الخميس، 11 فبراير 2016

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

Mechanism that unwinds DNA may function similar to an oil rig 'pumpjack'

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 02:01 PM PST

DNA is unwound by a type of "pumpjack" mechanism, similar to the way one operates on an oil rig, a team of scientists suggests. This finding is based on new close-up images of the proteins that unwind DNA inside the nucleus of a yeast cell and could offer insight into ways that DNA replication can go awry and trigger disease.

Precise visualization of myocardial injury

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 01:57 PM PST

In a world-first, researchers have performed cardiac MRI imaging using a 7T MRI scanner in a patient-based study. 7T MRI imaging is a powerful new technology that allows high resolution images of the beating heart, and has the capability to provide valuable information of the myocardial (heart muscle) tissue structures.

Nanoparticle reduces targeted cancer drug's toxicity

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 01:57 PM PST

In one of the first efforts to date to apply nanotechnology to targeted cancer therapeutics, researchers have created a nanoparticle formulation of a cancer drug that is both effective and nontoxic -- qualities harder to achieve with the free drug.

Couch potatoes may have smaller brains later in life

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 01:57 PM PST

Poor physical fitness in middle age may be linked to a smaller brain size 20 years later, according to a new study.

Research finds new target in search for why statin drugs sometimes cause problems for some patients

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 11:34 AM PST

Statin drugs interact with a gap junction protein called GJC3 that releases ATP, a major signaling molecule for inflammation in the body, new research shows. This discovery provides a significant new target in the search for why statin drugs can sometimes cause harmful effects such as muscle toxicity in some patients.

Research uncovers more inherited genetic mutations linked to ovarian cancer

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:54 AM PST

Previous research has established a link between genetic mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes to an increased risk of developing ovarian, fallopian tube or peritoneal cancer in women. A recent publication documents the efforts of a team of researchers to determine if inherited genetic mutations other than BRCA1 and BRCA2 can also put a woman at risk of developing these diseases.

Starting age of marijuana use may have long-term effects on brain development

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:53 AM PST

The age at which an adolescent begins using marijuana may affect typical brain development, according to researchers. Scientists describe how marijuana use, and the age at which use is initiated, may adversely alter brain structures that underlie higher order thinking.

Study sheds light on source of drug addicts risk-taking behavior

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:52 AM PST

New insight has been gained into how the brains of drug addicts may be wired differently. The findings show that while drug users have very strong motivation to seek out 'rewards,' they exhibit an impaired ability to adjust their behavior and are less fulfilled once they have achieved what they desire. This disconnect between the craving for a drug and inability to regulate behavior may be key to breaking the cycle of addiction.

Leukemia's surroundings key to its growth

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:52 AM PST

A type of cancer found primarily in children can grow only when signaled to do so by other nearby cells that are noncancerous, new research shows. The study contributes to a growing body of research that implicates the environment around a cancer in its spread -- an area of study that holds promise for new alternatives to treat the disease.

Two in five individuals with schizophrenia have attempted suicide

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:52 AM PST

Those with schizophrenia who'd been physically abused during childhood were five times more likely to have attempted suicide, a new study shows. The lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts among individuals with schizophrenia was 39.2 percent compared to 2.8 percent of those without the disorder, according to the study.

'LIGHTSABR,' a cheap, portable drug-discovery system developed

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:52 AM PST

A device that can do the functional equivalent of high-throughput compound screening on an ultra-miniaturized scale has been developed by researchers.

Prostate cancer survivors' risk of heart disease studied

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:49 AM PST

A cardio-oncology program is focusing on modulating the risk factors for cardiovascular disease in men, especially those receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to treat their prostate cancer.

Exercise and meditation together help beat depression

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:48 AM PST

A mind and body combination of exercise and meditation, done twice a week for only two months, reduced the symptoms for a group of students by 40 percent.

Alcohol also damages the liver by allowing bacteria to infiltrate

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:47 AM PST

Alcohol itself can directly damage liver cells. Now researchers report evidence that alcohol is also harmful to the liver for a second reason -- it allows gut bacteria to migrate to the liver, promoting alcohol-induced liver disease. The study was conducted in mice and in laboratory samples.

New method opens crystal clear views of biomolecules

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:46 AM PST

A scientific breakthrough gives researchers access to the blueprint of thousands of molecules of great relevance to medicine and biology. The novel technique, opens up an easy way to determine the spatial structures of proteins and other molecules, many of which are practically inaccessible by existing methods.

The new health 'desert'? Reliable weight loss programs hard to find

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:46 AM PST

People with medically serious weight problems can rarely find or have access to proven, reliable programs to help them shed pounds, new research concludes.

