ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Too many avoidable errors in patient care, says report
• Lack of stem cells to blame for recurrent miscarriages
• Legionnaires' disease: New drug class offers potential new treatment for lethal bacteria
• Quality of life not notably better for women choosing double mastectomy
• Variation in medical marijuana program regulations impacts enrollment
• Where prostate cancer spreads in the body affects survival time
• New study finds troubling health care outcomes for US workers without paid sick leave
• Eye cells may use math to detect motion
• Towards the goal of precision therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma
• Dementia plaques attack language center of brain
• New therapeutic target in myeloma discovered
• Discovery identifies new treatment target for age-releated macular degeneration, Alzheimer's
• Drug-loaded nanocarriers in tumor targeted drug delivery
• Scaling up tissue engineering
• Huntington's disease gene dispensable in adult mice
• Songbirds pinpoint effects of Huntington's disease
• Vitamin D level, body fat in newborn linked to health status in pregnancy
• Cancer cells eat their neighbors' 'words'
• Healthy lifestyle advice provides long-term benefits
• How cancer cells fuel their growth
• Genes influence sleep/wake timing of seizures in people with epilepsy
• Mutated gene safeguards against heart attacks
• Improving modern vaccines: Sugar polymer tails wag the protein dog
• Talk about yourself on social media?
• Preemies' gut bacteria reveal vast scope of antibiotic resistance
• Professor urges physicians to help victims of torture seeking asylum
• Clinician communication reduced distress related to the detection of incidental nodules
• Lung cancer screening: New Canadian guideline
• N95 respirators vs surgical masks: Protecting health workers from respiratory infections
• Toxic byproduct of hemoglobin could provide clues for cerebral hemorrhage and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
• Team finds new approach to curbing cancer cell growth
• Cellular aging process unexpectedly enhances insulin secretion
• Bid to beat baby chest infection boosted by immune study
• New mothers with postpartum psychiatric disorders face increased risk of suicide, study shows
• Hop, skip and a jump: Researchers reveal molecular search patterns
• Immune factor allows viral infections to become chronic
• Researchers identify cause of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetics
• Liposomes cannot penetrate the skin
• Immunology meets single-cell sequencing
• Zebrafish, humans have new biomedical friend in the spotted gar
• Daily dose of antibiotics helps bacteria develop multi-drug tolerance
• Novel molecular processes controlling key genes in prostate cancer uncovered
• Skin cancer: To each tumor its particularities, to each tumor its treatment
• 'Person-on-a-chip': Engineers grow 3-D heart, liver tissues for better drug testing
• Predicting avoidable 30-day readmissions
• Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy may increase risk of MS in children
• Could cutting urban blight reduce teen murders?
• Scientists use synthetic gene and magnets to alter behavior of mice, fish
• Scientists work to bring about a new treatment for rare childhood cancer
• 'Tommy John' reconstructive surgeries on the rise among young athletes
• Combining two techniques to 'rewire' the brain may improve arm, hand movement for stroke survivors
• Novel reprogramming factor yields more efficient induction of human pluripotent stem cells
• Group identifications affect likelihood of teenagers smoking, drinking and taking cannabis
• Goldilocks had it right: When it comes to sleep, neither too much or too little is good for you
• Alzheimer's more versatile than previously known
• Depression, anxiety may reduce chances of IVF pregnancy
• Mitochondrial coding genome analysis of tropical root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne) supports haplotype based diagnostics, reveals evidence of recent reticulate evolution
• Zika linked to abnormal pregnancies, fetal death, new research finds
• UK diagnoses children's kidney cancer at a later stage than Germany
• HIV/AIDS long-term costs high, and unaffordable to most-affected countries

Too many avoidable errors in patient care, says report Posted: 07 Mar 2016 06:10 PM PST Avoidable harm to patients is still too high in healthcare in the UK and across the globe -- making safety a top healthcare priority for providers and policy makers alike.

Lack of stem cells to blame for recurrent miscarriages Posted: 07 Mar 2016 06:10 PM PST Scientists have discovered that a lack of stem cells in the womb lining is causing thousands of women to suffer from recurrent miscarriages.

Legionnaires' disease: New drug class offers potential new treatment for lethal bacteria Posted: 07 Mar 2016 03:40 PM PST A new class of drugs has shown promise for treating the bacteria that cause legionnaires' disease, a potentially fatal lung infection.

Quality of life not notably better for women choosing double mastectomy Posted: 07 Mar 2016 03:40 PM PST Contralateral prophylactic mastectomies were associated with slightly higher satisfaction in women's perception of how their breasts looked and felt, but primarily among women whose mastectomies were followed by reconstructive surgery.

