ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Quarter of people with diabetes worldwide live in China, but new approach could help transform their care
• Can your blood type affect your memory in later years?
• 'Immortal' flatworms: Weapon against bacteria
• Mosquito fact and fiction
• Even small stressors may be harmful to men's health, new research shows
• Fish, fatty acid consumption associated with lower risk of hearing loss in women
• Missing piece found to help solve concussion puzzle
• Halving the risk of preterm birth for some twin pregnancies
• Healthcare workers wash hands more often when in presence of peers
• 'Electronic skin' could improve early breast cancer detection
• First clinical trial on HER-2-negative breast cancer with nintedanib shows promising results
• Monitoring response of bone metastases to treatment using MRI, PET
• How skin falls apart: Pathology of autoimmune skin disease revealed at the nanoscale
• Researchers unlock genetic code of cancer-causing liver fluke parasite
• Researchers watch lipid molecules in motion
• Working during depression can offer health benefits to employees
• Blocking single receptor could halt rheumatoid arthritis
• Appetite and mortality: The two are closely connected in the eldery
• Air pollution harmful to young brains, study finds
• Back pain killing your sex life? Study reveals best positions to save your spine
• Clinical trial to test safety of stem cell-derived therapy for type 1 diabetes
• Analysis of DEA rules allowing pharmacies to accept unused medication
• Thyroid cancer rates in Pennsylvania rising faster than rest of country as a whole
• Olaparib tablet safe in pretreated ovarian cancer patients
• Smartphones may aid in dietary self-monitoring
• Gray matter myelin loss strongly related to multiple sclerosis disability, MRI shows
• Mapping bats could help stop Ebola's spread
• Living liver donor candidates: Ambivalence is common
• Pain tolerance levels between men, women are similar
• When talking about body size, African American women and doctors may be speaking different languages
• Combining antibodies, iron nanoparticles and magnets steers stem cells to injured organs
• Less effective DNA repair process takes over as mice age
• Brain structure could predict risky behavior
• No convincing evidence to support use of new hip and knee implants, review finds
• Long-term use of pills for anxiety and sleep problems may be linked to Alzheimer's
• Frequent cannabis use in adolescence linked with reduced educational attainment, other problems in young adults
• Online mindfulness intervention reduces fatigue, negative work-related worry
• One in five young men unable to purchase emergency contraception

Quarter of people with diabetes worldwide live in China, but new approach could help transform their care Posted: 10 Sep 2014 04:01 PM PDT Diabetes has become a major public health crisis in China, but a new collaborative approach to care that uses registries and community support could help improve diabetes care, according to new research.

Can your blood type affect your memory in later years? Posted: 10 Sep 2014 03:59 PM PDT People with blood type AB may be more likely to develop memory loss in later years than people with other blood types, according to a study. AB is the least common blood type, found in about 4 percent of the U.S. population. The study found that people with AB blood were 82 percent more likely to develop the thinking and memory problems that can lead to dementia than people with other blood types.

'Immortal' flatworms: Weapon against bacteria Posted: 10 Sep 2014 11:09 AM PDT A novel mode of defense against bacteria, such as the causal agent of tuberculosis or Staphylococcus aureus, has been identified in humans by studying a small, aquatic flatworm, the planarian. This discovery highlights the importance of studying alternative model organisms, and opens the way towards new treatments against bacterial infections.

Mosquito fact and fiction Posted: 10 Sep 2014 11:09 AM PDT A mosquito researcher has collected interesting facts and stories about his research subjects, nature's ultimate bioterrorists.

Even small stressors may be harmful to men's health, new research shows Posted: 10 Sep 2014 10:25 AM PDT Older men who lead high-stress lives are likely to die earlier than the average for their peers, new research shows. The study looked at two types of stress: the everyday hassles of such things as commuting, job stress or arguments with family and friends; and significant life events, such as job loss or the death of a spouse.

Fish, fatty acid consumption associated with lower risk of hearing loss in women Posted: 10 Sep 2014 10:25 AM PDT Consumption of 2 or more servings of fish per week was associated with a lower risk of hearing loss in women, researchers have found. "Acquired hearing loss is a highly prevalent and often disabling chronic health condition," stated one corresponding author. "Although a decline in hearing is often considered an inevitable aspect of aging, the identification of several potentially modifiable risk factors has provided new insight into possibilities for prevention or delay of acquired hearing loss."

Missing piece found to help solve concussion puzzle Posted: 10 Sep 2014 09:06 AM PDT A new, 5- to 10-minute test that could be added to a clinician's concussion evaluation toolkit for a more comprehensive assessment of the injury has been developed by scientists. "For the past five to 10 years, our research has revealed that vision issues, fogginess and dizziness are symptoms associated with the worst outcomes in our patients. So we set out to create an evidence-based examination to assess these areas," researchers report.

Halving the risk of preterm birth for some twin pregnancies Posted: 10 Sep 2014 09:06 AM PDT The risk of preterm birth could be halved for a specific group of 'super high-risk' twin pregnancies. The results could help to save babies' lives throughout the world and prevent serious health complications after birth.

