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• Prescriptions for benzodiazepines rising and risky when combined with opioids, researchers warn
• Postsurgical pain control linked to patient satisfaction with hospital experience
• Ultrasound guided pudendal nerve block: A cadaveric study
• Heating safety from mri radiofrequency energy demonstrated in variety of simulated spinal cord stimulation scenarios
• Transforaminal vs. Interlaminar epidural steroid injections: Both offered similar pain relief, function for radiating low-back pain
• Long-lasting improvements for discogenic low-back pain treated with minimally invasive intradiscal biacuplasty
• Reducing wait times could improve spinal cord stimulator success for chronic pain
• Drug protects mice against malaria brain damage, raises levels of BDNF in humans
• Fighting for survival in the gut: Unravelling the hidden variation in bacteria
• For older drivers one drink may be one too many, study finds
• Early detection helps manage chronic graft-vs-host disease complication
• BPA linked to breast cancer tumor growth
• Returning vets face 'warring identities' distress
• Marijuana's anxiety relief effects: Receptors found in emotional hub of brain
• Detailed picture created of membrane protein linked to learning, memory, anxiety, pain and brain disorders
• Warmer temperatures push malaria to higher elevations
• Combatting hospital-acquired infections with protein metal complex
• Smart nanofibers to treat kidney failure
• Group A streptococcus in pregnancy: Expert contributes to research
• Common mutation is culprit in acute leukemia relapse
• Reelin protein rescues cognitive deficits in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease
• Birds of all feathers and global flu diversity
• The Rise of Spring Allergies: Fact or Fiction?
• Complications following surgery predict costly readmissions
• Computers used to 'see' neurons to better understand brain function
• Critical link between obesity, diabetes identified
• E-cigarettes: Gateway to nicotine addiction for U.S. teens
• Misplaced protein causes heart failure
• Strategies on the Internet to discredit generic drugs
• Heart failure unknowns a roadblock to managing health
• Japanese Town: Half the survivors of mega-earthquake, tsunami, have PTSD symptoms
• Addressing the rapid increase in cesarean birth rates
• Energy drinks linked to teen health risks
• Target for shutting down growth of prostate cancer cells identified
• Technique patented that opens the door to the development of new drugs against osteoporosis
• Waiting for donor heart: Motion prolongs survival
• Three out of every four European banks fails in handicap accessibility of their websites
• Eating red, processed meat: What scientists say
• Learning how to listen with neurofeedback
• Atypical development in siblings of children with autism is detectable at 12 months
• Long-lasting device protects against HIV, pregnancy
• Potential target found for drug to treat allergic asthma
• Alzheimer's disease much larger cause of death than reported, study shows
• Personalized gene therapy locks out HIV, paving the way to control virus without antiretroviral drugs
• Thirty per cent of adults with attention deficit disorder report childhood physical abuse
• Cocaine, pleasure principle explored in new rat study
• Defining risk factors for falls in post-menopausal women
• Lung transplantation: A treatment option in end-stage lung disease

Prescriptions for benzodiazepines rising and risky when combined with opioids, researchers warn Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:10 PM PST Prescriptions for benzodiazepines are rising in primary care, and their frequent combined use with opioid analgesics may be contributing to medication-related deaths, a finding that goes largely unreported, according to researchers.

Postsurgical pain control linked to patient satisfaction with hospital experience Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:10 PM PST Postsurgical pain scores were highly correlated with reports of overall patient satisfaction during hospital stays, in a new finding that was true for some types of surgery more than others. The researchers stressed the importance of improving patient care in the peri-operative setting in alignment with new federal requirements tying performance to pay.

Ultrasound guided pudendal nerve block: A cadaveric study Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:10 PM PST The spread of close to 80% of injectate to surrounding soft tissues following a nerve block to treat chronic pelvic pain suggests a need to reduce the quantity injected, according to a new study.

