ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Replacing one serving of sugary drink per day by water or unsweetened tea or coffee cuts risk of type 2 diabetes, study shows
• Frequent aspirin use reduces risk of cervical cancer by nearly half
• Short-term debt, depressive symptoms may go hand-in-hand
• Study questions quality of U.S. health data
• Walking an extra two minutes each hour may offset hazards of sitting too long
• Waking proteins up from deep sleep to study their motions
• Worm index closely associated with a nation's human development index
• Scientists discover key driver of human aging: May lead to slowing or reversing aging process
• Settling an old debate: Researchers solve a lingering mystery of cancer cell biology
• Boosting the body's natural ability to fight urinary tract infections
• Study results promising for hepatitis C patients awaiting or completing liver transplant
• Vitamin D toxicity rare in people who take supplements, researchers report
• UV radiations: NONO helps to mend the damage
• How aspirin fights colorectal cancer
• Percentage of Texans without health insurance drops dramatically
• Busy Americans can reap health benefits by balancing protein intake throughout the day
• First embryonic stem cell therapy safety trial in Asian patients
• The regulating hand in ribosome formation
• Light -- not pain-killing drugs -- used to activate brain's opioid receptors
• Vital step in stem cell growth revealed
• New tool can switch behavior -- such as voracious eating -- 'on' and 'off'
• Spinal cord axon injury location determines neuron's regenerative fate
• Protein 'brake' in metabolic reprogramming restrains senescent cells from becoming cancerous
• Swine farming a risk factor for drug-resistant staph infections, study finds
• New mechanism controlling cell response to DNA damage discovered
• Noroviruses spread several meters by air: Viruses responsible for 50 percent of gastroenteritis
• Compact synchrotron makes tumors visible
• Screening for bacteriuria in pregnant women: Benefit unclear
• Engineering new blood vessels in people is one step closer to reality
• Pre-existing inflammation may promote the spread of cancer
• Increase in types, brands of same food items could contribute to overconsumption
• New cellular response to radiation exposure: Must we reconsider the risks of low doses?
• ACP releases advice for the proper time, test, and interval for cervical cancer screening
• Fat grafting for buttocks augmentation: Combined technique gives good results
• Impaired sleep linked to lower pain tolerance
• Researchers use 'knockout humans' to connect genes to disease risk
• Bottleneck analysis can improve care for mothers and newborns in poor settings
• Drug that can prevent onset of diabetes is rarely used
• Why one of three people aged over 70 are discharged with functional decline
• Obesity linked to increased health care costs after plastic surgery
• Hacked Kinect controller game changer for Parkinson's
• New method of investigating human lung tissue enables improved drug target validation for COPD treatment
• Living to 100: Lifestyle advice for would-be centenarians
• Research unlocks critical early nutrient supply for embryos
• Pancreatic cancer risk linked to weak sunlight: Harm may come from low vitamin D
• Fresh whole blood reduces possible complications in pediatric heart surgery patients
• Babies born with drug withdrawal symptoms on the rise, study shows
• Study links quitting smoking with deterioration in diabetes control
• Scientists identify key receptors behind development of acute myeloid leukemia

Replacing one serving of sugary drink per day by water or unsweetened tea or coffee cuts risk of type 2 diabetes, study shows Posted: 30 Apr 2015 04:11 PM PDT Replacing the daily consumption of one serving of a sugary drink with either water or unsweetened tea or coffee can lower the risk of developing diabetes by between 14 percent and 25 percent, concludes new research.

Frequent aspirin use reduces risk of cervical cancer by nearly half Posted: 30 Apr 2015 04:10 PM PDT Long-term and frequent use of aspirin is associated with significantly decreased risk of cervical cancer, according to a study. According to the American Cancer Society, 12,900 new cases of cervical cancer will be diagnosed and 4,100 women will die from the disease in 2015.

Short-term debt, depressive symptoms may go hand-in-hand Posted: 30 Apr 2015 02:07 PM PDT Having short-term household debt -- credit cards and overdue bills -- increases depressive symptoms, research shows. The association is particularly strong among unmarried people, people reaching retirement age and those who are less well educated, according to a new study.

