ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Key proteins identified that influence major immune strategies
• Lower cancer screening rates, increased risk of preventable disease for South Asians in Ontario
• Resurgence in swaddling prompts fears of rise in babies' developmental hip abnormalities
• Moderate exercise not only treats, but prevents depression
• Older heart patients need personalized preventive care
• Nurturing may protect kids from brain changes linked to poverty
• Child brides at funerals
• Who counts as a man, who counts as a woman
• Discovery could lead to anti-clotting drugs with less risk of bleeding
• Train your body
• Emerging technologies look deeper into the eyes to catch signs of disease
• Yoga practice beneficial to patients with COPD
• X-rays overused in ICU: Ultrasound safer, just as effective
• New imaging research shows increased iron in the brain in early stages of MS
• Public wants labels for food nanotech -- and they're willing to pay for it
• No running for the well-heeled
• Poor motor performance linked to poor academic skills
• Problems with Alzheimer’s protein can jam up traffic in the brain
• First hospital in the world to offer patients new device for severely calcified arteries
• Smoking long or ultralong cigarettes increases risk of lung cancer
• Burden of futile care in ICU studied: Patients waiting for care affected negatively
• Electronic intensive care units effective in providing remote care
• Exhaled breath biomarker may detect lung cancer
• Beta-blockers may increase adverse cardiac events during noncardiac surgeries
• Regular cocaine, cannabis use may trigger addictive behaviors
• Cafe toxins have decreased by 90% since the smoking ban
• Treat gun violence as a public health problem, say physicians
• Electronic cigarettes should be treated like tobacco
• HPV strains affecting African-American women differ from vaccines
• Minimally invasive surgery for paraesophageal hernia is 'revolutionary'
• Keeping emotions in check may not always benefit psychological health
• Early skin-to-skin contact linked to higher breastfeeding rates
• Measuring segments of genetic material may help predict, monitor recurrence of thyroid cancer
• New technology optimizes ear infection diagnosis, management
• Can the 'right' helmet prevent concussions?
• Sports specialization, hours spent in organized sports may predict young athlete injury
• Can pediatricians successfully promote safe driving agreements between teens, parents?
• New protein fold with a transport tunnel discovered
• Pain processes in tennis elbow illuminated by PET scanning
• Study with totally blind people shows how light helps activate the brain
• Headaches in lupus patients not linked to disease activity
• New study examines link between pregnancy weight gain, autism spectrum disorders
• Flawed health care system causes doctors to 'bend' ethical norms to best serve patients
• Rare childhood disease may hold clues to treating Alzheimer's, Parkinson's
• Mechanisms, potential biomarkers of tumor cell dormancy
• Study finds new genetic error in some lung cancers
• Young children with asthma visit ER most often
• Prevalence of household gun ownership linked to child gun shot wounds
• Supermagnets present ongoing child health risks
• Biomarker linked to poor outcomes in pregnant lupus patients
• Timely, effective treatment of rheumatoid arthritis reduces disability two years out
• Study shows how social media engages people with chronic diseases
• Socially isolated patients experience more pain after hip replacement
• Young people report worse fibromyalgia than older patients
• Dangerous connection between rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease

Key proteins identified that influence major immune strategies Posted: 28 Oct 2013 03:49 PM PDT New research has identified key proteins that influence immune response strategies, a finding that could influence new vaccination approaches. The study looked closely at the KLF2 and S1P1 genes, and how their expression impacted the immune strategy of a cell.

Lower cancer screening rates, increased risk of preventable disease for South Asians in Ontario Posted: 28 Oct 2013 03:49 PM PDT South Asian-Canadians living in Peel Region, north of Toronto, may be 15 percent less likely than other Ontarians to be screened for breast, cervical or colorectal cancer, making them much more vulnerable to cancer deaths.

Resurgence in swaddling prompts fears of rise in babies' developmental hip abnormalities Posted: 28 Oct 2013 03:49 PM PDT A resurgence in the popularity of traditional swaddling has prompted fears of a rise in developmental hip problems in babies, which are now known to be linked to the technique, warns a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon.

