ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Antibody-drug compounds and immunotherapy to treat breast cancer
• Anticancer agent FL118 more potent than its analogs, not prone to typical channels of resistance
• Peering into cell structures where neurodiseases emerge
• Willingness to adopt children with special needs the focus of recent study
• Liver cell therapies closer as study reveals key to mass production
• How cells in the developing ear 'practice' hearing
• Dietary restriction gives fruit flies a rhythm for a long life
• How cocaine changes the brain
• Mother nature may have solution for lowering cholesterol in pregnant women
• Lack of protein in rare childhood disease also has role in cancer
• Opsins, proteins better known as visual sensors, play a role in the heat-seeking movement of sperm
• Why E. coli move faster in syrup-like fluids than in water
• Nurse provides firsthand account of combating Ebola
• Osteoarthritis finding sheds new light on hyaluronic acid injection controversy
• Promising drug combination for advanced prostate cancer
• Similar proteins protect the skin of humans, turtles
• Optimal care for older cancer patients should target relevant health related quality of life domains according to study
• Proteome analysis for detection of diabetic nephropathy: Benefit remains unclear
• New treatment potential for heart attack sufferers
• Enhanced detection of Parkinson's
• Ultrasound examinations can identify patients at risk of stroke
• Silence of the genes: New insights into genomic imprinting
• Combination therapy can prevent cytostatic resistance
• New diet provides hope for treating patients with drug resistant epilepsy
• Breast cancer clinic attributes increased uptake of double mastectomies to Angelina Jolie effect
• Breast MRI after mammography may identify additional aggressive cancers
• Umbilical cells help eye's neurons connect
• Native Americans have decreased access to kidney transplants
• Safety last?
• Pre-travel advice does not reduce the risk of falling ill while traveling
• Teaching problem-solving, leadership to young African-American girls lowers relational aggression
• Study counters long-time practice of prescribing more fertility hormones
• New hope for diabetic wound healing
• Tick that feeds on birds may increase the range of Lyme disease
• Military data supporting damage control resuscitation has altered civilian practice
• New supercomputer simulations enhance understanding of protein motion, function
• Stem cell treatment mediates immune response to spinal cord injury in pre-clinical trials
• Researchers identify genes connecting endocrine disruption to genital malformations
• Common cause for complications after kidney transplantation identified
• Neuroscientists gain insight into cause of Alzheimer's symptoms

Antibody-drug compounds and immunotherapy to treat breast cancer Posted: 25 Nov 2015 11:37 AM PST To more efficiently treat breast cancer, scientists have been researching molecules that selectively bind to cancer cells and deliver a substance that can kill the tumor cells, for several years. Researchers have now, for the first time, successfully combined such an antibody-drug conjugate with a therapy that stimulates the immune system to attack tumor cells. This opens the door to new therapeutic options in the treatment of breast cancer.

Anticancer agent FL118 more potent than its analogs, not prone to typical channels of resistance Posted: 25 Nov 2015 10:00 AM PST A new synthetic form of camptothecin appears to have greater potency, longer efficacy and fewer adverse side effects than irinotecan and topotecan, report investigators.

Peering into cell structures where neurodiseases emerge Posted: 25 Nov 2015 09:51 AM PST Atom by atom, researchers reveal the structure of CAP-Gly, a protein that binds to the latticework of microtubules in our cells. When mutations occur in CAP-Gly, neurological diseases and disorders occur, including Perry syndrome and distal spinal bulbar muscular dystrophy.

Willingness to adopt children with special needs the focus of recent study Posted: 25 Nov 2015 09:51 AM PST A new study has focused on the attitudes and preferences of prospective adoptive parents in Canada. The study examined the preferences and attitudes of 5,830 AdoptOntario online registrants between May 2009 and February 2012.

Liver cell therapies closer as study reveals key to mass production Posted: 25 Nov 2015 09:51 AM PST Stem cell scientists have made a key find that aids the quest to produce therapies for patients with liver damage. They have developed a new technique for growing liver cells from stem cells that is cost-effective and could be adapted for mass production of clinical grade cells.