Healthcare workers wash hands more often when in presence of peers Posted: 10 Sep 2014 09:04 AM PDT Nationally, hand hygiene adherence by healthcare workers remains staggeringly low despite its critical importance in infection control. A new study found that healthcare workers' adherence to hand hygiene is better when other workers are nearby.

'Electronic skin' could improve early breast cancer detection Posted: 10 Sep 2014 09:04 AM PDT For detecting cancer, manual breast exams seem low-tech compared to other methods such as MRI. But scientists are now developing an 'electronic skin' that 'feels' and images small lumps that fingers can miss. Knowing the size and shape of a lump could allow for earlier identification of breast cancer, which could save lives.

First clinical trial on HER-2-negative breast cancer with nintedanib shows promising results Posted: 10 Sep 2014 09:04 AM PDT The experimental drug nintedanib, combined with standard chemotherapy with paclitaxel, causes a total remission of tumors in 50 percent of patients suffering from early HER-2-negative breast cancer, the most common type of breast cancer.

Monitoring response of bone metastases to treatment using MRI, PET Posted: 10 Sep 2014 09:04 AM PDT Imaging technologies are useful in evaluating response to cancer treatment, and this can be done quite effectively for most tumors using RECIST, Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. RECIST works well for tumors located in soft tissue, but not cancers that spread to the bone. More effort, therefore, is needed to improve our understanding of how to monitor the response of bone metastases to treatment using MRI and PET imaging.

How skin falls apart: Pathology of autoimmune skin disease revealed at the nanoscale Posted: 10 Sep 2014 09:04 AM PDT Researchers studying a rare, blistering disease have discovered new details of how autoantibodies destroy healthy cells in skin. The research has the potential to help clinicians identify who may be at risk for developing Pemphigus vulgaris (PV), an autoimmune skin disorder, by distinguishing pathogenic (disease-causing) autoimmune antibodies from other nonpathogenic autoimmune antibodies.

Researchers unlock genetic code of cancer-causing liver fluke parasite Posted: 10 Sep 2014 07:29 AM PDT The genetic code of the liver fluke parasite, Opisthorchis viverrini, has been cracked by an international team of researchers using a unique DNA analysis technique. Opisthorchis viverrini is a trematode that infects millions in Asia, and is a significant risk factor for Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) or bile duct cancer.

Researchers watch lipid molecules in motion Posted: 10 Sep 2014 07:29 AM PDT Researchers have 'filmed' the movement of lipid molecules using an X-ray stroboscope. Their study offers new insights into the dynamics of biomolecules, which compose materials such as cell membranes.

Working during depression can offer health benefits to employees Posted: 10 Sep 2014 07:29 AM PDT Attending work while suffering a depressive illness could help employees better manage their depression more than taking a sickness absence from work, a new study has found. The study is the first to estimate the long-term costs and health outcomes of depression-related absence as compared to individuals who continue to work among employees with depression.

Blocking single receptor could halt rheumatoid arthritis Posted: 10 Sep 2014 07:28 AM PDT Researchers have shown for the first time how the activation of a receptor provokes the inflammation and bone degradation of rheumatoid arthritis -- and that activation of this one receptor, found on cells in the fluid of arthritic joints, is all that is required.

Appetite and mortality: The two are closely connected in the eldery Posted: 10 Sep 2014 06:32 AM PDT A simple question about appetite can provide insights into old people's general health that may help reduce their risk of dying. A team has now investigated the connection between appetite and mortality in great depth.

Air pollution harmful to young brains, study finds Posted: 10 Sep 2014 06:32 AM PDT Pollution in many cities threatens the brain development in children. Findings from a recent study reveal that children living in megacities are at increased risk for brain inflammation and neurodegenerative changes, including Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.

Back pain killing your sex life? Study reveals best positions to save your spine Posted: 10 Sep 2014 06:32 AM PDT Contrary to popular belief, spooning is not always the best sex position for those with a bad back, according to new research. For the first time ever, scientists have successfully documented the way the spine moves during sex and discovered exactly why certain positions are better than others when it comes to avoiding back pain.

Clinical trial to test safety of stem cell-derived therapy for type 1 diabetes Posted: 10 Sep 2014 06:30 AM PDT The first-ever human Phase I/II clinical trial of a stem cell-derived therapy for patients with Type 1 diabetes has been launched by scientists. The trial will assess the safety and efficacy of a new investigational drug called VC-01, which was recently approved for testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The 2-year trial will involve four to six testing sites and will recruit approximately 40 study participants.

Analysis of DEA rules allowing pharmacies to accept unused medication Posted: 10 Sep 2014 06:30 AM PDT It will soon be much easier for Americans to safely dispose of unwanted medications. The U.S. Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) just announced rules allowing participating pharmacies, certain hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities to collect medication for proper disposal. The rules go into effect next month.

Thyroid cancer rates in Pennsylvania rising faster than rest of country as a whole Posted: 10 Sep 2014 06:30 AM PDT Incidence of thyroid cancer is rising faster in Pennsylvania than in the rest of the United States as a whole, according to researchers. Papillary thyroid cancer, responsible for most of this increase, is very treatable and has a 95 percent 30-year survival rate. There are no symptoms in all but the latest stages and the cancer is typically discovered incidentally during a physical exam or on an imaging study.

