ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Not ordinary growing pains
• Preoperative use of blood-thinning drugs is safe for cancer patients
• CTE is confirmed as a unique disease that can be definitively diagnosed
• Tie between estrogen, memory explored by researchers
• Preventing food fraud
• Pill that targets gut receptor treats fatty liver disease, obesity in mice
• In pursuit of HIV vaccine, scientists shed light on antibody origins
• Why the flu vaccine is less effective in the elderly
• Can your pet boost your sex appeal?
• Novel imaging technique captures beauty of metal-labeled neurons in 3-D
• In aging, one size does not fit all
• Sepsis: Cell therapy to repair muscle long-term impairment
• Stem cell transplantation does not provide significant improvement for Crohn's disease
• Carbs, not fats, boost half-marathon race performance
• Turning point of a lifetime: Seeing life in its first three days
• Treatment of lupus
• Another 'whey' to improve your health in the New Year?
• Possible mechanism for specific symptoms in bipolar disorder discovered
• Survival rates for patients with prostate cancer better with surgery vrs radiotherapy
• Hunger hormone is boosted by restricted meal times
• Researchers take first step in precision medicine for penile cancer
• New model of collaborative cancer research may help advance precision medicine
• MRI shows 'brain scars' in military personnel with blast-related concussion
• Gut damage identified as cause of vaccine failure, malnutrition
• Expensive, exploratory research biopsies overused in early studies of new cancer drugs
• Stroke, TIA patient outcomes best at experienced centers, study shows
• Bioengineered sunscreen blocks skin penetration, toxicity
• Body clock study unlocks prospect of treatment for osteoarthritis
• Cultural revolution in the study of the gut microbiome
• New method of diagnosing deadly fungal lung infection in leukemia patients discovered
• Scientists say face mites evolved alongside humans since the dawn of human origins
• Childhood family breakups harder on girls' health, study reports
• Heart structural gene causes sudden cardiac death in animal model
• Scientists uncover process that could drive the majority of cancers
• 'Toxic' cells thought to drive the late effects of radiation, diseases of aging can be cleared with a drug
• Looking for motivation? Enjoying the task at hand will matter once you start
• Children's ability to detect sugar varies widely
• Novel drug approach could improve outlook in high-risk leukemia
• Sperm mutation rate varies between fathers
• New method prevents premature halt in protein synthesis in certain genetic illnesses
• Low levels of vitamin D may increase risk of stress fractures in active individuals
• Antibiotic resistance could help find drugs for some of the most intractable diseases
• Altered microbiome burns fewer calories
• Stunning diversity of gut bacteria uncovered by new approach to gene sequencing

Not ordinary growing pains Posted: 15 Dec 2015 01:06 PM PST A recent study shows that acupuncture may be a safe and effective adjunctive integrative medicine treatment for chronic pain in pediatric patients.

Preoperative use of blood-thinning drugs is safe for cancer patients Posted: 15 Dec 2015 10:47 AM PST Among patients undergoing major cancer operations, the preoperative use of blood-thinning drugs such as heparin does not increase rates of major bleeding or transfusions, and is associated with a decreased risk of blood clots, according to new study results.

CTE is confirmed as a unique disease that can be definitively diagnosed Posted: 15 Dec 2015 10:46 AM PST For the first time, CTE has been confirmed as a unique disease that can be definitively diagnosed by neuropathological examination of brain tissue. A consensus panel of expert neuropathologists concluded that CTE has a pathognomonic signature in the brain, an advance that represents a milestone for CTE research and lays the foundation for future studies defining the clinical symptoms, genetic risk factors and therapeutic strategies for CTE.

Tie between estrogen, memory explored by researchers Posted: 15 Dec 2015 10:46 AM PST A new study narrows down where and how estrogens affect the brain may help in understanding how the hormones affect cognition and memory in women. The team found that adding the hormone to female mouse brains helps boost short-term learning.

Preventing food fraud Posted: 15 Dec 2015 10:46 AM PST An American research team has not only defined the term 'food fraud,' but they have also helped the United States and other countries establish the strategies to fight it. A new article introduces the topic of food fraud, and provides a definition with translations in Russian, Korean and Chinese. The paper also tackles a system-wide focus that could lead to prevention.

