ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

---

• Traffic fatalities spike during spring break
• Is too much artificial light at night making us sick?
• Mechanism that helps parasites manipulate their hosts may have been discovered
• Low vitamin D levels, depression linked in young women, new study shows
• Antibiotic resistance linked to corruption, experts suggest
• First fine-scale genetic map of the British Isles
• Structure of genetic messenger molecules reveals key role in diseases
• Body Temperature and Obesity: New Study Suggests Connection
• Strong regulations on gun sales prevent high-risk individuals from accessing firearms, can reduce violent crime
• Towels top kitchen contamination hazards list
• Researchers identify protein needed for repair of injured kidney cells
• Benefits of immunotherapy, cancer-targeted treatment in triple combo drug for melanoma
• New approach to promote regeneration of heart tissue
• 'Missing culprit' in heart failure identified by researchers
• Finding support for surgery on Facebook
• Potential treatment identified for myotonic muscular dystrophy
• Glad to be home: Hormonal basis of affiliation, competition among hunters in the Bolivian Amazon
• Study uncovers mechanisms of cancer-causing mutations
• Study sheds new light on asthma, COPD
• Antihypertensive drug improves corticosteroid-based skin treatments
• New molecular tool assesses vaginal microbiome health, diagnoses infections -- fast
• World's first method for continuous purification of valuable antibodies
• Bioinformatics tool for metagenome analysis
• Study may explain low blood oxygen for cystic fibrosis patients with infected lungs
• Actual Reality tested in functional assessment post-TBI
• How green tea could help improve MRIs
• Understanding proteins involved in fertility could help boost IVF success
• Brain networks differ among those with severe schizophrenia, study shows
• Healthy diet reduces risk of cardiovascular disease by a third in over-40s
• Are antipsychotic drugs more dangerous to dementia patients than we think?
• Changes in health care delivery essential to combat chronic disease
• Speech-based system for early detection of Alzheimer's disease
• Custodial grandparents: depressed, anxious and stressed?
• Scientists unknowingly tweak experiments, article suggests
• The new frontier in plasma medicine
• Frequency of blood tests in heart surgery patients may lead to anemia, transfusions
• Scientists pioneer new drug regimen that reduces toxicities for renal cancer patients
• Evolution of the back-to-belly axis
• Early recall rates decline after second round of lung cancer screening
• Ras protein regulates circadian rhythm: Effects on period length, regulation through external time cues
• Phase 2b trial results of novel TB regimen show potential to shorten treatment
• How fatty acids can fight prostate cancer
• Natural sleep cycles identified in rural community
• No room to think: Depressive thoughts may have a negative effect on working memory
• Fatal uncoupling in the epileptic brain
• New growth monitoring tools enable better detection of growth disorders in children
• Tumor determination in bowel cancer: Blood test replaces surgery
• Precision medicine for adrenal cancer, study suggests
• Promising new target may treat pulmonary fibrosis

Traffic fatalities spike during spring break Posted: 18 Mar 2015 12:39 PM PDT Come spring break, college students from all over the country travel to warmer climates for time off from school and to escape the cold weather. However, it's not all fun in the sun. At popular spring break destinations, fatalities from car crashes are significantly higher during the spring break weeks compared to other times of the year, according to a recent study.

Is too much artificial light at night making us sick? Posted: 18 Mar 2015 12:39 PM PDT Modern life, with its preponderance of inadequate exposure to natural light during the day and overexposure to artificial light at night, is not conducive to the body's natural sleep/wake cycle. A cancer epidemiologist and team members suggest such overexposure has possible ties to cancer, obesity, diabetes, and other health issues.

Mechanism that helps parasites manipulate their hosts may have been discovered Posted: 18 Mar 2015 12:39 PM PDT Rodents infected with a common parasite lose their fear of cats, resulting in easy meals for the felines. Now researchers have identified a new way the parasite may modify brain cells, possibly helping explain changes in the behavior of mice -- and humans.

Low vitamin D levels, depression linked in young women, new study shows Posted: 18 Mar 2015 11:55 AM PDT There is a relationship between low levels of vitamin D and depression in otherwise healthy young women, a new study shows.

