ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Predicting risk for deadly cardiac events
• Health care innovation isn't about smart phone apps, researchers say
• Combining chemotherapy with an immune-blocking drug could stop cancer growing back
• Fetal ECG during labor offers no advantage over conventional fetal heart rate monitoring
• Protein-packed breakfast prevents body fat gain in overweight teens
• Exercise may be associated with reduced disease activity in children with MS
• Making the 9-1-1 call for stroke differs by race, sex
• Can stem cells cause and cure cancer?
• Cardiorespiratory fitness linked to thinner gray matter and better math skills in kids
• How lipids are flipped
• PINK1 protein crucial for removing broken-down energy reactors
• Why statins should be viewed as a double-edged sword
• Curcumin and turmeric: Improving the therapeutic benefits by enhancing absorption and bioavailability
• Rapid eye movements in sleep reset dream 'snapshots'
• Neurons' broken machinery piles up in ALS
• Breakthrough in 'marriage-broker' protein
• Older breast cancer patients less likely to benefit from chemo
• Nicotine-eating bacteria could one day help smokers kick the habit
• Science-backed brain game eases distraction, anxiety
• Toxoplasma parasite's greedy appetite may be its downfall
• Researchers reveal mystery of how contractions in labor grow stronger
• Higher risk of death from heart attack, stroke for people with spinal arthritis
• Adrenals run amok: Discovery could aid precision medicine for high blood pressure
• New, rapid dementia screening tool rivals 'gold standard' clinical evaluations
• Pancreas cancer spread from multiple types of wayward cells
• Adult IQ of very premature babies can be predicted by the age of two
• Atomic model of an immature retrovirus constructed
• Tell-tale biomarker detects early breast cancer
• Pelvic pain may be common among reproductive-age women, study finds
• Blood vessel 'doorway' lets breast cancer cells spread through blood stream
• Brain plasticity after vision loss has an 'on-off switch'
• Pulmonary hypertension: Growing problem in US children
• Molecular discovery paves way for new diabetic heart disease treatments
• Target healthy cells to stop brain cancer 'hijack'
• Powering off TB: New electron transport gene is a potential drug target
• Statisticians using social media to track foodborne illness and improve disaster response
• Retrieving eggs earlier in fertility treatment may improve IVF success rates for older women
• Hepatitis C infection may fuel heart risk
• Cheaper, faster, more accurate test to identify gene defects in heart patients
• New biomarkers show exercise helps reduce daytime sleep disorder
• Outcomes of prolonged episodes of respiratory disorder among extremely preterm infants
• Testosterone supplementation does not result in progression of atherosclerosis
• In vitro fertilization using frozen eggs associated with lower live birth rates

Predicting risk for deadly cardiac events Posted: 12 Aug 2015 05:05 PM PDT A marker commonly used to determine if a patient is having a heart attack can also be used to identify stable patients at high risk for deadly cardiac events, according to a new study.

Health care innovation isn't about smart phone apps, researchers say Posted: 12 Aug 2015 05:05 PM PDT Health care has much to learn from innovative high-tech companies, but not in the way most people think, according innovation experts. Innovation, they say, can most effectively achieve meaningful outcomes by testing many new ideas quickly, cheaply, and contextually.

Combining chemotherapy with an immune-blocking drug could stop cancer growing back Posted: 12 Aug 2015 05:05 PM PDT Giving patients a drug that blocks part of the immune system from going into overdrive might help prevent cancer coming back in some people, according to new research.

Fetal ECG during labor offers no advantage over conventional fetal heart rate monitoring Posted: 12 Aug 2015 05:04 PM PDT Fetal electrocardiogram ST segment analysis, or STAN, which is largely used in Europe to measure fetal heart activity, does not improve outcomes during labor and delivery or decrease cesarean deliveries compared with conventional fetal heart rate monitoring, a recent study found.

Protein-packed breakfast prevents body fat gain in overweight teens Posted: 12 Aug 2015 01:59 PM PDT Researchers compared the benefits of consuming a normal-protein breakfast to a high-protein breakfast and found the high-protein breakfast -- which contained 35 grams of protein -- prevented gains of body fat, reduced daily food intake and feelings of hunger, and stabilized glucose levels among overweight teens who would normally skip breakfast.

Exercise may be associated with reduced disease activity in children with MS Posted: 12 Aug 2015 01:59 PM PDT Children with multiple sclerosis who exercise regularly may have a less active disease. For the study, 31 children with MS and 79 who had experienced a single inflammatory neurologic event were given questionnaires about tiredness, depression and how often they exercised. Of those, 60 were also given MRI brain scans to measure brain volume and the amount and type of MS lesions they had.

