ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Has Syria painted a target on medical teams around the world?
• More than 8 percent of children with cancer have genetic predisposition, new study suggests
• Erectile dysfunction drug may benefit patients at risk for diabetes
• An easy pill to swallow
• Technology meets society: New app helps seniors live better
• Sex reassignment surgery may be better for transgender women’s health than hormones only
• One very brainy bird
• Detailing global brain disorders research agenda
• Gravity, who needs it?
• Insulin degludec plus liraglutide: Again no hint of added benefit in type 2 diabetes
• Scientists turn tastes on and off by activating and silencing clusters of brain cells
• Weekday sleep changes may raise risk of diabetes, heart disease
• Is testosterone therapy safe?
• Structure of key cancer target enzyme revealed by scientists
• FDA-approved drug protects mice from Ebola
• Nivolumab in non-small cell lung cancer: Indication of major added benefit for under 75-year-olds
• Late effects of treatment study continues sustained academic effort in Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Potential treatment approach for glycogen storage disease
• Technique to more effectively diagnose, treat cancer developed
• Link between air pollution, heart disease confirmed
• New guidelines on the prevention/control of multi-drug-resistant gram-negative bacteria
• Coconut oil can control overgrowth of a fungal pathogen in GI tract, study in mice suggests
• Socioeconomic factors associated with undergoing surgery for early-stage pancreatic cancer
• Research shows benefits, danger of ultraman competition
• Male hormone testosterone cause of sex differences in parkinson's disease risk, study suggests
• Music-making for the deaf
• Strategy based on human reflexes may keep legged robots and prosthetic legs from tripping
• Couples who have sex weekly are happiest
• Experiencing major stress makes some older adults better able to handle daily stress
• Working up a sweat may protect men from lethal prostate cancer
• Rheumatologist suggests number one arthritis drug is underutilized, underdosed
• New options for treating autism
• Regenerative nanomaterials to improve dental care
• Weekday of surgery affects oesophageal cancer surgery prognosis
• Global task force tackles problem of untreatable cancers and disease relapse: Non-toxic chemicals in plants and foods may be key
• High-performance swimsuit developed: 2.4% faster swimming with the dolphin kick
• Combating sleep disorders: Scientists develop novel compound that regulates wakefulness
• Liking on Facebook good for teens' stress, but being liked...not so much
• Many hands make light work and improve health, researchers have found
• Report raises concern over health risks of tasers
• Merging alcohol giants threaten global health, warn experts
• Younger generations of those in the military more vulnerable to suicide
• Investigational immunotherapeutic increased bladder cancer survival
• Higher nicotine, carcinogen levels among smokeless tobacco users compared with cigarette users
• Short winter days trigger aggression hormones differently based on sex
• Mitochondria on guard of human life
• Researchers identify a new mode of drug resistance to emerging therapies in prostate cancer
• To reduce risk of infant death, shed excess pounds before becoming pregnant

Has Syria painted a target on medical teams around the world? Posted: 18 Nov 2015 03:12 PM PST Even in war, hospitals have a kind of invisible bubble around them. But in Syria, that bubble has burst dozens of times, says a new report. And that may put medical facilities and workers in other conflict zones in danger too, according to a new opinion piece in the New England Journal of Medicine.

More than 8 percent of children with cancer have genetic predisposition, new study suggests Posted: 18 Nov 2015 03:12 PM PST The most detailed analysis yet of the role germline mutations in genes associated with cancer predisposition play in the development of childhood cancer suggests that comprehensive genomic screening may be warranted on all pediatric cancer patients, not just those with a family history of cancer.

Erectile dysfunction drug may benefit patients at risk for diabetes Posted: 18 Nov 2015 03:05 PM PST The drug sildenafil, sold as Viagra and other brand names, improves insulin sensitivity in people at risk for diabetes, researchers report.

An easy pill to swallow Posted: 18 Nov 2015 03:05 PM PST An insulin pill being developed by researchers may in the near future give another blood sugar management option to those who suffer from diabetes. The novel drug delivery technology may also apply to a wide spectrum of other therapies.

Technology meets society: New app helps seniors live better Posted: 18 Nov 2015 01:01 PM PST A new technological solution developed by researchers is aimed at enhancing the physical health, vitality and brain fitness of seniors residing in independent living communities.

Sex reassignment surgery may be better for transgender women’s health than hormones only Posted: 18 Nov 2015 01:01 PM PST Transgender women may be at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes compared with men and women in the general population. New research finds that transgender women who received only hormone therapy had poorer metabolic health than transgender women who underwent sex reassignment surgery in addition to receiving hormone therapy, suggesting that sex reassignment surgery may be metabolically protective.

