ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Pertussis vaccination in pregnancy is safe, study finds
• Fast casual restaurant entrées higher in calories than fast food
• PTSD linked to low levels of fat hormone
• New PSA test examines protein structures to detect prostate cancers
• Could flies help us understand brain injuries?
• New challenge for caregivers: The internet
• Brain imaging links Alzheimer's decline to tau protein
• Researchers unveil new, detailed images of DNA transcription
• Children of depressed parents at high risk of adverse consequences into adulthood
• Brazilian Zika virus strain causes birth defects in experimental models
• New potential marker for obesity found
• Genetic links to educational attainment identified
• Genetic variants may put some soldiers at higher risk of PTSD
• Revolutionary drug explained by scientists
• Quality of life meets cure for prostate cancer treatment
• 'Communication breakdown' during general anesthesia
• Mouse models of Zika in pregnancy show how fetuses become infected
• As exposure to chemical rises, so does risk of ending breastfeeding early
• Fetal mice with Zika infection get microcephaly
• Twin study finds that gut microbiomes run in families
• Lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan assay for detecting active tuberculosis in HIV-positive adults
• New device could improve cancer detection
• Sensitivity to oxidative stress is not always linked to aging, study shows
• Validation of screening tool for ROS1 gene rearrangements
• Ways to improve patient comfort during skin cancer screening
• Heart attacks trending down, but low-income communities still lagging behind
• Brief report on mucocutaneous findings, course in adult with Zika virus infection
• New imaging technology allows scientists to peer even deeper into fatty arteries
• An enzyme enigma discovered in the abyss
• Too much folate in pregnant women increases risk for autism, study suggests
• Repair cartilage potentially can heal horribly broken bones
• No symptoms, but could there be cancer? Chemosensor will detect it
• New brain research may help treat single-sided deafness
• Greater social media use tied to higher risk of eating, body image concerns
• Making organs transparent to improve nanomedicine
• Shaping the way Europe prevents violence against women
• Tailor-made radiation therapy
• Bauer releases new helmet, best performance according Helmet Ratings
• Level of self-control linked to environment
• New human microbiome research tool: Gut model HuMiX works like the real thing
• Common asthma warnings overlooked
• Stem cell gene therapy for fatal childhood disease ready for human trial
• Study links parental depression to brain changes and risk-taking in adolescents
• Why bad experiences are remembered out of context
• Has HDL, the 'good' cholesterol, been hyped?
• Unsafe sex is fastest-growing risk for ill health in teens
• Photosynthetic bacteria give biologists a cool new tool
• Exercise may reduce risk of cervical cancer
• Researchers demonstrate link between 'jumping gene,' colon cancer

Pertussis vaccination in pregnancy is safe, study finds Posted: 11 May 2016 01:24 PM PDT Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is recommended for all pregnant women in the U.S. as the key medical intervention to protect newborn infants from pertussis (whooping cough). However, the safety of giving the Tdap vaccine to pregnant women has not been fully determined. According to a new study the Tdap vaccine is safe for both mothers and infants.

Fast casual restaurant entrées higher in calories than fast food Posted: 11 May 2016 01:23 PM PDT Dieters looking to cut calories may believe it's best to pick a fast casual restaurant over a fast food chain, but new research shows that may not be the best choice. According to researchers, entrées at fast casual restaurants -- a category that includes restaurants such as Chipotle and Panera Bread -- have a higher average calorie count than fast food establishments, such as a McDonald's or Bojangles.

PTSD linked to low levels of fat hormone Posted: 11 May 2016 01:23 PM PDT Researchers report a biological mechanism that might explain why individuals coping with post-traumatic stress disorder are less able to extinguish the fear of past dangers.

New PSA test examines protein structures to detect prostate cancers Posted: 11 May 2016 01:23 PM PDT A promising new test is detecting prostate cancer more precisely than current tests, by identifying molecular changes in the prostate specific antigen (PSA) protein, according to new research.

Could flies help us understand brain injuries? Posted: 11 May 2016 12:44 PM PDT Using fruit flies as a traumatic brain injury model may hold the key to identifying important genes and pathways that promote the repair of and minimize damage to the nervous system, new research suggests.

New challenge for caregivers: The internet Posted: 11 May 2016 11:31 AM PDT What should caregivers do when their loved one is checking in on social media at the bank, essentially announcing their whereabouts? What if they are posting too often or don't remember making online purchases?