Moderate exercise not only treats, but prevents depression Posted: 28 Oct 2013 01:30 PM PDT Physical activity is being increasingly recognized as an effective tool to treat depression. New research has taken the connection one step further, finding that moderate exercise can actually prevent episodes of depression in the long term. This is the first longitudinal review to focus exclusively on the role that exercise plays in maintaining good mental health and preventing the onset of depression later in life.

Older heart patients need personalized preventive care Posted: 28 Oct 2013 01:28 PM PDT Health-care providers should personalize preventive care for cardiovascular disease patients age 75 and older. The benefits of preventive strategies must be balanced with the risks and tradeoffs of various interventions for older patients, and patients should be involved in the decision-making process.

Nurturing may protect kids from brain changes linked to poverty Posted: 28 Oct 2013 01:20 PM PDT Researchers have identified changes in the brains of children growing up in poverty. Those changes can lead to lifelong problems like depression, learning difficulties and limitations in the ability to cope with stress. But the study showed that the extent of those changes was influenced strongly by whether parents were attentive and nurturing.

Child brides at funerals Posted: 28 Oct 2013 10:50 AM PDT Having children early and in rapid succession are major factors fueling high infant mortality rates in the South Asian countries of Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan where one in 14 births to young mothers ends with the death of the child within the first year.

Who counts as a man, who counts as a woman Posted: 28 Oct 2013 10:49 AM PDT Gender is no longer determined solely by biological factors, according to a new study that examined various case studies. Results indicate that biological factors, such as genitals and chromosomes, used to be the ultimate determiner of gender, but that is slowly changing.

Discovery could lead to anti-clotting drugs with less risk of bleeding Posted: 28 Oct 2013 10:49 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a molecular switch that causes small, beneficial clots that stop bleeding to enlarge further during wound healing. By blocking this switch in lab mice, the researchers prevented small clots from growing -- a process that can pose a danger in humans -- while preserving their ability to staunch bleeding. Their findings open up the possibility for developing potent anti-clotting drugs that don't raise the risk of bleeding.

Train your body Posted: 28 Oct 2013 10:47 AM PDT For avid runners, training for the next marathon never stops. While it's important to focus on running faster or farther, physicians encourage runners to expand their training regimen and are providing the following tips for training and protecting the entire body.

Emerging technologies look deeper into the eyes to catch signs of disease Posted: 28 Oct 2013 10:47 AM PDT Some of the most common vision disorders take their toll by damaging blood vessels near the retina. But it's difficult for eye care professionals and researchers to see these vessels with standard techniques. New methods of observation are being developed to get deeper, more detailed views of the retinal vasculature.

Yoga practice beneficial to patients with COPD Posted: 28 Oct 2013 08:48 AM PDT Patients with COPD who practice yoga can improve their lung function, according to a study. Researchers found that lung function, shortness of breath, and inflammation all showed significant improvement after patients completed 12 weeks of training.

X-rays overused in ICU: Ultrasound safer, just as effective Posted: 28 Oct 2013 08:48 AM PDT A new study shows that the use of ultrasound testing, rather than x-rays or CT scans, in the ICU reduces patient radiation exposure and lowers costs of care.

New imaging research shows increased iron in the brain in early stages of MS Posted: 28 Oct 2013 08:48 AM PDT While it's been known for over a century that iron deposits in the brain play a role in the pathology of Multiple Sclerosis, imaging research now helps to answer the question of whether these accumulations are a cause or consequence of the disease. Iron deposits in deep gray matter suggest that the accumulation occurs very early in the disease course.

Public wants labels for food nanotech -- and they're willing to pay for it Posted: 28 Oct 2013 08:47 AM PDT New research finds that people in the United States want labels on food products that use nanotechnology -- whether the nanotechnology is in the food or is used in food packaging. The research also shows that many people are willing to pay more for the labeling.

No running for the well-heeled Posted: 28 Oct 2013 08:47 AM PDT If you often find yourself running after a bus, escaping a burning building or taking part in competitive athletics in high-heeled footwear, you may be storing up knee problems for later in life, according to a study published this month.

