ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Youngest students in class 30% more likely to die in suicide than older classmates, Japanese study shows
• Chimpanzees shed light on origins of human walking
• Extremely active rats become lazy when they artificially receive 'runners' high'
• Should women consume alcohol during pregnancy?
• American placebo: New analysis of chronic pain drug trials shows increasing placebo responses over time, in the US only
• Virus-drug combination shows improved effectiveness against brain tumor cells
• Treatment for heparin-induced blood disorder revealed in structure of antibody complex
• How, mathematically, to make something go viral on Facebook
• Vaginal microbes influence whether mucus can trap HIV
• Unlikely partners? Cell's waste disposal system regulates body clock proteins
• Marijuana extract doesn't reduce postoperative nausea, vomiting
• Research calls for stricter screening recommendations for family history of colon cancer
• New test predicts teens' future risk of heart disease
• Melatonin and mealtime: Common genetic difference could put some at greater risk of diabetes
• From molecular case studies: Genomics of exceptional responder to NOTCH inhibitor
• Mutation involved in neurodegeneration discovered
• Scientists identify how normally protective immune responses kill neurons
• Routine use of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer still to be established
• Study questions benefit of exercise program following immobilization of ankle fracture
• Simulation training saves precious minutes in speeding treatment of trauma patients
• Turning T cell immunology on its head
• New evidence for a strategy to identify patients nearing the end of life
• Male suicide on rise as result of austerity, report suggests
• Cell growth: Protein reactions identified with subatomic resolution
• Possible new treatment for bladder cancer using a mycobacterium
• Flu shot reduces risk of stroke, study suggests
• Sugar governs how antibodies work in the immune system
• Birth weight, poor childhood growth linked to hearing, vision problems in middle age
• Restoring vision with stem cells
• Nutritional needs for skeletal health change as you age, says new scientific review
• Rebates a cost-effective way to boost healthy eating among low-income people, study finds
• Of skin and teeth: Identifying key differences in Asians
• Predicting which soldiers will commit severe, violent crimes
• Lack of D1 receptor leads to slowness of movements in Parkinson's disease
• More women may have option to get IUD minutes after giving birth
• Older patients recover more slowly from concussion
• Stress in adolescence prepares rats for future challenges
• Newfound gene linked to amyloid beta plaque buildup in Alzheimer's disease
• Severe liver damage in mid/late-adulthood among people who inject drugs with chronic Hepatitis C
• Transplantation of unique, newly discovered stems cells may lead to promising stroke therapy
• Patients with melanoma skin cancers don't regularly perform thorough skin self-exams
• Expert opinion: Are CT scans safe?
• MS experts link neuroophthalmic syndromes with visual neuropsychological task performance
• Mixed up cell transportation key piece of ALS, dementia puzzle
• Blood clots may complicate aortic valve replacements
• Benzodiazepines ineffective in treating anxiety disorders may increase dementia risk
• Risk profiling is key to managing pain in era of opioid abuse
• Adult rashes with fever call for emergency treatment, can signal life-threatening illness
• Schools are underprepared for pandemics, natural disasters

Youngest students in class 30% more likely to die in suicide than older classmates, Japanese study shows Posted: 07 Oct 2015 12:33 AM PDT Researchers found for the first time that those who were born right before the school cutoff day and thus youngest in their cohort have 30% higher mortality rates by suicide, compared to their peer who were born right after the cutoff date and thus older. They also found that those with relative age disadvantage tend to follow a different career path that those with relative age advantage, which may explain their higher suicide mortality rates.

Chimpanzees shed light on origins of human walking Posted: 06 Oct 2015 04:28 PM PDT Scientists investigating human and chimpanzee locomotion have uncovered unexpected similarities in the way the two species use their upper body during two-legged walking.

Extremely active rats become lazy when they artificially receive 'runners' high' Posted: 06 Oct 2015 04:20 PM PDT Researchers have found that activating the pleasure and reward receptors in the brain could provide the 'reward' of dangerous drugs without having to consume those drugs.

