ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

---

• New study sheds light on life satisfaction, mortality risk in older adults
• Boosting gut bacteria defense system may lead to better treatments for bloodstream infections
• Researchers identify new genetic cause of arrhythmia and develop therapy
• Yin and yang: Immune signaling protein has opposing roles in breast cancer development
• Scientists show antitumor agent can be activated by natural response to cell stress
• Navigating multiple myeloma with 'Google Maps' for the cancer genome
• Children with TBI have poorer sleep quality, more daytime sleepiness
• Antibiotic use can be cut dramatically for abdominal infections, major trial shows
• Tool can accurately predict risk of death within on year after admission to hospital
• Disrupting tumor cell 'microenvironment' suggests a new way to treat a prevalent childhood leukemia
• Recognizing reliable clinical data is vital as public reporting increases
• Scientists shed light on the motivations of healthy people seeking personal genome sequencing
• Researchers boost body's inflammation-reduction mechanism to combat obesity-fueled disease
• Study links lower life satisfaction to sleep problems during midlife
• Study links severe restless legs syndrome to increased risk of stroke
• Study examines psychotropic medication use in children, teens with Down syndrome
• Novel laboratory works to improve population health and prepare transformational leaders
• Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder may share genetic roots with creativity
• Injectable electronics: New system holds promise for basic neuroscience, treatment of neuro-degenerative diseases
• Researchers expose how 'James Bond' cells are made
• Study examines association between cholesterol-lowering drugs, memory impairment
• Certain preoperative tests still common in US despite low value and high costs
• Virus evolution and human behavior shape global patterns of flu movement
• Tiny particles, big impact? Researchers investigating how ingesting nanoparticles may influence health
• Study supports early intervention for prostate cancer patients who experience significant emotional distress
• Whole genome sequencing found to rapidly enhance infection control
• Breast cancer study raises hope of therapy to stop tumor spread
• Lean despite many calories
• Researchers develop models for targeted cancer therapy
• Data scientists find connections between birth month and health
• New microscope technique could speed identification of deadly bacteria
• New approach for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
• Recovery of sensory function by stem cell transplants
• Why crystals could be the shape of future pharmaceuticals
• Ultrasound, algorithms to diagnose bacterial meningitis in babies
• Accentuate the positive when it comes to nutrition education
• Only about half of men can remember their last medical check-up
• As death rates drop, nonfatal diseases and injuries take a bigger toll on health globally
• Autophagy defect causes loss of muscle in aging
• Surgical anesthesia in young children linked to effects on IQ, brain structure
• 'Genomic catastrophe' may cause normal cells to become cancerous
• Decoding molecular details enables better understanding of two neurodegenerative diseases
• Over 95% of the world’s population has health problems, with over a third having more than five ailments
• Rising rate of marijuana exposure among children 5 years old and younger
• U.S. space program researchers develop potential nano-tools for deep brain stimulation
• Weekly non-invasive brain stimulation provides long-term relief of post-stroke pain
• Leaky pipes can allow contaminants into our drinking water
• New study describes cancer's cheating ways
• Women four times less likely to have surgery if breast cancer diagnosed as an emergency
• People want access to their own genomic data, even when uninterpretable
• Non-invasive prenatal fetal testing can detect early stage cancer in mothers
• First national study of non-invasive prenatal testing shows it works and is preferred by high-risk women
• Discovery of new genetic mutation in aortic disease allows better diagnosis and brings personalised medicine a step closer
• Novel genetic mutations may arise during early embryonic development rather than being acquired from the parents’ germline
• Non-invasive prenatal testing: Effective, safe, preferred by parents, and applicable in a range of disorders

New study sheds light on life satisfaction, mortality risk in older adults Posted: 08 Jun 2015 12:20 PM PDT Greater life satisfaction in adults older than 50 years of age is related to a reduced risk of mortality, new research shows. The researchers also found that variability in life satisfaction across time increases risk of mortality, but only among less satisfied people. The study involved nearly 4,500 participants who were followed for up to nine years.

Boosting gut bacteria defense system may lead to better treatments for bloodstream infections Posted: 08 Jun 2015 12:19 PM PDT An upset in the body's natural balance of gut bacteria that may lead to life-threatening bloodstream infections can be reversed by enhancing a specific immune defense response, researchers have found.

