ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• A minute of secondhand marijuana smoke may damage blood vessels
• Avoiding stumbles, from spacewalks to sidewalks
• Indicators of Parkinson's disease risk found in unexpected places
• New model may help solve the mystery of how lithium stabilizes moods
• Diabetes prevention programs beneficial in improving cardio-metabolic profiles
• Gene therapy for metabolic liver diseases shows promise in pigs
• Photos capture challenges for teens with autism, show animals as resource
• Stroke Care: Randomized penumbra 3-D trial of next generation stent retriever meets primary endpoints
• Seeing structure that allows brain cells to communicate
• Studies in mice provide insights into antibody-Zika virus interactions
• When targeting cancer genes, home in on the one percent
• Resveratrol appears to restore blood-brain barrier integrity in Alzheimer's disease
• Ketone drink gives competitive cyclists a boost by altering their metabolism
• Tuned gels reveal molecules that drive stem cell differentiation
• 20 minutes of ultrasound to the forearm cuts high blood pressure
• Maintaining a healthy heart through bile acids
• Updated testing guidelines make more women eligible for herceptin, yet benefit uncertain
• Link between carbohydrate consumption and adropin
• Stroke patients heading directly to endovascular centers could get treatment faster
• Excluding high-risk cardiac patients from public reporting linked to improved outcomes
• ADHD medication reduces risky behavior in children, teens, research finds
• Common brain changes found in children with autism, ADHD and OCD
• Gene therapy in a droplet could treat eye diseases, prevent blindness
• Discovery of new Hepatitis C Virus mechanism
• New type of cancer therapy described
• 'Screen-and-treat' scheme for hepatitis B may prevent deadly complications
• Gene therapy developed for muscle wasting
• The eyes are the window into the brain
• Genetic profiling increases cancer treatment options, study finds
• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome patients who smoke, are obese have poorer quality of life
• Monitoring cell fates
• Vitamin D levels predict risk of brain decline in Chinese elderly
• Hot flash: Women who start menstruation, menopause later more likely to live to 90
• Study uncovers novel genetic alterations contributing to development of leukemia
• Recommendation for better counseling access to be offered to women preferring cesarean births
• Discovery of biomarkers for the prognosis of chronic kidney disease
• Treating pain without feeding addiction: Study shows promise of non-drug pain management
• EEG scans could help diagnose awareness in patients with a disorder of consciousness
• Early and late menopause can increase risk of type 2 diabetes
• All e-cigarettes emit harmful chemicals, but some emit more than others
• Combining Ipilimumab with local treatments improved survival for patients with melanoma
• Toxins in e-cig vapor increase with heat and device use
• Universal genetic code may not be so universal
• Neural circuits involved in making risky decisions identified
• Online intervention helps sustain weight loss
• Low physical capacity second only to smoking as highest death risk
• Workforce processes prior to mechanical thrombectomy vary widely, new study finds
• Placental syndromes increase women's short-term risk for cardiovascular diseases
• Flow diversion improves vision among patients with paraclinoid aneurysms
• Supervised self-monitoring improves diabetes control in clinical trial
• Exercise cuts gestational diabetes in obese pregnant women
• Codependence of cell nucleus proteins key to understanding fatty liver disease

A minute of secondhand marijuana smoke may damage blood vessels Posted: 27 Jul 2016 02:20 PM PDT Rats' blood vessels took at least three times longer to recover function after only a minute of breathing secondhand marijuana smoke, compared to recovery after a minute of breathing secondhand tobacco smoke. With many states legalizing medical and recreational marijuana, and possible corporate expansion within the cannabis industry, this type of research is important to help understand the health consequences of exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke, researchers said.

Avoiding stumbles, from spacewalks to sidewalks Posted: 27 Jul 2016 01:24 PM PDT Researchers are developing a new space boot with built-in sensors and tiny 'haptic' motors, whose vibrations can guide the wearer around or over obstacles. A preliminary study was designed to determine what types of stimuli, administered to what parts of the foot, could provide the best navigation cues.

Indicators of Parkinson's disease risk found in unexpected places Posted: 27 Jul 2016 01:24 PM PDT Clues that point toward new risk mechanisms for developing Parkinson's disease are hiding in some unusual spots, according to a new study.

