الخميس، 23 أبريل 2015

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

Proposed breast cancer screening guidelines would increase deaths, experts say

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 12:20 PM PDT

The breast cancer screening guidelines proposed yesterday by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) would result in thousands of additional and unnecessary breast cancer deaths each year, according to radiologists at Loyola University Health System (LUHS).

Sugary drinks boost risk factors for heart disease, study shows

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 11:25 AM PDT

Consumption of sugary drinks increases risk factors for cardiovascular disease in a dose-dependent manner -- the more you drink, the greater the risk. The study is the first to demonstrate such a direct, dose-dependent relationship.

Stressed-out parasites: Overcoming drug-resistant malaria

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 11:24 AM PDT

Drug resistance to the critical antimalarial therapeutics of the artemisinin family has emerged in Southeast Asia, highlighting the need to understand how these drugs work and how they can be used more effectively. Research now shows that artemisinins may function by chemically damaging the malaria parasite's proteins, causing them to activate a cellular stress response.

Discovery could impact study of chronic pain conditions

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 10:57 AM PDT

Researchers have uncovered the critical role in pain processing of a gene associated with a rare disease. Their breakthrough paves the way for a better understanding of chronic pain conditions, they say.

Missing genetic link found in a challenging immune disease

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 10:57 AM PDT

In the largest genome-wide analysis to date of common variable immunodeficiency disorder, scientists have identified a gene that may be a 'missing link' between overactive and underactive immune activity.

Finding effective, cost-effective treatments for complex wounds

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 10:57 AM PDT

Two new papers identify which of the hundreds of available treatments for complex wounds are most likely to be effective and which are most likely to be cost-effective. Complex wounds are a significant burden on patients and on the economy, costing the North American health-care system $10 billion a year. That doesn't include indirect costs such as patient or caregiver frustration, economic loss and decreased quality of life.

New Ebola treatment effective three days after infection

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 10:57 AM PDT

A post-exposure treatment that is effective against a specific strain of the Ebola virus that killed thousands of people in West Africa has been developed by researchers. The treatment uses a sequence specific short strand of RNA, known as siRNA, designed to target and interfere with the Ebola virus, rendering it harmless. One of the advantages of this approach is the ability to quickly modify it to different viral strains.

Computer-assisted diagnosis tool helps physicians assess skin conditions without aid from dermatologists

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 10:56 AM PDT

In the first major study to examine the use of a computer-assisted, photo-driven differential diagnosis generator for skin conditions, researchers found physicians routinely used the tool, without an increase in calling for inpatient dermatology consultations.

Toxic mushroom-based drug may help battle colorectal cancer

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 10:56 AM PDT

For some time, cancer scientists have considered the toxin, alpha-amanatin derived from "death cap" mushrooms, as a possible cancer treatment. However, due to its penchant for causing liver toxicity, its potential as an effective therapy has been limited.

Caloric restriction: A fountain of youth for aging muscles?

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 10:56 AM PDT

Caloric restriction has been studied as a way to increase longevity in animals. Now, researcher explore how it may positively affect muscle and find that aging muscles receive the most benefit. Calorie restriction is thought to have a protective effect on muscle cells and may help cells better use antioxidants, avoid damage caused by free radicals and function better.

New method to detect most common bacteria contaminating oysters

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 09:20 AM PDT

In a major breakthrough in shellfish management and disease prevention, researchers have discovered a new method to detect a bacterium that has contaminated New England oyster beds and sickened consumers who ate the contaminated shellfish. The new patent-pending detection method - which is available for immediate use to identify contaminated shellfish -- is a significant advance in efforts to identify shellfish harboring disease-carrying strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Nanoparticle drug reverses Parkinson's-like symptoms in rats

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 09:19 AM PDT

As baby boomers age, the number of people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease is expected to increase. Patients who develop this disease usually start experiencing symptoms around age 60 or older. Currently, there's no cure, but scientists are reporting a novel approach that reversed Parkinson's-like symptoms in rats. Their results could one day lead to a new therapy for human patients.

