ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Prescription drug benefit doesn't save money for Medicare
• Eye's motion detection sensors identified
• FDA takes step to remove artificial trans fats in processed foods
• Longevity hormone is lower in stressed, depressed women
• Public divided on heart benefits from alcohol consumption
• Drug trials in pet dogs with cancer may speed advances in human oncology
• Human cell models accelerate research into brown fat
• Vehicle direction, not driver biometrics, best way to detect drowsiness
• Hormone fluctuations disrupt sleep of perimenopausal women
• Maternal stress alters offspring gut, brain through vaginal microbiome
• Prenatal DDT exposure tied to nearly four-fold increase in breast cancer risk
• Tracking the viral parasites cruising our waterways
• Can personal devices interfere with hospital care?
• Toxic algal blooms behind Klamath River dams create health risks far downstream
• Researchers identify new stem cell population important in the growth of colon cancer
• Returning killer T cells back to barracks could improve vaccines
• Helicobacter pylori infection leaves a fingerprint in gastric cancer
• SCOPE program developed to engage communities in preventing childhood obesity
• Dengue mosquitoes hitch rides on Amazon river boats
• World spends more than $200 billion to make countries healthier
• Completing care processes for blood poisoning more quickly
• New insights into the regulation of disease-associated genes
• Attention to angry faces can predict future depression
• Early behavior problems may be linked to 'aging' biomarkers in preschoolers
• Complex, large-scale genome analysis made easier
• Increasing regulation of care services is making the sector less attractive for workers
• Night driving restriction reduces young driver crashes
• Protein discovery fuels redesign of mosquito-based malaria vaccine
• Extreme exercise linked to blood poisoning
• Structural data reveals new mechanism behind protein transport
• Fruit flies 'push the limit' and lead researchers to an unexpected discovery
• Lack of sleep affects long-term health
• Rate of ectopic pregnancy following IVF has almost halved in past 12 years
• IVF in women over 38: The doctor's dilemma
• Minor obstetric and gynecologic procedure linked to increased risk of preterm delivery
• Couples needing sperm donation favor the same donor for all conceptions
• Brain injury patterns linked to post-concussion depression, anxiety
• Paying people incentives to make healthy choices only works in the long term if they are paid to NOT do something
• New method for investigating, classifying liver tumors
• Young adults find health insurance enrollment on HealthCare.gov challenging, according to study
• Mannitol dosing errors made during transport of patients to tertiary hospitals
• Hyperlipidemia, caused by a high-fat diet, aggressively accelerates organ rejection
• Meeting global air quality guidelines could prevent 2. 1 million deaths per year
• Randomized controlled trials must be simplified to sustain innovation
• Scientists help public avoid health risks of toxic blue-green algae

Prescription drug benefit doesn't save money for Medicare Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:21 PM PDT For years, the Medicare pre­scrip­tion drug ben­efit Part D has been cred­ited with pos­i­tively impacting national trends in health out­comes and med­ical ser­vices. But a recent study chal­lenges that assump­tion and sug­gests that the U.S. Con­gres­sional Budget Office's adopted a new costing method based on assumed cost-savings may be "premature."

Eye's motion detection sensors identified Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:07 PM PDT Studying mice, scientists have identified a neural circuit in the retina that carries signals enabling the eye to detect movement. The finding could help in efforts to build artificial retinas for people who have suffered vision loss.

FDA takes step to remove artificial trans fats in processed foods Posted: 16 Jun 2015 01:02 PM PDT Based on a thorough review of the scientific evidence, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalized its determination that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not "generally recognized as safe" or GRAS for use in human food. Food manufacturers will have three years to remove PHOs from products.

Longevity hormone is lower in stressed, depressed women Posted: 16 Jun 2015 12:59 PM PDT Women under chronic stress have significantly lower levels of klotho, a hormone that regulates aging and enhances cognition, researchers have found in a study comparing mothers of children on the autism spectrum to low-stress controls.

Public divided on heart benefits from alcohol consumption Posted: 16 Jun 2015 12:59 PM PDT In one of the first published studies using data from the Health eHeart Study, researchers have found that people are divided on the cardiovascular benefits of alcohol consumption. And, those who do perceive alcohol as 'heart healthy' drink substantially more than their counterparts.

Drug trials in pet dogs with cancer may speed advances in human oncology Posted: 16 Jun 2015 12:55 PM PDT Pet dogs may be humans' best friends in a new arena of life: cancer treatment, says a veterinary clinical medicine. Physiological similarities between dogs and humans, and conserved genetics between some dog and human cancers, can allow pet dogs to serve as useful models for studying new cancer drugs.

