ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Flame retadants: Human hair and nails can tell toxic secrets
• Impact of climate change on food production could cause over 500000 extra deaths in 2050
• Energy drinks trigger abnormal heart rhythm, rise in blood pressure
• Happiness can break your heart too
• Children Who Are Emotionally Abused May Be More Likely to Experience Migraine as Adults
• Using graphene to fight bacteria
• Optimizing drying parameters for milk powders
• Multi-faceted approach to diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome recommended
• Next-generation immunotherapy offers new hope for beating brain cancer
• Thirdhand smoke linked to type 2 diabetes
• Compound stems damage from brain bleeding
• New weapon in the fight against children's brain tumors
• Popular blood pressure app misses the mark
• Scientists find clues to neutralizing coronaviruses such as MERS
• New method reveals high similarity between gorilla and human Y chromosome
• Gene identified that helps wound healing
• High-fat diet linked to intestinal stem cell changes, increased risk for cancer
• Routine colonoscopies save lives
• Inflated charges, significant variation in Medicare payment patterns found
• Shedding light on the day-night cycle
• Nearly half of American children living near poverty line
• Platelet-rich plasma injections may lead to improvements in tissue healing
• PET scans reveal key details of Alzheimer's protein growth in aging brains
• Researchers enhance DNA editing technology
• Device to combat memory loss from brain injury, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease created
• State laws boost flu vaccination rates in health care workers
• Immunologists find new ways to beat 'bad guys'
• Mobile device addiction linked to depression, anxiety
• Experts make progress towards optimizing diabetes care on a global scale
• New report finds 'surprising gaps' in knowledge of ovarian cancers
• Some bacterial CRISPRs can snip RNA, too
• Discovery of a gene associated with a set of poorly understood rare diseases
• Homeschooled kids sleep more than others, study shows
• Hair forensics could yield false positives for cocaine use
• Toward diagnosing diseases such as cancer in their earliest stages
• Cancer cells' evasive action revealed
• 'Gut' bacteria may help put a kink in family obesity cycle
• High LDL-C levels in women prior to childbirth linked with high levels in adult offspring
• First 3-D structure of the enzymatic role of DNA
• New approaches for Parkinson's treatment? Researchers study metabolic changes
• Old before your time: Study suggests that aging begins in the womb
• Scientists 'break the ice' on organ banking
• Breast cancer: The mental trauma of severe disease
• Activating brown fat tissue: First steps towards a new therapy for obesity, diabetes
• Young marijuana users respond differently to social exclusion
• Molecular body guards for neurons
• Design accessory for monitoring indoor air quality
• Mechanism discovered for mosaic pattern of cells in nasal cavity
• Researchers find Achilles' heel of a severe form of childhood leukemia
• Steroid injections too soon before joint replacement may increase infection risk
• Bundled payments improve care for Medicare patients undergoing joint replacement
• Ultra-low dose CT scans successfully detect fractures
• Novel mechanism behind aldosterone-induced heart damage uncovered
• Agricultural fertilizer could pose risk to human fertility, sheep study finds
• Cancer treatment on a cellular level
• Ethnic minority women more likely to believe that cancer is deadly, down to fate

Flame retadants: Human hair and nails can tell toxic secrets Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:46 PM PST Chemicals used as flame retardants that are potentially harmful to humans are found in hair, toenails and fingernails, according to new research.

Impact of climate change on food production could cause over 500000 extra deaths in 2050 Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:45 PM PST Climate change could kill more than 500,000 adults in 2050 worldwide due to changes in diets and bodyweight from reduced crop productivity, according to new estimates. The research is the strongest evidence yet that climate change could have damaging consequences for food production and health worldwide.

Energy drinks trigger abnormal heart rhythm, rise in blood pressure Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:45 PM PST A new study adds to the evidence that energy drinks may be bad for your heart.

Happiness can break your heart too Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:44 PM PST Happy events can trigger a heart condition known as takotsubo syndrome, according to new research. Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is known as 'broken heart syndrome.' Now, for the first time, researchers have systematically analyzed data from the largest group of patients diagnosed with TTS worldwide, and found that some patients have developed the condition after a happy or joyful event; they have named it 'happy heart syndrome.'

Children Who Are Emotionally Abused May Be More Likely to Experience Migraine as Adults Posted: 02 Mar 2016 03:22 PM PST Children who are emotionally abused may be more likely to experience migraines as young adults, according to a preliminary study. The link between migraine and abuse was stronger for emotional abuse than for physical or sexual abuse in the study.