Olaparib tablet safe in pretreated ovarian cancer patients Posted: 10 Sep 2014 05:38 AM PDT An oral tablet form of a PARP inhibitor, olaparib, given in combination with chemotherapy, was safe in heavily pretreated ovarian cancer patients, and patients with BRCA mutations may have a better response compared with those without a BRCA mutation, according to phase Ib clinical trial data.

Smartphones may aid in dietary self-monitoring Posted: 10 Sep 2014 05:38 AM PDT Smartphones have seen wide adoption among Americans in recent years because of their ease of use and adaptability. With that in mind, researchers examined how smartphone use affected weight loss goals and determined that smartphones may offer users an advantage over traditional methods when tracking diet data.

Gray matter myelin loss strongly related to multiple sclerosis disability, MRI shows Posted: 10 Sep 2014 05:38 AM PDT People with multiple sclerosis lose myelin in the gray matter of their brains and the loss is closely correlated with the severity of the disease, according to a new magnetic resonance imaging study. Researchers said the findings could have important applications in clinical trials and treatment monitoring.

Mapping bats could help stop Ebola's spread Posted: 10 Sep 2014 05:35 AM PDT In the fight against Ebola, mapping fruit bat habitats could be one important step, says a geoinformatics researcher. Like the Black Death that ravaged medieval Europe, the Ebola virus' progress through remote areas of West Africa is enabled by lack of understanding about the disease, including its causes and transmission.

Living liver donor candidates: Ambivalence is common Posted: 10 Sep 2014 05:35 AM PDT Living donors are important to increasing the number of viable grafts for liver transplantation. A new study has found that ambivalence is common among donor candidates. However, providing social support may help minimize the donors' concerns regarding donation.

Pain tolerance levels between men, women are similar Posted: 10 Sep 2014 05:33 AM PDT Resilience, a person's ability to overcome adverse circumstances, is the main quality associated with pain tolerance among patients and their adjustment to chronic pain. This is the result of a new study that shows that the effect of gender on this ability is not as significant as originally thought.

When talking about body size, African American women and doctors may be speaking different languages Posted: 10 Sep 2014 05:30 AM PDT African American women and their female children have the highest obesity prevalence of any demographic group and are more likely to underestimate their body weight than white women. Yet, according to new research, cultural norms for body size may prevent awareness among many African American women about the potential health benefits they and others in their cultural group might achieve through weight loss.

Combining antibodies, iron nanoparticles and magnets steers stem cells to injured organs Posted: 10 Sep 2014 05:29 AM PDT Researchers infused antibody-studded iron nanoparticles into the bloodstream to treat heart attack damage. The combined nanoparticle enabled precise localization of the body's own stem cells to the injured heart muscle. The study addresses a central challenge in stem cell therapeutics: how to achieve targeted interactions between stem cells and injured cells.

Less effective DNA repair process takes over as mice age Posted: 09 Sep 2014 04:22 PM PDT One reason for increasing DNA damage in older vertebrates has been uncovered by researchers: the primary repair process begins to fail with increasing age and is replaced by one that is less accurate.

Brain structure could predict risky behavior Posted: 09 Sep 2014 04:21 PM PDT Some people avoid risks at all costs, while others will put their wealth, health, and safety at risk without a thought. Researchers have found that the volume of the parietal cortex in the brain could predict where people fall on the risk-taking spectrum.

No convincing evidence to support use of new hip and knee implants, review finds Posted: 09 Sep 2014 04:20 PM PDT Several new and widely used hip and knee implants appear to have no clinically relevant improved benefits compared with older, more established implants, according to a review.

Long-term use of pills for anxiety and sleep problems may be linked to Alzheimer's Posted: 09 Sep 2014 04:20 PM PDT Taking benzodiazepines -- widely prescribed drugs to treat anxiety and insomnia -- is associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, particularly for long-term users, suggests a new study.

Frequent cannabis use in adolescence linked with reduced educational attainment, other problems in young adults Posted: 09 Sep 2014 04:20 PM PDT Individuals who are daily users of cannabis before age 17 are over 60% less likely to complete high school or obtain a degree compared to those who have never used the drug, new research shows. The large meta-analysis also indicates that daily users of cannabis during adolescence are seven times more likely to attempt suicide, have an 18 times greater chance of cannabis dependence, and are eight times as likely to use other illicit drugs in later life.

Online mindfulness intervention reduces fatigue, negative work-related worry Posted: 09 Sep 2014 04:19 PM PDT Brief online mindfulness interventions requiring only two hours of training and practice per week are effective at reducing fatigue and negative work-related rumination and at improving sleep quality, a study concludes.

One in five young men unable to purchase emergency contraception Posted: 09 Sep 2014 12:27 PM PDT Male shoppers in search of emergency contraception do not always have an easy time making these purchases and may be turned away at their local pharmacies. A 'mystery shopper' survey conducted in New York City showed that males had a 20 percent likelihood of not being able to purchase emergency contraception. Nearly three-quarters of the pharmacies in the study created barriers for the males to get the contraception.

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