Variation in medical marijuana program regulations impacts enrollment Posted: 07 Mar 2016 03:40 PM PST A new study found that while 14 of the nation's 24 medical marijuana programs were essentially nonmedical in practice, they enrolled more than 99 percent of overall participants. Fewer than one percent were enrolled in 'medicalized' programs that adhere to accepted professional standards in medicine. The study analyzed the extent to which medical marijuana laws and program regulations incorporate accepted medical practice, good pharmaceutical manufacturing practices as established by the FDA, and restrictions on controlled substances.

Where prostate cancer spreads in the body affects survival time Posted: 07 Mar 2016 03:40 PM PST In the largest analysis of its kind, researchers have found that the organ site where prostate cancer spreads has a direct impact on survival.

New study finds troubling health care outcomes for US workers without paid sick leave Posted: 07 Mar 2016 03:40 PM PST There are 49 million US workers without paid sick leave, causing an even greater divide in health care disparities as well as undesirable health care outcomes. A new study is the first to examine the relationship between paid sick leave benefits and delays in medical care and forgone medical care for both working adults and their family members.

Eye cells may use math to detect motion Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:28 PM PST In a study of mice, scientists showed how one type of neuron in the eye may distinguish moving objects. The study suggests that the NMDA receptor, a protein normally associated with learning and memory, may help neurons in the eye and the brain relay that information.

Towards the goal of precision therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:28 PM PST Hepatocellular carcinoma is a highly lethal disease, therefore effective and tolerable treatment is urgently needed. Authors of a new report provide an updated review of the genetic abnormalities and mechanisms that drive carcinogenesis of HCC, and discuss the targeted therapeutics clinically investigated in patients with this disease.

Dementia plaques attack language center of brain Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:28 PM PST The recent ability to peer into the brain of living individuals with a rare type of language dementia, primary progressive aphasia, provides important insight into the beginning stages of this disease, when it is caused by a buildup of a toxic protein found in Alzheimer's disease. The research also offers insight into why this dementia causes people to lose the ability to express themselves and understand language. The findings will guide Alzheimer's treatment, say researchers.

New therapeutic target in myeloma discovered Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:27 PM PST Targeting both CDK4 and ARK5, proteins responsible for maintaining energy balance within the cell, was extremely effective in causing cell death in myeloma, report scientists at the conclusion of their study.

Discovery identifies new treatment target for age-releated macular degeneration, Alzheimer's Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:27 PM PST For the first time, researchers have shown that a protein critical to the body's ability to remove waste products from the brain and retina is diminished in age-related macular degeneration, after first making the discovery in an Alzheimer's disease brain. The research team also discovered a key reason, identifying a new treatment target.

Drug-loaded nanocarriers in tumor targeted drug delivery Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:27 PM PST Nanoparticulate delivery systems in cancer therapies provide better penetration of therapeutic and diagnostic substances with the cancerous tissue in comparison to conventional cancer therapies, report scientists.

Scaling up tissue engineering Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:27 PM PST A method has been created for 3-D bioprinting thick vascularized tissue constructs composed of human stem cells, extracellular matrix, and circulatory channels lined with endothelial blood vessel cells. The resulting network of vasculature contained within these deep tissues enables fluids, nutrients and cell growth factors to be controllably perfused uniformly throughout the tissue.

Huntington's disease gene dispensable in adult mice Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:27 PM PST Adult mice don't need the gene that, when mutated in humans, causes the inherited neurodegenerative disorder Huntington's disease. The finding suggests that treatment strategies for Huntington's that aim to shut off the huntingtin gene in adults -- now in early clinical stages -- could be safe.

Songbirds pinpoint effects of Huntington's disease Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:27 PM PST Scientists have parsed the role of the Huntington's disease gene in an area of the songbird's brain responsible for complex, sequential movements. These findings not only give a clearer view of how the genetic mutation that causes Huntington's disease alters brain and behavior, it may also offer a new therapeutic target for treatment.

Vitamin D level, body fat in newborn linked to health status in pregnancy Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:03 PM PST Overweight or obesity in pregnancy is linked to lower vitamin D levels in both the mother and the newborn, new research suggests. Obesity in pregnancy has become increasingly common. In addition to lower vitamin D levels, it has been associated with heavier infants who then are at higher risk for childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Cancer cells eat their neighbors' 'words' Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:02 PM PST Cancer cells are well-known as voracious energy consumers, but even a veteran cancer-metabolism researcher was surprised by their latest exploit: Experiments in his lab show that some cancer cells get 30-60 percent of their fuel from eating their neighbors' 'words.'