Using graphene to fight bacteria Posted: 02 Mar 2016 03:22 PM PST Scientists are studying graphene oxide in the hopes of one day creating bacteria-killing catheters and medical devices. Coating surgical tools with this carbon-based compound could kill bacteria, reducing the need for antibiotics, decreasing the rates of post-operative infections and speeding recovery times.

Optimizing drying parameters for milk powders Posted: 02 Mar 2016 03:22 PM PST Making milk powder seems simple, but it's not. Creamer must dissolve very quickly in hot coffee, but powder density is critical for infant formula. Dairy scientists and chemical engineers are using a single-droplet spray dryer and computation fluid dynamics modeling to determine the drying parameters needed to produce powders with those specific properties.

Multi-faceted approach to diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome recommended Posted: 02 Mar 2016 03:20 PM PST New guidelines recommend the collective use of a thorough patient history and specific physical examination maneuvers, in addition to observation and specific diagnostic tests to more definitively diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome, a common source of hand numbness and pain affecting approximately 3 million Americans -- primarily women -- each year.

Next-generation immunotherapy offers new hope for beating brain cancer Posted: 02 Mar 2016 03:17 PM PST High-grade glioma is the most aggressive form of brain cancer. Despite improvements in surgical procedures, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, this type of brain tumor is still notoriously hard to treat: less than 10 percent of patients survive beyond five years. Researchers have now shown that next-generation cell-based immunotherapy may offer new hope in the fight against brain cancer.

Thirdhand smoke linked to type 2 diabetes Posted: 02 Mar 2016 03:17 PM PST Thirdhand smoke results when exhaled smoke gets on surfaces -- clothing, hair, etc. THS has been shown, in mice, to damage the liver and lungs, complicate wound-healing and cause hyperactivity. Add to this list type 2 diabetes. A team of scientists has found, in mice, that THS exposure causes insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes. If confirmed in humans, the study could impact how people view exposure to environmental tobacco-toxins.

Compound stems damage from brain bleeding Posted: 02 Mar 2016 03:17 PM PST A compound that blocks iron-containing enzymes in the brain improves recovery following brain hemorrhage, a new study in rodents shows, and it works in an unexpected way.

New weapon in the fight against children's brain tumors Posted: 02 Mar 2016 03:17 PM PST Children with brain cancer may soon get some help from mice with the same disease, thanks to a new brain tumor model in mice that should make it easier to test treatments.

Popular blood pressure app misses the mark Posted: 02 Mar 2016 10:56 AM PST A popular smartphone app purported to accurately measure blood pressure simply by placing a cellphone on the chest with a finger over the built-in camera lens misses high blood pressure in eight out of 10 patients, potentially putting users' health at risk, according to new research.

Scientists find clues to neutralizing coronaviruses such as MERS Posted: 02 Mar 2016 10:52 AM PST Scientists have solved the structure of a key protein in HKU1, a coronavirus identified in Hong Kong in 2005 and highly related to SARS and MERS. They believe their findings will guide future treatments for this family of viruses.

New method reveals high similarity between gorilla and human Y chromosome Posted: 02 Mar 2016 10:51 AM PST A faster, less expensive method has been developed and used to learn the DNA sequence of the male-specific Y chromosome in the gorilla. The research reveals that a male gorilla's Y chromosome is more similar to a male human's Y chromosome than to a chimpanzee's. The technique works for any species, so it can be used to study male infertility disorders and male-specific mutations. It also can aid in conservation efforts.

Gene identified that helps wound healing Posted: 02 Mar 2016 10:51 AM PST Researchers have pinpointed a human gene product that helps regulate wound healing and may control scarring in people recovering from severe injuries and damage to certain internal organs. The protein, MG53, travels throughout the bloodstream and helps the body fix injuries to the skin, heart, and other organs without causing scars. It's a discovery that could help heal open wounds, decrease recovery time after surgery and reduce the spread of infections.

High-fat diet linked to intestinal stem cell changes, increased risk for cancer Posted: 02 Mar 2016 10:27 AM PST Over the past decade, studies have found that obesity and eating a high-fat, high-calorie diet are significant risk factors for many types of cancer. Now, a new study reveals how a high-fat diet makes the cells of the intestinal lining more likely to become cancerous.

