ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• 'Bad' genes lead teens to binge-eating
• Drinking beet juice regularly may lengthen your workouts
• Mediterranean lifestyle may decrease cardiovascular disease by lowering blood triglycerides
• Using low-dose irradiation, researchers can now edit human genes
• Coping by avoidance in making decisions for relatives in ICU may lead to PTSD
• First assessment for grieving youth developed
• Preserving photoreceptor cells following retinal injury
• How to cut worrying levels of arsenic in rice that is eaten all over the world
• Gene mutation contributes to liver disease in patients of normal weight
• HIV susceptibility linked to little-understood immune cell class
• Soybean oil causes more obesity than coconut oil, fructose
• DNA damage seen in patients undergoing CT scanning, study finds
• Low levels of hormone linked to social deficit in autism, study finds
• Research with dolphins provides hope for prevention of diabetes in humans
• Experimental drug could treat hot flashes, other symptoms of menopause without harmful side effects
• New smart drug targets, reduces site-specific inflammation
• Schools with higher black, minority populations call cops, not docs
• Zebrafish reveal drugs that may improve bone marrow transplant
• Modified DNA building blocks are cancer's Achilles heel
• Long-sought discovery fills in missing details of cell 'switchboard'
• Ankle-brachial index associated with mild cognitive impairment
• Diagnostic test developed for enterovirus D68
• Increasing prevalence of autism is due, in part, to changing diagnoses
• Teeth reveal lifetime exposures to metals, toxins
• Massachusetts schools are improving food options
• Mowing dry detention basins makes mosquito problems worse, team finds
• Study uncovers mechanism responsible for pollen-induced allergies
• Molecular mechanisms contributing to addiction resistance uncovered
• Programming adult stem cells to treat muscular dystrophy and more by mimicking nature
• E-cigarettes may be as addictive as traditional ones
• Menopause associated with more fat around heart, raising risk for heart disease
• Source of debilitating memory loss in people with psychosis discovered
• Some Vietnam vets currently have PTSD 40 years after war ended, study finds
• Device keeps donor livers healthy outside the body until transplant
• New material forges the way for 'stem cell factories'
• Important molecule in ovarian cancer
• Gene knockout: Loss of a gene can be compensated by another gene
• Job services lacking for young people with autism
• Genetic mutation causing lethal condition in infants identified
• Screening in pregnancy key to eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission
• 3D digital scanning shortens denture-fitting time from days to minutes
• Poor survival in multiple myeloma patients linked to genetic variation
• Popular new anticoagulants drive increase in atrial fibrillation treatment
• 'Cancer Driver Gene' reduces metastasis in prostate cancer
• Researchers to map impact of infectious diseases against research spending
• Current dietary protein recommendations need updating, experts say
• Progressively reducing the nicotine content of cigarettes may not lead smokers to quit
• Light of fireflies for medical diagnostics
• A dictionary of the language of cells
• HIV treatment has social, socioeconomic benefits, as well as improved health
• Keeping up that positive feeling: The science of savoring emotions
• Low birth weight combined with unhealthy adult lifestyle may increase type 2 diabetes risk
• Doctors, medical students in India should stop wearing white coats
• Commercial ties may be fueling unnecessary, potentially harmful osteoporosis treatment
• Regular consumption of sugary drinks associated with type 2 diabetes

'Bad' genes lead teens to binge-eating Posted: 22 Jul 2015 12:50 PM PDT Binge-eating in teenagers may be linked to a gene variation, according to new research.

Drinking beet juice regularly may lengthen your workouts Posted: 22 Jul 2015 12:09 PM PDT Regular consumption of beet juice had positive cardiovascular effects on subjects during exercise and led to increased endurance, a clinical study has found. The scientists report that healthy male subjects who drank beet juice for 15 days had lower blood pressure and more dilated blood vessels at rest and during exercise.

Mediterranean lifestyle may decrease cardiovascular disease by lowering blood triglycerides Posted: 22 Jul 2015 12:09 PM PDT A new review article explores the effects of the "ingredients" of Mediterranean lifestyle as a whole on post-meal blood triglyceride levels (PPL). Consistently elevated PPL is a cardiovascular disease risk factor.

Using low-dose irradiation, researchers can now edit human genes Posted: 22 Jul 2015 12:09 PM PDT For the first time, researchers have employed a gene-editing technique involving low-dose irradiation to repair patient cells. This method is 10 times more effective than techniques currently in use.

