السبت، 28 مارس 2015

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

Recipe for antibacterial plastic: Plastic plus egg whites

Posted: 27 Mar 2015 05:17 PM PDT

Bioplastics made from protein sources such as albumin and whey have shown significant antibacterial properties, findings that could eventually lead to their use in plastics used in medical applications such as wound healing dressings, sutures, catheter tubes and drug delivery, according to a recent study. The bioplastic materials could also be used for food packaging.

Study provides evidence against the fetal origins of cancer, cardiovascular disease

Posted: 27 Mar 2015 10:22 AM PDT

A study evaluated the relationship between nutritional conditions in early life and adult health, and found that famine exposure during the first pregnancy trimester was associated with increases in mortality from causes other than cancer or cardiovascular disease. This is the first study to quantify the possible long-term effects of nutrition deprivation at different stages of pregnancy and long-term mortality.

Love the cook, love the food: Attraction to comfort food linked to positive social connections

Posted: 27 Mar 2015 10:21 AM PDT

A big bowl of mashed potatoes. What about spaghetti and meatballs? Sushi? Regardless of what you identify as comfort food, it's likely the attraction to that dish is based on having a good relationship with the person you remember first preparing it.

Is painful knee and hand osteoarthritis in women associated with excess mortality?

Posted: 27 Mar 2015 09:05 AM PDT

Researchers present a study that compares mortality rates of women with painful knee and hand osteoarthritis with the mortality of unaffected women from the same community; demonstrates higher risk of early death in the group with painful knee osteoarthritis.

Long-standing mystery in membrane traffic solved

Posted: 27 Mar 2015 08:18 AM PDT

In 2013, James E. Rothman, Randy W. Schekman, and Thomas C. Südhof won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries of molecular machineries for vesicle trafficking, a major transport system in cells for maintaining cellular processes. SNARE proteins are known as the minimal machinery for membrane fusion. Scientists now report that NSF/?-SNAP disassemble a single SNARE complex using various single-molecule biophysical methods that allow them to monitor and manipulate individual protein complexes.

More than one-third of Division I college athletes may have low vitamin D levels

Posted: 27 Mar 2015 07:11 AM PDT

A new study found that more than one-third of elite, Division I college athletes may have low levels of vitamin D, which is critical in helping the body to absorb calcium needed to maintain bone mass, and to minimize musculoskeletal pain and injury risk.

C. difficile doubles hospital readmission rates, lengths of stay

Posted: 27 Mar 2015 07:11 AM PDT

Patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) are twice as likely to be readmitted to the hospital as patients without the deadly diarrheal infection, according to a new study.

Color of lettuce determines the speed of its antioxidant effect

Posted: 27 Mar 2015 07:11 AM PDT

Lettuce, one of the indispensable vegetables in the Mediterranean diet, is a food that greatly benefits health, mainly because it is rich in antioxidants. But not all lettuce varieties have the same antioxidant effect. The color of the leaves of these vegetables determines the speed at which their compounds act. So lettuces with green leaves have antioxidants that react more slowly while red-leaf ones have a faster effect.

How body's good fat tissue communicates with brain

Posted: 27 Mar 2015 07:10 AM PDT

Brown fat tissue, the body's "good fat," communicates with the brain through sensory nerves, possibly sharing information that is important for fighting human obesity, such as how much fat we have and how much fat we've lost, according to researchers.

Smaller plates, smaller portions? Not always

Posted: 27 Mar 2015 06:10 AM PDT

It may have become conventional wisdom that you can trick yourself into eating less if you use a smaller plate. But a new study finds that trick doesn't work for everyone, particularly overweight teens.

Switch that might tame most aggressive of breast cancers

Posted: 27 Mar 2015 06:10 AM PDT

So-called 'triple-negative breast cancers' are two distinct diseases that likely originate from different cell types, researchers have found. They have also found a gene that drives the aggressive disease, and hope to find a way to 'switch it off'.

Bundled payments: Study finds causes of hospital readmissions following joint replacements

Posted: 27 Mar 2015 06:09 AM PDT

A new study identifies common causes of hospital readmissions following total hip and knee arthoplasty procedures among patients involved in a Bundled Payment Care Initiative. By finding these common causes, researchers believe quality can be increased and hospital costs decreased.

Fracture liaison services prevent fractures and save lives

Posted: 27 Mar 2015 06:09 AM PDT

Using a simulation model, researchers have shown that the implementation of Fracture Liaison Services could considerably reduce the human and healthcare costs associated with osteoporotic fractures.