Routine colonoscopies save lives Posted: 02 Mar 2016 10:27 AM PST Cancer of the colon or rectum is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among both men and women in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 140,000 Americans are diagnosed annually with colorectal cancer, and more than 50,000 people die from it. Colorectal cancer is preventable through screenings that detect and remove small, pre-cancerous growths called polyps.

Inflated charges, significant variation in Medicare payment patterns found Posted: 02 Mar 2016 10:25 AM PST Inflated charges and significant variation in patterns of payments have been found for surgical care. Surprisingly, the study found that it's not what's happening in the operating room that is driving the payment variations, but procedures that are being done in outpatient clinics.

Shedding light on the day-night cycle Posted: 02 Mar 2016 10:25 AM PST New research sheds light on how the rhythms of daily life are encoded in the brain. Scientists have discovered that different groups of neurons, those charged with keeping time, become active at different times of day despite being on the same molecular clock.

Nearly half of American children living near poverty line Posted: 02 Mar 2016 10:25 AM PST Nearly half of children in the US live dangerously close to the poverty line, according to new research. Researchers found that while the total number of children in the US has remained about the same since 2008, more children today are likely to live in families barely able to afford their most basic needs.

Platelet-rich plasma injections may lead to improvements in tissue healing Posted: 02 Mar 2016 10:25 AM PST After platelet-rich plasma injections, researchers have described the structural change in the healing process as well as improvement in patients' pain and function, in a new report.

PET scans reveal key details of Alzheimer's protein growth in aging brains Posted: 02 Mar 2016 10:25 AM PST Neuroscientists show for the first time that PET scans can track the progression of Alzheimer's disease. In doing so, they also shed light on tau and beta amyloid, two key proteins associated with the neurodegenerative disorder.

Researchers enhance DNA editing technology Posted: 02 Mar 2016 09:15 AM PST Scientists have developed a process that improves the efficiency of CRISPR, an up-and-coming technology used to edit DNA. CRISPR is a groundbreaking technology that allows scientists to modify genes.

Device to combat memory loss from brain injury, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease created Posted: 02 Mar 2016 09:15 AM PST New technologies to improve memory in people with traumatic brain injury, mild cognitive impairment, epilepsy, and Alzheimer's disease have been developed by scientists.

State laws boost flu vaccination rates in health care workers Posted: 02 Mar 2016 09:13 AM PST State laws mandating influenza immunization for people who work in health care increase their vaccination rates, according to new research. From 2000 to 2005, only Maine and New Hampshire had flu vaccine requirement laws for health care workers. During that period, the average flu vaccination rate for health care workers was 22.5 percent. From 2006 to 2011--when 19 other states, including Pennsylvania, passed similar laws--the average vaccination rate for health care workers increased to 50.9 percent.

Immunologists find new ways to beat 'bad guys' Posted: 02 Mar 2016 09:13 AM PST One of the key components in a vaccine is an adjuvant, which serves to enhance our body's immune response to vaccination. Adjuvants have been around for almost a century however it is only recently that scientists are beginning to fully understand how they work.

Mobile device addiction linked to depression, anxiety Posted: 02 Mar 2016 09:13 AM PST Is cellphone use detrimental to mental health? A new study finds that addiction to, and not simply use of, mobile technology is linked to anxiety and depression in college-age students.

Experts make progress towards optimizing diabetes care on a global scale Posted: 02 Mar 2016 09:12 AM PST Diabetes is a significant global health problem, afflicting 382 million people worldwide with increasing prevalence rates and adverse effects on health, wellbeing, and society in general. Experts from around the world have synthesized a core set of recommendations using information from 14 countries as a basis in order to work towards optimizing diabetes care globally -- a critically important initiative to help stem the diabetes epidemic.

New report finds 'surprising gaps' in knowledge of ovarian cancers Posted: 02 Mar 2016 09:12 AM PST Ovarian cancer should not be categorized as a single disease, but rather as a constellation of different cancers involving the ovary, yet questions remain on how and where various ovarian cancers arise, says a new congressionally mandated report.

Some bacterial CRISPRs can snip RNA, too Posted: 02 Mar 2016 09:12 AM PST Did you know the CRISPR/Cas9 system was derived from bacteria, which use it to fight off foreign invaders such as viruses? It allows many bacteria to snip and store segments of DNA from an invading virus, which they can then use to 'remember' and destroy DNA from similar invaders if they are encountered again. Recent work demonstrates that some bacteria also use the CRISPR/Cas system to snip and recognize segments of RNA, not just DNA.

