ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• New brain pathways for understanding type 2 diabetes and obesity uncovered
• New EMS system dramatically improves survival from cardiac arrest
• Slow walking speed, memory complaints can predict dementia
• Anti-inflammatory drug can prevent neuron loss in Parkinson's model
• Manipulating key protein in brain holds potential against obesity, diabetes
• Experiences at every stage of life contribute to cognitive abilities in old age
• Test increases odds of correct surgery for thyroid cancer patients
• Nanoparticle 'alarm clock' tested to awaken immune systems put to sleep by cancer
• Monitoring rise and fall of the microbiome
• Total darkness at night key to success of breast cancer therapy, study shows
• Informed consent: False positives not a worry in lung cancer study
• Less than 1% of UK public research funding spent on antibiotic research in past 5 years
• Could heart attack patients could be treated more quickly?
• Optimum ventilation strategy during general anaesthesia in abdominal operations found
• Dementia carers need more medication support, report says
• Is Europe putting cancer research at risk?
• Vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by food security, despite public programs
• Brain tumor causes, risk factors elude scientists
• Common blood thinner for pregnant women proven ineffective
• Overweight, obese preschoolers lose more weight when parent is also treated
• Antioxidant biomaterial promotes healing
• Gun violence prevention requires public health approach, experts say
• Incisionless transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) surgery associated with shorter hospital stays
• 'Naïve' pluripotent human embryonic stem cells created
• Newly discovered gut virus lives in half the world's population

New brain pathways for understanding type 2 diabetes and obesity uncovered Posted: 25 Jul 2014 01:35 PM PDT Researchers have identified neural pathways that increase understanding of how the brain regulates body weight, energy expenditure, and blood glucose levels – a discovery that can lead to new therapies for treating Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

New EMS system dramatically improves survival from cardiac arrest Posted: 25 Jul 2014 11:46 AM PDT A new emergency medicine system that sent patients to designated cardiac receiving centers dramatically increased the survival rate of victims of sudden cardiac arrest in Arizona, according to a study. Under the study, 31 hospitals, serving about 80 percent of the state's population, were designated as cardiac receiving centers between December 2007 and November 2010. Approximately 55 emergency medicine service agencies also participated in the study.

Slow walking speed, memory complaints can predict dementia Posted: 25 Jul 2014 11:44 AM PDT A study involving nearly 27,000 older adults on five continents found that nearly 1 in 10 met criteria for pre-dementia based on a simple test that measures how fast people walk and whether they have cognitive complaints. People who tested positive for pre-dementia were twice as likely as others to develop dementia within 12 years.

Anti-inflammatory drug can prevent neuron loss in Parkinson's model Posted: 25 Jul 2014 10:16 AM PDT An experimental anti-inflammatory drug can protect vulnerable neurons and reduce motor deficits in a rat model of Parkinson's disease, a study has shown. The findings demonstrate that the drug, called XPro1595, can reach the brain at sufficient levels and have beneficial effects when administered by subcutaneous injection, like an insulin shot. Previous studies of XPro1595 in animals tested more invasive modes of delivery, such as direct injection into the brain.

Manipulating key protein in brain holds potential against obesity, diabetes Posted: 25 Jul 2014 10:16 AM PDT A protein that controls when genes are switched on or off plays a key role in specific areas of the brain to regulate metabolism, researchers have found. The research potentially could lead to new therapies to treat obesity and diabetes, since the transcription factor involved – spliced X-box binding protein 1 – appears to influence the body's sensitivity to insulin and leptin signaling.

Experiences at every stage of life contribute to cognitive abilities in old age Posted: 25 Jul 2014 08:09 AM PDT Early life experiences, such as childhood socioeconomic status and literacy, may have greater influence on the risk of cognitive impairment late in life than such demographic characteristics as race and ethnicity, a large study has found. "These findings are important," explained the lead author of the study "because it challenges earlier research that suggests associations between race and ethnicity, particularly among Latinos, and an increased risk of late-life cognitive impairment and dementia.