New model may help solve the mystery of how lithium stabilizes moods Posted: 27 Jul 2016 01:24 PM PDT New model provides a fresh perspective that can sharpen research aimed at pinning down lithium's biochemical targets and guide design of new treatments of mood disorders that are as effective as lithium but with fewer side effects.

Diabetes prevention programs beneficial in improving cardio-metabolic profiles Posted: 27 Jul 2016 01:24 PM PDT A new study shows that lifestyle modification programs modeled on diabetes prevention programs (DPP) trials not only achieved weight reduction, but also additional metabolic benefits -specifically, reductions in blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

Gene therapy for metabolic liver diseases shows promise in pigs Posted: 27 Jul 2016 12:08 PM PDT With a shortage of donor organs, medical researchers are exploring therapeutic strategies for patients with debilitating liver diseases. Researchers are testing a new approach to correct metabolic disorders without a whole organ transplant.

Photos capture challenges for teens with autism, show animals as resource Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:03 AM PDT Through use of photographs, adolescents with ASD were able to share their accounts of difficulties transitioning out of school, their struggles with socialization and how they use animals as a source of companionship, a new study has demonstrated.

Stroke Care: Randomized penumbra 3-D trial of next generation stent retriever meets primary endpoints Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:03 AM PDT The Penumbra 3D Trial successfully met the primary trial endpoints, demonstrating non-inferiority in both safety and efficacy of the company's next-generation stent retriever, Penumbra 3D Revascularization Device, when used with Penumbra System aspiration devices compared to Penumbra System aspiration devices alone.

Seeing structure that allows brain cells to communicate Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:03 AM PDT For more than a century, neuroscientists have known that nerve cells talk to one another across the small gaps between them, a process known as synaptic transmission. But the details of how this crucial aspect of brain function occurs have remained elusive. Now, new research has for the first time elucidated details about the architecture that allows brain cells to communicate.

Studies in mice provide insights into antibody-Zika virus interactions Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:00 AM PDT In research that could inform prophylactic treatment approaches for pregnant women at risk of Zika virus infection, investigators conducted experiments in mice and identified six Zika virus antibodies, including four that neutralize African, Asian and American strains of the mosquito-borne virus. The team also developed atomic-level X-ray crystal structure images showing four of the antibodies in complex with three distinct regions (epitopes) of a key Zika protein.

When targeting cancer genes, home in on the one percent Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:00 AM PDT Drugs that stop the overproduction of proteins by cancer cells may shut them down, but it also shuts down production of essential proteins in healthy cells. Researchers have found a protein with an active site that opens and initiates translation only when the protein binds to a small subset of mRNAs -- those critical to regulating the growth and proliferation of cell. Drugs to block this protein may allow a more targeted drug approach, say the investigators.

Resveratrol appears to restore blood-brain barrier integrity in Alzheimer's disease Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:00 AM PDT Resveratrol, given to Alzheimer's patients, appears to restore the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, reducing the ability of harmful immune molecules secreted by immune cells to infiltrate from the body into brain tissues, say researchers. The reduction in neuronal inflammation slowed the cognitive decline of patients, compared to a matching group of placebo-treated patients with the disorder.

Ketone drink gives competitive cyclists a boost by altering their metabolism Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:00 AM PDT A drink developed for soldiers to generate energy from ketones allowed highly trained cyclists to add up to 400 meters of distance to their workouts, a new study reports. The supplement, which will be commercially available within the year, works by temporarily switching the primary source of cellular energy from glucose or fat to ketones -- molecules derived from fat that are known to be elevated in people consuming a low-carb, Atkins-like diet.

Tuned gels reveal molecules that drive stem cell differentiation Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:00 AM PDT By monitoring stem cell differentiation on gels that mimic the stiffness of biological tissue, researchers have identified the metabolites that stem cells use when selecting bone and cartilage fates. When fed to standard stem cell cultures, these molecules were then found to guide stem cells to generate desired cell types. The study shows how new biomaterials can take the guesswork out of identifying factors that drive stem cell differentiation.

