ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Scientists report success using zebrafish embryos to identify potential new diabetes drugs
• Agricultural intervention improves HIV outcomes
• The Tree of Life may be a bush
• Shorter women have shorter pregnancies, study shows
• Hot chilli may unlock a new treatment for obesity
• Early inflammatory response paralyzes T cells
• Finding biomarkers for early lung cancer diagnosis
• Nicotine changes marijuana's effect on the brain
• Women choose contraception based on relationships not just pregnancy desires
• Researcher looks through the noise to discover potential risks from jet fuel
• Expression of a single gene lets scientists easily grow hepatitis C virus in the lab
• Vision of immune cells rallying to destroy invaders captured for the first time
• Gut microbes linked to major autoimmune eye disease
• How an emerging anti-resistance antibiotic targets the bacterial membrane
• Teens using e-cigarettes may be more likely to start smoking tobacco
• Surge in heroin use tied to prescription opioid abuse
• Anxious? Depressed? Blame it on your middle-management position
• Patients with immediate medical needs tend to perceive doctors as emotionless, study finds
• Newly discovered molecular feedback process may protect the brain against Alzheimer's
• Increased risk of depression for mothers undergoing fertility treatment
• Drug helps patients with diabetes lose weight
• E-cigarettes could have health impacts in developing world, research suggests
• Sepsis care guidance: Nationwide hospital requirements
• Liver damage in hepatitis C patients significantly underestimated, underreported
• Researchers report on Hurricane Sandy's mental health impact on older adults
• New aortic heart valve does not require open surgery
• Diabetes drug metformin's primary effect is in the gut, not the bloodstream
• Study compares heparin to warfarin for treatment of blood clots in patients with cancer
• In the spotlight: X chromosome inactivation
• MRI scanners can steer tumor busting viruses to specific target sites within body
• Proof-of-concept study shows potential for ultrasound to detect signs of preterm labor
• Bacteria's secret weapon against pesticides, antibiotics revealed
• Just one in 10 are referred for cardiac rehab after treatment for heart failure
• Pediatric training essential to improving out-of-hospital emergency care for children
• Republicans have happier marriages than Democrats, study indicates
• New non-invasive skin cancer test put to the test
• Accuracy of sexual assault testimonies not affected by alcohol intoxication, study finds
• GABA supplementation improves planning for actions, study shows
• Targeting HIV in semen to shut down AIDS
• Lice in at least 25 states show resistance to common treatments
• Microbiome of a woman's reproductive tract may predict preterm birth
• Protective eyewear reduces field hockey eye injuries without increased concussion risk
• Cells in Limbo Hold Clues for Tackling Cancer and Aging

Scientists report success using zebrafish embryos to identify potential new diabetes drugs Posted: 18 Aug 2015 12:38 PM PDT In experiments with 500,000 genetically engineered zebrafish embryos, scientists report they have developed a potentially better and more accurate way to screen for useful drugs, and they have used it to identify 24 drug candidates that increase the number of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

Agricultural intervention improves HIV outcomes Posted: 18 Aug 2015 12:35 PM PDT A multifaceted farming intervention can reduce food insecurity while improving HIV outcomes in patients in Kenya, according to a randomized, controlled trial.

The Tree of Life may be a bush Posted: 18 Aug 2015 12:35 PM PDT New species evolve whenever a lineage splits off into several. Because of this, the kinship between species is often described in terms of a 'tree of life,' where every branch constitutes a species. Now, researchers have found that evolution is more complex than this model would have it, and that the tree is actually more akin to a bush.

Shorter women have shorter pregnancies, study shows Posted: 18 Aug 2015 12:35 PM PDT Shorter mothers have shorter pregnancies, smaller babies, and higher risk for a preterm birth. Investigators found that a mother's height directly influences her risk for preterm birth. They also found that maternal height, which is determined by genetic factors, helped shape the fetal environment, influencing the length of pregnancy and frequency of prematurity. In contrast, birth length and birth weight are mainly influenced by transmitted genes.

Hot chilli may unlock a new treatment for obesity Posted: 18 Aug 2015 11:27 AM PDT A high-fat diet may impair important receptors located in the stomach that signal fullness, researchers have discovered. They investigated the association between hot chilli pepper receptors (TRPV1) in the stomach and the feeling of fullness, in laboratory studies, suggesting that their work will inform further studies and the development of new therapies.

