ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Important gaps found in evidence for best methods for cleaning hospital rooms to prevent healthcare-associated infections
• Depressed teens at risk of heart disease, early monitoring urged
• Southern-style eating strikes again: Study finds diet pattern increases heart disease risk
• Researchers identify nerve-guiding protein that aids pancreatic cancer spread
• Engineering a permanent solution to genetic diseases
• Traitors in our midst: Bacteria use toxins to turn our own bodies against us
• Stepchildren who view former stepparents as family maintain relationships after divorce
• New research sheds light on the molecular origins of Parkinson's disease
• Bioengineers identify key genes, functions for sustaining microbial life
• Math boosts brain research
• Anesthesia professionals key to identifying children at risk for sleep-disordered breathing prior to surgery
• Seniors at high risk for readmission after ambulatory surgery
• Cardiovascular benefits to testosterone replacement, study of 83,000 veterans finds
• Education intervention with residents improves understanding of transgender issues
• Link between hunger and health care costs
• Drug candidate kills cancer cells through overstimulation
• Poor survival among colorectal cancer patients tied to biomarker csn6
• Nanotech wound healing in diabetes
• Women having a baby by IVF are at increased risk of reflux disease after birth
• Scientists present review of liposomes: A basis for drugs of the future?
• First gene that causes mitral valve prolapse identified
• Altered brain development among former NFL players, study suggests
• New computational method predicts genes likely to be causal in disease
• Kids, teens win when mental health providers team with family doctors
• Predicting the effect of toxic compounds on individuals: Crowdsourcing initiative for systems biomedicine
• New details of transmission of stimuli in living organisms unveiled
• Places with more marijuana dispensaries have more marijuana-related hospitalizations
• Developing a better flu vaccine
• Slowing down muscle loss in heart failure patients
• Researchers develop advanced cell screening technology for cancer immunotherapy
• Possible 'obesity gene' discovered
• How a female X chromosome is inactivated
• Statisticians develop new 2-cycle dose-finding method for personalized cancer treatments
• Super-small needle technology for the brain
• Analysis identifies disparities in pediatric primary care accessibility in multiple states
• Work, pedal, and be happy
• Keep up your guard for West Nile virus, experts say
• Sexting and internet safety climb top 10 list of health concerns for children across the U. S.
• Stem cells help researchers study the effects of pollution on human health
• Out-of-home activities may promote older persons' physical activity
• How spiritual beliefs relate to cancer patients' physical, mental, and social well-being
• Patients at risk for blood clots are not receiving recommended treatment

Important gaps found in evidence for best methods for cleaning hospital rooms to prevent healthcare-associated infections Posted: 10 Aug 2015 02:28 PM PDT While a new study points to several promising cleaning tactics of "high-touch surfaces," there's a lack of evidence as to which is the most effective at reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

Depressed teens at risk of heart disease, early monitoring urged Posted: 10 Aug 2015 02:24 PM PDT Teens with major depression or bipolar disorder are at high risk of early heart and blood vessel disease. For the first time, experts urge early monitoring and assertive intervention to reduce risk factors for heart and blood vessel disease among teens with major depression or bipolar disorder.

Southern-style eating strikes again: Study finds diet pattern increases heart disease risk Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:26 PM PDT Southern favorites like fried chicken and bacon may taste great when consumed, but they can have negative effects on heart health, according to researchers.

Researchers identify nerve-guiding protein that aids pancreatic cancer spread Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:23 PM PDT Scientists have identified a molecular partnership in pancreatic cancer cells that might help to explain how the disease spreads -- metastasizes -- in some cases. Their findings reveal urgently needed new targets to treat pancreatic cancer, which strikes nearly 50,000 people in the US each year and has only a 5 percent survival rate five years after diagnosis.

Engineering a permanent solution to genetic diseases Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:23 PM PDT New research demonstrates a new technology advancing the field of genome engineering. The method significantly improves the ability of scientists to target specific faulty genes, and then 'edit' them, replacing the damaged genetic code with healthy DNA.

