ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Finding new targets to treat vascular damage
• Face shape is in the genes
• Targeting low-oxygen patches inside lung cancer tumors could help prevent drug resistance
• Electron microscopy reveals how vitamin A enters the cell
• Investigating the relationship between low physical activity and psychotic symptoms
• Newly discovered 'multicomponent' virus can infect animals
• Altering stem cell perception of tissue stiffness may help treat musculoskeletal disorders
• Immune system infighting explains pancreatic cancer's aggression
• Recommended daily treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis underused
• New technique takes guesswork out of IVF embryo selection
• Researchers question process for reviewing coverage of 'off label' cancer drug use
• Hitching a ride: Misfiring drugs hit the wrong targets
• Looking to saliva to gain insight on evolution
• Purslane production practices enhance nutritional value
• Western diet increases Alzheimer's risk
• Fateful evolution: New study improves accuracy of cancer diagnosis
• Smokers with newly discovered genetic markers have higher lung cancer risk
• Mapping pluripotency differences between mice, monkeys, and humans
• New method in synthesis and development for pharmaceuticals
• Is prehospital stroke treatment associated with better outcomes?
• New strategy to fight mosquitoes in a more efficient and sustainable way
• Coffee drinking habits can be written in our DNA, study finds
• Potentially deadly heart condition plagues family members around same age
• Number of tuberculosis cases in India is double current estimates, says new study
• Designing better ways to let go of digital memories than 'delete'
• Nerve cells with a sense of rhythm
• Researchers identify possible pathway to reboot immune system after bone-marrow transplants
• Artificial retinas: Promising leads towards clearer vision
• Nanovesicles in predictable shapes
• Sitting in traffic jams is officially bad for you
• New study questions timing in mitral valve repairs
• MRI-guided focused ultrasound effective to treat essential tremor
• Zika virus detected in newborn until 2 months after birth
• Simulated patient study sheds new light on antibiotic use in India
• Conflicts subverting improved health conditions in Eastern Mediterranean Region
• Excess weight linked to eight more cancer types
• Hay fever from ragweed pollen could double due to climate change
• We are all 'wired' for addiction, says researcher
• Protein that promotes the breakdown of fat identified, potentially leading to new diabetes treatments
• You want shorter ER stays? Bring in the nurses
• Diet, exercise, both: All work equally to protect heart health
• Seniors with more continuity of care use the ER less
• Mental stress may cause reduced blood flow in hearts of young women with heart disease
• Biomarkers may help better predict who will have a stroke
• In unstable times, the brain reduces cell production to help cope
• Cardiologist examines training, staffing, research in cardiac intensive care
• Study strengthens evidence that cognitive activity can reduce dementia risk
• New class of molecules play key role in influencing the immune system
• 'Reversible' blood thinner may cut bleeding risk
• More than a few good men: Counterintuitive outcomes of gender imbalance
• Majority of US doctors discussing electronic cigarettes with their patients
• Study takes a step back to look at use of restraints in hospitals
• Comparing coronary artery calcium scores in patients with psoriasis, diabetes

Finding new targets to treat vascular damage Posted: 25 Aug 2016 12:17 PM PDT There are no established drugs to improve angiogenesis in diabetes. However, researchers now have identified a gene called CITED2 in a molecular pathway that may offer targets for drugs that treat these conditions by strengthening angiogenesis.

Face shape is in the genes Posted: 25 Aug 2016 12:16 PM PDT Many of the characteristics that make up a person's face, such as nose size and face width, stem from specific genetic variations, reports a team of scientists.

Targeting low-oxygen patches inside lung cancer tumors could help prevent drug resistance Posted: 25 Aug 2016 12:15 PM PDT With the right treatment schedule, medications known as hypoxia-activated prodrugs (HAPs) could help prevent drug resistance in a subtype of lung cancer, according to a study.

