ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Affordable Care Act results in dramatic drop in out-of-pocket prices for prescription contraceptives
• Discovery could improve in vitro fertilization success rates for women around the world
• Taking the pain out of office work
• Adolescent exposure to e-cigarette tv ads increases likelihood of future use
• Pupil response predicts depression risk in kids
• Extended-field intensity modulated radiation therapy for cervical and endometrial cancers does not increase risk of duodenal toxicity
• Study reveals brain network responsible for cognitive changes in multiple sclerosis
• Activated T cell therapy for advanced melanoma developed
• Molecule linked to muscle fatigue in humans; enhances exercise tolerance when fed to mice
• Improvement in management of localized prostate cancer
• Marijuana users substitute alcohol at 21
• Age-related self-destruction of cells makes kidney prone to injury
• Higher vitamin D doses may be needed to restore healthy levels in overweight blacks
• Childhood stress fuels weight gain in women
• Tracking measles cases introduced to British Columbia during the 2010 Games
• Predicting happiness of couples raising children with autism
• C. difficile needs iron, but not too much: Insights into maintaining it 'just right'
• Memory, thinking ability keep getting worse for years after a stroke, new study finds
• Organ transplant rejection may not be permanent
• Association between genetic condition, hormonal factors, and risk of endometrial cancer
• Benefit of extending anticoagulation therapy lost after discontinuation of therapy
• Life expectancy substantially lower with combination of diabetes, stroke or heart attack
• Brain abnormalities in people with schizophrenia identified
• Microfabricated device allows evaluation of the efficacy, toxicity of pro-drugs
• Serious adverse events rare in healthy volunteers participating in phase I drug trials
• Magnetic hyperthermia, an auxiliary tool in cancer treatments
• New information on brain development, fertility discovered
• Mesothelioma: Aspirin may delay growth of asbestos-related cancer
• Policies on children's tech exposure confusing
• Enriched blood cells preserve cognition in mice with features of Alzheimer's disease
• Key mechanism that causes neuropathic pain found
• Researcher disputes claim that humans can distinguish one trillion odors
• Gym steroid use has impact on memory
• Experts call for more understanding of hospital weekend death risk
• Cancer drug 49 times more potent than Cisplatin
• Breast cancer routinely overdiagnosed in Norway
• Two are better than one: Another checkpoint enzyme for flawless cell division
• Optical 'dog’s nose' may hold key to breath analysis
• Second severe allergic reaction can occur hours after first
• New smartphone app warns drinkers if they go over recommended daily/weekly units
• Drinking alcohol while pregnant is common in UK, Ireland, and Australasia
• Religious groups could expedite response to biggest global health challenges of 21st century
• Sculpting a cell's backside
• Vitamin C related to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, early death
• The next anti-tuberculosis drug may already be in your local pharmacy
• Study identifies new way to kill the malaria parasite
• S100B protein in diagnosing intracranial hemorrhage in some patients with mild head injury
• Normal headphone use unlikely to interfere with settings of programmable shunt valves
• Imaging could improve treatment of people with COPD
• Simply observing men with very low- and low-risk prostate cancer very effective, underused
• Simple heart scan may help identify patients at risk for premature death
• Epigenetic driver of glioblastoma provides new therapeutic target
• Scientists lead consensus guidelines for thyroid cancer molecular tests
• Why don't men live as long as women?

Affordable Care Act results in dramatic drop in out-of-pocket prices for prescription contraceptives Posted: 07 Jul 2015 01:10 PM PDT Average out-of-pocket spending for oral contraceptive pills and the intrauterine device (IUD), the two most common forms of contraception for women, has decreased significantly since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) took effect, a study says.

Discovery could improve in vitro fertilization success rates for women around the world Posted: 07 Jul 2015 01:07 PM PDT Chromosomal abnormalities in human embryos created for in vitro fertilization, or IVF, can be predicted within the first 30 hours of development at the cell-1 stage which results from the union of a female egg and male sperm, researchers have discovered.

Taking the pain out of office work Posted: 07 Jul 2015 01:07 PM PDT Treadmill work stations are potentially helpful in reducing the neck and shoulder muscle pain associated with computer work, a researcher suggests.