Healthy lifestyle advice provides long-term benefits Posted: 07 Mar 2016 11:45 AM PST In a recently published study, providing advice over a 5-year period about leading a healthy lifestyle reduced the risk of heart-related deaths over the next 40 years.

How cancer cells fuel their growth Posted: 07 Mar 2016 11:45 AM PST Amino acids, not sugar, supply most building blocks for tumor cells, scientists have been surprised to find. These findings offer a new way to look at cancer cell metabolism, a field of research that scientists hope will yield new drugs that cut off cancer cells' ability to grow and divide.

Genes influence sleep/wake timing of seizures in people with epilepsy Posted: 07 Mar 2016 11:44 AM PST New research shows that genetics plays a role in sleep/wake timing of seizures. Researchers studied 1,395 individuals with epilepsy in families containing multiple people with epilepsy to determine whether sleep/wake timing of seizures runs in families.

Mutated gene safeguards against heart attacks Posted: 07 Mar 2016 11:40 AM PST People with a specific gene mutation have a 50 percent lower risk of suffering a heart attack. This is what an international team of researchers discovered in a broad comparative study. If this gene were switched off with medications it could reduce the risk of coronary disease significantly.

Improving modern vaccines: Sugar polymer tails wag the protein dog Posted: 07 Mar 2016 09:55 AM PST Millions of people – particularly infants in underdeveloped countries – suffer from the serious life threatening illnesses of meningitis, pneumonia and influenza. Early vaccines were based on the large and complex carbohydrate (sugar) based polymers produced by the bacteria. More recently new glycoconjugate vaccines have been developed which involves 'fusing' the complex carbohydrates – the sugar polymer tails - onto carrier proteins. These sugar-protein complexes improve the effectiveness and longevity of the vaccine. However, there are still problems concerning the stability of formulations they are prepared in, warn researchers.

Talk about yourself on social media? Posted: 07 Mar 2016 09:55 AM PST A network of brain regions involved in self-disclosure on Facebook has been determined by a team of researchers. In the first study to examine the intrinsic functional connectivity of the brain in relation to social media use, researchers observed connectivity between regions of the brain previously established to play a role in self-cognition, in 35 participants.

Preemies' gut bacteria reveal vast scope of antibiotic resistance Posted: 07 Mar 2016 09:41 AM PST A new study of gut bacteria in premature infants reveals the vast scope of the problem of antibiotic resistance and gives new insight into the extreme vulnerability of these young patients, according to researchers.

Professor urges physicians to help victims of torture seeking asylum Posted: 07 Mar 2016 09:41 AM PST Refugees seeking asylum in the United States are twice as likely to be granted protection if their application is supported by medical documentation of torture.

Clinician communication reduced distress related to the detection of incidental nodules Posted: 07 Mar 2016 09:40 AM PST A cross-sectional survey showed a quarter of patients with detected incidental pulmonary nodules experienced significant distress related to the nodule. Detailed clinician communication increased patient knowledge, relieved distress, and improved patient experience.

Lung cancer screening: New Canadian guideline Posted: 07 Mar 2016 09:40 AM PST Adults aged 55-74 years who are at high risk of lung cancer -- current or former smokers (i.e., have quit within the past 15 years) with at least a 30 pack-year history or more -- should be screened annually up to three times using low-dose computed tomography (CT), according to a new Canadian guideline.

N95 respirators vs surgical masks: Protecting health workers from respiratory infections Posted: 07 Mar 2016 09:40 AM PST Accumulated evidence does not indicate superiority of N95 respirators over surgical masks in protecting health care workers from contracting acute respiratory infections from patients, according to a systematic review.

Toxic byproduct of hemoglobin could provide clues for cerebral hemorrhage and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:42 AM PST A novel mechanism has been found that could protect the brain from damage due to stroke and a variety of neurodegenerative conditions, including sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease, report scientists.

Team finds new approach to curbing cancer cell growth Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:40 AM PST Using a new approach, scientists have discovered a novel drug candidate that could be used to treat certain types of breast cancer, lung cancer and melanoma.

Cellular aging process unexpectedly enhances insulin secretion Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:39 AM PST A cellular program that causes aging can also bring unexpected benefits in the function of pancreatic beta cells and the production of insulin in mice and humans, new research shows.

