ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Long-term opioids may not be best pain management option for all sickle cell patients
• Researchers link childhood hunger, violence later in life
• Researchers find Highland East Asian origin for prehistoric Himalayan populations
• Scientists glimpse why life can't happen without water
• Tumor cells develop predictable characteristics that are not random, say researchers
• E-cigarette use can alter hundreds of genes involved in airway immune defense
• Breast cancer cells use newfound pathway to survive low oxygen levels in tumors
• Tailored DNA shifts electrons into the 'fast lane'
• A novel therapy for genital herpes engages immune cells to provide significant patient benefits
• Stealth nanocapsules kill Chagas parasites in mouse models
• Understanding the resistance to treatments against breast cancer
• When suppressing immunity is a good thing
• Scientists discover on/off switch for obesity-associated cancer
• Crowdsourcing platform makes public gene expression data more accessible
• Low attention control in early adolescence is a genetic risk factor for anxiety disorders
• New brain map could enable novel therapies for autism,Huntington's disease
• 'Holy grail' of breast cancer prevention in high-risk women may be in sight
• 'Aspirin-Guide' app for clinicians helps personalize decisions about aspirin use
• 10,000 windows onto biomolecular information processing
• Scientists engineer tunable DNA for electronics applications
• Has incidence of Parkinson's disease increased over past 30 years?
• Tiny alpaca-derived antibodies point to targets preventing viral infection
• The healing powers of music: Mozart and Strauss for treating hypertension
• Apparel causes additional barriers for people living with disabilities
• Molecular map provides clues to zinc-related diseases
• Research team synthesizes new cancer fighter
• Osimertinib in lung cancer: Added benefit not proven
• Sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure: Differing added benefit
• Four new risk genes associated with multiple sclerosis discovered
• People allergic to insect venom need precision medical diagnosis, treatment
• Blood test shows promise in gauging severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension
• High blood sugar could mean lower risk of one type of brain tumor
• Ongoing monitoring of Legionella in Flint in the wake of the drinking water crisis
• Sharing of a bacterium related to tooth decay among children and their families
• Contaminated gloves increase risks of cross-transmission of pathogens
• New mechanism that can cause eye inflammation
• Cannabis use during pregnancy may affect brain development in offspring: Thicker prefrontal cortex
• Fear factor: New genetic candidate for treating PTSD
• Coverage for proven nonopioid intervention denied for treatment of chronic pain in some states
• Immune system linked to lower heart attack risk, suggests study
• Artificial intelligence achieves near-human performance in diagnosing breast cancer
• How a cold gets into cells
• Watching the luminescent gene switch

Long-term opioids may not be best pain management option for all sickle cell patients Posted: 20 Jun 2016 04:14 PM PDT In a small study looking at pain assessments in adults with sickle cell disease, researchers say overall, those treated long-term with opioids often fared worse in measures of pain, fatigue and curtailed daily activities than those not on long-term opioids.

Researchers link childhood hunger, violence later in life Posted: 20 Jun 2016 01:11 PM PDT Children who often go hungry have a greater risk of developing impulse control problems and engaging in violence, according to new research.

Researchers find Highland East Asian origin for prehistoric Himalayan populations Posted: 20 Jun 2016 01:10 PM PDT Researchers have conducted the first ancient DNA investigation of the Himalayan arc, generating genomic data for eight individuals ranging in time from the earliest known human settlements to the establishment of the Tibetan Empire. The findings demonstrate that the genetic make-up of high-altitude Himalayan populations has remained remarkably stable despite cultural transitions and exposure to outside populations through trade.

Scientists glimpse why life can't happen without water Posted: 20 Jun 2016 01:02 PM PDT Scientists are getting closer to directly observing how and why water is essential to life as we know it.

Tumor cells develop predictable characteristics that are not random, say researchers Posted: 20 Jun 2016 01:02 PM PDT Tumors are composed of many subpopulations of cells. Some of these subpopulations of cancer cells can be predicted and do not develop randomly as previously thought, report investigators.

