ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Mantis shrimp inspires new body armor, football helmet design
• New tool identifies novel compound targeting causes of type 2 diabetes
• Vinculin protein boosts function in the aging heart
• Restoring natural immunity against cancers
• Potent approach shows promise for chronic pain
• Important advance in the treatment, prevention of bacterial infection
• Fructose powers a vicious circle
• Recalling positive memories reverses stress-induced depression
• Acid-reducing medications sharply raise risk of C. difficile bacteria infection in kids
• Weighing yourself daily can tip the scale in your favor
• Love, factually: Gerontologist finds the formula to a happy marriage
• Medical resources allocated equally across groups, but more efficiently across individuals, study shows
• Beating advanced cancers: New epigenomic block for advanced cancer
• Individuals with social phobia have too much serotonin -- not too little
• Breast-conserving therapy for early-stage cancers has increased substantially, though access remains an issue
• The surprising truths about caregivers
• Gene discovery could lead to muscular dystrophy treatment
• Vitreomacular adhesion patients report improved vision with non-surgical treatment
• Inkjet inks made of silk could yield smart bandages, bacteria-sensing gloves and more
• Adenosine in Ambrosia pollen increases allergic response
• New taxonomy classifies rare genetic bone disorders by metabolic pathogenesis
• Rare disorder found to have a common form
• No benefit in IVF from routinely freezing all embryos before transfer
• Warning over poor cooking skills among teenagers
• Exercise can help control blood glucose, and trim waist size and body fat in diabetics regardless of fitness gains
• Human cells used to create fully functioning lipid system in mouse model
• Tissue 'scaffold' technology could help rebuild large organs
• Stronger working memory, reduced sexual risk-taking in adolescents
• Early life stress affects cognitive functioning in low-income children
• Longer breaks between shifts promote nurses' recovery from work
• Age-related inflammatory processes facilitate development of COPD
• Ataxia mouse model: Eye blink conditioning for early diagnosis of human disease SCA6
• Is phthalate alternative really safe?
• Data bank launched for global access to ancient DNA
• Researchers develop pioneering new method to map enzyme activity
• Bioengineered patch, molecular 'booster' could improve stem cells' ability treat heart failure
• Do insect societies share brain power?
• Keeping a lid on inflammation
• Families of orofacial clefting not at higher risk for dental anomalies
• Redrawing the brain's motor map
• Risk of hepatitis E outbreak 'very high' in earthquake-ravaged Nepal
• Benefit of knee surgery for middle aged or older patients 'inconsequential' say experts
• Automating microbial genome sequence decontamination
• Better than stem cells: Researchers develop a faster way to treat the heart after a heart attack
• Lymph nodes signal more aggressive thyroid cancer even in young patients
• Device allows evaluation of efficacy, toxicity of drugs metabolized through the liver

Mantis shrimp inspires new body armor, football helmet design Posted: 17 Jun 2015 11:45 AM PDT The mantis shrimp is able to repeatedly pummel the shells of prey using a hammer-like appendage that can withstand rapid-fire blows by neutralizing certain frequencies of 'shear waves,' according to new research. Using this information, researchers suggest that these shrimp may therefore be a model to inspire new body armor and even football helmet design.

New tool identifies novel compound targeting causes of type 2 diabetes Posted: 17 Jun 2015 11:44 AM PDT A new drug screening technology has identified a new potential anti-diabetes compound -- and a powerful way to quickly test whether other molecules can have a positive effect on a critical molecular pathway believed to be central to diseases ranging from diabetes to retinitis pigmentosa, cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease, and Alzheimer's.

Vinculin protein boosts function in the aging heart Posted: 17 Jun 2015 11:44 AM PDT A team of researchers provide new insights on how hearts 'stay young' and keep functioning over a lifetime despite the fact that most organisms generate few new heart cells. Identifying key gene expression changes that promote heart function as organisms age could lead to new therapy targets that address age-related heart failure.

Restoring natural immunity against cancers Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:54 AM PDT Scientists have successfully increased the infiltration of immune cells into tumors, thus inducing the immune system to block tumor growth. In a new article, the scientists show that, in combination with existing immunotherapies, this process efficiently destroys cancer cells.

Potent approach shows promise for chronic pain Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:54 AM PDT Non-narcotic treatments for chronic pain that work well in people, not just mice, are sorely needed. Drawing from human pain genetics, an international team of researchers demonstrates a way to break the cycle of pain hypersensitivity without the development of addiction, tolerance or side effects.

