ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Otzi Iceman had genetic predisposition for atherosclerosis: Much the same in ancient peoples as it is today
• Mechanism promoting multiple DNA mutations described by scientists
• Diverticulitis patients reveal psychological, physical symptoms long after acute attacks
• Pesticide DDT linked to slow metabolism, obesity and diabetes, mouse study finds
• New malaria vaccine candidates identified
• Kids with autism and sensory processing disorders show differences in brain wiring
• Scientists call for new strategy in pursuit of HIV-free generation
• Birthweight and breastfeeding have implications for children's health decades later
• Dissolvable fabric loaded with medicine might offer faster protection against HIV
• Dimly lit working environments: Correcting body clock is possible
• Naltrexone may be effective in diminishing impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease patients
• Many depressed preschoolers still suffer in later school years
• Income a major driver of avoidable hospitalizations across New Jersey
• Exploring 3-D printing to make organs for transplants
• Laughter is the best medicine? The emotional appeal of stand-up comedy
• Breastfeeding: Do celebrity ambassadors help the ordinary woman?
• Is a cancer drug working? Modified drug gives a 'green light' for its own success
• Toward a home test for detecting potentially dangerous levels of caffeine
• Sugar mimics guide stem cells toward neural fate
• Hope for more accurate diagnosis of memory problems
• High frequency of potential entrapment gaps in hospital beds
• Ablation increases survival for adults with atrial fibrillation
• Parenting skills improve in ADHD parents with medication
• Brain response to appetizing food cues varies among obese people
• Teen insomnia linked with depression, anxiety
• Soy may help women's hearts if they start early
• Acupuncture provides significant quality of life improvements among breast cancer patients taking drugs to prevent recurrence, study shows
• A blood test for suicide risk? Alterations to a single gene could predict risk of suicide attempt
• Research shows impact of soft drinks in meal planning
• Problem drinking in midlife doubles chance of memory problems in later life
• A blood test could help prevent neural tube birth defects
• Why we should vaccinate boys against HPV as well as girls
• Five daily portions of fruit and vegetables may be enough to lower risk of early death
• Children whose parents spend more time cooking choose healthier foods later
• Striatal dopamine transporter binding correlates with body composition and visual attention bias for food cues in healthy young men
• Eating tree nuts results in 'modest decreases' in blood fats and sugars, survey finds
• Dieting young may lead to poor health outcomes later: Trends in dieting strategies in young adult women from 1982 to 2012
• Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages during adolescence impairs memory, animal study suggests
• Blood sugar levels closely linked to how our brains respond to the sight of food, twin study finds
• Maternal obesity modulates offspring microflora composition and gastrointestinal functions, animal study shows
• Time of arrival at hospital impacts time to treatment and survival of heart attack patients
• Vaccine against tick-transmitted disease under development
• Making cancer glow to improve surgical outcomes
• Urbanization of rural Africa associated with increased risk of heart disease and diabetes
• Malaria vaccine shows continued protection during 18 months of follow-up
• $15 billion annual public funding system for doctor training needs overhaul, say experts
• Menu secrets that can make you slim by design
• Research may explain how foremost anticancer 'guardian' protein learned to switch sides
• Congenital heart disease specialists develop nonsurgical technique to correct birth defects in premature infants
• Vaccine website could increase uptake
• Herpes remains active even when no symptoms appear

Otzi Iceman had genetic predisposition for atherosclerosis: Much the same in ancient peoples as it is today Posted: 30 Jul 2014 05:37 PM PDT While prevalence and types of risk factors for atherosclerosis have varied over time from ancient times to modern society -- such as levels of obesity, physical activity -- genetic predisposition/risk for the condition today appears to be very similar to that in ancient times.

Mechanism promoting multiple DNA mutations described by scientists Posted: 30 Jul 2014 02:31 PM PDT Recent studies have shown that cancer development frequently involves the formation of multiple mutations that arise simultaneously and in close proximity to each other. These groups of clustered mutations are frequently found in regions where chromosomal rearrangements take place. The finding that cancer development often involves multiple mutations arising in clusters and in regions where chromosomal rearrangement takes place may one day lead to new cancer therapies.