Should women consume alcohol during pregnancy? Posted: 06 Oct 2015 04:20 PM PDT Experts discuss the evidence and current guidelines on the controversial topic of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

American placebo: New analysis of chronic pain drug trials shows increasing placebo responses over time, in the US only Posted: 06 Oct 2015 11:24 AM PDT Rising placebo responses may play a part in the increasingly high failure rate for clinical trials of drugs designed to control chronic pain caused by nerve damage, suggests a new report. Surprisingly, however, the analysis of clinical trials conducted since 1990 found that the increase in placebo responses occurred only in trials conducted wholly in the US; trials conducted in Europe or Asia showed no changes in placebo responses over that period.

Virus-drug combination shows improved effectiveness against brain tumor cells Posted: 06 Oct 2015 10:20 AM PDT A rabbit virus currently being developed for cancer therapy can be paired with one of several existing drugs to deliver a more potent punch to a deadly type of brain tumor cell, researchers have found.

Treatment for heparin-induced blood disorder revealed in structure of antibody complex Posted: 06 Oct 2015 10:20 AM PDT A potential treatment for a serious clotting condition that can strike patients who receive heparin to treat or prevent blood clots may lie within reach by elucidating the structure of the protein complex at its root.

How, mathematically, to make something go viral on Facebook Posted: 06 Oct 2015 10:20 AM PDT Researchers have proposed a strategic approach for information spreading via Facebook using cancer screenings as a health intervention. They use Facebook to identify social clusters and opinion leaders and mathematically determine the best way to spread information, using health information as the subject.

Vaginal microbes influence whether mucus can trap HIV Posted: 06 Oct 2015 10:19 AM PDT HIV particles are effectively trapped by the cervicovaginal mucus from women who harbor a particular vaginal bacteria species, Lactobacillus crispatus. The findings could lead to new ways to reduce or block vaginal transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Unlikely partners? Cell's waste disposal system regulates body clock proteins Posted: 06 Oct 2015 09:40 AM PDT Researchers have a new genome screen that has identified partner molecules of cell-waste disposal proteins. They applied their new method to identify other clock partners that target a multipurpose cell nucleus receptor for disposal.

Marijuana extract doesn't reduce postoperative nausea, vomiting Posted: 06 Oct 2015 09:40 AM PDT The marijuana extract tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) isn't effective in preventing nausea and vomiting after surgery in patients at high risk of this common complication, reports a study.

Research calls for stricter screening recommendations for family history of colon cancer Posted: 06 Oct 2015 09:38 AM PDT All relatives of individuals with colorectal cancer are at increased risk for this cancer, regardless of the age of diagnosis of the index patient in the family, according to a new study.

New test predicts teens' future risk of heart disease Posted: 06 Oct 2015 09:38 AM PDT A new test can predict teenagers' future risk of heart disease, the number one killer of both men and women. By identifying those at risk early, the test enables doctors to encourage the healthy behaviors that could one day save the teens' lives.

Melatonin and mealtime: Common genetic difference could put some at greater risk of diabetes Posted: 06 Oct 2015 09:37 AM PDT New light has been shed on why people who carry a common genetic mutation may be more at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. By carefully studying healthy subjects, researchers were able to chart the effect of melatonin supplements on blood sugar control. Their results suggest that taking melatonin close to mealtimes may put people with a common genetic variant more at risk.

From molecular case studies: Genomics of exceptional responder to NOTCH inhibitor Posted: 06 Oct 2015 09:37 AM PDT Normal T-cell development requires Notch signaling but hyperactivity can lead to cancer. Drugs that inhibit Notch, such as gamma-secretase inhibitors, are currently being tested in different cancer types but clinical remission has yet to be reported. In a new paper, researchers describe an acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient in which GSI treatment resulted in complete remission, suggesting that GSIs may hold therapeutic promise in ALL and other cancers.