Early inflammatory response paralyzes T cells Posted: 18 Aug 2015 11:26 AM PDT In a discovery that is likely to rewrite immunology text books, researchers have found that early exposure to inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin 2, can 'paralyze' CD4 T cells, immune components that help orchestrate the body's response to pathogens and other invaders.

Finding biomarkers for early lung cancer diagnosis Posted: 18 Aug 2015 11:26 AM PDT Despite decades of warnings about smoking, lung cancer is still the second-most common cancer and the leading cause of death from cancer in the US. Researchers are trying to change that, by identifying biomarkers that could be the basis of early tests for lung cancer.

Nicotine changes marijuana's effect on the brain Posted: 18 Aug 2015 11:24 AM PDT How scientists study the effects of marijuana on the brain is changing. Until recently marijuana research largely excluded tobacco users from its participant pool, but scientists have found reason to abandon this practice, uncovering significant differences in the brains of individuals who use both tobacco and marijuana and the brains of those who only use marijuana.

Women choose contraception based on relationships not just pregnancy desires Posted: 18 Aug 2015 11:24 AM PDT Women's contraceptive choices are more often driven by current relationships and sexual activity than by long-term pregnancy intentions, according to researchers.

Researcher looks through the noise to discover potential risks from jet fuel Posted: 18 Aug 2015 10:18 AM PDT Jet fuel, when combined with sustained noise, may cause brain-related injury and lead to multiple conditions. Clinical conditions such as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and post-traumatic stress could be attributed, in part, to hydrocarbon-related disruptions in brain function, a factor previously overlooked during diagnoses, say authors of a new report.

Expression of a single gene lets scientists easily grow hepatitis C virus in the lab Posted: 18 Aug 2015 10:18 AM PDT In devising a method to readily grow hepatitis C in the laboratory, scientists might have overcome a major hurdle for basic research into the virus and the disease it causes.

Vision of immune cells rallying to destroy invaders captured for the first time Posted: 18 Aug 2015 10:15 AM PDT The intricate interplay between immune cells working to defeat infection has been seen and photographed for the first time. Researchers used state-of-the-art microscopy to painstakingly capture images of the interactions of three crucial types of immune cells rallying to destroy herpes simplex virus.

Gut microbes linked to major autoimmune eye disease Posted: 18 Aug 2015 10:15 AM PDT One major cause of human blindness is autoimmune uveitis, which is triggered by the activation of T cells, but exactly how and where the T cells become activated in the first place has been a long-standing mystery. A study reveals that gut microbes produce a molecule that mimics a retinal protein, which most likely activates the T cells responsible for the disease.

How an emerging anti-resistance antibiotic targets the bacterial membrane Posted: 18 Aug 2015 10:15 AM PDT Scientists are planning for a future in which superbugs gain the upper hand against our current arsenal of antibiotics. One emerging class of drug candidates, called AMLPs (antimicrobial lipopeptides), shows promise, and a study ixplains why: they selectively kill bacterial cells, while sparing mammalian host cells, by clumping together into microscopic balls that stick to the bacterial membrane -- a complex structure that will be slower to mutate and thus resist drugs.

Teens using e-cigarettes may be more likely to start smoking tobacco Posted: 18 Aug 2015 09:22 AM PDT Students who have used electronic cigarettes by the time they start ninth grade are more likely than others to start smoking traditional cigarettes and other combustible tobacco products within the next year, according to a new study.

Surge in heroin use tied to prescription opioid abuse Posted: 18 Aug 2015 09:20 AM PDT Heroin use has increased 63 percent over the last 10 years in the United States, experts report. That increase is closely tied to the growing abuse of prescription opioids such as oxycodone (Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin) and codeine. An alarming 45 percent of Americans addicted to heroin are also addicted to prescription opioids.

Anxious? Depressed? Blame it on your middle-management position Posted: 18 Aug 2015 09:17 AM PDT Individuals near the middle of the social hierarchy suffer higher rates of depression and anxiety than those at the top or bottom, according to researchers. Nearly twice the number of supervisors and managers reported they suffered from anxiety compared to workers. Symptoms of depression were reported by 18 percent of supervisors and managers compared to 12 percent for workers.

Patients with immediate medical needs tend to perceive doctors as emotionless, study finds Posted: 18 Aug 2015 09:17 AM PDT The greater patients' need for medical care, the more likely patients will view their doctors as 'empty vessels,' devoid of emotions or personal lives of their own; at the same time, those patients expect their physicians to be able to contain the patients' emotions and experiences, new research shows.

