ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Little known about children living with HIV-infected adults in Africa
• Window into women's sexuality
• New studies create better understanding of cancer-spreading enzymes
• Pneumonia 'finger clip' and better diagnostic tests could save thousands of lives
• Intestinal bacteria are affected by antidiabetic drugs, shows research
• Cat receives prosthetic legs, makes strides in recovery
• Distracted walking: A serious issue for you, not me
• Immune system affects gut bacteria evolution
• Oxytocin has different effects on stress in male and female mice
• Mitochondria affect stress responses
• How much TV you watch as a young adult may affect midlife cognitive function
• Review does not support monthly lab testing for oral isotretinoin use for acne
• Survival has improved for women with stage IV breast cancer
• Genetic mutations differ within a single tumor
• Antibody developed to save cancerous bones
• Studying stonefish venom may help combat transplant rejection
• Contact sports played by amateurs increase risk of degenerative disorder, evidence suggests
• Potentially dangerous molecules detected in e-cigarette aerosols
• How temperature shifts the circadian clock
• Accidental discovery of how to stay young for longer works in worms
• False-positive mammograms may indicate increased risk of breast cancer later
• Novel intestinal bacterium provides human gut with healthy compounds
• Ceramic particles supply digital X-ray plates 'from an aerosol can'
• Keeping emotions under control with neurofeedback
• Can vitamin D levels be determined by genes?
• Experts urge early evaluation of fracture risk in diabetics
• Swimming devices could deliver drugs inside the body
• Liquid metal 'nano-terminators' target cancer cells
• How bacterial predators evolved to kill other bacteria without harming themselves
• CT and 3-D printing aid surgical separation of conjoined twins
• Breast density alone not a risk factor for cancer, study suggests
• Link found between early-stage brain and heart disease
• Imaging yields evidence of heart disease in archeological find
• Taking antidepressants with cancer drug does not increase breast-cancer recurrence
• Global diet is getting sweeter, particularly when it comes to beverages
• Negative news stories about statins are linked to people discontinuing treatment
• Adverse outcomes of climate change cannot be resolved by the health community alone
• Strep bacteria resistance to antibiotics studied by student-athletes

Little known about children living with HIV-infected adults in Africa Posted: 02 Dec 2015 01:00 PM PST Despite the focus in recent decades on fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa, a new study reveals that little is known about one of the area's most vulnerable populations: children living in households with HIV-infected adults.

Window into women's sexuality Posted: 02 Dec 2015 01:00 PM PST Heterosexual women have more diverse patterns of sexual response than previously reported, new research shows. Among women, say the authors, there is significant diversity among women in their sexual attractions to other women and men, regardless of sexual identity.

New studies create better understanding of cancer-spreading enzymes Posted: 02 Dec 2015 11:23 AM PST A detailed structural view of an enzyme, called MMP7, has been revealed as it binds to the membranes, or surfaces, of cancer cells. This understanding could lead to better treatments for cancer, say investigators.

Pneumonia 'finger clip' and better diagnostic tests could save thousands of lives Posted: 02 Dec 2015 11:22 AM PST Routinely used in hospitals, pulse oximetry is a non-invasive technology that measures oxygen in the blood, and can help doctors diagnose conditions such as pneumonia which trigger low oxygen levels. The authors argue that if pulse oximetry was made more widely available in the community, it could allow children to be diagnosed quicker and sent to hospital for life-saving oxygen and antibiotics.

Intestinal bacteria are affected by antidiabetic drugs, shows research Posted: 02 Dec 2015 11:22 AM PST Intestinal bacteria change their composition and function when diabetic patients are treated with the drug metformin, shows new research. In the field of disease research, changes in the composition and function of the complex intestinal bacterial communities -- so-called dysbioses -- have become a focus area. It is, however, a weakness of the studies that researchers have not taken into account the potential effects of drugs on the patients' intestinal bacteria, say investigators.

Cat receives prosthetic legs, makes strides in recovery Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:45 AM PST Vincent, a 3-year-old domestic short-haired cat that recently received prosthetic legs, is making a strong recovery. In fact, his doctor thinks he might start jumping soon.

Distracted walking: A serious issue for you, not me Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:27 AM PST A new study on distracted walking finds that more than three quarters (78 percent) of US adults believe that distracted walking is a 'serious' issue; however, 74 percent of Americans say 'other people' are usually or always walking while distracted, while only 29 percent say the same about themselves.

Immune system affects gut bacteria evolution Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:27 AM PST Researchers have discovered that when the immune system of the host is compromised, the composition of the gut bacteria changes, and the pace and predictability of the process of adaptation of these bacteria are affected. This study suggests that the treatment of intestine pathologies that result from impaired immune system, such as the inflammatory bowel disease, may require therapies based on personalized medicine.