Mutation involved in neurodegeneration discovered Posted: 06 Oct 2015 09:37 AM PDT A mutation that increases the level of a special class of sphingolipids -- molecules important to cell structure and signaling -- can lead to neurodegeneration due to problems with neuronal membranes, reports a research team.

Scientists identify how normally protective immune responses kill neurons Posted: 06 Oct 2015 09:36 AM PDT Scientists have discovered why certain immune responses, which typically help cells recognize and fight viral and bacterial infections, can sometimes be harmful to the brain. Many brain disorders involve the death of neurons, or nerve cells, but how these neurons die is not well understood. A new study describes how the activation of normally protective immune responses causes nerve cells to die and identifies the protein responsible, providing a potential target for therapeutic intervention.

Routine use of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer still to be established Posted: 06 Oct 2015 09:36 AM PDT A comparison of the surgical removal of rectal tumors by a laparoscopically assisted procedure and open surgery reveals that the case for routine use of laparoscopic procedures has not yet been established, according to a randomized control-trial study.

Study questions benefit of exercise program following immobilization of ankle fracture Posted: 06 Oct 2015 09:36 AM PDT A supervised exercise program and self-management advice, like those commonly given with physical therapy, did not improve activity limitation or quality of life compared with advice alone after removal of immobilization for patients with an uncomplicated ankle fracture, according to a study.

Simulation training saves precious minutes in speeding treatment of trauma patients Posted: 06 Oct 2015 09:36 AM PDT To help trauma teams optimize a limited window of time after an emergency, trauma surgeons have developed a simulation training program that cuts precious minutes off evaluation times and gets trauma patients to medical imaging tests faster, investigators report.

Turning T cell immunology on its head Posted: 06 Oct 2015 07:27 AM PDT New research challenges the assumption that the receptors on the T cells must bind to MHC in a specific orientation in order to trigger a signal to the immune system is not correct.

New evidence for a strategy to identify patients nearing the end of life Posted: 06 Oct 2015 05:55 AM PDT A new study provides compelling evidence that a simple tool can help predict which patients with cancer may be in their final year of life. The tool, known as the Surprise Question, was found to predict the risk of cancer death within one year better than factors such as cancer type or stage alone.

Male suicide on rise as result of austerity, report suggests Posted: 06 Oct 2015 05:54 AM PDT Young males between the ages of 10 and 24 have committed suicide in growing numbers as a direct result of austerity measures brought in across Europe following the 2009 recession, a new report suggests.

Cell growth: Protein reactions identified with subatomic resolution Posted: 06 Oct 2015 05:54 AM PDT Using subatomic resolution, researchers have gained insights into the dynamic modus operandi of two switch proteins which are responsible for the import of compounds into the nucleus and for cell growth. The team combined different methods in order to gain a resolution of one-hundredth of the atomic diameter.

Possible new treatment for bladder cancer using a mycobacterium Posted: 06 Oct 2015 05:54 AM PDT Researchers have found a mycobacterium that is more effective in treating superficial bladder cancer and does not cause infections, unlike those used up to now. Mycobacteria are the only bacteria used in cancer treatment. The administration of the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis (BCG), is the current treatment for superficial bladder cancer.

Flu shot reduces risk of stroke, study suggests Posted: 06 Oct 2015 05:53 AM PDT The risk of suffering a stroke is significantly reduced for up to two months after receiving a flu vaccine, a major new study has shown.

Sugar governs how antibodies work in the immune system Posted: 06 Oct 2015 05:52 AM PDT Antibodies protect the body against diseases – but can also harm their own organism if the reactions are misdirected. Researchers have now discovered that a particular sugar in the antibodies determines whether one of the body's own cells is destroyed or not. This result could lead to new treatment possibilities for patients with autoimmune diseases.

