ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Mental abilities are shaped by individual differences in the brain
• Antidepressant may improve cognitive symptoms in people with HIV
• Potential diagnostic for dengue fever outcomes based on metabolomic profiles
• Experimental Ebola antibody protects monkeys
• Source of cells used to generate new tissue may be important to personalized medicine
• Chagas disease: A wake-up call to accelerate the diagnosis, treatment and research
• Moving around more linked to longer life
• Genome editing: US could apply UK's approach to evaluate safety, ethics
• Braille maps for blind, visually impaired created with 3-D printer at Rutgers
• Zeroing in on 'super spreaders,' other hidden patterns of epidemics
• New front opens in battle against stroke
• New heat wave formula can help public health agencies prepare for extreme temperatures
• Leaky lymphatics lead to obesity in mice
• Heart failure is associated with increased acetylation of metabolic proteins
• Immunotherapy agent can disrupt viral reservoir in SIV-infected monkeys
• Sugar rush shrinks brain cell powerhouse
• Researchers work to block harmful behavior of key Alzheimer's enzyme
• Mirror mirror: Snail shells offer clue in unravelling common origins of body asymmetry
• Human gut microbiome evolution: From hunter-gatherers to a western lifestyle
• Stem cell technique makes sperm in a dish
• Parental pressure pushes young athletes to doping
• Understanding the role of human polyomaviruses in cancer
• Innate immune landscape in glioblastoma patient tumors
• Healthier, diabetic-friendly bread created
• High side effects, high cost, one month gain in 53 percent of elderly metastatic colorectal cancer patients
• First transcatheter implant for diastolic heart failure evaluated
• Heart damage can be prevented by overexpression of heme oxygenase-1
• Link between ADHD, vision impairment in children
• What keeps passion alive in long-term relationships?
• This is your brain on exercise
• Study shows teen girls' sexual orientation not always a predictor of sexual behavior
• Genetically modified E. coli pump out morphine precursor
• Protein that triggers juvenile arthritis identified
• Researchers uncover risks of some herbal medicines for cancer patients
• Rap music, adolescent sexual initiation mediated by perceived peer behavior, say researchers
• Mouse model used to study craniofacial disorders
• Pathway to better metabolism discovered in fat cells
• New interactive tool to explore the brain
• Searching for cancer's fingerprints gives clues to tumor growth
• Ultrasound during active labour best predictor of C-section needs
• Team suppresses oxidative stress, neuronal death associated with Alzheimer's disease
• Genomic sequencing reveals link between STIs and leading cause of infectious blindness
• One in four cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed within two years of a negative screening result
• Pancreatic cancer: Major breakthrough in our understanding of the mechanisms of the disease
• Physically active individuals cope better with heart attacks
• High levels of intense exercise may be unhealthy for the heart
• Infection-fighting bandages for serious burns
• Most Ebola survivors examined in study experienced brain symptoms six months after infection
• Colorado visitors using marijuana more likely to end up in emergency room
• Intensive blood pressure lowering treatment may harm people with diabetes
• Monitoring, support help patients, primary care physicians dealing with chronic pain
• Too much salt could potentially contribute to liver damage

Mental abilities are shaped by individual differences in the brain Posted: 25 Feb 2016 12:38 PM PST Everyone has a different mixture of personality traits: some are outgoing, some are tough and some are anxious. A new study suggests that brains also have different traits that affect both anatomical and cognitive factors, such as intelligence and memory.

Antidepressant may improve cognitive symptoms in people with HIV Posted: 25 Feb 2016 12:36 PM PST The antidepressant paroxetine modestly improves decision-making and reaction time, and suppresses inflammation in people with HIV-associated cognitive impairment, physicians report at the conclusion of a small, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Potential diagnostic for dengue fever outcomes based on metabolomic profiles Posted: 25 Feb 2016 12:36 PM PST Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease that can develop into the life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome. There are currently no standard biomarkers or algorithms for the prognosis of the progression to hemorrhagic fever or potentially fatal shock syndrome. Scientists are exploring the use of small molecules in patient serum for diagnosis of dengue fever and potentially predicting progression to the severe disease.

