ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• When should blood transfusions be given after cardiac surgery?
• Treatment outlook for adults with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy move from grim to good
• Loneliness and social isolation are just as much a threat to longevity as obesity
• When to keep kids home from school: Expert opinion
• Babies' body mass index may predict childhood obesity
• How genetic changes lead to familial Alzheimer's disease
• Experience of time is altered in depression, meta-study shows
• Concurrent chemoradiation treatment at high-volume facilities improves survival for NSCLC
• Feasibility of blood-based test for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease
• Uncovering the effects of cooking, digestion on gluten and wheat allergens in pasta
• Gender, race influences when teens start drinking, smoking and doing drugs
• Graphene: A new tool for fighting cavities and gum disease?
• Promising 'natural' Alzheimer's treatment moves toward clinical trials
• Brain processes ongoing pain more emotionally
• Repairing the cerebral cortex: It can be done
• Brain waves predict our risk for insomnia
• Swine flu outbreak in India raises concern: New strain of H1N1 may carry dangerous mutations
• Even injured kidneys can be used for transplants, study shows
• News coverage of Fukushima disaster minimized health risks to general population
• Drug restores brain function and memory in early Alzheimer’s disease
• Face-to-face bullying worse than cyber-attacks, students say
• Telemedicine enrolls patients remotely into acute stroke trial
• Physicians, patients overestimate risk of death from acute coronary syndrome
• New moms more satisfied after giving birth in a public hospital
• Religion, support for birth control health coverage can mix
• Alternative way to pay for expensive drugs may be needed, analysis says
• Effectiveness of point of care diagnostics for schistosomiasis
• Gene linked with early epilepsy discovered
• Going beyond the central dogma of molecular biology: Rather than being a one-way street, DNA-directed RNA transcription may have profound adaptability
• How changes in body weight affect human metabolism
• MAIT cell alterations involved in obesity, diabetes
• Considerable potential savings with generic medicines
• Stem cells in the brain: Limited self-renewal
• Naproxen plus acid blocking drug shows promise in preventing bladder cancer
• Harder-to-abuse oxycontin doesn't stop illicit use
• Honey, I shrunk the ants: How environment controls size
• New signaling pathway in embryonic development discovered
• Conclusive link between genetics, clinical response to warfarin uncovered
• One in six college students misuse ADHD stimulant drugs
• More weight-loss strategies needed for people with neurological disabilities
• Researchers see way cocaine hijacks memory
• 'Perfect storm' of stress, depression may raise risk of death, heart attack for heart patients

When should blood transfusions be given after cardiac surgery? Posted: 11 Mar 2015 03:58 PM PDT New research has shown that patients having heart surgery do not benefit if doctors wait until a patient has become substantially anemic before giving a transfusion.

Treatment outlook for adults with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy move from grim to good Posted: 11 Mar 2015 01:05 PM PDT Implantable defibrillators, along with other modern treatments, have reduced mortality rates and are helping patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy live longer, a study confirms. This research 'changes our perceptions of HCM from a grim, unrelenting, and largely untreatable condition to a contemporary disease with effective treatment options and a low rate of death,' states the lead researcher.

Loneliness and social isolation are just as much a threat to longevity as obesity Posted: 11 Mar 2015 01:05 PM PDT Loneliness and social isolation are just as much a threat to longevity as obesity. The effect occurs even for people who like to be alone. Lack of relationships is a bigger health risk for people under age 65.

When to keep kids home from school: Expert opinion Posted: 11 Mar 2015 01:02 PM PDT For many reasons, a child being home from school while sick can be stressful. Parents worry about the severity of their child's illness and about the child missing school, all while trying to shuffle work schedules to be home.

Babies' body mass index may predict childhood obesity Posted: 11 Mar 2015 01:02 PM PDT Body mass index during infancy may help predict if a child will be obese by age 4. A new study suggests that better understanding of infant growth patterns may lead to more effective early obesity prevention.

How genetic changes lead to familial Alzheimer's disease Posted: 11 Mar 2015 11:09 AM PDT Mutations in the presenilin-1 gene are the most common cause of inherited, early-onset forms of Alzheimer's disease. In a new study, scientists replaced the normal mouse presenilin-1 gene with Alzheimer's-causing forms of the human gene to discover how these genetic changes may lead to the disorder. Their surprising results may transform the way scientists design drugs that target these mutations to treat inherited or familial Alzheimer's, a rare form of the disease.

