ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Targeting invasive cells not dividing cells to halt cancer, study suggests
• Newly discovered tumor-suppressor gene affects melanoma survival
• Natural protein cage developed for improved cancer drug delivery
• High post-pregnancy BMI raises pelvic organ prolapse risk
• Researchers study differences in ischemic stroke in marijuana users
• Young women more likely to die in hospital after STEMI
• Young women less likely to be informed of heart disease risk by providers
• Study of inner ear development hints at way to restore hearing and balance
• 'Love hormone' helps produce 'bliss molecules' to boost pleasure of social interactions
• CRISPR brings precise control to gene expression
• Surgery proving option for more pancreatic cancer patients, expert says
• New genetic discovery advances understanding of prostate cancer
• Mechanism discovered that could lead to better ovarian cancer treatment
• Molecular motor grows cell's microtubules
• Scientists uncover signal for when a pregnant woman is about to go into labor
• Insulin cells determine weight-loss surgery success rate
• Much needed update on magnetic tracking in cell therapy
• Chemical probe to dissect role of potential cancer-causing proteins
• Research explains limits of cancer immunotherapy drugs
• New testosterone guideline to help Canadian physicians diagnose, treat patients
• Products expectant mothers should avoid during first trimester
• Researchers discover an epilepsy switch
• Snake venom helps hydrogels stop the bleeding
• Response to environmental change depends on variation in corals, algae partnerships
• Two mutations are better than one
• Maintaining blood pressure levels measured before entering OR may improve outcomes
• Lung cancer specialist brings new treatments, hope to new Mexicans
• Three-minute test detects common form of dementia that's hard to diagnose
• Study reveals significant global variation in the definition of the term 'rare disease'
• Cellular stress management in people and plants
• Succesful eHealth depends on focus on user and context, says expert
• Revolutionary new weapon in air pollution fight
• Last two decades see rising life expectancy in every province of China but substantial health inequalities remain
• Medication errors, adverse drug events in one out of two surgeries studied
• Pregnant women in Brooklyn have highest levels of certain preservatives used in cosmetics
• Stopping tuberculosis requires new strategy, say experts

Targeting invasive cells not dividing cells to halt cancer, study suggests Posted: 26 Oct 2015 03:16 PM PDT Most cancer drugs are designed to target dividing cells, but a new study suggests that targeting invasive cells may be a new strategy to treat metastatic cancer.

Newly discovered tumor-suppressor gene affects melanoma survival Posted: 26 Oct 2015 03:09 PM PDT Scientists have found a tumor suppressor gene, RASA2, that drives a particularly deadly form of melanoma as well as regulates a key protein, RAS, that is a major oncogene. The discovery is "highly likely to have direct clinical relevance," say researchers.

Natural protein cage developed for improved cancer drug delivery Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:41 PM PDT A unique, tiny protein cage has been created by scientists to deliver nasty chemotherapy chemicals directly to cancer cells. Direct delivery could improve treatment and lessen what can be horrendous side effects from toxic drugs.

High post-pregnancy BMI raises pelvic organ prolapse risk Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:25 PM PDT Maintaining a normal body mass index (BMI) is important for good cardiovascular health and blood sugar control, but maintaining it after pregnancy can also be key to preventing pelvic organ prolapse, according to a new study.

Researchers study differences in ischemic stroke in marijuana users Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:25 PM PDT Strokes in young adults who use marijuana are more likely to be caused by stenosis, narrowing of the arteries, in the skull than strokes in non-users, new research shows. Previous studies found an association between marijuana use and stroke, but the new study is the first to explore differences in stroke in marijuana users and non-users, an approach that can help identify possible mechanisms for stroke in users.

Young women more likely to die in hospital after STEMI Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:25 PM PDT Young women with ST-elevation myocardial infarction were less likely to receive life-saving angioplasty and stenting to restore blood flow to blocked arteries than men and also had longer hospital stays and higher rates of in-hospital mortality, according to a study.

Young women less likely to be informed of heart disease risk by providers Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:21 PM PDT Even when young women had a similar or greater risk for heart disease than young men, they were 11 percent less likely to report that healthcare providers told them they were at-risk for heart disease prior to a heart attack, according to a new study.

Study of inner ear development hints at way to restore hearing and balance Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:20 PM PDT These genes, or others in the same pathway, could be promising targets for efforts to treat hearing loss or balance problems by regenerating hair cells, the researchers suggest.

