ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Loyola patient loses over 120 pounds without surgery, medication
• Comprehensive, nonsurgical treatment improves pelvic floor dysfunction in women
• Higher incidence rates of hypertension among African American service members despite equitable access to health care
• One species, two outcomes: Team seeks source of body louse pathology
• Stem cell replacement for frequent age-related blindness
• Mechanism of genetic mutations known to cause familial Alzheimer's disease uncovered
• Primary care practitioners hesitate to prescribe antidepressants for depressed teens
• Indigenous groups more vulnerable in fight against flu
• Scientists control cells following transplantation, from inside out
• Fresh faced: Looking younger for longer
• Regorafenib: hint of minor added benefit
• Researchers pursuing arthritis protein
• Why are there too few women consultants in surgery?
• The cyborg era has started
• Researchers develop artificial bone marrow; May be used to reproduce hematopoietic stem cells
• Mechanism affecting risk of prostate cancer found
• Evidence of harmful effect of bisphenol A-based plastics
• Test to predict early onset of heart attacks
• Prediction of future flu virus
• Target canine 'superspreaders' to halt killer disease, cull fewer dogs, study suggests
• Teen concussions increase risk for depression
• Antibacterial agent boosts toothpaste effectiveness
• Research reveals structure of master regulator, new drug target for autism, cervical cancer
• Antipsychotic drug exhibits cancer-fighting properties
• Scientists uncover new target for brain cancer treatment
• Newly published survey shows drug shortages still have major impact on patient care
• Researchers discover how vascular disease activates autoimmune disorders
• Tiny technology enables improved detection of circulating tumor cells
• Pivotal cellular protein underlying eczema identified
• Mystery solved: How nerve impulse generators get where they need to go
• Red blood cells take on many-sided shape during clotting
• Electronic book for students with visual impairments reaches for the stars
• Veterans' brain injury examined
• 'Personalized advantage index' a new decision-making tool
• Scientists unlock evolution of cholera, identify strain responsible for early pandemics that killed millions

Loyola patient loses over 120 pounds without surgery, medication Posted: 10 Jan 2014 11:22 AM PST For much of his life Tom Hoppensteadt thought the best thing to do with a scale was to avoid it. When he was diagnosed with a low-grade lymphoma at age 50 and learned he weighed over 300 pounds, it sounded an alarm.

Comprehensive, nonsurgical treatment improves pelvic floor dysfunction in women Posted: 10 Jan 2014 10:10 AM PST Researchers have demonstrated that a comprehensive, nonsurgical treatment significantly improves symptoms in women with pelvic floor dysfunction, a range of symptoms which include bladder and bowel problems as well as pelvic pain.

Higher incidence rates of hypertension among African American service members despite equitable access to health care Posted: 10 Jan 2014 10:09 AM PST African American service members had higher incidence rates of hypertension compared to service members of other races and ethnicities despite equitable access to health care within the military health system, according to a new analysis.

One species, two outcomes: Team seeks source of body louse pathology Posted: 10 Jan 2014 08:36 AM PST A new study seeks to determine how one parasitic species can give rise to two drastically different outcomes in its host: The human body louse (Pediculus humanus) can transmit dangerous bacterial infections to humans, while the human head louse (also Pediculus humanus) does not.

Stem cell replacement for frequent age-related blindness Posted: 10 Jan 2014 08:35 AM PST Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most frequent cause of blindness. Scientists have developed a method for using stem cells to replace cells in the eye destroyed by AMD. The implants survived in rabbit eyes for several weeks. Additional research is needed for clinical application.

Mechanism of genetic mutations known to cause familial Alzheimer's disease uncovered Posted: 10 Jan 2014 08:35 AM PST New research has solved one mystery in the development of Familial Alzheimer's Disease (FAD), a genetic variant of the disease that affects a small fraction of the Alzheimer's population. Researchers followed the trail of two genetic mutations – V44M and V44A – known to cause FAD, and have shown how the mutations lead to biochemical changes long linked to the disease.

Primary care practitioners hesitate to prescribe antidepressants for depressed teens Posted: 10 Jan 2014 08:35 AM PST Pediatric primary care practitioners (PCPs) are reluctant to prescribe antidepressant medications to adolescent patients -— even those with severe depression, reports a study.

Indigenous groups more vulnerable in fight against flu Posted: 10 Jan 2014 07:37 AM PST Researchers have discovered that some Indigenous groups will be more susceptible to the effects of the new strain of influenza currently found in China.