Important advance in the treatment, prevention of bacterial infection Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:54 AM PDT A new technology which could increase protection against antibacterial and antifungal infection for weeks, months or years has been developed by researchers. The technology is likely to have significant impact across a number of areas including dentistry, where one in seven composite fillings fail within seven years and 86 percent of these failures are caused by bacterial infection.

Fructose powers a vicious circle Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:50 AM PDT Researchers have found a hitherto unknown molecular mechanism that is driven by fructose and can lead to cardiac enlargement and heart failure.

Recalling positive memories reverses stress-induced depression Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:47 AM PDT In a remarkable demonstration of the curative power of memory, scientists have established that artificial reactivation of memories stored during a positive experience can suppress the effects of stress-induced depression. The research shows how positive and negative memories interact in mood disorders, and provides a specific brain circuit for future clinical interventions.

Acid-reducing medications sharply raise risk of C. difficile bacteria infection in kids Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:46 AM PDT Infants and children who are given prescription acid-reducing medications face a substantially higher risk of developing Clostridium difficile infection, a potentially severe colonic disorder, a new study concludes.

Weighing yourself daily can tip the scale in your favor Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:46 AM PDT For those wishing to lose weight and keep it off, here's a simple strategy that works: step on a scale each day and track the results. A two-year study found that frequent self-weighing and tracking results on a chart were effective for both losing weight and keeping it off, especially for men.

Love, factually: Gerontologist finds the formula to a happy marriage Posted: 17 Jun 2015 10:46 AM PDT A gerontologist has uncovered common advice for couples walking down the aisle or decades into marriage. To capture the voice of lived experience, the study included a random national survey of nearly 400 Americans age 65 and older, asking how to find a compatible partner and other advice on love and relationships. In subsequent in-person interviews with more than 300 long-wedded individuals -- those in unions of 30, 40, 50, or more years -- the study captured more insights for overcoming common marriage troubles. The team of researchers interviewed divorced individuals, too, asking how others might avoid marital breakups.

Medical resources allocated equally across groups, but more efficiently across individuals, study shows Posted: 17 Jun 2015 09:57 AM PDT People make dramatically different decisions about who should receive hypothetical transplant organs depending on whether the potential recipients are presented as individuals or as part of a larger group, according to new research. The findings show that when recipients are considered in groups, people tend to allocate organs equally across the groups, ignoring information about the patients' chances of success.

Beating advanced cancers: New epigenomic block for advanced cancer Posted: 17 Jun 2015 08:53 AM PDT An international research team has found a new way to identify and possibly stop the progression of many late-stage cancers, including bladder, blood, bone, brain, lung and kidney.

Individuals with social phobia have too much serotonin -- not too little Posted: 17 Jun 2015 08:53 AM PDT Previous studies have led researchers to believe that individuals with social anxiety disorder or social phobia have too low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. A new study, however, shows that the situation is exactly the opposite. Individuals with social phobia make too much serotonin. The more serotonin they produce, the more anxious they are in social situations.

Breast-conserving therapy for early-stage cancers has increased substantially, though access remains an issue Posted: 17 Jun 2015 08:47 AM PDT The first comprehensive national review of breast-conserving therapy (BCT) shows that over the last 13 years rates of this treatment modality for early-stage breast cancer have increased at a steady pace. However, the review also highlights important demographic factors that impact which patients have access to BCT.

The surprising truths about caregivers Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:45 AM PDT Caregiving is a part of daily life for millions of Americans, particularly the so-called sandwich generation balancing the needs of aging parents with looking after their own children. A new study looks at just who is doing that caregiving, and who they're caring for -- and some of the findings are surprising.

Gene discovery could lead to muscular dystrophy treatment Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:45 AM PDT Researchers have made a critical discovery about a gene involved in muscular dystrophy that could lead to future therapies for the currently untreatable disease. Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a progressive wasting disease that affects the face, arms and shoulders. It is most commonly diagnosed in teenage or early adults, and though it is rarely fatal is it very debilitating.

Vitreomacular adhesion patients report improved vision with non-surgical treatment Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:45 AM PDT In two ancillary studies of two multi-center international clinical trials, the injectable drug ocriplasmin appears to improve vision among patients suffering from symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion (VMA), a condition related to the aging eye that could cause permanent vision loss if left untreated.

Inkjet inks made of silk could yield smart bandages, bacteria-sensing gloves and more Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:45 AM PDT Researchers created and tested a custom library of inkjet-printable, functional silk inks doped with bioactive components such as antibiotics, enzymes, nanoparticles, and growth factors. The natural silk polymer stabilized the agents over time and enabled printing in varied mechanically robust formats.

