الجمعة، 12 فبراير 2016

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

Mommy and me: Study shows how affectionate mothering can combat the effects of maternal depression

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 03:50 PM PST

Certain parenting strategies can combat the negative impacts of maternal depression on an infant, suggests the first study of its kind. The work sought to investigate how a depressed mother's neuroendocrine response to stress can program the infant's hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, a set of signals and relationships between the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the adrenals. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is responsible for creating cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress.

Potential therapy for most aggressive type of lung cancer in preclinical models

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 11:22 AM PST

The specific combination of the drugs dasatinib and demcizumab impairs the growth of KRAS-driven lung tumors, the most aggressive sub-type and with the lowest survival rates. The research was conducted on mouse models and samples of human tumors. The experts are confident they can soon start clinical trials which will make it possible to transfer the discoveries to cancer patients.

Early diet of infants, not maternal obesity, influences development of gut microbiome

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 11:22 AM PST

After the age of nine months, the development of the infant gut microbiota is driven by the transition to family foods, not maternal obesity, according to results from a new study. The gut microbiota is a complex community of microorganisms that live in the digestive tract. Children are essentially born without microbes in their gut, and they are immediately colonized upon birth. The next several years are critical in establishing a person's endogenous gut microbiota.

Real-time Ebola fusion system yields clues to stopping infection

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 11:22 AM PST

The first real-time system has been developed to watch directly through the microscope as Ebola-like virus particles fuse with human cells to infect them. Their findings reveal key host cell and viral proteins that direct fusion and Ebola infection. Such knowledge is crucial for designing future drugs or vaccines to prevent this deadly disease.

Illness continues to be major effect linked to Gulf War military service, new report finds

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 11:20 AM PST

Although more than $500 million in federally funded research on Persian Gulf War veterans between 1994 and 2014 has produced many findings, there has been little substantial progress in the overall understanding of the health effects, particularly Gulf War illness, resulting from military service in the war, says a new report.

Novel neuroprotective therapy found to enhance memory

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 11:20 AM PST

New research highlights the neuroprotective potential of a peptide developed at the university, and the marked difference in nerve cell communication in male and female mice. If researchers come to understand how the protein acts differently in each sex, drugs for potential therapeutics can be optimized to treat both autism and Alzheimer's disease.

Breaking cell barriers with retractable protein nanoneedles

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 11:20 AM PST

Researchers have adapted a retractable protein polymer -- found naturally in certain bacteria -- to mechanically rupture cell membranes, which could lead to new drug delivery methods and other applications in biotechnology and medicine.

Biosensors on demand

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 11:20 AM PST

New research leverages a combination of computational protein design, in vitro synthesis and in vivo testing to establish a first-of-its-kind strategy for identifying custom-tailored biosensors.

Type 2 diabetes drug can exhaust insulin-producing cells

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 11:04 AM PST

Long-term use of liraglutide, a substance that helps to lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, can have a deteriorating effect on insulin-producing beta cells, leading to an increase in blood sugar levels, an international team of researchers warns.

True love: How transcription factors interact to create a heart

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 11:04 AM PST

Three transcription factors -- proteins that direct gene expression -- interact with each other and the genome to influence how a heart forms in an embryo, scientists have discovered. Without these protein interactions, severe congenital heart defects can occur. By understanding how the transcription factors work together during heart development, researchers may discover new ways to treat heart disease.

Common cell transformed to master heart cell

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 11:04 AM PST

By genetically reprogramming the most common type of cell in mammalian connective tissue, researchers have generated master heart cells -- primitive progenitors that form the developing heart. The feat could one day fuel drug discovery, powerful new models for heart disease and the raw material for treating diseased hearts.

A heart-shaped protein

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 10:39 AM PST

From cookies and candies to balloons and cards, heart-shaped items abound this time of year. They're even in our blood. It turns out that the most abundant protein molecule in blood plasma--serum albumin (SA)--is shaped very much like a heart.

Could the food we eat affect our genes? Study in yeast suggests this may be the case

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 08:15 AM PST

Almost all of our genes may be influenced by the food we eat, suggests new research. The study, carried out in yeast -- which can be used to model some of the body's fundamental processes -- shows that while the activity of our genes influences our metabolism, the opposite is also true and the nutrients available to cells influence our genes.

New answers concerning a weight-regulating hormone

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 07:48 AM PST

For years, scientists have failed to locate the DNA variants that control the weight-regulating hormone, leptin. However, new research has enabled the identification of four genes associated with leptin levels, which is particularly relevant within an obesity context. The study focuses on the powerful hormone leptin, which regulates humans' long-term energy balance by informing the brain about the amount of stored body fat.