One very brainy bird Posted: 18 Nov 2015 01:01 PM PST A new study has found pigeons performed as well as humans in categorizing digitized slides and mammograms of benign and malignant human breast tissue.

Detailing global brain disorders research agenda Posted: 18 Nov 2015 12:55 PM PST The breadth and complexity of brain and nervous system disorders make them some of the most difficult conditions to diagnose and treat, especially in the developing world, where there are few resources. An NIH-led collaboration of more than 40 scientists has studied these complex issues that occur across the lifespan and today published a supplement to the journal Nature that lays out a research strategy to address them.

Gravity, who needs it? Posted: 18 Nov 2015 12:54 PM PST What happens to your body in space? NASA's Human Research Program has been unfolding answers for over a decade. Space is a dangerous, unfriendly place. The risks for a Mars mission are many, but NASA has been working to solve these problems with some of the most brilliant minds in the field. Rest assured, when we take the next giant leap to Mars, we will be ready.

Insulin degludec plus liraglutide: Again no hint of added benefit in type 2 diabetes Posted: 18 Nov 2015 12:53 PM PST Relevant data are missing both for a direct comparison and for an indirect comparison. Drug manufacturer itself also claimed no added benefit.

Scientists turn tastes on and off by activating and silencing clusters of brain cells Posted: 18 Nov 2015 12:51 PM PST Most people probably think that we perceive the five basic tastes -- sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami (savory)--with our tongue, which then sends signals to our brain 'telling' us what we've tasted. However, scientists have turned this idea on its head, demonstrating in mice the ability to change the way something tastes by manipulating groups of cells in the brain.

Weekday sleep changes may raise risk of diabetes, heart disease Posted: 18 Nov 2015 12:51 PM PST Monday mornings could be harmful to your health. Even routine sleep changes such as waking up early for work during the week may raise the risk of developing metabolic problems such as diabetes and heart disease, according to a new study.

Is testosterone therapy safe? Posted: 18 Nov 2015 10:20 AM PST The increasing use of testosterone replacement therapy to treat reduced testosterone level in older men has been accompanied by growing concerns over its long-term safety. The findings of two studies examining the health risks of receiving testosterone are presented by scientists.

Structure of key cancer target enzyme revealed by scientists Posted: 18 Nov 2015 10:18 AM PST Tthe 3-D structure of human heparanase, a sugar-degrading enzyme which has received significant attention as a key target in anti-cancer treatments, has been revealed by scientists. Though naturally regulated in a healthy organism, heparanase is an enzyme which is produced in excessive quantities in a cancer situation.

FDA-approved drug protects mice from Ebola Posted: 18 Nov 2015 10:17 AM PST A new study suggests that gamma interferon, which is an FDA-approved drug, may have potential as an antiviral therapy to prevent Ebola infection when given either before or after exposure to the virus. The study found that gamma interferon, given up to 24 hours after exposure, can inhibit Ebola infection in mice and completely protect the animals from death.

Nivolumab in non-small cell lung cancer: Indication of major added benefit for under 75-year-olds Posted: 18 Nov 2015 10:17 AM PST Younger patients with non-small cell lung cancer in good general condition survive notably longer with the new drug than with the comparator therapy. The added benefit is non-quantifiable in older patients, say reviewers.

Late effects of treatment study continues sustained academic effort in Hodgkin's lymphoma Posted: 18 Nov 2015 10:17 AM PST Early diagnosis, targeted therapeutics, and more personalized multimodal treatments have boosted survival rates of patients with cancer and have led to a large and rapidly increasing number of cancer survivors. This is particularly true for patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma, where successive trials have registered continuous progress in the development of treatment strategies for this disease.

Potential treatment approach for glycogen storage disease Posted: 18 Nov 2015 10:17 AM PST A potential treatment strategy for an often-fatal inherited glycogen storage disease has been identified by researchers. Patients with the disorder lack the enzyme that enables their livers to convert a glucose precursor to glucose during fasting conditions. Without release of glucose from the liver into the bloodstream, patients develop an extremely low blood sugar level that can lead to seizures, coma and death.

Technique to more effectively diagnose, treat cancer developed Posted: 18 Nov 2015 10:10 AM PST A method to better trace changes in cancers and treatment of the prostate and lung without the limitations associated with radiation has been developed by researchers.

Link between air pollution, heart disease confirmed Posted: 18 Nov 2015 10:10 AM PST A link between higher levels of a specific kind of air pollution in major urban areas and an increase in cardiovascular-related hospitalizations such as for heart attacks in people 65 and older has been uncovered by scientists.

