ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Post-conflict reconciliation led to societal healing, but worsened psychological health
• Diabetes drug found no better than placebo at treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
• Rare human disease found in dogs
• Ingestible robot operates in simulated stomach
• Gene regulatory mutation linked to rare childhood cancer
• Database helps researchers connect exposures to health effects, compare diseases
• Team discovers new HIV vaccine target
• Study of glioma susceptibility in dogs may yield insights for humans
• Distance makes the habits healthier: Advice on snacking
• Depression is driven by networks of genes that span brain circuits, study suggests
• Use of complementary, alternative medicine affects initiation of chemotherapy
• Gene expression depends on aonstant dialogue between nucleus, cytoplasm
• New SLENDR technique: Protein labeling in developing brain by genome editing
• Online therapy effective at treating depression and anxiety
• Stopping cancer in its tracks
• Scientists identify key factor in mitochondrial calcium uptake and bioenergetics
• Melatonin signaling is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes
• Study identifies potential treatment target for pancreatic cancer
• Zika virus: Optimized tests for reliable diagnosis
• Hay fever's hidden supporting substances
• Fighting hospital germs with sugar
• babies of mothers with gestational diabetes have more body fat, Scans reveal
• Marijuana use in pregnancy is major risk for pre-term birth
• Migrant money puts aid in the shade
• Viruses detected in Swedish mosquito larvae
• Two imaging catheters unite to better detect dangerous plaques in arteries
• Patients may not need to wait two weeks to shower following knee replacement surgery
• Chronic drinking interferes with absorption of critical vitamins by pancreas
• Should we rethink of causes of dementia?
• Physical activity, functional ability increase after weight loss surgery
• Loneliness in midlife: Risk of becoming lonely is not limited to old age
• More urinary tract stones are being treated with surgery
• Scientists develop new treatment to prolong life of those with cystic fibrosis
• Emotions in the age of Botox
• Donor kidneys may be discarded due to 'weekend effect' at hospitals
• Benefits of calcium supplements may be outweighed by cardiovascular risks
• New bio-glass could make it possible to re-grow or replace cartilage
• Burn injuries: Better methods of treatment using soluble factors from irradiated white blood cells
• Gene and tonic: Genetic link in binge-drinking teens
• New approaches to eradicate aggressive breast cancers
• HIV testing during early infection may reduce new cases in high-risk communities
• 'Sixth sense' protects drivers except when texting
• High fruit intake during adolescence linked with lower breast cancer risk
• How urban living affects children's mental health
• New technology detects blood clots with simple in-home test
• Children with swollen, painful knees: Is it Lyme disease or septic arthritis?
• Computer model helps physicians prescribe stroke preventing therapy
• Fruit discovery could provide new treatments for obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
• Abortion rates at all-time low in developed countries but remain unchanged in developing countries
• Persistent childhood asthma linked to COPD
• Caregivers of ICU survivors at high risk of developing depression, emotional distress
• Multiple sclerosis drug mitoxantrone may be linked to increased risk of colorectal cancer
• You are what you eat: Biologists map genetic pathways of nutrition-based species traits
• Study probes heart of synthetic heart valves
• Targeted orphaned domain may lead to drug therapies

Post-conflict reconciliation led to societal healing, but worsened psychological health Posted: 12 May 2016 01:10 PM PDT Reconciliation programs promote societal healing, but that these gains come at the cost of reduced psychological health, worsening depression, anxiety, and trauma.

Diabetes drug found no better than placebo at treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease Posted: 12 May 2016 01:06 PM PDT A diabetes medication described in some studies as an effective treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) works no better than a placebo, report researchers after conducting the first randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial of sitagliptin, an oral antihyperglycemic marketed under the name Januvia.

Rare human disease found in dogs Posted: 12 May 2016 01:06 PM PDT A rare, severe form of pulmonary hypertension, which up until now, has only been classified as a human lung disease, has also been discovered in dogs according to an American study.

Ingestible robot operates in simulated stomach Posted: 12 May 2016 01:06 PM PDT In experiments involving a simulation of the human esophagus and stomach, researchers have demonstrated a tiny origami robot that can unfold itself from a swallowed capsule and, steered by external magnetic fields, crawl across the stomach wall to remove a swallowed button battery or patch a wound.