Brain imaging links Alzheimer's decline to tau protein Posted: 11 May 2016 11:31 AM PDT Using a new imaging agent that binds to tau protein and makes it visible in positron emission tomography (PET) scans, scientists have shown that measures of tau are better markers of the cognitive decline characteristic of Alzheimer's than measures of amyloid beta seen in PET scans.

Researchers unveil new, detailed images of DNA transcription Posted: 11 May 2016 11:24 AM PDT An unprecedented molecular view of the critical early events in gene expression, a process essential for all life, has been provided by researchers in a new study. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), a technique that studies samples at cryogenic temperatures, combined with state-of-the-art computational modeling, allowed researchers to visualize large transcription pre-initiation complexes (PIC) at near-atomic resolution.

Children of depressed parents at high risk of adverse consequences into adulthood Posted: 11 May 2016 11:24 AM PDT The offspring of depressed parents have a higher risk for depression, morbidity and mortality that persists into middle age, the latest report from a 30-year study of families at high- and low-risk for depression reveals.

Brazilian Zika virus strain causes birth defects in experimental models Posted: 11 May 2016 11:23 AM PDT Researchers have described the first 'direct experimental proof' that the Brazilian strain of Zika virus can actually cause severe birth defects.

New potential marker for obesity found Posted: 11 May 2016 11:23 AM PDT A potential new biological marker for the development of obesity has been found, along with a possible target for obesity prevention and treatment, report scientists.

Genetic links to educational attainment identified Posted: 11 May 2016 10:47 AM PDT Researchers have identified 74 areas of the human genome associated with educational attainment. It is well known that social and other environmental factors influence education, but these findings suggest that large genetics analyses may be able to help discover biological pathways as well.

Genetic variants may put some soldiers at higher risk of PTSD Posted: 11 May 2016 10:32 AM PDT In a massive analysis of DNA samples from more than 13,000 US soldiers, scientists have identified two statistically significant genetic variants that may be associated with an increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder, an often serious mental illness linked to earlier exposure to a traumatic event, such as combat and an act of violence.

Revolutionary drug explained by scientists Posted: 11 May 2016 10:31 AM PDT An international team now clarifies the molecular mechanism of a drug created in Russia and designed to prevent the damaging of cell mitochondria by reactive oxygen species.

Quality of life meets cure for prostate cancer treatment Posted: 11 May 2016 10:17 AM PDT A new paper looks at how MRI and a clear understanding of the functional anatomy around the prostate can allow radiation oncologists to plan a course of treatment for patients with prostate cancer that spares these critical structures.

'Communication breakdown' during general anesthesia Posted: 11 May 2016 10:17 AM PDT Some anesthesia drugs work in a straightforward manner by dampening down neurons in the brain. The mechanism of one anesthetic, however, has proved elusive: ketamine. When ketamine is used for general anesthesia, two connected parts of the cortex turn to 'isolated cognitive islands,' researchers have found.

Mouse models of Zika in pregnancy show how fetuses become infected Posted: 11 May 2016 10:17 AM PDT Two mouse models of Zika virus infection in pregnancy have been developed. In them, the virus migrated from the pregnant mouse's bloodstream into the placenta, where it multiplied, then spread into the fetal circulation and infected the brains of the developing pups.

As exposure to chemical rises, so does risk of ending breastfeeding early Posted: 11 May 2016 10:17 AM PDT In a new study of hundreds of Cincinnati moms, higher levels of exposure to the common industrial chemical PFOA were linked to a greater likelihood of ending breastfeeding by three months.

Fetal mice with Zika infection get microcephaly Posted: 11 May 2016 10:17 AM PDT Mouse fetuses injected with the Asian Zika virus strain and carried to term within their pregnant mothers display the characteristic features of microcephaly, researchers report. As expected, the virus infected the neural progenitor cells, and infected brains reveal expression of genes related to viral entry, altered immune response, and cell death. The authors say this is direct evidence that Zika infection causes microcephaly in an animal model.

Twin study finds that gut microbiomes run in families Posted: 11 May 2016 10:17 AM PDT A genome-wide association analysis of over 1,000 twins in the UK supports that some parts of our microbiomes are inherited and shaped -- not through a spread of microbes from parent to child, but through our genes. The results, reveal new examples of heritable bacterial species including those related to diet preference, metabolism, and immune defense.

Lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan assay for detecting active tuberculosis in HIV-positive adults Posted: 11 May 2016 09:33 AM PDT An international review team has prepared a systematic review to assess the accuracy of a point-of-care urine test for diagnosing and screening tuberculosis (TB) in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

New device could improve cancer detection Posted: 11 May 2016 09:25 AM PDT A new method to isolate cancer cells that have escaped from a tumor could soon pave the way for improved diagnosis and treatment, say scientists. The simple process involves a special device that squeezes cells in a blood sample through tiny funnels, which drive the cancer cells and blood cells into separate streams based on differences in their size and softness.

