ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Immediate aspirin after mini-stroke substantially reduces risk of major stroke
• Biomarker may predict endometrial cancer recurrences
• Inhaled steroids may increase risk of nontuberculous mycobacteria lung disease
• Avoiding the deadly dangers of distracted driving
• Drug used for pain, anxiety may be linked to birth defects
• New easy-to-use TB test achieves accuracy comparable to IGRAs in phase III trials
• Environmental and public health benefits of solar power tallied
• How depression and antidepressant drugs work
• Rhythm of 'detox' and feeding genes in fruitflies, mice coordinated by neuropeptide
• Research highlights strategies that can help foster children transition into new homes
• Some antibiotics may worsen complications in transplant patients
• Big data, better care for chronic kidney disease patients
• Bright light alters metabolism
• Research suggests new contributor to heart disease
• Researchers develop novel, non-toxic approach to treating variety of cancers
• Staying a step ahead of cancer
• How antibodies access neurons to fight infection
• How viruses infect bacteria: A tale of a tail
• Antimicrobial in common toothpaste doesn't impact gut, oral microbiome
• Nature vs. Nuture? Both are important, anthropologist argues
• New antibiotic to fight MRSA developed
• Middle East Respiratory Syndrome linked to higher mortality, more severe illness than serious non-MERS infection
• Early introduction of allergenic foods reduces risk of food sensitization, study suggests
• Novel gene therapy shows potential for lung repair in asthma
• Hydroxyurea improves lung function in children with sickle cell disease
• Technique may improve understanding, detection of kidney disease
• Children with brain tumors undergoing radiation therapy helped by play-based preparation
• How to calm an anxious mind
• Colors of autism spectrum described by researchers
• Pain study links children's fear of needles to parent behavior
• Throwing fastballs may be linked to Tommy John surgery in MLB pitchers
• Conventional radiation therapy may not protect healthy brain cells
• New study evaluates nicotine's relationship to body weight, food intake
• Luminous proteins offer new method to discover viral infections
• High blood pressure linked to vascular dementia
• Compared with men, women with AFib have more symptoms, worse quality of life, although higher survival
• Sexual transmission involved in tail end of Ebola epidemic
• ADHD may emerge after childhood for some people, according to new study
• Less decline than expected in brain, spine defects after folic acid fortification program
• Researchers shed light on pathway from virus to brain disease
• Simple screening test can predict heart failure severity
• HIV: Identification of receptors in patients spontaneously controlling infection
• Syphilis infections on the rise in Europe
• Mille-feuille-filter removes viruses from water
• Old drug could fight brain cancer by starving it to death
• Novel lab test may advance diagnosis of rare but dangerous pregnancy condition
• Cisplatin may cause more permanent hearing loss in people with Cockayne syndrome
• Racial, ethnic differences found in psychiatric diagnoses, treatment, according to researchers
• Harnessing engineered slippery surfaces for tissue repair
• Scientists discover Antarctic sponge extract can help kill MRSA
• Enhanced hippocampal-cortical coupling improves memory
• Portable ultrasound brings help for heart failure patients
• Hard water linked to risk of eczema in infants
• Bio-mimicry method developed for preparing, labeling stem cells
• Differences in individuals' immune responses linked to flu vaccine effectiveness
• Can plastic program your baby to be obese? Chemical used in food processing
• Care for COPD: Could more be done?

Immediate aspirin after mini-stroke substantially reduces risk of major stroke Posted: 18 May 2016 07:06 PM PDT Using aspirin urgently could substantially reduce the risk of major strokes in patients who have minor 'warning' events. Medical researchers say that immediate self-treatment when patients experience stroke-like symptoms would considerably reduce the risk of major stroke over the next few days.

Biomarker may predict endometrial cancer recurrences Posted: 18 May 2016 02:04 PM PDT The deubiquitinating enzyme USP14 as a promising biomarker for identifying risk of recurrence in endometrial cancer patients, new research suggests.

Inhaled steroids may increase risk of nontuberculous mycobacteria lung disease Posted: 18 May 2016 02:01 PM PDT Patients with obstructive lung disease who take inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) may be at greater risk for nontuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease (NTM PD), according to new research.

Avoiding the deadly dangers of distracted driving Posted: 18 May 2016 02:01 PM PDT More than 3,100 people were killed in 2014 as a result of distracted driving, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Although distractions come in many forms, texting is the most dangerous because it takes eyes, hands and minds away from the task at hand.