How cells in the developing ear 'practice' hearing Posted: 25 Nov 2015 09:51 AM PST Before the fluid of the middle ear drains and sound waves penetrate for the first time, the inner ear cells of newborn rodents practice for their big debut. Researchers report they have figured out the molecular chain of events that enables the cells to make 'sounds' on their own, essentially 'practicing' their ability to process sounds in the world around them.

Dietary restriction gives fruit flies a rhythm for a long life Posted: 25 Nov 2015 09:50 AM PST Dietary restriction enhances the expression of the circadian clock genes in the peripheral tissue of fruit flies. Researchers show that dietary restriction, induced by reducing protein in the diet, increased the amplitude of circadian clocks and enhanced the cycles of fat breakdown and fat synthesis. This improvement in fat metabolism may be a key mechanism in explaining why dietary restriction extends lifespan in several species, including the flies in this study.

How cocaine changes the brain Posted: 25 Nov 2015 09:50 AM PST The burst of energy and hyperactivity that comes with a cocaine high is a rather accurate reflection of what's going on in the brain of its users, finds a study. Through experiments conducted in rats exposed to cocaine, the researchers mapped out the network of circuits that cause wild firing of neurons that produce dopamine. The findings also help explain how cocaine use eventually leads to desensitization.

Mother nature may have solution for lowering cholesterol in pregnant women Posted: 25 Nov 2015 08:33 AM PST Researchers are studying whether plant sterols can be used as a natural alternative to drug therapy for pregnant women who have high cholesterol. While it's normal for a woman's cholesterol to spike during pregnancy, excessive lipid levels — whether from genetic or dietary reasons — can have negative health effects on the offspring, both early in life and later on as adults.

Lack of protein in rare childhood disease also has role in cancer Posted: 25 Nov 2015 08:33 AM PST An expert who has treated rare childhood diseases has found that a protein that is missing in one such disease is also silenced by many cancers. Looking at how the lack of the protein affects the sick children also provides a "lens" on cancer.

Opsins, proteins better known as visual sensors, play a role in the heat-seeking movement of sperm Posted: 25 Nov 2015 08:33 AM PST Sperm use multiple navigation systems, such as heat-seeking and chemical, new research shows. Opsins – proteins involved in the visual system – contribute to the heat-seeking movement, helping sperm sense warmth, investigators report.

Why E. coli move faster in syrup-like fluids than in water Posted: 25 Nov 2015 08:32 AM PST Swimming in a pool of syrup would be difficult for most people, but for bacteria like E. coli, it's easier than swimming in water. Scientists have known for decades that these cells move faster and farther in viscoelastic fluids, such as the saliva, mucus, and other bodily fluids they are likely to call home, but didn't understand why. New findings could inform disease models and treatments, or even help design microscopic swimming robots.

Nurse provides firsthand account of combating Ebola Posted: 25 Nov 2015 08:32 AM PST International nurse volunteers responding to the Ebola outbreak in West African encountered death on nearly every shift and worked under conditions that challenged their ingenuity in providing even basic care. That is according to one nurse's account which provides a rare glimpse of the realities clinicians and patients with Ebola faced inside one Ebola Treatment Unit.

Osteoarthritis finding sheds new light on hyaluronic acid injection controversy Posted: 25 Nov 2015 08:32 AM PST A discovery bioengineers is shedding new light on the controversy surrounding a common treatment for osteoarthritis that has divided the medical community over its effectiveness.

Promising drug combination for advanced prostate cancer Posted: 25 Nov 2015 07:49 AM PST A new drug combination may be effective in treating men with metastatic prostate cancer. Preliminary results of this new approach are encouraging and have led to an ongoing international study being conducted in 196 hospitals worldwide.