Scientists control cells following transplantation, from inside out Posted: 10 Jan 2014 07:37 AM PST Stem cells scientists can now engineer cells that are more easily controlled following transplantation, potentially making cell therapies, hundreds of which are currently in clinical trials across the United States, more functional and efficient.

Fresh faced: Looking younger for longer Posted: 10 Jan 2014 07:35 AM PST Researchers have identified an antioxidant Tiron, which offers total protection against some types of sun damage and may ultimately help our skin stay looking younger for longer.

Regorafenib: hint of minor added benefit Posted: 10 Jan 2014 07:35 AM PST Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer have severe side effects more frequently under treatment with regorafenib, but they survive longer.

Researchers pursuing arthritis protein Posted: 10 Jan 2014 07:35 AM PST Researchers have investigated a special protein that appears in inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis.

Why are there too few women consultants in surgery? Posted: 10 Jan 2014 07:32 AM PST Male dominated workplaces can undermine women's identification with their occupations and their sense that they are progressing in their careers.

The cyborg era has started Posted: 10 Jan 2014 07:32 AM PST Medical implants, complex interfaces between brain and machine or remotely controlled insects: Recent developments combining machines and organisms have great potentials, but also give rise to major ethical concerns.

Researchers develop artificial bone marrow; May be used to reproduce hematopoietic stem cells Posted: 10 Jan 2014 07:26 AM PST Artificial bone marrow may be used to reproduce hematopoietic stem cells. A prototype has now been developed. The porous structure possesses essential properties of natural bone marrow and can be used for the reproduction of stem cells at the laboratory. This might facilitate the treatment of leukemia in a few years.

Mechanism affecting risk of prostate cancer found Posted: 10 Jan 2014 07:26 AM PST A research group has identified a mechanism related to a transcription factor that binds much more strongly onto a particular SNP variant, thereby initiating a genetic program that enhances prostate cancer proliferation and metastasis. The study opens up an important new direction in investigating the mechanisms related to the way in which SNP variations cause an elevated risk of prostate cancer and other human diseases.

Evidence of harmful effect of bisphenol A-based plastics Posted: 10 Jan 2014 07:26 AM PST Bisphenol A impairs the function of proteins that are vital for growth processes in cells. The substance, BPA for short, is contained in many plastic products and is suspected of being hazardous to health. To date, it had been assumed that bisphenol A produces a harmful effect by binding to hormone receptors. A chemist and biochemist team has discovered that the substance also affects the so-called small GTPases.

Test to predict early onset of heart attacks Posted: 10 Jan 2014 07:25 AM PST A new "fluid biopsy" technique that could identify patients at high risk of a heart attack by identifying specific cells as markers in the bloodstream has been developed by a group of researchers.

Prediction of future flu virus Posted: 09 Jan 2014 02:57 PM PST The differences in the seasonal flu usually result from point mutations in the influenza virus genes, while major pandemics are often connected to profound genetic shifts known as reassortments. The link between these two phenomena has now been studied for the first time.

Target canine 'superspreaders' to halt killer disease, cull fewer dogs, study suggests Posted: 09 Jan 2014 02:55 PM PST A new way to test for the parasite which causes the fatal disease leishmaniasis could help control its spread to humans and stop dogs being needlessly killed in parts of South America.

Teen concussions increase risk for depression Posted: 09 Jan 2014 02:55 PM PST Teens with a history of concussions are more than three times as likely to suffer from depression as teens who have never had a concussion, finds a new study.

Antibacterial agent boosts toothpaste effectiveness Posted: 09 Jan 2014 02:55 PM PST Regular use of fluoride toothpaste containing triclosan, an antibacterial agent, reduces plaque, gingivitis and slightly reduces tooth decay compared to regular fluoride toothpaste, finds a new review.

Research reveals structure of master regulator, new drug target for autism, cervical cancer Posted: 09 Jan 2014 11:38 AM PST A team of scientists has discovered the structure of the active form of E6-associated protein (E6AP), an enzyme that acts as a master regulator, controlling functions like the ability of nerve cells to "rewire" themselves in response to external stimuli and HPV hijacking cells leading to cervical cancer. They report, for the first time, that the active form of E6AP is composed of three distinct protein molecules.