Diverticulitis patients reveal psychological, physical symptoms long after acute attacks Posted: 30 Jul 2014 01:15 PM PDT Patients were interviewed by a research team in great detail about the symptoms they experience weeks, months or even years after an acute diverticulitis attack. Their striking findings add to growing evidence that, for some patients, diverticulitis goes beyond isolated attacks and can lead to a chronic condition that mimics irritable bowel syndrome. The researchers used those insights to develop a questionnaire to help doctors better assess the long-term impact of diverticulitis, which ultimately could lead to better understanding and management of the disease.

Pesticide DDT linked to slow metabolism, obesity and diabetes, mouse study finds Posted: 30 Jul 2014 12:17 PM PDT A new study in mice is the first to show that developmental exposure to DDT increases the risk of females later developing metabolic syndrome -- a cluster of conditions that include increased body fat, blood glucose, and cholesterol.

New malaria vaccine candidates identified Posted: 30 Jul 2014 12:11 PM PDT Researchers have discovered new vaccine targets that could help in the battle against malaria. Taking a new, large-scale approach to this search, researchers tested a library of proteins from the Plasmodium falciparum parasite with antibodies produced by the immune systems of a group of infected children.

Kids with autism and sensory processing disorders show differences in brain wiring Posted: 30 Jul 2014 11:09 AM PDT Researchers have found that children with sensory processing disorders have decreased structural brain connections in specific sensory regions different than those in autism, further establishing SPD as a clinically important neurodevelopmental disorder.

Scientists call for new strategy in pursuit of HIV-free generation Posted: 30 Jul 2014 10:31 AM PDT In light of the recent news that HIV has been detected in the Mississippi baby previously thought to have been cured of the disease, researchers are assessing how to help those born to HIV-infected mothers. These infants around the world are in need of new immune-based protective strategies, including vaccines delivered to mothers and babies and the means to boost potentially protective maternal antibodies, say researchers.

Birthweight and breastfeeding have implications for children's health decades later Posted: 30 Jul 2014 10:24 AM PDT Young adults who were breastfed for three months or more as babies have a significantly lower risk of chronic inflammation associated with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, according to new research.

Dissolvable fabric loaded with medicine might offer faster protection against HIV Posted: 30 Jul 2014 10:24 AM PDT Bioengineers have discovered a potentially faster way to deliver a topical drug that protects women from contracting HIV. Their method spins the drug into silk-like fibers that quickly dissolve when in contact with moisture, releasing higher doses of the drug than possible with other topical materials.

Dimly lit working environments: Correcting body clock is possible Posted: 30 Jul 2014 09:02 AM PDT Researchers have, for the first time, conducted a study under real conditions on the body clocks of members of an international polar research station. The researchers have shown that a particular kind of artificial light is capable of ensuring that their biological rhythms are correctly synchronized despite the absence of sunlight.

Naltrexone may be effective in diminishing impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease patients Posted: 30 Jul 2014 09:01 AM PDT Parkinson's disease (PD) patients may confront a common but largely unrecognized challenge: the occurrence of impulse control disorders (ICDs) such as compulsive gambling, sexual behavior, eating, or spending. A team of investigators conducted a pilot study and found that the opioid antagonist naltrexone may be an effective treatment for diminishing ICD symptoms in PD patients.

Many depressed preschoolers still suffer in later school years Posted: 30 Jul 2014 09:01 AM PDT Children diagnosed with depression as preschoolers are likely to suffer from depression as school-age children and young adolescents, new research shows. The investigators followed 246 children, now ages 9 to 12, who were enrolled in the study as preschoolers when they were 3 to 5 years old. The children and their primary caregivers participated in up to six annual and four semiannual assessments. They were screened using a tool called the Preschool Feelings Checklist and evaluated using an age-appropriate diagnostic interview.

Income a major driver of avoidable hospitalizations across New Jersey Posted: 30 Jul 2014 07:41 AM PDT The household income of its residents is the most important factor in whether a community has high or low rates of avoidable hospital visits -- conditions that could be better managed in a doctor's office or other health care settings if treated at an early stage, according to a report.

Exploring 3-D printing to make organs for transplants Posted: 30 Jul 2014 07:41 AM PDT Printing whole new organs for transplants sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, but the real-life budding technology could one day make actual kidneys, livers, hearts and other organs for patients who desperately need them. Scientists are reporting new understanding about the dynamics of 3-D bioprinting that takes them a step closer to realizing their goal of making working tissues and organs on-demand.