Experience of time is altered in depression, meta-study shows Posted: 11 Mar 2015 11:09 AM PDT Patients suffering from depression appear to experience time differently than healthy individuals. Statements made by patients in a recent study indicate that for them time seems to pass extremely slowly or even stands still. Psychologists have collated relevant studies on the subject to analyze them in a meta-study.

Concurrent chemoradiation treatment at high-volume facilities improves survival for NSCLC Posted: 11 Mar 2015 11:09 AM PDT Patients treated with definitive concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy for stage III non-small cell lung cancer have longer overall survival when treated by highly experienced facilities, whether or not they are academic or community cancer centers.

Feasibility of blood-based test for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease Posted: 11 Mar 2015 11:09 AM PDT The first evidence that a simple blood test could be developed to confirm the presence of beta amyloid proteins in the brain, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, has been presented by researchers.

Uncovering the effects of cooking, digestion on gluten and wheat allergens in pasta Posted: 11 Mar 2015 09:47 AM PDT Researchers trying to understand wheat-related health problems have found new clues to how the grain's proteins, including gluten, change when cooked and digested. They report that boiling pasta releases some of its potential allergens, while other proteins persist throughout cooking and digestion. Their findings lend new insights that could ultimately help Celiac patients and people allergic to wheat.

Gender, race influences when teens start drinking, smoking and doing drugs Posted: 11 Mar 2015 09:47 AM PDT Cigarette use among white teenagers is substantially higher than among black and Hispanic teenagers, especially at 18 years old, according to researchers. Alcohol and marijuana use are also higher in white teenagers, and the numbers continue to increase until age 20. Throughout their 20s, blacks and Hispanics are more likely to pick up a cigarette-smoking habit, while the numbers start to decrease for whites.

Graphene: A new tool for fighting cavities and gum disease? Posted: 11 Mar 2015 09:47 AM PDT Dental diseases, which are caused by the overgrowth of certain bacteria in the mouth, are among the most common health problems in the world. Now scientists have discovered that a material called graphene oxide is effective at eliminating these bacteria, some of which have developed antibiotic resistance.

Promising 'natural' Alzheimer's treatment moves toward clinical trials Posted: 11 Mar 2015 09:46 AM PDT A promising new natural treatment for Alzheimer's disease is moving toward clinical trials. This will be a major step forward as there is nothing on the market that slows the progression of Alzheimer's; natural products chemist has patented a botanical compound, withanamides.

Brain processes ongoing pain more emotionally Posted: 11 Mar 2015 09:45 AM PDT A momentary lapse of concentration is all it takes for a finger to become trapped or sprain an ankle -- and it hurts. Pain is the body's protective mechanism and a complex neurological phenomenon. Moreover, ongoing pain in the sense of chronic pain can be a disease, clinicians say. Scientists have now demonstrated that already during a few minutes of ongoing pain, the underlying brain activity changes by shifting from sensory to emotional processes.

Repairing the cerebral cortex: It can be done Posted: 11 Mar 2015 09:45 AM PDT An important step in the area of cell therapy has been taken by scientists: repairing the cerebral cortex of the adult mouse using a graft of cortical neurons derived from embryonic stem cells. These results also suggest that damaged circuits can be restored only by using neurons of the same type as the damaged area.

Brain waves predict our risk for insomnia Posted: 11 Mar 2015 09:44 AM PDT There may not yet be a cure for insomnia, but researchers are a step closer to predicting who is most likely to suffer from it -- just in time for World Sleep Day on March 13. Researchers note that we should all keep abiding by the habits already acknowledged to promote a good night's sleep: "Avoid sources of stress when going to bed, preserve the bedroom environment for sleep and not for work, and avoid stimulation. Find ways to relax before going to sleep."

Swine flu outbreak in India raises concern: New strain of H1N1 may carry dangerous mutations Posted: 11 Mar 2015 09:44 AM PDT Since December, an outbreak of swine flu in India has killed more than 1,200 people, and a new study suggests that the strain has acquired mutations that make it more dangerous than previously circulating strains of H1N1 influenza.

Even injured kidneys can be used for transplants, study shows Posted: 11 Mar 2015 09:44 AM PDT Kidneys from deceased donors that have acute injuries are frequently discarded instead of being used for transplant. However, a study finds that such kidneys may be more viable than previously thought, and should be considered to meet the growing demand for organ transplants.

News coverage of Fukushima disaster minimized health risks to general population Posted: 11 Mar 2015 09:42 AM PDT A new analysis finds that U.S. news media coverage of the Fukushima disaster largely minimized health risks to the general population. Researchers analyzed more than 2,000 news articles from four major U.S. outlets.