Discovery of a gene associated with a set of poorly understood rare diseases Posted: 02 Mar 2016 09:12 AM PST GEMC1 has been identified as a master gene for the generation of multiciliated cells -- cells with fine filaments that move fluids and substances -- which are found exclusively in the brain, respiratory tract, and reproductive system. Defects in multiciliated cells lead to ciliopathies -- rare and complex diseases that are poorly understood and for which not all causative genes have been identified.

Homeschooled kids sleep more than others, study shows Posted: 02 Mar 2016 09:12 AM PST Teens who are homeschooled benefit from healthier sleep habits than those who go to most private and public schools, a new study has concluded, the first of its kind. The findings provide additional evidence of teens' altered biological clocks and support an argument for starting traditional high school later in the morning.

Hair forensics could yield false positives for cocaine use Posted: 02 Mar 2016 09:10 AM PST Hair analysis has become standard practice for determining whether someone has abused illicit drugs. But some experts have questioned whether current methods to wash away external contaminants from samples might affect test results. Now one team confirms that for cocaine detection, a pretreatment step can cause the drug on the outside of a hair shaft to wash into it and potentially lead to falsely identifying someone as a drug user.

Toward diagnosing diseases such as cancer in their earliest stages Posted: 02 Mar 2016 09:10 AM PST Detecting diseases such as cancer in their earliest stages can make a huge difference in patient treatment, but it is often difficult to do. Now scientists report a new, simple method that could make early disease diagnosis much easier. In addition, their approach only requires a minute sample of patient blood and is 1,000 times more sensitive in detecting biomarkers for thyroid cancer than the current government-approved test.

Cancer cells' evasive action revealed Posted: 02 Mar 2016 09:10 AM PST Researchers identify a mechanism by which lung cancer cells evade the body's immune system. The researchers have found links between subtle actions and reactions that allow cancerous cells to spread with little to stand in their way.

'Gut' bacteria may help put a kink in family obesity cycle Posted: 02 Mar 2016 09:00 AM PST A new animal study, reveals insight on how a special type of dietary fiber, known as prebiotic, impacts the mother's gut microbiota and may be one factor in curbing obesity in moms and their babies.

High LDL-C levels in women prior to childbirth linked with high levels in adult offspring Posted: 02 Mar 2016 08:54 AM PST Among more than 500 adult/offspring pairs, elevated maternal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels prior to pregnancy were associated with elevated adult offspring LDL-C levels, beyond the influence attributable to measured lifestyle and inherited genetic factors, a new study concludes.

First 3-D structure of the enzymatic role of DNA Posted: 02 Mar 2016 06:45 AM PST DNA does not always adopt the form of the double helix which is associated with the genetic code; it can also form intricate folds and act as an enzyme: a deoxyribozyme. Scientists have solved the first three-dimensional structure of this biomolecule that has proved much more flexible than previously thought. Chemists successfully isolated deoxyribozymes over 20 years ago – a DNA with the ability to act as an enzyme. However, until now they had not been able to associate its catalytic activity with the three-dimensional structure that provides such function to this DNA.

New approaches for Parkinson's treatment? Researchers study metabolic changes Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:35 AM PST Researchers are studying the causes of premature aging of neurons in Parkinson's patients with a defective DJ1 (PARK7) gene. The genetic defect causes changes in the cellular metabolism meaning that neurons are subjected to oxidative stress and an increased immune response in the brain.

Old before your time: Study suggests that aging begins in the womb Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:35 AM PST The process of aging begins even before we are born, according to an international team of researchers. In a study using rats to model pregnancy and fetal development, the researchers also found that providing mothers with antioxidants during pregnancy meant that their offspring aged more slowly in adulthood.

Scientists 'break the ice' on organ banking Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:35 AM PST A solution for long-term preservation of cells and organs for transplant has been uncovered as part of a global alliance to bank organs. After decades of studies, scientists now believe that a breakthrough in preserving body organs for the purpose of saving lives is close at hand.

Breast cancer: The mental trauma of severe disease Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:26 AM PST A majority of patients diagnosed with breast cancer go on to develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and in most of these cases the symptoms persist for at least a year, new research indicates.