Similar proteins protect the skin of humans, turtles Posted: 25 Nov 2015 07:49 AM PST Genes for important skin proteins arose in a common ancestor shared by humans and turtles 310 million years ago, a genome comparison has discovered.

Optimal care for older cancer patients should target relevant health related quality of life domains according to study Posted: 25 Nov 2015 07:48 AM PST Researchers have identified health related quality of life components that should be considered as most relevant for achieving optimal care for older cancer patients.

Proteome analysis for detection of diabetic nephropathy: Benefit remains unclear Posted: 25 Nov 2015 07:47 AM PST As no study relevant for the research question was identified, the benefit or harm for patients, as well as the diagnostic and prognostic accuracy, remain unclear.

New treatment potential for heart attack sufferers Posted: 25 Nov 2015 06:47 AM PST New hope in the fight against cardiovascular disease has arrived, following breakthrough research identifying a pigment in our bile which could protect us.

Enhanced detection of Parkinson's Posted: 25 Nov 2015 05:39 AM PST New research by biologists could lead to improved methods of detection for early-onset Parkinson's Disease. By mapping the visual responses of fruit flies with different Parkinson's genes, the scientists built a substantial data bank of results. Using this they were able to classify unknown flies as having a Parkinson's related mutation with 85 per cent accuracy.

Ultrasound examinations can identify patients at risk of stroke Posted: 25 Nov 2015 05:38 AM PST Ultrasound, a non-invasive technique commonly used to study the presence of atherosclerosis disease in blood vessels, can be used to identify patients at increased risk of future stroke who could benefit from surgery. Since surgical treatment to prevent stroke is only considered beneficial to some, ultrasound can prove useful in preventing unnecessary surgical intervention, new research shows.

Silence of the genes: New insights into genomic imprinting Posted: 25 Nov 2015 05:38 AM PST Scientists are closer to understanding the mechanisms underlying the phenomenon of genomic imprinting. In this intriguing event, one copy of a gene is 'turned off', or silenced, depending on whether it was derived from the mother or the father. The research team has identified a segment of DNA that is essential in the imprinting process for the closely linked Igf2/H19 genes, two of the first imprinted genes to be discovered. If these genes are incorrectly imprinted, it can lead to the overgrowth (Beckwith--Wiedemann) or dwarfism (Silver Russell) syndromes, and also has a role in some kidney and liver cancers.

Combination therapy can prevent cytostatic resistance Posted: 25 Nov 2015 05:38 AM PST Researchers have found a new way of preventing resistance to cytostatics used in the treatment of cancers such as medulloblastoma, the most common form of malignant brain tumor in children. The promising results of this experimental study are based on a combination of the drug temozolomid and other extant drugs that inhibit an enzyme instrumental in DNA repair in cancer cells.

New diet provides hope for treating patients with drug resistant epilepsy Posted: 25 Nov 2015 05:38 AM PST A specific diet can be used to help treat patients with uncontrolled epilepsy, a new study indicates. The findings reveal how the ketogenic diet acts to block seizures in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Breast cancer clinic attributes increased uptake of double mastectomies to Angelina Jolie effect Posted: 25 Nov 2015 05:35 AM PST An increased uptake of preventative double mastectomies has been seen since May 2013, when Angelina Jolie announced that she had undergone the procedure.

Breast MRI after mammography may identify additional aggressive cancers Posted: 25 Nov 2015 05:35 AM PST Additional breast cancers found with MRI are sometimes larger and potentially more aggressive than those found on mammography, according to a new study. Researchers said that in some cases MRI findings of additional cancers not seen on mammography may necessitate a change in treatment.

Umbilical cells help eye's neurons connect Posted: 24 Nov 2015 05:43 PM PST Cells isolated from the human umbilical cord have been shown to produce molecules that help retinal neurons from the eyes of rats grow, connect and survive. The findings implicate one family of molecules in particular -- thrombospondins - that may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of degenerative eye diseases.

