ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Universal Ebola drug target identified by researchers
• Survival molecule helps cancer cells hide from the immune system
• New at-risk group identified for gastrointestinal stromal tumors
• New 'lab-on-a-chip' could revolutionize early diagnosis of cancer
• 'Cyberwar' against cancer gets a boost from intelligent nanocarriers
• Advocating for weight diversity: Prioritizing well-being over weight loss
• Myasthenia gravis: Efficacy of potential therapy for autoimmune disorder of muscle weakness
• A diet for the cell: Keeping DNA fit with fewer calories
• Hospitalized patients don't wash their hands enough, study finds
• Very low concentrations of heavy metals, antibiotics contribute to resistance
• Sugar linked to memory problems in adolescent rats
• Can physical therapy before hip, knee replacement surgery improve outcomes?
• Liquid detergent pods pose risk to children's eye health
• Small molecule 'jams the switch' to prevent inflammatory cell death
• Asthma risk varies with ethnic ancestry among latinos
• Stroke-fighting drug offers potential treatment for traumatic brain injury
• Equation helps assess blood flow to flaps for breast reconstruction
• Testosterone promotes prostate cancer in rats
• Sandwiches a major contributor to dietary sodium intake
• What 20 years of research on cannabis use has taught us
• Computers turned into powerful allies in fight against AIDS
• Probiotics protect children, pregnant women against heavy metal poisoning
• Coffee in the Genes? New genetic variants associated with coffee drinking
• Rural hospitals replicate experiences of big city stroke care
• Stroke patients past 90-day danger period remain at high risk for repeat event
• New pathway discovered regulating autoimmune diseases
• MRI technique detects evidence of cognitive decline before symptoms appear
• Adolescents with cerebral palsy report similar quality of life to their able-bodied peers
• Molecule that protects women's eggs identified
• World's first child born after uterus transplantation
• Near-death experiences? Results of the world's largest medical study of the human mind and consciousness at time of death
• New Center to Investigate Link between Neuroplasticity and Long-term Pain
• Thyroid carcinoma: Biomarker reveals cancer cause
• Non-coding half of human genome unlocked with novel sequencing technique
• Potty training before age two linked to increased risk of later wetting problems
• Guidelines for clinical trials of Alzheimer's blood test
• New technique allows scientists to find rare stem cells within bone marrow

Universal Ebola drug target identified by researchers Posted: 07 Oct 2014 12:26 PM PDT A new tool can be used as a drug target in the discovery of anti-Ebola agents that are effective against all known strains and likely future strains, researchers report. Current experimental drugs generally target only one of Ebola's five species. "The current growing epidemic demonstrates the need for effective broad-range Ebola virus therapies," says the lead author on the study.

Survival molecule helps cancer cells hide from the immune system Posted: 07 Oct 2014 12:26 PM PDT The molecule nuclear factor kappa B helps tumors grow by inhibiting the body's ability to detect cancer cells, research shows. The molecule suppresses immune surveillance mechanisms, including the production of cells that inhibit immune responses. The research suggests that cancer immune therapy might be improved if combined with NF-kB inhibitors, and it provides new details about interactions between cancer cells and non-cancer cells that assist tumor growth.

New at-risk group identified for gastrointestinal stromal tumors Posted: 07 Oct 2014 11:43 AM PDT The clearly defined epidemiology of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), have been identified by researchers for the first time. These tumors occur primarily in the lining of the stomach and small intestine. One key finding: Patients of Asian descent, who have not previously been identified as an at-risk population, are 1.5 times more likely than other patient groups to be diagnosed with this type of tumor.

New 'lab-on-a-chip' could revolutionize early diagnosis of cancer Posted: 07 Oct 2014 10:14 AM PDT A breakthrough paper has been published describing researchers' invention of a miniaturized biomedical testing device for exosomes. "Exosomes are minuscule membrane vesicles -- or sacs -- released from most, if not all, cell types, including cancer cells," said one chemist. "They were once thought to be trash bags containing unwanted cellular contents. However, in the past decade scientists realized that exosomes play important roles in many biological functions through capsuling and delivering molecular messages in the form of nucleic acids and proteins from the donor cells to affect the functions of nearby or distant cells."