Adolescent exposure to e-cigarette tv ads increases likelihood of future use Posted: 07 Jul 2015 12:24 PM PDT Adolescents who are exposed to e-cigarette TV advertising are more likely to try e-cigarettes in the future, according to a groundbreaking experiment. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that negatively affects adolescents' brain development, with increased anxiety and depression, and may make them more susceptible to conventional cigarettes, according to researchers.

Pupil response predicts depression risk in kids Posted: 07 Jul 2015 11:52 AM PDT How much a child's pupil dilates in response to seeing an emotional image can predict his or her risk of depression over the next two years, according to new research.

Extended-field intensity modulated radiation therapy for cervical and endometrial cancers does not increase risk of duodenal toxicity Posted: 07 Jul 2015 11:52 AM PDT A study of women with cervical or endometrial cancer who require treatment to the para-aortic (PA) lymph nodes can safely receive extended-field intensity modulated radiation therapy (EF-IMRT) without increased risk of duodenal toxicity, scientists report.

Study reveals brain network responsible for cognitive changes in multiple sclerosis Posted: 07 Jul 2015 10:46 AM PDT Decreased connectivity between network-specific brain regions are to blame for the central deficit common to the various cognitive changes associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), new research shows. The study found that, compared to healthy controls, individuals with MS exhibit weaker brain connections between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and posterior brain regions.

Activated T cell therapy for advanced melanoma developed Posted: 07 Jul 2015 10:42 AM PDT T cells from patients with melanoma can trigger a protective immune response against the disease, according to a new study. These new findings demonstrate that T cells derived from lymph nodes of patients with melanoma can be expanded in number and activated in the laboratory for intravenous administration in the treatment of patients.

Molecule linked to muscle fatigue in humans; enhances exercise tolerance when fed to mice Posted: 07 Jul 2015 10:41 AM PDT Everyone's muscles have different limits. While professional athletes can train for hours before feeling fatigued, others struggle to mow the lawn or climb stairs. No panacea exists to create an equal playing field, nor will one likely be discovered, but a new study questions whether this limit can be nutritionally extended.

Improvement in management of localized prostate cancer Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:09 AM PDT After years of overtreatment for patients with low-risk prostate cancer, rates of active surveillance/watchful waiting increased sharply in 2010 through 2013, and high-risk disease was more often treated appropriately with potentially curative local treatment rather than androgen deprivation alone, according to a study.

Marijuana users substitute alcohol at 21 Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:04 AM PDT A recent study looked at marijuana and alcohol use in people between the ages of 18 and 24. It's probably not surprising that the results show a drastic increase in alcohol consumption in people just over 21; after all, that's the minimum legal age to drink. What an economist-researcher found remarkable is that, at the same age, there was an equally dramatic drop in marijuana use.

Age-related self-destruction of cells makes kidney prone to injury Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:02 AM PDT As advances in medicine allow individuals to live longer, people are facing unique age-related health challenges. As they age, organs such as the kidneys become more susceptible to injury, and their ability to self-repair is decreased. Researchers have found a cellular signal that causes kidney cells to die, making the kidneys prone to injury. This finding could lead to improved kidney function in the elderly.

Higher vitamin D doses may be needed to restore healthy levels in overweight blacks Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:02 AM PDT The current recommended minimum daily dose of vitamin D is not sufficient to restore healthy vitamin D levels in overweight or obese blacks, researchers report.

Childhood stress fuels weight gain in women Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:02 AM PDT When it comes to weight gain for women, childhood stress appears to be a bigger culprit than stress during adulthood, finds an American national study. Interestingly, though, neither childhood nor adult stress was associated with weight gain for men.

Tracking measles cases introduced to British Columbia during the 2010 Games Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:02 AM PDT The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games brought more than just athletes to British Columbia. It also left the province with a bad case of the measles. A research team used whole-genome sequencing to track the outbreak, an approach they pioneered four years ago when analyzing TB outbreaks.