Bio-marker set forms the basis for new blood test to detect colorectal cancer

Posted: 27 Mar 2015 06:09 AM PDT

Colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer globally and the second most common cause of cancer deaths. The chance of a cure is high if the cancer is detected early enough, but early detection is not a given. Researchers have identified bio-markers that can be incorporated in a new diagnostic test. This should make it possible to detect colorectal cancer in an early stage using a simple blood test, they say.

Research on medical abortion, miscarriage may change international routines

Posted: 27 Mar 2015 06:07 AM PDT

Two scientific studies are expected to form the basis of new international recommendations for the treatment of medical abortions and miscarriages. One of the studies shows that it is possible to replace the clinical follow-up examinations recommended today with medical abortions that include a home pregnancy test. The other study shows that midwives can safely and effectively treat failed abortions and miscarriages in rural districts of Uganda.

Most NFL players with injuries to the midfoot return to game action

Posted: 27 Mar 2015 06:06 AM PDT

Nearly 93 percent of National Football League (NFL) athletes who sustained traumatic injuries to the midfoot returned to competition less than 15 months after injury and with no statistically significant decrease in performance, according to new research.

Big data allows computer engineers to find genetic clues in humans

Posted: 27 Mar 2015 06:06 AM PDT

Computer scientists tackled some big data about an important protein and discovered its connection in human history as well as clues about its role in complex neurological diseases.

MRI based on a sugar molecule can tell cancerous from noncancerous cells

Posted: 27 Mar 2015 06:06 AM PDT

Imaging tests like mammograms or CT scans can detect tumors, but figuring out whether a growth is or isn't cancer usually requires a biopsy to study cells directly. Now results of a study suggest that MRI could one day make biopsies more effective or even replace them altogether by noninvasively detecting telltale sugar molecules shed by the outer membranes of cancerous cells.

First fully-implantable micropacemaker designed for fetal use

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 05:46 PM PDT

The first fully implantable micropacemaker designed for use in a fetus with complete heart block has been designed by researchers. The investigators anticipate the first human use of the device in the near future.

Weight-loss surgery before joint replacement can improve outcomes in severely overweight patients

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 05:46 PM PDT

Bariatric surgery prior to joint replacement is a cost-effective option to improve outcomes in severely overweight patients, research demonstrates. It is well-known that obesity takes a toll on one's health. Bariatric surgery and subsequent weight loss reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes and even some forms of cancer. But before now, the effect of bariatric surgery on joint replacement outcomes was not known.

Domestic violence victims may be hurt by mandatory arrest laws

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 03:36 PM PDT

Mandatory arrest is a law enforcement policy that was created in an effort to curb domestic violence in the United States. But a recent study by sociologists suggests that the law may be intimidating victims from actually calling the police to report an instance of abuse.

A possible novel therapy for a rare but potentially fatal blood disorder

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 03:35 PM PDT

A transgenic mouse model is a proof-of-concept that platelet blood cells that are loaded with the enzyme ADAMTS13 can be an effective treatment in murine models of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

What to do with kidneys from older deceased donors?

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 03:35 PM PDT

For older patients in need of a kidney transplant, rapid transplantation from an older deceased donor is superior to delayed transplantation from a younger donor. Kidneys from older donors do not have sufficient longevity to provide younger patients with a lifetime of kidney function, but they do have sufficient longevity to provide older patients who have a shorter life expectancy with a lifetime of kidney function.

Genetic mutation helps explain why, in rare cases, flu can kill

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 01:27 PM PDT

A small number of children who catch the influenza virus fall so ill they end up in the hospital even while their family and friends recover easily. New research helps explain why: a rare genetic mutation that prevents the production of a critical protein, interferon, that is needed to fight off the virus.

Wearable device helps vision-impaired avoid collision

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 01:27 PM PDT

An obstacle course was used by researchers to evaluate a wearable collision warning device they developed for patients with peripheral vision loss. They found the device may help patients with a wide range of vision loss avoid collisions with high-level obstacles.

Antibiotic effectiveness imperiled as use in livestock expected to increase

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 01:27 PM PDT

Antibiotic consumption in livestock worldwide could rise by 67 percent between 2010 and 2030, and possibly endanger the effectiveness of antimicrobials in humans, researchers warn.

Mexican Americans confront high disability rates in later life

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 01:26 PM PDT

Life expectancy for Hispanics in the US currently outpaces other ethnic groups, yet a new study finds that Mexican Americans -- especially women who were born in Mexico -- are spending a high proportion of their later years with some form of disability, a fact that suggests a growing need for community assistance and long-term care in the future.

