الثلاثاء، 26 يناير 2016

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News


Crouching protein, hidden enzyme

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 03:48 PM PST

A new study shows how a crucial molecular enzyme starts in a tucked-in somersault position and flips out when it encounters the right target.

Fishing for answers on bone loss in space

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 03:45 PM PST

Crew members reared small freshwater fish aboard International Space Station for 56 days and examined the animals' jawbones and teeth for any potential effects from microgravity. Investigators report that they found increased volume and activity of osteoclasts and significant reduction of bone mineral density in the fish aboard the station.

Researchers uncover how dopamine transports within the brain

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 03:43 PM PST

The mechanics of how dopamine transports into and out of brain cells has been uncovered by researchers, a finding that could someday lead to more effective treatment of drug addictions and neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

Researchers may hold key to developing a single treatment against several types of Ebola

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 03:43 PM PST

Antibodies in the blood of people who have survived a strain of the Ebola virus can kill various types of Ebola, scientists now report. The findings are significant because it helps researchers further understand the immune response to a virus such as Ebola and could lead to treatments for Ebola as well as other related viruses.

Most commonly used TB test fails to accurately diagnose pregnant HIV+ women

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 10:00 AM PST

The most commonly used test for tuberculosis fails to accurately diagnose TB in up to 50 percent of pregnant women who are HIV+, new research has found. The research is believed to be the first study to compare the accuracy of two TB tests – the Quantiferon Gold In Tube® blood test and the more commonly used TST or tuberculin skin test—in this population.

Gene often lost in childhood cancer crucial in cells' life or death decision

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 10:00 AM PST

A gene that is often lost in childhood cancer plays an important role in the decision between life and death of certain cells, according to a new study. Researchers have discovered the process by which that gene, KIF1B-?, kills cells and thereby suppresses tumor development.

Smartphones may decrease sedentary time, increase activity, study finds

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 09:56 AM PST

Using smartphone reminders to prompt people to get moving may help reduce sedentary behavior, report investigators. Evidence has linked sedentary time to increased risk of breast, colorectal, ovarian, endometrial, and prostate cancers as well as weight gain, higher BMI, and obesity. Nevertheless, adults in the U.S. spend an average of about 8 waking hours per day being sedentary.

Mom's in control, even before you're born

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 09:55 AM PST

Researchers have uncovered previously unappreciated means by which epigenetic information contained in the egg influences the development of the placenta during pregnancy. The research, which was performed in mice, indicates that a mother's health, even before conception, may influence the health of her fetus, and opens questions on how a mother's age may influence placental development.

Did ear sensory cell stereocilia evolve from gut microvilli?

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 09:54 AM PST

Evolution likes to borrow. It can take an already-successful biological structure and alter it until it serves a new function. Two independent groups studying the proteins that organize gut microvilli now suspect that this may have been the case in the development of inner ear hair cell stereocilia. While functionally very different, the protein complexes that organize microvilli and stereocilia have striking parallels.

Potential therapeutic targets identified for multiple sclerosis

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 08:52 AM PST

Treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other inflammatory diseases may benefit by new findings from a study that identified potential therapeutic targets for a devastating disease striking some 2.3 million people worldwide.

Microscopic drug 'depots' boost efficacy against tumors in animal model

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 08:47 AM PST

Biomedical engineering researchers have developed a technique for creating microscopic 'depots' for trapping drugs inside cancer tumors. In an animal model, these drug depots were 10 times more effective at shrinking tumors than the use of the same drugs without the depots.

Link between food advertising, child food consumption

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 08:42 AM PST

Unhealthy food advertising does increase food intake in children, new research confirms. The analysis showed that unhealthy food advertising exposure significantly increased food consumption in children, but not adults. Television and Internet advertising were equally impactful.

Hacking the programs of cancer stem cells

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 08:42 AM PST

A molecule that interrupts biochemical signals essential for the survival of a certain type of cancer stem cell has been discovered by researchers.

Helmet-wearing increases risk-taking and sensation-seeking

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 08:42 AM PST

Helmet-wearing could increase risk-taking, a new study suggests. The latest findings call into question the effectiveness of certain safety advice, notably in relation to helmets for various leisure activities, including for cycling. But, the researchers suggest, the conclusions have wider-reaching implications in other contexts too, potentially even for decision making on the battlefield.

Flexible and transparent pressure sensor

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 08:42 AM PST

Healthcare practitioners may one day be able to physically screen for breast cancer using pressure-sensitive rubber gloves to detect tumors, owing to a transparent, bendable and sensitive pressure sensor.

Sugar's siren song deciphered

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 08:41 AM PST

Sugar's sweetness and calorie content combine to give it lethal power to destroy diets, many scientists have assumed. However, a new study suggests that the brain responds to taste and calorie counts in fundamentally different ways. And only one of these responses explains why most New Years' resolutions have already disappeared under a deluge of Boston Crème Pies.

What factors influence timing of start of dialysis?

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 08:41 AM PST

A new study used electronic medical records from the Department of Veterans Affairs to examine factors that influence the timing of the initiation of dialysis.

Mailed nicotine patches with no behavioral support associated with cessation

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 08:41 AM PST

Mailing free nicotine patches to smokers without providing behavioral support was associated with higher rates of tobacco cessation than not offering the patches, according to an article.

Global, national burden of diseases, injuries among children and adolescents

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 08:41 AM PST

A new report examines global and national trends in the fatal and nonfatal burden of diseases and injuries among children and adolescents in 188 countries based on results from the Global Burden of Disease 2013 study.

