ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Grill with caution: Wire bristles from barbecue brushes can cause serious injuries
• Study shows how air pollution fosters heart disease
• Living near a landfill could damage your health
• Poverty marks a gene, predicting depression
• Chemo, radiation, surgery combo boosts survival for pancreatic cancer patients
• Harnessing nature’s vast array of venoms for drug discovery
• Acupuncture used in clinical settings reduced symptoms of menopause
• Depression lowers women's chances of pregnancy, study finds
• Crowdsourcing contest using data from people, dogs advances epileptic seizure forecasting
• As more states legalize marijuana, adolescents' problems with pot decline
• Study shows which new moms post the most on Facebook
• Lipid testing underutilized in adults taking antipsychotic medications
• Sugar substitutes may cut calories, but no health benefits for individuals with obesity
• Putting the brakes on cell's 'engine' could give flu, other vaccines a boost
• Silencing cholera's 'social media'
• Air pollution exposure may raise heart disease risk
• Low hormone levels linked to obesity in teens
• Study shows how bacteria evolve in lungs of cystic fibrosis patients
• Canadian military personnel more likely than civilians to think about suicide but also to seek help
• Colorectal cancer rate rising among younger people
• Distinguishing differences in dementia using brain scans
• Even light drinkers should watch for fatty liver disease
• Low to moderate risk of locally transmitted cases of Zika in parts of Europe
• New way of growing blood vessels could boost regenerative medicine
• PET imaging with special tracer can detect, diagnose early Alzheimer's disease
• Targeted treatment for liver cancer under way
• Higher salt intake may increase risk of cardiovascular disease among patients with chronic kidney disease
• Rates of obesity, diabetes lower in neighborhoods that are more walkable
• Antidepressants commonly, increasingly prescribed for nondepressive indications
• Babies fed directly from breast may be at less risk for ear infections
• Alcohol exposure during adolescence leads to chronic stress vulnerability
• Can telehealth fill gap in autism services?
• Clinical trial demonstrates success of low FODMAP diet
• Couples study ties anger to heart problems, stonewalling to back pain
• Discovering how well wearable mosquito repellent devices work
• Current screening methods miss worrisome number of persons with mild cognitive impairment
• Study documents African monkeys eating bats
• Vitamin A may help improve pancreatic cancer chemotherapy
• Effective protection for non-smokers could prevent 30% of all cancer deaths
• Zika conspiracy theories on social media putting vulnerable people at risk
• Do DNA repairs full of mistakes develop into cancer?
• 'Facebooking' your doctor's appointment
• Exposure to common flame retardant chemicals may increase thyroid problems in women
• Exercise: Future anticancer therapy?
• Cell labelling via photobleaching: Precious ally for scientific research
• One in four patients develop heart failure within four years of first heart attack
• Genes linked to effects of mood and stress on longevity identified
• Research points to possible new prevention strategies for ovarian cancer
• Sequencing analysis identifies genomic alterations in colorectal precancers
• Smoking during pregnancy associated with increased risk of schizophrenia in offspring
• Wearable fitness monitors don't motivate exercise says study
• Middle school intervention program leads to long-term BMI reduction for obese students
• Teenage pregnancies hit record low, reflecting efforts of England's strategy to reduce under-18 conceptions
• Higher fluctuations in blood pressure linked to brain function decline
• A rallying call for microbiome science national data management in U.S.

Grill with caution: Wire bristles from barbecue brushes can cause serious injuries Posted: 24 May 2016 06:20 PM PDT While many people view Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial start of the summer grilling season, they may not be aware of the dangers of eating food cooked on grills cleaned with wire-bristle brushes. A new study identified more than 1,600 injuries from wire-bristle grill brushes reported in emergency rooms since 2002.

Study shows how air pollution fosters heart disease Posted: 24 May 2016 06:20 PM PDT A major, decade-long study of thousands of Americans found that people living in areas with more outdoor pollution -- even at lower levels common in the United States -- accumulate deposits in the arteries that supply the heart faster than do people living in less polluted areas. The deposits in the coronary arteries accelerate the progression of atherosclerosis, which can contribute to heart disease and heart attacks.