New guidelines on the prevention/control of multi-drug-resistant gram-negative bacteria Posted: 18 Nov 2015 10:10 AM PST Gram-negative bacteria include common types such as E. coli that all of us carry in our bowels. When these bacteria get into other parts of the body they can cause infections, including common infections such as cystitis or urinary tract infections. The bacteria can also be readily spread from person to person. Multi-drug-resistant strains are resistant to most, or all, of the common antibiotics that we use to treat infections. New accredited guidelines on the prevention and control of multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria have now been released.

Coconut oil can control overgrowth of a fungal pathogen in GI tract, study in mice suggests Posted: 18 Nov 2015 09:53 AM PST Coconut oil controlled the overgrowth of a fungal pathogen called Candida albicans (C. albicans) in mice, new research shows. In humans, high levels of C. albicans in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to bloodstream infections, including invasive candidiasis. The research suggests that it might be possible to use dietary approaches as an alternative to antifungal drugs in order to decrease the risk of infections caused by C. albicans.

Socioeconomic factors associated with undergoing surgery for early-stage pancreatic cancer Posted: 18 Nov 2015 09:53 AM PST While socioeconomic factors such as race, ethnicity, marital status, insurance status, and geographic location are associated with whether patients with localized pancreatic cancer undergo resection (surgical removal of the tumor), only geographic location is associated with survival in these patients, according to a study.

Research shows benefits, danger of ultraman competition Posted: 18 Nov 2015 07:19 AM PST The endurance competition called the Ultraman can lead to large reductions in body fat, but also causes temporary muscle damage and potentially insulin resistance, new research confirms.

Male hormone testosterone cause of sex differences in parkinson's disease risk, study suggests Posted: 18 Nov 2015 07:19 AM PST Men are twice as likely as women to develop Parkinson's disease. New research suggests that testosterone enhances the susceptibility of brain cells that control movement to damage from chemical imbalances, explaining the sex differences in the occurrence of Parkinson's.

Music-making for the deaf Posted: 18 Nov 2015 07:18 AM PST A researcher is exploring new ways to enhance the experience of deaf musicians with new visual and touch techniques. Alongside vibrations, visual indictors will appear on a digital display that collectively form a 'sonic fingerprint' when an instrument is played, highlighting different components that make up the sound.

Strategy based on human reflexes may keep legged robots and prosthetic legs from tripping Posted: 18 Nov 2015 07:17 AM PST Trips and stumbles too often lead to falls for amputees using leg prosthetics, but a robotic leg prosthesis under development promises to help users recover their balance by using techniques based on the way human legs are controlled.

Couples who have sex weekly are happiest Posted: 18 Nov 2015 07:17 AM PST Although more frequent sex is associated with greater happiness, this link was no longer significant at a frequency of more than once a week, report researchers in a new report.

Experiencing major stress makes some older adults better able to handle daily stress Posted: 18 Nov 2015 07:17 AM PST Dealing with a major stressful event appears to make some older adults better able to cope with the ups and downs of day-to-day stress.

Working up a sweat may protect men from lethal prostate cancer Posted: 18 Nov 2015 06:43 AM PST A study that tracked tens of thousands of midlife and older men for more than 20 years has found that vigorous exercise and other healthy lifestyle habits may cut their chances of developing a lethal type of prostate cancer by up to 68 percent.

Rheumatologist suggests number one arthritis drug is underutilized, underdosed Posted: 18 Nov 2015 06:43 AM PST Physicians are underutilizing methotrexate, the leading drug for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or not keeping patients on the drug long enough before switching them to more expensive biologic drug options, one expert suggests.

New options for treating autism Posted: 18 Nov 2015 04:13 AM PST The operating mechanism of oxytocin, the molecule involved in social behavior, has been researched by a team of European scientists. The results obtained in the research suggest that one of the mechanisms by which oxytocin causes interpersonal relations to be perceived as pleasant could be through the release of anandamide.

Regenerative nanomaterials to improve dental care Posted: 18 Nov 2015 04:13 AM PST New nanomaterials for dental treatments boast impressive antibacterial, decay-resistant and biomimetic properties. In combination with stem cells, they are even capable of regenerating dental tissues, researchers report.

Weekday of surgery affects oesophageal cancer surgery prognosis Posted: 18 Nov 2015 04:13 AM PST Patients who undergo surgery for esophageal cancer early in the week – on a Monday or Tuesday – have a higher chance of long-term survival than those who have surgery at the end of the working week, researchers report.

Global task force tackles problem of untreatable cancers and disease relapse: Non-toxic chemicals in plants and foods may be key Posted: 18 Nov 2015 04:11 AM PST Many cancer therapies are highly toxic, and even when they appear to work, a significant percentage of patients will experience a relapse after only a few months.  Typically these relapses result from small subpopulations of mutated cells which are resistant to therapy, and doctors who try to address this problem with combinations of therapies find that therapeutic toxicity typically limits their ability to stop most cancers.