Birth weight, poor childhood growth linked to hearing, vision problems in middle age Posted: 06 Oct 2015 05:52 AM PDT A study of up to 433,390 UK adults has linked being under and overweight at birth with poorer hearing, vision and cognition in middle age.

Restoring vision with stem cells Posted: 06 Oct 2015 05:52 AM PDT Age-related macular degeneration could be treated by transplanting photoreceptors produced by the directed differentiation of stem cells, new research suggests. ARMD is a common eye problem caused by the loss of cones. Medical researchers have now developed a highly effective in vitro technique for producing light sensitive retina cells from human embryonic stem cells.

Nutritional needs for skeletal health change as you age, says new scientific review Posted: 06 Oct 2015 05:39 AM PDT Whether you're young or old, the right nutrition can make a difference to your bone health and influence your ability to live an independent, mobile, fracture-free life into your more senior years. That's the key message of a new scientific review by bone and nutrition experts.

Rebates a cost-effective way to boost healthy eating among low-income people, study finds Posted: 06 Oct 2015 05:39 AM PDT Nationwide expansion of USDA's Healthy Incentives Pilot would promote purchase, consumption of fruits, vegetables, and slightly increase longevity of SNAP recipients, a new report suggests.

Of skin and teeth: Identifying key differences in Asians Posted: 06 Oct 2015 05:39 AM PDT Key differences in a suite of genes important for skin and bone development have been identified by scientists, which may have bestowed specific advantages among Asians.

Predicting which soldiers will commit severe, violent crimes Posted: 06 Oct 2015 05:39 AM PDT A new report shows that a machine learning model using Department of Defense and Army administrative records was able to identify in advance the 5 percent of US Army soldiers serving from 2004 to 2009 who later committed more than one-third of all major Army workplace violent crimes over that time period.

Lack of D1 receptor leads to slowness of movements in Parkinson's disease Posted: 06 Oct 2015 05:38 AM PDT Lack of dopamine transmission through D1 receptors disturbs information flow through the 'direct pathway' in the basal ganglia, and ends up in difficulty in initiating voluntary movements, researchers have discovered.

More women may have option to get IUD minutes after giving birth Posted: 06 Oct 2015 05:38 AM PDT More women may have the option to get an intrauterine device or contraceptive implant immediately after delivering a baby, thanks to expanding Medicaid coverage around the United States.

Older patients recover more slowly from concussion Posted: 06 Oct 2015 05:38 AM PDT Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), or concussion, accounts for 75 percent of all TBI and represents an important public health problem. Difficulty in working memory is frequently reported in patients after concussion. Now new research suggests that older individuals may have a more difficult time recovering from concussion.

Stress in adolescence prepares rats for future challenges Posted: 05 Oct 2015 01:31 PM PDT Rats exposed to frequent physical, social, and predatory stress during adolescence solved problems and foraged more efficiently under high-threat conditions in adulthood compared with rats that developed without stress, according to researchers. The results may provide insights into how humans respond to adolescent stress.

Newfound gene linked to amyloid beta plaque buildup in Alzheimer's disease Posted: 05 Oct 2015 01:30 PM PDT A multi-institutional team of scientists has discovered an immune system gene associated with higher rates of amyloid plaque buildup in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and older adults at risk for the disease.

Severe liver damage in mid/late-adulthood among people who inject drugs with chronic Hepatitis C Posted: 05 Oct 2015 01:30 PM PDT The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a chronic blood-borne viral infection that affects an estimated 160 million people worldwide. Alarmingly, chronic HCV infection accounts for one-quarter of the cases of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). If HCV is left untreated, chronic liver disease will occur in 60-70% of the cases, cirrhosis in 5-20% of the cases, and 1-5% will die from decompensated cirrhosis or HCC. Given these findings, researchers note the health-related benefits of early engagement, especially since the new HCV treatments feature shorter drug regimens that are very likely to result in cure.