Making the 9-1-1 call for stroke differs by race, sex Posted: 12 Aug 2015 01:59 PM PDT During a stroke, slightly more than half of patients use emergency medical services to get to the hospital, with white women the most likely, and Hispanic men the least likely to use EMS transport. Calling 9-1-1 should be the first step after noticing stroke symptoms because immediate care saves lives.

Can stem cells cause and cure cancer? Posted: 12 Aug 2015 12:12 PM PDT Simply put, cancer is caused by mutations to genes within a cell that lead to abnormal cell growth. Finding out what causes that genetic mutation has been the holy grail of medical science for decades. Researchers believe they may have found one of the reasons why these genes mutate and it all has to do with how stem cells talk to each other.

Cardiorespiratory fitness linked to thinner gray matter and better math skills in kids Posted: 12 Aug 2015 12:12 PM PDT A new study reveals that 9- and 10-year-old children who are aerobically fit tend to have significantly thinner gray matter and do better on math tests than their 'lower-fit' peers.

How lipids are flipped Posted: 12 Aug 2015 10:56 AM PDT A team of researchers has succeeded in determining the structure of a lipid flippase at high resolution, which has provided insight into how this membrane protein transports lipids by flipping.

PINK1 protein crucial for removing broken-down energy reactors Posted: 12 Aug 2015 10:56 AM PDT Cells are powered by tiny energy reactors called mitochondria. When damaged, they leak destructive molecules that can cause substantial harm and eventually kill brain cells. A protein called PINK1 that is implicated in Parkinson's disease is critical for helping cells get rid of dysfunctional mitochondria, scientists show.

Why statins should be viewed as a double-edged sword Posted: 12 Aug 2015 10:44 AM PDT Statins have significant cardiovascular benefits, but also serious side effects. A new study finds that statin use impairs stem cell function, which helps in slowing atherosclerosis but hinders other body processes. Because of these effects, the study supports weighing individual risk when considering statins as a preventive measure.

Curcumin and turmeric: Improving the therapeutic benefits by enhancing absorption and bioavailability Posted: 12 Aug 2015 10:42 AM PDT Few natural products have demonstrated the range of protective and therapeutic promise as have turmeric and its principal bioactive components, the curcuminoids.  Success in translating this potential into tangible benefits has been limited by inherently poor intestinal absorption, rapid metabolism, and limited systemic bioavailability. Seeking to overcome these limitations, food ingredient formulators have begun to employ a variety of approaches to enhance absorption and bioavailability.

Rapid eye movements in sleep reset dream 'snapshots' Posted: 12 Aug 2015 10:19 AM PDT Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, the period in which we experience vivid dreams, was discovered by scientists in the 1950s. A new study based on rare neuronal data offers the first scientific evidence of the link between rapid eye movement, dream images, and accelerated brain activity.

Neurons' broken machinery piles up in ALS Posted: 12 Aug 2015 10:16 AM PDT Researchers have learned how a mutation in the gene for superoxide dismutase 1, which causes ALS, leads cells to accumulate damaged materials. The study suggests a potential target for treating this familial form of ALS.

Breakthrough in 'marriage-broker' protein Posted: 12 Aug 2015 10:16 AM PDT A breakthrough has been made in understanding an important protein that appears to act as a kind of cellular 'marriage broker.' The protein called Netrin1 brings cells together and maintains their healthy relationships. Netrin1 plays an essential role in the growth of the human organism, directing cell migration and the formation of cell circuits both at the embryo stage and after birth.

Older breast cancer patients less likely to benefit from chemo Posted: 12 Aug 2015 10:16 AM PDT Chemotherapy prolongs life for older adults with most types of cancer, but for women over the age of 80 with breast cancer, the chances of survival due to chemotherapy are significantly lower, according to a study.

Nicotine-eating bacteria could one day help smokers kick the habit Posted: 12 Aug 2015 10:14 AM PDT Most people who smoke cigarettes know it's bad for their health, but quitting is notoriously difficult. To make it easier, scientists are taking a brand-new approach. They are turning to bacteria that thrive on nicotine, the addictive component in tobacco. They report successful tests on a bacterial enzyme that breaks down nicotine and could potentially dull its effects in humans.

Science-backed brain game eases distraction, anxiety Posted: 12 Aug 2015 10:14 AM PDT Researchers have created a surprisingly simple yet targeted brain game that reduces anxiety by helping people focus in an increasingly distracting world. There are a plethora of "brain-training" games on the market, a researcher noted, but they are highly controversial and offer no independent scientific proof they help sharpen focus, let alone reduce anxiety.