Drug used for pain, anxiety may be linked to birth defects Posted: 18 May 2016 02:00 PM PDT A drug commonly used to treat pain, epilepsy, anxiety and other brain health disorders may be associated with an increased risk of major birth defects, according to a new study.

New easy-to-use TB test achieves accuracy comparable to IGRAs in phase III trials Posted: 18 May 2016 02:00 PM PDT A new skin test for tuberculosis infection has proven safe, easy to administer and accurate in two Phase III clinical trials.

Environmental and public health benefits of solar power tallied Posted: 18 May 2016 01:52 PM PDT Solar power could deliver $400 billion in environmental and public health benefits throughout the United States by 2050, according to a new study.

How depression and antidepressant drugs work Posted: 18 May 2016 01:52 PM PDT New research demonstrates the effectiveness of ketamine to treat depression in a mouse model of the disease. The brings together two hypotheses: 1) that depression results from deficits in GABA signaling and 2) that depression results from deficits in glutamate signaling. It shows that the depression-like behavior in the research mice results from the reduction of both GABA and glutamate, and importantly, that both can be restored with a single dose of ketamine.

Rhythm of 'detox' and feeding genes in fruitflies, mice coordinated by neuropeptide Posted: 18 May 2016 12:29 PM PDT A 24-hour rhythm of cellular detoxification in flies and mammals is coordinated by a neuropeptide that also drives feeding in both organisms. Many detoxification genes are expressed with a circadian rhythm in the mouse liver and in the fruitfly equivalent called the fat body. This work could eventually have implications for chronotherapy -- the study of the timing of when best to take medications.

Research highlights strategies that can help foster children transition into new homes Posted: 18 May 2016 12:29 PM PDT Language is a powerful tool that can ease the transition into a new home for foster children and enhances the possibility that it will be a successful placement, according to new research from the University at Buffalo.

Some antibiotics may worsen complications in transplant patients Posted: 18 May 2016 12:28 PM PDT Some broad-spectrum antibiotics that disrupt the gut microbiome may raise the risk of complications from stem cell transplantation, according to a new study evaluating data from more than 850 transplant patients, as well as from mice.

Big data, better care for chronic kidney disease patients Posted: 18 May 2016 11:14 AM PDT A team of physicians and computer scientists is using merged electronic health records to improve care and clinical outcomes for patients with chronic kidney disease, which affects some 26 million American adults.

Bright light alters metabolism Posted: 18 May 2016 11:14 AM PDT Exposure to bright light alters your metabolism, reports a new study. Scientists found bright light exposure increased insulin resistance compared to dim light exposure in both the morning and the evening. In the evening, bright light also caused higher peak glucose (blood sugar) levels. Over time, excess blood glucose can result in increased body fat, weight gain and a higher risk for diabetes.

Research suggests new contributor to heart disease Posted: 18 May 2016 11:12 AM PDT Medical professionals have long known that the buildup of plaque in arteries can cause them to narrow and harden, potentially leading to a whole host of health problems -- including heart attack, heart disease and stroke. While high blood pressure and artery stiffness are often associated with plaque buildup, new research shows they are not the direct causes. Their findings suggest a new culprit: elastic fibers in the arterial wall.

Researchers develop novel, non-toxic approach to treating variety of cancers Posted: 18 May 2016 11:12 AM PDT A novel, non-toxic approach to treating a wide variety of cancers has been identified by a team of researchers. The treatment approach is based on a combination therapy of the sugar 2-Deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and fenofibrate, a well-studied cholesterol medication.

Staying a step ahead of cancer Posted: 18 May 2016 10:38 AM PDT Scientists have designed a potential cancer therapy that uses a unique strategy to block mTOR, a molecule that helps drive the growth of many tumors. In animal experiments, the drug reduces the size of tumors that are resistant to earlier-generation mTOR inhibitors.

How antibodies access neurons to fight infection Posted: 18 May 2016 10:38 AM PDT Scientists have solved a puzzle of the immune system -- how antibodies enter the nervous system to control viral infections. Their finding may have implications for the prevention and treatment of a range of conditions, including herpes and Guillain-Barre syndrome, which has been linked to the Zika virus.