Study questions quality of U.S. health data Posted: 30 Apr 2015 02:07 PM PDT Most U.S. clinical registries that collect data on patient outcomes are substandard and lack critical features necessary to render the information they collect useful for patients, physicians and policy makers, new research suggests.

Walking an extra two minutes each hour may offset hazards of sitting too long Posted: 30 Apr 2015 02:07 PM PDT A new study suggests that engaging in low intensity activities such as standing may not be enough to offset the health hazards of sitting for long periods of time. On the bright side, adding two minutes of walking each hour to your routine just might do the trick.

Waking proteins up from deep sleep to study their motions Posted: 30 Apr 2015 11:49 AM PDT In order to carry out their functions, proteins need to move. Scientists have developed a new technique to study motions in proteins with unprecedented accuracy. The method, which is based on NMR, freezes proteins down to immobility, then slowly heats them to 'wake them up' and restart motions individually and in sequence, providing a slow-motion image of real conditions.

Worm index closely associated with a nation's human development index Posted: 30 Apr 2015 11:49 AM PDT With the Millennium Development Goals established by the United Nations in 2000 coming to an end in 2015, and the new Sustainable Development Goals now in the works to establish a set of targets for the future of international development, experts have developed a new tool to show why neglected tropical diseases, the most common infections of the world's poor, should be an essential component of these goals.

Scientists discover key driver of human aging: May lead to slowing or reversing aging process Posted: 30 Apr 2015 11:18 AM PDT A study tying the aging process to the deterioration of tightly packaged bundles of cellular DNA could lead to methods of preventing and treating age-related diseases such as cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, experts say.

Settling an old debate: Researchers solve a lingering mystery of cancer cell biology Posted: 30 Apr 2015 11:16 AM PDT German biologist Theodor Boveri observed early in the last century that cancer cells often harbor multiple copies of a subcellular structure that he had previously named the centrosome. He was also the first to suggest that the extra centrosomes drive cancer. Biologists have since learned a great deal about the structure and many functions of Boveri's "special organ of cell division." But why cancer cells harbor multiple copies of this organelle—and whether they are "addicted" to having so many—has remained unanswered. So has the question of whether healthy human cells even require centrosomes to divide. Now, 101 years after Boveri aired his suspicions, a paper may have some answers.

Boosting the body's natural ability to fight urinary tract infections Posted: 30 Apr 2015 11:16 AM PDT Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common, and widespread antibiotic resistance has led to urgent calls for new ways to combat them. Researchers report that an experimental drug that stabilizes a protein called HIF-1alpha protects human bladder cells and mice against a major UTI pathogen. The drug might eventually provide a therapeutic alternative or complement to standard antibiotic treatment.

Study results promising for hepatitis C patients awaiting or completing liver transplant Posted: 30 Apr 2015 10:49 AM PDT Hepatitis C patients who are awaiting a liver transplant or have completed one are a difficult group to cure because hepatitis C can come back after transplant. A recent trial showed that a large number of these patients can be cured with an oral regimen of daclatasvir, sofosbuvir and ribavirin. Treatment was well tolerated with few serious side effects.

Vitamin D toxicity rare in people who take supplements, researchers report Posted: 30 Apr 2015 10:48 AM PDT Americans have low vitamin D levels, research shows, and as a result, vitamin D supplement use has climbed in recent years. Vitamin D has been shown to boost bone health and it may play a role in preventing diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and other illnesses. In light of the increased use of vitamin D supplements, researchers set out to learn more about the health of those with high vitamin D levels. They found that toxic levels are actually rare.

UV radiations: NONO helps to mend the damage Posted: 30 Apr 2015 10:48 AM PDT A new molecular mechanism whereby human cells protect their genome from the detrimental effect of UV radiations has been discovered by researchers. NONO is a multifunctional protein involved in melanoma development and progression, in the cellular response to UV radiations.

How aspirin fights colorectal cancer Posted: 30 Apr 2015 09:48 AM PDT Taking aspirin reduces a person's risk of colorectal cancer, but the molecular mechanisms involved have remained unknown until a recent discovery. discovered that aspirin might exert its chemopreventive activity against colorectal cancer, at least partially, by normalizing the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in gastrointestinal precancerous lesions. EGFR is overexpressed in about 80 percent of cases involving colorectal cancer, the third-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States.