Electron microscopy reveals how vitamin A enters the cell Posted: 25 Aug 2016 11:19 AM PDT Using a new, lightning-fast camera paired with an electron microscope, scientists have captured images of one of the smallest proteins in our cells to be "seen" with a microscope.

Investigating the relationship between low physical activity and psychotic symptoms Posted: 25 Aug 2016 11:17 AM PDT Physical activity can help reduce cardiovascular disease and premature mortality in people with psychological problems. However, there is limited data on exercise in people with serious mental disorders, especially from low- and middle-income countries. This study explored whether complying with the World Health Organization recommendations of 150 minutes of moderate-vigorous exercise per week is related to psychotic symptoms or the diagnosis of a psychosis.

Newly discovered 'multicomponent' virus can infect animals Posted: 25 Aug 2016 11:17 AM PDT Scientists have identified a new 'multicomponent' virus --one containing different segments of genetic material in separate particles -- that can infect animals. This new pathogen was isolated from several species of mosquitoes in Central and South America. GCXV does not appear to infect mammals; however, the team also isolated a related virus, Jingmen tick virus, from a nonhuman primate.

Altering stem cell perception of tissue stiffness may help treat musculoskeletal disorders Posted: 25 Aug 2016 10:09 AM PDT A new biomaterial can be used to study how and when stem cells sense the mechanics of their surrounding environment. With further development, this biomaterial could be used to control when immature stem cells differentiate into more specialized cells for regenerative and tissue-engineering-based therapies.

Immune system infighting explains pancreatic cancer's aggression Posted: 25 Aug 2016 10:06 AM PDT Conflict between cell types explains why the immune system struggles to recognize and attack pancreatic cancer, report researchers. Curbing this infighting has the potential to make treatment more effective, according to a study.

Recommended daily treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis underused Posted: 25 Aug 2016 10:04 AM PDT Topical intranasal steroid therapy continues to be underused for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) despite practice guidelines that recommend daily use, according to a study.

New technique takes guesswork out of IVF embryo selection Posted: 25 Aug 2016 08:35 AM PDT Researchers have successfully trialed a new technique that could aid the process of choosing the "best" embryo for implantation, helping to boost the chances of pregnancy success from the very first IVF cycle.

Researchers question process for reviewing coverage of 'off label' cancer drug use Posted: 25 Aug 2016 08:35 AM PDT Physician-researchers have raised concerns that there are inconsistencies between the five reference guides, or compendia, that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services uses to determine which drugs it will reimburse for off-label uses in cancer care.

Hitching a ride: Misfiring drugs hit the wrong targets Posted: 25 Aug 2016 08:32 AM PDT Researchers have shown how anti-HIV protein inhibitor drugs can bind to the wrong protein, causing unwanted side effects.

Looking to saliva to gain insight on evolution Posted: 25 Aug 2016 08:32 AM PDT There's no need to reinvent the genetic wheel. That's one lesson of a new study that looks to the saliva of humans, gorillas, orangutans, macaques and African green monkeys for insights into evolution. The work shows that adaptation isn't just about creating new tools for survival -- it's also about tweaking the ones we have.

Purslane production practices enhance nutritional value Posted: 25 Aug 2016 08:32 AM PDT A study evaluated the influence of nitrogen fertility levels on biomass and concentrations of nutritionally important carotenoid and chlorophyll pigments in purslane. Two purslane cultivars were grown in nutrient solution culture under four nitrogen concentrations. Results showed no influence of nitrogen treatment concentration on purslane shoot tissue fresh weight accumulation. Nitrogen treatment significantly influenced purslane shoot tissue beta-carotene, lutein, neoxanthin, total carotenoids, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and the chlorophyll a to b ratio.

Western diet increases Alzheimer's risk Posted: 25 Aug 2016 07:21 AM PDT Globally, about 42 million people now have dementia, with Alzheimer's disease as the most common type of dementia. Rates of Alzheimer's disease are rising worldwide. The most important risk factors seem to be linked to diet, especially the consumption of meat, sweets, and high-fat dairy products that characterize a Western Diet. The evidence of these risk factors, which come from ecological and observational studies, also shows that fruits, vegetables, grains, low-fat dairy products, legumes, and fish are associated with reduced risk.