Coping by avoidance in making decisions for relatives in ICU may lead to PTSD Posted: 22 Jul 2015 12:09 PM PDT Family members who make major medical decisions for relatives in an intensive care unit may suffer posttraumatic stress disorder if they cope by avoiding the situation, according to a new study.

First assessment for grieving youth developed Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:47 AM PDT The first test ever constructed to assess Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder—a problematic syndrome of grief—has been released by researchers. Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder (PCBD) has been included as a proposed diagnosis for further study in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Preserving photoreceptor cells following retinal injury Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:47 AM PDT There is a significant increase in the immune system's 'alternative complement pathway' following retinal detachment, researchers report, adding that this pathway facilitated early photoreceptor cell death after injury. Additionally, by blocking the alternative complement pathway, through both genetic and pharmacologic means, photoreceptors were protected from cell death.

How to cut worrying levels of arsenic in rice that is eaten all over the world Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:46 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a simple solution to worrying levels of arsenic in our rice. Rice is the only major crop grown under flooded conditions. It is this flooding that releases inorganic arsenic, normally locked up in soil minerals, which is then absorbed by the plant. Too much arsenic is associated with a range of health problems including, at worst, bladder and lung cancer.

Gene mutation contributes to liver disease in patients of normal weight Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:46 AM PDT Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major worldwide health problem. The disease is strongly associated with obesity and has been found in a high percentage Asian patients of normal weight. The PNPLA3 mutant genotype has been consistently shown to be a major factor in the development of NAFLD, but the effect of a patient's weight on the relationship between NAFLD and the mutant gene had not been determined until now, at the conclusion of a study on the issue.

HIV susceptibility linked to little-understood immune cell class Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:46 AM PDT High diversity among certain cells that help fight viruses and tumors is strongly associated with the likelihood of subsequent infection by HIV, researchers have found.

Soybean oil causes more obesity than coconut oil, fructose Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:46 AM PDT A diet high in soybean oil causes more obesity and diabetes than a diet high in fructose, a sugar commonly found in soda and processed foods, according to a new study. In the U.S. the consumption of soybean oil has increased greatly in the last four decades due to a number of factors, including results from studies in the 1960s that found a positive correlation between saturated fatty acids and the risk of cardiovascular disease.

DNA damage seen in patients undergoing CT scanning, study finds Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:46 AM PDT Using new laboratory technology, scientists have shown that cellular damage is detectable in patients after CT scanning. In this study, researchers examined the effects on human cells of low-dose radiation from a wide range of cardiac and vascular CT scans. These imaging procedures are commonly used for a number of reasons, including management of patients suspected of having obstructive coronary artery disease, and for those with aortic stenosis, in preparation of transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Low levels of hormone linked to social deficit in autism, study finds Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:46 AM PDT A brain-chemistry deficit in children with autism may help to explain their social difficulties, according to new findings. The research team found a correlation between low levels of vasopressin, a hormone involved in social behavior, and the inability of autistic children to understand that other people's thoughts and motivations can differ from their own.

Research with dolphins provides hope for prevention of diabetes in humans Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:46 AM PDT Can butter help prevent diabetes? By comparing 55 fatty acids in blood levels of dolphins and their diets, scientists have discovered a specific dietary saturated fat, called heptadecanoic acid, that may help alleviate what's known as 'pre-diabetes' in humans. This new study supports a growing body of nutritional science showing that perhaps not all dietary saturated fats are bad, and -- in fact -- that some may be good.

Experimental drug could treat hot flashes, other symptoms of menopause without harmful side effects Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:15 AM PDT Researchers have discovered an experimental medication that treats hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms without the life-threatening risks of hormone replacement therapy, according to a scientist.

New smart drug targets, reduces site-specific inflammation Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:15 AM PDT The uniqueness of a new novel anti-inflammatory molecule can be found in a singular property. When injected, it is as a non-active drug. However, a localized site with excessive inflammation will activate it. Most other anti-inflammatory agents effectively inhibit inflammatory processes, though in a non-specific manner and in areas that include sites of necessary normal inflammatory homeostasis.

Schools with higher black, minority populations call cops, not docs Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:14 AM PDT Poor schools that have more black and minority students tend to punish students rather than seek medical or psychological interventions for them, according to a sociologist's new report.

Zebrafish reveal drugs that may improve bone marrow transplant Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:14 AM PDT Using large-scale zebrafish drug-screening models, researchers have identified a potent group of chemicals that helps bone marrow transplants engraft or 'take.'