Test increases odds of correct surgery for thyroid cancer patients Posted: 25 Jul 2014 08:08 AM PDT The routine use of a molecular testing panel increases the likelihood of performing the correct initial surgery for thyroid cancer patients by 30 percent, researchers report. "Before this test, about one in five potential thyroid cancer cases couldn't be diagnosed without an operation to remove a portion of the thyroid," said the lead author.

Nanoparticle 'alarm clock' tested to awaken immune systems put to sleep by cancer Posted: 25 Jul 2014 08:07 AM PDT Researchers are exploring ways to wake up the immune system so it recognizes and attacks invading cancer cells. One pioneering approach uses nanoparticles to jumpstart the body's ability to fight tumors. Nanoparticles are too small to imagine. One billion could fit on the head of a pin. This makes them stealthy enough to penetrate cancer cells with therapeutic agents such as antibodies, drugs, vaccine type viruses, or even metallic particles.

Monitoring rise and fall of the microbiome Posted: 25 Jul 2014 05:04 AM PDT Close analysis of bacteria in the human digestive tract reveals links to diet and other lifestyle factors, researchers report. Trillions of bacteria live in each person's digestive tract. Scientists believe that some of these bacteria help digest food and stave off harmful infections, but their role in human health is not well understood.

Total darkness at night key to success of breast cancer therapy, study shows Posted: 25 Jul 2014 05:04 AM PDT Exposure to light at night, which shuts off nighttime production of the hormone melatonin, renders breast cancer completely resistant to tamoxifen, a widely used breast cancer drug, says a new study. Melatonin by itself delayed the formation of tumors and significantly slowed their growth, researchers report, but tamoxifen caused a dramatic regression of tumors in animals with either high nighttime levels of melatonin during complete darkness or those receiving melatonin supplementation during dim light at night exposure.

Informed consent: False positives not a worry in lung cancer study Posted: 25 Jul 2014 05:04 AM PDT A false positive screen result -- a screening test in which initial findings of concern for cancer are later found not to be worrisome -- did not cause participants undue anxiety or reduced quality of life, a new study shows. Researchers hypothesize that clear and accurate consent forms prepared patients for these false positive diagnoses.

Less than 1% of UK public research funding spent on antibiotic research in past 5 years Posted: 25 Jul 2014 05:03 AM PDT Less than 1% of research funding awarded by public and charitable bodies to UK researchers in 2008–13 was awarded for research on antibiotics, according to new research. The study, which is the first detailed assessment of public and charitable funding to UK researchers focusing on bacteriology and antibiotic research, suggests that present levels of funding for antibiotic research in the UK are inadequate, and will need to be urgently increased if the growing crisis of antibiotic resistance is to be tackled effectively by UK researchers.

Could heart attack patients could be treated more quickly? Posted: 25 Jul 2014 05:03 AM PDT Clinical judgement, combined with an electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood test on arrival, is effective in reducing unnecessary hospital admissions for chest pain, a new study shows. The findings of a research group could potentially make a huge difference to a large number of patients. Researchers assessed the diagnostic accuracy of emergency doctors' clinical judgement for acute coronary syndromes – both alone and in combination with the tests available on arrival – ECG and a blood test which detects a protein called troponin.

Optimum ventilation strategy during general anaesthesia in abdominal operations found Posted: 25 Jul 2014 05:03 AM PDT A multi-centre study at 30 centres across Europe, North and South America involving a total of 900 test subjects has investigated various ventilation strategies currently used during anaesthesia given for surgical procedures involving the abdomen to see just how effective they are.

Dementia carers need more medication support, report says Posted: 25 Jul 2014 05:03 AM PDT Family carers of people with dementia may need more support with medication management, according to a recent study. "Family carers have a key role in supporting medication management particularly as the dementia progresses. We need to understand the challenges that family carers face and how healthcare professionals can help," an author noted.

