ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• A protein in mosquito spit can keep Dengue virus in check
• Examining mitochondrial DNA may help identify unknown ancestry that influences breast cancer risk
• Can nicotine protect the aging brain?
• Trial offers hope of a treatment for spinal muscular atrophy
• First results from world’s biggest body scanning project
• Fungus in humans identified for first time as key factor in Crohn's disease
• Activity trackers are ineffective at sustaining weight loss
• Scientists discover interplay of yin-yang antagonists vital for cell division
• Testosterone may explain sex difference in knee injury rates
• New explanation offered for symptoms of fragile X syndrome
• New therapeutic target for Crohn's disease
• Inherited parental methylation shifts over time, may have functional effects in the brain and other tissues
• Removing cellular bookmarks smooths the path to stem cells
• Chemical exposure linked to lower vitamin D levels
• Gut bacteria differ between obese, lean youth
• Genetic 'switch' identified as potential target for Alzheimer’s disease
• Do these genes make me lonely? Study finds loneliness is a heritable trait
• New report examines how Medicare shared savings program can affect radiology practices
• Feeding babies egg and peanut may prevent food allergy, study suggests
• VW emissions cheat may lead to 50 premature deaths, $423 million in economic costs, study shows
• Shape-shifting protein behind Alzheimer's disease
• Research finally reveals reason for perplexing red skin disease
• New treatment for depressed smokers trying to quit
• Graphene nanoribbons show promise for healing spinal injuries
• Gene discovery in severe epilepsy may offer clues to unique personalized therapies
• Eteplirsen approved in US for treatment of duchenne muscular dystrophy
• Expanded genetic code is shown phototoxic to cells
• A low-cost sensor for cystic fibrosis diagnosis
• Researchers solve a mystery of early embryonic development
• Gene therapy for cystic fibrosis lung disease
• Body ornamentation among Neanderthals: Dig in France confirmed as Neaderthal remains
• Better, cost-effective depression treatment for teens identified
• Researchers identify concussion treatment for persistent cases in children
• A tough day could erase the perks of choosing 'good' fat sources, study finds
• Good relationships with parents may benefit children's health decades later
• Why don't antidepressants work in some patients?
• High status job means you are less likely to respond to treatment for depression
• Human 'junk' gene sequences can promote translation
• Thinking outside the insulin box
• Continuous electrical brain stimulation helps patients with epilepsy
• Risks of developing mental health problems if brother or sister affected
• Anxiety: Risk factor for death from cancer in men
• Sleep paralysis: Fully awake and unable to move
• Smartphone communication streamlines hospital transfers for heart attack patients

A protein in mosquito spit can keep Dengue virus in check Posted: 20 Sep 2016 01:09 PM PDT Mosquito saliva influences transmission of viruses to a bitten mammalian host. For example, it contains factors that dampen the host immune response and so facilitate infection. A study reports on a saliva protein with the opposite effect: D7, a protein present in Aedes aegypti saliva, binds to Dengue virus (DENV) and inhibits its transmission to human cells and mice. Antibodies against D7, which are present in humans exposed to mosquito bites, might therefore facilitate virus transmission and enhance disease severity.

Examining mitochondrial DNA may help identify unknown ancestry that influences breast cancer risk Posted: 20 Sep 2016 01:06 PM PDT Genetic testing of mitochondrial DNA could reveal otherwise unknown ancestry that can influence a person's risk for certain types of breast cancer, a new study finds.

Can nicotine protect the aging brain? Posted: 20 Sep 2016 01:06 PM PDT Everyone knows that tobacco products are bad for your health. However, according to research, it turns out the nicotine itself--when given independently from tobacco--could help protect the brain as it ages, and even ward off Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease.

Trial offers hope of a treatment for spinal muscular atrophy Posted: 20 Sep 2016 12:45 PM PDT Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a leading genetic cause of child death. Existing proposed treatments require injection direct into the spine, a barrier to widespread use. Pip6a-PMO can be injected into a vein – a simpler and safer method – report investigators. In SMA-affected mice, a single dose of Pip6a-PMO extended life from 12 to 167 days – fourteen times longer. A second dose increased that to 457 days.