Newly discovered molecular feedback process may protect the brain against Alzheimer's Posted: 18 Aug 2015 09:17 AM PDT Researchers have identified within neurons a series of molecular interactions -- known as a pathway -- that can dampen the production of the Alzheimer's protein amyloid-?. These results suggest a new route in the search for therapies for this degenerative disease.

Increased risk of depression for mothers undergoing fertility treatment Posted: 18 Aug 2015 09:05 AM PDT Women giving birth after undergoing fertility treatment face an increased risk of depression compared to women ending up not having a child following fertility treatment, according to new research. According to the researchers, this has key implications for fertility treatment in future.

Drug helps patients with diabetes lose weight Posted: 18 Aug 2015 09:05 AM PDT Among overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes, daily injection of the diabetes drug liraglutide with a modified insulin pen device, in addition to diet and exercise, resulted in greater weight loss over 56 weeks compared with placebo, according to a study.

E-cigarettes could have health impacts in developing world, research suggests Posted: 18 Aug 2015 09:05 AM PDT Two researchers are urging greater regulatory oversight of e-cigarettes in poorer countries, where sales of the devices are growing. Public awareness of the devices is high in some developing countries. In the recent International Tobacco Control survey, 34 percent of adults in Mexico, 35 percent in Brazil and 62 percent in Malaysia said they had heard about the devices or tried them. In some of the poorest regions of the world -- notably Africa and South Asia -- there is little known about e-cigarette use, though these are vast potential markets, the authors wrote.

Sepsis care guidance: Nationwide hospital requirements Posted: 18 Aug 2015 09:05 AM PDT As hospitals across America brace for rigorous mandates for care of septic patients that will be adopted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in October, a new review unveils research-based guidance to improve compliance when treating this common and deadly syndrome.

Liver damage in hepatitis C patients significantly underestimated, underreported Posted: 18 Aug 2015 08:27 AM PDT The number of hepatitis C patients suffering from advanced liver damage may be grossly underestimated and underdiagnosed, according to a study. The findings were the result of a study of nearly 10,000 patients suffering from hepatitis C, and could have a significant effect on patient care and healthcare policy regarding the chronic disease.

Researchers report on Hurricane Sandy's mental health impact on older adults Posted: 18 Aug 2015 08:27 AM PDT Strong neighborhood relationships reduced the incidence of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder among older adults exposed to Hurricane Sandy, the superstorm that devastated the Northeast United States. These findings provide new information about how the neighborhoods where older adults live can be bolstered in the face of natural disasters.

New aortic heart valve does not require open surgery Posted: 18 Aug 2015 08:27 AM PDT A new aortic heart valve does not require open heart surgery. The CoreValve®Evolut™ R System is deployed with a catheter, which is inserted into an artery and guided to the heart. The artificial valve takes over the function of the diseased valve. The system is much less invasive than open surgery.

Diabetes drug metformin's primary effect is in the gut, not the bloodstream Posted: 18 Aug 2015 08:27 AM PDT Metformin was introduced as a type-2 diabetes treatment decades ago, but researchers still debate how the drug works. A new study shows that metformin's primary effect occurs in the gut, not the bloodstream. And a new version of the drug could help more people control their diabetes.

Study compares heparin to warfarin for treatment of blood clots in patients with cancer Posted: 18 Aug 2015 08:27 AM PDT Among patients with active cancer and acute symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE; blood clots in the deep veins), the use of the low molecular-weight heparin tinzaparin daily for 6 months compared with warfarin did not significantly reduce recurrent VTE and was not associated with reductions in overall death or major bleeding, but was associated with a lower rate of clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding, according to a study.

In the spotlight: X chromosome inactivation Posted: 18 Aug 2015 08:26 AM PDT Each cell in a woman's body contains two X chromosomes. One of these chromosomes is switched off, because nobody can live with two active X chromosomes. Researchers have now shown the mechanism of spreading of this inactivation over the X chromosome.

MRI scanners can steer tumor busting viruses to specific target sites within body Posted: 18 Aug 2015 08:26 AM PDT MRI scanners, normally used to produce images, can steer cell-based, tumor busting therapies to specific target sites in the body, researchers have discovered.

