ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• The influence of fat when gut bacteria is reduced by antibioticsm
• New vaccination strategies coach immune system to make HIV-neutralizing antibodies
• Measuring forces in the DNA molecule
• Risk factors for congenital heart defects may lie both inside and outside the heart
• Brain connections are more sophisticated than thought
• New 'Trojan horse' antibody strategy shows promise against all ebola viruses
• New insights into tumor-infiltrating T cells
• Reactive oxygen species switch immune cells from migratory to murderous
• Life after Fitbit: Appealing to those who feel guilty vs. free
• Neuroscience: Linking perception to action
• Scientists find culprit responsible for calcified blood vessels in kidney disease
• Chemists devise revolutionary 3-D bone-scanning technique
• Common molecular mechanism of Parkinson's pathology discovered in study
• Open floor plans may lead to more eating
• Borderline personality disorder: As scientific understanding increases, improved clinical management needed
• COPD exacerbations lead to lung function decline, particularly among those with mild COPD
• Rare and common genetic variants combine to cause skull-fusion disorder
• Researchers uncover new potential genetic links to common brain disorder
• The impact of extreme exercise on breathing in GB Olympic boxers and swimmers
• Hip fractures: Most elderly unlikely to fully recover
• After long-term follow-up, study looks at prognostic factors for breast cancer
• Numbers of people with Down syndrome in the US since 1950 estimated
• Steroid treatment for IVF problems may do more harm than good
• New technology could be game changer for providing a 'voice' for hospitalized patients
• Pet therapy can combat homesickness
• Negative experiences on Facebook linked to increased depression risk in young adults
• Nijmegen breakage syndrome: Molecular pathways that lead to microcephaly
• Stealth pig cells may hold the key to treating diabetes in humans
• How Chinese medicine kills cancer cells
• 'Deeply-unsettling' weight discrimination in the workplace highlighted
• Sensory cells of the balance organ can regenerate after injury
• Ten year time limit on storing human eggs should be scrapped, says new research
• Air pollution a risk factor for diabetes, say researchers
• Grass pollen allergy vaccine also effective against hepatitis B
• Teens are less likely to select sugary beverages that contain health warning labels
• Telemedicine is as effective as in-person visits for children with asthma
• Excess weight in women has different effects on different types of stroke
• Umbilical cord blood transplant is associated with high survival rate among high-risk leukemia patients
• Patients with advanced lymphoma in remission after T-cell therapy
• Prevention programs significantly reduce ankle injuries in soccer athletes
• Implementation of lean processes shows potential to reduce surgical wait times at VA hospitals
• Lengthy ER visits for psychiatric patients often result in transfer, not treatment
• Early impact of the Affordable Care Act on oral contraceptive cost sharing
• Experts recommend shared decision-making in treating adult sinusitis
• Humira provides effective, non-steroid alternative for eye inflammation
• Surgery at high-quality hospitals costs Medicare less than at low-quality hospitals
• Physical activity may offset some of alcohol's lethal harms
• Stroke: Study examines risk, risk factors for depression
• Mechanical engineering in hot pursuit of creeping bacteria
• The whole of epigenetic regulation may be greater than the sum of its parts
• Combination therapy shows promise for chronic myeloid leukemia
• Why bones don't heal: Researchers identify risk factors for nonunion of fractures

The influence of fat when gut bacteria is reduced by antibioticsm Posted: 08 Sep 2016 12:12 PM PDT Additional insight has been shed on how bacteria in the gut, or lack thereof, influences intestinal mast cells (MMC) activation and perhaps fat absorption. Mast cells are intimately involved with the immune system in the body.

New vaccination strategies coach immune system to make HIV-neutralizing antibodies Posted: 08 Sep 2016 12:12 PM PDT New approaches that could spur the human body to produce HIV-blocking antibodies have been successful in mice mimicking the human immune system, according to five new studies.

Measuring forces in the DNA molecule Posted: 08 Sep 2016 12:09 PM PDT DNA, our genetic material, normally has the structure of a twisted rope ladder. Experts call this structure a double helix. Among other things, it is stabilized by stacking forces between base pairs. Scientists have now succeeded at measuring these forces for the very first time on the level of single base pairs. This new knowledge could help to construct precise molecular machines out of DNA.

Risk factors for congenital heart defects may lie both inside and outside the heart Posted: 08 Sep 2016 12:09 PM PDT Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are a leading cause of birth defect-related deaths, but many of the critical genes involved are unknown, and those that are known often contribute only small increases in CHD risk. Researchers report that overall risk is determined by a combination of gene effects both inside and outside of the heart itself.

Brain connections are more sophisticated than thought Posted: 08 Sep 2016 12:09 PM PDT Inhibitory connections between neurons act as the brain's brakes, preventing it from becoming overexcited. Researchers thought inhibitory connections were less sophisticated than their excitatory counterparts because relatively few proteins were known to exist at these structures. But a new study overturns that assumption, uncovering 140 proteins that have never been mapped to inhibitory synapses. Some of the proteins have already been implicated in autism, intellectual disability and epilepsy, suggesting new treatment avenues.