Researchers identify new genetic cause of arrhythmia and develop therapy Posted: 08 Jun 2015 12:19 PM PDT A rare and deadly form of inherited arrhythmia has been identified by researchers, who have developed a method to treat it. Arrhythmia is a malfunction of the heart's electrical system that causes irregular heartbeats. Most people experience harmless skipped beats or fluttering. However, nearly 4 million Americans have heart arrhythmias that range from bothersome to deadly.

Yin and yang: Immune signaling protein has opposing roles in breast cancer development Posted: 08 Jun 2015 12:19 PM PDT Inhibiting the immune receptor protein TLR4 may not be a wise treatment strategy in all cancers, researchers have discovered, countering previously held beliefs,

Scientists show antitumor agent can be activated by natural response to cell stress Posted: 08 Jun 2015 12:19 PM PDT Scientists have found that a drug candidate with anticancer potential can be activated by one of the body's natural responses to cellular stress. Once activated, the agent can kill prostate cancer cells.

Navigating multiple myeloma with 'Google Maps' for the cancer genome Posted: 08 Jun 2015 12:19 PM PDT A new approach for studying the cancer genome has been described by researchers who say that it will let scientists account for both the individual tiles and the whole mosaic. It enables researchers and clinicians to look at the small- and large-scale genetic changes that define individual cancers, they add.

Children with TBI have poorer sleep quality, more daytime sleepiness Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:41 AM PDT Children with traumatic brain injuries have poorer sleep and more daytime sleepiness in comparison to healthy children, new research confirms. The children with TBI also had impaired emotional, physical and social functioning when compared to healthy children.

Antibiotic use can be cut dramatically for abdominal infections, major trial shows Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:41 AM PDT In a finding important for preventing the development of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, researchers have determined that the duration of antibiotic treatment for complicated abdominal infections can be cut by half and remain equally effective.

Tool can accurately predict risk of death within on year after admission to hospital Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:39 AM PDT A recently developed tool can accurately predict the risk of death for patients within one year after admission to hospital using routinely collected data, reports a new study.

Disrupting tumor cell 'microenvironment' suggests a new way to treat a prevalent childhood leukemia Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:37 AM PDT A potentially important discovery has been made in the battle against one of the most devastating forms of leukemia that accounts for as many as one in five children with a particularly aggressive form of the disease relapsing within a decade. Researchers report that they have successfully halted and reversed the growth of certain cancerous white blood cells at the center of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or T-ALL, by stalling the action of a specific protein receptor found in abundance on the surface of T cells at the core of T-ALL.

Recognizing reliable clinical data is vital as public reporting increases Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:37 AM PDT Public reporting of health care quality and patient safety information has reached unprecedented levels, allowing patients to play an increasing role in their own health care decisions; however, as access to information becomes easier, it is important for patients to know where to look for the most accurate and reliable data, say experts.

Scientists shed light on the motivations of healthy people seeking personal genome sequencing Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:37 AM PDT New research offers insights about why healthy people are interested in getting their genomes sequenced and interpreted, even when there is no immediate medical need.

Researchers boost body's inflammation-reduction mechanism to combat obesity-fueled disease Posted: 08 Jun 2015 11:37 AM PDT Augmenting a naturally occurring molecule in the body can help protect against obesity-related diseases by reducing inflammation in the fat tissues, researchers report.

Study links lower life satisfaction to sleep problems during midlife Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:02 AM PDT Lower life satisfaction is linked to sleep problems during midlife, a new study suggests. Sleep onset delay among those with low life satisfaction could be the result of worry and anxiety, as reported elsewhere. These findings support the idea that life satisfaction is interlinked with many measures of sleep and sleep quality, suggesting that improving one of these variables might result in improving the other.

Study links severe restless legs syndrome to increased risk of stroke Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:02 AM PDT Increased restless legs syndrome severity is associated with subsequent increased risk of stroke, researchers report. The study group comprised 72,916 female registered nurses ages 41-58 years in 2005, free of diabetes, stroke, and pregnancy at the baseline.

Study examines psychotropic medication use in children, teens with Down syndrome Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:02 AM PDT A new study gives insight into the mental health of children and teens with Down syndrome and the behavioral medications that medical caregivers sometimes prescribe for them.

Novel laboratory works to improve population health and prepare transformational leaders Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:02 AM PDT A newly published paper describes a novel virtual laboratory employing the tools of implementation science to improve population health, lower costs of its delivery and prepare future health care transformational leaders.

Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder may share genetic roots with creativity Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:01 AM PDT Genes linked to creativity could increase the risk of developing schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, according to new research. Genetic risk scores were examined in a sample of 86,292 individuals from the general population of Iceland. Creative individuals were defined as those belonging to the national artistic societies of actors, dancers, musicians, visual artists and writers.

Injectable electronics: New system holds promise for basic neuroscience, treatment of neuro-degenerative diseases Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:01 AM PDT An international team of researchers has developed a method for fabricating nano-scale electronic scaffolds that can be injected via syringe. Once connected to electronic devices, the scaffolds can be used to monitor neural activity, stimulate tissues and even promote regenerations of neurons.

Researchers expose how 'James Bond' cells are made Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:01 AM PDT New research has revealed how immune cell 'spies' are created, providing clues on how the immune system could be manipulated to better fight disease. Dendritic cells are intelligence-gathering immune cells, gathering information on viruses, bacteria, cancer and fungi to aid the immune system in fighting disease. Understanding how dendritic cells are created will aid scientists in finding ways to boost the immune response to infections or dampen it in autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, experts say.

Study examines association between cholesterol-lowering drugs, memory impairment Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:01 AM PDT Both statin and nonstatin cholesterol-lowering drugs were associated with memory loss in the first 30 days after patients started taking the medications when compared with nonusers, but researchers suggest the association may have resulted because patients using the medications may have more contact with their physicians and therefore be more likely to detect any memory loss, according to a new article.

Certain preoperative tests still common in US despite low value and high costs Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:01 AM PDT Professional physician associations consider certain routine tests before elective surgery to be of low value and high cost, and have sought to discourage their utilization. Nonetheless, a new American study finds that despite these peer-reviewed recommendations, no significant changes have occurred over a 14-year period in the rates of several kinds of these pre-operative tests.

Virus evolution and human behavior shape global patterns of flu movement Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:01 AM PDT The global movement patterns of all four seasonal influenza viruses are illustrated in new research, providing a detailed account of country-to-country virus spread over the last decade and revealing unexpected differences in circulation patterns between viruses.

Tiny particles, big impact? Researchers investigating how ingesting nanoparticles may influence health Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:00 AM PDT Researchers believe understanding nanoparticles' ability to influence our metabolic processing may be integral to mediating metabolic disorders and obesity, both of which are on the rise and have been linked to processed foods.

Study supports early intervention for prostate cancer patients who experience significant emotional distress Posted: 08 Jun 2015 09:00 AM PDT Beliefs and personality traits that are associated with higher levels of distress in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients have been identified by researchers. The findings support the value of emotional and informational support for patients and perhaps early counseling for some who are the most distressed.

Whole genome sequencing found to rapidly enhance infection control Posted: 08 Jun 2015 08:22 AM PDT Whole genome sequencing can quickly isolate the specific strain of bacteria causing an outbreak, identify the source of contamination, and enable rapid infection prevention to stop the spread of infection, according to a study. The findings are based on the examination of an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an Australian neonatal unit.

Breast cancer study raises hope of therapy to stop tumor spread Posted: 08 Jun 2015 08:22 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a trigger that allows breast cancer cells to spread to the lungs. The findings could lead to new therapies that stop the progression of breast cancer, the researchers report.

Lean despite many calories Posted: 08 Jun 2015 08:22 AM PDT Scientists have identified an enzyme in mice that is involved in obesity and metabolic disruptions associated with it, such as type 2 diabetes. When the investigators turned off the enzyme in experiments, the animals did not gain any weight despite being fed a diet that was rich in fat and caloric content. Furthermore, they did not develop diabetes. So far, however, there is still not much evidence that this mechanism also plays a role in humans.

Researchers develop models for targeted cancer therapy Posted: 08 Jun 2015 08:16 AM PDT The results of a recent study on targeted therapy of a specific type of brain cancer show specific progress in cancer treatment. Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma may be one of the lesser-known forms of cancer, yet may be one of the most diabolical.

Data scientists find connections between birth month and health Posted: 08 Jun 2015 08:15 AM PDT Scientists have developed a computational method to investigate the relationship between birth month and disease risk. The researchers used this algorithm to examine New York City medical databases and found 55 diseases that correlated with the season of birth. Overall, the study indicated people born in May had the lowest disease risk, and those born in October the highest.