Living near a landfill could damage your health Posted: 24 May 2016 06:18 PM PDT Health is at risk for those who live within five kilometers of a landfill site.

Poverty marks a gene, predicting depression Posted: 24 May 2016 06:18 PM PDT A long line of research links poverty and depression. Now scientists unveil some of the biology of depression in high-risk adolescents whose families are socioeconomically disadvantaged. The study combines epigenetics, brain imaging and behavioral data over three years. The results are part of a growing body of work that may lead to biological predictors that could guide individualized strategies for preventing depression.

Chemo, radiation, surgery combo boosts survival for pancreatic cancer patients Posted: 24 May 2016 01:38 PM PDT In roughly one-third of pancreatic cancer patients, tumors have grown around the pancreas to encompass critical blood vessels. Conventional wisdom has long held that surgery to remove the tumors is rarely an option, and life expectancies are usually measured in months. New research is finding that many of these patients actually are candidates for surgery.

Harnessing nature’s vast array of venoms for drug discovery Posted: 24 May 2016 01:37 PM PDT Scientists have invented a method for rapidly identifying venoms that strike a specific target in the body -- and optimizing such venoms for therapeutic use.

Acupuncture used in clinical settings reduced symptoms of menopause Posted: 24 May 2016 11:49 AM PDT Acupuncture treatments can reduce the number of hot flashes and night sweats associated with menopause by as much as 36 percent, according to researchers.

Depression lowers women's chances of pregnancy, study finds Posted: 24 May 2016 11:49 AM PDT Women with severe depressive symptoms have a decreased chance of becoming pregnant, while the use of psychotropic medications does not appear to harm fertility, a study shows.

Crowdsourcing contest using data from people, dogs advances epileptic seizure forecasting Posted: 24 May 2016 11:49 AM PDT It might sound like a riddle: What do you get when you combine one online contest, two patients, five dogs and 654 data scientists?

As more states legalize marijuana, adolescents' problems with pot decline Posted: 24 May 2016 11:49 AM PDT A survey of more than 216,000 adolescents from all 50 states indicates the number of teens with marijuana-related problems is declining. Similarly, the rates of marijuana use by young people are falling despite the fact more US states are legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana use and the number of adults using the drug has increased.

Study shows which new moms post the most on Facebook Posted: 24 May 2016 11:49 AM PDT A study shows which psychological characteristics of some new mothers may affect how they use Facebook to show off their baby. The research concluded that those mothers who posted more on Facebook tended to report more depressive symptoms after nine months of parenthood than other moms.

Lipid testing underutilized in adults taking antipsychotic medications Posted: 24 May 2016 11:47 AM PDT Too few adults taking antipsychotic medications are being screened for abnormalities in lipids, which include cholesterol and triglycerides, new research finds. The biggest gap in screening is among adults age 40 and younger, the group for whom early detection and intervention has been shown to be effective when additional cardiovascular risk is present.

Sugar substitutes may cut calories, but no health benefits for individuals with obesity Posted: 24 May 2016 11:47 AM PDT A new study had individuals report their diet over the previous 24 hours, after which they were categorized as consumers of artificial sweeteners (aspartame or saccharin), or high or low consumers of natural sugars (sugar or fructose). Diabetes risk was measured as the ability to manage blood sugars using an oral glucose tolerance test. Results showed that those who used artificial sweeteners, particularly aspartame, may have worse glucose management than those who don't take sugar substitutes

Putting the brakes on cell's 'engine' could give flu, other vaccines a boost Posted: 24 May 2016 11:47 AM PDT Altering MCJ -- a relatively unknown molecule that regulates metabolism in virus-attacking T cells -- can result in a boost to the immune system's response to the flu, according to a new study.

Silencing cholera's 'social media' Posted: 24 May 2016 11:47 AM PDT Bacteria use a form of 'social media' communication, quorum sensing, to monitor how many of their species are in the neighborhood. This is important in the pathogenicity of Vibrio cholerae, the cause of cholera. In a new study scientists explore the molecular mechanism whereby the quorum sensing response regulator LuxO regulates V. cholerae's pathogenicity.