Gene regulatory mutation linked to rare childhood cancer Posted: 12 May 2016 11:54 AM PDT A single defect in a gene that codes for a histone -- a 'spool' that wraps idle DNA -- is linked to pediatric cancers, a new study indicates. Histones derive their pattern from the same genome that they help to pack up and organize.

Database helps researchers connect exposures to health effects, compare diseases Posted: 12 May 2016 11:54 AM PDT Two new studies give researchers new strategies for connecting environmental exposures to human health effects. To determine whether a drug can be used to treat more than one disease, scientists look for overlaps between the set of genes that play a role in each disease: the more genes in common, the more likely the drug can be repurposed to treat both illnesses. The problem is that not all the genes involved in any one disease are always known, they say.

Team discovers new HIV vaccine target Posted: 12 May 2016 11:53 AM PDT A team of scientists has reported a research trifecta. They discovered a new vulnerable site on HIV for a vaccine to target, a broadly neutralizing antibody that binds to that target site, and how the antibody stops the virus from infecting a cell.

Study of glioma susceptibility in dogs may yield insights for humans Posted: 12 May 2016 11:53 AM PDT A new study of the genetic factors underlying glioma formation in dogs may hold clues to how these common and often untreatable tumors form in humans. The genome study, which was conducted across 25 dog breeds, identified three genes associated with the tumor.

Distance makes the habits healthier: Advice on snacking Posted: 12 May 2016 10:17 AM PDT Free food: It's a growing workplace trend, especially in tech companies, to incentivize productivity and morale around the office. But how can companies promote healthy choices and still provide indulgent goodies? Google executives asked a consumer behavior expert to help them resolve that question by examining the role of relative proximity in behavior.

Depression is driven by networks of genes that span brain circuits, study suggests Posted: 12 May 2016 10:05 AM PDT Depression is a disorder that involves changes in coordinated networks of hundreds of genes across key brain circuits, according to a study. Researchers show through their work how tweaking gene networks can affect susceptibility to depression.

Use of complementary, alternative medicine affects initiation of chemotherapy Posted: 12 May 2016 09:54 AM PDT Women with early-stage breast cancer for whom chemotherapy was indicated and who used dietary supplements and multiple types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) were less likely to start chemotherapy than nonusers of alternative therapies, according to new research. This is one of the first studies to evaluate how complementary and alternative medicine use affects decisions regarding chemotherapy.

Gene expression depends on aonstant dialogue between nucleus, cytoplasm Posted: 12 May 2016 09:54 AM PDT Gene expression is the process by which genetic information is used to produce proteins, essential for cells to function properly. It takes place in two steps (first the transcription, then the translation), considered to be two independent processes until now. Today, microbiologists provide additional evidence that they are intrinsically related and that a protein complex called Ccr4-Not plays a key role in gene expression by acting as a messenger between the nucleus and the cytoplasm.

New SLENDR technique: Protein labeling in developing brain by genome editing Posted: 12 May 2016 09:54 AM PDT A research team has developed a method, called SLENDR, that allows precise modification of neuronal DNA in living samples. Using their new technique, the research team was able to reliably label two different proteins with distinct colors at the same time in the same cell. The researchers used a variety of imaging methods as well as DNA sequencing to confirm that the SLENDR method had truly and precisely knocked in the genes.

Online therapy effective at treating depression and anxiety Posted: 12 May 2016 09:49 AM PDT Providing an online computerized cognitive behavioral therapy (CCBT) program both alone and in combination with Internet support groups (ISG) is a more effective treatment for anxiety and depression than doctors' usual primary care, a new study has demonstrated.

Stopping cancer in its tracks Posted: 12 May 2016 09:49 AM PDT Inhibiting autophagy, the process cells use to degrade large intra-cellular cargo, effectively blocks tumor cell migration and breast cancer metastasis in tumor models. Metastasis is responsible for 90 percent of cancer deaths. There are approved drugs that can disrupt autophagy.

Scientists identify key factor in mitochondrial calcium uptake and bioenergetics Posted: 12 May 2016 09:49 AM PDT Mitochondria are the energy-generating batteries of cells, but they also perform other critical functions, including protecting cells against calcium overload, a significant cause of cell death in certain cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Underlying this safety mechanism is a protein complex known as the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU). New work shows how MCU proteins come together to effect calcium uptake, shedding new light on the physiological role of the MCU complex and its importance to cellular bioenergetics.