Transplantation of unique, newly discovered stems cells may lead to promising stroke therapy Posted: 05 Oct 2015 12:17 PM PDT When rats modeled with stroke were transplanted with newly discovered and unique Muse cells, neuronal regeneration resulted in significant improvements in neurological and motor functions and did not cause cancer, as other cells often do, scientists report.

Patients with melanoma skin cancers don't regularly perform thorough skin self-exams Posted: 05 Oct 2015 12:17 PM PDT It is recommended that melanoma patients perform a thorough skin self-exam on a regular basis to look for potential disease recurrence or new melanomas. Research, however, shows that fewer than 15 percent of melanoma patients surveyed regularly examine all parts of their body.

Expert opinion: Are CT scans safe? Posted: 05 Oct 2015 12:15 PM PDT With questions lingering about the safety of medical imaging and the radiation that is used in some of those tests, a radiation safety expert has written a paper that provides clear answers that she hopes will allay patients' fears.

MS experts link neuroophthalmic syndromes with visual neuropsychological task performance Posted: 05 Oct 2015 12:13 PM PDT Scientists have found that individuals with multiple sclerosis who had a history of neuro-ophthalmic syndromes performed poorly on visual neuropsychological tasks based on processing speed. Future studies should include more objective measures of vision, neuroimaging data, and valid measures of disease progression and disability.

Mixed up cell transportation key piece of ALS, dementia puzzle Posted: 05 Oct 2015 12:13 PM PDT It's the most common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia, but until now scientists weren't sure how a specific gene caused these devastating diseases. Now researchers are one step closer to solving this incredibly complex puzzle, offering hope for treatment.

Blood clots may complicate aortic valve replacements Posted: 05 Oct 2015 12:12 PM PDT Heart valve replacements made from tissue (bioprosthetic valves) have long been thought to be spared the complication of blood clot formation. Researchers have now found that about 15 percent of all bioprosthetic aortic heart valve patients develop blood clots on the leaflets affecting valve opening, regardless of whether the patient received the new valve via open-heart surgery or a minimally-invasive catheter procedure, says a new study.

Benzodiazepines ineffective in treating anxiety disorders may increase dementia risk Posted: 05 Oct 2015 10:26 AM PDT Patients taking benzodiazepines to treat psychiatric conditions should consider transitioning to other therapies because of heightened risks for dementia and death. Despite updated psychiatric protocols, some physicians continue to prescribe benzodiazepines as a primary treatment for insomnia, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and other ailments. A growing body of research indicates this practice could greatly increase patients' risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Risk profiling is key to managing pain in era of opioid abuse Posted: 05 Oct 2015 10:26 AM PDT Patients undergoing rehabilitation for physical injuries and their physicians can better understand who is most at risk of abusing opioids by reviewing their family history, lifestyle and environment for critical cues about susceptibility to addiction. It's important to recognize that opioids are sometimes the most effective pain treatment available for patients, regardless of their risk profile. Physicians can offer an agreement to patients susceptible to addiction that includes stringent, voluntarily monitoring designed to confirm opioids are used responsibly.

Adult rashes with fever call for emergency treatment, can signal life-threatening illness Posted: 05 Oct 2015 09:14 AM PDT Adults with skin rashes accompanied by a fever of 100.5 or higher warrant a trip to the emergency room because the combination of symptoms can be associated with several life-threatening conditions. Taken individually, rashes and fevers may seem benign, but the combination can be indicative of serious or life-threatening illness in adults. Survival rates increase dramatically for patients who receive quick, aggressive treatment for the underlying cause of the rash.

Schools are underprepared for pandemics, natural disasters Posted: 05 Oct 2015 09:13 AM PDT Missouri schools are no more prepared to respond to pandemics, natural disasters, and bioterrorism attacks than they were in 2011, according to a new study. Researchers found that on average, schools still reported having less than half of the measured indicators for preparedness. Although in general, schools were much better prepared for natural disasters than biological events, nurses agreed on the equal importance of being prepared for both.

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