ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Where infants sleep may affect how long they are breastfed
• Proteomics and precision medicine
• Uncovering secrets of elastin's flexibility during assembly
• Protein that switches cancers from inflammation to proliferation identified
• Assessing the biosimilarity of protein drugs: New study shows method's precision
• New tool for efficiently validating the accuracy of CRISPR-Cas9 reactions
• The geometry of histamine
• Scientists discover molecular link between psychiatric disorders and type 2 diabetes
• New analysis method may reduce need for invasive biopsies
• Aggression causes new nerve cells to be generated in the brain
• Effectiveness of routine Tdap booster wanes in adolescents
• More effective speech therapy approach for children with Down Syndrome
• No Hib booster needed by vaccinated infants in Kenya
• Milk, vitamin supplements and exercise raise children's vitamin D levels
• Cancer treatment: Therapeutic approach gives hope for the treatment of multiple myeloma
• Researchers identify striking genomic signature shared by five types of cancer
• New assay detects persistent disease in leukemia patients thought to be in remission
• Most internet resources for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are inaccurate, incomplete and outdated
• First reported autopsy of patient with MERS coronavirus infection provides critical insights
• First-of-its-kind study explains why rest is critical after a concussion
• Children on autism spectrum more likely to wander, disappear, study suggests
• Molecular switch lets salmonella fight or evade immune system
• Emerging vascular risk factors in women and men: Any differences?
• Better quality of care may reduce risk of death for patients on opioid painkillers
• Researchers home in on why female newborns are better protected from brain injury
• Dogs accelerate the advance of new cancer treatments for both pets and people
• Mesh-like scaffold is disordered in Alzheimer's-affected cells
• New approach for identifying processes that fuel tumor growth in lung cancer patients
• A newly discovered form of immunity helps explain how bacteria fight off viruses
• How gut inflammation sparks colon cancer
• Patients with macular degeneration show improvement with high-dose statin treatment
• Scientists disable infectious bacteria by removing key protein
• New clues to common and elusive KRAS cancer gene
• Individuals' medical histories predicted by their noncoding genomes, study finds
• Simple test allows for rapid diagnosis of preeclampsia
• Fighting flu with designer drugs: A new compound fends off different influenza strains
• Leading bugs to the death chamber: A kinder face of cholesterol
• High insecticide resistance found in the flea vector for plague in Madagascar
• Smart contact lens helps predict disease progression in glaucoma patients
• Athlete passion linked to acceptance of performance enhancing drugs
• Neurobiological changes explain how mindfulness meditation improves health
• Mature drivers favor checks on over 70s, new study finds

Where infants sleep may affect how long they are breastfed Posted: 06 Feb 2016 05:56 AM PST A new study indicates that mothers who frequently sleep, or bed-share, with their infants consistently breastfeed for longer than mothers who do not bed-share. Also, pregnant women who expressed a strong motivation to breastfeed were more likely to bed-share frequently once their baby was born. The findings, which come from a study of 678 women in a randomized breastfeeding trial who were recruited at mid-pregnancy, question whether recommendations to avoid bed-sharing due to concerns such as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) may impede some women from achieving their breastfeeding goals and could thereby prevent women and their children from experiencing all of the short- and long-term benefits of breastfeeding.

Proteomics and precision medicine Posted: 05 Feb 2016 11:45 AM PST Researchers have used personalized proteomics to devise a successful treatment strategy for a patient with uveitis, a potentially blinding eye disease that can have many causes, making it particularly difficult to diagnose and treat effectively.

Uncovering secrets of elastin's flexibility during assembly Posted: 05 Feb 2016 11:45 AM PST Elastin is a crucial building block in our bodies -- its flexibility allows skin to stretch and twist, blood vessels to expand and relax with every heartbeat, and lungs to swell and contract with each breath. But exactly how this protein-based tissue achieves this flexibility remained an unsolved question -- until now. An international team has carried out an analysis that reveals the details of a hierarchical structure of scissor-shaped molecules that gives elastin its remarkable properties.