Melatonin signaling is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes Posted: 12 May 2016 09:49 AM PDT A sleeping pancreas releases less insulin, but how much insulin drops each night may differ from person to person, suggests a new study. Up to 30 percent of the population may be predisposed to have a pancreas that's more sensitive to the insulin-inhibiting effects of melatonin. People with this increased sensitivity carry a slightly altered melatonin receptor gene that is a known risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

Study identifies potential treatment target for pancreatic cancer Posted: 12 May 2016 09:49 AM PDT Investigators have identified the first potential molecular treatment target for the most common form of pancreatic cancer, which kills more than 90 percent of patients.

Zika virus: Optimized tests for reliable diagnosis Posted: 12 May 2016 07:26 AM PDT Scientists have shown that not all conventional Zika virus molecular diagnostic tests are sufficiently reliable. Diagnosing Zika viruses reliably is of major importance--for both patients and further research on the spread of the virus. The Zika virus is currently spreading in Central and South America; over one million people have become infected since spring 2015.

Hay fever's hidden supporting substances Posted: 12 May 2016 07:26 AM PDT Up to now, research into pollen allergies has largely focused on allergens. Upon contact with the nasal mucous membrane, however, pollen releases a host of other substances. A team of researchers has investigated effects of these substances. It emerged that non-allergenic components have a significant influence on the immune response. The results suggest that it may be time to rethink the current methods of treating allergies.

Fighting hospital germs with sugar Posted: 12 May 2016 07:26 AM PDT A synthetic sugar-based molecule activates the immune system and could serve as a vaccine against C. difficile bacteria, say scientists. The discovery may pave the way for developing inexpensive and effective vaccines and drugs against the illness.

babies of mothers with gestational diabetes have more body fat, Scans reveal Posted: 12 May 2016 07:26 AM PDT Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes have more body fat at two months of age compared to babies born to healthy mothers, says a new study. Scientists used MRI scanning to measure body fat in 86 babies -- they took these readings shortly after birth, and again when the babies were 8-12 weeks old.

Marijuana use in pregnancy is major risk for pre-term birth Posted: 12 May 2016 07:09 AM PDT For the first time, science has shown a direct link between continued marijuana use during pregnancy and pre-term birth. The results show that once all other major risk factors have been accounted for, continued marijuana use through to 20 weeks' gestation is independently associated with a five-fold increase in the risk of pre-term birth.

Migrant money puts aid in the shade Posted: 12 May 2016 07:07 AM PDT International remittances have poverty and inequality-reducing effects in Sub-Saharan Africa, new research suggests. The results suggest that a 10% increase in remittances as share of gross domestic product (GDP) will lead to a 1.2% decline in the number of people living on less than US$1.25 per day, 2.4% decline in the depth of poverty, 3.1% decline in the number of people living in extreme poverty and 1.5% decline in inequality.

Viruses detected in Swedish mosquito larvae Posted: 12 May 2016 07:05 AM PDT After an outbreak of Ockelbo disease in northern Sweden in 2013, researchers were able to trace the virus to mosquitoes. In a new study, researchers have shown that mosquito larvae also carry viruses that can cause infectious disease. These include the Sindbis virus, which causes Ockelbo disease, which is associated with fever, rashes and prolonged joint pain.

Two imaging catheters unite to better detect dangerous plaques in arteries Posted: 12 May 2016 05:53 AM PDT A promising new method for identifying atherosclerotic plaques, the encased deposits in arteries that restrict blood flow and can lead to heart attack or stroke, has been revealed by researchers. The technique combines two different types of imaging, allowing for an unprecedented combination of depth and detail. The hybrid technology will provide doctors with a better diagnostic tool for identifying particularly problematic plaques.

Patients may not need to wait two weeks to shower following knee replacement surgery Posted: 12 May 2016 05:53 AM PDT It may not be necessary for knee replacement patients to wait up to two weeks after surgery before showering, as many surgeons now require, new research indicates.

Chronic drinking interferes with absorption of critical vitamins by pancreas Posted: 12 May 2016 05:53 AM PDT Chronic exposure to alcohol interferes with the pancreas' ability to absorb vitamin C, potentially predisposing the body to pancreatitis and other pancreatic diseases, a new study reports. The findings provide a link between chronic alcohol use and poor pancreatic health.

