ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Pesticide mixtures may increase health risks but are still unregulated by California
• New study finds promising results for MERS treatment
• The global healthy weight registry
• Feeding a city with better food sources
• Stigma regarding weight loss may be overblown, study says
• Connection between anal cancer, HPV
• Marked gender differences found in scholarly productivity
• Autoantibodies may help detect lung cancer earlier
• Protein structure illuminates how viruses take over cells
• New research could help improve HIV/AIDS therapies
• Neanderthals mated with modern humans much earlier than previously thought, study finds
• Diabetes during pregnancy associated with increased risk of low milk supply
• Immune-targeting drug combo shows promise for lung cancer patients
• New links between heart hormones, obesity, and diabetes
• Can CRISPR help edit out female mosquitoes?
• New molecular alarm clock found in vertebrates
• Cancer study is 'paradigm shift' in cause of tumor formation
• Evolution silences harmful mutations
• Low-dose exposure of environmental contaminants can be harmful to the human brain
• What's love got to do with it? Drinking, smoking and teen romance
• Research sheds new light on whether we are all getting fatter
• Explaining autism: Study identifies novel mechanism that causes abnormal brain development
• Half the world to be short-sighted by 2050
• Marijuana smokers 5 times more likely to develop an alcohol problem
• Hidradenitis suppurativa and risk of adverse cardiovascular events, death
• Use of breast conservation surgery for cancer decreases; high-rate of reoperation
• What is risk of mental health, substance use disorders if you use marijuana?
• Scientists discover bird blood cell which destroys fatal fungal infection
• Children born in winter, or to smoking mothers, have vulnerable lungs
• Many school children avoid basic foods unnecessarily
• Study uncovers key player contributing to healthy maintenance of bone marrow niche
• 'Stay-at-home' males fueled menopause evolution, say researchers
• Bullied preemies may develop mental illness as adults, study shows
• Signpost for sentinel cells
• New staging for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer
• Some chemotherapy drugs may improve tumor response to immune checkpoint therapy
• Study suggests sildenafil may relieve severe form of edema in swimmers
• Synthetic plant hormones shut down DNA repair in cancer cells
• First-in-class drug ONC201 shows potential for some blood cancers
• One in ten adolescents living in households with food insecurity have poor mental health
• Potential treatment for Friedreich's Ataxia identified
• Livestock donations to Zambian households yield higher income, improved diet

Pesticide mixtures may increase health risks but are still unregulated by California Posted: 17 Feb 2016 11:59 AM PST A new study has found that the state agency responsible for protecting Californians from the dangers of pesticides is failing to assess the health risks likely posed by pesticide mixtures, which are believed to be more harmful than individual pesticides.

New study finds promising results for MERS treatment Posted: 17 Feb 2016 11:57 AM PST Researchers have had promising results with a new treatment for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. The study found a new treatment that protected mice from MERS infection.

The global healthy weight registry Posted: 17 Feb 2016 11:04 AM PST If there is one thing to avoid when trying to lose or maintain a healthy weight, it's a restrictive diet. Instead, simple routine behaviors may be key, according to new research findings.

Feeding a city with better food sources Posted: 17 Feb 2016 11:04 AM PST Access to clean water hasn't been the only health issue facing Flint, Michigan. Since 2008, a public health expert has been mapping out areas of the city that have had almost no access to healthier food options and evaluating solutions that could help remedy the problem.

Stigma regarding weight loss may be overblown, study says Posted: 17 Feb 2016 11:04 AM PST Most people who have lost a lot of weight don't perceive themselves as being 'judged' because they used to be overweight or obese -- which contradicts earlier research that people were still stigmatized even after reaching a healthy weight.

Connection between anal cancer, HPV Posted: 17 Feb 2016 11:04 AM PST The results of a study demonstrating a connection between anal cancer and human papillomavirus infection has been published by researchers. It builds on research that indicated an increased likelihood that the two diseases would coexist in some women.