Sensitivity to oxidative stress is not always linked to aging, study shows Posted: 11 May 2016 09:25 AM PDT An important breakthrough has been made in understanding the impact of oxygen exposure on the aging process of mammal cells. The findings of the research could pave the way for better understanding of the aging process in humans and new treatments against aging-associated diseases.

Validation of screening tool for ROS1 gene rearrangements Posted: 11 May 2016 09:25 AM PDT Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is an effective tool that can be used for identifying proto-oncogene 1 receptor tyrosine kinase (ROS1) gene rearrangements and screening patients for the administration of the targeted therapy crizotinib, a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Ways to improve patient comfort during skin cancer screening Posted: 11 May 2016 09:25 AM PDT Dermatologists can make patients more comfortable during full-body skin cancer screenings by respecting patient preferences for the physician's gender as well as whether, and how, they prefer to have their genitals examined, a new study indicates.

Heart attacks trending down, but low-income communities still lagging behind Posted: 11 May 2016 09:25 AM PDT While heart attack rates across all income levels have declined significantly over the last 15 years, people living in low-income communities are still more likely to be hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction, according to a new study.

Brief report on mucocutaneous findings, course in adult with Zika virus infection Posted: 11 May 2016 09:25 AM PDT What are the mucocutaneous (skin and mucous membrane) features of a 44-year-old man who returned from a six-day vacation to Puerto Rico with confirmatory testing for Zika virus? Researchers describe the observations in a new article.

New imaging technology allows scientists to peer even deeper into fatty arteries Posted: 11 May 2016 07:54 AM PDT Researchers have improved upon previous instruments, developing a new IVPA catheter design with collinear overlap between optical and acoustic waves with a tiny probe. The design can greatly improve the sensitivity and imaging depth of IVPA imaging, revealing fatty arteries in all of their unctuous detail.

An enzyme enigma discovered in the abyss Posted: 11 May 2016 07:53 AM PDT Scientists have uncovered the secret of the 'Mona Lisa of chemical reactions' -- in a bacterium that lives at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. It is hoped the discovery could lead to the development of new antibiotics and other medical treatments.

Too much folate in pregnant women increases risk for autism, study suggests Posted: 11 May 2016 07:53 AM PDT Women who plan on becoming pregnant are told they need enough of the nutrient folate to ensure proper neurodevelopment of their babies, but new research suggests there could be serious risks in having far too much of the same nutrient.

Repair cartilage potentially can heal horribly broken bones Posted: 11 May 2016 07:26 AM PDT Hundreds of NFL players have invested in using stem cells to treat injuries, a new article reports. The publication revealed one NFL linebacker 'paid $6,000 a pop for a 1-milliliter vial of donated placenta tissue containing stem cells to be injected into each of his beat-up knees.' Now new research shows that stem cells could one day be stimulated to make a special type of cartilage to help repair large, hard-to-heal bone fractures.

No symptoms, but could there be cancer? Chemosensor will detect it Posted: 11 May 2016 07:26 AM PDT Many cancers could be successfully treated if the patient consulted the doctor sufficiently early. But how can a developing cancer be detected if it doesn't give rise to any symptoms? In the near future, suitably early diagnosis could be provided by simple and cheap chemical sensors -- thanks to special recognizing polymer films recently developed.

New brain research may help treat single-sided deafness Posted: 11 May 2016 07:26 AM PDT A new discovery could help people suffering with single-sided deafness (SSD) find a treatment quicker -- and could potentially lead to a cure. SSD can be caused by a number of things -- from viral infections to brain tumors -- and is currently incurable and difficult to treat. Symptoms of SSD include impaired hearing, difficulty filtering out background noise, and difficulty determining sound direction.

Greater social media use tied to higher risk of eating, body image concerns Posted: 11 May 2016 07:25 AM PDT Logging on to social media sites frequently throughout the week or spending hours trolling various social feeds during the day is linked to a greater risk of young adults developing eating and body image concerns, an analysis discovered.

Making organs transparent to improve nanomedicine Posted: 11 May 2016 06:29 AM PDT Treating a disease without causing side effects is one of the big promises of nanoparticle technology. But fulfilling it remains a challenge. One of the obstacles is that researchers have a hard time seeing where nanoparticles go once they're inside various parts of the body. But now one team has developed a way to help overcome this problem -- by making tissues and organs clearer in the lab.

