ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Non-invasive device could end daily finger pricking for people with diabetes
• Key measure of hospital quality does not give accurate indication of avoidable deaths
• Why kids' recovery times vary widely after brain injury
• Exercise may reverse age-related bone loss in middle-aged men
• Dietary intervention primes triple-negative breast cancer for targeted therapy
• Scientific curiosity and preparedness for emerging pathogen outbreaks
• Lower-intensity treatment as effective as high-intensity for children with high-functioning autism, study shows
• Diversifying your diet may make your gut healthier
• Insects may be the answer to consumer demand for more protein
• Nanospheres shield chemo drugs, safely release high doses in response to tumor secretions
• Dads' parenting of children with autism improves moms' mental health
• Intellectual pursuits may buffer brain against addiction
• Rheumatoid arthritis: Novel approach identifies unique DNA signature
• Physician peer influence affects repeat prescriptions
• Impact of Type 2 diabetes on lymphatic vessels identified
• Am I fat? Many of today's adolescents don't think so
• Key protein controls nutrient availability in mammals
• Obesity-related behaviors increase when school's out
• High-pressure oxygen can effectively treat fibromyalgia
• Treating more adults with statins would be cost-effective way to boost heart health
• Growing beating cardiac tissue from stem cells: New model for early heart development
• New guidelines for statin eligibility improve prediction of cardiovascular risk
• Human hands may be more primitive than chimp's
• Few states in US require HPV vaccine
• Investigational drug prevents life-threatening side effects of kidney disease treatment
• New classification system for brain tumors
• Multiple, co-existing groups of gut bacteria keep Clostridium difficile infections at bay
• Could dissolvable microneedles replace injected vaccines?
• This is your brain on fried eggs: Brain, motivation and eating a high-fat diet
• Stem cells might heal damaged lungs
• Antidepressant trials exclude most 'real world' patients with depression
• Benzodiazepines not recommended for patients with PTSD or recent trauma
• Anti-stress hormone may provide indication of breast cancer risk
• Scientists develop point system to help people drink to good health
• Like sitting, standing in the workplace may have long-term health consequences
• Older age at onset of type 1 diabetes associated with lower brain connectivity later
• How the lung repairs its wounds
• Memory-loss man case 'like nothing we have ever seen before'
• New molecular mechanism of neuropathic pain in mice
• Skin squamous cell carcinoma
• Trading the laboratory for the farm: A look at d-Ribose supplementation in horses
• Substance abuse reduces brain volume in women but not men

Non-invasive device could end daily finger pricking for people with diabetes Posted: 14 Jul 2015 05:01 PM PDT A new laser sensor that monitors blood glucose levels without penetrating the skin could transform the lives of millions of people living with diabetes.

Key measure of hospital quality does not give accurate indication of avoidable deaths Posted: 14 Jul 2015 05:00 PM PDT Standardized mortality ratios for hospitals do not provide an accurate picture of how many deaths could have been avoided, according to a new study.

Why kids' recovery times vary widely after brain injury Posted: 14 Jul 2015 02:41 PM PDT Why do some youngsters bounce back quickly from a traumatic brain injury, while others suffer for years? New research suggests that damage to the coating around the brain's nerve fibers may explain the difference. The finding identifies possible biomarkers that physicians could use to predict high-risk patients.

Exercise may reverse age-related bone loss in middle-aged men Posted: 14 Jul 2015 12:09 PM PDT Researchers have found that certain types of weight-lifting and jumping exercises, when completed for at least six months, improve bone density in active, healthy, middle-aged men with low bone mass. These exercises may help prevent osteoporosis by facilitating bone growth, according to a new study.

Dietary intervention primes triple-negative breast cancer for targeted therapy Posted: 14 Jul 2015 12:09 PM PDT A diet that starves triple-negative breast cancer cells of an essential nutrient primes the cancer cells to be more easily killed by a targeted antibody treatment, scientists report.

