ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Anti-HIV medicines can cause damage to fetal hearts, research shows
• In landmark study of cell therapy for heart attack, more cells make a difference
• Digoxin associated with higher risk of death, hospitalization, study shows
• A green transformation for pharmaceuticals
• Fluorescent nanoprobe could become a universal, noninvasive method to identify and monitor tumors
• Marker polyps do not cause cancer, experts say
• Nail stem cells prove more versatile than press ons
• Update on new treatments for liver diseases
• Type 2 diabetes: Added benefit of canagliflozin plus metformin is not proven
• Impact of power prosthetic failures on amputees studied
• New model of follow up for breast cancer patients
• Life's extremists may be an untapped source of antibacterial drugs
• Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation studied for stroke rehab
• Cohesin: Cherry-shaped molecule safeguards cell-division
• Possibilities for personalized vaccines
• Brain injuries in mice treated using bone marrow stem cells, antioxidants
• Novel robotic walker helps patients regain natural gait and increases productivity of physiotherapists
• Mental disorders due to permanent stress?
• Teasing out glitches in immune system's self-recognition
• Novel regulatory mechanism for cell division found
• Key protein decrypted: Scientists develop 3D model of regulator protein bax
• Worldwide action needed to address hidden crisis of violence against women and girls
• Tapeworm found living inside a patient's brain: Worm removed and sequenced
• How mutant gene can cause deafness
• First inhibitor for enzyme linked to cancers created
• New survey of employers about health insurance market
• Global report card: Are children better off than they were 25 years ago?
• When vaccines are imperfect: What math can tell us about their effects on disease propagation
• Pain, magnet displacement in MRI in patients with cochlear implants
• Longer work hours for moms mean less sleep, higher BMIs for preschoolers
• Evolutionary principles used to model cancer mutations, discover potential therapeutic targets
• HIV/AIDS drugs could be repurposed to treat AMD, researchers suggest
• Tropical rickettsial illnesses associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes
• Breakthrough in managing yellow fever disease
• Epidemic spreading and neurodegenerative progression
• An Ebola virus protein can cause massive inflammation and leaky blood vessels
• Staying ahead of the game: Pre-empting flu evolution may make for better vaccines
• Human trial of experimental Ebola vaccine
• New liver gives mother of three a life without pain
• Jogging keeps you young: Seniors who run regularly can walk as efficiently as 20-somethings
• Exercise regimens offer little benefit for one in five people with type 2 diabetes
• Powerful method to speed cancer drug discovery unveiled
• Three drugs may be better than one for certain patients with advanced colorectal cancer

Anti-HIV medicines can cause damage to fetal hearts, research shows Posted: 21 Nov 2014 11:12 AM PST New research raises concern about potential long-term harmful impact of 'antiretroviral therapy' on in-utero infants whose mothers are HIV-positive, but who are not infected with HIV themselves. The study shows that while the HIV medications have been successful in helping to prevent the transmission of the virus from mother to infant, they are associated with persistently impaired development of heart muscle and reduced heart performance in non-HIV-infected children whose mothers received the medicines years earlier.

In landmark study of cell therapy for heart attack, more cells make a difference Posted: 21 Nov 2014 11:12 AM PST Physicians from 60 sites treated 161 heart attack patients with their own bone marrow cells, selected for their healing potential and then reinjected into the heart, in an effort to improve the heart's recovery. Their conclusion? Patients who receive more cells get significant benefits.

Digoxin associated with higher risk of death, hospitalization, study shows Posted: 21 Nov 2014 11:12 AM PST Digoxin, a drug commonly used to treat heart conditions, was associated with a 71 percent higher risk of death and a 63 percent higher risk of hospitalization among adults with diagnosed atrial fibrillation and no evidence of heart failure, according to a study.

A green transformation for pharmaceuticals Posted: 21 Nov 2014 09:11 AM PST A more sustainable approach to a bond-forming reaction extensively used in the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries has now been developed. The team used the solvent-free, catalytic reaction to produce high yields of a wide range of amides, including the antidepressant moclobemide and other drug-like molecules.

Fluorescent nanoprobe could become a universal, noninvasive method to identify and monitor tumors Posted: 21 Nov 2014 09:11 AM PST Researchers have developed a hybrid metal-polymer nanoparticle that lights up in the acidic environment surrounding tumor cells. Nonspecific probes that can identify any kind of tumor are extremely useful for monitoring the location and spread of cancer and the effects of treatment, as well as aiding initial diagnosis.

