ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Subtle change in DNA, protein levels determines blond or brunette tresses, study finds
• Escalating care in cormorbid elderly: Where do we stop?
• Patients admitted to hospital at weekends have higher mortality: Study of 55 million people adds further evidence
• Risk of death highest following surgery in afternoons, at weekends, and in February
• Poor coverage of specific gene sets in exome sequencing gives cause for concern
• Responses with crizotinib in MET-amplified lung cancer show new targetable form of disease
• Results in Phase I Trial Targeting Cancer Stem Cells
• One step closer to a breath test for lung cancer
• Patients with metastatic colon cancer respond to new combination therapy
• Level of addiction to tobacco measured by new virtual platform
• Prevalence of new genetic driver in lung cancer shown in study
• 'Often and early' gives children a taste for vegetables
• New genetic sequencing methods mean quicker, cheaper, equally accurate embryo screening
• Osteoporosis: Genetic researchers take major step towards better diagnosis, treatment
• Stem cell progeny tell their parents when to turn on
• New method of wormlike motion lets gels wiggle through water
• Quality, not quantity, counts most in exercise, diet
• Increasing sensitivity of HPV detection in cancer with new test
• Coaxing iPS cells to become more specialized prior to transplantation cuts rejection risk
• Vaccination opt out is a cop out that literally is making people sick, says infectious disease leader
• Stopping statins may benefit terminally ill patients
• Women with metastatic breast cancer can safely receive bisphosphonates less frequently, without compromising care
• Genetic profile predicts which bladder cancer patients will benefit from early chemotherapy
• Hepatitis C reactivation doesn't worsen survival for HIV+ patients diagnosed with lymphoma
• Urbanization, future heat-related mortality linked
• Compounds in saliva, common body proteins may fend off DNA-damaging chemicals in tea, coffee and liquid smoke
• Reduced kidney function associated with higher risk of renal, urothelial cancer

Subtle change in DNA, protein levels determines blond or brunette tresses, study finds Posted: 01 Jun 2014 12:09 PM PDT A molecule critical to stem cell function plays a major role in determining human hair color, according to a new study. The study describes for the first time the molecular basis for one of our most noticeable traits. It also outlines how tiny DNA changes can reverberate through our genome in ways that may affect evolution, migration and even human history.

Escalating care in cormorbid elderly: Where do we stop? Posted: 31 May 2014 06:35 PM PDT A patient's age should not in itself be considered an ethically relevant criterion for deciding 'where to stop' providing care, an ethical expert says. He says: "If societies do wish to pursue such 'ageist' policies then they should do so only do so after widespread consultation and the enactment of democratically established laws according to which patients condemned to be denied life-prolonging therapies on grounds of age alone should have a legal right of appeal."

Patients admitted to hospital at weekends have higher mortality: Study of 55 million people adds further evidence Posted: 31 May 2014 06:35 PM PDT A systematic review and meta-analysis of hospital data worldwide adds further evidence that patients admitted to hospital at weekends have higher mortality than those admitted on weekdays. The analysis included 72 studies from various world regions, covering 55,053,719 participants. The authors found that weekend admission was associated with increased morality of between 15% and 17% depending on the statistical technique used.

Risk of death highest following surgery in afternoons, at weekends, and in February Posted: 31 May 2014 06:35 PM PDT On weekends, in the afternoons and in February are the times when the risk of death following surgery is the highest, research demonstrates. Hospital mortality is subject to day-night, weekly and seasonal variability. However, a cyclic influence on hospital mortality has not been shown in patients after surgery. In this study, the researchers investigated the daily, weekly, and seasonal variability of hospital mortality in patients after surgery.

Poor coverage of specific gene sets in exome sequencing gives cause for concern Posted: 31 May 2014 06:35 PM PDT Researchers have analyzed 44 exome datasets from four different testing kits and shown that they missed a high proportion of clinically relevant regions. At least one gene in each exome method was missing more than 40 percent of disease-causing genetic variants, and the worst-performing method missed more than 90 percent of such variants. This means that there is a  substantial possibility of reporting false negative results, they say.

Responses with crizotinib in MET-amplified lung cancer show new targetable form of disease Posted: 31 May 2014 12:49 PM PDT In 2011, the drug crizotinib earned accelerated approval by the US FDA to target the subset of advanced non-small cell lung cancers caused by rearrangements of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene. The drug also has shown dramatic responses in patients whose lung cancers harbored a different molecular abnormality, namely ROS1 gene rearrangements.