'Cyberwar' against cancer gets a boost from intelligent nanocarriers Posted: 07 Oct 2014 10:14 AM PDT Cancer possesses special traits for cooperative behavior and uses intricate communication to distribute tasks, share resources, and make decisions. New research now offers additional insight into the lethal interaction between cancer cells and the immune system's communications network.

Advocating for weight diversity: Prioritizing well-being over weight loss Posted: 07 Oct 2014 10:14 AM PDT A new review of the way health care professionals emphasize weight to define health and wellbeing suggests the approach could be harmful to patients. Weight-inclusive approaches, such as the Health At Every Size initiative, emphasize a view of health and wellbeing as multifaceted and direct efforts toward improving health access and reducing weight stigma.

Myasthenia gravis: Efficacy of potential therapy for autoimmune disorder of muscle weakness Posted: 07 Oct 2014 10:14 AM PDT A fast-acting 'vaccine' has been developed that can reverse the course of myasthenia gravis, a non-inherited autoimmune form of muscle weakness, in an animal model of the disease. Nearly 60,000 Americans suffer from myasthenia gravis, and the disease has no cure at this time.

A diet for the cell: Keeping DNA fit with fewer calories Posted: 07 Oct 2014 10:13 AM PDT Cells are generally able to repair spontaneous damage that arises in their genetic material. Unfortunately, the DNA repair process is not perfect and sometimes, damaged DNA gets passed on to newly made cells. Molecular biologists now show how the nutrient status of cells can influence their response to damaged DNA.

Hospitalized patients don't wash their hands enough, study finds Posted: 07 Oct 2014 10:12 AM PDT Hospitalized patients wash their hands infrequently. They wash about 30 per cent of the time while in the washroom, 40 per cent during meal times, and only three per cent of the time when using the kitchens on their units, a study has found.

Very low concentrations of heavy metals, antibiotics contribute to resistance Posted: 07 Oct 2014 08:12 AM PDT Plasmids containing genes that confer resistance to antibiotics can be enriched by very low concentrations of antibiotics and heavy metals, new researchs shows. These results strengthen the suspicion that the antibiotic residues and heavy metals, such as arsenic, silver and copper, that are spread in the environment are contributing to the problems of resistance.

Sugar linked to memory problems in adolescent rats Posted: 07 Oct 2014 08:12 AM PDT Sugar consumption affected memory and was linked to brain inflammation in juvenile rats, researchers report. "The brain is especially vulnerable to dietary influences during critical periods of development, like adolescence," remarked a corresponding author of the study. "Consuming a diet high in added sugars not only can lead to weight gain and metabolic disturbances, but can also negatively impact our neural functioning and cognitive ability."

Can physical therapy before hip, knee replacement surgery improve outcomes? Posted: 07 Oct 2014 08:12 AM PDT Physical therapy after total hip or total knee replacement surgery is standard care for all patients. "Prehabilitation," as it is sometimes called, can diminish the need for postoperative care by nearly 30 percent, saving an average of $1,215 per patient in skilled nursing facility, home health agency or other postoperative care, a study found.

Liquid detergent pods pose risk to children's eye health Posted: 07 Oct 2014 08:11 AM PDT Detergent pods may offer a simpler way to do laundry, but they represent a source of potential danger when in the hands of a young child. When squeezed or bitten into, these pods can burst and send detergent into the mouth, nose, and eyes.

Small molecule 'jams the switch' to prevent inflammatory cell death Posted: 07 Oct 2014 07:34 AM PDT A small molecule that blocks a form of cell death that triggers inflammation has been discovered by scientists, opening the door for potential new treatments for inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and psoriasis.

Asthma risk varies with ethnic ancestry among latinos Posted: 07 Oct 2014 07:34 AM PDT Native American ancestry is associated with a lower asthma risk, but African ancestry is associated with a higher risk, according to the largest-ever study of how genetic variation influences asthma risk in Latinos, in whom both African and Native American ancestry is common.