First results from world’s biggest body scanning project Posted: 20 Sep 2016 12:37 PM PDT Data from the first 5,000 UK Biobank participants taking part in the world's largest health imaging study has been released for health researchers worldwide to use in their own research. Researchers unearthed some rather complicated patterns of correlation. For example, one pattern links brain imaging to intelligence, level of education, and a set of lifestyle factors that at first appear unrelated -- including amount of time spent outdoors and how much cheese people eat. It is plausible that, taken together, these factors create a profile of socio-economic-status and its relation to the brain.

Fungus in humans identified for first time as key factor in Crohn's disease Posted: 20 Sep 2016 12:14 PM PDT A fungus has been identified as a key factor in the development of Crohn's disease, an international team of researchers has identified for the first time.

Activity trackers are ineffective at sustaining weight loss Posted: 20 Sep 2016 10:19 AM PDT Wearable devices that monitor physical activity are not reliable tools for weight loss, says a new study. The study specifically investigated whether regular use of commercially available activity trackers is effective for producing and sustaining weight loss. Participants without physical activity trackers showed nearly twice the weight loss benefits at the end of the 24 months.

Scientists discover interplay of yin-yang antagonists vital for cell division Posted: 20 Sep 2016 10:08 AM PDT A pair of large enzyme complexes attack each other in turn to form a molecular switch, which is essential for cell division, a new study has revealed.

Testosterone may explain sex difference in knee injury rates Posted: 20 Sep 2016 10:08 AM PDT The predominance of the hormone testosterone in males may explain why women are up to 10 times more likely than men to injure the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in their knees, new research suggests following a mice study.

New explanation offered for symptoms of fragile X syndrome Posted: 20 Sep 2016 10:08 AM PDT A new explanation for some of the symptoms of fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability, has been proposed by researchers. Their explanation suggests new targets for treatment.

New therapeutic target for Crohn's disease Posted: 20 Sep 2016 10:08 AM PDT A promising new target for future drugs to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been uncovered by researchers. The study also indicates that another protein, protein kinase C (PKC) ?/?, may serve as a biomarker of IBD severity.

Inherited parental methylation shifts over time, may have functional effects in the brain and other tissues Posted: 20 Sep 2016 10:08 AM PDT Inherited methylation—a form of epigenetic regulation passed down from parents to offspring—is far more dynamic than previously thought and may contribute to changes in the brain and other tissues over time. This finding challenges current understandings of gene regulation via methylation, from development through adulthood.

Removing cellular bookmarks smooths the path to stem cells Posted: 20 Sep 2016 10:08 AM PDT Cells use specific proteins that help the cell remember what collection of genes needs to be turned on again after cell division. Removing these transcriptional bookmarks may be a key to better reprogramming of human fibroblasts to create induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs.

Chemical exposure linked to lower vitamin D levels Posted: 20 Sep 2016 10:08 AM PDT Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may reduce levels of vitamin D in the bloodstream, according to a new study.

Gut bacteria differ between obese, lean youth Posted: 20 Sep 2016 10:08 AM PDT Children and teenagers who are obese have different microorganisms living in the digestive tract than their lean counterparts, according to a new study.

Genetic 'switch' identified as potential target for Alzheimer’s disease Posted: 20 Sep 2016 08:56 AM PDT An important part of the machinery that switches on a gene known to protect against Alzheimer's Disease has been discovered by a team of scientists.

Do these genes make me lonely? Study finds loneliness is a heritable trait Posted: 20 Sep 2016 08:56 AM PDT Loneliness is linked to poor physical and mental health, and is an even more accurate predictor of early death than obesity. To better understand who is at risk, researchers conducted the first genome-wide association study for loneliness -- as a life-long trait, not a temporary state. They discovered that risk for feeling lonely is partially due to genetics, but environment plays a bigger role.

New report examines how Medicare shared savings program can affect radiology practices Posted: 20 Sep 2016 08:26 AM PDT A new study examines how the incentives in an alternative payment model (APM) - the Accountable Care Organization Shared Savings Program (ACO SSP) - might influence cost, quality, utilization and technological investment for radiology practices.

Feeding babies egg and peanut may prevent food allergy, study suggests Posted: 20 Sep 2016 08:23 AM PDT Feeding babies egg and peanut may reduce their risk of developing an allergy to the foods, finds a new study.