Human cell models accelerate research into brown fat Posted: 16 Jun 2015 12:50 PM PDT A team of researchers has created cell lines of human brown and white fat precursor cells that will help investigators to pick apart the factors that drive the development and activity of each type of cell.

Vehicle direction, not driver biometrics, best way to detect drowsiness Posted: 16 Jun 2015 10:16 AM PDT Drowsy drivers take a heavy toll on the nation's highways, so finding a reliable way to test for fatigue to mitigate its potential damage could have a significant impact on highway safety. Researchers have determined that a reliable, less intrusive way to detect fatigue or drowsiness in a driver is to monitor vehicle behavior rather than the biometrics of the person behind the wheel.

Hormone fluctuations disrupt sleep of perimenopausal women Posted: 16 Jun 2015 10:15 AM PDT Women in the early phases of menopause are more likely to have trouble sleeping during certain points in the menstrual cycle, according to a new study. During perimenopause -- the earliest stage of the menopausal transition -- women may have irregular menstrual cycles due to the body's fluctuating hormone levels. Symptoms such as sleep disturbances and hot flashes typically begin three to five years prior to the onset of menopause, when a woman is in her 40s.

Maternal stress alters offspring gut, brain through vaginal microbiome Posted: 16 Jun 2015 10:15 AM PDT The neonate is exposed to the maternal vaginal microbiota during birth, providing the primary source for normal gut colonization, host immune maturation, and metabolism. These early interactions between the host and microbiota occur during a critical window of neurodevelopment, suggesting early life as an important period of cross talk between the developing gut and brain. Changes in the vaginal microbiome are associated with effects on offspring gut microbiota and on the developing brain, according to a new study.

Prenatal DDT exposure tied to nearly four-fold increase in breast cancer risk Posted: 16 Jun 2015 10:15 AM PDT Women who were exposed to higher levels of the pesticide DDT in utero were nearly four times more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer as adults than women who were exposed to lower levels before birth, according to a new study.

Tracking the viral parasites cruising our waterways Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:39 AM PDT Humans aren't the only ones who like to cruise along the waterways -- viruses do too. For the first time, a map of fecal viruses traveling our global waterways has been created using modeling methods to aid in assessing water quality worldwide.

Can personal devices interfere with hospital care? Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:39 AM PDT New research helps define a clear rule of thumb for how close health-care workers with their Wi-Fi devices can be to electronic medical equipment. The bottom line: keep your wireless device further than arm's length from medical equipment and the risk of interference is very small.

Toxic algal blooms behind Klamath River dams create health risks far downstream Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:39 AM PDT Toxic algal blooms in reservoirs on the Klamath River can travel more than 180 miles downriver in a few days, survive passage through hydroelectric turbines and create unsafe water conditions on lower parts of the river in northern California. They can accumulate to concentrations that can pose health risks to people, pets and wildlife, and improved monitoring and public health outreach is needed to address this issue, researchers say.

Researchers identify new stem cell population important in the growth of colon cancer Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:39 AM PDT A previously unknown, long-lived radiation-resistant stem cell population in the colon has been identified by researchers. Most importantly, they also found that these stem cells can give rise to colonic tumors and sustain their growth. The findings will significantly change the way we study and treat colon cancer, the investigators say.

Returning killer T cells back to barracks could improve vaccines Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:39 AM PDT Just as militaries need to have trained, experienced soldiers ready for future wars, making sure that the immune system has enough battle-ready T cells on hand is important for fast-acting, more effective vaccines, according to researchers.

Helicobacter pylori infection leaves a fingerprint in gastric cancer Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:38 AM PDT Several bacterial infections are now suspected to play a role in the development of cancer but for none is the link so conclusively proven as for H. pylori, which can induce chronic gastritis and ulcer disease, and ultimately lead to the development of cancer. After an infection with Helicobacter pylori, gene activity in the gastric cells resembles the activity of cancer cells, scientists report.

SCOPE program developed to engage communities in preventing childhood obesity Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:38 AM PDT A multidisciplinary group of Canadian researchers has developed a participatory action research program to help address healthy body weight in children. The SCOPE program promotes 'Live 5-2-1-0', which encourages children to enjoy five or more fruits per day; to power down -- no more than two hours of screen time per day; to play actively for at least 1 hour per day; and to choose healthy foods -- zero sugar-sweetened beverages.

Dengue mosquitoes hitch rides on Amazon river boats Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:37 AM PDT The urban mosquito that carries the dengue fever virus is expanding its range by hitching rides on river boats connecting the Amazonian town of Iquitos, Peru, with rural areas.