Is Europe putting cancer research at risk? Posted: 25 Jul 2014 05:03 AM PDT Experts have expressed concern that the proposed EU General Data Protection Regulation could make cancer research impossible and add a significant burden to both doctors and cancer patients. The proposed wording of the regulation stipulates 'explicit and specific patient consent', meaning that researchers would have to approach patients every single time research is planned in order to consult their data or use tissue samples stored for research purposes.

Vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by food security, despite public programs Posted: 25 Jul 2014 05:01 AM PDT Vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, ethnic minorities, and low-income households are disproportionately affected by food security, despite the extensive private and public food safety net in the United States, according to a new report. The USDA refers to food insecurity as the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or limited or uncertain ability to obtain food in socially acceptable ways.

Brain tumor causes, risk factors elude scientists Posted: 25 Jul 2014 05:01 AM PDT Today, nearly 700,000 people in the U.S. are living with a brain tumor, and yet, when it comes to pinpointing causes or risk factors, scientists are still searching for answers. "Unlike the strong correlation between smoking and lung cancer, we just haven't found a specific risk factor like that for brain tumors," said a researcher. "We have determined that ionizing radiation to the head is a risk factor when received in therapeutic doses, but even in those cases, the risk of developing a brain tumor is low."

Common blood thinner for pregnant women proven ineffective Posted: 24 Jul 2014 04:20 PM PDT A daily injection to the belly commonly prescribed for pregnant women at risk of developing blood clots is found to be ineffective. As many as one in 10 pregnant women have a tendency to develop blood clots in their veins, a condition called thrombophilia. The anticoagulant LMWH has been prescribed for two decades to prevent related pregnancy complications. Now, a study provides conclusive evidence that it has no positive benefits for the mother or child, and could actually cause pregnant women some minor harm.

Overweight, obese preschoolers lose more weight when parent is also treated Posted: 24 Jul 2014 02:21 PM PDT Primary care treatment of overweight and obese preschoolers works better when treatment targets both parent and child compared to when only the child is targeted. The study results suggest that overweight or obese children and their parents can be successfully treated in the primary care setting with the assistance of practice enhancers.

Antioxidant biomaterial promotes healing Posted: 24 Jul 2014 02:19 PM PDT The first-ever inherently antioxidant biomaterial has been created by researcher. It has the potential to prevent failure in medical devices and surgical implants. The lead researcher said the new biomaterial could be used to create scaffolds for tissue engineering, coat or build safer medical devices, promote healing in regenerative medicine, and protect cells, genes, and viruses during drug delivery. He added that the new biomaterial is easy to make and inexpensive.

Gun violence prevention requires public health approach, experts say Posted: 24 Jul 2014 02:17 PM PDT Preventing gun violence will require a scientific public health approach and recognition of the limits of predicting individual cases of violence, according to experts.

Incisionless transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) surgery associated with shorter hospital stays Posted: 24 Jul 2014 11:14 AM PDT Incisionless transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) surgery cuts length of hospital stay by 30 percent and has no impact on post-operative vascular complication rates when compared with conventional transfemoral TAVR, which requires an incision in the groin, a study has concluded.

'Naïve' pluripotent human embryonic stem cells created Posted: 24 Jul 2014 09:36 AM PDT Embryonic stem cell (ESC) research has been hampered by the inability to transfer research and tools from mouse ESC studies to their human counterparts, in part because human ESCs are "primed" and slightly less plastic than the mouse cells. Now researchers have discovered how to manipulate and maintain human ESCs into a "naïve" or base pluripotent state similar to that of mouse ESCs without the use of any reprogramming factors.

Newly discovered gut virus lives in half the world's population Posted: 24 Jul 2014 06:42 AM PDT Odds are, there's a virus living inside your gut that has gone undetected by scientists for decades. A new study has found that more than half the world's population is host to a newly described virus, named crAssphage, which infects one of the most common gut bacterial species, Bacteroides. This bacterium thought to be connected with obesity, diabetes and other gut-related diseases.

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