Oxytocin has different effects on stress in male and female mice Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:26 AM PST Clinical trials are testing whether oxytocin, sometimes called the 'love hormone' for its role in intimacy and social bonding, has potential as a treatment for anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. New research by behavioral neuroscientists suggests oxytocin may have different effects in men and women -- and in certain circumstances the hormone may actually trigger anxiety.

Mitochondria affect stress responses Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:25 AM PST Mitochondria, the tiny structures inside our cells that generate energy, may also play a previously unrecognized role in mind-body interactions. Based on new studies of stress responses in animals, this insight may have broad implications for human psychology and for the biology of psychiatric and neurological diseases.

How much TV you watch as a young adult may affect midlife cognitive function Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:25 AM PST Watching a lot of TV and having a low physical activity level as a young adult were associated with worse cognitive function 25 years later in midlife, according to an article.

Review does not support monthly lab testing for oral isotretinoin use for acne Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:25 AM PST A review of medical literature does not support monthly laboratory testing for all patients who are using standard doses of the acne medication isotretinoin. Isotretinoin has been associated with several adverse effects, including teratogenicity (causing birth defects) and hyperlipidemia. Prior studies have looked at the usefulness of laboratory monitoring during isotretinoin therapy.

Survival has improved for women with stage IV breast cancer Posted: 02 Dec 2015 10:25 AM PST A study that included more than 20,000 women with stage IV breast cancer finds that survival has improved and is increasingly of prolonged duration, particularly for some women undergoing initial breast surgery, according to the report.

Genetic mutations differ within a single tumor Posted: 02 Dec 2015 09:46 AM PST When researchers looked at different areas within an individual rectal cancer sample, they found cases in which each area contained different genetic mutations. The findings could have significant implications for treatment recommendations.

Antibody developed to save cancerous bones Posted: 02 Dec 2015 09:42 AM PST Osteosarcoma (OS) is a rare cancer most often affecting adolescents and children. While most bone cancers have their origin in other body tissues and spread to the bones through metastases, OS originates in the bone tissue. Researchers now show that OS cells degrade the bone tissue through a completely different process than metastasized bone cancer. Through treatment with a specific antibody, the researchers blocked the process and reduced up to 80 percent of bone degradation in a cancer model.

Studying stonefish venom may help combat transplant rejection Posted: 02 Dec 2015 09:42 AM PST The X-ray crystal structure of the lethal factor present in stonefish venom has been solved by researchers. The discovery has provided unexpected insight into a crucial human immune response that is responsible for the failure of up to 30 percent of bone marrow transplant therapies for treating leukemia.

Contact sports played by amateurs increase risk of degenerative disorder, evidence suggests Posted: 02 Dec 2015 06:54 AM PST Scientists have recently found evidence that professional football players are susceptible to a progressive degenerative disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is caused by repetitive brain trauma. Now, researchers have discovered a significant and surprising amount of CTE in males who had participated in amateur contact sports in their youth.

Potentially dangerous molecules detected in e-cigarette aerosols Posted: 02 Dec 2015 06:54 AM PST Electronic cigarettes produce highly-reactive free radicals -- molecules associated with cell damage and cancer -- and may pose a health risk to users, according to researchers.

How temperature shifts the circadian clock Posted: 02 Dec 2015 06:51 AM PST One important aspect of the internal time-keeping system continues to perplex scientists: its complex response to temperature, which can shift the clock forward or backward, but cannot change its 24-hour period. New experiments help explain how this is possible.

Accidental discovery of how to stay young for longer works in worms Posted: 02 Dec 2015 06:51 AM PST In a new study, researchers administered an antidepressant called mianserin to Caenorhabditis elegans, a type of roundworm used frequently in research. In 2007, they discovered that the drug increases the lifespan of roundworms by 30-40 per cent. Their new goal was to investigate how.

False-positive mammograms may indicate increased risk of breast cancer later Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:49 AM PST Women with a history of a false-positive mammogram result may be at increased risk of developing breast cancer for up to 10 years after the false-positive result, according to a new study.

Novel intestinal bacterium provides human gut with healthy compounds Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:45 AM PST Fibers in our food are thought to be good for health since they are converted in the intestinal tract into the favorable compound butyrate, that is crucial to maintain intestinal health. In contrast, protein is believed to be less healthy since intestinal fermentation of the building blocks of proteins, amino acids, generates undesired compounds. This latter picture is now changing since a novel intestinal bacterium has been isolated by researchers.

Ceramic particles supply digital X-ray plates 'from an aerosol can' Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:45 AM PST Digital X-ray systems have become a vital part of health care. The analog X-ray film of the past has been replaced by digital flat panel detectors. Today's detectors are sensitive but quite expensive and have limited resolution. Now, scientists have succeeded in developing new materials for detectors: they embedded ceramic particles in a conductive plastic. The components of these "composite detectors" can be stirred into a solvent and then applied like paint by spraying. This means that, in future, it might be possible to manufacture X-ray detectors inexpensively and on a large scale with greater image resolution.