Scientific curiosity and preparedness for emerging pathogen outbreaks Posted: 14 Jul 2015 12:09 PM PDT An essay reflects on a career path that started with the study of a somewhat obscure mouse virus mice and ended up at the frontline of the SARS and MERS coronavirus epidemics.

Lower-intensity treatment as effective as high-intensity for children with high-functioning autism, study shows Posted: 14 Jul 2015 11:22 AM PDT Researchers have found that reducing the intensity of their comprehensive summer treatment (summerMAX) yielded improvements for high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder (HFASD) that were comparable to the original high-intensity program.

Diversifying your diet may make your gut healthier Posted: 14 Jul 2015 11:22 AM PDT A loss of dietary diversity during the past 50 years could be a contributing factor to the rise in obesity, Type 2 diabetes, gastrointestinal problems and other diseases, according to an expert.

Insects may be the answer to consumer demand for more protein Posted: 14 Jul 2015 11:22 AM PDT The growing consumer demand for protein -- and the lack of new farmland to raise more livestock -- could make insects an attractive alternative to traditional protein sources, according to an expert.

Nanospheres shield chemo drugs, safely release high doses in response to tumor secretions Posted: 14 Jul 2015 11:20 AM PDT Scientists coated nanospheres of the anti-cancer drug paclitaxel with a peptide shell that shields the drug as it travels through the circulatory system. When the nanosphere reaches a cancerous tumor, enzymes that enable metastasis slice open the shell to release the drug. The targeted delivery allowed them to safely give mice 16 times the maximum tolerated dose of the clinical formulation of paclitaxel and halted the growth of cancerous tumors.

Dads' parenting of children with autism improves moms' mental health Posted: 14 Jul 2015 10:16 AM PDT Fathers who read to, care for children with autism at 9 months reduce mothers' levels of depression and stress when children reach age 4.

Intellectual pursuits may buffer brain against addiction Posted: 14 Jul 2015 10:15 AM PDT Challenging the idea that addiction is hardwired in the brain, a new study of mice suggests that even a short time spent in a stimulating learning environment can rewire the brain's reward system and buffer it against drug dependence.

Rheumatoid arthritis: Novel approach identifies unique DNA signature Posted: 14 Jul 2015 09:54 AM PDT Researchers have for the first time identified disease-associated changes to the DNA epigenome in joint fluid cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Physician peer influence affects repeat prescriptions Posted: 14 Jul 2015 09:54 AM PDT A new study finds that peer influence among physicians can affect both trial and repeat prescription behavior of a risky new prescription drug. The study tracks prescriptions of a new drug over 17 months, and measures the discussion and patient referral connections among physicians in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Impact of Type 2 diabetes on lymphatic vessels identified Posted: 14 Jul 2015 09:53 AM PDT Approximately 28 million Americans live with Type 2 diabetes, a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels. Until now, the disease's effect on the body's lymphatic vessels has been unknown. A study has identified for the first time how the condition affects lymphatic vessels -- a finding that could lay the groundwork for new therapies to improve the lives of people with Type 2 diabetes.

Am I fat? Many of today's adolescents don't think so Posted: 14 Jul 2015 09:53 AM PDT Admitting that you have a weight problem may be the first step in taking action, but a new study found that an increasing number of overweight adolescents do not consider themselves as such.

Key protein controls nutrient availability in mammals Posted: 14 Jul 2015 09:53 AM PDT Researchers have found a new benefit of Kruppel-like Factor 15 (KLF15) -- keeping the body in metabolic balance. The discovery, which highlights how KLF15 affects the availability of nutrients in the body, may also have significant implications for scientists' ability to understand ways that the body metabolizes different medications.

Obesity-related behaviors increase when school's out Posted: 14 Jul 2015 09:49 AM PDT Regardless of family income, children on summer break consume more sugar, watch more television, and eat fewer vegetables than the rest of the year, according to researchers. Although obesity-promoting behaviors are generally more common during the summer break, the differences in obesity behaviors between income groups were not exacerbated during the summer break.