High-performance swimsuit developed: 2.4% faster swimming with the dolphin kick Posted: 18 Nov 2015 04:11 AM PST Researchers have succeeded in developing a new high-performance swimsuit with a "kick assist system" that improves the power of the dolphin kick. High-speed swimsuits, which made their appearance at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, were the driving force behind a barrage of new world records. However, the International Swimming Federation changed the rules significantly in 2010 due to a concern that swimming races were not being won by superior swimming techniques but by superior swimsuits, and the ruling body imposed strict regulations. These restrictions greatly narrowed the scope of swimsuit development and all but eliminated hope for improving swimsuit performance. To make a breakthrough under these conditions, the research group went back to the drawing board and put their heads together to figure out what exactly about a swimsuit allows a swimmer to go faster.

Combating sleep disorders: Scientists develop novel compound that regulates wakefulness Posted: 18 Nov 2015 04:11 AM PST A potent compound that promotes wakefulness and remedies the sleep disorder narcolepsy in model animals has been developed by a team of scientists. The compound works to mimic the action of a wake-promoting substance in our brain called "orexin."

Liking on Facebook good for teens' stress, but being liked...not so much Posted: 18 Nov 2015 04:10 AM PST Facebook can have positive and negative effects on teens levels of a stress hormone, say researchers. The study is one of the first in the emerging field of cyberpsychology to focus on the effects of Facebook on well-being.

Many hands make light work and improve health, researchers have found Posted: 18 Nov 2015 04:10 AM PST Getting help with baby care could keep families healthier and extend their lives, according to a new study into bird behavior. Research into weaver birds in South Africa found that a heavy breeding workload led to increased free radical damage to cells, which can be associated with aging and ill health. However, where birds were in larger groups and the workload was shared, no increase in cell damage was found.

Report raises concern over health risks of tasers Posted: 18 Nov 2015 04:08 AM PST Tasers are increasingly being used by UK police, yet recent studies suggest the health risks are greater than previously thought, report experts. Tasers are used by over 16,000 police forces in 107 countries. The device uses compressed nitrogen to fire two barbed electrical probes that deliver a pulsed 50,000 volt shock, causing intense skeletal muscle contractions and pain.

Merging alcohol giants threaten global health, warn experts Posted: 18 Nov 2015 04:08 AM PST The merger of the world's two largest beer manufacturers 'represents a major threat to global health, to which researchers, funders and regulators must respond more effectively,' warn global health experts.

Younger generations of those in the military more vulnerable to suicide Posted: 18 Nov 2015 04:08 AM PST While many researchers have largely focused on risk factors among individual soldiers, in a new study, researchers contend that the increase in suicide may also indicate increased vulnerability among more recent generations of young adults.

Investigational immunotherapeutic increased bladder cancer survival Posted: 18 Nov 2015 04:08 AM PST Among patients with metastatic bladder cancer that had progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy, those who received an investigational, personalized peptide cancer vaccine and best-supportive care had extended overall survival compared with those who received best-supportive care alone, according to results from a randomized, phase II clinical.

Higher nicotine, carcinogen levels among smokeless tobacco users compared with cigarette users Posted: 18 Nov 2015 04:08 AM PST U.S. adults who used only smokeless tobacco products had higher levels of biomarkers of exposure to nicotine and a cancer-causing toxicant -- the tobacco-specific nitrosamine NNK -- compared with those who used only cigarettes.

Short winter days trigger aggression hormones differently based on sex Posted: 18 Nov 2015 04:07 AM PST Researchers have discovered a hormonal mechanism in hamsters that connects short winter days with increased aggression in females, and that it differs from the mechanism that controls this same response in males.

Mitochondria on guard of human life Posted: 17 Nov 2015 03:15 PM PST Living mitochondria will tell researchers about processes that occur inside of them, say scientists. The work will not only shed light on the intracellular life, but also will help to create new methods of disease diagnostics, they say.

Researchers identify a new mode of drug resistance to emerging therapies in prostate cancer Posted: 17 Nov 2015 03:12 PM PST Advanced prostate cancer is a disease notoriously resistant to treatment. New research sheds light on a new mode of drug resistance to emerging therapies in metastatic prostate cancer. This discovery ultimately may help predict which patients may benefit most from treatment.

To reduce risk of infant death, shed excess pounds before becoming pregnant Posted: 17 Nov 2015 11:35 AM PST Achieving a healthy weight before becoming pregnant and gaining an appropriate amount of weight during pregnancy significantly reduce the risk of the baby dying in his or her first year of life, according to new research. The findings highlight the need for a comprehensive approach to obesity reduction among women of reproductive age that includes weight counseling before conception and during pregnancy.

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