Marked gender differences found in scholarly productivity Posted: 17 Feb 2016 11:04 AM PST The differences between men and women seem to infiltrate yet another aspect of medicine with a study indicating that younger female gynecologic oncologists were less productive scholastically and, therefore, poorly represented in the higher academic ranks, than their male contemporaries.

Autoantibodies may help detect lung cancer earlier Posted: 17 Feb 2016 11:03 AM PST Preliminary research has identified autoantibodies, immune proteins found in the blood specific for one's own proteins, that can potentially detect lung cancer early by distinguishing between smokers with or without lung cancer and also discriminate between lung cancer and low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) detected non-cancerous lung lesions.

Protein structure illuminates how viruses take over cells Posted: 17 Feb 2016 11:03 AM PST Using cutting-edge imaging technology, researchers have determined the structure of a protein complex that lets viruses similar to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) establish permanent infections within their hosts.

New research could help improve HIV/AIDS therapies Posted: 17 Feb 2016 11:03 AM PST An experimental procedure that involves beaming X-rays at immobilized molecules resulted in a major step forward in exploring new therapies to combat HIV/AIDS and retrovirus-based cancers, report scientists.

Neanderthals mated with modern humans much earlier than previously thought, study finds Posted: 17 Feb 2016 11:03 AM PST Researchers report strong evidence of an interbreeding event between Neanderthals and modern humans occurring around 100,000 years ago, much earlier than any previously documented. The evidence suggests early modern humans left Africa and mixed with now-extinct members of the human family, before the migration 'out of Africa' around 65,000 years ago. It is also evidence of breeding in the 'opposite' direction from that already known, that is, modern human DNA in a Neanderthal genome.

Diabetes during pregnancy associated with increased risk of low milk supply Posted: 17 Feb 2016 10:07 AM PST Women with diabetes during pregnancy face a significantly higher risk of having a low milk supply. This study is believed to be the first to examine maternal diabetes as a risk factor for low milk supply.

Immune-targeting drug combo shows promise for lung cancer patients Posted: 17 Feb 2016 10:07 AM PST Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in the United States resulting in more than 158,000 deaths each year. Investigators initiated a multicenter phase 1b clinical trial to determine the safety and efficacy of a new drug combination for non-small cell lung cancer that stimulates a patient's immune system to target and kill cancer cells.

New links between heart hormones, obesity, and diabetes Posted: 17 Feb 2016 09:55 AM PST A new approach to treating metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes has been suggested by researchers: targeting the pathway that controls the concentration of certain heart hormones in the blood.

Can CRISPR help edit out female mosquitoes? Posted: 17 Feb 2016 09:55 AM PST The recent discovery of the first male-determining factor in mosquitoes, combined with the gene-editing capabilities of the CRISPR-Cas9 system, could be used to bias mosquito populations from deadly, blood-sucking females toward harmless, nectar-feeding males, thus helping to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

New molecular alarm clock found in vertebrates Posted: 17 Feb 2016 09:55 AM PST Dozens of chemical interactions in the vertebrate brain go into maintaining a natural sleep schedule, and scientists have recently found one more player on the field: a neurochemical called neuromedin U, or Nmu. The protein, which was analyzed in zebrafish but is also found in humans, acts to stimulate wakefulness, particularly in the morning.

Cancer study is 'paradigm shift' in cause of tumor formation Posted: 17 Feb 2016 08:36 AM PST A gene that may provide a new source of potential drug targets for tumors that arise in pulmonary tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) has been found by a pair of investigators. The discovery may change what is known about tumor formation and help to slow or halt tumor growth, therefore having broader implications in cancer research.

Evolution silences harmful mutations Posted: 17 Feb 2016 08:35 AM PST Sometimes so-called synonymous mutations occur in DNA. These do not lead to a change in the protein sequence but which may still have major negative effects on the ability of bacteria to survive. New research has now shown that an organism can efficiently compensate for the negative effects.

