الأربعاء، 8 يونيو 2016

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

You could be paying more for less effective medicine

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 07:02 PM PDT

A new study suggests that weak drug regulation and misleading marketing can lead doctors to prescribe more expensive, riskier, and less beneficial drugs.

Autism with intellectual disability linked to mother's immune dysfunction during pregnancy

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

Pregnant women with higher levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, proteins that control communication between cells of the immune system, may be at significantly greater risk of having a child with autism combined with intellectual disability, researchers have found.

Antipsychotic meds for foster care, other poor children: Still quality challenges

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

Significant quality challenges persist in antipsychotic medication use for children in foster care and other Medicaid-insured children, according to a new study. While overall prescribing rates for children in foster care and other Medicaid-insured children have leveled since the mid-2000s, some important guideline-recommended practices are frequently not followed.

Predicting advanced prostate cancer outcomes with NaF-PET/CT

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

A recent pilot study found that sodium fluoride (Na-F-18) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (NaF-PET/CT) accurately detects bone metastases in patients with advanced prostate cancer, and follow-up scans over time correlate clearly with clinical outcomes and patient survival.

New molecular toolkit for the de-novo design of bioactive agents

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

Scientists take a new approach to the production of bioactive natural substances: Using synthetic biotechnology methodologies they have developed a biochemical strategy to synthesize medical agents by a templated enzyme design process. First products, a precursor of the anti-cancer medicament Taxol, anti-inflammatory substances and omega-3 fatty acids prove the successfulness of their strategy.

Long-term marijuana use changes brain's reward circuit

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

Researchers have demonstrated that long-term marijuana users had more activity in the brain's reward processes when presented with cannabis cues than with natural reward cues.

Maternal weight gain between pregnancies is linked to complications and adverse outcomes

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

Weight gain between pregnancies is linked to pregnancy complications and adverse neonatal outcomes in second born children, according to a new study.

A third of young children in low- and middle-income countries are failing to meet basic milestones

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

An estimated 32.9 percent of all 3- and 4-yerr-old children living in low- and middle-income countries scored poorly on either their cognitive or socioemotional development, according to a new study.

'Missing tooth' hydrogels handle hard-to-deliver drugs

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 11:04 AM PDT

A 'missing tooth' peptide may be an efficient way to deliver insoluble drugs to precise locations in the body, report scientists.

Anti-epileptic drug linked to birth defects when taken with other drugs

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:09 AM PDT

In an analysis of pregnancies in Australia from 1999 to 2014 in which women were taking anti-epileptic drugs, fetal malformation rates fell over time in pregnancies where only one drug was taken, but rates increased in pregnancies where multiple drugs were taken.

Natural killer cells have a memory

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:09 AM PDT

Researchers have decoded a new mechanism of how the immune system can specifically attack pigmented cells of the skin. It was previously believed that so-called natural killer cells did not have an immunological memory for the body's own tissues. However, the scientists have now been able to show that these special immune cells can indeed "remember" pigmented cells when they come into more frequent contact with a specific contact allergen. These results may provide new insights into the development of the skin-depigmenting disease vitiligo but may also offer new options for the treatment of malignant melanoma.

Scientists use modelling to show the role of metabolism and signaling in cancer metastasis

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:08 AM PDT

Researchers have built a model to investigate the metastasis of cancer by examining the metabolism of breast epithelial cells and look at the role of signaling. This research may contribute to the development of cell specific anti-cancer interventions.

Ebola map may help prepare for future outbreaks

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:08 AM PDT

To be prepared for new Ebola virus disease cases, it is fundamental to start by identifying the range of the virus and the regions that are more favorable for its propagation.

Two in five formerly depressed adults are happy, flourishing

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:08 AM PDT

Approximately two in five adults (39 percent) who have experienced major depression are able to achieve complete mental health. Researchers consider complete mental health as occurring when people achieve almost daily happiness or life satisfaction, positive social and psychological well-being, and are also free of depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and substance abuse for at least one full year.

Study questions cancer link with bone growth factor for spinal surgery

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:32 AM PDT

Adding to previous evidence, a study based on a statewide cancer database shows no increase in cancer risk in patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery with the bone-promoting growth factor recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP).