Modified DNA building blocks are cancer's Achilles heel Posted: 22 Jul 2015 10:18 AM PDT In studying how cells recycle the building blocks of DNA, scientists have discovered a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer. They found that normal cells have highly selective mechanisms to ensure that nucleosides -- the chemical blocks used to make new strands of DNA -- don't carry extra, unwanted chemical changes. But the scientists also found that some types of cancer cells aren't so selective. These cells incorporate chemically modified nucleosides into their DNA, which is toxic to them. The findings indicate that it might be possible to use modified nucleotides for specific killing of cancer cells.

Long-sought discovery fills in missing details of cell 'switchboard' Posted: 22 Jul 2015 10:18 AM PDT A biomedical breakthrough reveals never-before-seen details of the human body's cellular switchboard that regulates sensory and hormonal responses. The work is based on an X-ray laser experiment.

Ankle-brachial index associated with mild cognitive impairment Posted: 22 Jul 2015 10:17 AM PDT Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) occurred significantly more often, in a recent study, in individuals diagnosed with a lower ankle brachial index (ABI), which is a marker of generalized atherosclerosis and thus cumulative exposure to cardiovascular risk factors during lifetime. Interestingly, this strong association was only observed in patients with non-amnestic MCI, but not amnestic MCI. Examination of differences by gender revealed a stronger association of a decreasing ABI with non-amnestic MCI in women.

Diagnostic test developed for enterovirus D68 Posted: 22 Jul 2015 10:04 AM PDT A diagnostic test to quickly detect enterovirus D68, a respiratory virus that caused unusually severe illness in children last year, has been developed by researchers. The outbreak caused infections at an unprecedented rate, with over 1,000 confirmed cases and 14 reported deaths nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Increasing prevalence of autism is due, in part, to changing diagnoses Posted: 22 Jul 2015 10:04 AM PDT The greater than three-fold increase in autism diagnoses among students in special education programs in the United States between 2000 and 2010 may be due, in large part, to the reclassification of individuals who previously would have been diagnosed with other intellectual-disability disorders.

Teeth reveal lifetime exposures to metals, toxins Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:57 AM PDT Is it possible that too much iron in infant formula may potentially increase risk for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's in adulthood -- and are teeth the window into the past that can help us tell?

Massachusetts schools are improving food options Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:56 AM PDT Researchers examined schools across the commonwealth following the implementation of a statewide nutrition bill. Their findings show the feasibility of making significant improvements in the competitive foods and beverages available in schools.

Mowing dry detention basins makes mosquito problems worse, team finds Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:56 AM PDT A study of the West Nile virus risk associated with 'dry' water-detention basins in Central Illinois took an unexpected turn when land managers started mowing the basins. The mowing of wetland plants in basins that failed to drain properly led to a boom in populations of Culex pipiens mosquitoes, which can carry and transmit the deadly virus, researchers report.

Study uncovers mechanism responsible for pollen-induced allergies Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:56 AM PDT When people are exposed to airborne allergens such as pollens, their immune system responds by sending neutrophils to the airways. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cells that move quickly to a site of injury or invading infection and cause inflammation. Now, a mechanism that is central to becoming allergic to ragweed pollen and developing allergic asthma or seasonal nasal allergies has been identified by a new study.

Molecular mechanisms contributing to addiction resistance uncovered Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:55 AM PDT A genetic variant leading to a single change in the amino acid sequence of a cell surface protein, the mu-opioid receptor, is associated with lower susceptibility to a variety of addictive behaviors in humans, including smoking, alcoholism, and morphine abuse. A team of scientists reports evidence that the G allele in an analogous mouse model causes changes in hippocampal operation, and thus a 'loss of function' phenotype in the brain's microcircuitry.

Programming adult stem cells to treat muscular dystrophy and more by mimicking nature Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:55 AM PDT Stem cells hold great potential for addressing a variety of conditions from spinal cord injuries to cancer, but they can be difficult to control. Scientists now report a new way to mimic the body's natural approach to programming these cells. Using this method, they successfully directed adult stem cells to turn specifically into muscle, which could potentially help treat patients with muscular dystrophy.

E-cigarettes may be as addictive as traditional ones Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:55 AM PDT Electronic cigarettes or 'e-cigs' have been touted as a tool smokers can use to wean themselves off of traditional cigarettes, which many believe are more harmful than their 'e' counterparts. But because e-cig liquid also contains nicotine and emits carcinogens, is that perception really true? One team now reports that much of the nicotine in e-cigarettes is the addictive form of the compound.

