ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Sesame Street goes to jail: Physicians should follow
• Randomized trial examines community-acquired pneumonia treatments
• Prenatal BPA exposure associated with diminished lung function in children
• Effective treatments available for HIV patients not eligible for efavirenz regimens
• If you want an antibiotic, see your doctor later in the day
• Vesicles influence function of nerve cells
• One in three people with cancer has anxiety or other mental health challenges
• Cancer medicine: New, improved, expensive and exploited?
• Sex difference in distance running has disappeared for participation but not for competitiveness
• New vaccines targeting adults, teens are best chance to eliminate TB by 2050
• 'Broad consensus' that violent media increase child aggression
• High-sugar diet no problem for genetic mutants
• Natural gene selection can produce orange corn rich in provitamin A for Africa, U.S.
• How rabies 'hijacks' neurons to attack brain
• Many adults support equal access to healthcare for undocumented immigrant children
• The skin cancer selfie: Gigapixel camera helps diagnose early
• New theorem determines age distribution of populations from fruit flies to humans
• Novel roadmap through bacterial genomes leads the way to new drug discovery
• Simple lifestyle interventions during pregnancy can prevent children from becoming obese
• Less than half of Canadians exercise to relieve stress
• Mother's behavior has strong effect on cocaine-exposed children
• Controlling Ebola in communities is critical factor in containing outbreaks
• Link between breast implants, cancer under investigation
• Cell migration: How it works, how new discovery may inform cancer research
• Tumors might grow faster at night
• Type 2 diabetes clues revealed from study of identical twins
• Teen hormones and cellphones: Sexting leads to increased sexual behavior, study shows
• Innovative stroke patient management system cuts hospital bed usage by more than 25 percent
• Stroke outcomes can be worse when they occur in hospital
• New way to extract bone-making cells from fat tissue
• Vicious cycle in osteoarthritis: Sleep disturbance, pain, depression, disability
• Doctors prescribe more painkillers to women, study confirms
• Barcoding tool for stem cells developed
• Number of genes linked to height revealed by study
• Breakthrough allows researchers to watch molecules
• First pictures of BRCA2 protein show how it works to repair DNA
• Attacking type 2 diabetes from a new direction with encouraging results
• Discovery of a novel heart, gut disease
• 'Unsung' cells double benefits of a new osteoporosis drug
• Pain receptor on T-cells discovered
• Concussions: Getting your head out of the game
• Link between tobacco use, viral infection that causes oral cancers found
• Experts recommend against diagnosing testosterone deficiency in women

Sesame Street goes to jail: Physicians should follow Posted: 06 Oct 2014 02:43 PM PDT More than two million people are incarcerated in the United States, the world's highest incarceration rate. Researchers report that while many people need to be in prison for the safety of society, a majority are incarcerated due to behaviors linked to treatable diseases such as mental illness and addiction.

Randomized trial examines community-acquired pneumonia treatments Posted: 06 Oct 2014 02:43 PM PDT In a randomized clinical trial of antibiotic treatments for community-acquired pneumonia, researchers did not find that monotherapy with ²-lactam alone was worse than a combination therapy with a macrolide in patients hospitalized with moderately severe pneumonia.

Prenatal BPA exposure associated with diminished lung function in children Posted: 06 Oct 2014 02:43 PM PDT Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A, a common chemical used in some plastics, appears to be inconsistently associated with diminished lung function and the development of persistent wheeze in children.

Effective treatments available for HIV patients not eligible for efavirenz regimens Posted: 06 Oct 2014 02:43 PM PDT HIV drug regimens that do not include efavirenz are effective as first-line antiretroviral therapy, a new American clinical trial found. The finding is important for patients who are not eligible for treatment with efavirenz, including women considering becoming pregnant and patients with a history of severe psychiatric disorders.

If you want an antibiotic, see your doctor later in the day Posted: 06 Oct 2014 02:43 PM PDT Doctors appeared to 'wear down' during their morning and afternoon clinic sessions, and antibiotic prescribing rates increased the later the day got. "This corresponds to about 5 percent more patients receiving antibiotics at the end of a clinic session compared to the beginning," explained a reseracher. "Remedies for this problem might include different schedules, shorter sessions, more breaks or maybe even snacks."