Marker polyps do not cause cancer, experts say Posted: 21 Nov 2014 08:18 AM PST Although serrated polyps usually are associated with colorectal cancer, it turns out that such polyps are themselves not dangerous, according to a study.

Nail stem cells prove more versatile than press ons Posted: 21 Nov 2014 07:29 AM PST There are plenty of body parts that don't grow back when you lose them. Nails are an exception, and a new study reveals some of the reasons why. A team of researchers has identified a new population of nail stem cells, which have the ability to either self-renew or undergo specialization or differentiation into multiple tissues.

Update on new treatments for liver diseases Posted: 21 Nov 2014 07:28 AM PST Cirrhosis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are two serious liver conditions with limited pharmacological treatments. The December issues of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Gastroenterology highlights important updates into treatments for these two debilitating diseases.

Type 2 diabetes: Added benefit of canagliflozin plus metformin is not proven Posted: 21 Nov 2014 07:28 AM PST As in the first dossier assessment of canagliflozin, the drug manufacturer provided no suitable data for the fixed combination with metformin either. Therefore, no added benefit of canagliflozin plus metformin has been demonstrated for type 2 diabetes care.

Impact of power prosthetic failures on amputees studied Posted: 21 Nov 2014 07:25 AM PST Powered lower limb prosthetics hold promise for improving the mobility of amputees, but errors in the technology may also cause some users to stumble or fall. New research examines what happens when these technologies fail, with the goal of developing more robust powered prostheses.

New model of follow up for breast cancer patients Posted: 21 Nov 2014 07:25 AM PST Public health researchers from Australia have evaluated international breast cancer guidelines, finding that there is potential to improve surveillance of breast cancer survivors from both a patient and health system perspective.

Life's extremists may be an untapped source of antibacterial drugs Posted: 21 Nov 2014 07:25 AM PST Life's extremists, a family of microbes called Archaea, may be an untapped source of new antibacterial drugs. That conclusion arises from the discovery of the first antibacterial gene in this ancient lineage.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation studied for stroke rehab Posted: 21 Nov 2014 07:25 AM PST Researchers are trying to help patients who have suffered a stroke to improve arm movement by stimulating the brain using a device called a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator (TMS). The idea is that when one side of the brain is damaged by a stroke, the healthy side tends to generate much more activity to compensate, but that may actually prevent the injured side from recovering, explains the principal investigator.

Cohesin: Cherry-shaped molecule safeguards cell-division Posted: 21 Nov 2014 05:59 AM PST A cohesin molecule ensures the proper distribution of DNA during cell division. Scientists can now demonstrate the concept of its carabiner-like function by visualizing for the first time the open form of the complex.

Possibilities for personalized vaccines Posted: 21 Nov 2014 05:59 AM PST Medical researchers are considering the possibilities for personalized vaccines in all types of cancer. The first vaccine will be prepared from a warehouse of 72 targets previously identified by the researchers as relevant for treatment in glioblastoma.

Brain injuries in mice treated using bone marrow stem cells, antioxidants Posted: 21 Nov 2014 05:29 AM PST For the first time, researchers have transplanted bone marrow stem cells into damaged brain tissue while applying lipoic acid (a potent antioxidant), with the aim of improving neuroregeneration in the tissue. This new way of repairing brain damage, which combines cellular treatment with drug therapy, has shown positive results, especially in forming blood vessels (a process called angiogenesis) in damaged areas of the brains of adult laboratory mice.

Novel robotic walker helps patients regain natural gait and increases productivity of physiotherapists Posted: 21 Nov 2014 05:29 AM PST Survivors of stroke or other neurological conditions such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries and Parkinson's disease often struggle with mobility. To regain their motor functions, these patients are required to undergo physical therapy sessions. A team of researchers has invented a novel robotic walker that helps patients carry out therapy sessions to regain their leg movements and natural gait. The system also increases productivity of physiotherapists and improves the quality of rehabilitation sessions.

Mental disorders due to permanent stress? Posted: 21 Nov 2014 05:29 AM PST Activated through permanent stress, immune cells will have a damaging effect on and cause changes to the brain. This may result in mental disorders. Medical researchers are studying the effects of permanent stress on the immune system.

Teasing out glitches in immune system's self-recognition Posted: 21 Nov 2014 05:27 AM PST In order to distinguish self from other, the immune system processes proteins from inside and outside the body in different ways. A new study revises understanding of how the process works and sheds light on autoimmune disease.