Menopause associated with more fat around heart, raising risk for heart disease Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:55 AM PDT Late- and post-menopausal women have significantly greater volumes of fat around their hearts -- a risk factor for heart disease -- than their pre-menopausal counterparts, a study has shown for the first time.

Source of debilitating memory loss in people with psychosis discovered Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:55 AM PDT As disabling as its delusions and hallucinations, psychosis' devastating toll on memory arises from dysfunction of frontal and temporal lobe regions in the brain that rob sufferers of the ability to make associative connections, a study has found, pinpointing potential target areas for treatments to help the more than 3.2 million Americans for whom medication quells the voices and visions, but not the struggle to remember.

Some Vietnam vets currently have PTSD 40 years after war ended, study finds Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:55 AM PDT While it has been 40 years since the Vietnam War ended, about 271,000 veterans who served in the war zone are estimated to have current full posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) plus subthreshold war-zone PTSD and more than one-third have current major depressive disorder, according to an article.

Device keeps donor livers healthy outside the body until transplant Posted: 22 Jul 2015 07:20 AM PDT A deceased donor liver has been preserved and kept healthy outside the body in a device that mimics the body's physiological functions and successfully transplanted into a human, for the first time in Ontario.

New material forges the way for 'stem cell factories' Posted: 22 Jul 2015 07:19 AM PDT If you experience a major heart attack the damage could cost you around five billion heart cells. Future stem cell treatments will require this number and more to ensure those cells are replaced and improve your chances of survival.

Important molecule in ovarian cancer Posted: 22 Jul 2015 07:18 AM PDT An important new target for ovarian cancer therapy has been identified by scientists. Contrary to current research, this new study found that LKB1 is an important molecule in the cancer's promotion and survival. Their research definitively shows that ovarian cancer cells still have LKB1 and that this molecule allows ovarian cancer spheroids to change their metabolism, promote tumor cell survival and make them more resistant to chemotherapy.

Gene knockout: Loss of a gene can be compensated by another gene Posted: 22 Jul 2015 07:18 AM PDT New methods for modifying the genome are currently widely discussed: Using CRISPR/Cas for instance, scientists can remove parts of the genetic code of a gene, thereby knocking it out. Furthermore, there are ways to inhibit translation of a gene into a protein. Both methods have in common that they impede production of a protein and should therefore have comparable consequences for an organism. However, it has been shown that consequences can differ, after a gene is either knocked, out or only blocked. Scientist now find that additional genes compensate for a knocked out gene and either attenuate consequences or completely compensate deficits.

Job services lacking for young people with autism Posted: 22 Jul 2015 07:18 AM PDT As autism becomes more prevalent, the need grows for services that help young people with the disorder to find and keep jobs, indicates new research. Some 50,000 people with autism spectrum disorder turn 18 years old every year in the United States, and these "transition youth" -- shifting from high school to adulthood -- represent the largest group seeking vocational employment services in the growing autism population.

Genetic mutation causing lethal condition in infants identified Posted: 22 Jul 2015 07:18 AM PDT Newborn children born with a mutation in the Plasmalemma Vesicle Associated Protein gene develop severe protein losing enteropathy, according to a new case study. Protein losing enteropathy is a condition of the GI tract that results in loss of protein from the body, and often leads to severe abdominal swelling, malnutrition and early death in affected infants

Screening in pregnancy key to eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission Posted: 22 Jul 2015 07:17 AM PDT Canada has almost eliminated mother-to-child HIV transmission, known as vertical transmission, in recent years by ensuring that all women have the opportunity to be screened for HIV in pregnancy and that women with the disease receive treatment before giving birth.

3D digital scanning shortens denture-fitting time from days to minutes Posted: 22 Jul 2015 06:20 AM PDT Dentures, known as false teeth, are prosthetics constructed to replace missing teeth. Fitting removable dentures is a long and painful process in which a patient has to visit the clinic multiple times so that soft and hard plastic material, resembling silly putty, can be used to take exact measurements of her mouth. Failure to take exact measurements causes discomfort and pain. Now researchers report that this time can be cut way back with the use of 3D digital scanning techniques.

Poor survival in multiple myeloma patients linked to genetic variation Posted: 22 Jul 2015 05:20 AM PDT Multiple myeloma patients with a genetic variation in the gene FOPNL die on average 1-3 years sooner than patients without it. The finding was identified with a genetic mapping technique, genome wide association studies (GWAS), and verified in patient populations from North America and Europe. This was the first study to survey the entire human genome for genetic variation influencing survival, and is a first step toward applying precision medicine to multiple myeloma.