New 'Trojan horse' antibody strategy shows promise against all ebola viruses Posted: 08 Sep 2016 11:21 AM PDT A new therapeutic strategy to target a hidden Achilles' heel shared by all known types of Ebola virus has been outlined by researchers. Two antibodies developed with this strategy blocked the invasion of human cells by all five ebolaviruses.

New insights into tumor-infiltrating T cells Posted: 08 Sep 2016 11:18 AM PDT A distinct gene module for T cell dysfunction distinct from activation in tumor-infiltrating T cells has now been discovered, thus paving the way for the development of new precision therapeutics.

Reactive oxygen species switch immune cells from migratory to murderous Posted: 08 Sep 2016 11:17 AM PDT Neutrophils are the superheroes of the body's immune system. Normally mild-mannered, they travel through the bloodstream until they reach an emergency situation, such as a cut or infection, where they switch into battle-mode to engulf and destroy foreign invaders. Neutrophils use ROS concentration to determine when to stop migrating and start killing, report scientists.

Life after Fitbit: Appealing to those who feel guilty vs. free Posted: 08 Sep 2016 11:17 AM PDT Is life better or worse after sticking your Fitbit in a drawer? Researchers surveyed hundreds of people who had abandoned self-tracking tools and found emotions ranged from guilt to indifference to relief that the tracking experience was over.

Neuroscience: Linking perception to action Posted: 08 Sep 2016 10:10 AM PDT A researcher studying how the brain uses perception of the environment to guide action has a new understanding of the neural circuits responsible for transforming sensation into movement.

Scientists find culprit responsible for calcified blood vessels in kidney disease Posted: 08 Sep 2016 10:08 AM PDT Scientists have implicated a type of stem cell in the calcification of blood vessels that is common in patients with chronic kidney disease. The research will guide future studies into ways to block minerals from building up inside blood vessels and exacerbating atherosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries.

Chemists devise revolutionary 3-D bone-scanning technique Posted: 08 Sep 2016 10:08 AM PDT A scanning technique for bones has been created that does not expose patients to X-ray radiation but provides exceptional 3-D images from which diagnoses and prognoses can be made. Their technique now provides information on bone quality as well as quantity.

Common molecular mechanism of Parkinson's pathology discovered in study Posted: 08 Sep 2016 10:05 AM PDT Intracellular defects that lead to cells' failure to decommission faulty 'power packs' known as mitochondria cause nerve cells to die, triggering the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Open floor plans may lead to more eating Posted: 08 Sep 2016 09:07 AM PDT Dining environments can have serious consequences for eating behaviors, say investigators. The study findings may have important implications not only for college and university students, but also for people who need to eat in health care, group home and military settings.

Borderline personality disorder: As scientific understanding increases, improved clinical management needed Posted: 08 Sep 2016 09:04 AM PDT Even as researchers gain new insights into the neurobiology of borderline personality disorder (BPD), there's a pressing need to improve diagnosis and management of this devastating psychiatric condition, experts say.

COPD exacerbations lead to lung function decline, particularly among those with mild COPD Posted: 08 Sep 2016 09:03 AM PDT Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, are associated with significant long-term lung function loss, according to new research.

Rare and common genetic variants combine to cause skull-fusion disorder Posted: 08 Sep 2016 09:03 AM PDT Researchers have identified mutations responsible for a disorder that causes the premature fusion of the suture along the top of a baby's skull. Their discovery will immediately help diagnose and counsel patients, and has broader for understanding the genetics of complex traits.

Researchers uncover new potential genetic links to common brain disorder Posted: 08 Sep 2016 09:03 AM PDT A set of 30 inherited recessive genes that play a role in intellectual disability, a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects as many as 213 million people around the world, has been, for the first time, identified by an international group of researchers.

The impact of extreme exercise on breathing in GB Olympic boxers and swimmers Posted: 08 Sep 2016 09:02 AM PDT Researchers investigated elite British athletes from both swimming and boxing and their research suggests asthma related breathing problems should not be a barrier to sporting success, as long as they are well managed and controlled.

Hip fractures: Most elderly unlikely to fully recover Posted: 08 Sep 2016 09:02 AM PDT One in every two older persons who have suffered a hip fracture will never be as physically active and independent as they were before. The odds are even lower for the very old and those with dementia or other ailments, says an expert.

After long-term follow-up, study looks at prognostic factors for breast cancer Posted: 08 Sep 2016 08:57 AM PDT A new study represents a long-term analysis of prognostic factors among some patients with breast cancer who were treated with breast-conserving therapy in the EORTC "boost no boost" trial, which evaluated the influence of a "boost" dose in radiotherapy.

Numbers of people with Down syndrome in the US since 1950 estimated Posted: 08 Sep 2016 08:57 AM PDT A new study has estimated, for the first time, the numbers of people with Down syndrome in the US, from 1950 until 2010. The total number arrived at by the investigation, which also is the first to break down its findings by ethnic group, is considerably less than previously estimated by several organizations.

