ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Poison center warns against designer drug 'N-bomb'
• Likely genetic source of muscle weakness found in six previously undiagnosed children
• Microbes help produce serotonin in gut
• Signal variability, cognitive performance in the aging human brain
• New Waldenstrom's drug shows sustained benefit at two years
• Review highlights potential of cancer immunotherapy plus targeted therapy
• Gene loss creates eating disorder-related behaviors in mice
• Study revises theory of how PTEN, a critical tumor suppressor, shuts off growth signals
• Pluck hair in a specific pattern to grow new hair: Hair six times thicker in mice
• New Ebola study points to potential drug target
• How the brain balances risk-taking and learning: Learning circuit in worms gives clues to human behavior
• Choice of protein- and carbohydrate-rich foods may have big effects on long-term weight gain
• Detecting lysosomal pH with better fluorescent probes
• Breakthrough finds molecules that block previously 'undruggable' protein tied to cancer
• Fecal transplants in treatment of Clostridium difficile infection
• Study tallies huge cost of hepatitis C drugs for prisons
• Improving the quality of medical care using computer understanding of human language
• Axillary lymph node evaluation performed frequently in ductal carcinoma in situ
• Affordable Care Act provision for young adults leaves racial disparities intact among trauma patients
• Amniotic stem cells demonstrate healing potential
• Epigenomic changes play an important role during the progression of melanoma
• Children with neurological disorders need flu vaccine but don't always get it
• Nintedanib in lung cancer: Added benefit depends on disease severity
• Clot-busting drug benefits stroke patients, brain scan study shows
• Researchers deliver large particles into cells at high speed
• Drug regulations tied to fewer prescriptions of effective gout drug
• A grateful heart is a healthier heart
• Sex crimes more common in certain families
• We may be looking at wrong mutation for breast cancer treatment
• Uncovering genetic diversity of pancreatic cancer
• Downward trend for new cases of pediatric melanoma
• Novel tissue substitute made of high-tech fibers
• Study on new treatment for prostate cancer
• Delicate magnolia-jasmine scent activates human pheromone receptor
• Increased levels of radon in Pennsylvania homes correspond to onset of fracking
• New piece in the 'French paradox' diet and health puzzle: Cheese metabolism
• Turning to freshwater sources to fight drug-resistant tuberculosis, other infections

Poison center warns against designer drug 'N-bomb' Posted: 09 Apr 2015 01:22 PM PDT The relatively new synthetic drug 25I-NBOMe, or "N bomb," has been associated with the deaths of at least 17 people in the United States since 2010, when it first became available over the Internet, often marketed as "legal" or "natural" LSD.

Likely genetic source of muscle weakness found in six previously undiagnosed children Posted: 09 Apr 2015 11:31 AM PDT Using state-of-the-art genetic technology, researchers have discovered the likely cause of a child's rare type of severe muscle weakness. The child was one of six cases in which investigators sequenced -- or decoded -- the genes of patients with Neuromuscular Disease and was then able to identify the genetic source, or likely genetic source, of each child's symptoms.

Microbes help produce serotonin in gut Posted: 09 Apr 2015 11:30 AM PDT Although serotonin is well known as a brain neurotransmitter, it is estimated that 90 percent of the body's serotonin is made in the digestive tract. In fact, altered levels of this peripheral serotonin has been linked to diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. New research shows that certain bacteria in the gut are important for the production of peripheral serotonin.

Signal variability, cognitive performance in the aging human brain Posted: 09 Apr 2015 10:35 AM PDT As we age, the physical make up of our brains changes. This includes changes in neural processing in grey matter, but also in the deterioration of structural connections in the brain, which allow communication between distinct brain regions, so the brain is able to work as a well-wired network system. The moment-to-moment variability in brain activity has been studied by researchers, and more specifically, in the blood oxygenation level-dependent signal.

New Waldenstrom's drug shows sustained benefit at two years Posted: 09 Apr 2015 10:35 AM PDT Ibrutinib, a newly approved drug for Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia, continues to control the rare blood cancer, with 95 percent of patients surviving for two years, research concludes. The disease stems from an abnormality in B lymphocytes in the bone marrow causing them to overproduce IgM, an immunoglobulin protein that thickens the blood; patients may experience bleeding, dizziness, headaches, weight loss, bruising and nerve damage.