Stroke-fighting drug offers potential treatment for traumatic brain injury Posted: 07 Oct 2014 07:34 AM PDT The only drug currently approved for treatment of stroke's crippling effects shows promise, when administered as a nasal spray, to help heal similar damage in less severe forms of traumatic brain injury. In the first examination of its kind, researchers found in animal studies that the brain's limited ability to repair itself after trauma can be enhanced when treated with the drug tPA, or tissue plasminogen activator.

Equation helps assess blood flow to flaps for breast reconstruction Posted: 07 Oct 2014 07:31 AM PDT For women undergoing breast reconstruction using the advanced "DIEP" technique, a simple formula can reliably tell whether there will be sufficient blood flow to nourish the DIEP flap, reports a new paper.

Testosterone promotes prostate cancer in rats Posted: 07 Oct 2014 07:31 AM PDT A researcher who found that testosterone raised the risk of prostate tumors and exacerbated the effects of carcinogenic chemical exposure in rats is urging caution in prescribing testosterone therapy to men who have not been diagnosed with hypogonadism, according to a new study.

Sandwiches a major contributor to dietary sodium intake Posted: 07 Oct 2014 06:24 AM PDT Sandwiches make up a substantial part of the American diet and are a significant contributor to daily energy and sodium intake. By closely analyzing data from an American nationwide dietary intake survey, a team of researchers found that on any given day 49 percent of US adults eat at least one sandwich, and sandwiches account for one-fifth of total daily sodium intake.

What 20 years of research on cannabis use has taught us Posted: 07 Oct 2014 06:24 AM PDT In the past 20 years, recreational cannabis use has grown tremendously, becoming almost as common as tobacco use among adolescents and young adults, and so has the research evidence. A major new review sets out the latest information on the effects of cannabis use on mental and physical health.

Computers turned into powerful allies in fight against AIDS Posted: 07 Oct 2014 06:23 AM PDT The battle against AIDS cannot be won in the laboratory alone. To fight the potentially deadly virus that 34 million people are suffering from we need help from computers. Now research turns computers into powerful allies in the battle.

Probiotics protect children, pregnant women against heavy metal poisoning Posted: 07 Oct 2014 06:23 AM PDT Yogurt containing probiotic bacteria successfully protected children and pregnant women against heavy metal exposure in a recent study. Canadian and Tanzanian researchers created and distributed a special yogurt containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus bacteria and observed the outcomes against a control group.

Coffee in the Genes? New genetic variants associated with coffee drinking Posted: 07 Oct 2014 06:23 AM PDT A new, large-scale study has identified six new genetic variants associated with habitual coffee drinking. "Coffee and caffeine have been linked to beneficial and adverse health effects. Our findings may allow us to identify subgroups of people most likely to benefit from increasing or decreasing coffee consumption for optimal health," said the lead author of the study.

Rural hospitals replicate experiences of big city stroke care Posted: 07 Oct 2014 06:23 AM PDT A new model for stroke care is being studied in rural Alberta to reduce inequities in health across communities. This model shows how hospitals in rural areas can mimic the type of care that's often only available in larger centers.

Stroke patients past 90-day danger period remain at high risk for repeat event Posted: 07 Oct 2014 06:23 AM PDT People who have had a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA or mini-stroke) are at high risk for a second similar event or other serious medical problems for at least five years and need better follow up and strategies to prevent these problems, according to data.

New pathway discovered regulating autoimmune diseases Posted: 07 Oct 2014 06:23 AM PDT NAD+, a natural molecule found in living cells, plants and food protects against autoimmune diseases by altering the immune response and turning 'destructive' cells into 'protective' cells, researchers have discovered. Moreover, the researchers demonstrated that NAD+ can restore tissue integrity which may benefit patients that have advanced tissue damage caused by autoimmune diseases.

MRI technique detects evidence of cognitive decline before symptoms appear Posted: 07 Oct 2014 06:23 AM PDT A magnetic resonance imaging technique can detect signs of cognitive decline in the brain even before symptoms appear, according to a new study. The technique has the potential to serve as a biomarker in very early diagnosis of preclinical dementia.