High-pressure oxygen can effectively treat fibromyalgia Posted: 14 Jul 2015 09:49 AM PDT Women with fibromyalgia, a chronic pain syndrome, were able to drastically reduce, or even eliminate, their use of pain medication following hyperbaric oxygen treatment, according to new research.. The researchers also believe they have identified the primary factor causing fibromyalgia: the disruption of the brain mechanism for processing pain.

Treating more adults with statins would be cost-effective way to boost heart health Posted: 14 Jul 2015 09:49 AM PDT A new study has found that it would be cost-effective to treat 48-67 percent of all adults aged 40-75 in the US with cholesterol-lowering statins. By expanding the current recommended treatment guidelines and boosting the percentage of adults taking statins, an additional 161,560 cardiovascular-related events could be averted, according to the researchers.

Growing beating cardiac tissue from stem cells: New model for early heart development Posted: 14 Jul 2015 09:41 AM PDT Researchers have developed a template for growing beating cardiac tissue from stem cells, creating a system that could serve as a model for early heart development and as a drug-screening tool to make pregnancies safer. Scientists have mimicked human tissue formation by starting with stem cells genetically reprogrammed from adult skin tissue to form small chambers with beating human heart cells.

New guidelines for statin eligibility improve prediction of cardiovascular risk Posted: 14 Jul 2015 09:41 AM PDT The new guidelines for determining whether patients should begin taking statins to prevent cardiovascular disease issued in 2013 by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association are more accurate and more efficient than an earlier set of guidelines in assigning treatment to adults at increased risk for cardiovascular events -- including heart attacks and strokes -- and identifying those whose low risk rules out the need to take statins.

Human hands may be more primitive than chimp's Posted: 14 Jul 2015 08:30 AM PDT Human hands may be more primitive than chimp's. Human hand proportions have changed little from those of the last common ancestor (LCA) of chimpanzees and humans. These findings indicate that the structure of the modern human hand is largely primitive in nature, rather than the result of selective pressures in the context of stone tool-making.

Few states in US require HPV vaccine Posted: 14 Jul 2015 08:30 AM PDT An examination of state vaccination requirements for adolescents finds that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is currently required in only two states, many fewer than another vaccine associated with sexual transmission (hepatitis B) and another primarily recommended for adolescents (meningococcal conjugate), according to a new study.

Investigational drug prevents life-threatening side effects of kidney disease treatment Posted: 14 Jul 2015 08:30 AM PDT The investigational drug patiromer quickly reduced elevated blood-potassium levels -- a common life-threatening side effect of treatment for chronic diabetic kidney disease. In this year-long study of more than 300 patients, patiromer kept potassium levels under control for the length of the trial.

New classification system for brain tumors Posted: 14 Jul 2015 08:28 AM PDT Despite modern chemoradiation therapy it is still very difficult to give reliable prognoses for malignant gliomas. Surgical removal of the glioma is still the preferred method of treatment. Doctors have now developed a new procedure for analyzing radiological imaging scans which makes it possible to predict the course of a disease relatively precisely.

Multiple, co-existing groups of gut bacteria keep Clostridium difficile infections at bay Posted: 14 Jul 2015 08:28 AM PDT Multiple species of bacteria working together in healthy guts are responsible for keeping out nasty bacterial invader, Clostridium difficile, a hospital-acquired culprit responsible for 15,000 deaths each year. The study could lead to tests to predict which hospital patients are at highest risk of infection and better management of infections.

Could dissolvable microneedles replace injected vaccines? Posted: 14 Jul 2015 08:24 AM PDT Flu vaccines delivered using microneedles that dissolve in the skin can protect people against infection even better than the standard needle-delivered vaccine, according to new research. The authors of the study say their dissolvable patch - the only vaccination system of its kind - could make vaccination easier, safer and less painful. According to the World Health Organization, immunization prevents an estimated 2-3 million deaths every year.

This is your brain on fried eggs: Brain, motivation and eating a high-fat diet Posted: 14 Jul 2015 08:24 AM PDT High-fat feeding can cause impairments in the functioning of the mesolimbic dopamine system, according to new research. This system is a critical brain pathway controlling motivation. These findings may have important health implications.