Traitors in our midst: Bacteria use toxins to turn our own bodies against us Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:23 PM PDT Researchers who have revealed a highly efficient way that bacteria use toxins to interrupt the immune response say that until now, the trickery of these toxins has been underappreciated in science.

Stepchildren who view former stepparents as family maintain relationships after divorce Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:23 PM PDT When stepfamilies dissolve after a divorce, little is known about the relationships between former stepparents and stepchildren. Now, researchers have found that stepchildren's views of former stepparents depended on emotional reactions to the divorce, patterns of support or resource exchanges, and parental encouragement or discouragement to continue step-relationships. Whether stepchildren maintained relationships with their former stepparents largely depended on whether stepchildren viewed their former stepparents as family.

New research sheds light on the molecular origins of Parkinson's disease Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:21 PM PDT Scientists have identified two proteins that appear to have a protective effect in the set of neurons most affected by this degenerative disease. When their activity wanes, disease sets in. This discovery suggests new avenues for preventing or treating Parkinson's.

Bioengineers identify key genes, functions for sustaining microbial life Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:20 PM PDT A new study defines the core set of genes and functions that a bacterial cell needs to sustain life. The research, which answers the fundamental question of what minimum set of functions bacterial cells require to survive, could lead to new cell engineering approaches for E. coli and other microorganisms, the researchers said.

Math boosts brain research Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:20 PM PDT Human memory is the result of different mental processes, such as learning, remembering and forgetting. However, these distinct processes cannot be observed directly. Researchers have now succeeded at describing them using computational models. The scientists were thus for the first time able to identify gene sets responsible for steering specific memory processes.

Anesthesia professionals key to identifying children at risk for sleep-disordered breathing prior to surgery Posted: 10 Aug 2015 10:22 AM PDT Knowing which risks may come into play before or during surgery is especially important where children are concerned. Implementation of a screening questionnaire helps anesthesia professionals identify children with symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) before undergoing a general anesthetic.

Seniors at high risk for readmission after ambulatory surgery Posted: 10 Aug 2015 10:21 AM PDT Patients 65 and older who have ambulatory surgery are 54 percent more likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days than younger patients, regardless of their health before surgery, reports a large national study. The likely cause, based on previous research, is difficulty understanding medication dosing and discharge instructions, as well as cognitive impairment among older patients. About 9 million ambulatory surgeries annually are performed on patients 65 and older.

Cardiovascular benefits to testosterone replacement, study of 83,000 veterans finds Posted: 10 Aug 2015 10:21 AM PDT Men whose low testosterone was restored to normal through gels, patches, or injections had a lower risk of heart attack, stroke, or death from any cause, versus similar men who were not treated, a Veterans Affairs database study of more than 83,000 patients found.

Education intervention with residents improves understanding of transgender issues Posted: 10 Aug 2015 10:21 AM PDT The term 'transgender' has made its way into mainstream media, but for many physicians, or physicians-in-training, who do not typically treat transgender patients, transgender medicine is still a mystery. Researchers conducted an intervention with physician resident trainees and found that by providing education about transgender identity, the residents' knowledge and willingness to assist with hormonal therapy increased significantly.

Link between hunger and health care costs Posted: 10 Aug 2015 10:21 AM PDT Low-income people who struggle to put food on the table also use the health care system more, which means higher health care costs, according to new research.

Drug candidate kills cancer cells through overstimulation Posted: 10 Aug 2015 10:21 AM PDT A drug candidate that overstimulates proteins crucial for tumor growth shows promise as a new strategy to treat a wide range of cancers. The demands of rapid cell division put a strain on cancer cells, and the approach works by tipping cell stress over the edge. Researchers show that the drug candidate inhibits tumor growth in a mouse model of breast cancer and efficiently kills a broad range of human cancer cells.

Poor survival among colorectal cancer patients tied to biomarker csn6 Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:38 AM PDT A protein called CSN6 has been found to be correlated with poor survival among patients with colorectal cancer, according to a study. The study revealed that CSN6, a subunit of a protein complex known as COP9 signalsome, is overexpressed in colorectal cancer tissue samples. The finding could be significant in the search for alternative treatment strategies for colorectal cancer.