Poor motor performance linked to poor academic skills Posted: 28 Oct 2013 08:45 AM PDT Children with poor motor performance at school entry were found to have poorer reading and arithmetic skills than their better performing peers during the first three years of school. However, no relationship was found between cardiovascular fitness and academic skills, according to a new study.

Problems with Alzheimer’s protein can jam up traffic in the brain Posted: 28 Oct 2013 08:44 AM PDT Scientists have known for some time that a protein called presenilin plays a role in Alzheimer's disease, and a new study reveals one intriguing way this happens. It has to do with how important materials travel up and down brain cells.

First hospital in the world to offer patients new device for severely calcified arteries Posted: 28 Oct 2013 08:44 AM PDT Leading interventional cardiologists in New York are the first in the world to use a newly U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved device for the treatment of severely calcified coronary arteries before the placement of a cardiac stent to open a blocked artery.

Smoking long or ultralong cigarettes increases risk of lung cancer Posted: 28 Oct 2013 07:13 AM PDT Smokers of long or ultralong cigarettes are at greater risk for lung and oral cancer than smokers of regular and king-size cigarettes.

Burden of futile care in ICU studied: Patients waiting for care affected negatively Posted: 28 Oct 2013 07:12 AM PDT Researchers studied the opportunity costs of providing futile care to patients in the ICU, finding that care was delayed or compromised for waiting patients when futile care was being provided in a full ICU. Futile treatment was identified by critical care specialists as ICU care from which patients could never receive a benefit, prolonged the dying process, or where the burdens far outweighed the benefits.

Electronic intensive care units effective in providing remote care Posted: 28 Oct 2013 07:12 AM PDT A new study of electronic intensive care units shows them to be an effective way to provide 24-hour intensive care to patients in remote locations.

Exhaled breath biomarker may detect lung cancer Posted: 28 Oct 2013 07:12 AM PDT Researchers recently discovered that lung cancer may be detected in patients by testing their exhaled breath. Preliminary studies suggest that an accurate exhaled breath biomarker could be developed for use as a clinical test.

Beta-blockers may increase adverse cardiac events during noncardiac surgeries Posted: 28 Oct 2013 07:12 AM PDT A recent study shows that patients given beta-blockers may actually be at increased risk of having an adverse cardiac event during a noncardiac surgical procedure.

Regular cocaine, cannabis use may trigger addictive behaviors Posted: 28 Oct 2013 07:09 AM PDT New cocaine and cannabis research reveals that regular cannabis users have increased levels of impulsive behavior. It had previously been argued that this increased impulsivity after cannabis administration was only experienced by occasional users, but that regular users were no longer affected in this way. The results provide evidence for how drug use may trigger addictive behaviors.

Cafe toxins have decreased by 90% since the smoking ban Posted: 28 Oct 2013 07:09 AM PDT Researchers, for a study on effects of the indoor smoking ban, measured the concentration of harmful compounds in a café in Barcelona before and after the anti-smoking law. The results show that toxic and carcinogenic substances dropped 90%, a finding that corroborates that of the Spanish Ministry of Health's latest report.

Treat gun violence as a public health problem, say physicians Posted: 28 Oct 2013 07:08 AM PDT Gun violence is a significant public health problem and further research into the epidemiology of risks related to gun violence should be conducted, experts say.

Electronic cigarettes should be treated like tobacco Posted: 28 Oct 2013 07:08 AM PDT Pennsylvania physicians recommend that electronic cigarettes be treated from a legislative and educational perspective just like tobacco cigarettes.

HPV strains affecting African-American women differ from vaccines Posted: 28 Oct 2013 07:08 AM PDT Two subtypes of human papillomavirus (HPV) prevented by vaccines are half as likely to be found in African-American women as in white women with precancerous cervical lesions, according to researchers.