Adenosine in Ambrosia pollen increases allergic response Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:44 AM PDT Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) -- an otherwise unremarkable plant -- produces pollen that can trigger strong allergic reactions such as asthma even in very small quantities. Scientists have now published a study showing that the substance previously identified as the major allergen only induces such a vigorous allergic response in combination with the adenosine also present in the pollen.

New taxonomy classifies rare genetic bone disorders by metabolic pathogenesis Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:44 AM PDT Medical researchers have developed a new classification system for rare genetic metabolic bone disorders, classifying them according to their metabolic pathogenesis. Knowledge of the metabolic pathway that characterizes these diseases provides important information that may help doctors select the most appropriate pharmacological treatment in patients affected by these complex diseases.

Rare disorder found to have a common form Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:44 AM PDT A hereditary autoimmune disease that was thought to be exceedingly rare may have a less severe form that affects one in 1,000 people or even more, according to new research. The results of this research suggest that a number of different autoimmune diseases and syndromes may be tied to mutations in a single gene. Among other things, these findings may help provide new means of diagnosing and treating autoimmune disorders.

No benefit in IVF from routinely freezing all embryos before transfer Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:44 AM PDT An IVF technique which freezes all embryos generated in an initial treatment cycle and transfers them in a later cycle as freeze-thawed embryos does not improve outcome as some studies have suggested.

Warning over poor cooking skills among teenagers Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:42 AM PDT Young people lack confidence and skills in the kitchen, with many considering microwaving a pizza to be cooking, according to a study. They are also not worried about their health, believing that exercising will compensate for a poor diet and smoking, the authors note.

Exercise can help control blood glucose, and trim waist size and body fat in diabetics regardless of fitness gains Posted: 17 Jun 2015 07:41 AM PDT Diabetics who exercise can trim waist size and body fat, and control blood glucose, even if they don't see cardiorespiratory benefits, new research shows. Researchers found that waist circumference, percentage of body fat, and hemoglobin A1c levels ? a test of long-term blood sugar ? all improved in diabetic participants who exercised compared to those who did not.

Human cells used to create fully functioning lipid system in mouse model Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:24 AM PDT Researchers say they have now created a new disease model that more than just resembles the human mechanisms; it acts as a fully functioning human lipid system within a mouse to specifically study hypercholesterolemia, a form of high cholesterol caused by a genetic defect.

Tissue 'scaffold' technology could help rebuild large organs Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:24 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new tissue 'scaffold' technology that could one day enable the engineering of large organs. Research has shown that it is possible to combine cells with a special scaffold to produce living tissue in the laboratory. It is hoped this can then be implanted into patients as a way of replacing diseased parts of the body.

Stronger working memory, reduced sexual risk-taking in adolescents Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:24 AM PDT A study of adolescents has found that individual differences in working memory, a function of the brain that helps us make decisions, can predict early sexual risk-taking. The findings suggest potential preventive intervention strategies for parents of teens at risk for engaging in these behaviors.

Early life stress affects cognitive functioning in low-income children Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:24 AM PDT A new study has identified how specific patterns of cortisol activity may relate to the cognitive abilities of children in poverty. The study looked at low-income children in the United States and how greater instability in family environments may predict early life stress and cognitive functioning.

Longer breaks between shifts promote nurses' recovery from work Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:18 AM PDT Reducing short breaks between shifts helps nurses recover from work, according to a new study from Finland. The study analyzed the effects of longer rest and recovery periods between shifts on heart rate variability, which is an indicator of recovery. Shift work can increase the risk of many diseases, for example cardiovascular diseases. The increased risk is partially caused by insufficient recovery from work, which interferes with the normal function of the autonomic nervous system regulating heart function and blood pressure, among other things. Nurses have too little time for rest and recovery especially in the backwards-rotating shift system, which allows less than 11 hours of rest between the night and the morning shift, the authors say.

Age-related inflammatory processes facilitate development of COPD Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:17 AM PDT At present, there is a lack of effective treatments that target the causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Scientists are therefore investigating the molecular causes of COPD in order to intervene specifically. A recently published study is a contribution to understanding the underlying causes of COPD, especially in the elderly population.

Ataxia mouse model: Eye blink conditioning for early diagnosis of human disease SCA6 Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:17 AM PDT Scientists have established a mouse model for the human disease SCA6. SCA6 is characterized by movement deficits and caused by similar genetic alterations as Chorea Huntington. The mouse model will be used to investigate the disease mechanisms. Experiments suggest that an impairment of eye blink conditioning could be an early disease symptom.