Faulty bioelectric signal responsible for facial defects caused by rare genetic disorder

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 05:55 AM PST

Faulty bioelectric signaling has been found to be responsible for the skull and facial abnormalities that characterize the rare genetic disorder Andersen-Tawil Syndrome (ATS). It may therefore be possible to alter bioelectrical signaling to correct effects of fetal alcohol syndrome and other developmental defects or genetic mutations.

Remote telemonitoring does not reduce hospital readmissions for heart failure patients

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 05:55 AM PST

Combined health coaching and remote monitoring did not reduce all-cause 180-day hospital readmissions among heart failure patients, and did not have significant effects on 30-day hospital readmissions, 30-day mortality, or 180-day mortality, reports a new article. But patients reported significantly improved quality of life.

How your cells build tiny 'train tracks' could shed light on human disease

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 05:52 AM PST

Researchers have discovered how cells in the human body build their own 'railway networks', throwing light on how diseases such as bowel cancer work. The microtubule tracks are vital for functions such as cell division and are a key target for key cancer drugs. Now researchers are studying how these microtubule tracks are assembled.

New smart chip makes low-powered, wireless neural implants a possibility

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 05:30 AM PST

A versatile chip offers multiple applications in various electronic devices, report researchers, suggested that there is now hope that a low-powered, wireless neural implant may soon be a reality. Neural implants when embedded in the brain can alleviate the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson's disease or give paraplegic people the ability to move their prosthetic limbs.

Expanded understanding of promising blood fat-lowering protein

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 05:27 AM PST

New research on the blood lipid-lowering protein FGF21 shows how it redistributes fatty acids by two distinct mechanisms. The discovery could lead to improved pharmaceutical treatment for type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related diseases, say researchers.

Narcissists not necessarily satisfied with themselves

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 05:27 AM PST

Narcissists feel superior to others but aren't necessarily satisfied with themselves. After reviewing the research literature, researchers conclude that narcissism and self-esteem are much more distinct than conventional wisdom has led us to believe.

New treatment option for the acute phase of the rare disease TTP

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 05:27 AM PST

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) is a rare disorder caused by an enzyme deficiency. This can be heriditary or can be acquired as an autoimmune condition. Due to the associated excessive activity of a certain protein, blood clots enriched with blood platelets form and block the smallest blood vessels. The disorder is life-threatening and very difficult to treat, particularly in the acute phase. Researchers have developed a treatment strategy to prevent this clotting in the blood vessels.

Sneezing produces complex fluid cascade, not a simple spray

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 05:25 AM PST

New high-speed videos captured researchers show that as a person sneezes, they launch a sheet of fluid that balloons, then breaks apart in long filaments that destabilize, and finally disperses as a spray of droplets, similar to paint that is flung through the air.

The Mindlessly slim

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 05:25 AM PST

You know that one friend that never worries about weight and seems to stay effortlessly slim? That friend, and others like them might unknowingly possess secrets to helping those who struggle with their weight.

New approach offered to treating cocaine addiction

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 05:25 AM PST

An FDA-approved drug used for diabetes and obesity may also reduce cocaine dependence, new research indicates. The drug, trade name Byetta, derives from a naturally occurring hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, which regulates feeding behavior. Knowing what they did about GLP-1, the research team turned to it as a possible treatment for cocaine addicts.

Incidence of dementia may be declining, new study reveals

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 05:23 AM PST

Despite the concern of an explosion of dementia cases in an aging population over the next few decades, a new study suggests that the rate of new cases of dementia actually may be decreasing.

New milestone for device that can 'smell' prostate cancer

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 05:22 AM PST

An important milestone has been reached towards creating a urine diagnostic test for prostate cancer that could mean that invasive diagnostic procedures that men currently undergo eventually become a thing of the past.

Long-term benefits of 'senolytic' drugs on vascular health in mice

Posted: 11 Feb 2016 05:22 AM PST

Building on previous studies, researchers have demonstrated significant health improvements in the vascular system of mice following repeated treatments to remove senescent cells. They say this is the first study to show that regular and continual clearance of senescent cells improves age-related vascular conditions -- and that the method may be a viable approach to reduce cardiovascular disease and death.