Review highlights potential of cancer immunotherapy plus targeted therapy Posted: 09 Apr 2015 10:35 AM PDT The prospect of combining genomically targeted therapies with drugs that free the immune system to attack cancer suggests 'we are finally poised to deliver curative therapies to cancer patients,' researchers state in a new report that covers the strengths and weaknesses of the two forms of therapy and notes how their combination could be particularly potent.

Gene loss creates eating disorder-related behaviors in mice Posted: 09 Apr 2015 10:35 AM PDT Building on their discovery of a gene linked to eating disorders in humans, a team of researchers has now shown that loss of the gene in mice leads to several behavioral abnormalities that resemble behaviors seen in people with anorexia nervosa.

Study revises theory of how PTEN, a critical tumor suppressor, shuts off growth signals Posted: 09 Apr 2015 10:35 AM PDT New evidence contradicts prior beliefs about how the protein PTEN -- one of the most important of the body's tumor suppressors -- works. Specifically, a new study shows how it is recruited to particular locations in our cells where pro-growth signals need to be shut off. This work could help scientists design more effective drugs to counteract cancer's hallmark trait, uncontrolled cellular growth.

Pluck hair in a specific pattern to grow new hair: Hair six times thicker in mice Posted: 09 Apr 2015 10:34 AM PDT If there's a cure for male pattern baldness, it might hurt a little. Scientists have demonstrated that by plucking 200 hairs in a specific pattern and density, they can induce up to 1,200 replacement hairs to grow in a mouse.

New Ebola study points to potential drug target Posted: 09 Apr 2015 10:32 AM PDT Interfering with the replication of the Ebola virus can stop the virus in its tracks, a new study shows. The discovery opens the door to finding more effective treatments. The Ebola outbreak that began last year in West Africa has infected nearly 25,000 people and killed more than 10,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

How the brain balances risk-taking and learning: Learning circuit in worms gives clues to human behavior Posted: 09 Apr 2015 10:32 AM PDT If you had 10 chances to roll a die, would you rather be guaranteed to receive $5 for every roll ($50 total) or take the risk of winning $100 if you only roll a six?

Choice of protein- and carbohydrate-rich foods may have big effects on long-term weight gain Posted: 09 Apr 2015 10:32 AM PDT Small changes to the types of protein- and carbohydrate-rich foods that we eat may have a large impact on preventing long-term weight gain. The study also suggests that changes in refined carbohydrates can enhance -- or offset -- the weight-gain or weight-loss effects of certain protein-rich foods.

Detecting lysosomal pH with better fluorescent probes Posted: 09 Apr 2015 09:04 AM PDT Detecting problems with lysosomes is the focus of a new set of fluorescent probes. "A lot of diseases are related to problems with lysosome functions," says a chemistry doctoral candidate involved in the study. The researchers have developed the new probes, essentially chemical dyes that illuminate lysosome structures with fluorescence.

Breakthrough finds molecules that block previously 'undruggable' protein tied to cancer Posted: 09 Apr 2015 09:04 AM PDT New findings on HuR, an 'oncoprotein,' hold promise for treating every type of cancer tested, including cancers of the colon, prostate, breast, brain, ovaries, pancreas and lung, scientists report, adding that the findings could lead to a new class of cancer drugs.

Fecal transplants in treatment of Clostridium difficile infection Posted: 09 Apr 2015 09:04 AM PDT New evidence has been gained for the success of fecal microbial transplantation in treating severe Clostridium difficile infection, a growing problem worldwide that leads to thousands of fatalities every year. The findings have important implications for a range of diseases associated with microbial imbalance, or dysbiosis, researchers say.

Study tallies huge cost of hepatitis C drugs for prisons Posted: 09 Apr 2015 09:04 AM PDT Correctional systems are obliged to care for inmates but, as a new study of Rhode Island prisons shows, treating every chronically infected inmate in the state with expensive but effective hepatitis C drugs would cost nearly twice as much as the entire correctional health budget. Treating only the sickest would still far outstrip the pharmaceutical budget.