Laughter is the best medicine? The emotional appeal of stand-up comedy Posted: 30 Jul 2014 07:40 AM PDT Comics taking to the stage should take note: how much of a hit they are with their audiences won't be down to just their jokes. The link between humor and emotion plays a large part in how well an audience connects with a comedian, and vice versa, according to new research.

Breastfeeding: Do celebrity ambassadors help the ordinary woman? Posted: 30 Jul 2014 07:40 AM PDT Breasts are the strongest symbol of female sexuality and are abundant in the media, on magazines, in adverts and in film. Celebrity breasts are depicted as objects of sexual desire and as a model for everyday women to aspire to. Broadcast images of breastfeeding however are scarce and elicit controversy and even revulsion.

Is a cancer drug working? Modified drug gives a 'green light' for its own success Posted: 30 Jul 2014 07:40 AM PDT A modified anticancer drug can simultaneously target tumor sites and show whether or not it is working.

Toward a home test for detecting potentially dangerous levels of caffeine Posted: 30 Jul 2014 06:43 AM PDT The shocking news of an Ohio teen who died of a caffeine overdose in May highlighted the potential dangers of the normally well-tolerated and mass-consumed substance. To help prevent serious health problems that can arise from consuming too much caffeine, scientists are reporting progress toward a rapid, at-home test to detect even low levels of the stimulant in most beverages and even breast milk.

Sugar mimics guide stem cells toward neural fate Posted: 30 Jul 2014 06:40 AM PDT Many growth factors that influence the fate of embryonic stem cells must bind to sugars attached to specific receptors on the surface of the cell to work. Because the sugars are difficult to manipulate, biochemists created synthetic stand ins that helped to identify substructures recognized by a growth factor involved in neural development.

Hope for more accurate diagnosis of memory problems Posted: 30 Jul 2014 06:38 AM PDT More accurate tests could be created to diagnose diseases such as Alzheimer's or memory problems stemming from head injuries, leading to earlier intervention, according to new findings.

High frequency of potential entrapment gaps in hospital beds Posted: 30 Jul 2014 06:38 AM PDT A survey of beds within a large teaching hospital in Ireland has shown than many of them did not comply with dimensional standards put in place to minimize the risk of entrapment. The report therefore emphasizes the need for careful selection of patients for whom bedrails are to be used, as well as the need for monitoring and maintenance of hospital bed systems.

Ablation increases survival for adults with atrial fibrillation Posted: 30 Jul 2014 06:35 AM PDT Easing heart palpitations is one benefit of catheter ablation. A longer life span is another. Study shows 60 drop in cardiovascular mortality after ablation for atrial fibrillation. More than 4 million people have atrial fibrillation, an age-related heart rhythm disorder that can cause a fluttering sensation in the chest and impair the heart's ability to pump blood.

Parenting skills improve in ADHD parents with medication Posted: 30 Jul 2014 06:35 AM PDT Parenting skills of adults with ADHD improve when their ADHD is treated with medication, according to researchers. At least 25 percent of clinic-referred children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder have a parent with ADHD. At least 25 percent of clinic-referred children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder have a parent with ADHD.

Brain response to appetizing food cues varies among obese people Posted: 30 Jul 2014 06:35 AM PDT People who have the most common genetic mutation linked to obesity respond differently to pictures of appetizing foods than overweight or obese people who do not have the genetic mutation, according to a new study. More than one-third of adults are obese. Obesity typically results from a combination of eating too much, getting too little physical activity and genetics.

Teen insomnia linked with depression, anxiety Posted: 30 Jul 2014 06:35 AM PDT A study of high school students has shed new light on the links between insomnia-related mental health conditions among teens. "People with insomnia find it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep for as long as they need to. This is a widespread sleep disorder among the general public, and in most countries about 11% of teens aged 13-16 years experience insomnia at some stage," one researcher said.

Soy may help women's hearts if they start early Posted: 30 Jul 2014 01:34 AM PDT A diet rich in soy may help feminine hearts, but timing matters, finds a new study. "This study underscores how important it is for women to get into the best cardiovascular shape they can before menopause. The healthy habits they start then will carry them through the years to come," says one expert.