E-cigarette use can alter hundreds of genes involved in airway immune defense Posted: 20 Jun 2016 11:13 AM PDT Smoking cigarettes alters dozens of genes important for immune defense in epithelial cells in the respiratory tract. These changes likely increase the risk of bacterial infections, viruses, and inflammation. Now, scientists report that e-cigarette use alters hundreds of genes, including the same ones that smoking suppress.

Breast cancer cells use newfound pathway to survive low oxygen levels in tumors Posted: 20 Jun 2016 11:13 AM PDT Oxygen is important for the proper function of all human cells, but cancer cells thrive even when deprived of it. Now, researchers have identified a new signaling pathway that helps cancer cells cope with the lack of oxygen found inside tumors.

Tailored DNA shifts electrons into the 'fast lane' Posted: 20 Jun 2016 11:13 AM PDT DNA molecules don't just code our genetic instructions. They also have the unique ability to conduct electricity and self-assemble into well-defined shapes, making them potential candidates for building low-cost nanoelectronic devices. A study now shows how DNA sequences can be manipulated to turn these ribbon-shaped molecules into electron 'highways,' allowing electricity to flow more easily through the strand.

A novel therapy for genital herpes engages immune cells to provide significant patient benefits Posted: 20 Jun 2016 11:09 AM PDT A phase II clinical trial demonstrated that a new type of treatment for genital herpes, an immunotherapy called GEN-003, may reduce the activity of the virus and the number of days with recurrent herpes. This effect of treatment, given by a series of three injections, appears to last for up to at least one year.

Stealth nanocapsules kill Chagas parasites in mouse models Posted: 20 Jun 2016 11:09 AM PDT Lychnopholide, a substance isolated from a Brazilian plant, and formulated as part of 'nanocapsules' cured more than half of a group of mice that had been infected experimentally with Chagas disease parasites.

Understanding the resistance to treatments against breast cancer Posted: 20 Jun 2016 11:09 AM PDT Estrogens are responsible for the survival and proliferation of tumor cells in 70 percent of breast cancer cases. Nearly a third of the patients develop a resistance to anti-estrogen treatments such as tamoxifen after a few years. Biologists now reveal how tumor cells become refractory to the drug. They succeeded in identifying eight factors involved in the process of resistance to the treatment. The researchers also suggest various approaches for developing new therapies.

When suppressing immunity is a good thing Posted: 20 Jun 2016 09:05 AM PDT A receptor, first known for its role in mediating the harmful effects of the environmental pollutant dioxin in our body, is now understood to play other important roles in modulating the innate immune response.

Scientists discover on/off switch for obesity-associated cancer Posted: 20 Jun 2016 09:04 AM PDT Having established that excessive fat tissue can fuel the growth of certain cancers, researchers have turned their attention to the molecular mechanisms involved in the process in the hopes of developing new cancer treatments. Now new research sheds light on the link between obesity and cancer.

Crowdsourcing platform makes public gene expression data more accessible Posted: 20 Jun 2016 09:03 AM PDT Scientists have developed a free online platform that uses a crowdsourcing approach to make public gene expression data more accessible to biomedical researchers without computational expertise.

Low attention control in early adolescence is a genetic risk factor for anxiety disorders Posted: 20 Jun 2016 09:03 AM PDT Low attention control in early adolescence is related to a genetic risk factor for four different anxiety disorders, researchers have found. Young teens who suffer from anxiety are also more vulnerable to additional problems like depression, drug dependence, suicidal behavior and educational underachievement.

New brain map could enable novel therapies for autism,Huntington's disease Posted: 20 Jun 2016 09:02 AM PDT Scientists have mapped an uncharted portion of the mouse brain to explain which circuit disruptions might occur in disorders such as Huntington's disease and autism. They looked at the connections of a part of the brain responsible for motor learning, the dorsal striatum. Researchers said they are the first to create the most comprehensive map of connections between the dorsal striatum and the cerebral cortex that is available for any mammal.

'Holy grail' of breast cancer prevention in high-risk women may be in sight Posted: 20 Jun 2016 09:02 AM PDT An existing medication could have promise in preventing breast cancer in women carrying a faulty BRCA1 gene, researchers have discovered.

