ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Promising results from clinical study using plasmid DNA gene therapy
• First recombinant influenza vaccine comes to Mexico
• Food additive that may prevent skin cancer revealed by scientists
• New drug could be safer, non-addictive alternative to morphine
• Treating Parkinson's disease by solving the mysteries of movement
• How severe maternal inflammation can lead to autism-like behavior
• Chemists uncover how key agent allows diseases to reproduce
• Why children are more likely to develop food allergies
• It's complicated: Benefits and toxicity of anti-prion antibodies in the brain
• Epigenetic switch for obesity
• How bats recognize their own 'bat signals'
• The brain communicates on several channels
• Identifying another piece in the Parkinson's disease pathology puzzle
• Marijuana survey finds medical users more likely to consume edibles and vaporize
• New way to identify brain tumor aggressiveness
• Research hints at a nutritional strategy for reducing autism risk
• Why you won't lose weight with exercise alone
• Cell division: Microtubules, assemble!
• Want to rewire a neuron? You’ve got to take it slow
• Necroptosis: How crystals precipitate cell death
• Anticholinergics may not be best choice for rehab patients with dementia
• In lung cancer, not all HER2 alterations are created equal
• Too-few proteins prompt nanoparticles to clump
• Sensing the future of molecule detection, bioproduction
• Smartphone app linked to increase in contraceptive use in India
• Finding the right antithrombotic (anti-clotting) drug for you
• Minorities had lower risk of coronary heart disease than whites, study shows
• Bedbugs develop resistance to widely used chemical treatments, rendering them ineffective
• Growth factor in brain tied to slower mental decline
• Maya healers' conception of cancer may help bridge gap in multicultural settings care
• CRISPR used to repair blindness-causing genetic defect in patient-derived stem cells
• Gene study points towards therapies for common brain disorders
• Opioid prescribing for chronic pain: Achieving the right balance through education
• Multiple sclerosis drug tied to rising JC virus antibody levels
• Toward a better understanding of the mechanisms blocking cancer cell growth
• Chronic pain changes our immune systems
• Electric patch holds promise for treating PTSD
• Transplant centers often reject potential donor livers for sickest patients in need
• New material with built-in vitamin A may reduce scarring
• Slender mice, heart disease and diabetes: What do they have in common?
• Basic research led to first FDA-approved immunotherapy for pediatric cancer
• Ongoing HIV replication replenishes viral reservoirs during therapy
• Researchers mine the epigenome to identify likely origins of childhood brain tumor subtype
• Antidepressants during pregnancy do not pose risk to unborn child, say researchers
• 'Lifespan machine' probes cause of aging
• Genetic study provides first-ever insight into biological origin of schizophrenia
• Eating soy may protect women from health risks of BPA

Promising results from clinical study using plasmid DNA gene therapy Posted: 28 Jan 2016 12:57 PM PST A new clinical study reports the promising results of an innovative DNA-based gene therapy that may offer a potential therapeutic option for a disease with unmet medical needs.

First recombinant influenza vaccine comes to Mexico Posted: 28 Jan 2016 12:56 PM PST In October 2015, the Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risk (COFEPRIS) gave Mexico the registry of the first recombinant vaccine against seasonal influenza in the world and designed to begin marketing in the first quarter of 2016.

Food additive that may prevent skin cancer revealed by scientists Posted: 28 Jan 2016 12:51 PM PST A compound found in the natural food additive annatto prevents the formation of cancer cells and skin damage from UV radiation in mice, new research shows. In the future the compound, bixin, may be valuable in the prevention and treatment of human skin cancers.

New drug could be safer, non-addictive alternative to morphine Posted: 28 Jan 2016 12:50 PM PST A painkiller has been developed that is as strong as morphine but isn't likely to be addictive and with fewer side effects, according to a new study. Opium-based drugs are the leading treatments for severe and chronic pain, but they can be highly addictive. Their abuse results in thousands of overdose deaths in the United States annually.

Treating Parkinson's disease by solving the mysteries of movement Posted: 28 Jan 2016 12:50 PM PST Two secrets of one of the brain's most enigmatic regions have finally been revealed. In a pair of studies, scientists have discovered a specific neural circuit that controls walking, and they found that input to this circuit is disrupted in Parkinson's disease. The research reveals two potential new targets to treat movement disorders.

How severe maternal inflammation can lead to autism-like behavior Posted: 28 Jan 2016 12:21 PM PST A group of researchers found that immune cells activated in the mother during severe inflammation produce an immune effector molecule called IL-17 that appears to interfere with brain development.