Researchers discover ten new lupus genes in Asian population study

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 08:41 AM PST

10 new genes associated with the autoimmune disease lupus have been identified by researchers. One gene in particular, known as GTF2I, showed a high likelihood of being involved in the development of lupus, say scientists.

Discovery reveals how protective immune cells protect themselves

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 08:41 AM PST

The finding of how immune-system regulatory T cells maintain their integrity during their critical role in modulating the immune system could lead to new immune therapies for cancer.

Key mechanism has been discovered which prevents memory loss in Alzheimer's disease

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 07:01 AM PST

Neurons communicate with one another by synaptic connections, where information is exchanged from one neuron to its neighbor. These connections are not static, but are continuously modulated in response to the ongoing activity (or experience) of the neuron. This process, known as synaptic plasticity, is a fundamental mechanism for learning and memory in humans as in all animals. In fact, we now know that alterations in synaptic plasticity are responsible for memory impairment in cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which these alterations take place are still starting to be uncovered.

Bullying hinders positive youth development for sexual-minority youth

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 07:00 AM PST

When compared with their heterosexual peers, sexual-minority youth score lower on key indicators of positive youth development -- and those disparities may be due in part to more bullying of these adolescents, researchers have found.

Descendants of black death confirmed as source of repeated European plague outbreaks that would fade and roar back over centuries

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 06:13 AM PST

An international team of researchers has uncovered new information about the Black Death in Europe and its descendants, suggesting it persisted on the continent over four centuries, re-emerging to kill hundreds of thousands in Europe in separate, devastating waves.

The best way to help homeless youth is hardly ever used

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 06:13 AM PST

Teens without homes, many of whom have suffered at the hands of those entrusted with providing them care and kindness, often refuse to seek warmth and nourishment at shelters. But there's new evidence that drop-in centers -- safe havens with fewer rules and no older adults -- could open doors to jobs, sobriety and housing that is safe and secure.

Scientists shed new light on workings of genetic regulation

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 06:13 AM PST

A team of scientists has uncovered greater intricacy in protein signaling than was previously understood, shedding new light on the nature of genetic production.

Should childcare staff 'love' the youngsters in their care?

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 06:10 AM PST

The role of 'professional love' in early years settings is being studied by researchers. An anonymous survey explored how early years workers felt about 'loving' the children in their care. While the majority of practitioners believe showing affection to the children in their care is important, concerns exist about how others view the appropriateness of their actions

New mechanism of antitumor action identified

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 06:09 AM PST

The new mechanism of an antitumor action has been identified by researchers who have described it in a new article.

New study creates first 3D vision of cancer target

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 06:09 AM PST

A team of researchers has for the first time published a detailed description of a protein linked to many types of cancer. The lab-based study provides a new opportunity for scientists to develop drugs to target this protein.

Group therapy helps autistic children to cope better with everyday life

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 06:08 AM PST

Children and adolescents with high functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder can learn how to cope better in the social world and also achieve a lasting effect. Social difficulties are one of the main problems for children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder, say researchers.

'Trilobites' that filter and decontaminate

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 06:08 AM PST

A small silicon structure that look like fossil trilobites has been developed. It is designed to separate blood cells and filter minute particles from waste water and brines, say scientists.

Pre-eclampsia in pregnant women can be diagnosed exactly through a blood test

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 06:08 AM PST

Pre-eclampsia is a serious illness associated with pregnancy, which develops after twenty weeks and is associated with defective ingrowing of the placenta within the mother. The dangerous illness is both the second most frequent cause of death in pregnant women, and the reason for severe complications for mother and child, especially during premature births. Now scientists have succeeded, as part of an international research group, in identifying biomarkers, which - with one simple blood test - can be a very reliable help in predicting the emergence of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women as a sign of the illness.

Rotation speed may be bad news for Red Planet pioneers

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 06:07 AM PST

New research has revealed the importance of a circadian body clock that matches the rotational speed of the Earth.

Preventing of cardiac failure in the chronic phase

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 06:07 AM PST

The onset of cardiac failure after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a serious problem throughout the world. Researchers have now clarified that the cell adhesion inhibition of periostin1 damages myocardinal cells, inducing compromised cardiac myocyte contractile force and myocytes death, leading to the onset of cardiac failure after AMI through the administration of periostin neutralizing antibodies they had developed on their own.

Better healthcare could reduce crippling personal costs of tuberculosis care in China

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 06:06 AM PST

Improved universal healthcare is urgently needed to lower catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) for low-income tuberculosis (TB) patients in China, according to a study. Expanding universal healthcare could reduce the numbers of people affected by CHE.

Playground paints should be monitored to reduce potential danger to public health

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 06:06 AM PST

Playground equipment should be monitored more regularly to ensure toxic metals contained within paints do not present a danger to public and child health, a study recommends.

Secondhand smoke hazardous to hookah bar workers

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 06:06 AM PST

Workers at New York City hookah bars are inhaling hazardous levels of carbon monoxide and nicotine while at work, signaling yet another breach by their employers of New York City's anti-smoking bylaws.

1 in 50 16-year-olds affected by chronic fatigue syndrome

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 06:06 AM PST

In what is believed to be the biggest study of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) -- also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) -- in children to date, researchers have found that almost 2 per cent of 16-year-olds participating in children of the 90s have CFS lasting more than six months and nearly 3 per cent have CFS lasting more than three months (the UK definition). Those with CFS missed, on average, more than half a day of school every week.

One in sevel colorectal cancer patients diagnosed before recommended screening age

Posted: 25 Jan 2016 06:06 AM PST

Nearly 15 percent of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer were younger than 50, the age at which screening recommendations begin.

ليست هناك تعليقات:

إرسال تعليق