Heating safety from mri radiofrequency energy demonstrated in variety of simulated spinal cord stimulation scenarios Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:10 PM PST Determining MRI RF heating safety is a complex process that requires complete understanding of the potential interactions between the MRI system, lead behavior, and individual patient characteristics. A comprehensive analysis was performed to evaluate a new MR-compatible SCS lead.

Transforaminal vs. Interlaminar epidural steroid injections: Both offered similar pain relief, function for radiating low-back pain Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:10 PM PST Two commonly delivered epidural injection modalities deliver minimal differences in pain relief and function at 1 and 6 months, new research shows. Results indicate both injection types were effective for treating unilateral lumbosacral radicular pain (ULSRP).

Long-lasting improvements for discogenic low-back pain treated with minimally invasive intradiscal biacuplasty Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:10 PM PST Patients who benefited from intradiscal biacuplasty (IDB) to treat discogenic low-back pain maintained initial gains in pain relief and physical function when rechecked at 1 year, a new study showed. Furthermore, patients who were in the sham treatment group and were later offered IDB achieved the same positive results as patients in the original treatment arm, researchers reported.

Reducing wait times could improve spinal cord stimulator success for chronic pain Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:10 PM PST Success rates soared to 75% for patients who waited less than 2 years for a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implant, compared with 15% for patients whose implants happened 20 years after the onset of pain, according to a retrospective analysis. The length of time patients waited for a referral also varied by specialty.

Drug protects mice against malaria brain damage, raises levels of BDNF in humans Posted: 06 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PST Cerebral malaria is a serious complication of infection with the malaria parasite, affecting approximately one in a thousand children in areas where malaria is common. Many of the patients die, and among those who survive, about a third have lasting cognitive and neurological disabilities, including epilepsy and learning disorders. A new study shows that a known drug can prevent brain damage in a cerebral malaria mouse model and eliminate subsequent neurological deficits.

Fighting for survival in the gut: Unravelling the hidden variation in bacteria Posted: 06 Mar 2014 04:14 PM PST Our intestines harbor an astronomical number of bacteria, around 100 times the number of cells in our body, known as the gut microbiota. These bacteria belong to thousands of species that co-exist, interact with each other and are key to our health. While it is clear that species imbalances may result in disease, it is unclear at what pace does each species in the gut evolves, a process that contributes to the chance of a particular innocuous species becoming harmful to the host.

For older drivers one drink may be one too many, study finds Posted: 06 Mar 2014 04:14 PM PST You may have only had one glass of wine with dinner, but if you're 55 or older, that single serving may hit you hard enough to make you a dangerous driver. Researchers tested how drinking legally non-intoxicating levels of alcohol affect the driving skills of two age groups: 36 people ages 25 to 35 and 36 people ages 55 to 70. They found that although neither age group imbibed enough alcohol to put them over the legal driving limit, a blood alcohol level of 0.08, just one drink can affect the driving abilities of older drivers.

Early detection helps manage chronic graft-vs-host disease complication Posted: 06 Mar 2014 04:14 PM PST A simple questionnaire that rates breathing difficulties on a scale of 0 to 3 predicts survival in chronic graft-vs.-host disease, according to a study. GVHD is an immune reaction that occurs in some patients who have received bone marrow or blood cell transplants using donor cells. In GVHD, the transplanted cells -- which will become the patient's new immune system -- attack the patient's own cells as they would a foreign object or infection. GVHD can be either acute or chronic; severe, uncontrolled cases can be fatal.

BPA linked to breast cancer tumor growth Posted: 06 Mar 2014 01:33 PM PST Researchers have attempted to trace how bisphenol-A may promote breast cancer tumor growth with help from a molecule called RNA HOTAIR. "We can't immediately say BPA causes cancer growth, but it could well contribute because it is disrupting the genes that defend against that growth," said a corresponding author on the paper. BPA has been widely used in plastics, such as food storage containers, the lining of canned goods and, until recently, baby bottles. Previous studies have linked BPA to problems with reproductive development, early puberty, obesity and cancers.