20 minutes of ultrasound to the forearm cuts high blood pressure Posted: 27 Jul 2016 09:49 AM PDT Blood pressure can significantly drop by applying 20 minutes of ultrasound to the forearm of type II diabetes patients with treatment-resistant hypertension, according to new research.

Maintaining a healthy heart through bile acids Posted: 27 Jul 2016 09:42 AM PDT Groundbreaking research from the University of Alberta and McGill University has opened the door towards the future prevention of cardiac fibrosis -- a condition leading to heart failure for which there is currently no treatment.

Updated testing guidelines make more women eligible for herceptin, yet benefit uncertain Posted: 27 Jul 2016 09:42 AM PDT Changes to HER2 testing guidelines for breast cancer in 2013 significantly increased the number of patients who test HER2-positive, according to a new study. Cancers that have an excess of HER2 protein or extra copies of the HER2 gene are called HER2-positive and can be treated with drugs like Herceptin that target HER2. HER2 stands for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2.

Link between carbohydrate consumption and adropin Posted: 27 Jul 2016 09:42 AM PDT Researchers report that levels of the peptide hormone adropin vary based on carbohydrate consumption and appear to be linked to lipid metabolism.

Stroke patients heading directly to endovascular centers could get treatment faster Posted: 27 Jul 2016 09:41 AM PDT Time is critical when it comes to ischemic stroke treatment: Patients need to receive certain treatments within six hours to maximize their chances of the best possible outcome. A new study assessed the real world delivery to care, specific causes of treatment delays and time lost due to interhospital transfers.

Excluding high-risk cardiac patients from public reporting linked to improved outcomes Posted: 27 Jul 2016 08:21 AM PDT A number of states – including Massachusetts and New York – mandate public reporting of mortality outcomes following certain cardiac procedures. While such reporting was originally intended to increase transparency and improve quality of care, a new study has shown that public reporting may in fact disincentivize physicians from offering potentially lifesaving treatment to patients who are at the greatest risk of mortality and poor outcomes. However, reforms to public reporting policies can mitigate these undesired effects, the authors report.

ADHD medication reduces risky behavior in children, teens, research finds Posted: 27 Jul 2016 08:10 AM PDT New research provides some of the first evidence that medications taken by millions of American children to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder offer long-term benefits.

Common brain changes found in children with autism, ADHD and OCD Posted: 27 Jul 2016 08:09 AM PDT A team of scientists has found similarities in brain impairments in children with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. The study involved brain imaging of white matter in 200 children.

Gene therapy in a droplet could treat eye diseases, prevent blindness Posted: 27 Jul 2016 08:09 AM PDT Eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration are among the leading causes of irreversible vision loss and blindness worldwide. Currently, gene therapy can be administered to treat these conditions -- but this requires an injection. Now researchers report a new way to deliver the treatment topically, without a needle.

Discovery of new Hepatitis C Virus mechanism Posted: 27 Jul 2016 08:09 AM PDT Researchers have uncovered the mechanisms that suppress the propagation of the hepatitis C virus with the potential of improving pathological liver conditions. Using model mice, they confirmed that when a certain enzyme is inhibited, HCV particle production is reduced leading to an improvement of pathological liver conditions. They thereby identified a new drug target for the development of new HCV drugs.

New type of cancer therapy described Posted: 27 Jul 2016 08:09 AM PDT A new study has found that a new chemotherapy is effective against both pediatric and adult cancers, and that it allows other chemotherapies to more readily reach their targets.

'Screen-and-treat' scheme for hepatitis B may prevent deadly complications Posted: 27 Jul 2016 07:35 AM PDT Research into Africa's first 'screen-and-treat' program for hepatitis B suggests the initiative may reduce deadly complications of the virus. The hepatitis B virus infects around 250 million people worldwide, and is transmitted through blood and bodily fluids. It is commonly transferred from mother to baby during birth. However the virus causes no immediate symptoms, and can remain silent in the body for decades until triggering severe complications such as liver damage (cirrhosis) and cancer.

Gene therapy developed for muscle wasting Posted: 27 Jul 2016 07:34 AM PDT A discovery could save millions of people suffering from muscle wasting disease.

The eyes are the window into the brain Posted: 27 Jul 2016 07:34 AM PDT Insight into how neurons in the cerebellum respond to rapid eye movements may provide clues for modern medical technology.