Experimental Ebola antibody protects monkeys Posted: 25 Feb 2016 12:34 PM PST Scientists have discovered that a single monoclonal antibody isolated from a human Ebola virus disease survivor protected non-human primates when given as late as five days after lethal Ebola infection. The antibody can now advance to testing in humans as a potential treatment for Ebola virus disease. There are currently no licensed treatments for Ebola infection, which caused more than 11,000 deaths in the 2014-2015 outbreak in West Africa.

Source of cells used to generate new tissue may be important to personalized medicine Posted: 25 Feb 2016 12:34 PM PST New insights suggest that the source of human cells used to generate new tissues and organs may be an important consideration in personalized medicine. Medical researchers released the results of a study highlighting molecular differences in cells that are gaining traction in the field of personalized medicine.

Chagas disease: A wake-up call to accelerate the diagnosis, treatment and research Posted: 25 Feb 2016 12:34 PM PST Without a more efficient treatment, more than 200,000 people living with Chagas disease will die from heart disease in the next five years.

Moving around more linked to longer life Posted: 25 Feb 2016 11:04 AM PST Medical researchers found that for adults aged 50 to 79 moving more, even 10 minutes of light activity daily, predicts lower mortality rates.

Genome editing: US could apply UK's approach to evaluate safety, ethics Posted: 25 Feb 2016 11:02 AM PST Two potential ways of stamping out serious disease by manipulating the genomes of human embryos are under intense public debate: mitochondrial replacement therapy and germline genome editing. The UK has already approved the former. Its process could guide the US as it considers allowing either or both of the techniques.

Braille maps for blind, visually impaired created with 3-D printer at Rutgers Posted: 25 Feb 2016 11:02 AM PST Using a high-tech 3-D printer, a student and his professor created sophisticated braille maps to help blind and visually impaired people navigate a local training center. The new maps -- made with state-of-the-art 3-D printers -- are a little larger than a small computer tablet. They're in a binder so people can easily carry them for reference. They also have a legend, or guide, in braille, a feature missing from previous maps.

Zeroing in on 'super spreaders,' other hidden patterns of epidemics Posted: 25 Feb 2016 11:02 AM PST The complex properties driving today's disease transmission -- and the speed at which an epidemic can travel -- call for new methods of surveillance. Researchers propose a novel way of developing mathematical models of infectious diseases to uncover hidden patterns of transmission.

New front opens in battle against stroke Posted: 25 Feb 2016 11:00 AM PST Medical scientists have vetted a potentially powerful new tool for helping prevent stroke and heart attack. In a study, researchers show that pioglitazone, a member of the insulin-sensitizing class of medications called thiazolidinediones, reduced the risk of stroke or heart attack by almost a quarter in patients who had previously suffered a stroke or mini-stroke.

New heat wave formula can help public health agencies prepare for extreme temperatures Posted: 25 Feb 2016 10:59 AM PST Extreme heat can pose several health risks, especially during sustained periods of high temperatures. However, a uniform definition of a heat wave doesn't exist. As a result, public health agencies may be unsure of when to activate heat alerts, cooling centers and other protective measures. A researcher has developed a uniform definition of a heat wave that may help public health agencies prepare for extreme temperatures.

Leaky lymphatics lead to obesity in mice Posted: 25 Feb 2016 10:58 AM PST Scientists report definitive evidence linking obesity to lymphatic dysfunction in the Prox1+/- mouse model.

Heart failure is associated with increased acetylation of metabolic proteins Posted: 25 Feb 2016 10:57 AM PST Scientists sought to explore how post-translational modification of mitochondrial proteins involved in energy metabolism contributes to the development of heart failure.

Immunotherapy agent can disrupt viral reservoir in SIV-infected monkeys Posted: 25 Feb 2016 10:57 AM PST An immune-enhancing treatment can push SIV out of its hideouts in infected monkeys that have the virus controlled with drugs, scientists report. Implications for the 'shock and kill' anti-HIV strategy.

Sugar rush shrinks brain cell powerhouse Posted: 25 Feb 2016 10:57 AM PST The spike in blood sugar levels that can come after a meal is controlled by the brain's neuronal mitochondria, which are considered the 'powerhouse of cells,' researchers found in a new study. The findings could provide a better understanding of how type 2 diabetes develops.