Chemists uncover how key agent allows diseases to reproduce Posted: 28 Jan 2016 12:19 PM PST Chemists have revealed the chemistry behind how certain diseases, from anthrax to tuberculosis, replicate. The key lies in the function of a gene absent in humans, called thyX, and its ability to catalyze the DNA building block thymine. The finding could help drug companies target the chemical reaction, rather than testing millions of compounds, to stop these diseases.

Why children are more likely to develop food allergies Posted: 28 Jan 2016 12:19 PM PST An estimated 15 million Americans suffer from food allergies, many of them children. These are non-trivial concerns, as food allergy or intolerance can cause symptoms ranging from a harmless skin rash to a potentially lethal anaphylactic shock. The good news is that many affected children outgrow their allergy, presumably as the immune system learns to tolerate food initially mistaken as 'foreign'.

It's complicated: Benefits and toxicity of anti-prion antibodies in the brain Posted: 28 Jan 2016 12:19 PM PST Immunotherapy to ameliorate neurodegeneration by targeting brain protein aggregates with antibodies is an area of intense investigation. A new study examines seemingly contradictory earlier results of targeting the prion protein and proposes a cautionary way forward to further test related therapeutic approaches.

Epigenetic switch for obesity Posted: 28 Jan 2016 10:33 AM PST Having overweight parents significantly increases your risk of obesity, but the inheritance of specific mutations can't always explain why this is the case. In a study, researchers show that differences in gene expression (epigenetics) play a key role in determining one's predisposition to obesity. In genetically identical mice and human twin pairs, epigenetic marks altered the activity of weight-control genes to produce distinct subpopulations of lean and obese individuals.

How bats recognize their own 'bat signals' Posted: 28 Jan 2016 10:33 AM PST The mechanism that allows individual bats to avoid noise overlap by increasing the volume, duration and repetition rate of their signals has been uncovered by a new study. Unlocking the mystery of bat echo recognition may offer a valuable insight into military and civilian radar systems, which are vulnerable to electronic interference.

The brain communicates on several channels Posted: 28 Jan 2016 10:32 AM PST The human brain uses several frequency bands for the flow of information between lower and higher areas, report scientists, who have demonstrated that the visual cortex of human subjects uses different frequency channels depending on the direction in which information is being transported. These findings were only possible thanks to previous research with macaque monkeys. They might help to understand the cause of psychiatric illnesses in which the two channels appear to be mixed up.

Identifying another piece in the Parkinson's disease pathology puzzle Posted: 28 Jan 2016 10:30 AM PST An international consortium identifies and validates cellular role of priority Parkinson's disease drug target, LRRK2 kinase, in a new study, illuminating a novel route for therapeutic development and intervention testing for Parkinson's, the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's.

Marijuana survey finds medical users more likely to consume edibles and vaporize Posted: 28 Jan 2016 10:30 AM PST A new study provides some of the first evidence about patterns of marijuana use in states that have legalized medical marijuana. It finds that medical marijuana users are more likely to vaporize or consume edible forms of the drug than recreational users. Researchers also found that 41 percent of people reported having used marijuana recreationally at least once, while only about 7 percent reported using marijuana for medical purposes.

New way to identify brain tumor aggressiveness Posted: 28 Jan 2016 10:20 AM PST A comprehensive analysis of the molecular characteristics of gliomas -- the most common malignant brain tumor -- explains why some patients diagnosed with slow-growing (low-grade) tumors quickly succumb to the disease while others with more aggressive (high-grade) tumors survive for many years.

Research hints at a nutritional strategy for reducing autism risk Posted: 28 Jan 2016 10:09 AM PST Folic acid has long been touted as an important supplement for women of childbearing age for its ability to prevent defects in the baby's developing brain and spinal cord. In fact, folic acid is considered so important that it is added as a supplement to breads, pastas, rice and cereals to help ensure that women are exposed to sufficient amounts of this nutrient even before they know they're pregnant. Soon, another prenatal supplement could protect against a certain type of autism, according to research, called carnitine.

Why you won't lose weight with exercise alone Posted: 28 Jan 2016 10:09 AM PST Exercise by itself isn't always enough to take off the weight. Now, evidence helps to explain why that is: our bodies adapt to higher activity levels, so that people don't necessarily burn extra calories even if they exercise more.

Cell division: Microtubules, assemble! Posted: 28 Jan 2016 09:23 AM PST What bones are to bodies, the cytoskeleton is to cells. The cytoskeleton maintains cellular structure, builds appendages like flagella and, together with motor proteins, powers cellular movement, transport, and division. Microtubules are a critical component of the cytoskeleton, vital for cell division and, because of that, an excellent target for chemotherapy drugs.