Returning vets face 'warring identities' distress Posted: 06 Mar 2014 12:24 PM PST Soldiers returning home from war may find themselves engaged in an even tougher conflict. A new paper examines the 'warring identities' many veterans confront when transitioning from soldier to civilian life. "You can't really do research on veterans mental health without some kind of dialogue on PTSD, but we're trying to move away from the standard PTSD framework to contextualize the veteran experience and get a more accurate picture of what vets returning from war look like as opposed to just looking at the medical side of things," the author said.

Marijuana's anxiety relief effects: Receptors found in emotional hub of brain Posted: 06 Mar 2014 11:28 AM PST Cannabinoid receptors, through which marijuana exerts its effects, have been found in a key emotional hub in the brain involved in regulating anxiety and the flight-or-fight response. This is the first time cannabinoid receptors have been identified in the central nucleus of the amygdala in a mouse model.

Detailed picture created of membrane protein linked to learning, memory, anxiety, pain and brain disorders Posted: 06 Mar 2014 11:25 AM PST The most detailed 3-D picture yet has been created of a membrane protein linked to learning, memory, anxiety, pain and brain disorders such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and autism. The mGlu1 receptor, which helps regulate the neurotransmitter glutamate, belongs to a superfamily of molecules known as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). GPCRs sit in the cell membrane and sense various molecules outside the cell, including odors, hormones, neurotransmitters and light. After binding these molecules, GPCRs trigger a specific response inside the cell. More than one-third of therapeutic drugs target GPCRs -— including allergy and heart medications, drugs that target the central nervous system and anti-depressants.

Warmer temperatures push malaria to higher elevations Posted: 06 Mar 2014 11:25 AM PST Researchers have debated for more than two decades the likely impacts, if any, of global warming on the worldwide incidence of malaria, a mosquito-borne disease that infects more than 300 million people each year. Now, ecologists are reporting the first hard evidence that malaria does -- as had long been predicted -- creep to higher elevations during warmer years and back down to lower altitudes when temperatures cool.

Combatting hospital-acquired infections with protein metal complex Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:28 AM PST A protein containing a metal complex for blue paint inhibits growth of a pathogenic bacterium through iron deprivation. Scientists have found a new method using an artificial metalloprotein (a protein that contains a metal) to inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, which is a common bacterium that can cause diseases in humans and evolves to exhibit multiple antibiotic resistance.

Smart nanofibers to treat kidney failure Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:28 AM PST A simple way to treat kidney failure. A new technique for purifying blood using a nanofiber mesh could prove useful as a cheap, wearable alternative to kidney dialysis.

Group A streptococcus in pregnancy: Expert contributes to research Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:04 AM PST A physician offers a description of the recommended approach to diagnosing and treating Group A streptococcus (GAS) in pregnant and postpartum women. Group A streptococcus can cause invasive infections in the form of endometritis, necrotizing fasciitis, or streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. These infections, when associated with sepsis, have associated mortality rates of 30 to 50 percent. When a pregnant woman presents with GAS infection, her symptoms are often atypical, with extremes of temperature, unusual and vague pain, and pain in the extremities. Imaging may appear normal, but removing a small sample from the uterus along with a blood culture may be a useful, rapid diagnostic tool.

Common mutation is culprit in acute leukemia relapse Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:04 AM PST Stem cell scientists have identified a mutation in human cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia that likely drives relapse. The research could translate into improved patient care strategies for this particular blood cancer, which typically affects children but is more deadly in adults.

Reelin protein rescues cognitive deficits in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:02 AM PST Reelin, a crucial protein for adult brain plasticity, recovers cognitive functions in mice with Alzheimer's disease. This is one of the main results a new study. Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive deficits, synaptic loss and neuronal death. This new preclinical study demonstrates that an increase in Reelin brain levels avoids cognitive deterioration in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, Reelin delays amyloid-beta fibril formation in vitro and reduces amyloid deposits in mice with Alzheimer's.