'Aspirin-Guide' app for clinicians helps personalize decisions about aspirin use Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:59 AM PDT To help clinicians and patients make informed decisions about aspirin use, researchers have developed a new, free, mobile app, 'Aspirin-Guide' that calculates both the CVD risk score and the bleeding risk score for the individual patient, and helps clinicians decide which patients are appropriate candidates for the use of low-dose aspirin.

10,000 windows onto biomolecular information processing Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:59 AM PDT A new 'brute force' technique has been developed to test thousands of biochemical reactions at once and quickly home in on the range of conditions where they work best. Until now, optimizing such biomolecular systems, which can be applied for example to diagnostics, would have required months or years of trial and error experiments, but with this new technique that could be shortened to days.

Scientists engineer tunable DNA for electronics applications Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:59 AM PDT A team has been able to understand and manipulate DNA to more finely tune the flow of electricity through it. The key findings, which can make DNA behave in different ways -- cajoling electrons to smoothly flow like electricity through a metal wire, or hopping electrons about like the semiconductors materials that power our computers and cell phones, paves the way for an exciting new avenue of research advancements.

Has incidence of Parkinson's disease increased over past 30 years? Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:59 AM PDT A study of patients in a Minnesota county suggests the incidence (new cases) of parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease may have increased over the past 30 years but that trend may not be genuine and must be confirmed in other populations.

Tiny alpaca-derived antibodies point to targets preventing viral infection Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:28 AM PDT Using tiny, alpaca-derived, single-domain antibody fragments, scientists have developed a method to perturb cellular processes in mammalian cells, allowing them to tease apart the roles that individual proteins play in these pathways. With improved knowledge of protein activity, scientists can better understand not only basic biology but also how disease corrupts cellular function and identify potential therapeutics to rectify these aberrations.

The healing powers of music: Mozart and Strauss for treating hypertension Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:25 AM PDT The music of Mozart and Strauss is able to lower blood lipid concentrations and the heart rate. This is the result of a study of the effect of different musical genres on the cardiovascular system.

Apparel causes additional barriers for people living with disabilities Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:23 AM PDT The US clothing industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, but for the millions of Americans with disabilities and their families, a lack of options in the apparel industry presents daily challenges. One researcher has found that the lack of adequate, accessible apparel created barriers for people with disabilities from engaging in their communities. She identified the need for innovation in design, production, distribution and sale of adaptive clothing.

Molecular map provides clues to zinc-related diseases Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:22 AM PDT Mapping the molecular structure where medicine goes to work is a crucial step toward drug discovery against deadly diseases. Researchers have taken that critical first step by providing a crystal structure of the extracellular domain, or ECD, of ZIP4 -- the exclusive protein responsible for the uptake of zinc from food. The ZIP family consists of thousands of zinc/iron transporter proteins, and this work represents the first-ever structural information of the ZIP family at the atomic level.

Research team synthesizes new cancer fighter Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:20 AM PDT Scientists have synthesized a novel anti-cancer agent, Thailanstatin A, which was originally isolated from a bacterial species collected in Thailand.

Osimertinib in lung cancer: Added benefit not proven Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:20 AM PDT Due to a lack of studies of direct comparisons the manufacturer subsequently submitted historical comparisons, but the visible effects were not large enough for conclusions on added benefit.

Sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure: Differing added benefit Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:20 AM PDT Due to a subgroup effect, reviewers have found that there is an indication of a minor added benefit for patients with diabetes, and an indication of a considerable added benefit for patients without diabetes, when using Sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure.

Four new risk genes associated with multiple sclerosis discovered Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:20 AM PDT Scientists have identified four new risk genes that are altered in patients with multiple sclerosis. The results point to a possible involvement of cellular mechanisms in the development of the disease, through which environmental influences affect gene regulation.

People allergic to insect venom need precision medical diagnosis, treatment Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:20 AM PDT Three to 5 percent of the European population is allergic to insect venom, and many of them are at risk of anaphylaxis if they are stung. Some patients do not respond properly to immunotherapy and in some cases the treatment has reduced or no effect at all -- which can be fatal. Researchers are now developing artificial allergens and human antibodies in order to enable individualized immunotherapeutic treatment.