Low-dose exposure of environmental contaminants can be harmful to the human brain Posted: 17 Feb 2016 08:35 AM PST Individuals subjected to chronic low-dose exposure to organochlorine pesticides show and increased risk to obtain a future diagnosis of cognitive impairment.

What's love got to do with it? Drinking, smoking and teen romance Posted: 17 Feb 2016 08:35 AM PST New research has examined whether the desire for romance leads to increased substance alcohol or tobacco use in adolescents. Investigators studied over 1,100 Grade 10 pupils in Los Angeles, USA examining whether an association could be drawn between romantic ambition and the interaction with tobacco and alcohol. The research adds to the ongoing inquiries around how romantic relationships can affect adolescents in social development, academia, health and general well-being.

Research sheds new light on whether we are all getting fatter Posted: 17 Feb 2016 08:33 AM PST A study of trends in Body Mass Index since 1992 for England has found that while BMI is rising across both sexes and within all social groups, there have been larger increases in those who already have the highest BMIs.

Explaining autism: Study identifies novel mechanism that causes abnormal brain development Posted: 17 Feb 2016 08:33 AM PST Recognizing a need to better understand the biology that produces Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) symptoms, scientists have identified a novel mechanism that potentially links abnormal brain development to the cause of ASDs. This new knowledge will help to improve the diagnosis and development of therapeutic interventions for ASDs.

Half the world to be short-sighted by 2050 Posted: 17 Feb 2016 08:33 AM PST Half the world's population (nearly 5 billion) will be short-sighted (myopic) by 2050, with up to one-fifth of them (1 billion) at a significantly increased risk of blindness if current trends continue, says a new study.

Marijuana smokers 5 times more likely to develop an alcohol problem Posted: 17 Feb 2016 08:28 AM PST Adults who use marijuana are five times more likely to develop an alcohol use disorder (AUD) -- alcohol abuse or dependence -- compared with adults who do not use the drug. And adults who already have an alcohol use disorder and use marijuana are more likely to see the problem persist.

Hidradenitis suppurativa and risk of adverse cardiovascular events, death Posted: 17 Feb 2016 08:28 AM PST Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease marked by painful abscesses that develop in areas where there are large numbers of sweat glands. The disease has been associated with cardiovascular risk factors, such as smoking and obesity, but the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with HS is unknown.

Use of breast conservation surgery for cancer decreases; high-rate of reoperation Posted: 17 Feb 2016 08:28 AM PST The use of breast conservation surgery (BCS) in New York State has been studied by researchers who determined rates of reoperation, procedure choice, and the effect of surgeon experience on the odds of a reoperation 90 days after BCS.

What is risk of mental health, substance use disorders if you use marijuana? Posted: 17 Feb 2016 08:28 AM PST With more states legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, there are renewed clinical and policy concerns about the mental health effects of the drug.

Scientists discover bird blood cell which destroys fatal fungal infection Posted: 17 Feb 2016 06:13 AM PST Scientists reveal how birds can carry potentially fatal infections to humans but not get ill. They say that the white blood cell in birds blocks growth of fatal infection, adding that this discovery could help in preventing humans from contracting diseases including bird flu.

Children born in winter, or to smoking mothers, have vulnerable lungs Posted: 17 Feb 2016 06:13 AM PST Smoking mothers, respiratory infections and the date you were born contribute to determine how fast your lungs are aging, shows research. People who have been exposed to the aforementioned factors have a faster decline in lung function, which practically means a faster aging process. Still, this only becomes apparent if they themselves start smoking or if other risk factors have been a part of their early life.

Many school children avoid basic foods unnecessarily Posted: 17 Feb 2016 06:10 AM PST A study on hypersensitivity to the basic foods milk, egg, fish and wheat among young school children showed that reported food hypersensitivity was eight times more common than allergies confirmed by allergy tests.

