ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Algae virus can jump to mammalian cells
• Genomic study sheds light on protective effects of malaria vaccine candidate
• Dead men punching
• Immune responses provide clues for HIV vaccine development
• Researcher finds key clues about 'betel nut' addiction that plagues millions worldwide
• First human trials of drug to prevent death due to severe blood loss
• For Latinos, African ancestry adds to risk of glaucoma
• New care approach to liver operations speeds patient recovery
• Scientists find cells rhythmically regulate their genes
• Gene therapy could aid weight loss without affecting bone loss, new research finds
• Targeting mutant proteins might be silver bullet for neurodegenerative diseases
• Antipsychotics use among older adults increases with age
• Blood pressure medication can't undo all damage
• Worldwide shift in heart medication delivery required
• New technique permits cell-specific examination of proteins in Alzheimer's brain tissue
• Test could predict whether breast cancer will spread to the brain
• Marijuana use more than doubles from 2001 to 2013; increase in use disorders too
• Lifestyle, occupational factors that may put truck drivers in danger
• Cancer-causing parasite may accelerate wound healing
• Belatacept after a kidney transplant: Indication of considerable added benefit
• Provision of mental health care services, not just screenings, critically important for children with food allergies
• Alcohol intake increases the risk of breast cancer
• How diet may affect the progression of multiple sclerosis
• Different memory resolutions map onto different brain locations
• Staphylococcus aureus Achilles' heel
• Health economists call for strategies for universal access to medicines
• Interventions to improve water quality for preventing diarrhea
• Tracking down the secret of aging
• Researchers measure gait to reduce falls from glaucoma
• Advances made against deadly infection complication, sepsis
• Two lefts make it right: Cardiac experts find novel approach to treat heart failure
• Unified approach to combating several bacterial diseases
• Researchers find AKI a predictor of higher mortality rates for stroke patients
• Does living in the United States promote teenage risk taking?
• A new way to starve lung cancer?
• Effect of duration of storage of red blood cells transfused for cardiac surgery
• Tdap vaccination during pregnancy following other recent tetanus-containing vaccine
• Preeclampsia associated with increased risk of heart defects in infants
• Muscle relaxant or opioid combined with NSAID does not improve low back pain
• Annual vs. biennial mammography and breast tumor prognostic characteristics
• Nivolumab in melanoma: Added benefit in certain patients
• Cause of viral infection of the brain mapped out
• Another dimension: 3D cell growth opens new pathway for spinal cord repair
• Female rats struggle to find their way in BPA study

Algae virus can jump to mammalian cells Posted: 21 Oct 2015 03:51 PM PDT New research provides first direct evidence that an algae-infecting virus can invade and potentially replicate within some mammalian cells. It follows up a 2014 study that found signs of a chlorovirus in throat swabs of human participants.

Genomic study sheds light on protective effects of malaria vaccine candidate Posted: 21 Oct 2015 03:51 PM PDT An international team of researchers has used cutting edge genomic methods to uncover key biological insights that help explain the protective effects of the world's most advanced malaria vaccine candidate, RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S). Applying highly sensitive sequencing technology to more patient samples than previously tested, the team was able to determine that genetic variation in the protein targeted by RTS,S influences the vaccine's ability to ward off malaria in young children.

Dead men punching Posted: 21 Oct 2015 03:51 PM PDT Biologists used cadaver arms to punch and slap padded dumbbells in experiments supporting a hotly debated theory that our hands evolved not only for manual dexterity, but also so males could fistfight over females.

Immune responses provide clues for HIV vaccine development Posted: 21 Oct 2015 02:08 PM PDT Recent research has yielded new information about immune responses associated with -- and potentially responsible for -- protection from HIV infection, providing leads for new strategies to develop an HIV vaccine. Results from the RV144 trial, reported in 2009, provided the first signal of HIV vaccine efficacy: a 31 percent reduction in HIV infection among vaccinees. Since then, an international research consortium has been searching for molecular clues to explain why the vaccine showed this modest protective effect.

Researcher finds key clues about 'betel nut' addiction that plagues millions worldwide Posted: 21 Oct 2015 01:10 PM PDT For hundreds of millions of people around the world, chewing betel nut produces a cheap, quick high but also raises the risk of addiction and oral cancer. Now, new findings reveal how the nut's psychoactive chemical works in the brain and suggest that an addiction treatment may already exist.