Percentage of Texans without health insurance drops dramatically Posted: 30 Apr 2015 09:48 AM PDT The percentage of Texans without health insurance dropped 31 percent since enrollment began in the Affordable Care Act's Health Insurance Marketplace, according to a new report. Despite this improvement, Texas remains the state with the highest percentage of people without health insurance, and for the first time, Texas now has the largest number of uninsured residents in the country.

Busy Americans can reap health benefits by balancing protein intake throughout the day Posted: 30 Apr 2015 09:48 AM PDT Researchers conducted a review of the current scientific literature on protein consumption and found that a moderate increase in protein consumption at each meal, balanced throughout the day, can lead to significant improvements.

First embryonic stem cell therapy safety trial in Asian patients Posted: 30 Apr 2015 09:41 AM PDT A clinical trial for patients with degenerative eye diseases is the first to test the safety of an embryonic stem cell therapy for people of Asian descent. The study, which followed four individuals for a year after they were treated with embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells for macular degeneration, observed no serious side effects (tumor growth or other unexpected effects) related to the therapy.

The regulating hand in ribosome formation Posted: 30 Apr 2015 09:40 AM PDT Biochemists have discovered a protein that regulates the hierarchical organization of ribosome development. Ribosomes are complexly structured cellular nanomachines consisting of four ribonucleic acids and approximately 80 different ribosomal proteins (r-proteins). They are responsible for synthesising protein chains.

Light -- not pain-killing drugs -- used to activate brain's opioid receptors Posted: 30 Apr 2015 09:40 AM PDT Neuroscientists have attached the light-sensing protein rhodopsin to opioid receptor parts to activate the receptor pathways using light from a laser fiber-optic device. They also influenced the behavior of mice using light, rather than drugs, to activate the reward response. When an opioid receptor is exposed to a pain-killing drug, it initiates activity in specific chemical pathways in the brain and spinal cord. And when the researchers shone light on the receptors that contained rhodopsin, the same cellular pathways were activated. Neurons in that part of the brain release chemicals such as dopamine that create feelings of euphoria.

Vital step in stem cell growth revealed Posted: 30 Apr 2015 09:40 AM PDT Stem cells, which have the potential to turn into any kind of cell, offer the tantalizing possibility of generating new tissues for organ replacements, stroke victims and patients of many other diseases. Now, scientist have uncovered details about stem cell growth that could help improve regenerative therapies.

New tool can switch behavior -- such as voracious eating -- 'on' and 'off' Posted: 30 Apr 2015 09:40 AM PDT Researchers have perfected a noninvasive "chemogenetic" technique that allows them to switch off a specific behavior in mice -- such as voracious eating -- and then switch it back on. The method works by targeting two different cell surface receptors.

Spinal cord axon injury location determines neuron's regenerative fate Posted: 30 Apr 2015 09:39 AM PDT A previously unappreciated phenomenon has been reported in which the location of injury to a neuron's communication wire in the spinal cord -- the axon -- determines whether the neuron simply stabilizes or attempts to regenerate. The study demonstrates how advances in live-imaging techniques are revealing new insights into the body's ability to respond to spinal cord injuries.

Protein 'brake' in metabolic reprogramming restrains senescent cells from becoming cancerous Posted: 30 Apr 2015 09:39 AM PDT In recent years, research has shown that cancerous cells have a different metabolism -- essential chemical and nutritional changes needed for supporting the unlimited growth observed in cancer-- than normal cells. Now, scientists have identified a way that cells can reprogram their metabolism to overcome a tumor-suppressing mechanism known as senescence, solidifying the notion that altered metabolism is a hallmark of cancer progression.

Swine farming a risk factor for drug-resistant staph infections, study finds Posted: 30 Apr 2015 08:35 AM PDT Swine farmers are six times more likely to be carriers of staph bacteria, including the MRSA strain, than others, new research shows. S. aureus is a type of bacteria commonly found on the skin as well as in the noses and throats of people and animals. About 30 percent of the U.S. population carries these bacteria, which can cause a range of skin and soft tissue infections. Although most infections are minor, S. aureus can sometimes cause serious infections.