New microscope technique could speed identification of deadly bacteria Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:29 AM PDT A new way of rapidly identifying bacteria, which requires a slight modification to a simple microscope, may change the way doctors approach treatment for patients who develop potentially deadly infections and may also help the food industry screen against contamination with harmful pathogens, according to researchers.

New approach for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:29 AM PDT Researchers have identified a potential novel drug target for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a dangerous chronic lung disease. They elucidated a new mechanism of fibrosis formation that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Recovery of sensory function by stem cell transplants Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:29 AM PDT New research shows promising progress in the use of stem cells for treatment of spinal cord injury. The results show that human stem cells that are transplanted to the injured spinal cord contribute to restoration of some sensory functions.

Why crystals could be the shape of future pharmaceuticals Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:28 AM PDT Scientists are building a better understanding of the chemical processes behind the creation of crystals with the aim of developing new ways to produce pharmaceuticals.

Ultrasound, algorithms to diagnose bacterial meningitis in babies Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:28 AM PDT Currently the only test to diagnose bacterial meningitis in babies is through a lumbar puncture, a painful and difficult procedure to perform. For this reason, a group of biomedical engineers decided to search for an alternative and developed a portable device that can detect this illness with a simple ultrasound scan of the fontanelle. The high-resolution image obtained is then analyzed with algorithms and within seconds indicates if there is cellularity in the cerebrospinal fluid that is sign of infection.

Accentuate the positive when it comes to nutrition education Posted: 08 Jun 2015 07:26 AM PDT If you want people to choose healthier foods, emphasize the positive, says a study. The study showed that when it comes to nutrition education, dos work a lot better than don'ts. This is especially important when determining policies that encourage healthy eating.

Only about half of men can remember their last medical check-up Posted: 08 Jun 2015 05:31 AM PDT More than 80 percent of men could remember the make and model of their first car, but only about half could remember their last check up with a doctor, a new American survey shows. Hoping to change that, two doctors will embark on a nine-day, 6,000 mile drive from Clermont, Fla., to New York to Los Angeles in an all-electric Tesla, urging men to make their health a priority.

As death rates drop, nonfatal diseases and injuries take a bigger toll on health globally Posted: 08 Jun 2015 05:31 AM PDT People across the world are living longer but spending more time in ill health as rates of nonfatal diseases and injuries -- including diabetes and hearing loss -- decline more slowly than death rates, according to a new analysis of 301 diseases and injuries in 188 countries.

Autophagy defect causes loss of muscle in aging Posted: 08 Jun 2015 05:31 AM PDT Researchers have detected marked upregulation of p62/SQSTM1, but not LC3, protein levels in the cytosol of sarcopenic muscle fibers in mice. This unbalanced expression appears to induce an autophagic defect in skeletal muscle and consequent loss of muscle mass. This finding contributes to our understanding of the molecular mechanism of sarcopenia, or muscle aging.

Surgical anesthesia in young children linked to effects on IQ, brain structure Posted: 08 Jun 2015 05:31 AM PDT Children who received general anesthesia for surgery before age 4 had diminished language comprehension, lower IQ and decreased gray matter density in posterior regions of their brain, according to a new study. The authors of the study recommend additional studies to determine anesthesia's precise molecular effects on the brain and contribution to diminished brain function and composition.

'Genomic catastrophe' may cause normal cells to become cancerous Posted: 08 Jun 2015 05:31 AM PDT A new study provides the missing link between a single untoward event, cell fusion, and the multiple catastrophic genetic changes that ultimately transform normal cells into cancerous cells. Furthermore, when injected into live animals, these aberrant cells form tumors, researchers report.

Decoding molecular details enables better understanding of two neurodegenerative diseases Posted: 08 Jun 2015 05:29 AM PDT Quality control is important -- this is not only applicable to industrial production but also true for all life processes. However, whereas an enterprise can start a large-scale recall in case of any doubt, defects in the quality control systems of cells are often fatal. This is seen in particular in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in which fundamental mechanisms of cellular quality control fail.

Over 95% of the world’s population has health problems, with over a third having more than five ailments Posted: 08 Jun 2015 05:17 AM PDT Just one in 20 people worldwide (4·3%) had no health problems in 2013, with a third of the world's population (2·3 billion individuals) experiencing more than five ailments, according to a major new analysis.

Rising rate of marijuana exposure among children 5 years old and younger Posted: 08 Jun 2015 05:16 AM PDT Debates about legalizing marijuana have focused on crime rates, economic benefits, and health effects among adults. But a new study shows that the risk to young children of swallowing, breathing in or otherwise being exposed to marijuana also needs to be considered.