World spends more than $200 billion to make countries healthier Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:36 AM PDT The world invested more than $200 billion to improve health in lower-income countries over the past 15 years, a study concludes. Global health financing increased significantly after 2000, when the United Nations established the Millennium Development Goals, which included a strong focus on health. This trend in funding has only recently started to change, authors say.

Completing care processes for blood poisoning more quickly Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:31 AM PDT New guidelines recommend that a patient suffering from blood poisoning receive a series of care processes known as the sepsis resuscitation bundle within six hours of diagnosis. About half the time that doesn't happen. Simulations suggest that improvements in six areas may improve the sepsis resuscitation bundle compliance rate by 21 percent.

New insights into the regulation of disease-associated genes Posted: 16 Jun 2015 08:45 AM PDT New insights have been gained into the regulation of disease-associated genes. Researchers used a new technique that enables them to observe gene regulation at the level of protein production. They could thus capture more individual gene regulations than with traditional methods that only capture gene expression and transcription.

Attention to angry faces can predict future depression Posted: 16 Jun 2015 08:42 AM PDT Up to 80 percent of individuals with a past history of depression will get depressed again in the future. However, little is known about the specific factors that put these people at risk. New research suggests that it may be due to the things you pay attention to in your life.

Early behavior problems may be linked to 'aging' biomarkers in preschoolers Posted: 16 Jun 2015 08:42 AM PDT Preschoolers with oppositional defiant behavior are more likely to have shorter telomeres, a hallmark of cellular aging, which in adults is associated with increased risk for chronic diseases and conditions like diabetes, obesity and cancer.

Complex, large-scale genome analysis made easier Posted: 16 Jun 2015 07:23 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new approach to studying the effect of multiple genetic variations on different traits. The new algorithm makes it possible to perform genetic analysis of up to 500,000 individuals -- and many traits -- at the same time.

Increasing regulation of care services is making the sector less attractive for workers Posted: 16 Jun 2015 07:20 AM PDT Over 1.5 million people currently work in the care sector in the UK and as the population ages, the demands for care and employees will increase. However, the health and social care sector has experienced challenges in recent years as a result of austerity measures in the public sector which has had implications for the pay and pensions of those working in the sector. With growing demands and fewer resources, the issue of workforce planning has become increasingly critical.

Night driving restriction reduces young driver crashes Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:36 AM PDT Restricting teenagers from driving unsupervised at night, and introducing strict penalties and other licensing requirements, could reduce crashes significantly, according to research. The study shows that driving laws that eliminate or deter unsupervised night driving by people younger than 18 achieve substantial reductions in car crashes.

Protein discovery fuels redesign of mosquito-based malaria vaccine Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:36 AM PDT A promising type of vaccine designed to eradicate malaria by blocking parasite transmission could be a step closer, as a result of experts uncovering new information about the targeted protein.

Extreme exercise linked to blood poisoning Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:36 AM PDT Extreme exercise can cause intestinal bacteria to leak into the bloodstream, leading to blood poisoning, new research shows. To reach this conclusion, experts monitored people participating in a range of extreme endurance events, including 24-hour ultra-marathons and multi-stage ultra-marathons, run on consecutive days.

Structural data reveals new mechanism behind protein transport Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:35 AM PDT In order for newly-produced secretory or membrane proteins to find their final destination, the proteins have signal-sequences connected to themselves as a form of address tag. Furthermore, they use a particle guiding them to the cell membrane. In a new study, researchers show how this particle recognizes these address tags and thus makes it possible for the proteins to be directed to the cell membrane.

Fruit flies 'push the limit' and lead researchers to an unexpected discovery Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:34 AM PDT They're pesky and annoying when they get into your fruit, but Drosophila melanogaster, more affectionately known as the "fruit fly," have led researchers to an unexpected discovery involving drowning and comas.

Lack of sleep affects long-term health Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:23 AM PDT Maintaining a good night's sleep is important for our future health, partly because of how it affects lifestyle factors. Previous population based studies have not provided sufficient information on the timing of changes in both sleep and lifestyle to tease out cause and effect relations of this highly intertwined relationship.

Rate of ectopic pregnancy following IVF has almost halved in past 12 years Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:23 AM PDT The risk of ectopic pregnancy following fertility treatment with assisted reproduction (ART) is small but significantly higher than found in natural conceptions. Now, a nationwide population-based analysis of all ART pregnancies achieved in the UK between 2000 and 2012 has found that the rate of ectopic pregnancy following IVF and ICSI progressively decreased throughout these 12 years, almost halving from an overall rate of 20 to 12 cases per thousand.