First human trials of drug to prevent death due to severe blood loss Posted: 21 Oct 2015 12:18 PM PDT Researchers will launch the first Phase 1 human trials of a drug — derived from the female hormone estrogen — that may help patients with severe bleeding survive long enough to get to appropriate medical care. The drug may have a profound effect on an individual's ability to survive major blood loss.

For Latinos, African ancestry adds to risk of glaucoma Posted: 21 Oct 2015 11:02 AM PDT Latinos with African ancestry are at a higher risk for high pressure within the eye, a condition that if untreated can damage the optic nerve and impair vision, according to a report.

New care approach to liver operations speeds patient recovery Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:59 AM PDT Patients undergoing oncologic liver operations who participated in an enhanced recovery program returned sooner to their normal life function and adjuvant cancer therapies than patients who were treated with a traditional approach to perioperative care, according to a new study.

Scientists find cells rhythmically regulate their genes Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:59 AM PDT Even in a calm, unchanging environment, cells are not static. Among other actions, cells activate and then deactivate some types of transcription factors -- proteins that control the expression of genes -- in unpredictable and intermittent pulses. A new study shows that pulsing can allow two proteins to interact in a rhythmic fashion that allows them to control genes. These rhythms may underlie core processes in the cells of organisms across the kingdoms of life.

Gene therapy could aid weight loss without affecting bone loss, new research finds Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:59 AM PDT Delivering the hormone leptin directly to the brain through gene therapy aids weight loss without the significant side effect of bone loss, according to new research.

Targeting mutant proteins might be silver bullet for neurodegenerative diseases Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:56 AM PDT A mutant protein has been identified by scientists as culprit in Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) diseases. CMT is a group of hereditary disorders that affects about 1 in every 2,500 people in the United States, making it one of the most common inherited neurological diseases. While different forms of the disease vary in their symptoms and underlying genetic causes, the common thread is that CMT damages the nerves in a person's arms and legs.

Antipsychotics use among older adults increases with age Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:56 AM PDT Researchers find antipsychotic use among older adults increases with age despite known health risks. In 2010, more than three quarters of seniors receiving an antipsychotic prescription had no documented clinical psychiatric diagnosis during the year. In addition, among those who did have a diagnosed mental disorder and/or dementia, nearly half of the oldest patients had dementia, regardless of FDA warnings that antipsychotics increase mortality in people with dementia.

Blood pressure medication can't undo all damage Posted: 21 Oct 2015 08:51 AM PDT Patients on antihypertensive medications are still at greater risk of cardiovascular disease, despite controlled numbers. A new study sought to determine whether effective treatment of hypertension could lower the risk of cardiovascular disease to that seen in people who have always had ideal blood pressure levels.

Worldwide shift in heart medication delivery required Posted: 21 Oct 2015 08:51 AM PDT Many people in the world who need essential heart medicine do not get it, even in rich countries, says new research. A radical change is required in how such medicines are provided and preventative care organized in health care systems, the authors say.

New technique permits cell-specific examination of proteins in Alzheimer's brain tissue Posted: 21 Oct 2015 08:51 AM PDT A novel method to examine the structure and function of proteins at the cell level has been developed by researchers, providing greater means to study protein changes found in Alzheimer's disease.

Test could predict whether breast cancer will spread to the brain Posted: 21 Oct 2015 08:49 AM PDT Women with particularly aggressive forms of breast cancer could be identified by a test that predicts whether the disease is likely to spread to the brain. An analysis of almost 4,000 patients with breast cancer found that testing for high activity in a particular gene could pick out women who were at greater risk of developing secondary brain tumors compared to women who tested negative.

Marijuana use more than doubles from 2001 to 2013; increase in use disorders too Posted: 21 Oct 2015 08:49 AM PDT The estimated prevalence of adults who used marijuana in the past year more than doubled in the United States between 2001 and 2013 to 9.5 percent, according to a new article. As is the case with alcohol, many individuals can use marijuana without becoming addicted. However, the clear risk for marijuana use disorders among users (approximately 30 percent) suggests that as the number of U.S. users grows, so will the numbers of those experiencing problems related to such use.