Want to rewire a neuron? You’ve got to take it slow Posted: 28 Jan 2016 09:23 AM PST A new technique offers potential to reconnect neurons of people with central nervous system damage.

Necroptosis: How crystals precipitate cell death Posted: 28 Jan 2016 09:23 AM PST Crystal formation plays a defining role in the pathogenesis of a range of common diseases, such as gout and atherosclerosis. Researchers have now elucidated how the insoluble deposits induce cell death.

Anticholinergics may not be best choice for rehab patients with dementia Posted: 28 Jan 2016 09:20 AM PST During rehabilitation following an acute hospital stay, medications that block neurotransmitters may be overprescribed to older patients suffering from delirium superimposed on dementia, according to health researchers.

In lung cancer, not all HER2 alterations are created equal Posted: 28 Jan 2016 08:38 AM PST Study shows two distinct causes of HER2 activation in lung cancer: mutation of the gene and amplification of the gene. In patient samples of lung adenocarcinoma, 3 percent were found to have HER2 amplification and another 3 percent were found to have HER2 mutation. No samples were found to have both. These distinct causes of HER2 positivity imply the use of different targeted therapies to combat these related but possibly distinct diseases.

Too-few proteins prompt nanoparticles to clump Posted: 28 Jan 2016 08:38 AM PST Low concentrations of serum albumin proteins have the ability to bind one-to-one to gold nanoparticles and, upon unfolding, prompt them to aggregate, according to scientists. The finding may be important to those who study diseases caused by protein aggregation or nanoparticle toxicity.

Sensing the future of molecule detection, bioproduction Posted: 28 Jan 2016 08:38 AM PST A new method has been developed for engineering a broad range of biosensors to detect and signal virtually any desired molecule using living eukaryotic cells. Plant, yeast, even mammalian cells could be engineered into living detectors of virtually any molecule of interest to improve environmental monitoring, metabolic production of pharmaceuticals, and more, say researchers.

Smartphone app linked to increase in contraceptive use in India Posted: 28 Jan 2016 06:46 AM PST A smartphone app containing motivational videos developed to help married rural women in India better understand contraceptive choices led to a dramatic increase in the number of women using modern family planning methods in just a few months, new research suggests.

Finding the right antithrombotic (anti-clotting) drug for you Posted: 28 Jan 2016 06:46 AM PST The effects of one or more antithrombotic (anti-clotting) drugs could more easily be determined through the use of a new analysis system, report researchers. Myocardial infarction, arrhythmia (atrial fibrillation), cerebral infarction and economy-class syndrome all have one thing in common: they are all diseases that are caused by a blood clot blocking a blood vessel.

Minorities had lower risk of coronary heart disease than whites, study shows Posted: 28 Jan 2016 06:46 AM PST In a study of more than 1.3 million members in Northern California that stretched over 10 years, researchers found that blacks, Latinos and Asians generally had lower risk of coronary heart disease compared to whites.

Bedbugs develop resistance to widely used chemical treatments, rendering them ineffective Posted: 28 Jan 2016 06:46 AM PST One of the most of the most widely used commercial chemicals to kill bedbugs are not effective because the pesky insects have built up a tolerance to them, according to a team of researchers.

Growth factor in brain tied to slower mental decline Posted: 28 Jan 2016 05:25 AM PST Older people with higher amounts of a key protein in their brains also had slower decline in their memory and thinking abilities than people with lower amounts of protein from the gene called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, according to a study.

Maya healers' conception of cancer may help bridge gap in multicultural settings care Posted: 28 Jan 2016 05:25 AM PST Understanding and integrating patients' cultural beliefs into cancer treatment plans may help improve their acceptance of and adherence to treatment in multicultural settings. Researchers examined traditional Maya healers' understanding of cancer in a new study.

CRISPR used to repair blindness-causing genetic defect in patient-derived stem cells Posted: 28 Jan 2016 05:23 AM PST Scientists have used a new gene-editing technology called CRISPR, to repair a genetic mutation responsible for retinitis pigmentosa (RP), an inherited condition that causes the retina to degrade and leads to blindness in at least 1.5 million cases worldwide.

Gene study points towards therapies for common brain disorders Posted: 28 Jan 2016 05:09 AM PST Scientists have pinpointed the cells that are likely to trigger common brain disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis and intellectual disabilities. The findings offer a roadmap for the development of new therapies to target the conditions.