Scientists X-ray anti-inflammatory drug candidates

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 09:18 AM PDT

Using an ultra bright X-ray source, scientists have decoded the molecular and three-dimensional structure of two promising drug candidates from the new group of Spiegelmers for the first time. The results provide a deeper understanding of the mode of action of these substances that have already entered clinical trials.

Researchers discover new drugs to combat the root cause of multiple sclerosis

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 09:17 AM PDT

Several drugs could lead to new treatment options for multiple sclerosis, including two drugs that effectively treat MS at the source, in vivo, researchers report. At the pathological level, MS is a disease in which the immune system attacks the protective myelin sheath, a type of insulation that covers nerves, ultimately disrupting communication between the brain and the body and leading to nerve deterioration.

Researchers show how blood-brain barrier is maintained

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 09:17 AM PDT

In a new study, researchers have made insights into how the blood-brain barrier, or BBB, is maintained, identifying a protein key to the process. Delivering this protein to mice with the rodent equivalent of MS improved their symptoms.

Lessons to be learned from Caribbean treatment of mental health

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 09:15 AM PDT

With Caribbean people in the UK nine times more likely than white British counterparts to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, a mental health researcher has visited Jamaica and Barbados to find out what lessons can be learned.

Backache: A matter of mechanics

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 09:15 AM PDT

The mechanics of the lower vertebrae have been the focus of recent study. Researchers are aiming to reveal how wear and tear comes about on vertebral bodies and spinal disks, hoping to make easier the choice of appropriate therapy.

Autism and prodigy share a common genetic link

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 09:14 AM PDT

Researchers have uncovered the first evidence of a genetic link between prodigy and autism. The scientists found that child prodigies in their sample share some of the same genetic variations with people who have autism.

New brain mapping model could improve effectiveness of transcranial magnetic stimulation

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 09:13 AM PDT

Brain researchers have developed a new brain mapping model that could improve the success rate of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in treating conditions including depression, neuropathic pain, and stroke. The model helps pinpoint target sites during TMS, a procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to alleviate or eliminate symptoms of stroke, depression, and attention disorders.

A lot of smoke: Study examines cigarillo modification health claims

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 09:13 AM PDT

Known by a variety of names, "hyping," "champing" and "freaking" a cigarillo – a smaller, leaner type of cigar – is believed by many to significantly reduce the amount of cancer-causing properties associated with tobacco products. A new study examines such claims.

Researchers see promise in treatment to reduce dementia after TBI

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 09:13 AM PDT

Researchers have been attempting to understand the cascade of events following mild head injury that may lead to an increased risk for developing a progressive degenerative brain disease, and their new study shows initial promise for a treatment that might interrupt the process that links the two conditions.

Natural reparative capacity of teeth elucidated

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 07:44 AM PDT

Researchers have taken an important step in research on stem cells and dental repair by isolating dental stem cell lines and describing the natural mechanism by which they repair lesions in the teeth. This fundamental discovery will make it possible to initiate unprecedented therapeutic strategies to mobilize the resident dental stem cells and magnify their natural capacity for repair.

Large heads, narrow pelvises and difficult childbirth in humans: Adaptations in human morphology explain why

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 07:42 AM PDT

The size of the neonatal skull is large relative to the dimensions of the birth canal in the female pelvis. This is the reason why childbirth is slower and more difficult in humans than in most other primates. Scientists have identified adaptations in the morphology of the human body, which were unknown so far, a new study shows.

Clinical studies show 'CHORI-bar' results in broad scale health improvements

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 07:42 AM PDT

A fruit-based micronutrient and fiber-dense supplement bar was shown in clinical trials to improve metabolism in overweight/obese otherwise healthy adults in ways that are consistent with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Consumption of the bar for two months also reduced chronic inflammation, and initiated a reduction in weight and waist circumference.

Scientists watch living taste cells in action

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 07:42 AM PDT

Scientists have for the first time captured live images of the process of taste sensation on the tongue. The international team imaged single cells on the tongue of a mouse with a specially designed microscope system.

Breast arterial calcification strong predictor of coronary artery calcification

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 07:42 AM PDT

In a study to ascertain whether breast arterial calcification (BAC) detected with digital mammography correlates to chest CT findings of coronary artery calcification (CAC), researchers have discovered a striking relationship between the two factors. In 76 percent of the study cohort, women who had a BAC score of 0 also had a CAC score of 0. As the BAC score increases, there is a concomitant increase in the CAC score.