Toxoplasma parasite's greedy appetite may be its downfall Posted: 12 Aug 2015 10:14 AM PDT Researchers are a step closer to developing drug targets for Toxoplasmosis, after gaining insight into its unique feeding behavior. Toxoplasma gondii is estimated to chronically infect nearly one-third of the world's population, causing the condition Toxoplasmosis. It is most commonly associated with handling cat feces and is a particular threat to pregnant women and immune-compromised individuals, such as HIV/AIDS patients

Researchers reveal mystery of how contractions in labor grow stronger Posted: 12 Aug 2015 08:05 AM PDT Scientists, for the first time, have identified a mechanism in the muscle cells of the uterus that could point to how contractions in childbirth grow stronger. The team looked for clues in studies on heart muscle, where a phenomenon called hypoxic preconditioning can elicit cellular changes that can protect it from more serious drops in oxygen, which can be life-saving.

Higher risk of death from heart attack, stroke for people with spinal arthritis Posted: 12 Aug 2015 07:44 AM PDT People with a type of spinal arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have a higher risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke than the general population, a new study concludes.

Adrenals run amok: Discovery could aid precision medicine for high blood pressure Posted: 12 Aug 2015 07:43 AM PDT Each of your kidneys wears a little yellow cap that helps keep blood pressure in check, and much more. But in some people, it starts running amok, pumping out a hormone that sends blood pressure sky-high. Why this happens is still a mystery. But new findings could help figure out what's going on.

New, rapid dementia screening tool rivals 'gold standard' clinical evaluations Posted: 12 Aug 2015 07:43 AM PDT Determining whether or not an individual has dementia and to what degree is a long and laborious process that can take an experienced professional such as a clinician about four to five hours to complete. A leading neuroscientist has developed a way for a layperson to do this in three to five minutes with results that are comparable to the "gold standard" dementia tests used by clinicians today.

Pancreas cancer spread from multiple types of wayward cells Posted: 12 Aug 2015 07:43 AM PDT Tumor cells associated with pancreatic cancer often behave like communities by working with each other to increase tumor spread and growth to different organs. Groups of these cancer cells are better than single cancer cells in driving tumor spread, researchers report.

Adult IQ of very premature babies can be predicted by the age of two Posted: 12 Aug 2015 07:40 AM PDT The IQ of adults born very premature or of very low birth weight can be predicted when they are just a toddler, new research suggests. Previous studies have linked very premature birth and very low birth weight with impaired cognitive function from childhood and throughout adulthood. However until now it wasn't clear how soon adult IQ can be predicted in these children.

Atomic model of an immature retrovirus constructed Posted: 12 Aug 2015 07:38 AM PDT Retroviruses, such as HIV, are tricky to treat. They go through a multistage process to produce infectious particles. The viruses that are released from infected cells are initially in an immature state and are composed of an RNA genome surrounded by a coat of protein. Now an atomic model of the immature retrovirus RSV has been constructed by researchers in order to understand and block the virus.

Tell-tale biomarker detects early breast cancer Posted: 12 Aug 2015 07:38 AM PDT MRI can detect the earliest signs of breast cancer recurrence and fast-growing tumors, research shows. The approach of a new study detects micromestastases, breakaway tumor cells with the potential to develop into dangerous secondary breast cancer tumors elsewhere in the body. The approach may offer an improved way to detect early recurrence of breast cancer.

Pelvic pain may be common among reproductive-age women, study finds Posted: 12 Aug 2015 07:38 AM PDT A high proportion of reproductive-age women may be experiencing pelvic pain that goes untreated, according to a study. As the researchers expected, reports of pain were highest for women diagnosed with endometriosis, a disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. However, one-third of those without any pelvic condition also reported a high degree of ongoing pain or pain recurring during the menstrual cycle.

Blood vessel 'doorway' lets breast cancer cells spread through blood stream Posted: 12 Aug 2015 07:38 AM PDT Using real-time, high-resolution imaging, scientists have identified how a 'doorway' in the blood vessel wall allows cancer cells to spread from breast tumors to other parts of the body. The findings support emerging tests that better predict if breast cancer will spread, which could spare women from unnecessary treatments and lead to new anti-cancer therapies.