Is phthalate alternative really safe? Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:17 AM PDT A commonly used  plasticizer known as DINCH, which is found in products that come into close contact with humans, such as medical devices, children's toys and food packaging, might not be as safe as initially thought. According to a new study, DINCH exerts biological effects on metabolic processes in mammals. The findings may have important implications since DINCH has been promoted by industry has as a safe alternative to phthalate plasticizers, despite there being no publicly available peer-reviewed data on its toxicology.

Data bank launched for global access to ancient DNA Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:16 AM PDT Medical and other researchers and science teachers around the world will be able to compare ancient DNA from humans from thousands of years ago with the genetics of modern day humans, thanks to a new world-first open access databank.

Researchers develop pioneering new method to map enzyme activity Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:15 AM PDT A new discovery could have wide-reaching implications for the creation of manufactured goods, biofuels and therapeutic drugs, investigators report. By labelling certain segments of an enzyme with heavy isotopes, the researchers have found that 'heavy' and 'light' versions of enzymes have different catalytic properties, allowing them to determine which regions are linked to specific functions.

Bioengineered patch, molecular 'booster' could improve stem cells' ability treat heart failure Posted: 17 Jun 2015 06:15 AM PDT Despite the intense activity and high hopes that surround the use of stem cells to reverse heart disease, scientists still face multiple roadblocks before the treatment will be ready for clinical prime time. Researchers are now finding ways to maximize the healing potential of stem cells by helping them overcome the inhospitable conditions of a damaged heart – bringing the promise of stem cell therapy for heart disease one step closer to reality.

Do insect societies share brain power? Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:59 PM PDT The cooperative or integrative aspects of insect colonies, such as information sharing among colony mates, can reduce the need for individual cognition in these societies, a new study suggests. Researchers compared social vs. solitary wasp species and found evidence that social brain evolution could dramatically different in insects than in vertebrates -- where complex societies require bigger brains.

Keeping a lid on inflammation Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:51 PM PDT Although critically important for shaping the immune response and maintaining self-tolerance, how regulatory T cells (Treg cells) hold on to their immune-suppressive powers had remained unclear. Now, for the first time, researchers have identified a molecular pathway that maintains the stability and function of Treg cells.

Families of orofacial clefting not at higher risk for dental anomalies Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:21 PM PDT Children with oral clefts show a wide range of dental anomalies, adding complexity to understanding the phenotypic spectrum of orofacial clefting. The evidence is mixed however on whether the prevalence of dental anomalies is elevated in unaffected relatives, and is mostly based on small samples. New research suggests that families of these children are not at a higher risk of dental anomalies.

Redrawing the brain's motor map Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:21 PM PDT Neuroscientists have refined a map showing which parts of the brain are activated during head rotation, resolving a decades-old puzzle. Their findings may help in the study of movement disorders affecting the head and neck.

Risk of hepatitis E outbreak 'very high' in earthquake-ravaged Nepal Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:21 PM PDT During the coming monsoon season, survivors of the recent earthquake that destroyed parts of Nepal face a 'very high' risk of a hepatitis E outbreak that could be especially deadly to pregnant women, according to a consensus statement from a group of infectious disease experts from around the world.

Benefit of knee surgery for middle aged or older patients 'inconsequential' say experts Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:21 PM PDT The benefit of surgery for middle aged or older patients with persistent knee pain is inconsequential and such surgery is potentially harmful, say researchers.

Automating microbial genome sequence decontamination Posted: 16 Jun 2015 12:51 PM PDT A study describes a tool called ProDeGe that is the first computational protocol for quick and automated removal of contaminant sequences from draft microbial genomes.

Better than stem cells: Researchers develop a faster way to treat the heart after a heart attack Posted: 16 Jun 2015 12:51 PM PDT For healing the heart after a heart attack, stem cell therapies show promise but are slow to implement. Researchers develop a new treatment called microsphere therapy that can be kept on-hand and administered more readily than stem cells.

Lymph nodes signal more aggressive thyroid cancer even in young patients Posted: 16 Jun 2015 12:50 PM PDT Patients older than age 45 with thyroid cancer that has spread to neck lymph nodes have long been considered at higher risk of dying, but the same has not been true for younger patients. Younger thyroid cancer patients with lymph node involvement are also at increased risk of dying, researchers report, contrary to current beliefs and staging prognostic tools that classify young patients as having low-risk disease.

Device allows evaluation of efficacy, toxicity of drugs metabolized through the liver Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:39 AM PDT Researchers have developed a novel approach that dramatically simplifies the evaluation of the liver's drug-metabolizing activity and the potential toxic effects of the products of that activity on other organs.

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