Protein that switches cancers from inflammation to proliferation identified Posted: 05 Feb 2016 11:45 AM PST PAD4 has been observed in cancers but its role was unclear. An Oxford University team have found that PAD4 citrullinates protein E2F-1, which causes it to form a protein complex with BRD4 that drives expression of inflammatory genes.

Assessing the biosimilarity of protein drugs: New study shows method's precision Posted: 05 Feb 2016 11:45 AM PST First-ever interlaboratory study of four versions of a therapeutic protein drug -- all manufactured from living cells -- reports that an established analytical tool akin to magnetic resonance imaging reliably assessed the atomic structures of the biologically similar products, yielding the equivalent of a fingerprint for each.

New tool for efficiently validating the accuracy of CRISPR-Cas9 reactions Posted: 05 Feb 2016 08:01 AM PST IBS researchers create multiplex Digenome-seq to find errors in CRISPR-Cas9 processes.

The geometry of histamine Posted: 05 Feb 2016 07:53 AM PST Scientists have obtained a gas phase structure of histamine -- a substance that is responsible for allergic reactions.

Scientists discover molecular link between psychiatric disorders and type 2 diabetes Posted: 05 Feb 2016 07:53 AM PST Scientists show that a gene called 'DISC1,' which is believed to play a role in mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and some forms of depression, influences the function of pancreatic beta cells which produce insulin to maintain normal blood glucose levels.

New analysis method may reduce need for invasive biopsies Posted: 05 Feb 2016 07:53 AM PST Scientists have identified a quantitative method to measure changes in biomarkers, which may reduce or eliminate the need for invasive biopsies.

Aggression causes new nerve cells to be generated in the brain Posted: 05 Feb 2016 07:53 AM PST Neurobiologists have demonstrated experimentally that aggression has an influence on the production of new nerve cells in the brain. The scientists conducted a series of experiments on male mice.

Effectiveness of routine Tdap booster wanes in adolescents Posted: 05 Feb 2016 07:53 AM PST A new study found that the Tdap booster vaccine provides moderate protection against whooping cough during the first year after vaccination, but its effectiveness wanes to less than 9 percent after four years among teenagers who have received only a newer form of the whooping cough vaccine (acellular pertussis vaccine) as infants and children.

More effective speech therapy approach for children with Down Syndrome Posted: 05 Feb 2016 07:08 AM PST Children with Down syndrome who have motor speech deficits have been inadequately diagnosed, which could have a major impact on the interventions used by speech pathologists when treating patients, a new study indicates.

No Hib booster needed by vaccinated infants in Kenya Posted: 05 Feb 2016 07:06 AM PST Children living in Kenya are well protected from life-threatening infections -- such as meningitis, sepsis and pneumonia -- caused by the bacteria Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), by the existing three-dose vaccine regime.

Milk, vitamin supplements and exercise raise children's vitamin D levels Posted: 05 Feb 2016 07:06 AM PST Sufficient intake of fortified dairy products is of significant importance for the serum vitamin D level in primary school children, shows a new study.

Cancer treatment: Therapeutic approach gives hope for the treatment of multiple myeloma Posted: 05 Feb 2016 07:06 AM PST A new therapeutic approach gives promising results for the treatment of multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow currently considered incurable with conventional chemotherapy. The study resulted in a total cure rate of 41 percent, a record level using this strategy. Moreover, patients in complete remission six months after the allograft had a relapse-free survival rate of 60 percent.

Researchers identify striking genomic signature shared by five types of cancer Posted: 05 Feb 2016 07:05 AM PST Researchers have identified a striking signature in tumor DNA that occurs in five different types of cancer. The specific signature results from a chemical modification of DNA called methylation, which can control the expression of genes like a dimmer on a light switch. Based on this advance, the researchers hope to spur development of a blood test that can be used to diagnose a variety of cancers at early stages.

New assay detects persistent disease in leukemia patients thought to be in remission Posted: 05 Feb 2016 07:05 AM PST A new study describes a new personalized DNA-based digital assay that detects persistent chronic myeloid leukemia in 81 percent of samples taken from a group of patients thought to be in remission.