IVF in women over 38: The doctor's dilemma Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:23 AM PDT It is a biological fact that female fertility declines with age -- in assisted conception as in natural. Indeed, findings from a 12-year study showed that in her own one clinic cumulative live birth rates following IVF declined from 23.6 percent in women aged 38-39 years to 1.3 percent in those aged 44 and over.

Minor obstetric and gynecologic procedure linked to increased risk of preterm delivery Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:23 AM PDT Dilatation and curettage (D&C) is one of the most common minor surgical procedures in obstetrics and gynecology, used mainly for miscarriage or terminations. Today, use of the 15-minute procedure is declining in favor of less invasive medical methods, but it still remains common in O&G. Although D&C is generally considered safe and easy to perform, it is associated with some serious (if rare) side effects, including perforations to the cervix and uterus, infection, and bleeding. Now, an analysis 21 cohort studies which included almost 2 million women has found that a D&C performed in cases of miscarriage or induced abortion increases the chance of preterm birth (under 37 weeks) in a subsequent pregnancy by 29%, and of very preterm birth (under 32 weeks) by 69%.

Couples needing sperm donation favor the same donor for all conceptions Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:23 AM PDT Despite a prevalence of anonymous sperm donation in European countries, the use of the same sperm donor for subsequent conceptions is of paramount importance to those couples needing sperm donation to have children.

Brain injury patterns linked to post-concussion depression, anxiety Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:23 AM PDT Post-concussion psychiatric disorders like depression, anxiety and irritability can be extremely disabling for those among the nearly 3.8 million people in the United States who suffer concussions every year. The mechanisms underlying these changes after concussion--also known as mild traumatic brain injury--are not sufficiently understood, and conventional MRI results in most of these patients are normal. Now, a new MRI study has found distinct injury patterns in the brains of people with concussion-related depression and anxiety.

Paying people incentives to make healthy choices only works in the long term if they are paid to NOT do something Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:19 AM PDT Monetary incentives to encourage people to live healthier lifestyles only work in the longer term when they are designed to stop negative behavior, rather than promote positive choices, suggests new research.

New method for investigating, classifying liver tumors Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:19 AM PDT Adenomas are rare liver tumors, a certain percentage of which can become malignant. Using a new MR (magnetic resonance) technique, it is now possible to classify adenomas without subjecting patients to invasive tissue sampling procedures.

Young adults find health insurance enrollment on HealthCare.gov challenging, according to study Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:17 AM PDT When trying to enroll in a health insurance plan through HealthCare.gov during the first open enrollment period of the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) health insurance marketplaces, young adults were confused by unfamiliar health insurance terms, concerned about the affordability of plan options, and unsure how to seek good primary care. Those findings were among the results of a study that followed a group of well-educated young adults as they shopped for health insurance on HealthCare.gov.

Mannitol dosing errors made during transport of patients to tertiary hospitals Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:17 AM PDT Researchers investigated mannitol use before and during transportation of patients with intracranial emergencies from peripheral hospitals to tertiary facilities that house neurosurgery departments. The authors found a 22% dosing error rate, with slightly more patients receiving a dose smaller, rather than larger, than the dose range recommended by the Brain Trauma Foundation.

Hyperlipidemia, caused by a high-fat diet, aggressively accelerates organ rejection Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:17 AM PDT Two studies demonstrate that hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol and high triglycerides in the blood) caused by a high-fat diet accelerates heart-transplant rejection in mice. The researchers also found that simply feeding mice a high-fat diet increased organ rejection.

Meeting global air quality guidelines could prevent 2. 1 million deaths per year Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:17 AM PDT Improving air quality -- in clean and dirty places -- could potentially avoid millions of pollution-related deaths each year. That finding comes from a team of environmental engineering and public health researchers who developed a global model of how changes in outdoor air pollution could lead to changes in the rates of health problems such as heart attack, stroke and lung cancer. The researchers were surprised to find the importance of cleaning air not just in the dirtiest parts of the world -- which they expected to find -- but also in cleaner environments like the United States, Canada and Europe.

Randomized controlled trials must be simplified to sustain innovation Posted: 15 Jun 2015 07:45 PM PDT Randomized controlled trials must be simplified to sustain innovation in cardiovascular diseases, which are still the biggest killer in Europe, according to experts.

Scientists help public avoid health risks of toxic blue-green algae Posted: 15 Jun 2015 01:29 PM PDT As the hot summer season approaches, scientists are working to mitigate the human health risks of blue-green algae blooms, using a technique they've been refining for the past three years.

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