Pill that targets gut receptor treats fatty liver disease, obesity in mice Posted: 15 Dec 2015 10:45 AM PST A bile acid that can turn off a receptor in the gut has prevented and reversed fatty liver disease in mice, according to an international team of researchers. The compound may help treat certain metabolic disorders, such as Type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well.

In pursuit of HIV vaccine, scientists shed light on antibody origins Posted: 15 Dec 2015 10:45 AM PST Scientists have tracked how a family of HIV-fighting antibodies develops over time. The research shows how a future vaccine might trigger the immune system to produce these antibodies more effectively.

Why the flu vaccine is less effective in the elderly Posted: 15 Dec 2015 10:45 AM PST Around this time every year, the flu virus infects up to one-fifth of the US population and kills thousands of people, many of them elderly. A new study now explains why the flu vaccine is less effective at protecting older individuals. More broadly, the findings reveal novel molecular signatures that could be used to predict which individuals are most likely to respond positively to vaccination.

Can your pet boost your sex appeal? Posted: 15 Dec 2015 09:25 AM PST Dogs and cats are increasingly seen as being a crucial member of a traditional family, but aside from the companionship and love you receive from your pet... can they also make you appear sexier?

Novel imaging technique captures beauty of metal-labeled neurons in 3-D Posted: 15 Dec 2015 09:25 AM PST A dazzling new method of visualizing neurons has been discovered that promises to benefit neuroscientists and cell biologists alike: by using spectral confocal microscopy to image tissues impregnated with silver or gold.

In aging, one size does not fit all Posted: 15 Dec 2015 09:24 AM PST New research provides a suite of measurements that could replace conventional measures of age, supporting smarter policies for retirement and health care.

Sepsis: Cell therapy to repair muscle long-term impairment Posted: 15 Dec 2015 09:24 AM PST Researchers reveal mayor players in the severe muscle damage caused by sepsis, or septicemia, which explains why many patients suffer debilitating muscle impairment long-term after recovery. They propose a therapeutic approach based on mesenchymal stem cell transplantation, which has produced encouraging results and has proved successful in restoring muscle capacity in animals.

Stem cell transplantation does not provide significant improvement for Crohn's disease Posted: 15 Dec 2015 08:42 AM PST Among adults with difficult to treat Crohn's disease not amenable to surgery, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, compared with conventional therapy, did not result in significant improvement in sustained disease remission at l year and was associated with significant toxicity, according to a study.

Carbs, not fats, boost half-marathon race performance Posted: 15 Dec 2015 06:45 AM PST Recent studies have proposed that burning fat instead of carbohydrates will improve exercise performance because the body's fat reserve is much larger than its carbohydrates reserve. A new study reports the opposite, finding that muscles rely on carbohydrates as their fuel source during prolonged exercise.

Turning point of a lifetime: Seeing life in its first three days Posted: 15 Dec 2015 06:43 AM PST For the first time, scientists can observe the first two to three days of a mouse embryo's life, as it develops from a fertilized egg up to the stage when it would implant in its mother's uterus, thanks to a new light sheet microscope.

Treatment of lupus Posted: 15 Dec 2015 06:39 AM PST LupuzorTM may become the first specific and non-immunosuppressant therapy for lupus, a disabling autoimmune disease that is currently incurable. This peptide is the subject of a patent (granted in 2009) and has already successfully completed phases I and II of its regulatory clinical trials.

Another 'whey' to improve your health in the New Year? Posted: 15 Dec 2015 06:39 AM PST Adding calcium, Vitamin D and prebiotic dietary fibre to a beverage made of whey can have huge health benefits for those who drink it, team of scientists has discovered.

Possible mechanism for specific symptoms in bipolar disorder discovered Posted: 15 Dec 2015 06:39 AM PST A gene variant linked to psychotic symptoms and cognitive impairment in people with bipolar disorder has been discovered by researchers. The study describes a possible mechanism for how the gene variant produces clinical symptoms by affecting levels of specific proteins in the brain.