Researchers work to block harmful behavior of key Alzheimer's enzyme Posted: 25 Feb 2016 10:52 AM PST Enzymes rarely have one job. So, attempts to shut down the enzyme that causes the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease often mean side effects, because these therapies prevent the enzyme from carrying out many other functions. A study now presents a new therapeutic strategy: blocking the most harmful behavior enzyme while allowing it to work normally otherwise. This potential approach now needs to be further developed and tested in pre-clinical trials.

Mirror mirror: Snail shells offer clue in unravelling common origins of body asymmetry Posted: 25 Feb 2016 10:52 AM PST A gene in snails that determines whether their shells twist clockwise or anti-clockwise has been discovered by a team of international researchers. It could offer clues to how the same gene affects body asymmetry in other animals including humans, they report.

Human gut microbiome evolution: From hunter-gatherers to a western lifestyle Posted: 25 Feb 2016 10:52 AM PST Westerners have a less-diverse gut microbiome compared to hunter-gatherers, but how and why these microbe collections diverged has largely remained a mystery. Now, researchers describe an intermediate gut microbiome from the Central African Republic's Bantu community, a traditional population that incorporates some westernized lifestyle practices. The discovery offers insight into what factors may drive our microbiome differences, which are thought to be linked to metabolic disorders in western populations.

Stem cell technique makes sperm in a dish Posted: 25 Feb 2016 10:52 AM PST Scientists have finally succeeded in creating functioning sperm from mice in the laboratory. To accomplish this feat, the researchers coaxed mouse embryonic stem cells to turn into functional sperm-like cells, which were then injected into egg cells to produce fertile mouse offspring. The work provides a platform for generating sperm cells that could one day be used to treat male infertility in humans.

Parental pressure pushes young athletes to doping Posted: 25 Feb 2016 10:50 AM PST Pressure to be perfect from parents makes young male athletes positive about doping, research from England shows. The research indicates that parental pressure makes junior athletes more likely to use banned substances to enhance sporting performance. Because of the risks identified in the findings, authors suggest anti-doping programs should target junior athletes early in their sporting careers, and that parents should be made of the potential consequences of such pressure.

Understanding the role of human polyomaviruses in cancer Posted: 25 Feb 2016 07:52 AM PST A new method to screen tumor samples for the presence of any human polyomavirus has been created by a team of researchers. Their study found no evidence for the involvement of human polyomaviruses in the development of these cancers and helps to resolve questions in the field about whether viruses related to Merkel cell polyomavirus contribute to cancer.

Innate immune landscape in glioblastoma patient tumors Posted: 25 Feb 2016 07:52 AM PST A comprehensive analysis has been published of myeloid lineage immune cells in the circulation and in tumors of glioblastoma patients. Glioblastoma is an extremely aggressive brain tumor with limited treatment options.

Healthier, diabetic-friendly bread created Posted: 25 Feb 2016 07:16 AM PST A team of food scientists has successfully formulated a recipe for making healthier bread by adding a natural plant pigment, called anthocyanin, extracted from black rice. This new bread option gets digested at a slower rate – hence improving blood glucose control – and is high in antioxidants, among other health benefits.

High side effects, high cost, one month gain in 53 percent of elderly metastatic colorectal cancer patients Posted: 25 Feb 2016 07:16 AM PST More than half of elderly metastatic colorectal cancer patients are receiving three or more treatments, increasing cost and side effects with only one-month gain in median survival, new research concludes.

First transcatheter implant for diastolic heart failure evaluated Posted: 25 Feb 2016 07:16 AM PST For the first time in the U.S., a clinical trial is underway that's evaluating a device designed to treat diastolic heart failure, with the first patient enrolled in the randomized, blinded study.

Heart damage can be prevented by overexpression of heme oxygenase-1 Posted: 25 Feb 2016 07:15 AM PST The protective effect of heme oxygenase-1 and its mechanism are described in a new article. Overexpression of this enzyme could protect the heart from life-threatening damage after cancer chemotherapy, and it also may be a way to increase the therapeutic window of such drugs.