Prevalence of obesity in U.S. increases among women, but not men

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:32 AM PDT

The prevalence of obesity in 2013- 2014 was 35 percent among men and 40 percent among women, and between 2005 and 2014, there was an increase in prevalence among women, but not men, according to an American study.

Anesthesia is safe in the young, study finds

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:32 AM PDT

A single exposure to general anesthesia poses no cognitive risk to healthy children under age three, a critical time in brain development, according to a multicenter study.

One hour of driving a day = 2.3kg more weight and 1.5cm wider waist, study reveals

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:30 AM PDT

The convenience of car travel has a significant impact on public health, say researchers. And men are more likely than women to put on weight due to time spent behind the wheel, their new report outlines.

New types of blood cancer discovered in children

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:30 AM PDT

Through a detailed study of leukemia cells from more than 200 children, a research group has discovered two new types of childhood leukemia. Using next-generation sequencing technology (NGS), the researchers were able to study the genome of cancer cells, which is how they discovered the new types of cancer.

Nordic countries: Highest in gender equality and intimate partner violence against women

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:30 AM PDT

The Nordic countries are the most gender equal nations in the world, but at the same time, they also have a disproportionately high rate of intimate partner violence against women. This is perplexing because logically violence against women would be expected to drop as women gained equal status in a society. A new study explores this contradictory situation, which has been labeled the 'Nordic paradox.'

Study uncovers clue to deciphering schizophrenia

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:28 AM PDT

The brains of healthy relatives of people with schizophrenia may hold a clue to better understand - and ultimately treat - the devastating illness, finds new research.

Anorexia nervosa: Pleasure at getting thin more than fear of getting fat

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:28 AM PDT

Anorexia nervosa might not be explained by fear of gaining weight, but by the pleasure of losing it, say researchers, adding that the phenomenon might be genetically influenced. The work challenges the notion of fear of weight gain in anorexia patients.

Biological clock gets a time stamp

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 07:34 AM PDT

Researchers have identified the molecular pathways involved in the aging of human eggs. This research could eventually lead to treatments to correct age-related damage and improve fertility in women age 40 and older.

Chemical 'sponges' designed to soak up toxic cancer-fighting drugs after targeting tumors

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 07:34 AM PDT

Researchers are creating materials for a cancer treatment system that can limit the side effects of chemotherapy drugs by quickly removing them from the body after use.

Benefits to timing chemotherapy to body's 'awake' time

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 07:33 AM PDT

Not a morning person? Neither are your kidneys. Research suggests there may be benefits to timing chemotherapy in cancer patients to the time of day the body is 'most awake.'

Mediterranean diet high in healthy fat does not lead to weight gain, according to randomized trial

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:40 AM PDT

Eating a non-calorie restricted Mediterranean diet high in vegetable fats such as olive oil or nuts does not lead to significant weight gain compared to a low-fat diet, according to a large randomized trial. The study suggests that current health guidelines that recommend a low-fat, low-calorie diet create unnecessary fear of healthy fats present in a Mediterranean diet, which have known health benefits.

Surprises about antibiotic resistance uncovered

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:40 AM PDT

It's thought that antibiotic resistance is associated with a fitness cost, meaning that bacteria that develop antibiotic resistance must sacrifice something in order to do so. Because of this, proper use of antibiotics should result in susceptible strains eventually replacing resistant ones.< According to recent research, though, it appears that this paradigm might not be as solid as previously thought. In fact, antibiotic-resistant strains might also be fitter and more virulent, which may have profound impacts on the control and treatment of bacterial infections.

Opioids regulate spermatozoon formation, research shows

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:39 AM PDT

Infertility has become a major medical and social problem worldwide and many of the cases are due to male infertility. Yet the molecular mechanisms involved in spermatogenesis are only now beginning to emerge. A piece of research has, for the first time, described the presence of opioids in the cells involved in the formation of spermatozoa.

Clinical trial opens new avenues for pharmacological therapy in Down's syndrome

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:35 AM PDT

The results of the phase 2 study suggest that participants who had received the treatment had better scores in the visual memory recognition and inhibition tasks, and improvement in adaptive behavior than those in the control group. Though not a cure, this is the first time that a treatment has shown some effectiveness in this syndrome, and it opens the door to new research geared towards treating what was believed to be orphan of treatment.