Popular new anticoagulants drive increase in atrial fibrillation treatment Posted: 22 Jul 2015 05:20 AM PDT Popular new blood thinners may be behind a surge in doctor visits to treat an irregular heartbeat, according to a new study. The heavily advertised medicines make managing atrial fibrillation simpler than older therapies like Warfarin. Among the new players, the most prescribed direct oral anticoagulant is Xarelto.

'Cancer Driver Gene' reduces metastasis in prostate cancer Posted: 22 Jul 2015 05:14 AM PDT A gene that is responsible for cancer growth plays a totally unexpected role in prostate cancer. The gene Stat3 is controlled by the immune modulator interleukin 6 and normally supports the growth of cancer cells. The international research team discovered a missing link for an essential role of Stat3 and IL-6 signalling in prostate cancer progression.

Researchers to map impact of infectious diseases against research spending Posted: 22 Jul 2015 05:14 AM PDT Scientists are set to analyze research investments into infectious disease research, particularly pneumonia and maternal and neonatal infections. By studying how research funding is allocated relative to the global burden of disease, and assessing the outputs and impact of research, the resulting data will be used to better inform future investment decisions.

Current dietary protein recommendations need updating, experts say Posted: 22 Jul 2015 05:06 AM PDT New research based on modern techniques suggests that recommendations for protein intake in healthy populations may be incorrect.

Progressively reducing the nicotine content of cigarettes may not lead smokers to quit Posted: 22 Jul 2015 05:06 AM PDT The US Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, passed in 2009, permits the US Food and Drug Administration to set standards for cigarette nicotine content. The FDA is accordingly supporting research into how very low nicotine content (VLNC) cigarettes might function as a regulatory measure to make cigarettes non-addictive, reduce smoke exposure, and improve public health. However, new research shows that simply reducing the nicotine content of cigarettes may not be enough to eliminate smoking dependence.

Light of fireflies for medical diagnostics Posted: 22 Jul 2015 05:06 AM PDT Scientists have exploited the light of fireflies in a new method that detects biological molecules without the need for complex devices and high costs. The researchers were able to add a small chemical tag on the enzyme luciferase, which produces the light of fireflies. The tag detects a target protein, and the luciferase gives out a light signal that can be seen with a naked eye.

A dictionary of the language of cells Posted: 22 Jul 2015 05:06 AM PDT Scientists have published an overall map of how the cells in the human body communicate by systematically analyzing the relationship between ligands and receptors.

HIV treatment has social, socioeconomic benefits, as well as improved health Posted: 21 Jul 2015 06:55 PM PDT HIV treatment for illicit drug users improves their social and socioeconomic well-being as well as their health, new research shows. While the health benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV are well documented, less is known about possible secondary benefits.

Keeping up that positive feeling: The science of savoring emotions Posted: 21 Jul 2015 04:38 PM PDT Savoring a beautiful sunset and the positive emotions associated with it can contribute to improved well-being, according to research. But why and how are some people better than others in keeping the feeling alive?

Low birth weight combined with unhealthy adult lifestyle may increase type 2 diabetes risk Posted: 21 Jul 2015 04:38 PM PDT People who are a low weight at birth and have unhealthy habits as adults, such as eating nutritionally poor diets or smoking, may have a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than people born at an average weight who live similar lifestyles, according to a new study.

Doctors, medical students in India should stop wearing white coats Posted: 21 Jul 2015 04:38 PM PDT Doctors and medical students in India should stop wearing white coats, argues a doctor. In India, changing areas in hospitals are rare because of space constraints, so white coats are commonly worn by students coming from college and outside the hospital. They are also often left on chairs, tables, and in corridors.

Commercial ties may be fueling unnecessary, potentially harmful osteoporosis treatment Posted: 21 Jul 2015 04:38 PM PDT A complex web of interactions between industry, advocacy organizations, and academia may be fueling enthusiasm for calcium and vitamin D supplements to prevent and treat osteoporosis, despite evidence of lack of benefit, warn doctors.

Regular consumption of sugary drinks associated with type 2 diabetes Posted: 21 Jul 2015 04:38 PM PDT Regular consumption of sugar sweetened drinks is positively associated with type 2 diabetes independent of obesity status, finds a new study. Artificially sweetened drinks and fruit juice also showed a positive association with type 2 diabetes, but the quality of evidence was limited. None the less, the authors warn that neither artificially sweetened drinks nor fruit juice are suitable alternatives to sugar sweetened drinks for the prevention of type 2 diabetes.

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