Link between ADHD, vision impairment in children Posted: 25 Feb 2016 07:15 AM PST A new study sheds light on a link between noncorrectable vision problems and ADHD in children. Results from a large survey of 75,000 children suggest an increased risk of ADHD among children with vision problems that are not correctable with glasses or contacts, such as color blindness or lazy eye, relative to other children. This finding suggests that children with vision impairment should be monitored for signs and symptoms of ADHD so that this dual impairment of vision and attention can best be addressed.

What keeps passion alive in long-term relationships? Posted: 25 Feb 2016 07:12 AM PST Psychologists have just published a study examining the sexual satisfaction -- or dissatisfaction -- of heterosexual couples in long-term relationships, and what contributes to keeping sexual passion alive.

This is your brain on exercise Posted: 25 Feb 2016 07:12 AM PST People who exercise have better mental fitness, and a new imaging study now shows why. The finding offers new insights into brain metabolism and why exercise could become an important part of treating depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders linked with deficiencies in neurotransmitters, which drive communications between the brain cells that regulate physical and emotional health.

Study shows teen girls' sexual orientation not always a predictor of sexual behavior Posted: 25 Feb 2016 07:11 AM PST About one in five lesbian and four in five bisexual teen girls who are sexually active had a recent male sex partner, according to a new US study of close to 3,000 adolescent girls that appears in the March issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Genetically modified E. coli pump out morphine precursor Posted: 25 Feb 2016 07:11 AM PST Bioengineers have tweaked Escherichia coli genes so that they pump out thebaine, a morphine precursor that can be modified to make painkillers. The genetically modified E. coli produces 300 times more thebaine with minimal risk of unregulated use compared to a recently developed method involving yeast.

Protein that triggers juvenile arthritis identified Posted: 25 Feb 2016 07:11 AM PST Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or JIA, is the most common form of childhood arthritis. It appears to be an autoimmune disease, caused by antibodies attacking certain proteins in a person's own tissue. But no 'autoantigens'-- the proteins triggering an immune attack -- have been linked to JIA to date. Now, a new study offers evidence that a human protein called transthyretin (TTR) causes an autoimmune reaction in the joints of JIA patients.

Researchers uncover risks of some herbal medicines for cancer patients Posted: 25 Feb 2016 06:01 AM PST Nearly two-thirds of the herbal medicines used by cancer patients in the Middle East have potential negative effects, a new study indicates. Among the remedies found to pose risks are gingko biloba, green tea, turmeric and black cumin.

Rap music, adolescent sexual initiation mediated by perceived peer behavior, say researchers Posted: 25 Feb 2016 06:01 AM PST When middle school youth listen to rap music for three or more hours each day, they are more likely to believe that their peers are having sex and subsequently more likely to initiate sex by ninth grade, according to a study.

Mouse model used to study craniofacial disorders Posted: 25 Feb 2016 06:01 AM PST An effective and reliable technique for studying high-arched palate has been developed using a mouse model. The methodology could expand research into the genetic aspects of this craniofacial abnormality.

Pathway to better metabolism discovered in fat cells Posted: 25 Feb 2016 05:59 AM PST Control over obesity and diabetes may be one step closer thanks to a study in fat tissue.

New interactive tool to explore the brain Posted: 25 Feb 2016 05:59 AM PST PyramidalExplorer, a free distributed software toolkit, has been developed to allow researchers to study the organization of the pyramidal neuron in depth.

Searching for cancer's fingerprints gives clues to tumor growth Posted: 25 Feb 2016 05:58 AM PST A new study has shed light on a chain of events that allows tumor cells to thrive in tough environments, identifying potential new ways to diagnose and treat cancer.

Ultrasound during active labour best predictor of C-section needs Posted: 25 Feb 2016 05:56 AM PST Midwives need more than fingers to figure out who the C-section candidates are. Small, tablet-sized ultrasound devices may be the key, report researchers.