Stem cells might heal damaged lungs Posted: 14 Jul 2015 07:09 AM PDT Collectively, such diseases of the airways as emphysema, bronchitis, asthma and cystic fibrosis are the second leading cause of death worldwide. More than 35 million Americans alone suffer from chronic respiratory disease. Scientists have now proposed a new direction that could, in the future, lead to the development of a method for alleviating some of their suffering. The study's findings show how it might be possible to use embryonic stem cells to repair damaged lung tissue.

Antidepressant trials exclude most 'real world' patients with depression Posted: 14 Jul 2015 06:38 AM PDT More than 80 percent of people with depression in the general population aren't eligible for clinical trials of antidepressant drugs, according to a new study.

Benzodiazepines not recommended for patients with PTSD or recent trauma Posted: 14 Jul 2015 06:38 AM PDT Benzodiazepine drugs are widely used in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but available evidence suggests that they are not effective -- and may even be harmful, concludes a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Anti-stress hormone may provide indication of breast cancer risk Posted: 14 Jul 2015 06:36 AM PDT A new study shows that women with low levels of an anti-stress hormone have an increased risk of getting breast cancer. The study is the first of its kind on humans and confirms previous similar observations from animal experiments.

Scientists develop point system to help people drink to good health Posted: 14 Jul 2015 06:36 AM PDT Researchers found the biggest differences between low and high scores came from individuals not consuming enough water, consuming too many calories from beverages, and not consuming enough fluid overall.

Like sitting, standing in the workplace may have long-term health consequences Posted: 14 Jul 2015 06:36 AM PDT Recent research has warned of the health detriments associated with sitting for long stretches of time at the office, but what about the nearly half of all employees worldwide who are required to stand for more than 75 percent of their workdays?

Older age at onset of type 1 diabetes associated with lower brain connectivity later Posted: 14 Jul 2015 06:36 AM PDT People diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in later childhood have weaker brain connectivity in midlife.

How the lung repairs its wounds Posted: 14 Jul 2015 05:30 AM PDT Our lungs are permanently exposed to harmful environmental factors that can damage or even destroy their cells. In a specific regenerative process these injured cells must be replaced as soon as possible. Scientists have now, for the first time, gained detailed insights into the dynamic remodeling of the tissue during lung repair.

Memory-loss man case 'like nothing we have ever seen before' Posted: 14 Jul 2015 05:30 AM PDT A psychologist has described a unique case, new to science. A 38-year-old fit and healthy man suffered memory loss after a local anesthetic and root-canal treatment at his dentist. For the past decade he can only remember up to 90 minutes. Symptoms are akin to those depicted in movies such as Groundhog Day and Memento. And, there is no evidence that the treatment at the dentist can be blamed for his condition. He is fully aware of his identity and his personality did not change -- but every day the man thinks it is the day of his dental appointment.

New molecular mechanism of neuropathic pain in mice Posted: 14 Jul 2015 05:30 AM PDT A research group has demonstrated that the downregulation of spinal astrocyte connexin43 (Cx43) expression causes sustained neuropathic pain following peripheral nerve injury. Controlling the Cx43 expression using pharmacological approaches or gene therapy might serve as novel therapeutic strategies ameliorate neurological disorders in general and neuropathic pain in particular.

Skin squamous cell carcinoma Posted: 14 Jul 2015 05:28 AM PDT Researchers have uncovered new genetic alterations involved in the development of skin squamous cell carcinoma.

Trading the laboratory for the farm: A look at d-Ribose supplementation in horses Posted: 14 Jul 2015 05:28 AM PDT A new research study has the potential to broaden our understanding of the popular dietary supplement d-Ribose. It may be helpful as a supplement for humans and the equine because of its crucial role in cellular bioenergetics.

Substance abuse reduces brain volume in women but not men Posted: 14 Jul 2015 05:25 AM PDT Stimulant drug abuse has long-term effects on brain volume in women, according to a new study. Brain structures involved in reward, learning and executive control showed vast changes even after a prolonged period of abstinence from drug use.

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