Vesicles influence function of nerve cells Posted: 06 Oct 2014 02:42 PM PDT Tiny vesicles containing protective substances that they transmit to nerve cells apparently play an important role in the functioning of neurons. As cell biologists have discovered, nerve cells can enlist the aid of mini-vesicles of neighboring glial cells to defend themselves against stress and other potentially detrimental factors. These vesicles, called exosomes, appear to stimulate the neurons on various levels: they influence electrical stimulus conduction, biochemical signal transfer, and gene regulation. Exosomes are thus multifunctional signal emitters that can have a significant effect in the brain.

One in three people with cancer has anxiety or other mental health challenges Posted: 06 Oct 2014 02:41 PM PDT Nearly a third of more than 2,100 patients with cancer interviewed at inpatient and outpatient care centers experienced a clinically meaningful level of mental or emotional distress that meets the strict diagnostic criteria for mental disorders including anxiety, depressive and adjustment disorders during the prior four weeks. The prevalence of these issues varied by cancer type.

Cancer medicine: New, improved, expensive and exploited? Posted: 06 Oct 2014 02:41 PM PDT Two studies published by health economists examine spending on oral anti-cancer drugs as well as a federal program designed to help the poor, which researchers say instead helps hospitals boost profits.

Sex difference in distance running has disappeared for participation but not for competitiveness Posted: 06 Oct 2014 12:21 PM PDT When it comes to distance running participation, even among contemporary U.S. distance runners, men are still much more likely than women to have a competitive orientation, according to researchers.

New vaccines targeting adults, teens are best chance to eliminate TB by 2050 Posted: 06 Oct 2014 12:21 PM PDT Targets to eliminate tuberculosis by 2050 are more likely to be met if new vaccines are developed for adults and adolescents instead of for infants, according to new research.

'Broad consensus' that violent media increase child aggression Posted: 06 Oct 2014 11:20 AM PDT Majorities of media researchers, parents and pediatricians agree that exposure to violent media can increase aggression in children, according to a new national study.

High-sugar diet no problem for genetic mutants Posted: 06 Oct 2014 10:35 AM PDT A genetic pathway for circumventing the weight gain that accompanies a high-sugar diet has been discovered by scientists. Building on previous work with C. elegans, researchers found that certain genetic mutants -- those with a hyperactive SKN-1 gene -- could be fed incredibly high-sugar diets without gaining any weight, while regular C. elegans ballooned on the same diet.

Natural gene selection can produce orange corn rich in provitamin A for Africa, U.S. Posted: 06 Oct 2014 10:35 AM PDT A set of genes that can be used to naturally boost the provitamin A content of corn kernels has been identified by researchers, a finding that could help combat vitamin A deficiency in developing countries and macular degeneration in the elderly.

How rabies 'hijacks' neurons to attack brain Posted: 06 Oct 2014 10:34 AM PDT For the first time, scientists have discovered the exact mechanism the killer rabies virus uses to efficiently enter the central nervous system, where it erupts in a toxic explosion of symptoms. An improved understanding of how this mechanism works could lead to new treatments for disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis as well.

Many adults support equal access to healthcare for undocumented immigrant children Posted: 06 Oct 2014 10:29 AM PDT Many U.S. adults who work on behalf of children think undocumented immigrant children should have access to healthcare equal to that of U.S.-born children, a new survey finds.

The skin cancer selfie: Gigapixel camera helps diagnose early Posted: 06 Oct 2014 08:41 AM PDT Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer type in the US, and it's also the deadliest form of skin cancer. If caught early enough though, it is almost always curable. The gigapixel camera is essentially 34 microcameras in one and has a high enough resolution to zoom in to a tiny freckle making routine screenings available to a larger number of people at a fraction of the cost.

New theorem determines age distribution of populations from fruit flies to humans Posted: 06 Oct 2014 08:41 AM PDT The initial motivation of a new study was to estimate the age structure of a fruit fly population, the result a fundamental theorem that can help determine the age distribution of essentially any group. This emerging theorem on stationary populations shows that you can determine the age distribution of a population by looking at how long they still have to live.

Novel roadmap through bacterial genomes leads the way to new drug discovery Posted: 06 Oct 2014 08:40 AM PDT Researchers have innovated and demonstrated the value of an algorithm to analyze microbial genomic data and speed discovery of new therapeutic drugs.