Shaping the way Europe prevents violence against women Posted: 11 May 2016 05:42 AM PDT English researchers are shaping the way Europe collects data on and carries out research about violence against women. Violence against women is the most common violation of women's human rights in Europe and remains widespread in all member States of the Council of Europe, with devastating consequences for women, societies and economies, say researchers.

Tailor-made radiation therapy Posted: 11 May 2016 05:41 AM PDT Radiation therapy is one of the most essential elements in cancer treatment. But properly planning radiation therapy is a highly complex task. Now mathematicians have joined an alliance with medical physicists and physicians to improve the therapy planning process. In doing so they have helped improve patient's chances of recovery.

Bauer releases new helmet, best performance according Helmet Ratings Posted: 11 May 2016 05:41 AM PDT The latest hockey helmet to be released, the Bauer RE-AKT 75, is the best performing helmet on the consumer market according to the Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings system. The Bauer helmet is rated the highest of 38 hockey helmet models that have been tested to date, earning 3 stars.

Level of self-control linked to environment Posted: 11 May 2016 05:07 AM PDT People with neurotic personalities are more likely to restore their cognitive abilities in a frenetic, urban environment rather than in a peaceful, natural environment, new research shows. People who are not neurotic will be restored in a calm, natural environment.

New human microbiome research tool: Gut model HuMiX works like the real thing Posted: 11 May 2016 05:07 AM PDT Scientists have now proven that a model of the human gut they have developed and patented -- HuMiX -- is representative of the actual conditions and processes that occur within our intestines. With HuMiX, the researchers can analyze the complex interactions between human cells and bacteria, predict their effects on health or disease onset, and study the action of probiotics and drugs.

Common asthma warnings overlooked Posted: 11 May 2016 05:07 AM PDT A new survey found that most adults are aware of some of the most common asthma signs such as wheezing and shortness of breath, many don't recognize other warning symptoms like trouble sleeping, chest pain, and persistent cough.

Stem cell gene therapy for fatal childhood disease ready for human trial Posted: 10 May 2016 06:35 PM PDT Scientists who have developed a stem cell gene therapy to reverse a fatal childhood illness have agreed to work with a new therapeutics company to test it in a human trial.

Study links parental depression to brain changes and risk-taking in adolescents Posted: 10 May 2016 06:33 PM PDT Parental depression contributes to greater brain activity in areas linked to risk taking in adolescent children, likely leading to more risk-taking and rule-breaking behaviors, a new study concludes. While previous research has found associations between clinically depressed parents and their teenagers' risk taking, the new study is the first to find corresponding changes in the adolescents' brains.

Why bad experiences are remembered out of context Posted: 10 May 2016 06:33 PM PDT Bad experiences can cause people to strongly remember the negative content itself but only weakly remember the surrounding context, and a new study has revealed how this happens in the brain. The study has important implications for understanding conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Has HDL, the 'good' cholesterol, been hyped? Posted: 10 May 2016 01:51 PM PDT HDL's heart disease protection depends on the levels of two other blood fats or lipids associated with heart disease, a new study shows for the first time. If these fats are not within normal ranges, even a high HDL may not be protective, say scientists.

Unsafe sex is fastest-growing risk for ill health in teens Posted: 10 May 2016 01:03 PM PDT A new groundbreaking report finds that years of neglect have had detrimental effects on adolescent health. Two-thirds of young people are growing up in countries where preventable and treatable health problems like HIV/AIDS, early pregnancy, and unsafe sex are an ongoing threat to their wellbeing. Adolescents also face new challenges: rising levels of obesity and mental health disorders.

Photosynthetic bacteria give biologists a cool new tool Posted: 10 May 2016 01:03 PM PDT Bioengineers have converted a protein pathway found in freshwater photosynthetic bacteria into the first engineered transcriptional regulatory tool that is activated exclusively by UV-violet light. The tool could make the manufacture of drugs and other substances by engineered bacteria more efficient.

Exercise may reduce risk of cervical cancer Posted: 10 May 2016 11:38 AM PDT Even 30 minutes of exercise per week has the potential to significantly reduce a woman's risk of developing cervical cancer, according to a study, report investigators.

Researchers demonstrate link between 'jumping gene,' colon cancer Posted: 10 May 2016 11:37 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have demonstrated conclusively that 'jumping genes' appear to play a key role in the generation of cancer. This is the first study to ever elucidate this process.

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