Birds of all feathers and global flu diversity Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:00 AM PST Scientists have completed the first global inventory of flu strains in birds by reviewing more than 50 published studies and genetic data, providing new insight into the drivers of viral diversity and the emergence of disease that can ultimately impact human health and livelihoods.

The Rise of Spring Allergies: Fact or Fiction? Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:00 AM PST The spring 2014 allergy season could be the worst yet, or at least that is what you might hear. Every year is coined as being the worst for allergy sufferers, but are spring allergies really on the rise? "A number of factors, such as weather patterns, predict how intense the spring allergy season will be," said an allergy expert. "While allergies are on the rise, affecting more and more Americans every year, each spring isn't necessarily worse than the last."

Complications following surgery predict costly readmissions Posted: 06 Mar 2014 08:23 AM PST The presence -- or absence -- of complications following surgery is a strong indicator of which patients are likely to be readmitted to the hospital in the 30 days following their procedure. Predicting which patients are most likely to experience complications using a simple online tool may allow healthcare professionals to flag patients at high risk of readmission in real time and alter care to reduce expensive trips back to the hospital.

Computers used to 'see' neurons to better understand brain function Posted: 06 Mar 2014 08:22 AM PST A study reveals new information about the motor circuits of the brain that may one day help those developing therapies to treat conditions such as stroke, schizophrenia, spinal cord injury or Alzheimer's disease. In this study, which processed images and reconstructed neuronal motor circuitry in the brain, the researchers collected and analyzed data on minute structures over various developmental stages, linking neuroscience and computer science.

Critical link between obesity, diabetes identified Posted: 06 Mar 2014 08:22 AM PST The RBP4 protein acts like a foreign pathogen to trigger inflammation of fat tissue -- and diabetes risk -- new research shows. Through a series of animal experiments, the authors discovered that high levels of RBP4 -- similar to what would be found in obese or insulin-resistant humans -- was the "foreign invader" that was providing the trigger for activation of the antigen-presenting cells, which then caused CD4 T cells to spring into action.

E-cigarettes: Gateway to nicotine addiction for U.S. teens Posted: 06 Mar 2014 08:22 AM PST E-cigarettes, promoted as a way to quit regular cigarettes, may actually be a new route to conventional smoking and nicotine addiction for teenagers, according to a new study. In the first analysis of the relationship between e-cigarette use and smoking among adolescents in the United States, researchers found that adolescents who used the devices were more likely to smoke cigarettes and less likely to quit smoking. The study of nearly 40,000 youth around the country also found that e-cigarette use among middle and high school students doubled between 2011 and 2012, from 3.1 percent to 6.5 percent.

Misplaced protein causes heart failure Posted: 06 Mar 2014 07:39 AM PST Decreasing the density of microtubules inside heart muscle cells prevents the abnormal localization of a critical protein called junctophilin 2 (JP2), and protects mice from heart failure, new research has found. Conversely, increasing microtubule density causes abnormal localization of JP2, which leads to loss of normal heart cell function and ultimately heart failure.

Strategies on the Internet to discredit generic drugs Posted: 06 Mar 2014 07:39 AM PST Although there is widespread consensus among the scientific community that the composition of generic drugs is identical to that of brand name drugs, this is not the case among the public. In a four-year study of over 3,000 opinions on Spanish web pages, researchers have identified communication strategies aimed at creating risk perceptions about generic drugs, which may influence the low usage of these drugs.

Heart failure unknowns a roadblock to managing health Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:55 AM PST Patients and their families lack basic skills and knowledge to manage a heart condition successfully, new research shows. A systematic review of 49 studies, involving more than 1,600 patients and their caregivers, showed that this lack of knowledge leads to confusion, delays in seeking help, and uncertainty about the long-term outlook and how to manage their own care. Part of the problem is heart failure is not well understood by many patients or their families. Heart failure is not a heart attack, though the latter can cause the condition. Heart failure refers to an overall decline in function in which blood flow can't meet the body's demands.