Adolescents with cerebral palsy report similar quality of life to their able-bodied peers Posted: 07 Oct 2014 06:22 AM PDT Adolescents with cerebral palsy face multiple challenges, but they rate their quality of life (QoL) on a par with their able-bodied peers, according to new research reporting on how adolescents with cerebral palsy from nine European regions feel about life.

Molecule that protects women's eggs identified Posted: 07 Oct 2014 06:22 AM PDT In order to be able to have a child, a woman needs eggs that can grow and mature. After fertilization, an embryo forms. During the maturation process, the egg goes through a number of stages of reductional division, called meiosis. If problems occur during any of these stages, the woman can become infertile. Researchers now discovered that the molecule Greatwall kinase is of great importance in order for the eggs of the female mouse to be able to complete the first phase and move on to the second meiotic division during the maturation of the egg.

World's first child born after uterus transplantation Posted: 07 Oct 2014 06:21 AM PDT Seven Swedish women have had embryos reintroduced after receiving wombs from living donors. Now the first transplanted woman has delivered a baby – a healthy and normally developed boy.

Near-death experiences? Results of the world's largest medical study of the human mind and consciousness at time of death Posted: 07 Oct 2014 06:21 AM PDT The results of a four-year international study of 2060 cardiac arrest cases across 15 hospitals concludes the following. The themes relating to the experience of death appear far broader than what has been understood so far, or what has been described as so called near-death experiences. In some cases of cardiac arrest, memories of visual awareness compatible with so called out-of-body experiences may correspond with actual events. A higher proportion of people may have vivid death experiences, but do not recall them due to the effects of brain injury or sedative drugs on memory circuits. Widely used yet scientifically imprecise terms such as near-death and out-of-body experiences may not be sufficient to describe the actual experience of death. The recalled experience surrounding death merits a genuine investigation without prejudice.

New Center to Investigate Link between Neuroplasticity and Long-term Pain Posted: 07 Oct 2014 06:21 AM PDT New research will investigate how a maladaptive central nervous system can be responsible for the enduring or chronic pain that affects up to 20 percent of a population. If this major ambition is fulfilled, it may turn the understanding of the pain system on its head and improve treatment.

Thyroid carcinoma: Biomarker reveals cancer cause Posted: 07 Oct 2014 06:20 AM PDT The expression of the protein CLIP2 provides information on whether a papillary thyroid carcinoma was induced by radiation or had a sporadic origin. With this discovery, scientists have identified a new biomarker for the diagnosis of the cancer cause.

Non-coding half of human genome unlocked with novel sequencing technique Posted: 07 Oct 2014 06:17 AM PDT An obscure swatch of human DNA once thought to be nothing more than biological trash may actually offer a treasure trove of insight into complex genetic-related diseases such as cancer and diabetes, thanks to a novel sequencing technique developed by biologists.

Potty training before age two linked to increased risk of later wetting problems Posted: 07 Oct 2014 06:16 AM PDT Children who start toilet training before age 2 have a three times higher risk of developing daytime wetting problems later, according to new research. Additionally, in the current study, early trainers were three times more likely to complain of constipation than normal trainers. "Almost all of the children who had wetting also had constipation," the authors noted.

Guidelines for clinical trials of Alzheimer's blood test Posted: 07 Oct 2014 06:16 AM PDT Researchers have moved a step closer to making a simple blood test to detect early Alzheimer's disease available for screening older adults. The highly rigid guidelines will be used in research for blood-based biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease and will ensure every lab is following the same protocol when collecting blood, researchers said.

New technique allows scientists to find rare stem cells within bone marrow Posted: 06 Oct 2014 12:21 PM PDT A new technique to identify populations of rare stem cells in bone marrow has been found by scientists. Until now, there has been no good way to separate MSCs from bone marrow cells that have already begun to differentiate into other cell types, but share the same molecules on the cell surface. This may be one reason why research results vary among labs, and why stem-cell treatments now in clinical trials are not as effective as they could be, says the paper's senior author.

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