Simple lifestyle interventions during pregnancy can prevent children from becoming obese Posted: 06 Oct 2014 08:39 AM PDT In a study that followed more than 2,200 obese women during pregnancy, scientists found that some simple interventions can help prevent high birth weights in newborns. This is important because previous studies have shown that infants with a high birth weight have a greater risk of becoming obese as children or adults.

Less than half of Canadians exercise to relieve stress Posted: 06 Oct 2014 08:38 AM PDT People were more likely to cope with stress by problem-solving, looking on the bright side, trying to relax, talking to others, blaming oneself, ignoring stress or praying, rather than being active, a new study has found.

Mother's behavior has strong effect on cocaine-exposed children Posted: 06 Oct 2014 08:38 AM PDT It is not only prenatal drug exposure, but also conditions related to drug use that can influence negative behavior in children, according to a new study. Maternal harshness, such as threats of physical discipline, can be influenced by drug use. Animal studies have shown that prenatal cocaine use can affect parenting by lowering the bonding hormones mothers usually experience after birth, resulting in less emotional engagement with the child.,

Controlling Ebola in communities is critical factor in containing outbreaks Posted: 06 Oct 2014 06:46 AM PDT Reducing community transmission and changing behavior in communities is key to containing Ebola outbreaks, according to new research into the first known outbreak of the virus in 1976.

Link between breast implants, cancer under investigation Posted: 06 Oct 2014 06:46 AM PDT Cases of possible association between breast implants and a form of lymphoma that may develop tumors at a later stage is currently under investigation. The researchers conclude that breast implants can cause a new subtype of the rare yet malignant lymphoma known as ALCL.

Cell migration: How it works, how new discovery may inform cancer research Posted: 06 Oct 2014 06:46 AM PDT During cancer metastasis, immune response or the development of organisms, cells are moving in a controlled manner through the body. Researchers have now discovered novel mechanisms of cell migration by observing cells moving on lines of connective tissue. Their results could lead to new approaches in combating cancer metastasis and inflammation.

Tumors might grow faster at night Posted: 06 Oct 2014 06:46 AM PDT A hormone that keeps us alert also suppresses the spread of cancer, researchers have discovered. The study suggests, therefore, that nighttime is the right time for cancer to grow and spread in the body, and that administering certain treatments in time with the body's day-night cycle could boost their efficiency.

Type 2 diabetes clues revealed from study of identical twins Posted: 06 Oct 2014 06:44 AM PDT By studying identical twins, researchers have identified mechanisms that could be behind the development of type 2 diabetes. This may explain cases where one identical twin develops type 2 diabetes while the other remains healthy.

Teen hormones and cellphones: Sexting leads to increased sexual behavior, study shows Posted: 06 Oct 2014 05:53 AM PDT Researchers say that sexting may be the new 'normal' part of adolescent sexual development and is not strictly limited to at-risk teens. The findings are from the first study on the relationship between teenage sexting, or sending sexually explicit images to another electronically, and future sexual activity.

Innovative stroke patient management system cuts hospital bed usage by more than 25 percent Posted: 06 Oct 2014 05:53 AM PDT An innovative patient management system at a hospital's acute stroke unit has reduced the number of stroke patient bed days by more than 25 percent, according to a study of the system.

Stroke outcomes can be worse when they occur in hospital Posted: 06 Oct 2014 05:53 AM PDT At the first sign of a stroke, time is of the essence. For every minute of delay in treatment, people typically lose almost two million brain cells. Yet a new study reveals that those delays -- in getting the right tests and the right drugs -- can be longer when people experience a stroke in a hospital. "Intuitively, you would imagine that having a stroke in the hospital is the best place possible, and that is just not the case," says one expert.

New way to extract bone-making cells from fat tissue Posted: 06 Oct 2014 05:53 AM PDT By sorting human fat tissue cells by their expression of a certain gene, scientists were able to retrieve a high yield of cells that showed an especially strong propensity to make bone tissue. With more refinement, the method could improve the ability of surgeons to speed bone healing, they say.

Vicious cycle in osteoarthritis: Sleep disturbance, pain, depression, disability Posted: 06 Oct 2014 05:53 AM PDT Sleep disturbances are linked to pain and depression, but not disability, among patients with osteoarthritis. Study results found that poor sleep increases depression and disability, but does not worsen pain over time.

Doctors prescribe more painkillers to women, study confirms Posted: 06 Oct 2014 05:49 AM PDT Regardless of the pain type, age and social class, women are more likely to be prescribed analgaesia than men. This is confirmed by a study in Spain focused on inequality in prescribing analgesics according to gender, confirming that gender bias may be one pathway by which inequalities in analgesic treatment adversely affects the health of women.