Proof-of-concept study shows potential for ultrasound to detect signs of preterm labor Posted: 18 Aug 2015 08:24 AM PDT An international team of researchers has conducted a proof-of-concept study that raises the possibility of using ultrasound techniques to detect cervical stiffness changes that indicate an increased risk of preterm labor in pregnant women. While additional work needs to be done, it may ultimately give doctors a new tool for determining when to provide treatment that can prevent preterm birth.

Bacteria's secret weapon against pesticides, antibiotics revealed Posted: 18 Aug 2015 08:24 AM PDT Bacteria exhibit extreme adaptability, which makes them capable of surviving in the most inhospitable conditions. New research results produced by Danish and British researchers now reveal the molecular details behind one of the secret weapons used by bacteria in their battle to survive under very nutrient-poor and even toxic conditions.

Just one in 10 are referred for cardiac rehab after treatment for heart failure Posted: 18 Aug 2015 07:29 AM PDT Very few heart failure patients are referred to a cardiac rehabilitation program after being hospitalized, despite strong evidence that such exercise programs improve quality of life and reduce the likelihood of future hospitalizations.

Pediatric training essential to improving out-of-hospital emergency care for children Posted: 18 Aug 2015 07:29 AM PDT Researchers conducted a national survey of more than 750 EMS providers to identify airway management, personal anxiety and limited pediatric care proficiency among to top contributors for children in out-of-hospital emergent care situations. This research supports the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation for pediatric physician involvement in EMS training, medical oversight and policy development.

Republicans have happier marriages than Democrats, study indicates Posted: 18 Aug 2015 06:05 AM PDT Republicans tend to be happier in their marriages than Democrats, and are less likely to be divorced, reveals a new article. The findings add to an ongoing debate over which set of political ideals help to lead people to a happy life, say the investigators.

New non-invasive skin cancer test put to the test Posted: 18 Aug 2015 06:03 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new non-invasive technique which can accurately detect malignant melanoma without a biopsy. Their report shows that a special technique using a laser to detect the subtle differences in blood flow beneath the skin enabled researchers to tell the difference between malignant melanoma and non-cancerous moles.

Accuracy of sexual assault testimonies not affected by alcohol intoxication, study finds Posted: 18 Aug 2015 06:02 AM PDT Intoxicated victims of sexual assault could accurately retain information from events, conclude researchers after a study. Findings are being applied to develop National Guidelines in England for how the police could interview sexual assault victims who were intoxicated during the crime. These results also challenge the misconception that intoxicated victims and witnesses are unreliable.

GABA supplementation improves planning for actions, study shows Posted: 18 Aug 2015 06:02 AM PDT People show an enhanced ability of prioritizing planned actions after the ingestion of the food supplement GABA, reports a team of psychologists and other researchers.

Targeting HIV in semen to shut down AIDS Posted: 18 Aug 2015 05:59 AM PDT There may be two new ways to fight AIDS -- using a heat shock protein or a small molecule -- to attack fibrils in semen associated with HIV during the initial phases of infection. HIV is most commonly transmitted in semen, which contains amyloid fibrils. These can increase the transmission of HIV by helping the it attach to the membrane surrounding human cells.

Lice in at least 25 states show resistance to common treatments Posted: 18 Aug 2015 05:57 AM PDT The start of the school year means new classes, new friends, homework and sports. It also brings the threat of head lice. Scientists report today that lice populations in at least 25 states have developed resistance to over-the-counter treatments still widely recommended by doctors and schools.

Microbiome of a woman's reproductive tract may predict preterm birth Posted: 17 Aug 2015 01:06 PM PDT Microbial communities in the reproductive tracts of women who delivered their babies too soon were different from those of women who delivered full term, scientists have found. Those differences were found early in the pregnancies and tended to persist throughout the pregnancies. The researchers also found that the patterns of women's microbiomes changed immediately after they delivered their babies, and did not revert back to pre-pregnancy patterns in some cases until at least a year later.

Protective eyewear reduces field hockey eye injuries without increased concussion risk Posted: 17 Aug 2015 11:20 AM PDT Nationally mandated protective eyewear results in a greater than three-fold reduced risk of eye and orbital injuries in high school (HS) girls' field hockey players without increasing rates of concussion, a new study concludes.

Cells in Limbo Hold Clues for Tackling Cancer and Aging Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:27 AM PDT For some, TOR may bring to mind a Celtic mountain or perhaps an Internet privacy group. In the world of molecular biology it's a cellular pathway that's found in everything from yeast to mammals.

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