Minimally invasive surgery for paraesophageal hernia is 'revolutionary' Posted: 28 Oct 2013 07:08 AM PDT Minimally invasive surgical techniques have revolutionized the treatment paraesophageal hernia — but there's continued controversy over some key technical aspects of the procedure. To inform the debate, leading surgical specialists outline their approaches to laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair.

Keeping emotions in check may not always benefit psychological health Posted: 28 Oct 2013 06:08 AM PDT Being able to regulate your emotions is important for well-being, but new research published in Psychological Science suggests that a common emotion regulation strategy called "cognitive reappraisal" may actually be harmful when it comes to stressors that are under our control.

Early skin-to-skin contact linked to higher breastfeeding rates Posted: 28 Oct 2013 06:06 AM PDT Skin-to-skin contact between mother and infant in the delivery room is associated with an increased likelihood for exclusive breastfeeding. When combined with a mother's intent to breastfeed, the likelihood was even greater.

Measuring segments of genetic material may help predict, monitor recurrence of thyroid cancer Posted: 28 Oct 2013 06:06 AM PDT A new analysis has found that the presence of short segments of genetic material (known as microRNA) within papillary thyroid cancer tumors suggests a likelihood of recurrence after patients undergo surgery. The study also found that elevated blood levels of the genetic material after surgery may indicate a higher possibility of recurrence after thyroidectomy.

New technology optimizes ear infection diagnosis, management Posted: 28 Oct 2013 06:05 AM PDT A new, smartphone-enabled otoscope provides clear, transmittable images of the ear drum, or tympanic membrane, which someday may allow for ear infection diagnosis without a visit to the doctor's office.

Can the 'right' helmet prevent concussions? Posted: 28 Oct 2013 06:05 AM PDT While many football helmet and mouth guard manufacturers claim that their equipment will lessen impact forces and reduce concussion risk, neither a specific brand nor a higher cost were associated with fewer concussions in adolescent athletes.

Sports specialization, hours spent in organized sports may predict young athlete injury Posted: 28 Oct 2013 06:05 AM PDT Athletes ages eight to 18 who spend twice as many hours per week in organized sports than in free play, and especially in a single sport, are more likely to be injured.

Can pediatricians successfully promote safe driving agreements between teens, parents? Posted: 28 Oct 2013 06:05 AM PDT Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens. A study evaluated a pediatric intervention that directed families to a new web-based Checkpoints™ safe driving program for parents of teen drivers.

New protein fold with a transport tunnel discovered Posted: 28 Oct 2013 06:04 AM PDT The protein LIMP-2 is vital for both humans and animals. If it is absent – due, for example, to a hereditary disease – substances of an unknown nature, probably lipids, accumulate in the organism. Up to now, scientists were unsure what the protein looks like and how exactly it functions.

Pain processes in tennis elbow illuminated by PET scanning Posted: 28 Oct 2013 06:04 AM PDT Physiological processes in soft tissue pain, such as chronic tennis elbow, can be explored using diagnostic imaging methods. A new use of positron emission tomography (PET) and a tracer for the signal receptor NK1 for visualising a physiological process is associated with pain imaging.

Study with totally blind people shows how light helps activate the brain Posted: 28 Oct 2013 06:04 AM PDT Light enhances brain activity during a cognitive task even in some people who are totally blind, according to a new study. The findings contribute to scientists' understanding of everyone's brains, as they also revealed how quickly light impacts on cognition. "We were stunned to discover  that the brain still respond significantly to light in these rare three completely blind patients  despite having absolutely no conscious vision at all," said one of the authors

Headaches in lupus patients not linked to disease activity Posted: 28 Oct 2013 06:04 AM PDT Headache is common among patients with system lupus erythematosus. The study found that 18% of lupus patients experienced headache at the onset of their disease with that number increasing to 58% after 10 years. While headaches were linked to a lower health-related quality of life, these episodes resolved over time independent of treatment specific to lupus and were not associated with disease activity or specific lupus autoantibodies.