Study uncovers key player contributing to healthy maintenance of bone marrow niche Posted: 17 Feb 2016 06:09 AM PST A new study has uncovered a key player contributing to the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), blood cell precursors which have the ability to become any type of blood cell in the body. Research findings could contribute towards better understanding of the underlying causes of blood diseases, say the scientists.

'Stay-at-home' males fueled menopause evolution, say researchers Posted: 17 Feb 2016 06:08 AM PST The evolution of the menopause was 'kick-started' by a fluke of nature, but then boosted by the tendency for sons and grandsons to remain living close to home, a new study suggests.

Bullied preemies may develop mental illness as adults, study shows Posted: 17 Feb 2016 06:08 AM PST A new study on adult mental health included extremely low birth weight babies who were 2.2 pounds or less at their birth between 1977 and 1982 in Ontario. These adults were interviewed at age 8, 22 to 26 and 29 to 36. Their mental health was compared to normal birth weight babies of 5.5 pounds or more who were born in the same time span and interviewed at the same intervals.

Signpost for sentinel cells Posted: 16 Feb 2016 03:17 PM PST Sentinel cells of the immune system can enter the finest lymphatic capillary vessels present in tissues. Researchers have now discovered the molecular signpost that guides these cells in the direction of the nearest lymph node.

New staging for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer Posted: 16 Feb 2016 03:17 PM PST Human papillomavirus (HPV) status is a strong predictor of prognosis for patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC), but the current staging system does not adequately account for biological and clinical differences between HPV-positive OPC and HPV-negative OPC, commonly caused by alcohol and tobacco use, say researchers.

Some chemotherapy drugs may improve tumor response to immune checkpoint therapy Posted: 16 Feb 2016 03:10 PM PST The use of certain traditional chemotherapy drugs may expand the number of tumors that respond to one of today's most promising cancer therapies -- immune checkpoint blockade. Researchers report that inducing the infiltration of cytotoxic T cells into lung tumors sensitized otherwise unresponsive tumors to checkpoint blockade in animal models.

Study suggests sildenafil may relieve severe form of edema in swimmers Posted: 16 Feb 2016 03:10 PM PST Swimmers and divers who are prone to a sudden and potentially life-threatening form of pulmonary edema in cold water could benefit from a simple and readily available dose of sildenafil, according to findings from a small study.

Synthetic plant hormones shut down DNA repair in cancer cells Posted: 16 Feb 2016 03:10 PM PST Two drugs that mimic a common plant hormone effectively cause DNA damage and turn off a major DNA repair mechanism, suggesting their potential use as an anti-cancer therapy.

First-in-class drug ONC201 shows potential for some blood cancers Posted: 16 Feb 2016 03:02 PM PST ONC201, an anti-cancer drug that triggers cell death in various tumor types, may have clinical potential for some blood cancers including mantel cell lymphoma (MCL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), according to a recent clinical study.

One in ten adolescents living in households with food insecurity have poor mental health Posted: 16 Feb 2016 11:39 AM PST One in 10 adolescents living in households with food insecurity have poorer parent-reported mental health than peers, according to a study. Adolescents who experienced household food insecurity -- a limited or uncertain availability of nutritional food -- were twice as likely, according to their caregivers, to have emotional problems, conduct problems (a range of destructive behaviors that could include bullying, stealing, destroying other people's property, truancy and initiating physical fights), have hyperactivity and struggle with peer relationships.

Potential treatment for Friedreich's Ataxia identified Posted: 16 Feb 2016 11:39 AM PST Researchers have identified synthetic RNA and DNA that reverses the protein deficiency causing Friedreich's ataxia, a neurological disease for which there is currently no cure.

Livestock donations to Zambian households yield higher income, improved diet Posted: 16 Feb 2016 11:36 AM PST Some humanitarian organizations facilitate livestock donations to poor households in developing countries, but does giving a cow, a pair of oxen, or a herd of goats to a poor household really benefit the recipients? A recent study says it does.

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