Native Americans have decreased access to kidney transplants Posted: 24 Nov 2015 12:54 PM PST Native Americans have decreased access to kidney transplants and are more likely to die while waiting for a kidney than whites according to new research. Long-term survival outcomes in Native Americans who did receive a kidney transplant were worse than whites, according to a new study.

Safety last? Posted: 24 Nov 2015 11:33 AM PST With the globalization of our food supply, food safety issues are a major concern for both public health and for the food industry. Media and industry warn consumers of major recalls and problems with food items, but do consumers listen? In this new article researchers demonstrated that consumers are reluctant to respond to food safety risks if the recommendations interfere with their existing habits.

Pre-travel advice does not reduce the risk of falling ill while traveling Posted: 24 Nov 2015 09:25 AM PST Traveling abroad involves risk of illnesses and carriage of antibiotic resistant bacteria, especially among students. Illnesses such as travelers' diarrhea and respiratory tract infections are most common. Even if travelers follow the travel medicine clinics' advice on how to reduce risks during travel, the risk of falling ill is not reduced.

Teaching problem-solving, leadership to young African-American girls lowers relational aggression Posted: 23 Nov 2015 05:36 PM PST A new study suggests that educators, particularly in urban schools, should teach elementary school-aged girls problem-solving skills and provide them leadership opportunities as a way to reduce their relational aggression. Relational aggression, which is the most common form of aggression among girls, includes using gossip and social exclusion to harm others.

Study counters long-time practice of prescribing more fertility hormones Posted: 23 Nov 2015 05:31 PM PST Too much of a hormone commonly used during in vitro fertility, or IVF, treatments actually decreases a woman's chances of having a baby, new research indicates. The research is the largest study to analyze more than 650,000 IVF cycles in women nationwide.

New hope for diabetic wound healing Posted: 23 Nov 2015 05:23 PM PST A compound that accelerates diabetic wound healing has been identified by investigators, which may open the door to new treatment strategies.

Tick that feeds on birds may increase the range of Lyme disease Posted: 23 Nov 2015 05:23 PM PST A tick that is not known to bite people may play a role in the transmission of Lyme disease, according to a new article. This study adds to a growing body of evidence that indicates that in order to understand the spread of Lyme disease, researchers must consider the ecology of all of its various hosts and vectors.

Military data supporting damage control resuscitation has altered civilian practice Posted: 23 Nov 2015 05:23 PM PST Damage control resuscitation practices that originated in military settings have been widely adapted in civilian practices across the United States, a new study that surveyed Trauma Medical Directors at 245 trauma centers has found.

New supercomputer simulations enhance understanding of protein motion, function Posted: 23 Nov 2015 05:23 PM PST Supercomputing simulations could change how researchers understand the internal motions of proteins that play functional, structural and regulatory roles in all living organisms, say scientists in a new report.

Stem cell treatment mediates immune response to spinal cord injury in pre-clinical trials Posted: 23 Nov 2015 05:22 PM PST A family of therapeutic stem cells called multipotent adult progenitor cells lessen the consequences of the immune system's damaging second wave response and preserve function that would otherwise be lost, new research on lab animals demonstrates.

Researchers identify genes connecting endocrine disruption to genital malformations Posted: 23 Nov 2015 05:22 PM PST Genes that are disrupted by abnormal hormone signaling at crucial points during development have been discovered by a team of researchers, a finding that may lead to a better understanding of how the most common male genital birth defects arise in humans.

Common cause for complications after kidney transplantation identified Posted: 23 Nov 2015 05:19 PM PST The BK polyomavirus often causes complications after kidney transplantation. A research group has now been able to show, that the immunosuppressive drug Tacrolimus directly activates the replication of the virus and could thus be responsible for these complications.

Neuroscientists gain insight into cause of Alzheimer's symptoms Posted: 23 Nov 2015 05:19 PM PST Scientists have uncovered a mechanism in the brain that could account for some of the neural degeneration and memory loss in people with Alzheimer's disease.

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