Genetic profiling increases cancer treatment options, study finds Posted: 27 Jul 2016 07:34 AM PDT Genetic profiling of cancer tumors provides new avenues for treatment of the disease, according to a study. In this research, the investigators used next-generation gene sequencing technology to analyze tumor samples for more than 100 patients. More than 90 percent of those patients had gene mutations that could impact their treatment.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome patients who smoke, are obese have poorer quality of life Posted: 27 Jul 2016 07:08 AM PDT A new study of patients who survive the once-nearly fatal Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome finds their subsequent quality of life has more to do with lifestyle factors than how sick they were in the hospital.

Monitoring cell fates Posted: 27 Jul 2016 07:08 AM PDT Scientists have been studying the factors influencing the development of different blood cells. Their research shows that certain molecular mechanisms are not as relevant as previously assumed. This finding helps to improve our understanding of diseases such as leukemia and anemia.

Vitamin D levels predict risk of brain decline in Chinese elderly Posted: 27 Jul 2016 07:08 AM PDT Low vitamin D levels has been associated with increased subsequent risk of cognitive decline and impairment in the Chinese elderly, a new study shows.

Hot flash: Women who start menstruation, menopause later more likely to live to 90 Posted: 27 Jul 2016 07:08 AM PDT The number of women living to age 90 in the United States has increased significantly in the past century. Currently estimated at 1.3 million, this demographic is expected to quadruple by 2050. A new study has found that women who start menstruation and experience menopause later in life may have increased chances of surviving nine decades.

Study uncovers novel genetic alterations contributing to development of leukemia Posted: 27 Jul 2016 06:05 AM PDT Novel genetic alterations contributing to development of leukemia have been discovered by a team of scientists. The findings from the international study involving about 220 newly diagnosed and relapse patient samples pave the way for development of new therapies, they say.

Recommendation for better counseling access to be offered to women preferring cesarean births Posted: 27 Jul 2016 06:05 AM PDT A study involving over 6,500 pregnant women from 6 countries in northern Europe highlights a clear need for appropriate support and advice when cesarean section (c-section) is elected for non-medical reasons, and for the accurate communication of the risk and benefits of c-section birth, suggests new research.

Discovery of biomarkers for the prognosis of chronic kidney disease Posted: 27 Jul 2016 06:05 AM PDT Currently, there is no effective method to predict the prognosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Researchers have now found that measuring D-amino acids, which present only trace in human, provides prognostic information of CKD. The present discovery would facilitate CKD treatment and thus improve the prognosis of CKD, and may also lead to the further discovery of novel therapy. The potential application is not limited to kidney diseases: the disease context ranges to life style-related diseases such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension, as well as lethal diseases including cardiovascular diseases, say the investigators.

Treating pain without feeding addiction: Study shows promise of non-drug pain management Posted: 27 Jul 2016 06:04 AM PDT A new study shows the potential for patients who have both addiction issues and chronic pain to get relief from an approach that combines behavioral therapy and social support to help them manage their pain without painkillers that carry an addiction risk. The low-cost approach, grounded in psychological theories of pain, could help address the nation's epidemic of addictions to opioid painkillers and illicit drugs.

EEG scans could help diagnose awareness in patients with a disorder of consciousness Posted: 27 Jul 2016 06:04 AM PDT New research suggests that an electroencephalogram could be a strong indicator of the level of awareness of patients in a vegetative state after a severe brain injury.

Early and late menopause can increase risk of type 2 diabetes Posted: 27 Jul 2016 06:03 AM PDT Women who begin menopause before age 46 or after 55 have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a study of more than 124,000 women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative, a large national trial aimed at preventing disease in postmenopausal women.

All e-cigarettes emit harmful chemicals, but some emit more than others Posted: 27 Jul 2016 06:03 AM PDT While previous studies have found that electronic cigarettes emit toxic compounds, a new study has pinpointed the source of these emissions and shown how factors such as the temperature, type, and age of the device play a role in emission levels, information that could be valuable to both manufacturers and regulators seeking to minimize the health impacts of these increasingly popular devices.