VW emissions cheat may lead to 50 premature deaths, $423 million in economic costs, study shows Posted: 20 Sep 2016 08:06 AM PDT Beginning in 2008, Volkswagen installed software to circumvent emissions testing by turning off the nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions control system in real-world driving in nearly half a million cars. A new analysis using a tool developed and used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to assess the health and economic impacts related to air quality calculates that a single year of elevated emissions from the affected VW vehicles could lead to as many as 50 premature deaths, 3,000 lost workdays, and $423 million in economic costs.

Shape-shifting protein behind Alzheimer's disease Posted: 20 Sep 2016 08:06 AM PDT The protein behind Alzheimer's disease shape-shifts, changing its internal structure in order to infiltrate brain cells and become toxic, new research indicates.

Research finally reveals reason for perplexing red skin disease Posted: 20 Sep 2016 07:48 AM PDT There aren't any effective treatments for the disease with the hard-to-pronounce-name, ichthyosis. The rare and perplexing genetic disease causes skin to be disfigured by redness and dark scales across one's entire body. Now, for the first time, new research has found the reason that the disease causes the red skin and has a promising biologic drug to begin testing soon in clinical trials.

New treatment for depressed smokers trying to quit Posted: 20 Sep 2016 07:47 AM PDT Why is quitting smoking particularly difficult for depressed people? Researchers are now testing a new smoking cessation treatment combining medication and behavioral activation therapy targeted at this population.

Graphene nanoribbons show promise for healing spinal injuries Posted: 20 Sep 2016 07:16 AM PDT The combination of graphene nanoribbons made with a newly developed process and a common polymer could someday be of critical importance to healing damaged spinal cords in people, according to scientists.

Gene discovery in severe epilepsy may offer clues to unique personalized therapies Posted: 20 Sep 2016 07:09 AM PDT An international team of researchers who discovered a new gene disorder that causes severe childhood epilepsy leveraged that finding to reduce seizures in two children. The collaborators' case report reflects the potential of precision medicine -- applying basic science knowledge to individualize treatment to a patient's unique genetic profile.

Eteplirsen approved in US for treatment of duchenne muscular dystrophy Posted: 20 Sep 2016 06:56 AM PDT The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has decided to grant accelerated approval for eteplirsen, the first disease-modifying drug to treat the most common childhood form of muscular dystrophy.

Expanded genetic code is shown phototoxic to cells Posted: 20 Sep 2016 06:37 AM PDT Scientists found that the synthetic bases used to increase the number of DNA bases from the four that occur naturally in all organisms to six, also makes cells so sensitive to near-visible ultraviolet light that the light becomes toxic to cells.

A low-cost sensor for cystic fibrosis diagnosis Posted: 20 Sep 2016 06:37 AM PDT A new, inexpensive method for detecting salt concentrations in sweat or other bodily fluids has been developed by biomaterials scientists. The fluorescent sensor, derived from citric acid molecules, is highly sensitive and highly selective for chloride, the key diagnostic marker in cystic fibrosis.

Researchers solve a mystery of early embryonic development Posted: 20 Sep 2016 06:37 AM PDT A novel technique has been created to map specific chemical (or "epigenetic") modifications made to the protein packaging of DNA using a small population of cells. Such epigenetic marks play a central role in the regulation of the genome's expression.

Gene therapy for cystic fibrosis lung disease Posted: 20 Sep 2016 06:37 AM PDT Gene therapy may be a viable approach for treating or preventing lung disease caused by cystic fibrosis (CF), suggests new research. Working with CF pigs, the researchers have shown that two different virus-based vectors can restore a working version of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein that is faulty in CF to the pigs' airway cells. Moreover, this gene replacement normalized important aspects of the lung biology and improved the ability of airway secretions to kill bacteria.

Body ornamentation among Neanderthals: Dig in France confirmed as Neaderthal remains Posted: 20 Sep 2016 06:04 AM PDT Researchers have helped to solve an archaeological dispute -- confirming that Neanderthals were responsible for producing tools and artifacts previously argued by some to be exclusively in the realm of modern human cognitive abilities.