Improving the quality of medical care using computer understanding of human language Posted: 09 Apr 2015 09:03 AM PDT How can computer-based analysis of free text -- the narrative comments found in medical records and expressed in everyday language or technical terminology - help improve the quality of medical care?

Axillary lymph node evaluation performed frequently in ductal carcinoma in situ Posted: 09 Apr 2015 09:02 AM PDT Axillary lymph node evaluation is performed frequently in women with ductal carcinoma in situ breast cancer, despite recommendations generally against such an assessment procedure in women with localized cancer undergoing breast-conserving surgery, according to a study.

Affordable Care Act provision for young adults leaves racial disparities intact among trauma patients Posted: 09 Apr 2015 09:00 AM PDT The Affordable Care Act (ACA) allowed millions of young adults to retain health care coverage through their parents' insurance plans, but new research finds that many young African-American and Hispanic adults who need coverage for trauma care may not get it.

Amniotic stem cells demonstrate healing potential Posted: 09 Apr 2015 07:21 AM PDT Scientists use stem cells derived from amniotic fluid to promote the growth of robust, functional blood vessels in healing hydrogels. The researchers combined versatile amniotic stem cells with injectable hydrogels used as scaffolds in regenerative medicine and proved they enhance the development of vessels needed to bring blood to new tissue and carry waste products away.

Epigenomic changes play an important role during the progression of melanoma Posted: 09 Apr 2015 07:21 AM PDT Researchers have zeroed in on what makes cancer cells in melanoma so aggressive. They also succeeded in taming the effect in cell cultures. Melanoma, a type of skin cancer, is notoriously quick to metastasize and responds poorly to existing cancer treatments. In their study, the researchers report a significant step forward in the characterization and potential treatment of melanoma.

Children with neurological disorders need flu vaccine but don't always get it Posted: 09 Apr 2015 07:19 AM PDT Children with neurologic or neurodevelopmental disorders (NNDDs) are at increased risk of complications from influenza. Although experts have recognized NNDDs as high-risk conditions for influenza complications since 2005, little is known about influenza vaccination practices in this population.

Nintedanib in lung cancer: Added benefit depends on disease severity Posted: 09 Apr 2015 06:48 AM PDT In non-small cell lung cancer the new angiokinase inhibitor has advantages in patients without brain metastases, but disadvantages in patients with brain metastases. In principle, at most an indication of an added benefit can be derived from the results of the only study included in the manufacturer dossier. As the analysis of the data shows, the advantages or disadvantages of nintedanib in combination with docetaxel primarily depend on whether patients already had brain metastases at the start of the study or not.

Clot-busting drug benefits stroke patients, brain scan study shows Posted: 09 Apr 2015 06:48 AM PDT A drug that breaks up blood clots in the brains of stroke patients could be used more widely than at present without increased risk, a brain scan study suggests. It had previously been thought that giving the drug to people with signs of early damage in the brain caused by a stroke would increase the chances of them suffering a bleed on the brain -- which can be fatal. The study is the first to show that early tissue damage seen in brain scans does not necessarily indicate an increased risk of bleeding.

Researchers deliver large particles into cells at high speed Posted: 09 Apr 2015 06:48 AM PDT A new device developed by engineers and doctors eventually help scientists study the development of disease, enable them to capture improved images of the inside of cells and lead to other improvements in medical and biological research.

Drug regulations tied to fewer prescriptions of effective gout drug Posted: 09 Apr 2015 06:40 AM PDT Well intentioned, but costly and potentially problematic. That's how researchers describe the end result of a decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate colchicine, a drug used to treat gout, among other ailments. Fewer patients are actually now taking it, and it has come at a cost to their wallets, says the study's leader. Colchicine had been sold at low cost for many years in the US. It is widely used to treat gout, and is the primary treatment for a rare inflammatory disease called familial Mediterranean fever.