Combining Ipilimumab with local treatments improved survival for patients with melanoma Posted: 27 Jul 2016 06:03 AM PDT Among patients with melanoma, those who received both ipilimumab (Yervoy) and local peripheral treatments such as radiotherapy or electrochemotherapy had significantly prolonged overall survival compared with those who received only ipilimumab, according to a retrospective clinical study.

Toxins in e-cig vapor increase with heat and device use Posted: 27 Jul 2016 06:03 AM PDT Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigs, have grown in popularity as an alternative to traditional cigarette smoking. But health experts and consumer advocates have raised concerns over their safety. Now scientists report new measurements of potentially toxic compounds in e-cigarette vapor and factors that affect these levels.

Universal genetic code may not be so universal Posted: 26 Jul 2016 07:14 PM PDT New research is casting doubt on a commonly held belief about how cells use DNA to make proteins, suggesting the genetic code is more diverse than previously thought.

Neural circuits involved in making risky decisions identified Posted: 26 Jul 2016 07:11 PM PDT New research sheds light on what's going on inside our heads as we decide whether to take a risk or play it safe. Scientists located a region of the brain involved in decisions made under conditions of uncertainty, and identified some of the cells involved in the decision-making process. The work could lead to treatments for psychological and psychiatric disorders that involve misjudging risk, such as problem gambling and anxiety disorders, say the researchers.

Online intervention helps sustain weight loss Posted: 26 Jul 2016 07:11 PM PDT Obesity is a common problem that can result in a number of health problems including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, joint problems and stroke. Aside from changes to diet and increased levels of physical activity, behavioral counseling is effective at helping people lose weight, but previous studies have shown that to be effective intensive counseling and support is needed. An online behavioral counseling tool is effective at helping people lose weight, new research has found.

Low physical capacity second only to smoking as highest death risk Posted: 26 Jul 2016 07:11 PM PDT A 45 year study in middle-aged men has shown that the impact of low physical capacity on risk of death is second only to smoking. The study was designed to investigate risk factors for cardiovascular disease and mortality.

Workforce processes prior to mechanical thrombectomy vary widely, new study finds Posted: 26 Jul 2016 02:47 PM PDT Mechanical thrombectomy, a leading type of neurointerventional stroke treatment where a device can remove a blood clot in minutes, is essential for people experiencing a stroke, who stand to lose 2 million neurons every minute the artery is blocked. Equally essential is access to a hospital or health care system with a successful workflow in place that can deliver such treatment.

Placental syndromes increase women's short-term risk for cardiovascular diseases Posted: 26 Jul 2016 12:52 PM PDT The short-term risk of developing cardiovascular disease following a first pregnancy is higher for women experiencing placental syndromes and poor pregnancy outcomes, a study reports. The researchers also found a five-fold increase in health care costs for women with placental syndromes who developed cardiovascular disease as soon as three to five years following delivery, compared to those who did not.

Flow diversion improves vision among patients with paraclinoid aneurysms Posted: 26 Jul 2016 12:52 PM PDT Aneurysms of the paraclinoid region of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the interventions used to treat them often result in visual impairment. Researchers, however, found that flow diversion demonstrates a higher rate of visual improvement and a lower rate of visual decline in patients with these types of aneurysms.

Supervised self-monitoring improves diabetes control in clinical trial Posted: 26 Jul 2016 12:51 PM PDT For people with diabetes not treated with insulin, unsupervised self-monitoring of blood glucose levels has not been found effective at improving glycaemic control. In a randomized trial, researchers report on a strategy where patients submit their home blood glucose results to a website monitored by a nurse or physician, who responds to guide patients. They show this supervised approach, which includes adjusted treatment or reinforcing lifestyle changes when needed, to be effective in controlling diabetes.

Exercise cuts gestational diabetes in obese pregnant women Posted: 26 Jul 2016 12:51 PM PDT Obese women who become pregnant are at higher risk of developing diabetes during their pregnancies. New research shows this risk can be reduced with exercise.

Codependence of cell nucleus proteins key to understanding fatty liver disease Posted: 26 Jul 2016 11:22 AM PDT A new appreciation for the interplay between two cell nucleus proteins that lead both intertwined and separate lives is helping researchers better understand fatty liver disease, report scientists.

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