Antibiotic resistance linked to corruption, experts suggest Posted: 18 Mar 2015 11:54 AM PDT Researchers have linked antibiotic resistance with poor governance and corruption around the world. "We found poor governance and higher levels of corruption are associated with higher levels of antibiotic resistance," said one author. "It is a finding that will be surprising to most people in the field of Medicine."

First fine-scale genetic map of the British Isles Posted: 18 Mar 2015 11:54 AM PDT Many people in the UK feel a strong sense of regional identity, and it now appears that there may be a scientific basis to this feeling, according to a landmark new study into the genetic makeup of the British Isles.

Structure of genetic messenger molecules reveals key role in diseases Posted: 18 Mar 2015 11:54 AM PDT Messenger RNAs (mRNA) are linear molecules that contain instructions for producing the proteins that keep living cells functioning. A new study has shown how the three-dimensional structures of mRNAs determine their stability and efficiency inside cells. This new knowledge could help to explain how seemingly minor mutations that alter mRNA structure might cause things to go wrong in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

Body Temperature and Obesity: New Study Suggests Connection Posted: 18 Mar 2015 11:48 AM PDT A new study suggests that a biological inability to create sufficient core body heat could be linked to the obesity epidemic.

Strong regulations on gun sales prevent high-risk individuals from accessing firearms, can reduce violent crime Posted: 18 Mar 2015 11:45 AM PDT Laws and regulations designed to keep firearms from people at risk of committing violence, such as felons and those under restraining orders, are effective and, in some instances, reduce lethal violence, a review of 28 published studies examining U.S. gun policy has found.

Towels top kitchen contamination hazards list Posted: 18 Mar 2015 11:45 AM PDT Food safety research used video observations to show people touching kitchen towels before washing their hands or using towels after washing their hands inadequately. Even after properly washing their hands, they would reuse the infected towels and contaminate themselves all over again. Researchers believe cloth towels can quickly and easily become contaminated at significant levels, including microorganisms that potentially lead to foodborne illnesses.

Researchers identify protein needed for repair of injured kidney cells Posted: 18 Mar 2015 11:43 AM PDT A protein known as MG53 is not only present in kidney cells, but necessary for the organ to repair itself after acute injury, cardiovascular researchers have shown. "MG53 is a key component of cellular self-repair. Identification of MG53 as a vital component of reno-protection could lead to new preventive or therapeutic treatments for acute kidney failure," the lead investigator said.

Benefits of immunotherapy, cancer-targeted treatment in triple combo drug for melanoma Posted: 18 Mar 2015 11:43 AM PDT A groundbreaking new triple combination therapy shows promising signs of more effectively controlling advanced melanoma than previous BRAF + MEK inhibitor or BRAF inhibitor + immunotherapy combos alone, and with increased immune response and fewer side effects.

New approach to promote regeneration of heart tissue Posted: 18 Mar 2015 11:43 AM PDT The heart tissue of mammals has limited capacity to regenerate after an injury such as a heart attack, in part due to the inability to reactivate a cardiac muscle cell and proliferation program. A team has now shown that a subset of microRNAs is important for cardiomyocyte cell proliferation during development and is sufficient to induce proliferation in cardiomyocytes in the adult heart.

'Missing culprit' in heart failure identified by researchers Posted: 18 Mar 2015 11:43 AM PDT Working with lab animals and human heart cells, scientists have identified what they describe as "the long-sought culprit" in the mystery behind a cell-signaling breakdown that triggers heart failure. An enzyme called PDE-9 interferes with the body's natural "braking" system needed to neutralize stress on the heart, they report.

Finding support for surgery on Facebook Posted: 18 Mar 2015 11:06 AM PDT Despite the popularity of social networking sites like Facebook, scientists are only beginning to learn how they affect human interaction. In a recent study, researchers examined Facebook conversations to better understand how people seek and receive support on social networking sites. When the researchers examined the conversations where the initial posts mentioned surgery, they discovered that posts referencing a family member triggered much greater response via comments on that post.

Potential treatment identified for myotonic muscular dystrophy Posted: 18 Mar 2015 11:06 AM PDT A doctor who was one of the discoverers of the gene responsible for myotonic muscular dystrophy has now identified a therapeutic that could slow progression of muscle damage and muscle dysfunction associated with the disease.