Predicting happiness of couples raising children with autism Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:02 AM PDT To understand what helps moms and dads of children with autism spectrum disorder strengthen their bond, researchers are examining the individual factors that predict relationship satisfaction for these couples. The researchers analyzed the impact that individual traits, such as optimism, social and spouse support, benefit finding and coping styles, have on the relationship satisfaction of parents who have children with ASD.

C. difficile needs iron, but not too much: Insights into maintaining it 'just right' Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:00 AM PDT Those bacteria that require iron walk a tightrope. Iron is essential for their growth, but too much iron can damage DNA and enzymes through oxidation. Therefore, bacteria have machinery to maintain their intracellular iron within a range that is healthy for them, scientists report.

Memory, thinking ability keep getting worse for years after a stroke, new study finds Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:00 AM PDT A stroke happens in an instant. And many who survive one report that their brain never works like it once did. But new research shows that these problems with memory and thinking ability keep getting worse for years afterward -- and happen faster than normal brain aging.

Organ transplant rejection may not be permanent Posted: 07 Jul 2015 08:58 AM PDT Rejection of transplanted organs in hosts that were previously tolerant may not be permanent, report scientists. Using a mouse model of cardiac transplantation, they found that immune tolerance can spontaneously recover after an infection-triggered rejection event, and that hosts can accept subsequent transplants as soon as a week after. This process depends on regulatory T-cells, a component of the immune system that acts as a 'brake' for other immune cells.

Association between genetic condition, hormonal factors, and risk of endometrial cancer Posted: 07 Jul 2015 08:58 AM PDT For women with Lynch syndrome, an association was found between the risk of endometrial cancer and the age of first menstrual cycle, having given birth, and hormonal contraceptive use, according to a study. Lynch syndrome is a genetic condition that increases the risk for various cancers.

Benefit of extending anticoagulation therapy lost after discontinuation of therapy Posted: 07 Jul 2015 08:58 AM PDT Among patients with a first episode of pulmonary embolism (the obstruction of the pulmonary artery or a branch of it leading to the lungs by a blood clot) who received six months of anticoagulant treatment, an additional 18 months of treatment with warfarin reduced the risk of additional blood clots and major bleeding, however, the benefit was not maintained after discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy, according to a study.

Life expectancy substantially lower with combination of diabetes, stroke or heart attack Posted: 07 Jul 2015 08:58 AM PDT In an analysis that included nearly 1.2 million participants and more than 135,000 deaths, mortality associated with a history of diabetes, stroke or heart attack was similar for each condition, and the risk of death increased substantially with each additional condition a patient had, according to a study.

Brain abnormalities in people with schizophrenia identified Posted: 07 Jul 2015 07:20 AM PDT Structural brain abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia have been identified by researchers, providing insight into how the condition may develop and respond to treatment.

Microfabricated device allows evaluation of the efficacy, toxicity of pro-drugs Posted: 07 Jul 2015 07:20 AM PDT 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, has been developed by researchers.

Serious adverse events rare in healthy volunteers participating in phase I drug trials Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:36 AM PDT Many people believe that phase I trials with healthy volunteers are very risky and because they pose risks with no benefits, unethical. But how risky are such trials? Less than 1% of 11,000 healthy volunteers who participated in 394 phase I trials for new drugs experienced serious complications, according to a new meta-analysis of participants in non-cancer, phase I medication trials. In addition, none of the volunteers died or suffered persistent disabilities linked to the experimental drugs.

Magnetic hyperthermia, an auxiliary tool in cancer treatments Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:34 AM PDT Hyperthermia (increase in body temperature) has been used for centuries to combat tumors and reduce their effects. New research aims to use a different system (magnetic nanoparticles) to increase body temperature. These nanoparticles absorb energy from magnetic fields and convert it into heat which is used to raise the temperature in tumors and combat them.

New information on brain development, fertility discovered Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:34 AM PDT A gene that is mutated in Seckel Syndrome, a rare disease that causes microcephaly and growth defects, has been found to be crucial for the correct division of brain stem cells. and even plays a role in fertility, researchers report.