Air pollution exposure may raise heart disease risk Posted: 24 May 2016 11:46 AM PDT Exposure to air pollution can worsen blood sugar levels, cholesterol and other risk factors for heart disease, particularly in people with diabetes, according to a new study.

Low hormone levels linked to obesity in teens Posted: 24 May 2016 11:46 AM PDT Obese teenagers already show signs of hormonal differences from normal-weight peers that may make them prone to weight gain, according to a new study.

Study shows how bacteria evolve in lungs of cystic fibrosis patients Posted: 24 May 2016 11:46 AM PDT The bacterium Burkholderia multivorans evolves and adapts in bursts to survive in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients, according to a new study. The work, believed to be the first retrospective look at the evolution of this microorganism, indicates that B. multivorans directly or indirectly targets adherence, metabolism and changes to the cell 'envelope' to stick around and evade antibiotics.

Canadian military personnel more likely than civilians to think about suicide but also to seek help Posted: 24 May 2016 11:46 AM PDT Canadian military personnel have higher rates of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts, but they are also more likely to access mental health support than civilians, found new research.

Colorectal cancer rate rising among younger people Posted: 24 May 2016 11:46 AM PDT A new study shows the rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to increase in individuals under 50 years old, despite the fact that the overall rate of the disease has been declining in recent years. Following examination of more than 1 million CRC patient records over 10 years, researchers suggested that health-care providers should be more vigilant about detecting symptoms in younger patients.

Distinguishing differences in dementia using brain scans Posted: 24 May 2016 09:45 AM PDT Neuroscientists are now able to distinguish two different forms of dementia using advanced imaging techniques. This is the first step towards early recognition of dementia in patients on the basis of brain networks.

Even light drinkers should watch for fatty liver disease Posted: 24 May 2016 09:44 AM PDT People who are genetically predisposed with reduced enzyme activity to breakdown active aldehyde are more likely to develop a fatty liver even if they have no drinking habit, a new study outlines.

Low to moderate risk of locally transmitted cases of Zika in parts of Europe Posted: 24 May 2016 09:44 AM PDT ECDC has updated its rapid risk assessment on the Zika epidemic that continues to evolve in the Americas and the Caribbean.

New way of growing blood vessels could boost regenerative medicine Posted: 24 May 2016 09:42 AM PDT Growing tissues and organs in the lab for transplantation into patients could become easier after scientists discovered an effective way to produce three-dimensional networks of blood vessels, vital for tissue survival yet a current stumbling block in regenerative medicine.

PET imaging with special tracer can detect, diagnose early Alzheimer's disease Posted: 24 May 2016 09:42 AM PDT Recognizing that the use of biomarkers has led to advances in the detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD), researchers reviewed a PET amyloid imaging agent, finding that imaging with PiB provides early detection of disease and allows clinicians to distinguish AD from other dementias. Using this and other agents provides a valuable pathway for investigating the relationship between amyloid pathology and changes in cognition, brain structure, and function.

Targeted treatment for liver cancer under way Posted: 24 May 2016 09:40 AM PDT A new molecular mechanism has been discovered that can be used to inhibit the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma, which is the most common liver cancer, report scientists.

Higher salt intake may increase risk of cardiovascular disease among patients with chronic kidney disease Posted: 24 May 2016 09:40 AM PDT Scientists have evaluated more than 3,500 participants with chronic kidney disease, examining the association between urinary sodium excretion and clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) events.

Rates of obesity, diabetes lower in neighborhoods that are more walkable Posted: 24 May 2016 09:40 AM PDT Urban neighborhoods in Ontario, Canada, that were characterized by more walkable design were associated with decreased prevalence of overweight and obesity and decreased incidence of diabetes between 2001 and 2012, according to a study.

Antidepressants commonly, increasingly prescribed for nondepressive indications Posted: 24 May 2016 09:40 AM PDT Researchers analyzed treatment indications for antidepressants and assessed trends in antidepressant prescribing for depression.

Babies fed directly from breast may be at less risk for ear infections Posted: 24 May 2016 09:34 AM PDT Feeding at the breast may be healthier than feeding pumped milk from a bottle for reducing the risk of ear infection, and feeding breast milk compared with formula may reduce the risk of diarrhea, according to a recent study.