Novel regulatory mechanism for cell division found Posted: 21 Nov 2014 05:27 AM PST A protein kinase or enzyme known as PKM2 has proven to control cell division, potentially providing a molecular basis for tumor diagnosis and treatment, researchers report. Understanding how cytokinesis goes awry is important since abnormal cell division impacts tumor cell growth and spread, they add.

Key protein decrypted: Scientists develop 3D model of regulator protein bax Posted: 21 Nov 2014 12:32 AM PST A new 3D model of the protein Bax, a key regulator of cell death, has been developed and released by researchers. When active, Bax forms pores in the membranes of mitochondria, causing the release of proteins from the intermembrane space into the cytoplasm. This in turn triggers a series of operations ending in cell death, which are often impaired in cancer cells. Using Double Electron-Electron Resonance spectroscopy, the research group has now shown that active Bax is present on the membrane in the form of dimeric assemblies whose clamp-like structures have a central role in the pore formation process.

Worldwide action needed to address hidden crisis of violence against women and girls Posted: 20 Nov 2014 05:46 PM PST Current efforts to prevent violence against women and girls are inadequate, according to a new Series published in The Lancet. Estimates suggest that globally, 1 in 3 women has experienced either physical or sexual violence from their partner, and that 7 percent of women will experience sexual assault by a non-partner at some point in their lives.

Tapeworm found living inside a patient's brain: Worm removed and sequenced Posted: 20 Nov 2014 05:45 PM PST A genome of a rare species of tapeworm found living inside a patient's brain has been sequenced for the first time. The study provides insights into potential drug targets within the genome for future treatments.

How mutant gene can cause deafness Posted: 20 Nov 2014 05:45 PM PST Scientists have discovered how one gene is essential to hearing, uncovering a cause of deafness and suggesting new avenues for therapies. "This raises hopes that we could, in principle, use gene-therapy approaches to restore function in hair cells and thus develop new treatment options for hearing loss," said the senior author of the new study.

First inhibitor for enzyme linked to cancers created Posted: 20 Nov 2014 03:36 PM PST Recent studies showing acid ceramidase (AC) to be upregulated in melanoma, lung and prostate cancers have made the enzyme a desired target for novel synthetic inhibitor compounds. Now scientists describe the very first class of AC inhibitors that may aid in the efficacy of chemotherapies.

New survey of employers about health insurance market Posted: 20 Nov 2014 03:36 PM PST A new nationally representative survey of employers -- the largest purchasers of health care in the United States -- shows that most are unfamiliar with objective metrics of health plan quality information. The survey also found that employers are looking to the Affordable Care Act as they make significant decisions on the benefits they offer, with the costs of health plans as a key consideration.

Global report card: Are children better off than they were 25 years ago? Posted: 20 Nov 2014 03:36 PM PST A comprehensive analysis of children's rights in 190 countries around the world has now been released. Today, the Convention on the Rights of the Child remains the only formal global effort to improve children's rights and the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. Only three U.N. member nations have not ratified the treaty: Somalia, South Sudan and the United States.

When vaccines are imperfect: What math can tell us about their effects on disease propagation Posted: 20 Nov 2014 03:36 PM PST The control of certain childhood diseases is difficult, despite high vaccination coverage in many countries. One of the possible reasons for this is 'imperfect vaccines,' that is, vaccines that fail either due to 'leakiness,' lack of effectiveness on certain individuals in a population, or shorter duration of potency. In a new article, authors use a mathematical model to determine the consequences of vaccine failure and resulting disease dynamics.

Pain, magnet displacement in MRI in patients with cochlear implants Posted: 20 Nov 2014 03:36 PM PST Pain, discomfort and magnet displacement were documented in a small medical records review study of patients with cochlear implants who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), according to a new report.

Longer work hours for moms mean less sleep, higher BMIs for preschoolers Posted: 20 Nov 2014 12:39 PM PST A link between moms' employment and overweight/obesity in preschoolers has been found by researchers. The study investigated links between mothers' employment status and their children's weight over time, exploring the impact of potential mediators, such as children's sleep and dietary habits, the amount of time they spent watching TV and family mealtime routines.

Evolutionary principles used to model cancer mutations, discover potential therapeutic targets Posted: 20 Nov 2014 12:38 PM PST Researchers are taking a unique approach to understanding and investigating cancer by utilizing evolutionary principles and computational modeling to examine the role of specific genetic mutations in the Darwinian struggle among tumor and normal cells during cancer growth.