Survival rates for patients with prostate cancer better with surgery vrs radiotherapy Posted: 15 Dec 2015 06:14 AM PST A rigorous evaluation of survival rates has shown that cancer patients with localised prostate cancer -- the most common form of prostate cancer -- have a better chance of survival if treated by surgery than by radiotherapy. This is the most robust analysis (meta-analysis) to date of published literature comparing surgery and radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer.

Hunger hormone is boosted by restricted meal times Posted: 15 Dec 2015 06:14 AM PST New and rare insights into the way ghrelin communicates with the central nervous system could help scientists find an effective pharmacological approach to tackle obesity.

Researchers take first step in precision medicine for penile cancer Posted: 15 Dec 2015 06:13 AM PST Researchers have identified potential genetic alterations in penile cancer that could pave the way for targeted treatments.

New model of collaborative cancer research may help advance precision medicine Posted: 15 Dec 2015 06:13 AM PST A new system that facilitates data and biospecimen sharing among cancer centers may speed cancer research findings from the laboratory to patient care, according to a new study.

MRI shows 'brain scars' in military personnel with blast-related concussion Posted: 15 Dec 2015 06:13 AM PST MRI shows brain damage in a surprisingly high percentage of active duty military personnel who suffered blast-related mild traumatic brain injury, according to a new study.

Gut damage identified as cause of vaccine failure, malnutrition Posted: 14 Dec 2015 03:55 PM PST Damage to the gut from infections is causing vaccine failure and contributing to malnutrition in low-income countries, researchers have determined. Research in Bangladesh sheds light on why: damage to the gut from infection, say researchers, explains why food alone is not a solution to malnutrition. To be effective, nutritional therapy will need to include measures to prevent or treat the damage to the gut of infants.

Expensive, exploratory research biopsies overused in early studies of new cancer drugs Posted: 14 Dec 2015 03:55 PM PST Early trials of new cancer drugs often require extra biopsies to determine the drugs' biochemical and physiological effects. A new study shows that this costly, risky and often painful process has had no impact on subsequent drug development.

Stroke, TIA patient outcomes best at experienced centers, study shows Posted: 14 Dec 2015 03:55 PM PST Medical centers with more experience and expertise in aggressive medical management had a significantly positive impact on patient outcomes, data from a major stroke clinical study shows.

Bioengineered sunscreen blocks skin penetration, toxicity Posted: 14 Dec 2015 02:08 PM PST A new sunscreen has been developed that encapsulates the UV-blocking compounds inside bio-adhesive nanoparticles, which adhere to the skin well, but do not penetrate beyond the skin's surface. These properties resulted in highly effective UV protection in a mouse model, without the adverse effects observed with commercial sunscreens, including penetration into the bloodstream and generation of reactive oxygen species, which can damage DNA and lead to cancer.

Body clock study unlocks prospect of treatment for osteoarthritis Posted: 14 Dec 2015 02:00 PM PST A biologist has, for the first time, established that the painful and debilitating symptoms endured by osteoarthritis sufferers are intrinsically linked to the human body clock.

Cultural revolution in the study of the gut microbiome Posted: 14 Dec 2015 01:59 PM PST A human-organs-on-chips technology has been used to microengineer a model of human intestinal inflammation and bacterial overgrowth in a human-gut-on-a-chip. The advance, say researchers, allows them for the first time to analyze how normal gut microbes and pathogenic bacteria contribute to immune responses, and to investigate IBD mechanisms in a controlled model that recapitulates human intestinal physiology.

New method of diagnosing deadly fungal lung infection in leukemia patients discovered Posted: 14 Dec 2015 01:59 PM PST A new way detect early a potentially deadly fungal infection in patients with suppressed immune systems, such as those being treated for leukemia or have had an organ transplant, has been revealed by a team of scientists.

Scientists say face mites evolved alongside humans since the dawn of human origins Posted: 14 Dec 2015 01:57 PM PST A landmark new study explores the fascinating, little-known natural history of the face mite species Demodex folliculorum, using genetic testing to link the microscopic animal's evolution to our own ever-evolving human story. By zooming in on mite mitochondrial DNA from around the world, scientists discovered that different human populations have different mites, that those mites follow families through generations, and that they are not casually transferred between humans.