Improving quality of life for the seriously ill

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 08:24 AM PST

Being diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening illness is distressing enough but a dearth of cohesive services often compounds the difficulty, according to a researcher.

Scientists write document explaining Zika Virus, urge vigilance

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 08:24 AM PST

Public concerns about Zika have triggered scientists to write a new Extension document to explain the virus. Meanwhile, state mosquito control agencies and the Florida Department of Health monitor local areas for diseases and for these mosquito species.

New study reveals visual working memory may provide clues to autism's social struggles

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 08:21 AM PST

Poor visual working memory can play an important role in the struggles experienced by autistic children, according to a new study. The aim of this study was to compare the working memory profiles of autistic children with typically developing children. The results suggest that children with autism have much worse visual working memory compared to typically developing students.

Rise in marijuana in U.S. use not as high as previously reported

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 08:21 AM PST

Researchers report an estimated 12.5 percent of adults living in the United States use marijuana, but this research also shows that the rate of pot use did not double from 2002 to 2013 — as had been reported in the fall — but instead increased by about 20 percent. Meanwhile, the rate of problems related to the drug has remained steady.

Strategy for increasing survival of mothers, newborns in South Asia

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 08:16 AM PST

In several South Asian countries, midwifery is not an established profession. As a result, complications in both mothers and newborns are extremely common. Now a researcher has been commissioned by the UN to work in Nepal, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. In her thesis, she presents a strategy on how the midwifery profession can be established in low-income countries - and in this way, improve the health of mothers and newborns. 

Study offers treatment hope for sleep disordered breathing

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 08:13 AM PST

People with a condition linked to obesity that causes them to stop breathing in their sleep could be helped by new research. The study could lead to new treatments for the condition called central sleep apnoea -- which occurs during sleep disordered breathing and is linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Atherosclerosis: A short cut to inflammation

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 08:13 AM PST

The enzyme Dicer processes RNA transcripts, cutting them into short segments that regulate the synthesis of specific proteins. A research team has shown that Dicer promotes the development of atherosclerosis, thus identifying a new drug target.

'Electronic nose' will help to diagnose diseases

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 08:08 AM PST

Scientists have created a gas analyzer -- 'electronic nose' that is able to assess the quality of the food, cosmetic, and medical products, to diagnose diseases by evaluating exhaled gases, and even detect explosives and drugs.

Attention problems persist in childhood leukemia survivors treated with chemotherapy alone

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 08:07 AM PST

Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients from the contemporary treatment era remain at risk for attention and learning problems later, researchers report. ALL is the most common childhood cancer and among the most curable. The study involved the largest and most comprehensive assessment to date of neurocognitive outcomes in pediatric ALL survivors treated with intensive chemotherapy alone rather than in combination with cranial radiation therapy.

Pregnancy and PTSD: Surprising findings could help moms-to-be at risk

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 08:07 AM PST

For most women, expecting a baby brings intense joy -- and a fair amount of worry. But what about women who have lived through something awful enough to cause post-traumatic stress disorder? Contrary to what researchers expected, a new study shows that pregnancy may actually reduce their PTSD symptoms. Or at the least, it won't cause a flare-up.

Chemical cages: New technique advances synthetic biology

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 08:07 AM PST

A clever means of localizing and confining enzymes and the substrate molecules they bind with has been presented by researchers, speeding up reactions essential for life processes.

Childhood maltreatment predicts range of negative outcomes in bipolar patients

Posted: 09 Feb 2016 07:39 PM PST

Child maltreatment could predict a range of negative outcomes in patients with bipolar disorder, according to new research, which adds to growing evidence on the enduring mental health impact of childhood abuse and neglect.

Stronger evidence found for link between prenatal exposure to paracetamol, risk of developing asthma

Posted: 09 Feb 2016 07:12 PM PST

Researchers have provided new evidence that developing asthma can be linked to pregnant women and infants being exposed to paracetamol; by testing that the association was not simply due to the medical complaint for which the person is taking paracetamol. The findings were published today (Wednesday) in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

Higher nurse to patient ratio linked to reduced risk of inpatient death

Posted: 09 Feb 2016 07:11 PM PST

A higher nurse to patient ratio is linked to a reduced risk of inpatient death, finds a study of staffing levels in NHS hospitals. In trusts where registered (professionally trained) nurses had six or fewer patients to care for, the death rate was 20 per cent lower than in those where they had more than 10, say the investigators.

Native grass could be key to super-thin condoms

Posted: 09 Feb 2016 07:11 PM PST

Working in partnership with Aboriginal traditional owners of the Camooweal region in north-west Queensland, the Indjalandji-Dhidhanu People, researchers have developed a method of extracting nanocellulose -- which can be used as an additive in latex production -- from the grass.