Drug restores brain function and memory in early Alzheimer’s disease Posted: 11 Mar 2015 09:42 AM PDT An existing epilepsy drug reverses a condition in elderly patients who are at high risk for dementia due to Alzheimer's disease.

Face-to-face bullying worse than cyber-attacks, students say Posted: 11 Mar 2015 06:10 AM PDT Face-to-face bullying is more cruel and harsh than online attacks, a survey of school students found. The findings of this study indicate that significantly more victims perceived traditional bullying to be more harsh and cruel than cyberbullying. "It clearly indicates the feelings of the children and the very real threat they have of being physically harmed by another child," the lead investigator said.

Telemedicine enrolls patients remotely into acute stroke trial Posted: 11 Mar 2015 06:10 AM PDT For the first time in the world, researchers were able to enroll patients at other hospitals into an acute stroke clinical trial.

Physicians, patients overestimate risk of death from acute coronary syndrome Posted: 11 Mar 2015 06:10 AM PDT Both physicians and patients overestimate the risk of heart attack or death for possible acute coronary syndrome (ACS) as well as the potential benefit of hospital admission for possible ACS, a survey of patient and physician communication and risk assessment shows.

New moms more satisfied after giving birth in a public hospital Posted: 11 Mar 2015 06:10 AM PDT Women who give birth in a public hospital are more confident parents compared to women who have babies privately, a new Australian study has found. "We found that compared to women in a private hospital, women who birthed in the public sector had six times the odds of being telephoned by a care provider, 34 times the odds of being visited at home and five times the odds of visiting a GP within 10 days of being at home," an author said.

Religion, support for birth control health coverage can mix Posted: 11 Mar 2015 06:10 AM PDT Religious affiliation doesn't necessarily predict a woman's views on reproductive health care policies like birth control coverage, a study shows. Even when it comes to policies that have sometimes been characterized as going against Christian views -- such as the Affordable Care Act mandate for employer-provided contraception coverage -- religious women's opinions are mixed, finds the American study.

Alternative way to pay for expensive drugs may be needed, analysis says Posted: 11 Mar 2015 05:19 AM PDT A major challenge facing the world's health care systems is paying for a new breed of expensive breakthrough drugs. One way to address the issue is to approach it the same way as other industries where suppliers encourage investment through approaches such as equipment leases or supplier-financed credit.

Effectiveness of point of care diagnostics for schistosomiasis Posted: 11 Mar 2015 05:17 AM PDT An independent review has been conducted to assess how well point of care tests detect Schistosoma infections in people living in endemic regions Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is a parasitic disease classified as a neglected tropical diseases (NTD), which is common in tropical and subtropical regions. The traditional means of testing for the disease is microscopy, which is lab based. Point-of-care tests and urine reagent tests are quicker and easier to use than microscopy in the field, and this review aims to estimate how well these tests are able to detect schistosomiasis infections in comparison to traditional lab based microscopy.

Gene linked with early epilepsy discovered Posted: 11 Mar 2015 05:17 AM PDT Certain types of early-onset epilepsy are caused by previously unknown mutations of a potassium channel gene, KCNA2. The mutations disrupt the electrical balance in the brain in two ways. In some patients, the flow of potassium is greatly reduced; while in others, it is raised enormously. Both states can lead to hard-to-treat epileptic seizures. New information may lead to a treatment to help prevent poor brain development in some cases, researchers say.

Going beyond the central dogma of molecular biology: Rather than being a one-way street, DNA-directed RNA transcription may have profound adaptability Posted: 11 Mar 2015 05:17 AM PDT The central dogma of molecular biology describes the flow of genetic information. It was first described by Francis Crick in 1956 as one-way traffic: as: "DNA makes RNA and RNA makes protein." A recent paper, however, suggests that rather than being a one-way street, DNA-directed RNA transcription may have profound adaptability. The authors of the paper showed a conceptually novel relationship between the genotype (DNA) and the phenotype (the products of the transcription of DNA).

How changes in body weight affect human metabolism Posted: 11 Mar 2015 05:17 AM PDT Until now there have been few molecular epidemiological studies regarding the effects of weight changes on metabolism in the general population. "Through our experimental approach, which involves both metabolomics and transcriptomics data, we have gained insights into the molecular mechanisms that are affected by weight gain," said a researcher in a study with this focus.

MAIT cell alterations involved in obesity, diabetes Posted: 11 Mar 2015 05:16 AM PDT A class of inflammatory cells, MAIT lymphocytes, is deregulated in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes and obesity, a study shows. Already known to be activated by certain bacterial populations and to favor inflammation, these cells may explain the link between alterations that affect the intestinal flora (microbiota) and the inflammatory nature of these diseases.