Alcohol exposure during adolescence leads to chronic stress vulnerability Posted: 24 May 2016 09:15 AM PDT Drinking during early to mid-adolescence can lead to vulnerability to chronic stress, according to new research. A research team gave alcohol to rats every other day, starting from early to mid-adolescence. When the team looked at the same rats in adulthood, they found that adult males didn't show hormonal stress adaptation, making them more vulnerable to chronic stress.

Can telehealth fill gap in autism services? Posted: 24 May 2016 09:15 AM PDT Parents struggling to find and afford therapy for their child with autism may eventually be able to provide that therapy themselves with the help of telehealth training, a new report suggests.

Clinical trial demonstrates success of low FODMAP diet Posted: 24 May 2016 09:15 AM PDT A first of its kind US trial shows diet changes helped those with a hard-to-treat gut disorder overcome symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. The study measured the degree of relief from low FODMAP, a frequently recommended diet, which stands for Fermentable Oligo-Di-Monosaccharides and Polyols.

Couples study ties anger to heart problems, stonewalling to back pain Posted: 24 May 2016 06:31 AM PDT If you rage with frustration during a marital spat, watch your blood pressure. If you keep a stiff upper lip, watch your back. New research based on how couples behave during conflicts, suggests outbursts of anger predict cardiovascular problems. Conversely, shutting down emotionally or "stonewalling" during conflict raises the risk of musculoskeletal ailments such as a bad back or stiff muscles.

Discovering how well wearable mosquito repellent devices work Posted: 24 May 2016 06:03 AM PDT Researchers are testing the efficacy of commercially available wearable mosquito repellent devices.

Current screening methods miss worrisome number of persons with mild cognitive impairment Posted: 24 May 2016 06:03 AM PDT Existing screening tools for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) result in a false-negative error rate of more than 7 percent, new research indicates. These persons are misclassified as not having MCI based on standard screening instruments but actually do have MCI when more extensive testing is conducted.

Study documents African monkeys eating bats Posted: 24 May 2016 06:03 AM PDT Primates and bats may interact directly, but their behavioral and predator-prey interactions are poorly documented, and detailed reports of their interactions have been rare, until now. The first study to document monkeys consuming bats with photos and video suggests an alternative pathway for bat-to-monkey disease transmission that has implications for zoonotic disease transmission to humans.

Vitamin A may help improve pancreatic cancer chemotherapy Posted: 24 May 2016 05:59 AM PDT The addition of high doses of a form of vitamin A could help make chemotherapy more successful in treating pancreatic cancer, according to an early study. The promising initial results have led to the potential treatment being tested in a new clinical trial.

Effective protection for non-smokers could prevent 30% of all cancer deaths Posted: 24 May 2016 05:59 AM PDT Every year, lung cancer causes around 1.6 million deaths worldwide. 70% of all lung cancer patients throughout the world are smokers or ex-smokers and, in Central Europe, this figure is higher than 80%. Smoking is therefore regarded as the central risk factor for this disease. On occasion of World No Tobacco Day (31st May 2016), one expert is therefore calling for improved protection for non-smokers and redoubled efforts in the area of smoking prevention.

Zika conspiracy theories on social media putting vulnerable people at risk Posted: 24 May 2016 05:59 AM PDT Conspiracy theories and pseudoscientific claims refuting the facts around Zika virus vaccines could be putting vulnerable people at risk, according to a new study. By analyzing social media in real time, researchers were able to identify conversations about Zika virus vaccines and pinpoint the conspiracy theories being discussed.

Do DNA repairs full of mistakes develop into cancer? Posted: 24 May 2016 05:59 AM PDT If DNA damage response (DDR) does not work when DNA is damaged by radiation, proteins which should be removed remain instead, and a loss of genetic information can be incited, which, when repaired incorrectly, will lead to the tumor formation.

'Facebooking' your doctor's appointment Posted: 24 May 2016 05:57 AM PDT Telemedicine, which allows doctors to communicate, diagnose and even treat their patients remotely is on the rise thanks to advances in information technology. It allows healthcare workers to securely monitor patients in inaccessible parts of the world as well as providing more timely responses for patients in many situations. New research suggests that the well-known social networking site, Facebook, and smart phone use could make telemedicine even more common and useful in healthcare.