Unexpected function of small nucleolar RNAs explains cause of some diseases

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:35 AM PDT

Scientists have discovered unexpected functions of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) that explain the cause of some diseases. They found that snoRNAs not only modify ribosomes, but can also regulate alternative splicing. Through this second function, they regulate protein function and inhibit the generation of wrong protein variants. Thus, upon the loss of snoRNAs the formation of wrong protein variants can no longer be prevented, leading to diseases like Prader-Willi syndrome and several cancers, report scientists.

Early detection, smaller cancer among benefits of skin cancer screening at PCP visits

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:35 AM PDT

Skin cancer screenings performed by primary care physicians (PCPs) during routine office visits improve the detection of potentially deadly melanomas and find them in earlier stages, according to new research.

Rehydrating with soda on a hot day may worsen dehydration

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:13 AM PDT

Repeated heat-related dehydration has been associated with increased risk of chronic kidney damage in mice. A new study in rats reports that drinking soft drinks to rehydrate worsened dehydration and kidney injury.

Angina drug could inform a new strategy to fight cryptococcosis

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:13 AM PDT

A drug, more commonly used in the treatment of angina, could be the focus of a new strategy in fighting the fatal fungal infection cryptococcosis, report scientists.

Some asian-americans are predisposed to want more carbs, fast food

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:13 AM PDT

Rice anyone? How about a bowl of ramen noodles? Researchers have found that some Asian-Americans are more likely to hunger for carbohydrates and unhealthy foods than other Asian-Americans — and the reason appears to be genetic.

Is there a good way to deliver bad news? Psychologists examine layoff interviews

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:11 AM PDT

'Jones, you're fired!' or 'Mr Jones, I'm afraid I've got some bad news: Unfortunately, we're going to have to let you go. Please, take a seat and I'll explain the situation to you.' As in so many areas of life, it's not so much what you say, but the way that you say it that counts – even if you have to tell someone that they are being laid off. If a manager adopts an aggressive tone, the employee is far more likely to react to the bad news in a confrontational manner than in cases in which the manager takes time to explain the situation and the underlying causes.

Stem cells from umbilical cord blood may help treat eczema

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:09 AM PDT

A new study suggests that treatment with stem cells from umbilical cord blood might be an effective therapy for patients with moderate-to-severe eczema, or atopic dermatitis. For the clinical trial, 34 patients were randomly assigned to receive a low dose or high dose of the cells subcutaneously. Fifty five percent of patients who received the high dose showed a 50% reduction in what's known as the Eczema Area and Severity Index score at week 12.

What makes a small worm a popular model

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:09 AM PDT

Researchers have compiled all metabolic pathways of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans described so far and have presented a comprehensive metabolic model in a new article. The model, called "ElegCyc", covers about 2,000 metabolic processes and is available to research groups all over the world.

Are my cosmetics a health risk?

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:09 AM PDT

Are the chemicals in my baby's plastic bottle harmful? Can cosmetics cause cancer? Which pesticides are safe? The aim of scientific research is to answer questions like these, but what happens when two or more studies produce conflicting results? Lessons from the field of medicine could help provide clearer answers to questions about chemical safety, say researchers.

Chernobyl radiation could be linked to rising number of thyroid cancers in Belgian children

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:06 AM PDT

Exposure to radioactive fallout from the April 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident in Belgium may have increased the incidence of thyroid cancer in those exposed as children.

Triggers for migraine attacks determined for individual patients

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:06 AM PDT

Migraine is the third commonest disorder in the world and ranks sixth among more than 300 diseases when it comes to the burden it represents. The study compared individual case analyses with the overall analysis for the entire study population. The surprising, but at the same time practical, finding: from the population of 326 patients who kept a detailed diary for 90 days, it was possible to identify possible migraine triggers in 87% of sufferers by performing personalized analyses.

What happens when parents comment their daughter's weight?

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:04 AM PDT

The less you comment on your daughter's weight, the less likely she is to be dissatisfied with her weight as an adult, according to a new study.