Fateful evolution: New study improves accuracy of cancer diagnosis Posted: 25 Aug 2016 07:11 AM PDT Researchers use evolutionary theory to make predictions about which Barrett's esophagus (BE) patients will go on to develop cancer. The results point the way toward more accurate medical assessments for patients with BE and the development of early-warning beacons of disease known as biomarkers.

Smokers with newly discovered genetic markers have higher lung cancer risk Posted: 25 Aug 2016 07:11 AM PDT Researchers discovered new genetic markers associated with a fast rate of nicotine metabolism, which potentially leads smokers to smoke more, thereby, increasing their risk for lung cancer.

Mapping pluripotency differences between mice, monkeys, and humans Posted: 25 Aug 2016 07:11 AM PDT New research shows that certain primate stem cells have pluripotency superior to some types derived from mice. The study maps how pluripotency differs among mice, monkeys, and humans, and illustrates for the first time the characteristics unique to primate stem cells.

New method in synthesis and development for pharmaceuticals Posted: 25 Aug 2016 07:11 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new synthetic methods that facilitate the design and synthesis of bioactive compounds and chemical tools for pharmacological studies, the team reports.

Is prehospital stroke treatment associated with better outcomes? Posted: 25 Aug 2016 07:11 AM PDT When treating a patient with stroke, every minute counts. A specialized stroke ambulance allows physicians to start specific treatment, such as thrombolysis, at scene. A recent study investigated whether this earlier response time leads to an improved prognosis.

New strategy to fight mosquitoes in a more efficient and sustainable way Posted: 25 Aug 2016 07:11 AM PDT Mosquitoes continue to build resistance to existing pesticides. Research has now shown that the chemical substances emitted by one of the mosquito's natural enemies -- the backswimmer -- makes the biological pesticide Bti more deadly. These so-called predator cues also impair the mosquito's immune system. Scientists argue that a cocktail of biological pesticides and synthetic predator cues may become the future strategy for mosquito control.

Coffee drinking habits can be written in our DNA, study finds Posted: 25 Aug 2016 07:09 AM PDT Researchers have identified a gene that appears to curb coffee consumption. People with a DNA variation in a gene called PDSS2 tend to drink fewer cups of coffee, the study found.

Potentially deadly heart condition plagues family members around same age Posted: 25 Aug 2016 05:51 AM PDT People with a family member who had an aortic dissection—a spontaneous tear in one of the body's main arteries—should take note of the age that family member was when the aortic dissection occurred. According to a new study, aortic dissections have the potential to run in families and often occur within 10 years of the same age.

Number of tuberculosis cases in India is double current estimates, says new study Posted: 25 Aug 2016 05:48 AM PDT The number of cases of tuberculosis (TB) in India may be up to two to three times higher than current estimates, suggests a new study. TB is a bacterial infection, spread through inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person. India has the highest number of TB cases in the world, and accounts for at least a quarter of all cases worldwide.

Designing better ways to let go of digital memories than 'delete' Posted: 25 Aug 2016 05:48 AM PDT Researchers are looking at better ways of helping grieving people let go of emotionally-charged digital content after the death of loved ones or the break-up of relationships.

Nerve cells with a sense of rhythm Posted: 25 Aug 2016 05:48 AM PDT The performances of our brain like thinking, remembering, perceiving and motion control can only arise through the interaction of the network of nerve cells. Now, neuroscientists show how nerve cells communicate with each other in neural networks.

Researchers identify possible pathway to reboot immune system after bone-marrow transplants Posted: 25 Aug 2016 05:48 AM PDT New research has shown how a cell surface molecule, Lymphotoxin ? receptor, controls entry of T-cells into the thymus, and as such presents an opportunity to understanding why cancer patients who undergo bone-marrow transplant are slow to recover their immune system.