Results in Phase I Trial Targeting Cancer Stem Cells Posted: 31 May 2014 12:48 PM PDT Results of a Phase I trial of OMP-54F28 (FZD8-Fc), an investigational drug candidate targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been released. The drug was generally well tolerated, and several of the 26 patients with advanced solid tumors experienced stable disease for greater than six months. Three trials are now open in combinations with standard therapy for pancreatic, ovarian and liver cancers.

One step closer to a breath test for lung cancer Posted: 31 May 2014 12:48 PM PDT A test of organic compounds in exhaled breath can not only distinguish patients with lung cancer from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but can also define the stage of any cancer present, new research shows. The device requires blowing up a balloon, which is then attached to an extremely sensitive gold nanoparticle sensor. The particles in the sensor trap and then help to analyze volatile organic compounds in the exhaled breath.

Patients with metastatic colon cancer respond to new combination therapy Posted: 31 May 2014 10:23 AM PDT In an aggressive disease known for poor response rates, researchers found patients with advanced colorectal cancer responded well to a combination therapy of the drugs vermurafenib, cetuximab and irinotecan. "What's promising is the fact that we're seeing these high response rates in early studies which suggests this could become a new standard of care down the line," one researcher said. "There's clearly some kind of synergistic activity with the combination."

Level of addiction to tobacco measured by new virtual platform Posted: 31 May 2014 06:07 AM PDT In Mexico, 21.7 percent of the population smokes, which is associated with 95 percent of (lung cancer cases and the development of 29 more different conditions. A citizen science project titled "Are you smoking away?" is part of the venture "Science that Breathes" that makes available a tool that leads to answer a series of questions about the perceptions that people have about smoking.

Prevalence of new genetic driver in lung cancer shown in study Posted: 31 May 2014 06:06 AM PDT A line has been drawn from mutation of the gene NTRK1, to its role as an oncogene in non-small cell lung cancer, to treatment that targets this mutation. "Everything we know about lung cancer points to the idea that when we find one of these genetic drivers and can target it with a drug, patients will respond and tend to have a good amount of time on drug before it becomes ineffective. Obviously we can't guarantee the effectiveness of targeting the NTRK1 mutation at this point, but everything we know about these kinds of genes makes us extremely hopeful," says one researcher.

'Often and early' gives children a taste for vegetables Posted: 30 May 2014 04:05 PM PDT Exposing infants to a new vegetable early in life encourages them to eat more of it compared to offering novel vegetables to older children, new research suggests. The researchers also found that even fussy eaters are able to eat a bit more of a new vegetable each time they are offered it.

New genetic sequencing methods mean quicker, cheaper, equally accurate embryo screening Posted: 30 May 2014 04:04 PM PDT Results from the first study of the clinical application of next generation DNA sequencing (NGS) in screening embryos for genetic disease prior to implantation in patients undergoing in-vitro fertilization treatments show that it is an effective reliable method of selecting the best embryos to transfer. Research has shown that NGS, a high throughput sequencing method, has the potential to revolutionize pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS).

Osteoporosis: Genetic researchers take major step towards better diagnosis, treatment Posted: 30 May 2014 04:04 PM PDT A new target that may be critical for the treatment of osteoporosis, a disease which affects about 25% of post-menopausal women, has been discovered by a group of researchers. New studies in zebrafish and mice have shown that injection of human plastin 3 (PLS3) or related proteins in zebrafish where PLS3 action has been suppressed can replace its loss and repair the bone development anomalies associated with this deficiency.

Stem cell progeny tell their parents when to turn on Posted: 30 May 2014 01:07 PM PDT Stem cells switch off and on, sometimes dividing to produce progeny cells and sometimes resting. But scientists don't fully understand what causes the cells to toggle between active and quiet states. New research focused on stem cells in the hair follicle to determine what switches them on. The researchers found cells produced by the stem cells, progeny known at Transit-Amplifying Cells or TACs, emit a signal that tells quiet hair follicle stem cells to become active.

New method of wormlike motion lets gels wiggle through water Posted: 30 May 2014 01:03 PM PDT A special hydrogel substance has been developed that can be equipped to detect bacteria, carry cargo and deliver medicine. A researcher used a worm's contracting and expanding motion to provide a way for gels to swim in water. He explains, "Using a hand-held laser, we were able to selectively and quickly shrink the hydrogel (a hydrophilic polymer gel comprised mostly of water) in desired areas. By inducing a shrinking/swelling cycle down the length of a hydrogel, we were able to successfully mimic peristaltic, or earthworm-inspired, locomotion in water."