Should we rethink of causes of dementia? Posted: 12 May 2016 05:53 AM PDT A new theory for the causes of dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases has been developed, involving an out-of-control immune system.

Physical activity, functional ability increase after weight loss surgery Posted: 12 May 2016 05:52 AM PDT People who have their stomach size surgically reduced move around more and easier after weight loss surgery, a study has found. Patients are able to walk further and are more physically active in the first year following the procedure, according to the research.

Loneliness in midlife: Risk of becoming lonely is not limited to old age Posted: 12 May 2016 05:52 AM PDT Investigators have been able to find out in which phases of our lives we are most at risk of becoming lonely. Their findings show that loneliness most often affects people in old age, beginning at approximately eighty. But there are also phases in midlife at which the risk is high.

More urinary tract stones are being treated with surgery Posted: 12 May 2016 05:51 AM PDT Researchers who analyzed recent trends related to urinary tract stones in the UK found a sustained and high prevalence of the condition, with an increased trend to treat patients with surgery. The number of upper urinary tract stone episodes in hospitals increased from 83,050 in 2009-2010 to 86,742 in 2014-2015. The use of non-invasive shock wave lithotripsy remained stable over this time; however, surgical intervention for stones in the ureter or kidney rose nearly 50% from 12,062 to 18,055 cases in the 5-year study period.

Scientists develop new treatment to prolong life of those with cystic fibrosis Posted: 12 May 2016 05:51 AM PDT A new molecule has been discovered that has the potential to prolong the life of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). The molecule represents a possible future treatment and works by altering cellular ion channels resulting in improved airway hydration and significantly increased mucus clearance.

Emotions in the age of Botox Posted: 12 May 2016 05:51 AM PDT Aesthetic treatments based on botulin toxin affect the perception of emotions, new research shows. The consequence of having Botox injected, scientists explain, depends on a temporary block of proprioceptive feedback, a process that helps us understand other people's emotions by reproducing them on our own bodies.

Donor kidneys may be discarded due to 'weekend effect' at hospitals Posted: 12 May 2016 05:51 AM PDT Investigators have uncovered a "weekend effect" contributing to the worsening availability of donor kidneys in the United States. They found that kidneys that would normally be made available for transplantation were less likely to be procured from donors over the weekend (89.5% on the weekend vs. 90.2% during the week). Further, organs procured during the weekend were more than 20% more likely to be discarded than kidneys procured on other days, although the discarded kidneys were of higher quality on average than those discarded during the week, according to a new report.

Benefits of calcium supplements may be outweighed by cardiovascular risks Posted: 12 May 2016 05:49 AM PDT Taking calcium and vitamin D can help prevent broken bones in older women. However, this benefit may be cancelled out by an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, say researchers.

New bio-glass could make it possible to re-grow or replace cartilage Posted: 12 May 2016 05:49 AM PDT Scientists have developed a material that can mimic cartilage and potentially encourage it to re-grow. The material can be formulated to exhibit different properties, and researchers are now hoping to use it to develop implants for replacing damaged cartilage discs between vertebrae.

Burn injuries: Better methods of treatment using soluble factors from irradiated white blood cells Posted: 12 May 2016 05:46 AM PDT Extensive burn injuries are usually treated by transplanting layers of skin from other parts of the body. Although this is a commonly used method, the wounds do not always heal completely. A research group has been able to show that soluble factors from white blood cells improve tissue healing following skin grafting.

Gene and tonic: Genetic link in binge-drinking teens Posted: 12 May 2016 05:45 AM PDT Scientists have identified the KALRN gene in a search to determine factors at play in underage alcohol abuse.

New approaches to eradicate aggressive breast cancers Posted: 12 May 2016 05:45 AM PDT Medical researchers have identified fatty acid oxidation intermediates as being significantly upregulated in a MYC-driven model of TNBC. In the MYC-driven transgenic TNBC model and also MYC over-expressing TNBC PDX models, they found that inhibition of FAO decreased energy metabolism and blocked tumor growth, suggesting that FAO has a critical role for in vivo tumor activity.

HIV testing during early infection may reduce new cases in high-risk communities Posted: 12 May 2016 05:45 AM PDT Detecting HIV earlier, through screening programs that can identify the virus shortly after infection, may lead to lower rates of HIV transmission in local epidemics, suggest findings from a new study. After an acute infection screening program was implemented in San Diego, there were fewer new HIV diagnoses than would have been expected without such testing.