Japanese Town: Half the survivors of mega-earthquake, tsunami, have PTSD symptoms Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:55 AM PST A new study shows that more than half the survivors in one Japanese town exhibited 'clinically concerning' symptoms of PTSD following the country's mega-earthquake and tsunami. Two-thirds of survivors also reported symptoms of depression. Having work to do has proven important in increasing resilience.

Addressing the rapid increase in cesarean birth rates Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:55 AM PST A new, joint series called 'Obstetric Care Consensus' is being introduced by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. The first issue addresses the rapid increase in cesarean births. In 2011, one in three pregnant women in the U.S. delivered babies by cesarean delivery. While cesarean delivery may be life-saving for the mother, the baby or both, the rapid increase in cesarean birth rates since 1996 without clear indication raises concerns that this type of delivery may be overused.

Energy drinks linked to teen health risks Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:53 AM PST The uplifting effects of energy drinks are well advertised, but a new report finds consumption among teenagers may be linked with poor mental health and substance use. The researchers found that high school students prone to depression as well as those who are smoke marijuana or drink alcohol are more likely to consume energy drinks than their peers. The researchers are calling for limits on teen's access to the drinks and reduction in the amount of the caffeine in each can.

Target for shutting down growth of prostate cancer cells identified Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:51 AM PST Scientists have identified an important step toward potentially shutting down the growth of prostate cancer cells. Metastatic prostate cancer currently is treated with drugs that inhibit a protein called Androgen Receptor. This treatment initially halts cancer growth, but eventually the cancer becomes resistant to the drugs. These new findings offer a new avenue of research.

Technique patented that opens the door to the development of new drugs against osteoporosis Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:39 AM PST Scientists have developed a methodology that allows phosphate ions to be measured -- in real time and non-invasively -- in the interior of osteoblasts, the precursors of bone cells. Thanks to this methodology, specialists can avoid techniques based on radioactive treatments, which were the only ones that measured the phosphate concentration inside osteoblasts, but which have many drawbacks.

Waiting for donor heart: Motion prolongs survival Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:37 AM PST For many people with advanced cardiac insufficiency, a heart transplant may be their only hope. But waiting for a donor heart to come along is a race against time. Patients who remain active and stay in good shape psychologically can significantly increase their chances of surviving this period. Anxiety-ridden, depressive and passive patients, on the other hand, run the risk of further serious deterioration of their heart's ability to function, a research study shows.

Three out of every four European banks fails in handicap accessibility of their websites Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:37 AM PST Researchers have analyzed the websites of nearly 50 banks from the EU to check whether any user, even if disabled, has equal access. The results show that this right is not fulfilled in 74 percent of cases, and therefore they demand greater interest from financial entities in this technological and social problem.

Eating red, processed meat: What scientists say Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:37 AM PST Recent reports warn about a link between eating red and processed meat and the risk of developing cancer in the gut. These reports have resulted in new nutritional recommendations that advise people to limit their intake of red and processed meats. A recent perspective paper, authored by 23 scientists, underlines the uncertainties in the scientific evidence and points to further research needed to resolve these issues and improve the foundation for future recommendations on the intake of red meat.

Learning how to listen with neurofeedback Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:36 AM PST When listening to music or learning a new language, auditory perceptual learning occurs: a process in which your recognition of specific sounds improves, making you more efficient in processing and interpreting them. A neuroscientist now shows that auditory perceptual learning can be facilitated using neurofeedback, helping to focus on the sound differences that really matter.