Lifestyle, occupational factors that may put truck drivers in danger Posted: 21 Oct 2015 07:45 AM PDT Truck drivers who are frequently fatigued after work, use cell phones while driving, or have an elevated pulse pressure – a potential predictor of cardiovascular disease - may be at increased risk for getting into truck accidents, according to a study. The findings suggest that characteristics of the profession may put truck drivers at risk.

Cancer-causing parasite may accelerate wound healing Posted: 21 Oct 2015 07:33 AM PDT A cancer-causing, parasitic worm could help patients recover from their wounds, say researchers. They report that the parasite could live for decades in the human body, and would have an incentive to keep its host healthy while chewing away at its cells.

Belatacept after a kidney transplant: Indication of considerable added benefit Posted: 21 Oct 2015 07:32 AM PDT Renal insufficiency is less frequent under belatacept than under treatment with ciclosporin A in patients with kidney damage from rejection reactions, say experts.

Provision of mental health care services, not just screenings, critically important for children with food allergies Posted: 21 Oct 2015 06:48 AM PDT Mental health screenings – for anxiety, for example – is routinely recommended by various pediatric societies. Now, findings from a large-scale screening effort in a pediatric food allergy clinic questions the wisdom of such guidelines.

Alcohol intake increases the risk of breast cancer Posted: 21 Oct 2015 05:36 AM PDT Saying that the link between alcohol and cancer is dangerous is nothing new. Five Spanish universities and more than 300,000 female volunteers participated in a European investigation that is now confirming that alcohol intake increases the chances of developing breast cancer. This risk quadruples with the intake of each daily glass of wine or beer.

How diet may affect the progression of multiple sclerosis Posted: 21 Oct 2015 05:36 AM PDT Dietary fatty acids affect the development and progression of autoimmune chronic-inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis. In a collaborative study, researchers now found that long-chain fatty acids promote the development and propagation of CNS reactive immune cells in the intestinal wall. On the contrary, short-chain fatty acids promote the development and propagation of regulatory cells in the immune system.

Different memory resolutions map onto different brain locations Posted: 21 Oct 2015 05:35 AM PDT Neuroscientists have shown that memories of the same events co-exist at different resolutions in the brain. Coarse and fine memory scales are distributed across different parts of the hippocampus, a brain area that plays an important part in memory.

Staphylococcus aureus Achilles' heel Posted: 21 Oct 2015 05:35 AM PDT Staphylococcus aureus is both a transient skin colonizer and a formidable human pathogen, ranking amongst the leading causes of skin and soft tissue infections, as well as severe pneumonia. Scientists attempt to work out new strategies to fight against this pathogen, of which numerous strains are now resistant to antibiotic treatments.

Health economists call for strategies for universal access to medicines Posted: 21 Oct 2015 05:33 AM PDT Health economists outline the importance for universal access to medicines in the control of neglected diseases, other major infections, and chronic diseases.

Interventions to improve water quality for preventing diarrhea Posted: 21 Oct 2015 05:33 AM PDT A new review has been launched to assess the effectiveness of interventions to improve water quality for preventing diarrhea.

Tracking down the secret of aging Posted: 21 Oct 2015 05:33 AM PDT Researchers have found differences between normal and pathologic peptidomic changes that may lead to an improved understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying aging. Proteome analysis in combination with therapy may influence pathologic aging.

Researchers measure gait to reduce falls from glaucoma Posted: 21 Oct 2015 05:31 AM PDT Researchers have developed a way to carefully analyze a person's gait with sensors, an innovation that could lead to reduced falls and injuries in people with glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness in the United States.

Advances made against deadly infection complication, sepsis Posted: 21 Oct 2015 05:31 AM PDT Sepsis is an inflammatory response to infection that can develop in hospital settings and can turn deadly if not discovered early on. In a new study, a hospital surveillance program focusing on reducing the risks of sepsis was found to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes, such as death and hospice discharge, by 30 percent over the course of one year.

Two lefts make it right: Cardiac experts find novel approach to treat heart failure Posted: 20 Oct 2015 04:25 PM PDT A teenage girl faced with sudden rapid heart deterioration, a man in the prime years of his life suffering from debilitating heart failure and a former NFL athlete crippled by end-stage heart failure were all successfully treated with a surgical approach recently pioneered in California.

Unified approach to combating several bacterial diseases Posted: 20 Oct 2015 04:24 PM PDT Structural similarities have been discovered among bacteria of various types that create the possibility of using similar approaches to fight the infections they cause.