U.S. space program researchers develop potential nano-tools for deep brain stimulation Posted: 08 Jun 2015 05:16 AM PDT The ability of a carbon nanofiber pad to detect changing neurotransmitter concentrations was demonstrated in a proof-of-principle collaboration between engineers and neurosurgeons. The active area was one-tenth the size of current deep-brain-stimulation electrical contacts.

Weekly non-invasive brain stimulation provides long-term relief of post-stroke pain Posted: 08 Jun 2015 05:16 AM PDT Weekly sessions of non-invasive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation provided sufficient long-term pain relief in 61 percent of patients with central post-stroke pain, and delivered long-term relief for patients who continued for one year, scientists say.

Leaky pipes can allow contaminants into our drinking water Posted: 07 Jun 2015 06:42 PM PDT Leaking water pipes can allow potentially harmful contaminants into our drinking water, new research has shown. The pressure in mains water pipes usually forces water out through leaks, preventing anything else from getting in. But when there is a significant pressure drop in a damaged section of pipe, water surrounding the pipe can be sucked in through the hole, engineers have demonstrated.

New study describes cancer's cheating ways Posted: 07 Jun 2015 06:42 PM PDT The ways in which cancers bypass the protective mechanisms used by multicellular forms to ensure their survival and well-being has been the focus of recent study.

Women four times less likely to have surgery if breast cancer diagnosed as an emergency Posted: 07 Jun 2015 06:42 PM PDT Breast cancer patients are four times less likely to have potentially lifesaving surgery if diagnosed as an emergency rather than through an urgent GP referral, according to a new data.

People want access to their own genomic data, even when uninterpretable Posted: 07 Jun 2015 06:42 PM PDT The largest study to date of attitudes towards the use of genomic information shows that the majority of people want access to results from genome sequencing, even if these are not directly related to the condition for which the analysis has been undertaken. This applies even when the data are not health-related or are simply 'raw', a researcher states.

Non-invasive prenatal fetal testing can detect early stage cancer in mothers Posted: 06 Jun 2015 05:41 PM PDT Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for chromosomal fetal disorders is used increasingly to test for conditions such as Down's syndrome. NIPT examines DNA from the fetus in the mother's blood, and therefore does not carry the risk of miscarriage involved in invasive testing methods. Now, for the first time, researchers have found another advantage of NIPT; it can detect maternal cancers at an early stage, before symptoms appear.

First national study of non-invasive prenatal testing shows it works and is preferred by high-risk women Posted: 06 Jun 2015 05:41 PM PDT Although non-invasive prenatal testing carries a much lower risk of miscarriage than do invasive tests, it is slightly less accurate, because it only analyses DNA from the outer layers of the placenta. In some cases a trisomy will be present in these outer layers, but not in the fetus. However, a large European study shows that high-risk women prefer NIPT.

Discovery of new genetic mutation in aortic disease allows better diagnosis and brings personalised medicine a step closer Posted: 06 Jun 2015 05:41 PM PDT Thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD), an enlargement or tearing of the walls of the aorta in the chest, is, together with abdominal aortic aneurysms, responsible for about 2% of all deaths in Western countries. The aorta is the largest artery in the body, and carries blood from the heart. About one out of every five patients with TAAD has a family member with the same disorder, therefore indicating a genetic cause.  However, the relevant genetic mutations discovered so far only explain about 30% of all cases. Through the study of a large family with TAAD features, an international team of genetic researchers have now discovered that a mutation in the TGFB3 gene is also responsible for the condition.

Novel genetic mutations may arise during early embryonic development rather than being acquired from the parents’ germline Posted: 06 Jun 2015 05:41 PM PDT New, sophisticated gene sequencing techniques are leading to an increasing understanding of the causes of genetic disease, and can help parents with affected children make informed reproductive choices, researchers say. Until now, de novo genetic mutations, alterations in a gene found for the first time in one family member, were believed to be mainly the result of new mutations in the sperm or eggs (germline) of one of the parents and passed on to their child.

Non-invasive prenatal testing: Effective, safe, preferred by parents, and applicable in a range of disorders Posted: 06 Jun 2015 05:41 PM PDT Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for Down's syndrome is feasible, acceptable to parents, and could be introduced into the National Health Service (NHS), UK researchers say.

You are subscribed to email updates from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States