'Love hormone' helps produce 'bliss molecules' to boost pleasure of social interactions Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:18 PM PDT The hormone oxytocin, which has been associated with interpersonal bonding, may enhance the pleasure of social interactions by stimulating production of marijuana-like neurotransmitters in the brain, according to a new study. The research provides the first link between oxytocin -- dubbed the 'love hormone' -- and anandamide, which has been called the 'bliss molecule' for its role in activating cannabinoid receptors in brain cells to heighten motivation and happiness.

CRISPR brings precise control to gene expression Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:14 PM PDT Previous studies have shown that the emerging gene-editing technology called CRISPR can have off-target effects. A new study shows that CRISPR can be used with a high degree of specificity to deliver proteins controlling DNA packaging, in effect exerting epigenetic controls that alter gene expression without changing the coding portions of DNA.

Surgery proving option for more pancreatic cancer patients, expert says Posted: 26 Oct 2015 11:03 AM PDT Pancreatic cancer has long proved the least survivable of the most common forms of cancer, in part because it tends to spread before symptoms appear. Surgery has offered the longest remissions, but for many people with advanced cancer, an operation wasn't an option. Now, thanks to improvements in chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, even this most recalcitrant of cancers is starting to budge, says a gastrointestinal surgeon.

New genetic discovery advances understanding of prostate cancer Posted: 26 Oct 2015 10:23 AM PDT A new and important genetic discovery, which sheds light on how prostate cancers develop and spread, has been made by an international research team. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men.

Mechanism discovered that could lead to better ovarian cancer treatment Posted: 26 Oct 2015 10:23 AM PDT Resistance to chemotherapy is a major problem for those suffering from ovarian cancer -- a problem that prevents a cure from a disease dubbed the 'silent killer.' Now researchers are giving patients new hope with recent findings that help pinpoint the mechanisms causing chemoresistance.

Molecular motor grows cell's microtubules Posted: 26 Oct 2015 10:21 AM PDT Motor proteins that pause at the ends of microtubules and produce pushing forces can also stimulate their growth, according to researchers. The proteins' function could be a critical component in understanding cell division and nerve branching and growth.

Scientists uncover signal for when a pregnant woman is about to go into labor Posted: 26 Oct 2015 10:21 AM PDT A cellular signal in the amniotic fluid around the fetus has been found to build up when a pregnant woman is about to go into labor, say scientists. The researchers used amniotic fluid samples from 50 women in labor and 51 women at the end of their pregnancy but not in yet in labor. They also acquired demographic information from patient interviews and medical information from their medical records.

Insulin cells determine weight-loss surgery success rate Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:52 AM PDT The ability to produce insulin is pivotal to the success of weight-loss surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes, scientists have found. Their study provides a better point of departure for advise and determining which patients will benefit from surgery.

Much needed update on magnetic tracking in cell therapy Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:52 AM PDT The latest advances in magnetic particle tracking in cell therapy, a potentially groundbreaking strategy in disease treatment and regenerative medicine, are outlined in a new article.

Chemical probe to dissect role of potential cancer-causing proteins Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:50 AM PDT Scientists have created a highly specific and well-characterized chemical probe which can switch off two important proteins implicated in cancer -- shedding new light on the role these proteins play in driving cancer cell proliferation.

Research explains limits of cancer immunotherapy drugs Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:50 AM PDT Molecular changes within a tumor have been revealed by a team of scientists that suggests that they are are preventing immunotherapy drugs from killing off the cancer.

New testosterone guideline to help Canadian physicians diagnose, treat patients Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:50 AM PDT Controversy exists about how to manage patients with low testosterone, and many health care professionals are reluctant to treat testosterone deficiency, but a new guideline aims to provide a road map to help diagnose and treat this health condition. The guideline targets primary care physicians, general internists, endocrinologists, geriatricians and urologists as well as psychiatrists, nurse practitioners and pharmacists who deal with men at or beyond middle age.

Products expectant mothers should avoid during first trimester Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:19 AM PDT Expectant mothers in their first trimester should avoid certain cosmetics, cleaning agents and medicines, to protect the developing fetal brain from chemicals that can trigger autism, health researchers advise.

Researchers discover an epilepsy switch Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:19 AM PDT Scientists have decoded a central signal cascade associated with epileptic seizures. If the researchers blocked a central switch in epileptic mice, the frequency and severity of the seizures decreased. Using a novel technology, it was possible to observe the processes prior to the occurrence of epileptic seizures in living animals.