Researchers find AKI a predictor of higher mortality rates for stroke patients Posted: 20 Oct 2015 04:17 PM PDT Ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients who suffer from acute kidney injury requiring dialysis have higher death rates and greater odds of entering long-term care or nursing facilities after hospitalization, a new report concludes.

Does living in the United States promote teenage risk taking? Posted: 20 Oct 2015 04:17 PM PDT Teenagers are known for taking unnecessary risks, from reckless driving to smoking marijuana, but some seek out risky experiences more than others. A new study of sensation-seeking behavior shows that children growing up in the United States versus Puerto Rico were more likely to seek out new and risky behaviors. Results of the study are the first to look at sensation-seeking patterns in young children and teenagers.

A new way to starve lung cancer? Posted: 20 Oct 2015 09:11 AM PDT Scientists have identified a new way to stop the growth of lung cancer cells, by blocking their ability to use alternative sources of nutrition. The discovery was made possible by identifying the metabolic programs used by cancer cells to fuel their growth. The findings point to possible new avenues for treating lung cancer, which is the second most common cancer and accounts for over one-quarter of all cancer-related deaths.

Effect of duration of storage of red blood cells transfused for cardiac surgery Posted: 20 Oct 2015 09:08 AM PDT Although some studies have suggested that transfusion of stored red blood cell (RBC) concentrates may be harmful, as blood undergoes several physiological changes during storage, an analysis of patients who underwent cardiac surgery in Sweden over a 16-year period found no association between duration of RBC storage and risk of death or serious complications, according to a study.

Tdap vaccination during pregnancy following other recent tetanus-containing vaccine Posted: 20 Oct 2015 09:08 AM PDT Among women who received the tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine during pregnancy, there was no increased risk of adverse events in the mothers or adverse birth outcomes in newborns for women who had received a tetanus-containing vaccine in the previous five years, according to a study.

Preeclampsia associated with increased risk of heart defects in infants Posted: 20 Oct 2015 09:08 AM PDT An analysis of more than 1.9 million mother and infant pairs finds that preeclampsia was significantly associated with noncritical heart defects in offspring, and preeclampsia with onset before 34 weeks was associated with critical heart defects; however, the absolute risk of congenital heart defects was low, according to a study.

Muscle relaxant or opioid combined with NSAID does not improve low back pain Posted: 20 Oct 2015 09:08 AM PDT Among patients with acute, low back pain presenting to an emergency department, neither the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug naproxen combined with oxycodone/acetaminophen or the muscle relaxant cyclobenzaprine provided better pain relief or improvement in functional outcomes than naproxen combined with placebo, according to a study.

Annual vs. biennial mammography and breast tumor prognostic characteristics Posted: 20 Oct 2015 09:08 AM PDT Premenopausal women diagnosed with breast cancer following a biennial screening mammogram were more likely to have bigger more advanced tumors than women screened annually, while postmenopausal women not using hormone therapy had a similar proportion of tumors with less favorable prognostic characteristics regardless of whether their screening mammogram was biennial or annual, according to an article.

Nivolumab in melanoma: Added benefit in certain patients Posted: 20 Oct 2015 07:38 AM PDT Treatment-naive patients with BRAF V600 mutation-negative tumor have an advantage in overall survival, reviewers of the drug report.

Cause of viral infection of the brain mapped out Posted: 20 Oct 2015 07:37 AM PDT Researchers have recently discovered a defect in the immune system, which causes some people with herpes virus to develop a life-threatening inflammation of the brain. This immunodeficiency is likely the same for certain types of meningitis and also the reason why some people become seriously ill due to influenza.

Another dimension: 3D cell growth opens new pathway for spinal cord repair Posted: 20 Oct 2015 07:36 AM PDT Researchers have opened a new avenue to advance a therapy to repair the paralyzed spinal cord, using a novel technique to grow cells in three dimensions, and without the traditional restrictions of matrix or scaffolds.

Female rats struggle to find their way in BPA study Posted: 20 Oct 2015 07:36 AM PDT Five years after the Consortium Linking Academic and Regulatory Insights on BPA Toxicity launched, results are beginning to come in. This new information will allow researchers to better compare the effects of fixed doses of BPA on the brain, various cognitive behaviors, reproduction and fertility, accumulation of fat tissue, heart disease, the immune system, and several types of cancers.

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