Acupuncture provides significant quality of life improvements among breast cancer patients taking drugs to prevent recurrence, study shows Posted: 30 Jul 2014 01:34 AM PDT Use of electroacupuncture (EA) – a form of acupuncture where a small electric current is passed between pairs of acupuncture needles – produces significant improvements in fatigue, anxiety and depression in as little as eight weeks for early stage breast cancer patients experiencing joint pain related to the use of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) to treat breast cancer. The study is the first demonstration of EA's efficacy for both joint pain relief, as well as these other common symptoms.

A blood test for suicide risk? Alterations to a single gene could predict risk of suicide attempt Posted: 30 Jul 2014 01:34 AM PDT Researchers say they have discovered a chemical alteration in a single human gene linked to stress reactions that, if confirmed in larger studies, could give doctors a simple blood test to reliably predict a person's risk of attempting suicide.

Research shows impact of soft drinks in meal planning Posted: 29 Jul 2014 07:49 PM PDT New research has looked into whether we take liquid calories into account when planning meals. Participants completed a computer-based match-fullness task which assessed the expected satiation of meals that included either a calorific drink, a non-calorific drink, or a snack with the same energy content as the calorific drink. The researchers also explored the contribution of carbonation on expected fullness.

Problem drinking in midlife doubles chance of memory problems in later life Posted: 29 Jul 2014 07:49 PM PDT Middle-aged adults with a history of problem drinking are more than twice as likely to suffer from severe memory impairment in later life, research shows. The study highlights the hitherto largely unknown link between harmful patterns of alcohol consumption and problems with memory later in life -- problems which may place people at a high risk of developing dementia.

A blood test could help prevent neural tube birth defects Posted: 29 Jul 2014 07:49 PM PDT A blood test to measure folate concentrations in a mother's red blood cells could help in the prevention of neural tube birth defects, suggests a large study.

Why we should vaccinate boys against HPV as well as girls Posted: 29 Jul 2014 07:49 PM PDT An expert in chronic illnesses says that boys should be vaccinated against the HPV virus, as well as girls, to cut incidence of genital warts and several cancers.

Five daily portions of fruit and vegetables may be enough to lower risk of early death Posted: 29 Jul 2014 07:49 PM PDT Eating five daily portions of fruit and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of death from any cause, particularly from cardiovascular disease, but beyond five portions appears to have no further effect, finds a new study.

Children whose parents spend more time cooking choose healthier foods later Posted: 29 Jul 2014 07:49 PM PDT New research suggests that the amount time parents spend on food preparation at home influences children's food intake decisions made in the laboratory without parental supervision.

Striatal dopamine transporter binding correlates with body composition and visual attention bias for food cues in healthy young men Posted: 29 Jul 2014 07:49 PM PDT Scientists have described a way that brain chemistry may make some people notice food more easily, which can tempt overeating even in people who are not overweight.

Eating tree nuts results in 'modest decreases' in blood fats and sugars, survey finds Posted: 29 Jul 2014 07:49 PM PDT Eating tree nuts appears to help reduce two of the five markers for metabolic syndrome, a group of factors that raise the risk for heart disease and other health problems such as diabetes and strokes, a new research paper says.

Dieting young may lead to poor health outcomes later: Trends in dieting strategies in young adult women from 1982 to 2012 Posted: 29 Jul 2014 07:49 PM PDT The younger a woman is when she goes on her first diet, the more likely she is to experience several negative health outcomes later in life.

Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages during adolescence impairs memory, animal study suggests Posted: 29 Jul 2014 07:49 PM PDT Daily consumption of beverages sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup or sucrose can impair the ability to learn and remember information, particularly when consumption occurs during adolescence, a study done in rats suggests.

Blood sugar levels closely linked to how our brains respond to the sight of food, twin study finds Posted: 29 Jul 2014 07:49 PM PDT Our brain's response to the sight of food appears to be driven more by how low our blood sugar level is at the moment than our upbringing or genetics.

Maternal obesity modulates offspring microflora composition and gastrointestinal functions, animal study shows Posted: 29 Jul 2014 07:48 PM PDT Maternal obesity leads to marked changes in the offspring's gastrointestinal microflora composition and gastrointestinal function. This study suggests there are non-genetic factors that could be passed from a mother to offspring to increase the susceptibility to obesity.