Mesothelioma: Aspirin may delay growth of asbestos-related cancer Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:34 AM PDT Aspirin may help mesothelioma patients, a new study suggests. The finding could eventually give doctors and patients a potential new tool to fight against this devastating disease, which kills about 3,200 people a year nationwide, and advance knowledge of how to fight other cancers.

Policies on children's tech exposure confusing Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:33 AM PDT Guidelines on children's exposure to radio frequency waves from technology are confusing for parents, new research suggests. The review found a wide variety of different protocols and guidelines across 34 countries.

Enriched blood cells preserve cognition in mice with features of Alzheimer's disease Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:33 AM PDT Researchers have successfully tested two new methods for preserving cognition in laboratory mice that exhibit features of Alzheimer's disease by using white blood cells from bone marrow and a drug for multiple sclerosis to control immune response in the brain.

Key mechanism that causes neuropathic pain found Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:33 AM PDT A biological process called endoplasmic reticulum stress appears to play a key role in causing neuropathic pain, according to a new study. The discovery could eventually lead to new therapeutics for controlling chronic pain associated with trauma, diabetes, shingles, multiple sclerosis or other conditions that cause nerve damage.

Researcher disputes claim that humans can distinguish one trillion odors Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:33 AM PDT A researcher is disputing recent findings that the human nose is capable of distinguishing at least 1 trillion odors. He says the data used in a 2014 study published in Science does not support this claim. He says this is important because those findings are already making their way into neuroscience textbooks, misinforming up-and-coming investigators and cutting off potentially productive lines of research that do not adhere to those findings.

Gym steroid use has impact on memory Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:24 AM PDT People using anabolic steroids to improve muscle growth and sporting performance are far more likely to experience issues with their memory, according to new research.

Experts call for more understanding of hospital weekend death risk Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:24 AM PDT Two academics say more research is needed to understand why patients are more likely to die in hospital on the weekend. The research found that the heightened risk of death after admission to hospital on the weekend -- the so-called 'weekend effect' -- is a feature of several developed countries' healthcare systems. The international nature of the findings suggests that this is a phenomenon that not only crosses time, but also geography.

Cancer drug 49 times more potent than Cisplatin Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:24 AM PDT A new cancer drug has been found to have effectiveness for ovarian and bowel cancer that is 49 times as potent is Cisplatin. The key to this new drug, researchers report, is that it can shut down a cancer cell's metabolism. They add that the new drug could be cheaper to produce and less harm to healthy cells than alternative therapies.

Breast cancer routinely overdiagnosed in Norway Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:22 AM PDT For every life saved by Norway's Breast Cancer Screening Programme, five women are over-diagnosed, and have to go through an operation to remove a tumour that otherwise never would have caused problems, a new report suggests.

Two are better than one: Another checkpoint enzyme for flawless cell division Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:22 AM PDT The error-free distribution of genetic material during cell division is important for preventing the development of tumor cells. Researchers have uncovered a new important function of the human enzyme Plk1. It plays a significant role in monitoring chromosome segregation, they report, and may provide important clues for the treatment of cancer.

Optical 'dog’s nose' may hold key to breath analysis Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:04 AM PDT A laser system for fast, non-invasive, onsite breath analysis for disease is under development, researchers report, potentially enabling screening for a range of diseases including diabetes, infections and various cancers in the future.

Second severe allergic reaction can occur hours after first Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:02 AM PDT New research offers clues as to why some kids can have a second, related severe allergic reaction hours after a first – and what to do about it.

New smartphone app warns drinkers if they go over recommended daily/weekly units Posted: 07 Jul 2015 05:24 AM PDT A new smartphone app warns drinkers if they go over the recommended maximum daily/weekly units of alcohol, to help them better manage their intake, researchers report.

Drinking alcohol while pregnant is common in UK, Ireland, and Australasia Posted: 07 Jul 2015 05:24 AM PDT Drinking alcohol while pregnant is common, ranging from 20 to 80 pecent among those questioned in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, reveals a study of almost 18,000 women.