Snake venom helps hydrogels stop the bleeding Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:19 AM PDT A hydrogel infused with snake venom may be the best material to stop bleeding quickly, even in the presence of anti-coagulants, according to scientists.

Response to environmental change depends on variation in corals, algae partnerships Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:14 AM PDT Some corals are more protective than others of their partner algae in harsh environmental conditions, new research reveals. This individual variation among corals could reflect a greater capacity than currently is recognized to adapt to changing ocean conditions brought about by climate change.

Two mutations are better than one Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:14 AM PDT Two wrongs don't make a right, but in the case of genetic mutations, having two mutations in the same gene could be better than having either one individually. Researchers found that two separate genetic modifications each greatly reduced the function of the myosin muscle protein in fruit flies, but flies with both mutations had nearly three-quarters of the function restored. The findings may help researchers better understand and treat heart muscle disease in humans.

Maintaining blood pressure levels measured before entering OR may improve outcomes Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:36 AM PDT When a patient arrives in the operating room (O.R.) for surgery, one of the first things a physician will do is take his or her blood pressure, a "baseline" measurement used throughout the procedure. However, a new study has found that blood pressure taken before the patient enters the O.R. may produce more accurate measurements and should be used to determine baseline blood pressure.

Lung cancer specialist brings new treatments, hope to new Mexicans Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:36 AM PDT This year, more than 158,000 Americans are expected to die from lung cancer. That's a staggering number: it's more than all the deaths expected from breast, prostate, colon, rectum, bladder and skin cancers combined. But this grim statistic only spurs one lung cancer doctor and scientist to work harder toward a cure.

Three-minute test detects common form of dementia that's hard to diagnose Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:36 AM PDT Although Lewy Body disease (LBD) is the second-most-common degenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease (AD), it's not exactly a household name. A fast, new test can assess clinical signs and symptoms of this disease, and discriminate between AD and LBD with 96.8 percent accuracy.

Study reveals significant global variation in the definition of the term 'rare disease' Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:36 AM PDT An expansive global review answers a basic scientific question, "How do you describe a 'rare disease?'" A broad international group of researchers examined the similarities and differences in rare disease definitions and prevalence thresholds -- across geography and stakeholders.

Cellular stress management in people and plants Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:32 AM PDT Bioscientists have discovered the function of a fundamental biological mechanism. Their findings are significant for the stress biology of human cells as well as the development of agricultural crops that are highly resistant to their primary stressor, drought.

Succesful eHealth depends on focus on user and context, says expert Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:30 AM PDT Human-centered design can greatly stimulate the improvement of safe patient care through technology, concludes one expert. She researched the ways in which eHealth solutions can contribute to increasing the quality of the work of healthcare professionals such as nurses: more efficient and safer patient care.

Revolutionary new weapon in air pollution fight Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:30 AM PDT People could soon be using their smartphones to combat a deadly form of air pollution, thanks to a potentially life-saving breakthrough by researchers.

Last two decades see rising life expectancy in every province of China but substantial health inequalities remain Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:29 AM PDT For the first time, researchers show how health in different regions of China has changed in recent decades. The research analyzes life expectancy, causes of death, and child mortality for 31 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions of China, and Hongkong and Macao special administrative regions, finding that in the last two decades, life expectancy has risen, and deaths in children under 5 years have fallen, in every province.

Medication errors, adverse drug events in one out of two surgeries studied Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:29 AM PDT The first study to measure the incidence of medication errors and adverse drug events during the perioperative period -- immediately before, during and right after a surgical procedure -- has found that some sort of mistake or adverse event occurred in every second operation and in 5 percent of observed drug administrations.

Pregnant women in Brooklyn have highest levels of certain preservatives used in cosmetics Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:28 AM PDT Researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Arizona State University have published the first study of levels of parabens -- antibacterial substances commonly used as preservatives in cosmetics and other products -- in human cord blood samples. The researchers found that a cohort of pregnant women in Brooklyn predominantly of Caribbean- and African-American descent had the highest level worldwide of methyl paraben and propyl paraben.

Stopping tuberculosis requires new strategy, say experts Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:28 AM PDT Unless there is a major shift in the way the world fights tuberculosis -- from a reliance on biomedical solutions to an approach that combines biomedical interventions with social actions -- the epidemic and drug resistance will worsen, say researchers.

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