HIV/AIDS drugs could be repurposed to treat AMD, researchers suggest Posted: 20 Nov 2014 11:17 AM PST Drugs that have been used for the past 30 years to treat HIV/AIDS, could be repurposed to treat the dry form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a new study suggests. AMD is a progressive condition that is untreatable in up to 90 percent of patients and is a leading cause of blindness in the elderly worldwide. The two forms of AMD, wet and dry, are classified based on the presence or absence of blood vessels that have invaded the retina.

Tropical rickettsial illnesses associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes Posted: 20 Nov 2014 11:17 AM PST A recent study from the Thai-Myanmar border highlights the severe and previously under-reported adverse impact of readily treatable tropical rickettsial illnesses, notably scrub typhus and murine typhus, on pregnancy outcomes, finding that more than one third of affected pregnancies resulted either in stillbirth or premature and/or low birth weight babies.

Breakthrough in managing yellow fever disease Posted: 20 Nov 2014 11:16 AM PST Found in South America and sub-Saharan Africa, each year yellow fever results in 200,000 new cases and kills 30,000 people. About 900 million people are at risk of contracting the disease. Now a research team has determined that the yellow fever virus, a hemorrhagic fever virus, replicates primarily in the liver; other organ failures that often follow in people with the disease are due to secondary effects.

Epidemic spreading and neurodegenerative progression Posted: 20 Nov 2014 11:16 AM PST Researchers have used a model inspired by patterns of epidemic disease spreading to map how misfolded proteins propagate within the brain.

An Ebola virus protein can cause massive inflammation and leaky blood vessels Posted: 20 Nov 2014 11:16 AM PST Ebola GP protein covers the virus' surface and is shed from infected cells during infection. Shed GP can trigger massive dysregulation of the immune response and affect the permeability of blood vessels.

Staying ahead of the game: Pre-empting flu evolution may make for better vaccines Posted: 20 Nov 2014 11:16 AM PST An international team of researchers has shown that it may be possible to improve the effectiveness of the seasonal flu vaccine by 'pre-empting' the evolution of the influenza virus.

Human trial of experimental Ebola vaccine Posted: 20 Nov 2014 11:15 AM PST A new clinical trial will evaluate different dosage levels of a promising experimental Ebola vaccine. The Baltimore study is the second Ebola vaccine trial being led by the University of Maryland School of Medicine CVD, the first currently taking place in Mali, West Africa. The Mali trial is being performed by CVD-Mali in partnership with the Ministry of Health of Mali.

New liver gives mother of three a life without pain Posted: 20 Nov 2014 11:14 AM PST A patient's medical problem was diagnosed as primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), a disease in which the bile ducts are damaged, causing bile to build up in the liver. Liver-transplant lists are ordered according to the severity of the liver disease based on a "MELD" score, which factors in creatinine levels, bilirubin levels, and INR (a measurement of how quickly blood clots). The higher the MELD number, the sicker a patient is and the higher they are placed on the waiting list.

Jogging keeps you young: Seniors who run regularly can walk as efficiently as 20-somethings Posted: 20 Nov 2014 11:14 AM PST A new study is shedding light on an unexpected benefit of jogging in older adults. The study looked at adults over the age of 65 -- some of whom walk for exercise and some who run for exercise. The researchers found that those who run at least 30 minutes, three times a week were less likely to experience age-related physical decline in walking efficiency than those who simply walked.

Exercise regimens offer little benefit for one in five people with type 2 diabetes Posted: 20 Nov 2014 10:31 AM PST As many as one in five people with Type 2 diabetes do not see any improvement in blood sugar management when they engage in a supervised exercise regimen, according to a new scientific review.

Powerful method to speed cancer drug discovery unveiled Posted: 20 Nov 2014 09:30 AM PST A new method for discovering cancer drugs lets researchers identify weak and previously undetectable interactions between proteins inside living cells. This approach dould dramatically accelerate the identification of many potential new drug targets and provide an immediate platform to screen for badly needed new drug candidates that disrupt abnormal protein interactions.

Three drugs may be better than one for certain patients with advanced colorectal cancer Posted: 20 Nov 2014 05:22 AM PST Patients with a form of advanced colorectal cancer that is driven by a mutated version of the BRAF gene have limited treatment options available. However, results from a multi-center clinical trial suggest that the cancer may respond to a combination of three targeted drugs.

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