New approach to MRI imaging links saturated fats to breast cancer in postmenopausal women

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:03 AM PDT

High saturated fats in breast tissue may be an indicator of cancer in postmenopausal women, a study shows. These findings, researchers say, may one day lead to greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms behind breast cancer development and the role of fat as a factor in breast cancer diagnosis and progression.

Swapping sick for healthy brain cells slows Huntington's disease

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:03 AM PDT

Researchers have successfully reduced the symptoms and slowed the progression of Huntington's disease in mice using healthy human brain cells. The findings could ultimately point to a new method to treat the disease.

Window into the 'gut's brain'

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:03 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a system that allows real-time optical and electrical observations of the gut's nervous system in a live animal. The system will allow researchers to study how this 'second brain' reacts to different drugs, neurotransmitters or diseases.

Spiders put the bite on irritable bowel syndrome pain

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 05:04 PM PDT

Spiders have helped researchers discover a new target for irritable bowel syndrome pain. The international research team used spider venom to identify a specific protein involved in transmitting mechanical pain, which is the type of pain experienced by patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

New approach to chemical synthesis

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 05:04 PM PDT

Chemists have devised a new way to synthesize communesins -- fungal compounds with anti-cancer potential. These compounds have shown particular promise against leukemia cells but may be able to kill other cancer cells as well.

Methotrexate exposure impacts cognitive processes cancer survivors need to multitask

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 05:01 PM PDT

New research reports that higher blood concentrations of methotrexate during cancer treatment are associated with brain changes and impaired executive function in survivors of pediatric leukemia.

Targeting B-cell malignancies with ?-specific T cells can lead to complete clinical responses

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 05:01 PM PDT

Targeting the light chain expressed by malignant B cells killed tumor cells while sparing normal B cells expressing the other type of light chain, report researchers at conclusion of a recent study.

Blood test to personalize depression treatment for the first time

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 05:00 PM PDT

Scientists have developed a blood test that accurately and reliably predicts whether depressed patients will respond to common antidepressants, which could herald a new era of personalized treatment for people with depression.

Combo immunotherapy for advanced melanoma: Two therapies may be better than one

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 05:00 PM PDT

A new metastatic melanoma study suggests that a combination of two immunotherapies may be better than one. One treatment uses a patient's own T cells modified in the lab to more powerfully recognize and attack tumors; the other treatment, a 'checkpoint inhibitor,' releases the brakes on the body's natural immune system.

Obesity, gestational diabetes in mothers linked to early onset of puberty in daughters

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 05:00 PM PDT

Daughters of overweight mothers who develop gestational diabetes are significantly more likely to experience an earlier onset of one sign of puberty, according to new research.

Larger wine glasses may lead people to drink more

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 05:00 PM PDT

Selling wine in larger wine glasses may encourage people to drink more, even when the amount of wine remains the same, suggests new research, where researchers found that increasing the size of wine glasses led to an almost 10 percent increase in wine sales.

Distinguishing deadly staph bacteria from harmless strains

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 12:52 PM PDT

To better understand the pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and develop more effective treatments, researchers examined the Staph "pan-genome" — the genomes of 64 different strains that differ in where they live, the types of hosts they infect and their antibiotic resistance profiles. This effort places all Staph genes into one of two categories: the core genome or the dispensable genome.

Ultralow-dose CT may substitute for standard-dose CT in some COPD patients, study concludes

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 12:49 PM PDT

A new retrospective study that reviewed the CT data of 50 emphysema patients found that ultralow-dose CT (ULDCT) can substitute for standard-dose CT (SDCT) in disease quantification if both iterative reconstruction (IR) and filtered back projection are used.

Hard times, hard love: Rise of intimate partner violence during Great Recession

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 12:49 PM PDT

Financial strain has long been one of the leading causes of family discord, but a recent study suggests that simply living through major economic recessions increases a mother's chance of suffering from domestic violence.

Scientists develop protein with potential to modify brain function, memory in mice and fish

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 11:28 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a protein that can hasten the degradation of synaptic proteins. The GFE3 protein may help researchers map the brain's connections and better understand how inhibitory synapses modulate brain function, report researchers.
مرسلة بواسطة في

ليست هناك تعليقات:

إرسال تعليق

الاشتراك في: تعليقات الرسالة (Atom)