How viruses infect bacteria: A tale of a tail Posted: 18 May 2016 10:38 AM PDT Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. Using state-of-the-art tools, scientists have described a million-atom 'tail' that bacteriophages use to breach bacterial surfaces. The breakthrough has major implications for science and medicine, as bacteriophages are widely used in research.

Antimicrobial in common toothpaste doesn't impact gut, oral microbiome Posted: 18 May 2016 10:38 AM PDT Personal hygiene products such as soaps and toothpastes that contain the antibiotic triclosan do not have a major influence on microbial communities or endocrine function, according to a small, randomized trial, say researchers.

Nature vs. Nuture? Both are important, anthropologist argues Posted: 18 May 2016 10:00 AM PDT Some anthropologists try to understand how societies and histories construct our identities, and others ask about how genes and the environment do the same thing. Which is the better approach? Both are needed, argues a biological anthropologist.

New antibiotic to fight MRSA developed Posted: 18 May 2016 09:55 AM PDT A team of chemists has developed a new antibiotic formulation to fight the sometimes deadly staph infection caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus or MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant infectious bacteria. The new drug to treat MRSA combines traditional Food and Drug Administration-approved antibiotics, such as methicillin, with the polymer BPEI.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome linked to higher mortality, more severe illness than serious non-MERS infection Posted: 18 May 2016 09:55 AM PDT Patients with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) develop more severe critical illness and have higher mortality than patients with non-MERS severe acute respiratory infection (SARI), according to investigators involved with the largest study of critically ill patients with MERS.

Early introduction of allergenic foods reduces risk of food sensitization, study suggests Posted: 18 May 2016 09:55 AM PDT Children who had a diet that included cow's milk products, egg and peanut before age one were less likely to develop sensitization to the corresponding foods, according to new research. Early introduction of eggs appeared to be especially beneficial, as it decreased the risk of sensitization to any of the three tested foods.

Novel gene therapy shows potential for lung repair in asthma Posted: 18 May 2016 09:55 AM PDT A new study has demonstrated a way to deliver a nanoparticle-based gene therapy, in order to repair lungs damaged by chronic allergic asthma and to reduce inflammation that causes asthma attacks. The potential therapy, tested in mice, may hold promise for asthma patients whose disease is not controlled by the most commonly used treatments.

Hydroxyurea improves lung function in children with sickle cell disease Posted: 18 May 2016 09:55 AM PDT For the first time, researchers were able to demonstrate that children diagnosed with sickle cell disease showed improvement in lung function after treatment with hydroxyurea, a treatment that is underused despite its demonstrated benefits.

Technique may improve understanding, detection of kidney disease Posted: 18 May 2016 09:06 AM PDT Scientists are developing an innovative research technique that could help urologists better understand the early stages of kidney disease.

Children with brain tumors undergoing radiation therapy helped by play-based preparation Posted: 18 May 2016 09:05 AM PDT Support interventions by child life specialists decrease sedation use and costs associated with cranial radiation therapy, new research shows.

How to calm an anxious mind Posted: 18 May 2016 09:05 AM PDT Anxiety disorders and related problems such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are among the most common mental health conditions. While effective therapies for these often-debilitating disorders exist, many sufferers find them very difficult to engage with or complete. This prompted researchers to look for ways to make treatment easier to handle for those who need it most.

Colors of autism spectrum described by researchers Posted: 18 May 2016 09:05 AM PDT Children with autism have a wide range of ability to talk with other people, but it has been difficult to group children by their specific skills. Now researchers have developed an autism classification system that defines levels of social communications ability among those with autism spectrum disorder.

Pain study links children's fear of needles to parent behavior Posted: 18 May 2016 09:05 AM PDT For some children, the fear of needles and vaccinations before getting the shot is so severe that they experience more pain-related distress right after the needle and also learn to avoid future medical procedures and appointments.

Throwing fastballs may be linked to Tommy John surgery in MLB pitchers Posted: 18 May 2016 09:04 AM PDT Contrary to conventional wisdom, Major League Baseball pitchers who throw a high percentage of fastballs may be at increased risk for Tommy John surgery, according to research. Researchers suggest that throwing fastballs nearly half of the time puts pitchers at risk of injury to their elbow. MLB pitchers who have undergone Tommy John surgery threw on average 7 percent more fastballs than pitchers who had no surgery.