Most internet resources for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are inaccurate, incomplete and outdated Posted: 05 Feb 2016 07:04 AM PST After evaluating content on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis on almost 200 websites, researchers with medical backgrounds found that the information on IPF from these sites was often incomplete, inaccurate and outdated.

First reported autopsy of patient with MERS coronavirus infection provides critical insights Posted: 05 Feb 2016 07:04 AM PST Since 2012, at least 1,500 individuals have developed Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), resulting in more than 500 fatalities. Only now are results being reported of the first autopsy of a MERS patient, which was performed in 2014. Not only do these findings provide unprecedented, clinically-relevant insights about how MERS progresses, they challenge previously accepted ideas about MERS and the relevance of current animal models.

First-of-its-kind study explains why rest is critical after a concussion Posted: 05 Feb 2016 07:04 AM PST Neuroscientists say rest -- for more than a day -- is critical for allowing the brain to reset neural networks and repair any short-term injury. This new study in mice also shows that repeated mild concussions with only a day to recover between injuries leads to mounting damage and brain inflammation that remains evident a year after injury.

Children on autism spectrum more likely to wander, disappear, study suggests Posted: 04 Feb 2016 02:56 PM PST A new study suggests that more than one-quarter million school-age children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disorders wander away from adult supervision each year.

Molecular switch lets salmonella fight or evade immune system Posted: 04 Feb 2016 02:54 PM PST Researchers have discovered a molecular regulator that allows salmonella bacteria to switch from actively causing disease to lurking in a chronic but asymptomatic state called a biofilm.

Emerging vascular risk factors in women and men: Any differences? Posted: 04 Feb 2016 02:54 PM PST The incidence and severity of both traditional and emerging cardiovascular disease risk factors as well as the response to treatment may differ between men and women.

Better quality of care may reduce risk of death for patients on opioid painkillers Posted: 04 Feb 2016 02:54 PM PST Better quality of care may reduce the risk of death for patients who are prescribed opioid painkillers for chronic pain, say Yale researchers. Their study offers evidence that supports recommendations from clinical practice guidelines encouraging physicians to engage patients with mental health services and substance abuse treatment, as well as to avoid co-prescriptions for sedatives.

Researchers home in on why female newborns are better protected from brain injury Posted: 04 Feb 2016 12:11 PM PST In a new study, researchers show that a particular protein found in the brains of both male and female mice is present at higher levels in females, which offers them stronger protection against one type of brain injury.

Dogs accelerate the advance of new cancer treatments for both pets and people Posted: 04 Feb 2016 12:10 PM PST A new review suggests integrating dogs with naturally occurring cancers into studies of new drug therapeutics could result in better treatments for our four-legged friends while helping inform therapeutic development for human cancers. The review hopes to close the gap between human and canine cancer research, and accelerate the knowledge developed by studying cancer in both people and pets, a field known as comparative oncology.

Mesh-like scaffold is disordered in Alzheimer's-affected cells Posted: 04 Feb 2016 12:10 PM PST A new finding offers a fresh insight into one of the earliest biological events of Alzheimer's disease and is expected to open new avenues of study.

New approach for identifying processes that fuel tumor growth in lung cancer patients Posted: 04 Feb 2016 12:09 PM PST A new method for conducting in-depth research on malignant tumors in patients has been developed. This work has led to the discovery of new complexities underlying cancer biology and overturning a nearly century-old perception about cancer metabolism.

A newly discovered form of immunity helps explain how bacteria fight off viruses Posted: 04 Feb 2016 12:09 PM PST New research identifies two new enzymes in bacteria that help fight off infection at a later stage, after an invading virus has already begun to replicate. The enzymes are part of the CRISPR-Cas system, and rather than using the typical CRISPR defense system of attacking viral DNA, they cut up viral RNA. The findings may be useful for biotechnology applications such as manipulating RNA content, and could potentially help in combating infectious disease.

How gut inflammation sparks colon cancer Posted: 04 Feb 2016 12:09 PM PST Biomedical engineers have shown how colon cancer development is intricately linked to a specific microRNA that dictates how cells divide. The new study points to a link between chronic gut inflammation and an increased risk of colon cancer. That link could not only serve as an early warning signal of colon cancer, but potentially be harnessed to counteract advanced forms of the disease.