Nanotech wound healing in diabetes Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:37 AM PDT People with diabetes mellitus often suffer from impaired wound healing. Now, scientists have developed antibacterial nanofibres of cellulose acetate loaded with silver that could be used in a new type of dressing to promote tissue repair.

Women having a baby by IVF are at increased risk of reflux disease after birth Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:37 AM PDT Women who give birth to babies conceived by in-vitro fertilization are at increased risk of experiencing long-term symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, according to the results of a study. Gastro-esophageal reflux disease is a common condition in which acid from the stomach travels up into the esophagus and causes heartburn, regurgitation and pain when swallowing.

Scientists present review of liposomes: A basis for drugs of the future? Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:37 AM PDT A review of liposomes, microscopic capsules widely used all over the world in the development of new drugs, has been published by an international team of researchers. Their review discusses the major achievements in the field and points to the most promising areas for its further development.

First gene that causes mitral valve prolapse identified Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:37 AM PDT The first gene in which mutations cause the common form of mitral valve prolapse, a heart valve disorder that affects almost 2.5 percent of the population, has been identified by an international team of researchers.

Altered brain development among former NFL players, study suggests Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:36 AM PDT Former National Football League players who started playing tackle football before the age of 12 were found to have a higher risk of altered brain development compared to those who started playing at a later age. The study is the first to demonstrate a link between early exposure to repetitive head impacts and later life structural brain changes.

New computational method predicts genes likely to be causal in disease Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:36 AM PDT A new computational method improves the detection of genes that are likely to be causal for complex diseases and biological traits. The method, PrediXcan, estimates gene expression levels across the whole genome -- a better measure of biological action than single mutations -- and integrates it with genome-wide association study data. PrediXcan has the potential to identify gene targets for therapeutic applications faster and with greater accuracy than traditional methods.

Kids, teens win when mental health providers team with family doctors Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:12 AM PDT Children and adolescents who receive integrated mental health and medical treatment are 66 percent more likely to have a good outcome than those who receive more traditional primary care, a study indicates.

Predicting the effect of toxic compounds on individuals: Crowdsourcing initiative for systems biomedicine Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:10 AM PDT An international study presents the combined results of a 2013 DREAM Challenge: a crowd-sourcing initiative to test how well the effects of a toxic compound can be predicted in different people. The study, which is relevant to public and occupational health, shows that computational methods can be used to predict some toxic effects on populations, although they are not yet sensitive enough to predict such effects in individuals. It also presents algorithms useful for environmental risk assessment.

New details of transmission of stimuli in living organisms unveiled Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:10 AM PDT Researchers unveil new details about how cells in a living being process stimuli. The study focuses on so-called G-proteins, which help transmit external stimuli that reach a cell into its interior. Using a technique developed at PSI, the study authors discovered which parts of the G-proteins are vital for their functioning. In particular, they demonstrated that only a few amino acids, protein building blocks, have a major influence on their function. Other amino acids, however, can be altered without compromising their function. The new findings significantly improve our understanding of processes such as sensory perception and hormone activity, and aid the development of new drugs.

Places with more marijuana dispensaries have more marijuana-related hospitalizations Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:09 AM PDT People who live in areas of California with a higher density of marijuana dispensaries experience a greater number of hospitalizations involving marijuana abuse and dependence, an analysis has discovered.

Developing a better flu vaccine Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:09 AM PDT Researchers say they have developed a method that could make a nasal spray flu vaccine effective for those under two and over 49 -- two groups for which the vaccine is not approved.

Slowing down muscle loss in heart failure patients Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:07 AM PDT Whenever cardiac insufficiency or serious heart defects worsen, such deterioration is often associated with a loss of muscular mass and muscular strength. Scientists have now succeeded in identifying the mechanism that underlies this disease, also known as cardiac cachexia. On the basis of these latest findings it may now be possible to influence the processes that strengthen and accelerate protein degradation in the body with the help of certain medications.