New mechanism controlling cell response to DNA damage discovered Posted: 30 Apr 2015 08:35 AM PDT DNA can be damaged by different environmental insults, such as ultraviolet light, ionizing radiation, oxidative stress or certain drugs. If the DNA is not repaired, cells may begin growing uncontrollably, leading to the development of cancer. Therefore, cells must maintain an intricate regulatory network to ensure that their DNA remains intact. Researchers have discovered a novel mechanism that controls a cell's response to DNA damage.

Noroviruses spread several meters by air: Viruses responsible for 50 percent of gastroenteritis Posted: 30 Apr 2015 08:35 AM PDT Noroviruses, a group of viruses responsible for over 50 percent of global gastroenteritis cases, can spread by air up to several meters from an infected person according to a new study. The discovery suggests that measures applied in hospitals during gastroenteritis outbreaks may be insufficient to effectively contain this kind of infection.

Compact synchrotron makes tumors visible Posted: 30 Apr 2015 08:35 AM PDT Soft tissue disorders like tumors are very difficult to recognize using normal X-ray machines, as there is hardly any distinction between healthy tissue and tumors. Researchers have now developed a technology using a compact synchrotron source that measures not only X-ray absorption, but also phase shifts and scattering. Tissue that is hardly recognizable using traditional X-ray machines is now visible.

Screening for bacteriuria in pregnant women: Benefit unclear Posted: 30 Apr 2015 08:35 AM PDT It remains unclear whether screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women causes more benefit or harm. The results of studies from the 1960s are not applicable to the current situation, reviewers say.

Engineering new blood vessels in people is one step closer to reality Posted: 30 Apr 2015 08:33 AM PDT Scientists moved a step closer toward coaxing the body into producing its own replacement blood vessels after discovering that suppressing parts of the innate immune system may raise the chances of a tissue engineered vascular graft's success.

Pre-existing inflammation may promote the spread of cancer Posted: 30 Apr 2015 08:32 AM PDT Allergic reactions -- or at least the pre-existing inflammation from these reactions -- may set the stage for cancer to spread from one area to another, researchers have learned.

Increase in types, brands of same food items could contribute to overconsumption Posted: 30 Apr 2015 08:32 AM PDT People who eat different types and brands of commonly available food items, such as pizza, are more likely to overeat than people who tend to consume the same brand, research shows.

New cellular response to radiation exposure: Must we reconsider the risks of low doses? Posted: 30 Apr 2015 08:31 AM PDT Almost the entire human genome is transcribed into RNA, but only a fraction of this is actually used to produce protein. The function of the majority of the RNA, the so-called 'non-coding transcriptome' remains an enigma. Some non-coding RNA families have been recognized through their shared structural features. Amongst these is the group of long non-coding RNAs.

ACP releases advice for the proper time, test, and interval for cervical cancer screening Posted: 30 Apr 2015 08:31 AM PDT Clinical advice has been presented aimed at reducing overuse of cervical cancer screening in average risk women without symptoms. The advice suggests that physicians should start screening average risk women for cervical cancer at age 21 once every three years with cytology tests alone. Physicians may use a combination of cytology and HPV (human papillomavirus) testing once every five years in average risk women age 30 and older who prefer screening less often than every three years. Physicians should stop screening average risk women older than 65 years for cervical cancer who have had three consecutive negative cytology results or two consecutive negative cytology plus HPV test results within 10 years with the most recent test performed within five years.

Fat grafting for buttocks augmentation: Combined technique gives good results Posted: 30 Apr 2015 06:41 AM PDT Have you ever dreamed of taking fat from one area where you had a little too much, and transferring to somewhere you wanted a little more? A Brazilian plastic surgery team has done just that, using a combined liposuction and fat grafting technique to augment and enhance the buttocks.

Impaired sleep linked to lower pain tolerance Posted: 30 Apr 2015 06:41 AM PDT People with insomnia and other sleep problems have increased sensitivity to pain, reports a new study. The effect on pain tolerance appears strongest in people who suffer from both insomnia and chronic pain, who may benefit from treatments targeting both conditions.

Researchers use 'knockout humans' to connect genes to disease risk Posted: 30 Apr 2015 06:18 AM PDT Researchers are helping to make precision medicine a reality by sequencing entire exomes of people to assess chronic disease risk and drug efficacy. For years, scientists have been using a method called "knockout mice," which allows them to study gene functions by inactivating a gene in mice and then observing how it affects the mice. Now, researchers are using new methods to study naturally occurring "knockout humans."