Time of arrival at hospital impacts time to treatment and survival of heart attack patients Posted: 29 Jul 2014 01:47 PM PDT Study shows heart attack patients who arrive at the hospital during weeknights, weekends and holidays have a 13 percent increased risk of dying compared with those arriving during regular business hours. On average, time to receive angioplasty was 16 minutes faster for people who arrived during business hours. Time of day was not associated with delays in aspirin administration, imaging tests or intravenous clot-busting medications. Compared to previous reports, the researchers observed lower in-hospital deaths and improved door-to-needle times.

Vaccine against tick-transmitted disease under development Posted: 29 Jul 2014 12:29 PM PDT An important advancement toward developing a vaccine against the debilitating and potentially deadly tick-transmitted disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis has been made by scientists. Successful vaccine development hinges on knowing what to target to prevent disease, and the research team has identified three such proteins on the surface of the HGA agent.

Making cancer glow to improve surgical outcomes Posted: 29 Jul 2014 12:29 PM PDT The best way to cure most cases of cancer is to surgically remove the tumor. The Achilles heel of this approach, however, is that the surgeon may fail to extract the entire tumor, leading to a local recurrence. With a new technique, researchers have established a new strategy to help surgeons see the entire tumor in the patient, increasing the likelihood of a positive outcome.

Urbanization of rural Africa associated with increased risk of heart disease and diabetes Posted: 29 Jul 2014 11:20 AM PDT The increasing urbanization of rural areas in sub-Saharan Africa could lead to an explosion in incidences of heart disease and diabetes, according to a new study carried out in Uganda that found that even small changes towards more urban lifestyles was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Malaria vaccine shows continued protection during 18 months of follow-up Posted: 29 Jul 2014 11:20 AM PDT A vaccine previously shown to reduce malaria in young infants and children reduces larger numbers of malaria cases in areas of higher malaria transmission, according to results from an ongoing clinical trial. The effect of vaccination diminished over time, but protection against clinical malaria remained evident 18 months after vaccination.

$15 billion annual public funding system for doctor training needs overhaul, say experts Posted: 29 Jul 2014 09:38 AM PDT The US should significantly reform the federal system for financing physician training and residency programs to ensure that the public's $15 billion annual investment is producing the doctors that the nation needs, says a new report.

Menu secrets that can make you slim by design Posted: 29 Jul 2014 09:38 AM PDT If you've ever ordered the wrong food at a restaurant, don't blame yourself; blame the menu. What you order may have less to do with what you want and more to do with a menu's layout and descriptions.

Research may explain how foremost anticancer 'guardian' protein learned to switch sides Posted: 29 Jul 2014 09:38 AM PDT A cellular program that evolved over eons to heal wounds may have been hijacked by mutant p53 proteins to enable cancers to spread out of control. This protein normally comes to the fore when healthy cells sense damage to their DNA caused by stress, such as exposure to toxic chemicals or intense exposure to the sun's UV rays. If the damage is severe, p53 can cause a cell to commit preprogrammed cell-death, or apoptosis. Mutant versions of p53 that no longer perform this vital function, on the other hand, are enablers of many different cancers.

Congenital heart disease specialists develop nonsurgical technique to correct birth defects in premature infants Posted: 29 Jul 2014 07:10 AM PDT A new technique for repairing the most common cardiac birth defect in newborns, commonly referred to as "a hole in the heart," has been used successfully to mend the condition in six premature infants without subjecting the tiny patients to open-heart surgery.

Vaccine website could increase uptake Posted: 29 Jul 2014 06:32 AM PDT Giving parents access to a dedicated website on the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is the most cost-effective way to increase uptake, say experts. "A website is a simple solution but one that could make a real difference to vaccination uptake. This is a much more convenient way for parents to get information they need about the safety of the MMR vaccine for their children," one expert said.

Herpes remains active even when no symptoms appear Posted: 29 Jul 2014 06:31 AM PDT A large percentage of people carry the herpes virus -- and although it mostly seems dormant, virologists have found our cells are having to fight the virus constantly. Herpes Simplex Type 1 is a virus that causes cold sores. It remains in the body's nervous system indefinitely after infection.

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