Conventional radiation therapy may not protect healthy brain cells Posted: 18 May 2016 09:04 AM PDT Repeated radiation therapy used to target tumors in the brain may not be as safe to healthy brain cells as previously assumed. The findings of a new study show that the treatment also kills important support cells in the brain and may cause as much, if not more damage, than single dose radiation therapy.

New study evaluates nicotine's relationship to body weight, food intake Posted: 18 May 2016 09:04 AM PDT A carefully controlled series of studies demonstrates that the self-administration of nicotine by rats suppresses body weight gain independent of food intake.

Luminous proteins offer new method to discover viral infections Posted: 18 May 2016 09:01 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new method to directly follow viral infections in living organisms. This method can make infected cells produce fluorescent proteins, which means that they light up and become easier to identify. The method also makes it possible to activate other functions in infected cells, for instance to enhance the immune system.

High blood pressure linked to vascular dementia Posted: 18 May 2016 09:01 AM PDT High blood pressure could significantly raise the risk of developing the second most common form of dementia, according to a new study. The medical records of more than four million people were analyzed with researchers finding heightened blood pressure was associated with a 62 per cent higher risk of vascular dementia between the ages of 30-50.

Compared with men, women with AFib have more symptoms, worse quality of life, although higher survival Posted: 18 May 2016 09:01 AM PDT A new study examined whether symptoms, quality of life, treatment, and outcomes differ between women and men with atrial fibrillation. Results indicate that in fact, symptoms may be much worse for women.

Sexual transmission involved in tail end of Ebola epidemic Posted: 18 May 2016 09:01 AM PDT Some of the final cases of Ebola in Sierra Leone were transmitted via unconventional routes, such as semen and breastmilk, according to the largest analysis to date of the tail-end of the epidemic.

ADHD may emerge after childhood for some people, according to new study Posted: 18 May 2016 09:01 AM PDT While it is well established that childhood ADHD may continue into adulthood, new research suggests that for some people the disorder does not emerge until after childhood.

Less decline than expected in brain, spine defects after folic acid fortification program Posted: 18 May 2016 09:01 AM PDT There is less decline than expected in the rate of brain and spine defects after a folic acid fortification program, a new study has found. The new findings are likely to contribute to an ongoing debate about the future of the fortification program.

Researchers shed light on pathway from virus to brain disease Posted: 18 May 2016 07:28 AM PDT Why people on immunosuppressant drugs for autoimmune conditions have a higher incidence of an often-fatal brain disease may be linked to a mutation in a common virus, according to researchers.

Simple screening test can predict heart failure severity Posted: 18 May 2016 07:27 AM PDT It is now recognized that sarcopenia, defined as the loss of muscle mass and strength, is related to heart failure. Recent research has shown that heart failure severity could be diagnosed by using a simple sarcopenia screening test that assesses age, grip strength and calf circumference.

HIV: Identification of receptors in patients spontaneously controlling infection Posted: 18 May 2016 07:27 AM PDT A small number of patients infected by HIV spontaneously control viral replication without antiretroviral therapy, and do not develop the disease. The ability of these rare patients, known as 'HIV controllers,' to suppress HIV replication appears to be down to a highly effective immune response. Scientists observed that CD4+ T immune cells in these patients were capable of recognizing tiny quantities of the virus.

Syphilis infections on the rise in Europe Posted: 18 May 2016 07:27 AM PDT New data released in ECDC's Annual Epidemiological report show that since 2010, the overall syphilis rates have been going up across Europe, particularly among men. In 2014, the reported syphilis numbers were six times higher in men than in women. Almost two-thirds (63%) of the syphilis cases reported with information on transmission category were recorded in men who have sex with men (MSM).

Mille-feuille-filter removes viruses from water Posted: 18 May 2016 07:27 AM PDT A simple paper sheet can improve the quality of life for millions of people by removing resistant viruses from water. The sheet, made of cellulose nanofibers, is called the mille-feuille filter as it has a unique layered internal architecture resembling that of the French puff pastry mille-feuille.

Old drug could fight brain cancer by starving it to death Posted: 18 May 2016 06:49 AM PDT Glioblastoma, the most common form of brain cancer is a deadly disease for which at present there is no cure. Now, researchers have published research results that show how repurposing the old drug flavopiridol could be an effective strategy to cut short sugar availability and impair cancer growth.