Longevity: Role of genes is greater with living to older ages

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 01:26 PM PDT

Genes appear to play a stronger role in longevity in people living to extreme older ages, according to a study of siblings.

To survive, a parasite mixes and matches its disguises, study suggests

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 01:26 PM PDT

Researchers found an unexpected diversity of protein coats within populations of Trypanosoma brucei, challenging the conventional understanding of the dynamics that allow the parasite to persist. Orchestrated costume changes make it possible for certain nasty microbes to outsmart the immune system, which would otherwise recognize them by the telltale proteins they wear, the researchers explain.

Carnival game mimics eye growth

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 01:26 PM PDT

The motion of coins in a "Penny Pusher" carnival game is similar to the movement of cells in the eye's lens, it turns out. This new insight may help scientists understand how the eye maintains its precise shape -- critical for clear vision -- and how cataracts develop.

Experts set strategic priorities for lymphoma research

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 12:23 PM PDT

A committee of lymphoma experts has unveiled a strategic roadmap identifying key priority areas in both infrastructure and research that will be critical for advancing treatments for people with lymphoma.

Researchers identify timeline for HIV replication in the brain

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 12:22 PM PDT

HIV can begin replicating in the brain as early as four months after initial infection, researchers have discovered. One-third of people not taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) to control their HIV will eventually develop HIV-associated dementia. The study's results in these newly infected people stress the importance of routine HIV testing to catch the infection as early as possible to allow the prompt initiation antiretroviral therapy, investigators note.

International collaboration essential in fight against rabies, new study finds

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 12:22 PM PDT

New insights into the spread of rabies in the Middle East have been provided by a new study, showing that the deadly disease regularly moves between countries in the region. Previous studies have demonstrated that rabies, a fatal disease transmitted by the bite or scratch from an infected animal, still kills approximately 60,000 people every year. Although some regions such as Western Europe are free from rabies, the disease is still endemic in many parts of the world.

Calcium channels play a role in neuronal homeostasis, elimination of toxic buildup of proteins

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 12:16 PM PDT

Mutations of human homologs (genes that carry out similar functions) of cacophony and its partner straightjacket cause defects in autophagy in neurons, researchers have discovered. Autophagy is the body's first-line of defense against the buildup up of toxic substances, degrading old organelles and proteins to provide new substrates and building blocks. In this way, autophagy prevents the buildup of "garbage" that can result in destruction of neurons and cause neurologic diseases.

Why popular antacids may increase chance of bone fractures

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 12:16 PM PDT

Newly research details a discovery explaining why the 100 million Americans estimated to be taking prescription and over-the-counter antacid and heartburn medications may be at an increased risk of bone fractures.

Price, variety and junk food: Study finds urban farmers’ markets may fall short compared to neighborhood stores

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 12:15 PM PDT

Farmers' markets located in urban areas may not contribute positively to nutrition or health according to researchers. Their study is the first to itemize farmers' market products in an entire urban county—in this case the Bronx—and compare them with what's available in nearby stores.

Anti-obesity treatment in animal models developed

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 10:08 AM PDT

A study has been conducted on obese mice and monkeys, using a drug which inhibits the activity of the PI3K enzyme. The body weight loss observed by researchers was exclusively due to a reduction in fat mass, and no toxic effects have been noted. The study also found an improvement in the symptoms of diabetes and hepatic steatosis (fatty liver disease), investigators report.

How the brain 'remembers' pain

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 10:07 AM PDT

A mechanism that is responsible for the chronification of pain in the brain has been discovered by researchers, possibly pointing to new strategies for the medical treatment of chronic pain, the investigators say.

Materials Genomics Initiative: Sequencing the DNA of things

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 10:06 AM PDT

Researchers are working to more quickly design materials that will find their ways to the marketplace. Just as the Human Genome Initiative in the 1990s sequenced human DNA for the subsequent identification and analysis of genes, so too will the Materials Genome Initiative sequence materials for identifying new properties for a variety of applications, scientists say.

Female IBD patients: Stay up-to-date on your cervical cancer screening

Posted: 26 Mar 2015 09:21 AM PDT

Women with inflammatory bowel disease may be at increased risk of cervical dysplasia and cancer, according to a new study. Although patients with both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease -- the two most common forms of IBD -- had higher odds of being diagnosed with cervical cancer before IBD, only patients with Crohn's disease were at an increased risk of developing cervical cancer after the IBD diagnosis, this study demonstrated.
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