Alcohol offender program associated with drop in deaths, study finds

Posted: 09 Feb 2016 07:11 PM PST

A widely copied alcohol offender program that has been shown to reduce DUIs and domestic violence has how been linked to a cut in deaths. The 24/7 Sobriety Program in South Dakota was associated with a 4 percent drop in deaths in counties that adopted the strategy, a finding that suggests that criminal justice interventions that reduce heavy alcohol consumption also may cut mortality.

Teaching neurons to respond to placebos as potential treatment for Parkinson's

Posted: 09 Feb 2016 07:11 PM PST

Scientist have discovered a way to make neurons respond to a placebo (a medically ineffective treatment), in the same way as they would to medically effective treatment, according to a new study.

New source of mutations in cancer discovered

Posted: 09 Feb 2016 03:15 PM PST

Recently, a new mutation signature found in cancer cells was suspected to have been created by a family of enzymes found in human cells called the APOBEC3 family, report scientists. Mutations are the replacement of DNA bases known as Adenine (A), Cytosine (C), Guanine (G) and Thymine (T) with other bases. When mutations such as C to T or G to A are found within a specific DNA sequence, this is known as a mutation signature. These mutation signatures are like spelling mistakes that carry signs of the agents that caused the mutations. Ultraviolet light, tobacco smoke and other cancer-causing agents leave behind such signatures in the DNA of tumors.

Engineering researchers use laser to 'weld' neurons

Posted: 09 Feb 2016 03:15 PM PST

A method of connecting neurons, using ultrashort laser pulses -- a breakthrough technique that opens the door to new medical research and treatment opportunities -- has been developed by scientists. Neurons are cells in the nervous system that are responsible for transferring information between the brain and the rest of the body. The research team is the first ever to find a way to bond neurons and in doing so, is giving researchers a powerful new tool.

Figuring out why artificial joints fail

Posted: 09 Feb 2016 01:18 PM PST

Using an advanced technology, research has begun a retrospective study to analyze joint implants that fail in the hope of improving future implants and preventing or decreasing the incidence of joint replacement failure.

Children with special health care needs and their families have high food insecurity risk

Posted: 09 Feb 2016 10:21 AM PST

Low-income families with children who have special health care needs are at high risk for food insecurity, even when they receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and participate in public assistance programs, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), say authors of a new report.

Identifying plant, animal DNA switches much faster, cheaper

Posted: 09 Feb 2016 10:20 AM PST

Ecological epigenetics has now been further advanced thanks, to the development of a new research technique. Epigenetic research has grown immensely as a field of research all across the world. In humans, for example, it proved to be connected to the development of cancer cells and to environmental factors affecting the fetus during pregnancy. The latter includes factors such as smoking or the distress of wars. Interest in epigenetics has also recently entered the field of ecological and evolutionary research.

Aging may worsen the effects of a high-salt diet

Posted: 09 Feb 2016 09:26 AM PST

Age significantly impaired the ability of rats to get rid of excess sodium when exposed to a high-salt diet, according to research. Findings could have implications for salt consumption in the elderly, say researchers, and suggest that older people could be at greater risk for the negative consequences of eating a high-salt diet.

Epilepsy at the molecular level

Posted: 09 Feb 2016 09:18 AM PST

Researchers study the link between malformations of the cerebral cortex and the occurrence of the neurological disease. Why does a structural irregularity in the temporal lobe make humans more susceptible to epileptic seizures? Experts have been searching for the answer to this question for a long time. A group of scientists has published a study involving a comparison of nearly 30,000 genes.

Injury deaths, life-expectancy gap between US and other high-income countries

Posted: 09 Feb 2016 09:15 AM PST

The contribution of three causes of injury death to the gap in life expectancy between the United States and 12 comparable countries in 2012 has been estimated in a new study. The researchers focused on motor vehicle traffic crashes, firearm-related injuries, and drug poisonings, the three largest causes of US injury death, responsible for more than 100,000 deaths per year.

Task-oriented rehab program does not result in greater recovery from stroke

Posted: 09 Feb 2016 09:15 AM PST

The use of a structured, task-oriented rehabilitation program, compared with usual rehabilitation, did not result in better motor function or recovery after 12 months for patients with moderate upper extremity impairment following a stroke, according to a study.

Protein that limits the severity of genetic kidney disease found

Posted: 09 Feb 2016 08:01 AM PST

Researchers have identified a protein that limits the severity of Alport syndrome, a type of genetic kidney disease. The finding can provide clues that point toward new therapeutic approaches for Alport syndrome.
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