A grateful heart is a healthier heart Posted: 09 Apr 2015 06:39 AM PDT Recognizing and giving thanks for the positive aspects of life can result in improved mental, and ultimately physical, health in patients with asymptomatic heart failure, according to new research.

Sex crimes more common in certain families Posted: 09 Apr 2015 05:32 AM PDT Close relatives of men convicted of sexual offenses commit similar offenses themselves more frequently than comparison subjects. This is due to genetic factors rather than shared family environment, researchers report in a new study.

We may be looking at wrong mutation for breast cancer treatment Posted: 09 Apr 2015 05:32 AM PDT A leading gene candidate that has been the target of breast cancer drug development may not be as promising as initially thought, according to new research. Mutation in the gene PIK3CA is the second most prevalent gene mutation in breast cancer and is found in 20% of all breast cancers. This has led people to think these changes may be driving breast cancer. Yet these mutations are also known to be present in neoplastic lesions -pre-cancerous growths many of which are thought to be benign, that have not invaded the surrounding tissue, scientists say.

Uncovering genetic diversity of pancreatic cancer Posted: 09 Apr 2015 05:32 AM PDT Most pancreatic cancers harbor genetic alterations that could be targeted by existing drugs, using their genetic features as a roadmap for treatment, a genetic analysis suggests. The findings support a precision approach to treating pancreatic cancer, the fourth most deadly cancer for both men and women.

Downward trend for new cases of pediatric melanoma Posted: 09 Apr 2015 05:32 AM PDT Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer that has been increasing in incidence in adults over the past 40 years. Although pediatric melanoma is rare (5-6 children per million), most studies indicate that incidence has been increasing. In a new study, researchers found that the incidence of pediatric melanoma in the United States actually has decreased from 2004-2010.

Novel tissue substitute made of high-tech fibers Posted: 09 Apr 2015 05:20 AM PDT Regenerative medicine uses cells harvested from the patient's own body to heal damaged tissue. Researchers have developed a cell-free substrate containing proteins to which autologous cells bind and grow only after implantation.

Study on new treatment for prostate cancer Posted: 09 Apr 2015 05:14 AM PDT A new study represents the first time low temperature plasmas (LTPs) have been applied on cells grown directly from patient tissue samples. Taking both healthy prostate cells and prostate cancer tissue cells from a single patient, the study allowed for direct comparison of the effectiveness of the treatment. Scientists discovered that LTPs may be a potential option for treatment of patients with organ confined prostate cancer, and a viable, more cost-effective alternative to current radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatments.

Delicate magnolia-jasmine scent activates human pheromone receptor Posted: 09 Apr 2015 05:14 AM PDT The question if humans can communicate via pheromones in the same way as animals is under debate. Cell physiologists have demonstrated that the odorous substance Hedione activates the putative pheromone receptor VN1R1, which occurs in the human olfactory epithelium. Researchers showed that the scent of Hedione generates sex-specific activation patterns in the brain, which do not occur with traditional fragrances.

Increased levels of radon in Pennsylvania homes correspond to onset of fracking Posted: 09 Apr 2015 05:13 AM PDT Researchers say that levels of radon in Pennsylvania homes -- where 42 percent of readings surpass what the U.S. government considers safe -- have been on the rise since 2004, around the time that the fracking industry began drilling natural gas wells in the state.

New piece in the 'French paradox' diet and health puzzle: Cheese metabolism Posted: 08 Apr 2015 09:46 AM PDT Figuring out why the French have low cardiovascular disease rates despite a diet high in saturated fats has spurred research and many theories to account for this phenomenon known as the 'French paradox.' Most explanations focus on wine and lifestyle, but a key role could belong to another French staple: cheese. The evidence, say scientists, is in cheese metabolism.

Turning to freshwater sources to fight drug-resistant tuberculosis, other infections Posted: 08 Apr 2015 08:36 AM PDT The discovery of antibiotics produced by soil fungi and bacteria gave the world life-saving medicine. But new antimicrobials from this resource have become scarce as the threat of drug resistance grows. Now, scientists have started mining lakes and rivers for potential pathogen-fighters, and they've found one from Lake Michigan that is effective against drug-resistant tuberculosis.

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