Researchers develop advanced cell screening technology for cancer immunotherapy Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:07 AM PDT Researchers have created a new method for screening cells used in immunotherapy cancer treatments, allowing high-performing immune system cells to be studied in isolation and potentially expanding the number of patients for whom the breakthrough treatment proves successful.

Possible 'obesity gene' discovered Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:07 AM PDT A gene that could be an important cause of obesity has been discovered by researchers. Discovery of this direct link between a protein and fat production points the way to a possible drug therapy. Scientists theorize that by suppressing the gene or blocking the protein, they could prevent fat accumulation in people who are overweight, or are on their way to becoming so.

How a female X chromosome is inactivated Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:07 AM PDT In female mammals, one of the two X chromosomes is inactivated. Thanks to research using special stem cells, geneticists have been able to provide detailed insight into the molecular mechanism behind this inactivation process.

Statisticians develop new 2-cycle dose-finding method for personalized cancer treatments Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:07 AM PDT A new technique developed by statisticians that is helping doctors optimize the dose of a new cancer treatment patients receive in phase I/ II clinical trials.

Super-small needle technology for the brain Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:06 AM PDT A methodology for brain penetration using diameter flexible needles has been developed by scientists. This should further reduce invasiveness and provide tissue penetrations hardly broken than conventional approaches.

Analysis identifies disparities in pediatric primary care accessibility in multiple states Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:06 AM PDT An analysis of pediatric primary health care accessibility and availability in multiple states that uncovered systematic disparities between and within states.

Work, pedal, and be happy Posted: 10 Aug 2015 06:19 AM PDT By providing workers with a portable pedaling device, researchers have discovered that inspiring office employees to be active at work could be as easy as pedaling a bike -- and they don't have to leave their desks.

Keep up your guard for West Nile virus, experts say Posted: 10 Aug 2015 06:19 AM PDT Researchers continue to study ways to nip the West Nile virus in the bud and monitor its spread by tracking rainfall, groundwater levels, mosquito abundance, wild bird populations and virus transmission to animals including horses and sentinel chickens. Researchers use these data to track the virus transmission between mosquitoes and wild birds, noting when mosquito infection rates reach the levels that can infect humans.

Sexting and internet safety climb top 10 list of health concerns for children across the U. S. Posted: 10 Aug 2015 04:14 AM PDT With more kids online and using cell phones at increasingly younger ages, two issues have quickly climbed higher on the public's list of major health concerns for children across the U.S: sexting and Internet safety.

Stem cells help researchers study the effects of pollution on human health Posted: 10 Aug 2015 04:13 AM PDT Embryonic stem cells could serve as a model to evaluate the physiological effects of environmental pollutants efficiently and cost-effectively. The use of stem cells has found another facade. In the world we live in today, people are constantly exposed to artificial substances created by various industrial processes. Many of these materials, when exposed to humans, can cause acute or chronic diseases. As a consequence, validated toxicity tests to address the potential hazardousness of these pollutants have become an urgent need.

Out-of-home activities may promote older persons' physical activity Posted: 10 Aug 2015 04:13 AM PDT It is beneficial to stimulate older people to leave home to increase their level of physical activity, suggests a new study that showed that older people were more physically active on the days when they left home and went further away.

How spiritual beliefs relate to cancer patients' physical, mental, and social well-being Posted: 10 Aug 2015 04:10 AM PDT Research reveals that most individuals with cancer have religious and spiritual beliefs, or derive comfort from religious and spiritual experiences. But what impact does this have on patients' health?

Patients at risk for blood clots are not receiving recommended treatment Posted: 10 Aug 2015 04:10 AM PDT Venous thromboembolism, encompassing blood clots in leg veins or clots that travel to the lungs, is the most common cause of preventable death in hospital settings. While these clots can be prevented by VTE prophylaxis, which reduces mortality by as much as 80 percent, it is not universally prescribed for high-risk patients. Researchers found that even after educating healthcare providers about the need for VTE prophylaxis, significant numbers of patients did not receive the recommended treatment.

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