Bid to beat baby chest infection boosted by immune study Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:37 AM PST Babies at risk of a serious lung infection could be helped by a therapy based on the body's natural immune defenses. Scientists have found that a compound produced by the body's immune system can kill the virus that causes the disease -- known as respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

New mothers with postpartum psychiatric disorders face increased risk of suicide, study shows Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:37 AM PST New mothers who suffer from depression and other psychiatric disorders face a heightened risk of taking their own lives during the first year after they give birth, a new study shows. The study, which runs counter to conventional wisdom of motherhood as a state of unmitigated bliss, is based on one of the most exhaustive analyses ever conducted on the subject, taking advantage of rich data available to researchers in Denmark.

Hop, skip and a jump: Researchers reveal molecular search patterns Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:35 AM PST Like an albatross scanning for pods of squid in a vast ocean, molecules on solid surfaces move in an intermittent search pattern that provides maximum efficiency, according to new research. While this behavior had been proposed theoretically, these researchers have made the first experimental observations of this phenomenon, providing a gateway for potential improvements in fields ranging from medical diagnostics to chemical production.

Immune factor allows viral infections to become chronic Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:35 AM PST Many viral diseases tend to become chronic -- including infections with the HI virus. In persons affected, the immune response is not sufficient to eliminate the virus permanently. Scientists have now identified an immune factor which is partially responsible for this. Their results give rise to hopes for new therapeutic approaches.

Researchers identify cause of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetics Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:35 AM PST A new link between high levels of certain amino acids and type 2 diabetes has been found by a team of scientists, using mouse and human muscle and blood samples to evaluate the mechanisms that lead to insulin resistance.

Liposomes cannot penetrate the skin Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:33 AM PST Researchers show once and for all that liposomes cannot function as carriers transporting active agents into the skin. The research group is the first in the world to use a special microscope, called a nanoscope, to study the skin. With this technique it is possible to directly see the individual molecules and liposomes.

Immunology meets single-cell sequencing Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:33 AM PST A new single-cell genomics method helps determine T-cell receptor sequences and extrapolate their response to disease. The technique will help research into immune response, autoimmune disease, cancer and vaccination. Uptake enables sequencing-based understanding of which T-cell receptors recognize specific invaders -- knowledge that could be used to speed up diagnosis.

Zebrafish, humans have new biomedical friend in the spotted gar Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:33 AM PST The genome of a slowly evolving fish, the spotted gar, is so much like both zebrafish and humans that it can be used as a bridge species that could open a pathway to important advancements in biomedical research focused on human diseases.

Daily dose of antibiotics helps bacteria develop multi-drug tolerance Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:33 AM PST Antibiotics do not easily eradicate the gut bacteria Escherichia coli, as some bacteria survive treatment in a dormant state. Once treatment is stopped, these dormant cells can become active again and recolonize the body. Researchers have shown that the more frequently bacteria receive antibiotics, the more of them survive. What is more, these survivors have evolved into bacteria with multi-drug tolerance.

Novel molecular processes controlling key genes in prostate cancer uncovered Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:32 AM PST Gene regulatory mechanisms have been uncovered that can explain how known genetic variants influence prostate cancer risk. The findings reveal widespread deregulation of androgen receptor function, a key player in prostate cancer.

Skin cancer: To each tumor its particularities, to each tumor its treatment Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:32 AM PST 90 percent of the population are at risk to develop a skin cancer, called basal cell carcinoma, one day. Although common, this cancer is rarely fatal and has until now been little studied. But geneticists sequenced the DNA of these skin tumors, in order to determine the genes that are responsible for the cancerogenesis. Their discovery of new cancer genes that cause BCC can pave the way for new treatment methods personalized for each tumor.

'Person-on-a-chip': Engineers grow 3-D heart, liver tissues for better drug testing Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:32 AM PST Researchers have developed a new way of growing realistic human tissues outside the body. Their 'person-on-a-chip' technology, called AngioChip, is a powerful platform for discovering and testing new drugs, and could eventually be used to repair or replace damaged organs.

Predicting avoidable 30-day readmissions Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:30 AM PST The HOSPITAL score, an acronym created to identify the variables associated with hospital readmissions, successfully predicted patients at high risk of a 30-day potentially avoidable readmission, an international, multicenter study has found. Researchers believe this score may help easily identify patients in need of intense transitional care interventions to prevent avoidable hospital readmissions.

Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy may increase risk of MS in children Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:29 AM PST Children of mothers with vitamin D deficiency during early pregnancy appeared to be at greater risk for multiple sclerosis (MS) in adulthood, according to a new article.

Could cutting urban blight reduce teen murders? Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:29 AM PST Analyzing the immediate neighborhood surroundings of teenaged homicide victims, Philadelphia researchers found that neglected conditions -- vacant lots, poor street lighting, fewer parks and less-traveled thoroughfares --were in much greater abundance compared to neighborhoods where adolescents were safer. Without attributing cause-and-effect, the new study adds to previous research suggesting that modifying specific outdoor features with low-cost improvements may foster community interaction and potentially reduce youth violence in cities.