Considerable potential savings with generic medicines Posted: 11 Mar 2015 05:15 AM PDT Substituting branded medications with drugs containing the same active ingredients (generics) can save considerable amounts of money. A study has calculated the potential savings from generic medications used in the treatment of common conditions such as hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes mellitus. The potential annual financial savings for health insurance companies stand at around 18 per cent.

Stem cells in the brain: Limited self-renewal Posted: 11 Mar 2015 05:15 AM PDT Stem cells in the brain can produce neurons and are consequently seen as a hope for treatment. A team of researchers has now discovered that the self-renewal rate of the stem cells is however limited, explaining why their number drops over the course of a lifetime. This work now sets the basis for further investigation of the signalling pathways that maintain the stem cells.

Naproxen plus acid blocking drug shows promise in preventing bladder cancer Posted: 11 Mar 2015 05:13 AM PDT Researchers combined the NSAID naproxen with the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole and found it reduced the incidence of bladder cancer in rats. The anti-inflammatory class of drugs NSAIDs have shown great promise in preventing cancers including colon, esophagus and skin. However, they can increase the risks of heart attacks, ulcers and rare but potentially life-threatening bleeds.

Harder-to-abuse oxycontin doesn't stop illicit use Posted: 11 Mar 2015 05:13 AM PDT A reformulation of OxyContin that makes it less likely to be abused than the older formulation has curtailed the drug's illicit use. But researchers have found that a significant percentage still abuse the drug despite package labeling that emphasizes its abuse-deterrent properties.

Honey, I shrunk the ants: How environment controls size Posted: 11 Mar 2015 05:12 AM PDT Until now scientists have believed that the variations in traits -- such as our height, skin color, tendency to gain weight or not, intelligence, tendency to develop certain diseases, etc., all of them traits that exist along a continuum -- were a result of both genetic and environmental factors. But they didn't know how exactly these things worked together. By studying ants, researchers have identified a key mechanism by which environmental (or epigenetic) factors influence the expression of all of these traits, along with many more.

New signaling pathway in embryonic development discovered Posted: 10 Mar 2015 05:57 PM PDT During pregnancy, the mother supplies the fetus with nutrients and oxygen via the placenta. If placental development is impaired, this may lead to growth disorders of the embryo or to life-threatening diseases of the mother. Now, researchers have discovered a new molecular signaling pathway which regulates the development of the placenta. Perturbations of this pathway in mice cause developmental defects of the placenta.

Conclusive link between genetics, clinical response to warfarin uncovered Posted: 10 Mar 2015 05:57 PM PDT Patients with a genetic sensitivity to warfarin have higher rates of bleeding during the first several months of treatment and benefited from treatment with a different anticoagulant drug, a study has shown. The analyses suggest that using genetics to identify patients who are most at risk of bleeding, and tailoring treatment accordingly, could offer important safety benefits, particularly in the first 90 days of treatment.

One in six college students misuse ADHD stimulant drugs Posted: 10 Mar 2015 02:41 PM PDT One in six college students misuse the stimulant drugs prescribed for ADHD, such as Ritalin and Adderall, considerably more than reported in several of the earlier studies, a meta-analysis shows. Those students run both legal and health risks in off-prescription use of ADHD stimulant drugs, which are Schedule II controlled substances.

More weight-loss strategies needed for people with neurological disabilities Posted: 10 Mar 2015 02:41 PM PDT A review of nutrition and weight-loss interventions for people with impaired mobility found strategies are sorely lacking for people with neurological disabilities. Interventions are overwhelmingly geared toward muscular disorders, leaving a gap in approaches that could help people with neurological disabilities become more active, eat healthier and lose weight, researchers conclude.

Researchers see way cocaine hijacks memory Posted: 10 Mar 2015 02:41 PM PDT A mechanism in the brain that facilitates the pathologically powerful role of memory in drug addiction has been identified by a group of researchers. Their discovery opens a new area of research for targeted therapy that would alter or disable the mechanism and make drug addiction less compulsive.

'Perfect storm' of stress, depression may raise risk of death, heart attack for heart patients Posted: 10 Mar 2015 02:41 PM PDT High stress and deep depression among heart patients may up the risk of death or heart attack by 48 percent. The findings validate the concept of a 'psychosocial perfect storm' for heart patients. Researchers say behavioral interventions may be needed to help heart patients manage both stress and depression.

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