Novel lab test may advance diagnosis of rare but dangerous pregnancy condition Posted: 18 May 2016 06:49 AM PDT A laboratory blood test for the diagnosis of a rare genetic red blood cell disorder also shows promise in identifying HELLP syndrome, a life-threatening high blood pressure condition affecting 1 percent of all pregnant women.

Cisplatin may cause more permanent hearing loss in people with Cockayne syndrome Posted: 18 May 2016 06:47 AM PDT The chemotherapy drug cisplatin can kill cancer, but it can also cause permanent hearing loss. The drug can kill the sensory cells of the inner ear, a phenomenon that is likely more severe in individuals with Cockayne syndrome, a rare form of dwarfism. The disorder results from mutations in one of two genes involved in repairing DNA damage. Cells can sustain DNA damage from environmental stresses ranging from the sun's ultraviolet radiation to toxic chemicals such as chemotherapy drugs.

Racial, ethnic differences found in psychiatric diagnoses, treatment, according to researchers Posted: 18 May 2016 06:47 AM PDT Non-Hispanic blacks are almost twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, but they're significantly less likely to receive medication for treatment, according to researchers.

Harnessing engineered slippery surfaces for tissue repair Posted: 18 May 2016 06:47 AM PDT A new method has been developed that can induce slipperiness on a growth supporting surface at will and sets the stage for the fast, efficient and inexpensive recovery of intact sheets of mesenchymal stem cells with broad potential for regenerative medicine.

Scientists discover Antarctic sponge extract can help kill MRSA Posted: 18 May 2016 06:47 AM PDT Scientists have isolated an extract from a sponge found in Antarctica, known as Dendrilla membranosa, and tested it on MRSA biofilm. The extract, a new chemical which the research team has named 'darwinolide,' is a natural product chemical found in laboratory tests to eliminate more than 98 percent of MRSA cells. The highly-resistant MRSA infection, formerly particularly problematic in places such as hospitals and nursing homes, is now found in commonly-used places.

Enhanced hippocampal-cortical coupling improves memory Posted: 18 May 2016 04:42 AM PDT For the first time, scientists have produced direct evidence that the long-term storage of memories involves a dialogue between two brain structures, the hippocampus and cortex, during sleep; by enhancing this dialogue, they succeeded in triggering the consolidation of memories that would otherwise have been forgotten.

Portable ultrasound brings help for heart failure patients Posted: 18 May 2016 04:42 AM PDT Detecting fluid retention in patients early is important to prevent their heart failure from getting worse. Nurses who are trained in the use of handheld pocket ultrasound devices can dispense diuretic drugs more precisely. These medications prevent harmful fluid retention in patients with heart failure. Researchers have published a study showing that cardiac nurses who have learned to use pocket ultrasound devices can accurately calculate fluid retention both in the pleural cavities (between the two membranes surrounding the lungs) and the inferior vena cava of heart failure patients.

Hard water linked to risk of eczema in infants Posted: 18 May 2016 04:40 AM PDT Skin barrier impairment and dry skin are thought to be triggers of eczema in early life, partly through genetic predisposition. Now researchers say that high levels of water hardness in the home may be linked to the development of eczema early in life.

Bio-mimicry method developed for preparing, labeling stem cells Posted: 18 May 2016 04:40 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new method for preparing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that not only leads to the production of more native stem cells, but also labels them with a FDA approved iron-oxide nanoparticle (Ferumoxytol). The technology could allow researchers to track the cells in vivo using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during preclinical and clinical trials.

Differences in individuals' immune responses linked to flu vaccine effectiveness Posted: 17 May 2016 06:45 PM PDT For the first time, scientists have identified how differences in individuals' immune responses might be linked to the effectiveness of the seasonal influenza vaccination program.

Can plastic program your baby to be obese? Chemical used in food processing Posted: 17 May 2016 04:27 PM PDT Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), a chemical commonly used in the food manufacturing process, can increase fat stores in the body even before we're born, according to a new study. BBP is not used in food preparation, but it is used in the conveyor belts and plastic fittings on machines used to process many prepared foods. Food becomes contaminated when BBP leeches into it from the plastic.

Care for COPD: Could more be done? Posted: 17 May 2016 04:18 PM PDT A new report sets out to provide a comprehensive view of COPD care in the United States. COPD is the third-leading cause of death in US, but compared to other chronic diseases, COPD research funding is low and patients' access to care is poor.

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