Exposure to common flame retardant chemicals may increase thyroid problems in women Posted: 24 May 2016 05:54 AM PDT Women with elevated levels of common types of flame retardant chemicals in their blood may be at a higher risk for thyroid disease, and the risk may be significantly higher among post-menopausal women.

Exercise: Future anticancer therapy? Posted: 24 May 2016 05:54 AM PDT The results are in from the first international clinical trial evaluating the effect of intense physical exercise to improve survival of men with advanced prostate cancer.

Cell labelling via photobleaching: Precious ally for scientific research Posted: 24 May 2016 05:54 AM PDT A multidisciplinary team of researchers gives birth to a unique method that enables instant, specific labeling of individual cells, Cell Labelling via Photobleaching (CLaP). This method will become a precious ally in a wide range of scientific research, with particular applications for genomics.

One in four patients develop heart failure within four years of first heart attack Posted: 24 May 2016 05:53 AM PDT One in four patients develop heart failure within four years of a first heart attack, according to a new study in nearly 25,000 patients. Risk factors included older age, greater socioeconomic deprivation, and comorbidities such as diabetes.

Genes linked to effects of mood and stress on longevity identified Posted: 24 May 2016 05:53 AM PDT The visible impacts of depression and stress can be found in alterations in genetic activity, according to newly published research.

Research points to possible new prevention strategies for ovarian cancer Posted: 24 May 2016 05:53 AM PDT The discovery of early changes in the cells of the Fallopian tubes of women carrying the BRCA genetic mutation could open the way for new preventative strategies for ovarian cancer, reducing the need for invasive surgery, according to new research.

Sequencing analysis identifies genomic alterations in colorectal precancers Posted: 24 May 2016 05:53 AM PDT Whole-exome sequencing of both colorectal adenomas (precancers often called polyps) and intestinal mucosa at risk for developing into adenomas from patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) has generated a comprehensive picture of the genomic alterations that characterize the evolution of normal mucosa to precancer.

Smoking during pregnancy associated with increased risk of schizophrenia in offspring Posted: 24 May 2016 05:53 AM PDT Researchers report an association between smoking during pregnancy and increased risk for schizophrenia in children. The paper evaluated nearly 1,000 cases of schizophrenia and matched controls among offspring born in Finland from 1983-1998. Results showed that a higher maternal nicotine level in the mother's blood was associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia among their offspring. The study provides the most definitive evidence to date that smoking during pregnancy is associated with schizophrenia.

Wearable fitness monitors don't motivate exercise says study Posted: 23 May 2016 06:27 PM PDT The results of a new study on physical activity have researchers asking what in the world will it take to get people moving. It looks like even wearing a fitness monitor isn't enough to do the trick.

Middle school intervention program leads to long-term BMI reduction for obese students Posted: 23 May 2016 06:25 PM PDT A five-week obesity prevention program for seventh grade students in Southern California helped obese students lose weight over a long-term period. The average reduction in body mass index (BMI) measured for obese students of average height two years later when they entered high school translated into about nine pounds lower bodyweight.

Teenage pregnancies hit record low, reflecting efforts of England's strategy to reduce under-18 conceptions Posted: 23 May 2016 06:25 PM PDT Rates of teenage pregnancy in England have halved since the implementation of the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy (TPS) in 1999, and the greatest effect is seen in areas of high deprivation and areas that received the most TPS funding, according to research.

Higher fluctuations in blood pressure linked to brain function decline Posted: 23 May 2016 06:25 PM PDT Fluctuations in blood pressure readings over a five-year period resulted in faster declines in brain and cognitive function among older adults. Controlling this blood pressure instability may be a strategy to preserve cognitive function among older adults, researchers report.

A rallying call for microbiome science national data management in U.S. Posted: 23 May 2016 01:06 PM PDT Researchers call for the formation of a National Microbiome Data Center to efficiently manage the datasets accumulated globally. By integrating and harnessing all available microbiome data and metadata, researchers could conduct larger-scale comparative analyses in order to address global challenges related to energy, environment, health and agriculture.

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