Patients with macular degeneration show improvement with high-dose statin treatment Posted: 04 Feb 2016 12:09 PM PST A phase I/II clinical trial has found that some patients taking high doses of atorvastatin (cholesterol-lowering medication) had complete resolution of lipid deposits in the dry form of age-related macular degeneration. AMD is the leading cause of blindness in the developed world, and though effective treatments are available for the wet AMD, they are currently lacking for the more-prevalent dry form.

Scientists disable infectious bacteria by removing key protein Posted: 04 Feb 2016 12:07 PM PST Scientists have made an exciting discovery that could provide a new way to prevent bacterial infections in both humans and plants without triggering multi-drug resistance in bacteria.

New clues to common and elusive KRAS cancer gene Posted: 04 Feb 2016 12:07 PM PST One of the most common cancer-causing genes has continuously stymied researchers' efforts to develop treatments against it. Now, researchers have dug deeper and exposed a key interaction that may contribute to why mutations in KRAS lead to cancer.

Individuals' medical histories predicted by their noncoding genomes, study finds Posted: 04 Feb 2016 12:07 PM PST Identifying mutations in the control switches of genes can be a surprisingly accurate way to predict a person's medical history, researchers have found.

Simple test allows for rapid diagnosis of preeclampsia Posted: 04 Feb 2016 12:07 PM PST Researchers have found that a simple test can rapidly detect one of the world's most deadly pregnancy-related conditions, preeclampsia, which could have a major impact on global health.

Fighting flu with designer drugs: A new compound fends off different influenza strains Posted: 04 Feb 2016 12:06 PM PST A new study reports that a new antiviral drug protects mice against a range of influenza virus strains. The compound seems to act superior to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and independent of the host immune response.

Leading bugs to the death chamber: A kinder face of cholesterol Posted: 04 Feb 2016 12:06 PM PST Cells of our immune system kill pathogens by enclosing them in a compartment called the phagosome. The pathogen-containing phagosome is physically transported to execution chambers (lysosomes) by nanoscale 'Motor' proteins. Researchers show that cholesterol is needed to cluster many Motors on the phagosome's surface. This assembles an army of Motors that carries the phagosome to the execution chamber. Cholesterol, that much dreaded name, therefore also keeps us healthy by helping to kill bugs.

High insecticide resistance found in the flea vector for plague in Madagascar Posted: 04 Feb 2016 12:06 PM PST Madagascar is one of the countries with the highest incidence of bubonic plague in the world. As insecticides are highly important in controlling the spread of plague, researchers from the Institut Pasteur de Madagascar carried out a bioassay to determine the response of the flea vector to different types of insecticides.

Smart contact lens helps predict disease progression in glaucoma patients Posted: 04 Feb 2016 09:27 AM PST A contact lens with a built-in sensor could help determine which glaucoma patients have a higher risk of disease progression, according to a new study. Researchers found certain patterns of electrical signals emitted from the "smart" contact lenses correlate with a faster rate of glaucoma progression.

Athlete passion linked to acceptance of performance enhancing drugs Posted: 04 Feb 2016 09:19 AM PST The more of a certain kind of passion varsity athletes have for their sport, the more favourable their attitudes towards the use of performance enhancing drugs, or PEDs, according to a recent study. The paper is the first to show that passion levels can help predict a collegiate athlete's attitude towards performance enhancing drugs.

Neurobiological changes explain how mindfulness meditation improves health Posted: 04 Feb 2016 09:19 AM PST New research provides a window into the brain changes that link mindfulness meditation training with health in stressed adults. The study shows that mindfulness meditation training, compared to relaxation training, reduces Interleukin-6, an inflammatory health biomarker, in high-stress, unemployed community adults.

Mature drivers favor checks on over 70s, new study finds Posted: 04 Feb 2016 09:19 AM PST The majority of older drivers are in favor of tighter rules on checking the health and suitability of over-70s to drive -- even if those checks could take them off the road themselves -- according to a new report.

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