Artificial retinas: Promising leads towards clearer vision Posted: 25 Aug 2016 05:48 AM PDT A major therapeutic challenge, the retinal prostheses that have been under development during the past ten years can enable some blind subjects to perceive light signals, but the image thus restored is still far from being clear.  By comparing in rodents the activity of the visual cortex generated artificially by implants against that produced by "natural sight", scientists have identified two factors that limit the resolution of prostheses.  Based on these findings, they were able to improve the precision of prosthetic activation.

Nanovesicles in predictable shapes Posted: 25 Aug 2016 05:48 AM PDT Beads, disks, bowls and rods: scientists have demonstrated the first methodological approach to control the shapes of nanovesicles. This opens doors for the use of nanovesicles in biomedical applications, such as drug delivery in the body, they say.

Sitting in traffic jams is officially bad for you Posted: 25 Aug 2016 05:48 AM PDT Pollution levels inside cars were found to be up to 40% higher while in traffic jams or at a red traffic light compared to free-flowing traffic conditions, new research indicates. The World Health Organization has placed outdoor air pollution among the top ten health risks faced by humans, linking with seven million premature deaths a year.

New study questions timing in mitral valve repairs Posted: 25 Aug 2016 05:47 AM PDT Doctors say new research is showing that patients who suffer from isolated mitral valve regurgitation may need surgery before symptoms appear.

MRI-guided focused ultrasound effective to treat essential tremor Posted: 24 Aug 2016 06:22 PM PDT Treatment with MRI-guided focused ultrasound significantly improves tremors and quality of life in patients with essential tremor (ET), the most common movement disorder, according to a new study.

Zika virus detected in newborn until 2 months after birth Posted: 24 Aug 2016 06:22 PM PDT Researchers outline the case of a baby born with Zika infection in January 2016, who remained infected by the virus even two months and one week after birth. This is the first reported case of prolonged Zika infection in newborns.

Simulated patient study sheds new light on antibiotic use in India Posted: 24 Aug 2016 06:22 PM PDT As a result of the overuse or misuse of antibiotics, antimicrobial resistant superbugs represent an extraordinary threat to global health. This threat is particularly great in India, the world's largest consumer of antibiotics and the country facing the highest burden of tuberculosis (TB) in the world.

Conflicts subverting improved health conditions in Eastern Mediterranean Region Posted: 24 Aug 2016 06:22 PM PDT Improved health conditions and life expectancy over the past 20 years in the Eastern Mediterranean Region are being subverted by wars and civil unrest, according to a new scientific study.

Excess weight linked to eight more cancer types Posted: 24 Aug 2016 06:22 PM PDT There's yet another reason to maintain a healthy weight as we age. An international team of researchers has identified eight additional types of cancer linked to excess weight and obesity: stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, ovary, meningioma (a type of brain tumor), thyroid cancer and the blood cancer multiple myeloma.

Hay fever from ragweed pollen could double due to climate change Posted: 24 Aug 2016 06:22 PM PDT Climate change could cause new hay fever misery for millions of people across Europe -- according to a new report. Hay fever is a common allergic condition that is caused by an allergy to pollen -- including tree pollen (released during spring), grass pollen (released during the end of spring and beginning of summer) or weed pollen (especially released late autumn).

We are all 'wired' for addiction, says researcher Posted: 24 Aug 2016 02:27 PM PDT Drug addicts and non-addicts may have more in common than ever thought, according to a researcher who found that to some degree, everyone's brain is "wired" to become addicted.

Protein that promotes the breakdown of fat identified, potentially leading to new diabetes treatments Posted: 24 Aug 2016 02:27 PM PDT A protein often located on the surface of fat droplets within cells -- and especially abundant in the muscles of endurance athletes -- can kick-start the more efficient and healthful breakdown of fat, scientists have discovered.

You want shorter ER stays? Bring in the nurses Posted: 24 Aug 2016 02:17 PM PDT Protocols allowing nurses to administer certain types of treatment in the emergency department can dramatically shorten length of stay for patients with fever, chest pain, hip fractures and vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, according to the results of a recent study.