Religious groups could expedite response to biggest global health challenges of 21st century Posted: 07 Jul 2015 05:24 AM PDT Faith-based organizations are crucial in achieving the promise of universal health coverage -- an adequate standard of health care for all people -- especially for poor and marginalized groups, according to a new series on faith-based health care. The series argues that building on the extensive experience, strengths, and capacities of faith-based organizations (e.g., geographical coverage, influence, and infrastructure) offers a unique opportunity to improve health outcomes.

Sculpting a cell's backside Posted: 07 Jul 2015 05:23 AM PDT When Greek mythology and cell biology meet, you get the protein Callipygian, recently discovered and named for its role in determining which area of a cell becomes the back as it begins to move.

Vitamin C related to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, early death Posted: 07 Jul 2015 05:23 AM PDT High vitamin C concentrations in the blood from the intake of fruit and vegetables are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and early death, new research shows.

The next anti-tuberculosis drug may already be in your local pharmacy Posted: 07 Jul 2015 05:23 AM PDT Testing thousands of approved drugs, scientists have identified an unlikely anti-tuberculosis drug: the over-the-counter antacid lansoprazole (Prevacid). Tuberculosis continues to be a global pandemic, second only to AIDS as the greatest single-agent killer in the world. In 2013 alone, the TB bug Mycobacterium tuberculosis caused 1.5 million deaths and almost nine million new infections.

Study identifies new way to kill the malaria parasite Posted: 07 Jul 2015 05:23 AM PDT Scientists have discovered new ways in which the malaria parasite survives in the blood stream of its victims, a discovery that could pave the way to new treatments for the disease.

S100B protein in diagnosing intracranial hemorrhage in some patients with mild head injury Posted: 07 Jul 2015 05:23 AM PDT Researchers have examined elderly patients and adult patients receiving antiplatelet therapy who had presented with mild head injury to see if levels of S100B protein could help identify whether intracranial bleeding was present. If there was no indication of intracranial hemorrhage, the patients would not need additional testing or hospitalization.

Normal headphone use unlikely to interfere with settings of programmable shunt valves Posted: 07 Jul 2015 05:23 AM PDT Three magnetically programmable shunt valves have been examined to see if the magnetic field emissions of headphones can cause unintentional changes in shunt valve settings. Based on their findings, the researchers state that it is highly unlikely that commercially available headphones will interfere with programmable shunt valve settings.

Imaging could improve treatment of people with COPD Posted: 07 Jul 2015 05:23 AM PDT Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography provide important information on the symptoms and exercise capabilities of people with mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to a new study.

Simply observing men with very low- and low-risk prostate cancer very effective, underused Posted: 06 Jul 2015 03:32 PM PDT Monitoring men with very low- and low-risk prostate cancers using watchful waiting or active surveillance, called expectant management, is a useful approach for a large number of men with localized tumors and could spare them the debilitating side effects of aggressive treatments, scientists suggest.

Simple heart scan may help identify patients at risk for premature death Posted: 06 Jul 2015 03:32 PM PDT Coronary artery calcification scans could help physicians identify patients at risk for premature death, a new study proposes. CAC is an x-ray test that looks for specks of calcium in the walls of the coronary arteries. These specks of calcium are called calcifications and are an early sign of coronary artery disease. Researchers collected and assessed CAC scores and risk factor data taken from 9,715 study participants between the years 1996 and 1999.

Epigenetic driver of glioblastoma provides new therapeutic target Posted: 06 Jul 2015 01:37 PM PDT Using human tumor samples and mouse models, researchers have discovered that cancer stem cell properties are determined by epigenetic changes -- chemical modifications cells use to control which genes are turned on or off.

Scientists lead consensus guidelines for thyroid cancer molecular tests Posted: 06 Jul 2015 01:16 PM PDT National guidelines for thyroid cancer testing have been revised to reflect newly available tests that better incorporate personalized medicine into diagnosing the condition. The clinical explanation for when to use and how to interpret thyroid cancer tests is now available.

Why don't men live as long as women? Posted: 06 Jul 2015 01:16 PM PDT Across the entire world, women can expect to live longer than men. But why does this occur, and was this always the case? A new study reveals that vulnerability to heart disease is the biggest culprit behind a surge in higher death rates for men versus women during the 20th century.

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