Team suppresses oxidative stress, neuronal death associated with Alzheimer's disease Posted: 25 Feb 2016 05:56 AM PST The brain is an enormous network of communication, containing over 100 billion nerve cells, or neurons, with branches that connect at more than 100 trillion points. They are constantly sending signals through a vast neuron forest that forms memories, thoughts and feelings; these patterns of activity form the essence of each person. Alzheimer's disease (AD) disrupts both the way electrical charges travel within cells and the activity of neurotransmitters. New research advances our understanding of the disease, as outlined in a new article.

Genomic sequencing reveals link between STIs and leading cause of infectious blindness Posted: 25 Feb 2016 05:56 AM PST For the first time, genome sequencing has been carried out on Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis), a bacteria responsible for the disease Trachoma - the world's leading infectious cause of blindness, according to a new study.

One in four cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed within two years of a negative screening result Posted: 25 Feb 2016 05:53 AM PST One in four cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) detected in a guiac fecal occult blood testing (gFOBT) program are diagnosed within two years of a negative screening result, a study has found, suggesting that gFOBT should be replaced by more sensitive screening methods to improve detection rates.

Pancreatic cancer: Major breakthrough in our understanding of the mechanisms of the disease Posted: 25 Feb 2016 05:53 AM PST Pancreatic tumors often lose the ability to express a small ribonucleic acid molecule called miR-137, a recent breakthrough has shown. The loss of miR-137 works in conjunction with various mutations frequently observed in pancreatic tumors to trigger uncontrolled cell growth and then cancer.

Physically active individuals cope better with heart attacks Posted: 25 Feb 2016 05:53 AM PST People who exercise regularly tend to be less depressed after a heart attack, say researchers. But it is never too late to start exercising to reap the benefits of training, they add.

High levels of intense exercise may be unhealthy for the heart Posted: 25 Feb 2016 05:53 AM PST There is growing evidence that high levels of intense exercise may be cardiotoxic and promote permanent structural changes in the heart, which can, in some individuals, predispose them to experience arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythm). A review explores current controversies and makes the case for investing in large prospective research studies into the effect of intense exercise on heart structure and function.

Infection-fighting bandages for serious burns Posted: 25 Feb 2016 05:53 AM PST A new generation of biological infection-fighting bandages could reduce the death rate among victims of serious burns, report burn specialists.

Most Ebola survivors examined in study experienced brain symptoms six months after infection Posted: 24 Feb 2016 07:34 PM PST Most of the 82 Ebola survivors in a new study from the world's largest Ebola outbreak had brain symptoms more than six months after the initial infection. The study is part of the larger Prevail III study, which follows patients with prior Ebola virus disease and their close contacts who serve as study controls.

Colorado visitors using marijuana more likely to end up in emergency room Posted: 24 Feb 2016 07:31 PM PST Out-of-towners using marijuana in Colorado -- which has legally allowed sales of the drug in retail dispensaries since 2014 -- are ending up in the emergency room for marijuana-related symptoms at an increasing rate, reports a new study. Visitors are unprepared for the adverse effects of marijuana use. The study shows the importance of educating the public about safe marijuana use.

Intensive blood pressure lowering treatment may harm people with diabetes Posted: 24 Feb 2016 07:31 PM PST People with diabetes often have high blood pressure and an increased cardiovascular risk. They are therefore often recommended more intensive blood pressure lowering treatment that non-diabetics. However, for patients with systolic blood pressure levels under 140, antihypertensive drugs may increase the risk of dying from cardiovascular causes.

Monitoring, support help patients, primary care physicians dealing with chronic pain Posted: 24 Feb 2016 12:10 PM PST Through monthly monitoring and support from pain specialists, primary care physicians confidence in prescribing opioids for pain was raised, the rate of identifying patients at risk for misuse of opioids was improved, and primary care physicians were more likely to feel satisfied about their communications with pain specialists, a report shows. The patients reported greater compliance with their opioid medications.

Too much salt could potentially contribute to liver damage Posted: 24 Feb 2016 12:10 PM PST A sprinkle of salt can bring out the flavor of just about any dish. However, it's well known that too much can lead to high blood pressure, a potentially dangerous condition if left untreated. Now scientists report a new animal study that found a high-salt diet might also contribute to liver damage in adults and developing embryos.

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