Keeping emotions under control with neurofeedback Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:44 AM PST Childhood and adolescence are ages of constant change and crucial experiences. At times the emotional weight can be difficult to manage and may lead to psychological issues in adulthood. Neurofeedback is a method that helps individuals to keep their brain activity (for example a response to an emotional event ) under control. While routinely used on adults, a new study demonstrates that the technique shows promise for young people as well.

Can vitamin D levels be determined by genes? Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:44 AM PST Certain genetic variations increase the risk of having a lower level of vitamin D. This is the finding of a PhD project from Denmark, which has examined the effect of eating vitamin D fortified foods or receiving artificial UVB irradiation during the winter months. The fortified diet and artificial sunlight had less of an effect on vitamin D status in people with certain genetic variations. The results can be used to identify people who are genetically predisposed to having lower levels of vitamin D.

Experts urge early evaluation of fracture risk in diabetics Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:43 AM PST Despite an up to six-fold increased risk of fragility fractures in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients, there is a general lack of knowledge about the complex relationship between bone and diabetes. In order to promote understanding of the latest advances and to encourage early evaluation of fracture risk, a group of experts has now published a scientific review which highlights new information regarding fracture risk in T1DM patients.

Swimming devices could deliver drugs inside the body Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:43 AM PST A new method of guiding microscopic swimming devices has the potential to deliver drugs to a targeted location inside the body, according to new research. These devices, which are a similar size to cells and bacteria -- around a hundredth of the average diameter of a strand of human hair -- could be used to deliver drugs to a specific location inside the body or outside of the body to diagnose diseases in blood samples, say scientists.

Liquid metal 'nano-terminators' target cancer cells Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:42 AM PST A new drug delivery technique has been developed that uses a biodegradable liquid metal to target cancer cells. The liquid metal drug delivery method promises to boost the effect of cancer drugs.

How bacterial predators evolved to kill other bacteria without harming themselves Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:42 AM PST How predatory bacteria function has been little understood to date. Predators have been found to produce a protein 'antidote' that protects them from their own weapons. Understanding how these predators attack bacteria could provide new ways of combatting antimicrobial resistance, say experts.

CT and 3-D printing aid surgical separation of conjoined twins Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:42 AM PST A combination of detailed CT imaging and 3-D printing technology has been used for the first time in the surgical planning for separation of conjoined twins, according to a new study.

Breast density alone not a risk factor for cancer, study suggests Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:42 AM PST Breast density may not be a strong independent factor for breast cancer risk, according to a new study. Prior research has shown an association between breast density and breast cancer. In addition, cancers in dense breast tissue are more difficult to see on mammograms. As a result, some women with dense breasts are advised to get supplementary screening with ultrasound or MRI. Some U.S. states have enacted legislation mandating breast density reporting to women undergoing mammography

Link found between early-stage brain and heart disease Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:42 AM PST A connection between very early stages of brain and heart disease has been identified by researchers in the Netherlands studying thousands of healthy adults.

Imaging yields evidence of heart disease in archeological find Posted: 02 Dec 2015 05:42 AM PST Researchers using modern imaging techniques on hearts more than 400 years old found at an archeological site were able to learn about the health conditions of the people buried there, according to a new study.

Taking antidepressants with cancer drug does not increase breast-cancer recurrence Posted: 01 Dec 2015 09:08 PM PST A large study of patients with breast cancer who took the anti-cancer drug tamoxifen while taking an antidepressant were not found to have an increased risk of recurrence, according to a new study.

Global diet is getting sweeter, particularly when it comes to beverages Posted: 01 Dec 2015 09:08 PM PST The global diet is getting sweeter, particularly when it comes to beverages, say researchers. Currently, 68% of packaged foods and beverages in the USA contain caloric sweeteners, 74% include both caloric and low-calorie sweeteners, and just 5% are made with low-calorie sweeteners only. The added sugar comes from hundreds of different versions of sugar, all of which have the same equal health effect.

Negative news stories about statins are linked to people discontinuing treatment Posted: 01 Dec 2015 09:08 PM PST Negative news stories about statins are linked to some people choosing to discontinue their statin treatment, which, in consequence, is associated with an increased risk of heart attacks and dying from heart disease, suggests a new Danish study.

Adverse outcomes of climate change cannot be resolved by the health community alone Posted: 01 Dec 2015 03:10 PM PST Researchers have reviewed the links between climate change, the processes leading to greenhouse gas emissions and health outcomes. The authors conclude that there are collaborative opportunities to create solutions to the link between the two -- it's not just up to the doctors to provide a cure.

Strep bacteria resistance to antibiotics studied by student-athletes Posted: 01 Dec 2015 03:09 PM PST While balancing all their obligations is a challenge, student researchers say their athletic training makes them more focused in their research to learn why bacteria becomes resistant to antibiotics.

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