Barcoding tool for stem cells developed Posted: 05 Oct 2014 10:49 AM PDT A seven-year-project to develop a barcoding and tracking system for tissue stem cells has revealed previously unrecognized features of normal blood production: new data suggests, surprisingly, that the billions of blood cells that we produce each day are made not by blood stem cells, but rather their less pluripotent descendants, called progenitor cells.

Number of genes linked to height revealed by study Posted: 05 Oct 2014 10:49 AM PDT The largest genome-wide association study to date, involving more than 300 institutions and more than 250,000 subjects, roughly doubles the number of known gene regions influencing height to more than 400. The study provides a better glimpse at the biology of height and offers a model for investigating traits and diseases caused by many common gene changes acting together.

Breakthrough allows researchers to watch molecules Posted: 05 Oct 2014 10:48 AM PDT A new crystallographic technique is set to transform scientists' ability to observe how molecules work. Although fast time-resolved crystallography (Laue crystallography) has previously been possible, it has required advanced instrumentation that is only available at three sites worldwide. Only a handful of proteins have been studied using the traditional technique The new method will allow researchers across the world to carry out dynamic crystallography and is likely to provide a major boost in areas of research that rely on understanding how molecules work.

First pictures of BRCA2 protein show how it works to repair DNA Posted: 05 Oct 2014 10:48 AM PDT Scientists have taken pictures of the BRCA2 protein for the first time, showing how it works to repair damaged DNA. The findings showed that each pair of BRCA2 proteins binds two sets of RAD51 that run in opposite directions. This allows it to work on strands of broken DNA that point in either direction. They also show that BRCA2's job is to help RAD51 form short filaments at multiple sites along the DNA, presumably to increase the efficiency of establishing longer filaments required to search for matching strands.

Attacking type 2 diabetes from a new direction with encouraging results Posted: 05 Oct 2014 10:36 AM PDT Promising evidence that a modified form of the drug niclosamide – now used to eliminate intestinal parasites – may hold the key to battling type 2 diabetes at its source, scientists report.

Discovery of a novel heart, gut disease Posted: 05 Oct 2014 10:36 AM PDT A newly discovered disease, which has been named "Chronic Atrial Intestinal Dysrhythmia syndrome" (CAID), is a serious condition caused by a rare genetic mutation. This finding demonstrates that heart and guts rhythmic contractions are closely linked by a single gene in the human body.

'Unsung' cells double benefits of a new osteoporosis drug Posted: 05 Oct 2014 10:36 AM PDT Experiments in mice with a bone disorder similar to that in women after menopause show that a scientifically overlooked group of cells are likely crucial to the process of bone loss caused by the disorder. This discovery not only raises the research profile of the cells, called preosteoclasts, but also explains the success and activity of an experimental osteoporosis drug with promising results in phase III clinical trials.

Pain receptor on T-cells discovered Posted: 05 Oct 2014 10:36 AM PDT T-cells -- a type of white blood cell that learns to recognize and attack microbial pathogens -- are activated by a pain receptor, scientists have discovered. The study shows that the receptor helps regulate intestinal inflammation in mice and that its activity can be manipulated, offering a potential new target for treating certain autoimmune disorders, such as Crohn's disease and possibly multiple sclerosis.

Concussions: Getting your head out of the game Posted: 03 Oct 2014 10:52 AM PDT Concussions, sometimes referred to as mild traumatic brain injuries, are one of the most commonly encountered sports injuries. Studies vary but rates are estimated at two million sport related concussions per year in the United States.

Link between tobacco use, viral infection that causes oral cancers found Posted: 03 Oct 2014 10:51 AM PDT A strong association between tobacco use or exposure and infection with oral human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16), the sexually transmitted virus responsible for mouth and throat cancers worldwide, has been uncovered by researchers. The numbers of such cancers have increased 225 percent in the United States over the past two decades.

Experts recommend against diagnosing testosterone deficiency in women Posted: 03 Oct 2014 10:51 AM PDT A Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) advising against the use of testosterone therapy in healthy women has been published. "Currently, there isn't enough evidence that any benefits outweigh the risks to most women," an expert said. "More research is needed to determine the long-term safety of testosterone therapy in postmenopausal women."

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