Better, cost-effective depression treatment for teens identified Posted: 20 Sep 2016 05:39 AM PDT Depression can create a huge cost burden on patients and institutions, and for teenagers that includes issues like missed school and the costs of healthcare for families. A new study identifies a cost-effective treatment that yields promising results for depressed teens.

Researchers identify concussion treatment for persistent cases in children Posted: 20 Sep 2016 05:35 AM PDT A new intervention for adolescents with persistent post-concussive symptoms has improved health and wellness outcomes significantly, report investigators. The approach combines cognitive behavioral therapy and coordinated care among providers, schools, patients and families.

A tough day could erase the perks of choosing 'good' fat sources, study finds Posted: 20 Sep 2016 05:35 AM PDT The type of fat you eat matters, but a new study suggests that the benefits of good fats vanish when stress enters the picture. This study is the first to show that stress has the potential to cancel out benefits of choosing healthier fats.

Good relationships with parents may benefit children's health decades later Posted: 20 Sep 2016 05:35 AM PDT Growing up in a well-off home can benefit a child's physical health even decades later -- but a lack of parent-child warmth, or the presence of abuse, may eliminate the health advantage of a privileged background, according to a new study.

Why don't antidepressants work in some patients? Posted: 20 Sep 2016 05:30 AM PDT SSRI antidepressants (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, the best known being Prozactm) are amongst the most commonly taken medicines. However, there seems to be no way of knowing in advance whether or not SSRIs will work effectively. Now a group of researchers has developed a new theory of SSRI action, and tested it in stressed mice. The results show why the circumstances we find ourselves in may influence whether an antidepressant works or not.

High status job means you are less likely to respond to treatment for depression Posted: 20 Sep 2016 05:30 AM PDT A high status job means that you are less likely to respond to standard treatment with medications for depression, an international study has found. These results may have implications for clinicians and their patients, employers and public policy.

Human 'junk' gene sequences can promote translation Posted: 20 Sep 2016 05:30 AM PDT Scientists have found a group of human sequences--unrelated to those in mice--which are capable of producing SINEUPs, which can pair with typical protein-coding mRNAs and enhance their translation.

Thinking outside the insulin box Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:01 PM PDT Loss of physical strength due to muscle deterioration is a complication for people living with Type 1 diabetes that's often overlooked. New research shows it shouldn't be. Two recent studies highlight the loss of muscle stem cells early on in the disease; a likely key to the muscle deterioration which happens later on. One means to prevent the loss of skeletal muscle in diabetes is to reduce myostatin.

Continuous electrical brain stimulation helps patients with epilepsy Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:01 PM PDT When surgery and medication don't help people with epilepsy, electrical stimulation of the brain has been a treatment of last resort. Unfortunately, typical approaches, such as vagal nerve stimulation or responsive nerve stimulation, rarely stop seizures altogether. But a new shows that seizures were suppressed in patients treated with continuous electrical stimulation.

Risks of developing mental health problems if brother or sister affected Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:01 PM PDT What is the risk of developing a mental disorder if a brother or sister has the condition? Now a large survey using data from all patients hospitalized in psychiatric wards in Israel, and their siblings, has given some answers: having a sibling with schizophrenia increases your risk of developing the condition by a factor of x10, with increased risks of developing bipolar disorder and other mental disorders.  Similar increases are seen with siblings of patients with bipolar disorder.

Anxiety: Risk factor for death from cancer in men Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:01 PM PDT Men who suffer from anxiety are more than twice as likely to die from cancer as men who don't.  However, anxiety is not associated with increased cancer deaths in women, according to a large British and European study.

Sleep paralysis: Fully awake and unable to move Posted: 19 Sep 2016 12:13 PM PDT Your eyes begin to open after a good night of sleep, but something feels weird. You try to take a deep breath but can't draw air. You can't sit up, and you may even see a shadow in the corner of the room. This isn't a nightmare or a medical emergency—you likely just had a case of sleep paralysis.

Smartphone communication streamlines hospital transfers for heart attack patients Posted: 19 Sep 2016 11:14 AM PDT Smartphone communication among medical teams at different hospitals can significantly reduce the time it takes for heart attack patients to get lifesaving treatment after a hospital transfer, according to a new study.

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