Quality, not quantity, counts most in exercise, diet Posted: 30 May 2014 12:41 PM PDT The clear benefits of a multi-dimensional exercise regimen that includes resistance exercise, interval sprint exercise, stretching (including yoga or pilates), endurance exercise, and moderate amounts of protein consumed regularly throughout the day have been demonstrated and reported by exercise scientists. If your goal is to lose weight and maintain optimal health and fitness, the quality of your exercise and diet regimen matters more than the quantity, they say.

Increasing sensitivity of HPV detection in cancer with new test Posted: 30 May 2014 12:41 PM PDT Results from a pilot study demonstrating the utility of a new cancer panel to detect previously undetected viral and cancer mutations have been released by researchers. The panel identified human papilloma virus (HPV) sequences undetected by conventional laboratory tests as well as new unreported HPV mutations. It is estimated that each year there are approximately 30,000 cases of HPV-associated cancers in the US.

Coaxing iPS cells to become more specialized prior to transplantation cuts rejection risk Posted: 30 May 2014 11:25 AM PDT Coaxing iPS cells in the laboratory to become more-specialized progeny cells (a cellular process called differentiation) before transplantation into mice allows them to be tolerated by the body's immune system, research has found. "This study shows that undifferentiated iPS cells are rejected by the immune system upon transplantation in the same recipient, but that fully differentiating these cells allows for acceptance and tolerance by the immune system without the need for immunosuppression," said a researcher.

Vaccination opt out is a cop out that literally is making people sick, says infectious disease leader Posted: 30 May 2014 11:24 AM PDT Measles have reached a 20-year high in the United States and the cause lies squarely with those who deliberately refuse to be vaccinated. Eighty-five percent of the unvaccinated U.S. residents who contracted measles cited religious, philosophical or personal reasons for not getting immunized. "Religious, philosophical or personal reasons are not medical reasons for not getting vaccinated," says one infectious disease expert.

Stopping statins may benefit terminally ill patients Posted: 30 May 2014 11:24 AM PDT People in the late stages of cancer and other terminal illnesses are not only unharmed by discontinuing statins for cholesterol management, they may benefit, according to a study. The finding addresses a thorny question in treating people with life-limiting illnesses: When, if ever, is it appropriate to discontinue medications prescribed for other conditions that will likely not lead to their death?

Women with metastatic breast cancer can safely receive bisphosphonates less frequently, without compromising care Posted: 30 May 2014 11:24 AM PDT Women with metastatic breast cancer to the bone may be able to receive bisphosphonates, the bone-targeting class of drugs like zoledronic acid, less often after the first year of monthly administration. With that practice change, women may also reduce their risk of serious side effects, according to a study.

Genetic profile predicts which bladder cancer patients will benefit from early chemotherapy Posted: 30 May 2014 10:33 AM PDT Three genetic changes can predict whether a patient will benefit from chemotherapy before surgery to remove bladder cancer, according to new findings. These results suggest that doctors may one day sequence patients' tumors for the presence of these three mutations, to determine who will likely benefit most from chemotherapy before surgery, said one investigator.

Hepatitis C reactivation doesn't worsen survival for HIV+ patients diagnosed with lymphoma Posted: 30 May 2014 10:32 AM PDT Hepatitis C reactivation doesn't worsen survival for HIV+ patients diagnosed with lymphoma, research shows. More than a quarter of HIV+ patients are also infected with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), which may complicate treatment and care decisions after a cancer diagnosis. The specifics of those complications haven't been well-researched before this study.

Urbanization, future heat-related mortality linked Posted: 30 May 2014 10:32 AM PDT Phoenix stands at a parched crossroads. Global scale climate change is forecast to bring hotter summers and more extreme heat to the Valley, but regional urbanization also will impact temperatures experienced by residents. So how should Phoenix grow knowing that such growth could cause temperatures to increase in the future and bring added health risks? Should the city deploy mitigating technologies to help fight summer's heat? Would adopting a low-growth strategy reduce the adverse health consequences of hot weather?

Compounds in saliva, common body proteins may fend off DNA-damaging chemicals in tea, coffee and liquid smoke Posted: 30 May 2014 10:31 AM PDT A compound in saliva, along with common proteins in blood and muscle, may protect human cells from powerful toxins in tea, coffee and liquid smoke flavoring, according to results of a new study. The findings suggest that the presence of these defenses could help explain why PLPs are not crippling cells and causing illness as would be expected from their toxic punch and widespread use, the researchers say.

Reduced kidney function associated with higher risk of renal, urothelial cancer Posted: 29 May 2014 03:16 PM PDT Reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) — a key measure of reduced kidney function and chronic kidney disease (CKD) — is an independent risk factor for renal and urothelial cancer but not other cancer types, report researchers who investigated the level of kidney function and subsequent cancer risk in more than one million adults.

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