prevents common viral disease in stem-cell transplant patients Posted: 25 Sep 2013 03:54 PM PDT A common, sometimes severe viral disease in patients receiving a transplant of donated stem cells can be prevented by a new drug given shortly after transplant, according to findings from a clinical trial.

Heart health danger: Global survey finds 1 in 4 people report not knowing how much they walk each day Posted: 25 Sep 2013 03:54 PM PDT World Heart Federation survey finds more than a quarter of people who took part in a new multi-country survey said they did not know how much time they spent briskly walking at a speed faster than normal.

New mechanism for protein misfolding may link to ALS Posted: 25 Sep 2013 03:54 PM PDT A recently identified link between a toxic amino acid found in blue-green algae and several motor neuron diseases could help researchers devise a therapy for the fatal conditions.

Study shines new light on consequences of preterm births Posted: 25 Sep 2013 03:54 PM PDT Researchers confirm the strong link between preterm birth and the risk of infant and young adult death, autism and ADHD. But it also suggests that other threats that have been closely tied to the issue, such as severe mental illness, learning problems, suicide and economic woes, may instead be more closely related to other conditions that family members share.

Why won't she leave him? Abused women often fear for pets left behind Posted: 25 Sep 2013 03:53 PM PDT Veterinarians and women's shelters can make it easier for abused women to decide to leave their homes, particularly when the abuser is using a beloved pet as part of a campaign to control his partner.

Eating fish, nuts may not help thinking skills after all Posted: 25 Sep 2013 03:52 PM PDT Contrary to earlier studies, new research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may not benefit thinking skills. Omega-3s are found in fatty fish such as salmon and in nuts.

Michigan’s medicaid expansion: A model for pragmatic, bipartisan health reform? Posted: 25 Sep 2013 03:52 PM PDT Michigan's newly expanded Medicaid program could act as a model for other states to achieve bipartisan health care reform even in a heated national political climate.

Cancer cells propagated from early prostate cancer Posted: 25 Sep 2013 03:52 PM PDT A team of cancer researchers has identified the existence of precursor cells in early prostate cancers. These cells are resistant to androgen-deprivation therapy, and may drive the subsequent emergence of recurrent or metastatic prostate cancer.

Model developed for studying tissue pattern formation during embryonic development Posted: 25 Sep 2013 12:21 PM PDT A team of scientists is working to develop a model for studying tissue -- specifically how it organizes into organs and layers during embryonic development. Their findings may have major implications for the study of tissue pattern formation and malformation.

New study identifies preferred method to assess patient reactions to radiation therapy Posted: 25 Sep 2013 12:21 PM PDT A novel study has evaluated the reliability of different systems used by caregivers to assess toxicity for patients receiving radiation therapy.

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