New study examines link between pregnancy weight gain, autism spectrum disorders Posted: 28 Oct 2013 06:02 AM PDT Previous studies have identified links between women's prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and pregnancy weight gain to an increased risk for the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children. But in a new study, researchers build on prior research by identifying an association between autism spectrum disorder risk and prenatal weight gain, after accounting for important related factors such as a woman's prepregnancy BMI.

Flawed health care system causes doctors to 'bend' ethical norms to best serve patients Posted: 28 Oct 2013 06:02 AM PDT A survey among rheumatologists finds many face moral dilemmas when trying to do what's best for their patients in the current health care environment.

Rare childhood disease may hold clues to treating Alzheimer's, Parkinson's Posted: 27 Oct 2013 03:52 PM PDT Scientists studying the cause of a rare childhood disease that leaves children unable to walk by adolescence say new findings may provide clues to understanding more common neurodegenerative diseases, and developing better tools to treat them. Researchers found that children with A-T disease have too much of a regulatory protein EZH2. Reducing the amount in mice created a better protein balance within the nerve cells, improved muscle control, movement and coordination.

Mechanisms, potential biomarkers of tumor cell dormancy Posted: 27 Oct 2013 03:52 PM PDT Oncologists have long puzzled over the fact that after cancer treatment, single cancer cells that are dispersed throughout the body -- so-called disseminated tumor cells -- are quick to grow and form secondary tumors called metastases in certain organs, while in other organs they metastasize more slowly, sometimes decades later.

Study finds new genetic error in some lung cancers Posted: 27 Oct 2013 03:50 PM PDT Scientists report on a gene fusion that spurs the cells to divide rapidly. Treating the cells with a compound that blocks the protein caused the cells to die which may offer a targeted therapy in patients.

Young children with asthma visit ER most often Posted: 27 Oct 2013 09:35 AM PDT Research has found that children ages 1 to 3 years accounted for one-fifth of emergency room visits caused by complications from asthma, the highest proportion of visits among asthma patients under age 21. In addition, 55 percent of all ER visits due to asthma occurred in boys, and fall months had a relatively high proportion of visits.

Prevalence of household gun ownership linked to child gun shot wounds Posted: 27 Oct 2013 09:35 AM PDT There are approximately 7,500 child hospitalizations and 500 in-hospital deaths each year due to injuries sustained from guns. Researchers also identified a link between the percentage of homes with guns and the prevalence of child gunshot injuries.

Supermagnets present ongoing child health risks Posted: 27 Oct 2013 09:35 AM PDT The continued sale and availability of powerful, neodymium magnets -- typically 10 to 20 times stronger than traditional magnets -- are causing an increase in pediatric ingestion-related injuries.

Biomarker linked to poor outcomes in pregnant lupus patients Posted: 27 Oct 2013 09:32 AM PDT Pregnant women who have lupus are at increased risk of adverse outcomes. Researchers have identified a biomarker that may predict who is most at risk.

Timely, effective treatment of rheumatoid arthritis reduces disability two years out Posted: 27 Oct 2013 09:32 AM PDT Delaying treatment for rheumatoid arthritis could greatly increase the likelihood that patients will suffer joint damage and experience disability two years out.

Study shows how social media engages people with chronic diseases Posted: 27 Oct 2013 09:31 AM PDT Using Facebook chats to convey health information is becoming more common. A study has set out to find the best way to boost participation in the chats to raise awareness of lupus, an autoimmune disease.

Socially isolated patients experience more pain after hip replacement Posted: 27 Oct 2013 09:31 AM PDT Researchers have found that people who lacked good social connections were much more likely to experience serious, ongoing pain following total hip replacement surgery two or more years after the procedure.

Young people report worse fibromyalgia than older patients Posted: 27 Oct 2013 09:31 AM PDT It may seem counterintuitive, but young and middle-aged fibromyalgia patients report worse symptoms and poorer quality of life than older patients, a study shows.

Dangerous connection between rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease Posted: 27 Oct 2013 09:31 AM PDT People with rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic inflammatory conditions are at higher risk of heart disease. Who is in the most danger, why and how best to prevent and detect cardiovascular complications are important questions for physicians and researchers.

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