Glad to be home: Hormonal basis of affiliation, competition among hunters in the Bolivian Amazon Posted: 18 Mar 2015 11:06 AM PDT Absence, it seems, really does make the heart grow fonder. That's according to new research conducted by anthropologists, who found that levels of the 'love' hormone oxytocin increases among Tsimane men when they come home to their families after a day of hunting.

Study uncovers mechanisms of cancer-causing mutations Posted: 18 Mar 2015 10:08 AM PDT The molecular mechanism of cancer development caused by well-known 'resistance' mutations in the gene called epidermal growth factor receptor has been revealed by researchers for the first time. While these mutations were known for quite a long time, the question as to why they cause cancer or make some drugs ineffective was still not answered.

Study sheds new light on asthma, COPD Posted: 18 Mar 2015 10:07 AM PDT In diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the body produces too much mucus, making breathing difficult. New research provides clues to potentially counteract inappropriate mucus production.

Antihypertensive drug improves corticosteroid-based skin treatments Posted: 18 Mar 2015 10:07 AM PDT Basic research on blood pressure has led researchers to obtain unexpected results: drugs used to treat high blood pressure reduce side effects from corticosteroid-based creams used to treat certain skin diseases.

New molecular tool assesses vaginal microbiome health, diagnoses infections -- fast Posted: 18 Mar 2015 10:07 AM PDT Bacterial communities within the vagina protect it from unhealthy bacteria and otherwise help to maintain its health. Nonetheless, as in any complex ecosystem, things can go awry. A new microarray-based tool, called VaginArray, offers the potential to provide a fast, reliable and low-cost assessment of vaginal health and diagnoses of infections.

World's first method for continuous purification of valuable antibodies Posted: 18 Mar 2015 10:07 AM PDT The world's first continuous purification method for valuable drugs has been created by scientists. This will lead to significantly reduced production costs and to cheaper pharmaceuticals that are affordable for non-privileged health care systems.

Bioinformatics tool for metagenome analysis Posted: 18 Mar 2015 10:04 AM PDT A new method for DNA analysis of microbial communities, such as those found in the ocean, the soil, and our own guts, has been developed by scientists. "We have developed a new tool in this rapidly expanding and evolving field of what is called 'metagenomics'" said a researcher. "It uses nucleic acid data and looks for sections that map uniquely to a preconstructed database."

Study may explain low blood oxygen for cystic fibrosis patients with infected lungs Posted: 18 Mar 2015 10:04 AM PDT A new bodily process found in mice may explain why blood oxygen levels are lower for patients with cystic fibrosis when they get a lung infection. "Our findings indicate that strategies aimed at restoring or activating the CFTR protein in patients with lung infection, particularly those with cystic fibrosis, might help improve blood oxygen levels and improve circulation," said one researcher.

Actual Reality tested in functional assessment post-TBI Posted: 18 Mar 2015 10:04 AM PDT Actual Reality has been described as a new tool for assessing performance of activities of everyday life in people with traumatic brain injury (TBI). A new article outlines the first study examining the use of Actual Reality in the TBI population.

How green tea could help improve MRIs Posted: 18 Mar 2015 10:04 AM PDT Green tea's popularity has grown quickly in recent years. Its fans can drink it, enjoy its flavor in their ice cream and slather it on their skin with lotions infused with it. Now, the tea could have a new, unexpected role -- to improve the image quality of MRIs. Scientists report that they successfully used compounds from green tea to help image cancer tumors in mice.

Understanding proteins involved in fertility could help boost IVF success Posted: 18 Mar 2015 10:03 AM PDT Women who have difficulty getting pregnant often turn to in-vitro fertilization (IVF), but it doesn't always work. Now scientists are taking a new approach to improve the technique by studying the proteins that could help ready a uterus for an embryo to implant in its wall. Their report could help researchers develop a new treatment that could potentially increase the success rate of IVF.