Blood test shows promise in gauging severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension Posted: 20 Jun 2016 07:09 AM PDT Rising blood levels of a protein called hematoma derived growth factor (HDGF) are linked to the increasing severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension, a form of damaging high blood pressure in the lungs, report researchers.

High blood sugar could mean lower risk of one type of brain tumor Posted: 20 Jun 2016 07:06 AM PDT In a surprising twist, benign brain tumors that have previously been tied to obesity and diabetes are less likely to emerge in those with high blood sugar, new research has found.

Ongoing monitoring of Legionella in Flint in the wake of the drinking water crisis Posted: 20 Jun 2016 07:03 AM PDT New research suggests that microbial water quality issues of Flint drinking water are improving, based on recent testing in March 2016, but that continued vigilance is in order. The research found that levels of DNA markers for Legionella have decreased throughout Flint since October 2015 before the water change, but did confirm that pathogenic forms of the bacteria, including L. pneumophila, were culturable at some sampling points.

Sharing of a bacterium related to tooth decay among children and their families Posted: 20 Jun 2016 07:03 AM PDT New research provides compelling evidence that children acquire Streptococcus mutans, the bacterium most frequently associated with dental caries, from intra- and extra-familial sources besides their mother.

Contaminated gloves increase risks of cross-transmission of pathogens Posted: 20 Jun 2016 07:03 AM PDT New research provides clear evidence that the gloves of healthcare workers contaminate hospital surfaces with bacteria. The researchers' data also suggest that types of bacteria may affect cross-transmission rates among contaminated gloves and the hospital surfaces.

New mechanism that can cause eye inflammation Posted: 20 Jun 2016 07:03 AM PDT Research demonstrates a new way bacteria can cause dramatic morphological changes in human cells. Specifically, the researchers discovered that a common bacterial contaminant of contact lenses and cases can cause the formation of large bubble-like membrane structures on human ocular cells, which can contribute to contact lens wear complications and inflammation.

Cannabis use during pregnancy may affect brain development in offspring: Thicker prefrontal cortex Posted: 20 Jun 2016 07:02 AM PDT Cannabis use during pregnancy is associated with abnormal brain structure in children, according to a new study. Compared with unexposed children, those who were prenatally exposed to cannabis had a thicker prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain involved in complex cognition, decision-making, and working memory.

Fear factor: New genetic candidate for treating PTSD Posted: 20 Jun 2016 07:02 AM PDT Researchers have identified a new genetic candidate for testing therapies that might affect fear learning in people with PTSD or other conditions, describes a new report.

Coverage for proven nonopioid intervention denied for treatment of chronic pain in some states Posted: 20 Jun 2016 05:52 AM PDT In the fight to end opioid abuse, Blue Cross Blue Shield in at least two states is denying coverage of a proven nonopioid treatment for chronic pain, a new article outlines.

Immune system linked to lower heart attack risk, suggests study Posted: 20 Jun 2016 05:52 AM PDT Measuring antibody levels in the blood could be used to detect a person's heart attack risk after researchers discovered that higher levels of these antibodies are linked to a lower heart attack risk.

Artificial intelligence achieves near-human performance in diagnosing breast cancer Posted: 20 Jun 2016 05:52 AM PDT Pathologists have been largely diagnosing disease the same way for the past 100 years, by manually reviewing images under a microscope. But new work suggests that computers can help doctors improve accuracy and significantly change the way cancer and other diseases are diagnosed.

How a cold gets into cells Posted: 20 Jun 2016 05:50 AM PDT Viruses smuggle their genetic material into our cells. How this actually works is currently being investigated using a new combination of analysis methods.

Watching the luminescent gene switch Posted: 20 Jun 2016 05:50 AM PDT Scientists have found a way to simultaneously monitor the switching on and off of circadian "clock" genes and their effects on mouse behavior in real-time.

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