Brain plasticity after vision loss has an 'on-off switch' Posted: 12 Aug 2015 07:37 AM PDT A molecular on-off switch that controls how a mouse brain responds to vision loss has been discovered by biologists. When the switch is on, the loss of sight in one eye will be compensated by the other eye, but also by tactile input from the whiskers. When the switch is off, only the other eye will take over. These findings may help improve patient susceptibility to sensory prosthetics such as cochlear implants or bionic eyes.

Pulmonary hypertension: Growing problem in US children Posted: 12 Aug 2015 07:36 AM PDT A review of 15 years' worth of data in a national pediatric medical database has documented a substantial increase in the rate of hospitalizations for children with a form of high blood pressure once most common in those with congenital heart disease.

Molecular discovery paves way for new diabetic heart disease treatments Posted: 12 Aug 2015 07:36 AM PDT Researchers have discovered why heart disease is the number-one killer of people with diabetes, a breakthrough finding opening the way for new treatments to combat the disease in diabetic patients by targeting a key protein called Beclin-1.

Target healthy cells to stop brain cancer 'hijack' Posted: 12 Aug 2015 07:36 AM PDT New research into brain cancer suggests treatments should target the cells around a tumor to stop it from spreading.

Powering off TB: New electron transport gene is a potential drug target Posted: 12 Aug 2015 07:36 AM PDT The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first new drug to fight tuberculosis in more than 40 years, but treatment still takes six months, 200 pills and leaves 40 percent of patients uncured. Thus, new targets are needed. Today researchers report they have identified one such target -- a gene that allows the disease to camp out in human immune cells, and is thus essential for the organism's proliferation.

Statisticians using social media to track foodborne illness and improve disaster response Posted: 12 Aug 2015 07:36 AM PDT The growing popularity and use of social media around the world is presenting new opportunities for statisticians to glean insightful information from the infinite stream of posts, tweets and other online communications that will help improve public safety. Scientists have developed two such examples -- one that enhances systems to track foodborne illness outbreaks and another designed to improve disaster-response activities.

Retrieving eggs earlier in fertility treatment may improve IVF success rates for older women Posted: 11 Aug 2015 06:56 PM PDT IVF success rates for women aged 43 and above could improve by retrieving eggs from their ovaries at an earlier stage of fertility treatment, according to a new study. The study sheds light on why chances of conceiving through IVF decline with age, with recent studies showing success rates fall from 23.6% in women aged 38-39 to just 1.3% for those aged 44 and over.

Hepatitis C infection may fuel heart risk Posted: 11 Aug 2015 02:15 PM PDT People infected with the hepatitis C virus are at risk for liver damage, but the results of a new study now show the infection may also spell heart trouble.

Cheaper, faster, more accurate test to identify gene defects in heart patients Posted: 11 Aug 2015 02:14 PM PDT A new technique could eventually enable doctors to diagnose genetic heart diseases by rapidly scanning more than 85 genes known to cause cardiac anomalies. Researchers say that the gold standard of genome sequencing involves thousands of genes, costs $1,000 or more and can take weeks or months to get results. For a patient with a heart condition that's difficult to diagnose, it makes no sense to sequence the entire 22,000-gene genome, since fewer than 200 genes are known to affect the heart, they said.

New biomarkers show exercise helps reduce daytime sleep disorder Posted: 11 Aug 2015 01:04 PM PDT Aerobic exercise can help alleviate excessive daytime sleepiness among depressed individuals, researchers have found. Researchers looking at blood samples identified two biological markers for the condition, called hypersomnia, which is characterized by sleeping too much at night as well as excessive daytime sleepiness, in those with Major Depressive Disorder.

Outcomes of prolonged episodes of respiratory disorder among extremely preterm infants Posted: 11 Aug 2015 10:22 AM PDT Among extremely preterm infants, prolonged episodes of hypoxemia (abnormally low levels of oxygen in the blood, which leads to shortness of breath) during the first two to three months after birth were associated with an increased risk of disability or death at 18 months, according to a study.

Testosterone supplementation does not result in progression of atherosclerosis Posted: 11 Aug 2015 10:22 AM PDT Among older men with low testosterone levels, testosterone administration for three years compared with placebo did not result in a significant difference in the rates of change in atherosclerosis (thickening and hardening of artery walls), nor was it associated with improved overall sexual function or health-related quality of life, according to a study.

In vitro fertilization using frozen eggs associated with lower live birth rates Posted: 11 Aug 2015 10:22 AM PDT Compared to using fresh oocytes (eggs) for in vitro fertilization, use of cryopreserved (frozen) donor oocytes in 2013 was associated with lower live birth rates, according to a study.

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