Brain networks differ among those with severe schizophrenia, study shows Posted: 18 Mar 2015 10:03 AM PDT People with a severe form of schizophrenia have major differences in their brain networks compared to others with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and healthy individuals, a new study shows. Schizophrenia, which affects one in 100 people, is generally known for symptoms of delusions and hallucinations, which can be treated with antipsychotic medications. However, lack of motivation and social withdrawal are also characteristic symptoms of the illness.

Healthy diet reduces risk of cardiovascular disease by a third in over-40s Posted: 18 Mar 2015 10:03 AM PDT Men and women who adapt their daily diet to meet current UK dietary guidelines could reduce their risk of a heart attack or a stroke by up to a third, according to a new English study. Those on the modified diet ate oily fish once a week, more fruit and vegetables, replaced refined with wholegrain cereals, swapped high-fat dairy products and meats for low-fat alternatives, and restricted their intake of added sugar and salt.

Are antipsychotic drugs more dangerous to dementia patients than we think? Posted: 18 Mar 2015 10:03 AM PDT Drugs aimed at quelling the behavior problems of dementia patients may also hasten their deaths more than previously realized, a new study finds. The research adds more troubling evidence to the case against antipsychotic drugs as a treatment for the delusions, hallucinations, agitation and aggression that many people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias experience.

Changes in health care delivery essential to combat chronic disease Posted: 18 Mar 2015 10:02 AM PDT Chronic disease accounts for 7 of every 10 deaths in the United States and more than 75% of total health care costs. Among people 65 years old and older, over 92% suffer from one or more chronic diseases. By 2020, it is estimated that 48% of the total population will have chronic disease. In a new article, researchers discuss how existing health care delivery models are poorly constructed to manage chronic disease, and how a reengineering of the health care system might offer some hope in meeting this challenge.

Speech-based system for early detection of Alzheimer's disease Posted: 18 Mar 2015 10:02 AM PDT Various non-invasive methodologies for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease are under development, researchers report. Alzheimer's disease is the most significant cause of dementia in the elderly: it affects over 35 million people worldwide.

Custodial grandparents: depressed, anxious and stressed? Posted: 18 Mar 2015 10:02 AM PDT Grandparents who care for grandchildren with abnormal emotional and hyperactive symptoms are more likely to experience lower levels of life satisfaction, a study has found.

Scientists unknowingly tweak experiments, article suggests Posted: 18 Mar 2015 07:13 AM PDT Some scientists are unknowingly tweaking experiments and analysis methods to increase their chances of getting results that are easily published, a new article suggests. P-hacking happens when researchers either consciously or unconsciously analyze their data multiple times or in multiple ways until they get a desired result. If p-hacking is common, the exaggerated results could lead to misleading conclusions, even when evidence comes from multiple studies.

The new frontier in plasma medicine Posted: 18 Mar 2015 07:13 AM PDT Applications of plasmas in medicine are a new frontier in therapeutic treatment. For example, they can help in stimulating tissue regeneration in the contexts of wound healing and dermatology. Essential to this topic is the understanding of processes at work in plasmas -- a unique kind of gas-like state of matter containing charged particles. A new study provides previously unavailable data on oxygen ion transport and the likelihood of such ions interacting with water molecules.

Frequency of blood tests in heart surgery patients may lead to anemia, transfusions Posted: 18 Mar 2015 07:13 AM PDT Laboratory testing among patients undergoing cardiac surgery can lead to excessive bloodletting, which can increase the risk of developing hospital-acquired anemia and the need for blood transfusion, according to a new article.

Scientists pioneer new drug regimen that reduces toxicities for renal cancer patients Posted: 18 Mar 2015 07:12 AM PDT Conclusive results have been revealed in reducing toxicities for Asian patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma or cancer that has spread beyond the kidney. The findings have revolutionized the standard protocol for patient management in NCCS with an attenuated-dose regimen of sunitinib for patients with mRCC.

Evolution of the back-to-belly axis Posted: 18 Mar 2015 07:12 AM PDT Early in our embryogenesis, the two main body axes are established to provide positional cues through a coordinate system for the differentiating cells. A research team has now found evidence for an ancient origin of the back-to-belly axis in a sea anemone. The signaling system that is responsible for the establishment of this axis was already present at least 600 million years ago.