Bottleneck analysis can improve care for mothers and newborns in poor settings Posted: 30 Apr 2015 06:17 AM PDT A new model for identifying "bottlenecks" when it comes to implementing health interventions for mothers and newborns in rural areas in low income countries has been presented by a team of researchers.

Drug that can prevent onset of diabetes is rarely used Posted: 30 Apr 2015 06:17 AM PDT Few doctors are prescribing a low-cost drug that has been proven effective in preventing the onset of diabetes. New research finds that only 3.7 percent of U.S. adults with pre-diabetes were prescribed metformin during a recent three-year period.

Why one of three people aged over 70 are discharged with functional decline Posted: 30 Apr 2015 06:17 AM PDT One in three patients aged 70 and older who are independent in their daily functioning and are admitted for acute conditions, like pneumonia, are discharged from the hospital with functional decline and around one in two report a decline in functioning a month after their discharge, according to a new study.

Obesity linked to increased health care costs after plastic surgery Posted: 30 Apr 2015 06:17 AM PDT After common plastic surgery procedures, obese patients have more complications and make more hospital visits—leading to higher healthcare costs, reports a study.

Hacked Kinect controller game changer for Parkinson's Posted: 30 Apr 2015 05:27 AM PDT Microsoft's Kinect games controller has been hacked by researchers to relieve one of the most distressing symptoms of Parkinson's - freezing of gait. Many patients are afflicted by freezing of gait where suddenly, in mid-stride, the muscles freeze and they are left unable to move forward or they simply fall over.

New method of investigating human lung tissue enables improved drug target validation for COPD treatment Posted: 30 Apr 2015 05:23 AM PDT Scientists have succeeded in testing the effectiveness of new approaches for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on ex vivo 3D human lung tissue cultures. For the first time, the suitability of Wnt/beta-catenin activation has been investigated to initiate repair in patient-derived COPD lung tissue.

Living to 100: Lifestyle advice for would-be centenarians Posted: 30 Apr 2015 05:23 AM PDT For the past 50 years, researchers have followed the health of 855 men born in 1913. Now that the study is being wrapped up, it turns out that ten of the subjects lived to 100 and conclusions can be drawn about the secrets of their longevity.

Research unlocks critical early nutrient supply for embryos Posted: 30 Apr 2015 05:23 AM PDT The mechanism by which embryos receive nutrition during the first 11 weeks of pregnancy has been revealed by scientists. The new study explains some of how this crucial stage of development operates, suggesting not just that a healthy diet during the first 11 weeks of pregnancy is essential, but that as nutrients are stored in the gland cells before pregnancy, it is also important to get this right before conception.

Pancreatic cancer risk linked to weak sunlight: Harm may come from low vitamin D Posted: 30 Apr 2015 05:21 AM PDT Pancreatic cancer rates are highest in countries with the least amount of sunlight, researchers report. Low sunlight levels in those countries, they say, were due to a combination of heavy cloud cover and high latitude.

Fresh whole blood reduces possible complications in pediatric heart surgery patients Posted: 30 Apr 2015 05:21 AM PDT Using fresh whole blood from single donors is better than using component blood from multiple donors in pediatric heart surgery patients, new research shows.

Babies born with drug withdrawal symptoms on the rise, study shows Posted: 30 Apr 2015 05:21 AM PDT The number of infants born in the United States with drug withdrawal symptoms, also known as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), nearly doubled in a four-year period. By 2012, one infant was born every 25 minutes in the U.S. with the syndrome, accounting for $1.5 billion in annual health care charges, according to a new study.

Study links quitting smoking with deterioration in diabetes control Posted: 29 Apr 2015 08:48 PM PDT Sufferers of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who quit smoking are likely to see a temporary deterioration in their glycaemic control which could last up to three years, according to new research.

Scientists identify key receptors behind development of acute myeloid leukemia Posted: 29 Apr 2015 08:46 PM PDT Scientists have discovered that a certain class of receptors that inhibit immune response are crucial for the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the most common acute leukemia affecting adults.

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