Cirrhosis deaths drop 41 percent from 2002 to 2012

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 07:40 AM PDT

Dramatic improvements have been found in the care of patients with cirrhosis and liver failure, experts report. They continue to recommend improved treatment strategies for patients with cirrhosis and concurrent bacterial infections.

How breast milk protects against severe intestinal disease in preemies

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 07:22 AM PDT

The immune-boosting properties of breast milk have long been known. Now a team of scientists says experiments in mice reveal how breast milk works to ward off the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a devastating intestinal disorder.

Preventing deformed limbs: New link found between physical forces, limb development

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 05:49 AM PDT

Engineers and a pediatric surgeon have joined forces to discover that physical forces like pressure and tension affect the development of limbs in embryos -- research that could someday be used to help prevent birth defects.

Treating patients with dignity, but what about hands-on care?

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 05:49 AM PDT

Health and social care professionals put a different emphasis on the meaning of dignity than their patients do, research suggests. Although the United Kingdom has well-established local and national policies that champion the need to provide dignified care, breaches in dignity are still a problem with England's National Health Service (NHS). A new study has uncovered a potential gap between what patients expect and the focus of care professionals.

Organ Donors: Recipe for long-lasting livers

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 05:49 AM PDT

A new technique that extends the time that donor organs last has been developed by researchers. The technique can also resuscitate organs obtained after cardiac arrest, the researchers say.

Triple negative breast cancer in African-American women has distinct difference

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 05:49 AM PDT

What makes triple negative breast cancer more lethal in African-American women than white women or women of European descent? A new study reveals specific genetic alterations that appears to impact their prognosis and ultimately survival rates.

Serious violence in England and Wales drops 10% in 2014

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 05:44 AM PDT

Serious violence is down in England and Wales, new research shows. The number of people injured in serious violence dropped by 10% in 2014 compared to 2013, and violence against children and adolescents appears to be down 18%.

Helping college students suffering from depression, anxiety and stress

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 05:43 AM PDT

Is it possible to prevent mental health problems in higher education students? The answer is "yes" according to a team of psychologists who conducted a careful, systematic review of 103 universal interventions involving over 10,000 students enrolled in 2- and 4-year colleges and universities and graduate programs. They conclude that effective programs to prevent emotional distress and promote psychosocial assets warrant more widespread use.

Mechanism of action of two new synthetic drugs unravelled for the first time

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 05:42 AM PDT

Substances such as 4-MEC and 4-MEPP belong to the category of new hybrid cathinone derivatives and have a highly stimulant and euphoria-inducing effect, similar to the synthetic drug mephedrone, which was banned in Austria five years ago. Until now, the mechanisms by which these two drugs worked have been unknown. Scientists have now been able, through an international cooperation agreement, to unravel this mechanism for the first time.

New finding could help develop test for kidney disease

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 05:42 AM PDT

Using mass spectrometry to analyze the tissue from mice with different genetic backgrounds and sexes, some of which were susceptible to kidney failure, researchers have made an important finding that could help develop an early test for kidney disease. The team found that the greatest difference was between mice from different genetic backgrounds as opposed to whether they were male or female.

Using smartphones to avoid spatial disorientation of elderly

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 05:42 AM PDT

Researchers are using new network operator technologies to locate and send alerts when an old person with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) suffers from episodes of spatial disorientation. Up to the 60% of cases of MCI can cause episodes of spatial disorientation that appear even in zones where the person usually carries out daily tasks such as doing the shopping, going to the health centre or visiting someone. The person goes missing and starts to wander causing not only stress or anxiety, but also dangerous situations. Disorientation of elderly also means a source of concern for their caregivers.

Frequent genomic alteration is identified in a rare subset of breast cancer

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 05:40 AM PDT

Genomic profiling identifies genomic mutations in a gene associated with a rare subset of breast cancer, research shows -- mutations that cannot otherwise be identified with standard clinical analysis of cells and tissue. The findings could have therapeutic implications specific to this rare form of the disease, say the authors.
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