Early recall rates decline after second round of lung cancer screening Posted: 18 Mar 2015 05:47 AM PDT Regarding lung cancer, the early repeat scan rate for suspicious findings decreased by more than 80 percent with the second and subsequent low-dose computed tomography screens, but emphasizes the need to have an organized screening program with the baseline scan available for comparison, a study shows.

Ras protein regulates circadian rhythm: Effects on period length, regulation through external time cues Posted: 18 Mar 2015 05:47 AM PDT Biochemists have gained new insights into the generation and maintenance of circadian rhythms. They demonstrated that the Ras protein is important for setting the phase of such a circadian clock, as its activity determines the period length of the rhythm. Ras is also contributing to induce phase-shifts in circadian rhythms in response to external time cues such as light.

Phase 2b trial results of novel TB regimen show potential to shorten treatment Posted: 18 Mar 2015 04:45 AM PDT A new tuberculosis (TB) drug regimen designed to improve options for TB therapy eliminated more bacteria from sputum than standard therapy and did so at a faster rate, according to data from a phase 2b clinical trial. These results are published just as the global phase 3 clinical trial, designed to bring this regimen through the last stage of testing, has begun.

How fatty acids can fight prostate cancer Posted: 18 Mar 2015 04:45 AM PDT A mechanism by which omega-3 fatty acids inhibit the growth and spread of prostate cancer cells has been found by researchers. The findings, which are at odds with a 2013 study asserting that omega-3s increase the risk of prostate cancer, point the way to more effective anti-cancer drugs.

Natural sleep cycles identified in rural community Posted: 18 Mar 2015 04:45 AM PDT A new study has identified a rural community in Brazil that still follows the earlier sleep and wake times similar to pre-industrial times. The team of researchers studied the population of Baependi, a small rural town in south-eastern Brazil, whose sleep/wake cycle is much more aligned with that of our ancestors.

No room to think: Depressive thoughts may have a negative effect on working memory Posted: 18 Mar 2015 04:44 AM PDT A new study illustrates the link between reduced working memory capacity and dysphoria, a significant and prolonged depressed mood related to clinical depression. Building on the knowledge that dysphoric individuals (DIs) and clinically depressed people maintain their attention on 'mood-congruent' information longer than people without depressed mood, researchers carried out three studies to test both working memory and processing speed.

Fatal uncoupling in the epileptic brain Posted: 18 Mar 2015 04:44 AM PDT Epilepsy is a very prevalent neurological disorder. Approximately one-third of patients are resistant to currently available therapies. A team of researchers has discovered a new cause to explain the development of temporal lobe epilepsy: At an early stage, astrocytes are uncoupled from each other. This results in the extracellular accumulation of potassium ions and neurotransmitters, which cause hyperexcitability of the neurons, researchers say.

New growth monitoring tools enable better detection of growth disorders in children Posted: 18 Mar 2015 04:43 AM PDT Children's growth disorders can be detected earlier and more efficiently with the help of new growth monitoring tools, according to research. These tools include up-to-date growth reference curves, evidence-based screening cut-off values for abnormal growth and automated growth monitoring based on electronic health records.

Tumor determination in bowel cancer: Blood test replaces surgery Posted: 18 Mar 2015 04:42 AM PDT A new study is assessing patients with metastasized bowel cancer to determine whether it is possible to characterize tumor and better control resistance mechanisms with a blood test. The aim of this is to spare patients the stress of having tissue removed via biopsies and to make the targeted use of therapy easier.

Precision medicine for adrenal cancer, study suggests Posted: 18 Mar 2015 04:40 AM PDT In a randomized phase 3 trial, adrenal cancer patients receiving the investigational drug linsitinib fared no better than patients receiving a placebo. But the researchers noticed a small subset of patients who had significant response and remained on the drug for an extended time.

Promising new target may treat pulmonary fibrosis Posted: 18 Mar 2015 04:40 AM PDT By uncovering the mechanism by which fibrous tissue cells in the lung multiply, researchers have identified a promising new approach for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or IPF- where the disease appears spontaneously and without a known cause -- is a severe, chronic lung disease in which the rapid growth of fibrous tissue results in increasingly severe breathing difficulties and a high mortality rate.

You are subscribed to email updates from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States