Opioid prescribing for chronic pain: Achieving the right balance through education Posted: 28 Jan 2016 04:43 AM PST In recent decades, the United States has seen a dramatic increase in opioid prescribing for chronic pain. That growth has been associated with increasing misuse of these medications, leading to alarming increases in unintentional opioid overdose deaths. In a new article, an expert recommends that prescriber education is the best approach to addressing the prescription opioid-misuse epidemic.

Multiple sclerosis drug tied to rising JC virus antibody levels Posted: 28 Jan 2016 04:43 AM PST People who take the drug natalizumab for multiple sclerosis may have up to a 10 times greater risk of developing a risk biomarker for activity of a virus that can lead to an often fatal brain disease, according to a study.

Toward a better understanding of the mechanisms blocking cancer cell growth Posted: 28 Jan 2016 04:43 AM PST A study provides valuable information about certain mechanisms governing DNA repair and opens the way to better understand the mechanisms of action of drugs that prevent cancer cell growth.

Chronic pain changes our immune systems Posted: 28 Jan 2016 04:43 AM PST Chronic pain may reprogram the way genes work in the immune system, according to a new study. The findings could open new avenues to diagnosing and treating chronic pain in humans, the researchers suggest, as some of the genes found to be marked by chronic pain could also represent new targets for pain medications.

Electric patch holds promise for treating PTSD Posted: 28 Jan 2016 04:43 AM PST A new treatment has shown benefits for reducing the symptoms associated with chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and associated depression, a team of psychiatrists has found. For Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation, individuals wear an unobtrusive patch on their forehead while they sleep. Following treatment, the severity of participants' PTSD symptoms dropped by an average of more than 30 percent, and the severity of their depression dropped by an average of more than 50 percent.

Transplant centers often reject potential donor livers for sickest patients in need Posted: 27 Jan 2016 12:48 PM PST As patients in desperate need of a liver transplant lay waiting, many livers that might give them a new life go unused by centers across America, according to new research.

New material with built-in vitamin A may reduce scarring Posted: 27 Jan 2016 12:48 PM PST Material can be used to treat damaged blood vessels or to make medical devices with intrinsic healing properties, which could reduce tissue scarring, report researchers.

Slender mice, heart disease and diabetes: What do they have in common? Posted: 27 Jan 2016 12:48 PM PST Removal of a gene protected mice against arterial disease, and they stayed lean even when they ate more. The phenomenon underlying this beneficial phenotype is more active brown adipose tissue, a new study has found.

Basic research led to first FDA-approved immunotherapy for pediatric cancer Posted: 27 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST An immunotherapy that until now has only been available to patients enrolled in research studies, is equivalent to the product that has been manufactured for commercial use and can be made available to all patients, say researchers.

Ongoing HIV replication replenishes viral reservoirs during therapy Posted: 27 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST In HIV-infected patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART), ongoing HIV replication in lymphoid tissues such as the lymph nodes helps maintain stores, or reservoirs, of the virus, a new study suggests. A better understanding of how HIV persists in the body is essential for developing strategies to eliminate viral reservoirs -- a prerequisite to achieving a cure for HIV infection.

Researchers mine the epigenome to identify likely origins of childhood brain tumor subtype Posted: 27 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST A team of scientists mined the epigenome to discover the likely cell of origin for Group 4 medulloblastoma, a key step in developing targeted therapies. Medulloblastoma occurs in infants, children and adults, but it is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor.

Antidepressants during pregnancy do not pose risk to unborn child, say researchers Posted: 27 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST Women who take antidepressants during pregnancy do not appear to be at greater risk of giving birth to children with congenital heart defects compared to women who are not exposed to the drugs, according to new research.

'Lifespan machine' probes cause of aging Posted: 27 Jan 2016 11:14 AM PST A surprising statistical regularity has been found in how a variety of genetic and environmental factors affect the life span of the C. elegans worm. These findings suggest that aging does not have a single discrete molecular cause but is rather a systemic process involving many components within a complex biological network. Perturb any node in the system, and you affect the whole thing.

Genetic study provides first-ever insight into biological origin of schizophrenia Posted: 27 Jan 2016 11:14 AM PST A landmark study, based on genetic analysis of nearly 65,000 people, has revealed that a person's risk of schizophrenia is increased if they inherit specific variants in a gene related to "synaptic pruning" -- the elimination of connections between neurons. The findings represent the first time that the origin of this devastating psychiatric disease has been causally linked to specific gene variants and a biological process.

Eating soy may protect women from health risks of BPA Posted: 27 Jan 2016 11:13 AM PST Consuming soy regularly may protect women who are undergoing infertility treatments from poor success rates linked to bisphenol A exposure, according to a new study.

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