Diet, exercise, both: All work equally to protect heart health Posted: 24 Aug 2016 02:17 PM PDT For those who need to lose weight, taking off a few pounds by dieting, exercising or both is powerful protection against cardiovascular disease.

Seniors with more continuity of care use the ER less Posted: 24 Aug 2016 02:17 PM PDT Seniors with traditional Medicare coverage who have more continuity of care -- defined as consistently seeing the same physician in an outpatient setting -- have lower chances of visiting an emergency department, according to the results of a recent study.

Mental stress may cause reduced blood flow in hearts of young women with heart disease Posted: 24 Aug 2016 02:17 PM PDT Mental stress may cause reduced blood flow in the heart muscle of younger women with heart disease. Younger women with heart disease are more susceptible to reduced blood flow from mental stress compared to men and older patients, new research has found.

Biomarkers may help better predict who will have a stroke Posted: 24 Aug 2016 02:17 PM PDT People with high levels of four biomarkers in the blood may be more likely to develop a stroke than people with low levels of the biomarkers, according to a new study.

In unstable times, the brain reduces cell production to help cope Posted: 24 Aug 2016 11:40 AM PDT A new study found that adult rats with disruptions in their social hierarchy produced far fewer new neurons, and reacted to the surrounding upheaval by favoring the company of familiar rats. The research is among the first to show that adult brain-cell growth, or neurogenesis, shapes social behavior and adaptation, and that responses to instability may be more measured than scientists have come to expect.

Cardiologist examines training, staffing, research in cardiac intensive care Posted: 24 Aug 2016 11:40 AM PDT The medical director of a cardiac intensive care unit examined the early growth and maturation of critical care cardiology, and the challenges and uncertainties that threaten to stymie the growth of this fledgling discipline.

Study strengthens evidence that cognitive activity can reduce dementia risk Posted: 24 Aug 2016 11:40 AM PDT A formal bias analysis of previous studies finding that cognitive activities can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias concluded that any confounding factors in the earlier studies probably do not totally account for any associations between cognitive activity and dementia risk.

New class of molecules play key role in influencing the immune system Posted: 24 Aug 2016 11:39 AM PDT Investigators report that resolvins and maresins, molecules produced in the body naturally from certain omega-3 fatty acids, regulate subsets of white blood cells that play a central role in inflammation and the immune system.

'Reversible' blood thinner may cut bleeding risk Posted: 24 Aug 2016 11:39 AM PDT Researchers have developed an antibody that blocks the formation of blood clots without triggering bleeding, a serious risk associated with current blood thinners.

More than a few good men: Counterintuitive outcomes of gender imbalance Posted: 24 Aug 2016 11:38 AM PDT Contrary to traditional expectations of unbalanced sex ratios, places with more men than women do not typically experience higher rates of family and social instability, according to a new study.

Majority of US doctors discussing electronic cigarettes with their patients Posted: 24 Aug 2016 11:00 AM PDT A new survey of US doctors reveals they are frequently discussing electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) with patients in a clinical setting. A substantial proportion of physicians also recommend e-cigs to their patients who smoke despite some controversy around the devices.

Study takes a step back to look at use of restraints in hospitals Posted: 24 Aug 2016 10:57 AM PDT The use of belts, bedrails and other devices to prevent patients from hurting themselves has increasingly come under fire. Within a hospital setting, the use of such restraints may be reduced by ensuring that the nursing staff includes a sufficient number of registered nurses.

Comparing coronary artery calcium scores in patients with psoriasis, diabetes Posted: 24 Aug 2016 10:57 AM PDT Assessing coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a measure of the severity of atherosclerosis (clogged arteries) and a cornerstone for screening for risk of future cardiac events. The inflammatory skin condition psoriasis has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Type 2 diabetes is a high-risk disease associated with increased cardiovascular risk.

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