Childhood family breakups harder on girls' health, study reports Posted: 14 Dec 2015 12:01 PM PST A childhood family breakup can have long-term negative consequences for the children. Recent research looks at overall health, depression, and smoking as a health-related behavior and finds that, for girls, all three are worse.

Heart structural gene causes sudden cardiac death in animal model Posted: 14 Dec 2015 12:01 PM PST The presence or absence of the CAP2 gene causes sudden cardiac death in mice. In particular, the absence of the gene interrupts the animal's ability to send electrical signals to the heart to tell it to contract, a condition called cardiac conduction disease. Since humans have the same CAP2 gene, what we learn from the mice could advance our understanding of heart disease.

Scientists uncover process that could drive the majority of cancers Posted: 14 Dec 2015 12:00 PM PST The gene p53 has been described as the 'guardian of the genome' due to its prominent role in preventing genetic mutations. More than half of all cancers are thought to originate from p53 mutations or loss of function, and now a recent study explains why.

'Toxic' cells thought to drive the late effects of radiation, diseases of aging can be cleared with a drug Posted: 14 Dec 2015 11:27 AM PST The first broad spectrum drug that can potently kill senescent (or aging) cells in culture, and effectively clear the cells in animals by specifically targeting a pathway that is critical for the survival of senescent cells, has been discovered by a research team.

Looking for motivation? Enjoying the task at hand will matter once you start Posted: 14 Dec 2015 11:25 AM PST Want to lose weight? Then make sure you're thinking about more than just the numbers on the scale when choosing your workout. A new study suggests that when people look forward to or back on an activity, they tend to underestimate how important it is to actually enjoy doing it. The finding may help explain why people often fail to persevere through tedious or unpleasant tasks.

Children's ability to detect sugar varies widely Posted: 14 Dec 2015 11:25 AM PST Sensitivity to sweet taste varies widely across school-aged children and is in part genetically-determined, new research suggests. The findings may inform efforts to reduce sugar consumption and improve nutritional health of children.

Novel drug approach could improve outlook in high-risk leukemia Posted: 14 Dec 2015 11:25 AM PST A novel way to enhance and restore cancer suppressor activity in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia has been uncovered by researchers. This work results in better outcomes in a pre-clinical model of the disease.

Sperm mutation rate varies between fathers Posted: 14 Dec 2015 11:22 AM PST Researchers compared mutation rates in sperm and eggs for multi-sibling families, confirming that fathers contribute more mutations to their children than mothers. They revealed for the first time that the rate at which mutations in sperm accumulate with age varies from father to father.

New method prevents premature halt in protein synthesis in certain genetic illnesses Posted: 14 Dec 2015 11:20 AM PST Researchers report their success in paradoxically inhibiting a process called NMD that cells have evolved to prevent imperfect proteins from being synthesized. Sometimes, it turns out, it's beneficial to allow protein synthesis to continue -- but only in very particular cases.

Low levels of vitamin D may increase risk of stress fractures in active individuals Posted: 14 Dec 2015 11:20 AM PST Vitamin D plays a crucial role in ensuring appropriate bone density. Active individuals who enjoy participating in higher impact activities may need to maintain higher vitamin D levels to reduce their risk of stress fractures, report investigators.

Antibiotic resistance could help find drugs for some of the most intractable diseases Posted: 14 Dec 2015 10:08 AM PST Scientists have developed an innovative way of using one of the biggest problems facing health services -- antibiotic resistance -- to develop drugs to combat some of the most intractable diseases.

Altered microbiome burns fewer calories Posted: 14 Dec 2015 10:08 AM PST Drug-induced changes to the gut microbiome can cause obesity by reducing the resting metabolic rate -- the calories burned while sleeping or resting -- a new study in mice demonstrates.

Stunning diversity of gut bacteria uncovered by new approach to gene sequencing Posted: 14 Dec 2015 10:05 AM PST A collaboration between computer scientists and geneticists has produced a novel technique for mapping the diversity of bacteria living in the human gut.

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