Antipsychotic drug exhibits cancer-fighting properties Posted: 09 Jan 2014 11:37 AM PST In a prime example of finding new uses for older drugs, studies in zebrafish show that a 50-year-old antipsychotic medication called perphenazine can actively combat the cells of a difficult-to-treat form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The drug works by turning on a cancer-suppressing enzyme called PP2A and causing malignant tumor cells to self-destruct.

Scientists uncover new target for brain cancer treatment Posted: 09 Jan 2014 10:27 AM PST A new study is giving researchers hope that novel targeted therapies can be developed for glioblastoma multiforme, the most common and most aggressive form of brain cancer, after demonstrating for the first time that a gene known as melanoma differentiation associated gene-9/syntenin (mda-9/syntenin) is a driving force behind the disease's aggressive and invasive nature.

Newly published survey shows drug shortages still have major impact on patient care Posted: 09 Jan 2014 10:25 AM PST According to newly published results from a survey of pharmacy directors, drug shortages remain a serious problem for patient safety. Nearly half of the responding directors reported adverse events at their facilities due to drug shortages, including patient deaths. The survey asked pharmacy directors from a variety of health care settings to supply information on drug shortage related patient complaints, adverse events, medication errors, patient outcomes, demographics and institutional costs.

Researchers discover how vascular disease activates autoimmune disorders Posted: 09 Jan 2014 10:23 AM PST The hardening of the arteries, called atherosclerosis, that can lead to heart attack. It has also been linked to autoimmune disorders, but to date it has not been clear why these diseases are related. A new study reveals that a molecule that causes atherosclerosis also activates T cells, causing clinical symptoms of autoimmune disease to worsen in mice. The findings shed light on the link between autoimmunity and atherosclerosis, opening new avenues for the treatment of autoimmune disorders.

Tiny technology enables improved detection of circulating tumor cells Posted: 09 Jan 2014 10:21 AM PST Detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood can play an important role in early diagnosis, characterization of cancer subtypes, treatment monitoring and metastasis. Researchers have developed a microfluidic system that isolates CTCs more efficiently than current technologies.

Pivotal cellular protein underlying eczema identified Posted: 09 Jan 2014 10:21 AM PST Researchers have revealed a critical player in the cellular interactions leading to eczema – a chronic inflammatory skin condition affecting more than 14 million U.S. children and adults.

Mystery solved: How nerve impulse generators get where they need to go Posted: 09 Jan 2014 10:21 AM PST Scientists have solved a longstanding mystery of the central nervous system, showing how a key protein gets to the right spot to launch electrical impulses that enable communication of nerve signals to and from the brain.

Red blood cells take on many-sided shape during clotting Posted: 09 Jan 2014 10:21 AM PST Red blood cells are the body's true shape shifters, perhaps the most malleable of all cell types. While studying how blood clots contract, researchers discovered a new geometry that red blood cells assume, when compressed during clot formation.

Electronic book for students with visual impairments reaches for the stars Posted: 09 Jan 2014 09:49 AM PST This huge Hubble mosaic, spanning a width of 600 light-years, shows a star factory of more the 800,000 stars being born. The stars are embedded inside the Tarantula Nebula, a vibrant region of star birth that resides 170,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a small, satellite galaxy of our Milky Way. Hubble's near-infrared sensitivity allows astronomers to see behind clouds of dust in the nebula to unveil where the newborn stars are clustered.

Veterans' brain injury examined Posted: 09 Jan 2014 09:49 AM PST Roadside bombs and other blasts have made head injury the "signature wound" of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Now, researchers are investigating the effect of repeated combat-related blast exposures on the brains of veterans with the goal of improving diagnostics and treatment.

'Personalized advantage index' a new decision-making tool Posted: 08 Jan 2014 09:41 PM PST Researchers have developed a decision-making model that compares and weights multiple variables to predict the optimal choice. They tested their model on data from a study of patients seeking treatment for depression, who received either cognitive behavioral therapy or medication. By using the model to generate a score for each patient indicating which treatment was likely to be more effective, researchers showed an advantage equivalent to that of an effective treatment relative to a placebo.

Scientists unlock evolution of cholera, identify strain responsible for early pandemics that killed millions Posted: 08 Jan 2014 09:38 PM PST Working with a nearly 200-year-old sample of preserved intestine, researchers have traced the bacterium behind a global cholera pandemic that killed millions – a version of the same bug that continues to strike vulnerable populations in the world's poorest regions.

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