Scrubbing bubbles rescue oxygen-starved hearts

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 02:10 PM PST

Researchers used ultrasound-activated microbubbles to improve preservation of heart muscle and function in a pig heart attack model. The method is now in phase I human clinical trials. The promising treatment could be administered to heart attack patients arriving at the emergency room (or even while in the ambulance), and could preserve heart muscle before patients receive invasive interventions to open blocked arteries.

Lipid-based diets effectively combat Alzheimer's disease in mouse model

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 11:27 AM PST

Researchers have devised several lipid-based diets aimed at slowing down progression and relieving symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is generally accepted that lifestyle and particularly dietary habits influence mental health, and prevalence and progression of AD. Numerous epidemiological studies have revealed profitable effects of dietary intake of especially fish oil on cognitive decline during aging and dementia.

Cardiac repair: Neutrophils to the rescue

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:51 AM PST

Following an acute heart attack, immune cells called neutrophils coordinate an inflammatory response which can exacerbate the damage to the organ. Now researchers have shown that neutrophils also promote cardiac repair.

Computerized rehab aids those suffering from brain injuries

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:49 AM PST

Computerized cognitive rehabilitation (a program to help brain-injured or otherwise cognitively impaired individuals to restore normal functioning) can improve attention and executive functioning in brain injury survivors including traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke, researchers have demonstrated for the first time.

Enhancing neuronal activity promotes axon regeneration in adult central nervous system

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:48 AM PST

Scientists have demonstrated that axon regenerative capacity can be boosted with the right stimulants on neuronal activity through either an optogenetic or a chemogenetic approach.

New hope in global race to beat malaria parasite's deadly new resistance

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:48 AM PST

Scientists have made a major breakthrough in the global search for a new drug to beat the malaria parasite's growing resistance to first-defense treatments. The deadly mosquito-borne malaria parasite kills around 450,000 children every year. Resistance to the world's most effective antimalarial drug, artemisinin, has developed in South-East Asia, with fears it will soon reach Africa. The artemisinin resistant species has spread to six countries in five years.

Stakeholder involvement in clinical trial design leads to greater recruitment, retention

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:47 AM PST

By seeking the advice of patients, families and other stakeholders in designing a clinical trial investigating pediatric appendicitis, researchers found a way to significantly increase the number of people recruited and retained in the trial.

Study finds high rate of elective surgery for uncomplicated diverticulitis after few episodes

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:47 AM PST

Patterns of episodes of diverticulitis before surgery, and factors associated with earlier interventions using inpatient, outpatient, and antibiotic prescription claims, have all been examined by a group of researchers.

Gastric bypass surgery at ages older than 35 years associated with improved survival

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:47 AM PST

Researchers examined whether gastric bypass surgery is equally effective in reducing mortality in groups undergoing surgery at different ages. Bariatric surgery is effective in reducing all-cause and cause-specific long-term mortality. Whether the long-term mortality benefit of surgery applies to all ages at which surgery is performed is not known.

Study examines euthanasia, assisted suicide of patients with psychiatric disorders

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:47 AM PST

A review of euthanasia or assisted suicide cases among patients with psychiatric disorders in the Netherlands found that most had chronic, severe conditions, with histories of attempted suicides and hospitalizations, and were described as socially isolated or lonely.

Inhibiting age-related inflammation maintains healthy gut microbiota, extends lifespan

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 10:46 AM PST

Age-related inflammation drives changes in the fruit fly gut-causing metaplasia or abnormal changes in cells, new research shows. That metaplasia led to changes in the microbiota, which resulted in pathology and shorter lifespans. Researchers reduced inflammatory signaling in the gastric region of the fly gut, preventing metaplasia, maintaining a healthy commensal population, and extending lifespan in the flies by up to 18 percent. Metaplasias have been associated with human cancers and other diseases.

Sleeping sickness, chagas disease, leishmaniasis: A multitude of healthy carriers

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 08:17 AM PST

Humans can tolerate the parasites responsible for the sleeping sickness, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis for many years. These parasites belong to the same family of pathogens known as trypanosomatids. Researchers have highlighted this tolerance phenomenon in humans, which results from the genetic evolution of the populations being exposed.

New compounds for the treatment of infectious tropical diseases

Posted: 10 Feb 2016 08:17 AM PST

Newly patented compounds show significant improvements over existing treatments, showing low toxicity and, consequently, fewer side-effects. Infectious tropical diseases mainly affect people living in developing countries. They are transmitted by the bites of insects carrying parasites that are infectious to human beings. Apart from the obvious obstacle they pose to economic and social development, these diseases are the cause of enormous human suffering and high death counts.
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