'Sixth sense' protects drivers except when texting Posted: 12 May 2016 05:45 AM PDT A sixth sense protects distracted drivers when they are being absent minded or upset, but not when they are texting, a new study has found.

High fruit intake during adolescence linked with lower breast cancer risk Posted: 11 May 2016 06:09 PM PDT Two linked papers shed new light on the relation of alcohol and diet with breast cancer and heart disease. The first study reports that high fruit consumption during adolescence may be associated with lower breast cancer risk, while the second study finds that increasing alcohol intake in later life is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

How urban living affects children's mental health Posted: 11 May 2016 06:09 PM PDT Lower social cohesion among neighbors and higher crime rates contribute to higher rates of psychotic symptoms in children, a new study finds. The study is the first to look at what features of urban neighborhoods increase children's risk for experiencing psychotic symptoms.

New technology detects blood clots with simple in-home test Posted: 11 May 2016 06:06 PM PDT New research leads to a screening test for patients on blood thinners to reduce the risk for a blood clot or stroke that's as easy as an in-home diabetes test.

Children with swollen, painful knees: Is it Lyme disease or septic arthritis? Posted: 11 May 2016 06:06 PM PDT Septic or infectious arthritis of the knee and Lyme disease have similar symptoms in children but require different immediate treatment to ensure optimal recovery. A new study identifies four symptoms that are predictive of septic arthritis when the condition presents itself in a child's knee -- an important distinction in areas where Lyme disease is prevalent.

Computer model helps physicians prescribe stroke preventing therapy Posted: 11 May 2016 06:06 PM PDT Physician-researchers have developed a computerized decision support tool that uses a combination of patient information and characteristics to assist physicians and patients with decisions about blood thinning treatment to prevent strokes in individuals with atrial fibrillation.

Fruit discovery could provide new treatments for obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease Posted: 11 May 2016 06:06 PM PDT A combination of two compounds found in red grapes and oranges could be used to improve the health of people with diabetes, and reduce cases of obesity and heart disease. The find has been made by researchers who now hope that their discovery will be developed to provide a treatment for patients.

Abortion rates at all-time low in developed countries but remain unchanged in developing countries Posted: 11 May 2016 06:06 PM PDT Abortion rates have declined significantly over the last 25 years in developed countries and are at a historic low. But in developing countries, where many abortions are unsafe, rates have remained level, highlighting the urgent need for better access to modern contraception (eg, hormonal pill, implants, IUDs) to reduce unwanted pregnancies and abortions.

Persistent childhood asthma linked to COPD Posted: 11 May 2016 06:06 PM PDT In the largest and longest US analysis of persistent asthmatics to date, investigators have found a link between persistent childhood asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in early adulthood. The study found that early lung function predicts lung growth later in life, regardless of asthma treatment and smoking exposure.

Caregivers of ICU survivors at high risk of developing depression, emotional distress Posted: 11 May 2016 06:06 PM PDT A new study focusing on caregiver outcomes of critically ill patients reveals that caregivers of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors, who have received mechanical ventilation for a minimum of seven days, are at a high risk of developing clinical depression persisting up to one year after discharge.

Multiple sclerosis drug mitoxantrone may be linked to increased risk of colorectal cancer Posted: 11 May 2016 01:25 PM PDT The multiple sclerosis (MS) drug mitoxantrone may be associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, according to a study. Mitoxantrone suppresses the immune system. It was first developed as a chemotherapy drug for certain cancers.

You are what you eat: Biologists map genetic pathways of nutrition-based species traits Posted: 11 May 2016 12:44 PM PDT Biologists have significantly advanced understanding of the genetic pathways that control the appearance of different physical traits in the same species depending on nutritional conditions experienced during development.

Study probes heart of synthetic heart valves Posted: 11 May 2016 12:44 PM PDT Bioengineers are giving tissue engineers new tools to help develop synthetic replacement heart valves that mimic natural ones. New research finds that the natural polymer hyaluronan can serve as a tunable bioscaffold for growing spongiosa, the middle tissue layer in heart valve leaflets.

Targeted orphaned domain may lead to drug therapies Posted: 11 May 2016 12:44 PM PDT By studying an orphaned domain considered disordered by others, researchers may have found the key to possible drug therapies for nervous system diseases and inflammatory processes.

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