Scientists use synthetic gene and magnets to alter behavior of mice, fish Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:29 AM PST Scientists have demonstrated that neurons in the brain that have been supplemented with a synthetic gene can be remotely manipulated by a magnetic field. This has implications for future treatment of neurological diseases, such as schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease.

Scientists work to bring about a new treatment for rare childhood cancer Posted: 07 Mar 2016 07:57 AM PST Neuroblastoma accounts for the most pediatric deaths for any tumor outside of the brain. The most lethal form of this tumor is often associated with amplification of the gene MYCN, and now scientists may have developed a combination therapy that uses this gene to kill the cancer, instead of making it grow.

'Tommy John' reconstructive surgeries on the rise among young athletes Posted: 07 Mar 2016 07:57 AM PST A new study found the number of "Tommy John" surgeries to repair a pitching-related elbow injury has tripled in recent years, mainly among adolescent athletes.

Combining two techniques to 'rewire' the brain may improve arm, hand movement for stroke survivors Posted: 07 Mar 2016 07:57 AM PST Used in combination, two innovative rehabilitation approaches can promote better long-term recovery of arm and hand movement function in stroke survivors, suggests a new paper.

Novel reprogramming factor yields more efficient induction of human pluripotent stem cells Posted: 07 Mar 2016 06:42 AM PST A robust reprogramming factor has been identified that increases the efficiency of creating human induced pluripotent stem cells (HiPSCs) from skin fibroblasts more than 20-fold, speeds the reprogramming time by several days and enhances the quality of reprogramming.

Group identifications affect likelihood of teenagers smoking, drinking and taking cannabis Posted: 07 Mar 2016 06:36 AM PST Teenagers who interact positively with their family, school and friends are far less likely to smoke, binge drink and use cannabis than peers who fail to identify with these social groups, according to research. The research team surveyed more than 1000 high school pupils aged 13-17 from the Fife area. The results showed that group identification protects against adverse health behavior, with levels of identification with family, school and friendship groups predicting the likelihood of teenagers having smoked cigarettes, drank to excess or smoked cannabis in the past month.

Goldilocks had it right: When it comes to sleep, neither too much or too little is good for you Posted: 07 Mar 2016 06:36 AM PST Too much or too little sleep is linked with an increased risk of certain types of cardiovascular disease. Women and the elderly are particularly at risk, report scientists in a new report.

Alzheimer's more versatile than previously known Posted: 07 Mar 2016 06:36 AM PST Accumulation of the substance amyloid beta in the brain impairs the memory and cognitive ability in people with Alzheimer's. New findings show that the cause of amyloid beta pathology might be more versatile than previously known. Researchers believe that these new findings may be of significance to the development of new medications.

Depression, anxiety may reduce chances of IVF pregnancy Posted: 07 Mar 2016 06:35 AM PST Depression and anxiety, and not necessarily the use of antidepressant medication, are associated with lower pregnancy and live birth rates following in vitro fertilization, according to a large register study in Sweden. The findings will be of interest to clinicians treating infertility and for women with depression or anxiety planning to undergo fertility treatment.

Mitochondrial coding genome analysis of tropical root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne) supports haplotype based diagnostics, reveals evidence of recent reticulate evolution Posted: 07 Mar 2016 06:35 AM PST The polyphagous parthenogenetic root-knot nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne are considered to be the most significant nematode pest in sub-tropical and tropical agriculture. Despite the crucial need for correct diagnosis, identification of these pathogens remains problematic. Scientists have refined the identification of the nematodes.

Zika linked to abnormal pregnancies, fetal death, new research finds Posted: 07 Mar 2016 06:24 AM PST New research presents strong evidence that the Zika virus can indeed cause a range of abnormalities in pregnant women infected with the virus -- with the effects manifesting any time during pregnancy. Some of the abnormalities noted have not been reported in connection with the virus.

UK diagnoses children's kidney cancer at a later stage than Germany Posted: 07 Mar 2016 06:24 AM PST The UK diagnoses Wilms' tumors -- the most common children's kidney cancer -- when they are larger and more advanced compared with those diagnosed in Germany, according to a new study.

HIV/AIDS long-term costs high, and unaffordable to most-affected countries Posted: 07 Mar 2016 06:24 AM PST There will be a significant shortfall in the funding needed for HIV control in sub-Saharan Africa in the coming years and those countries with the highest HIV burden will be unable to meet their obligations on their own to sustain control efforts.

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