Atypical development in siblings of children with autism is detectable at 12 months Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:17 PM PST Atypical development can be detected as early as 12 months of age among the siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder, a study has found. 28 percent of children with older siblings with ASD showed delays in other areas of development, identified in their social, communication, cognitive or motor development by 12 months. The most common deficits were in the social-communication domain, such as extreme shyness with unfamiliar people, lower levels of eye contact and delayed pointing. "Having a child in the family with autism spectrum disorder means that subsequent infants born into that family should be regularly screened for developmental and behavioral problems by their pediatricians," said the study's lead author.

Long-lasting device protects against HIV, pregnancy Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:14 PM PST Women's reproductive health may never be the same, thanks to a biomedical engineer and his first-of-its-kind intravaginal ring that reliably delivers an antiretroviral drug and a contraceptive for months. The ring is designed to protect against HIV and herpes as well as unwanted pregnancy. It will be the first device with the potential to offer this protection to be tested in women. The ring, being manufactured now, soon will undergo its first test in women.

Potential target found for drug to treat allergic asthma Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:12 PM PST An enzyme that helps maintain immune system function by "throwing away" a specific protein has a vital role in controlling symptoms of allergic asthma, new research in mice suggests. The finding suggests the enzyme could be a target for drugs used to treat allergic asthma.

Alzheimer's disease much larger cause of death than reported, study shows Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:12 PM PST Alzheimer's disease may contribute to close to as many deaths in the United States as heart disease or cancer, a new study suggests. Currently, Alzheimer's disease falls sixth on the list of leading causes of death in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whereas heart disease and cancer are numbers one and two, respectively. These numbers are based on what is reported on death certificates.

Personalized gene therapy locks out HIV, paving the way to control virus without antiretroviral drugs Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:11 PM PST The immune cells of 12 HIV positive patients have been successfully genetically engineered by researchers to resist infection, and decrease the viral loads of some patients taken off antiretroviral drug therapy (ADT) entirely -— including one patient whose levels became undetectable. The study is the first published report of any gene editing approach in humans. "This study shows that we can safely and effectively engineer an HIV patient's own T cells to mimic a naturally occurring resistance to the virus, infuse those engineered cells, have them persist in the body, and potentially keep viral loads at bay without the use of drugs," said the senior author.

Thirty per cent of adults with attention deficit disorder report childhood physical abuse Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:11 PM PST Thirty percent of adults with Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) report they were physically abused before they turned 18. This compares to seven per cent of those without ADD/ADHD who were physically abused before 18. Investigators examined a representative sample of 13,054 adults aged 18 and over. According to a co-author, "This study underlines the importance of ADD/ADHD as a marker of abuse. With 30 per cent of adults with ADD/ADHD reporting childhood abuse, it is important that health professionals working with children with these disorders screen them for physical abuse."

Cocaine, pleasure principle explored in new rat study Posted: 05 Mar 2014 11:47 AM PST On the other side of the cocaine high is the cocaine crash, and understanding how one follows the other can provide insight into the physiological effects of drug abuse. For decades, brain research has focused on the pleasurable effects of cocaine largely by studying the dopamine pathway. But this approach has left many questions unanswered. The findings of the new study suggest that the same neural mechanism responsible for the negative effects of cocaine likely contribute to the animal's decision to ingest cocaine.

Defining risk factors for falls in post-menopausal women Posted: 05 Mar 2014 11:47 AM PST Women with distal radius (wrist) fractures had decreased strength compared to similar patients without fractures, a new study shows. This could explain why these women were more likely to fall and might sustain future fractures. The investigators used a variety of balance and strength tests combined with patient-provided information about walking habits to evaluate the physical performance and risk of falls for post-menopausal women with and without previous wrist fractures. Wrist fractures are the most common upper-extremity fractures in older women, but little is known about what factors contribute to the risk of falls for these patients.

Lung transplantation: A treatment option in end-stage lung disease Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:51 AM PST In the past five years, the number of lung transplantations carried out has increased by about 20 percent. In the end stage of various lung diseases, transplantation is the last remaining option for treatment, and it can both prolong life and improve its quality. Researchers have studied how patients do after a lung transplant, and their review has recently been published.

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