Activating brown fat tissue: First steps towards a new therapy for obesity, diabetes Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:26 AM PST In recent decades, obesity has become a global problem. The disease goes hand in hand with a dramatic increase in the proportion of body fat. Researchers have now succeeded in inhibiting a protein in mice that hampers activation of the useful "brown fat" in obese mice. When treated with inhibitors against this protein, obese mice exhibited a notable improvement of their glucose metabolism.

Young marijuana users respond differently to social exclusion Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:26 AM PST Young adults who regularly use marijuana display altered brain activation patterns during social exclusion, research indicates. In a recent study, participants played a computerized game of catch while undergoing a non-invasive brain scan. They recruited 42 young adults (ages 18-25), about half of whom regularly used marijuana. Unknown to the study participants, the other 'players' in the game were computers and were programmed to exclude them for a portion of the game.

Molecular body guards for neurons Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:26 AM PST In the brain, patterns of neural activity are perfectly balanced. The interplay between activating and inhibitory neurotransmitters ensures that the level of activity stays within the physiological range. During an epileptic attack excitation gains the upper hand resulting in the death of neurons. Researchers have now discovered a key player in a signal transduction cascade, which protects neurons from hyperexcitation-induced cell death. These results open a new direction for the development of novel therapy options.

Design accessory for monitoring indoor air quality Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:26 AM PST A design accessory has been created for monitoring the indoor air quality in facilities such as offices and classrooms. It detects carbon dioxide, temperature and humidity, and uses light signals to guide people to healthy space.

Mechanism discovered for mosaic pattern of cells in nasal cavity Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:26 AM PST Every cell in our bodies has its proper place, but how do they get there? A research group has discovered the mechanism for a mosaic pattern formation of two different cell types. Their discovery has potentially broad applications as a common principle for determining pattern formation in different types of cell.

Researchers find Achilles' heel of a severe form of childhood leukemia Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:24 AM PST Researchers have found the Achilles' heel of one of the most aggressive forms of leukemia that affects both children and adults. They have also identified a possible new treatment that exploits this fatal weakness.

Steroid injections too soon before joint replacement may increase infection risk Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:23 AM PST Injections received in the months prior to total knee or total hip replacement surgery may increase the risk for infection and related complications, according to two new studies -- among the largest conducted on this topic.

Bundled payments improve care for Medicare patients undergoing joint replacement Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:23 AM PST Implementing bundled payments for total joint replacements resulted in year-over-year improvements in quality of care and patient outcomes while reducing overall costs, according to a new three-year study. Specifically, researchers saw reductions in overall length of stay, decreases in admission to follow-up care facilities and lower readmission rates at 30, 60, and 90 day intervals over the three-year study period.

Ultra-low dose CT scans successfully detect fractures Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:23 AM PST Researchers are reporting they successfully performed CT scans for joint fractures with one-fourteenth the amount of normal radiation without compromising image quality or a surgeon's ability to effectively diagnose an injury. Study could have significant implications from a public health and safety standpoint for patients with orthopedic trauma who require CT scans.

Novel mechanism behind aldosterone-induced heart damage uncovered Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:23 AM PST When the heart begins to fail, the body does everything in its power to fix the situation. But sometimes, those compensatory mechanisms ultimately do more harm than good. Such is the case with the adrenal hormone aldosterone, which stimulates the heart to pump harder, causing greater damage to the heart muscle. But now, researchers are closer than ever to putting the brakes on that process.

Agricultural fertilizer could pose risk to human fertility, sheep study finds Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:22 AM PST Eating meat from animals grazed on land treated with commonly used agricultural fertilizers might have serious implications for pregnant women and the future reproductive health of their unborn children, according to new research.

Cancer treatment on a cellular level Posted: 02 Mar 2016 05:22 AM PST The most common treatments for cancer are radiation and chemotherapy. However they have side effects and also damage healthy tissues. Moreover, their effectiveness is limited when the cancer has spread through out the body. Researchers are therefore working to develop a gentler treatment that 'tricks' the cancer cells, which would absorb a cytotoxin and therefore be destroyed, while healthy cells would remain unaffected.

Ethnic minority women more likely to believe that cancer is deadly, down to fate Posted: 01 Mar 2016 05:49 PM PST Women from ethnic minorities in the UK are more likely to believe that cancer is incurable and is down to fate than their white counterparts, according to a study. They surveyed 720 White British, Caribbean, African, Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi women.

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