Steroid treatment for IVF problems may do more harm than good Posted: 08 Sep 2016 06:28 AM PDT Researchers are urging doctors and patients to refrain from using a specific steroid treatment to treat infertility in women unless clinically indicated, because of its links to miscarriage, preterm birth and birth defects.

New technology could be game changer for providing a 'voice' for hospitalized patients Posted: 08 Sep 2016 06:28 AM PDT There are almost 800,000 patients in the U.S. who are intubated and require mechanical ventilation annually. More than half of these patients are awake, alert and desperately attempting to communicate with nurses, physicians and their loved ones. Current methods to assist patients with their communication needs are either antiquated, time consuming or just cumbersome. A tablet-based communication application called "Speak for Myself™" can assist.

Pet therapy can combat homesickness Posted: 08 Sep 2016 06:24 AM PDT The expression "dog is man's best friend" might have more weight in the case of first-year university students suffering from homesickness, according to a new study. The study shows that animal-assisted therapy can help students combat homesickness and could be a useful tool in lowering post-secondary drop-out rates.

Negative experiences on Facebook linked to increased depression risk in young adults Posted: 08 Sep 2016 06:24 AM PDT Negative experiences on Facebook may increase the risk of depressive symptoms, suggesting that online social interactions have important consequences for mental health, a unique new study of young adults finds.

Nijmegen breakage syndrome: Molecular pathways that lead to microcephaly Posted: 08 Sep 2016 06:24 AM PDT Scientists have succeeded in generating induced pluripotent stem cells from a rare disorder called Nijmegen breakage syndrome and to push these cells to become early neurons, revealing the mechanisms leading to the neurological phenotype observed in these patients.

Stealth pig cells may hold the key to treating diabetes in humans Posted: 08 Sep 2016 05:43 AM PDT In preclinical work begun this year, stealth insulin-producers — pancreatic islets from pigs or mice coated with thin bilayers of biomimetic material — are being tested in vivo in a mouse model of diabetes.

How Chinese medicine kills cancer cells Posted: 08 Sep 2016 05:43 AM PDT Researchers have shown how a complex mix of plant compounds derived from ancient clinical practice in China -- a Traditional Chinese Medicine -- works to kill cancer cells.

'Deeply-unsettling' weight discrimination in the workplace highlighted Posted: 08 Sep 2016 05:41 AM PDT Women face weight-based prejudice in the workplace – even when their body mass index (BMI) is within the healthy range, research led by a University of Strathclyde academic has found.

Sensory cells of the balance organ can regenerate after injury Posted: 08 Sep 2016 05:41 AM PDT In the utricle – which is one of the internal ear's balance organs in mammals – epithelial cells can be regenerated, resulting in healthy sensory hair cells and surrounding supporting cells, new research shows.

Ten year time limit on storing human eggs should be scrapped, says new research Posted: 08 Sep 2016 05:41 AM PDT The 10 year statutory time limit on the storage of human eggs should be scrapped to allow women to freeze their eggs for longer periods, according to new research.

Air pollution a risk factor for diabetes, say researchers Posted: 08 Sep 2016 05:40 AM PDT Exposure to air pollution at the place of residence increases the risk of developing insulin resistance as a pre-diabetic state of type 2 diabetes, report scientists.

Grass pollen allergy vaccine also effective against hepatitis B Posted: 08 Sep 2016 05:40 AM PDT A new type of vaccine against grass pollen allergies (BM32) might also offer an effective treatment for combating hepatitis B infection, scientists report in a new article.

Teens are less likely to select sugary beverages that contain health warning labels Posted: 08 Sep 2016 05:38 AM PDT Teens are more than 15 percent less likely to say they would purchase soft drinks and other sugary drinks that include health warning labels, according to a new study. The study is among the first to examine how warning labels on sugary drinks influence teens.

Telemedicine is as effective as in-person visits for children with asthma Posted: 08 Sep 2016 05:38 AM PDT Sometimes children with asthma live hundreds of miles away from the nearest allergist and therefore may not be getting the best and most cost-effective care. According to a new study, treatment via telemedicine can be as effective as an in-person visit for children suffering from asthma.

Excess weight in women has different effects on different types of stroke Posted: 07 Sep 2016 06:55 PM PDT Women who are overweight or obese may have an increased risk of the most common kind of stroke, called ischemic stroke, but a decreased risk of a more often deadly stroke, called hemorrhagic stroke, new research shows.

Umbilical cord blood transplant is associated with high survival rate among high-risk leukemia patients Posted: 07 Sep 2016 06:55 PM PDT Umbilical cord blood transplants may have advantages beyond offering an alternative stem cell source for leukemia patients without a traditional donor match, according to a study.

Patients with advanced lymphoma in remission after T-cell therapy Posted: 07 Sep 2016 06:52 PM PDT Data has been released from an early-phase study of patients with advanced non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who received JCAR014, a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell treatment, and chemotherapy. CAR T cells are made from a patient's own immune cells that are then genetically engineered to better identify and kill cancer cells.

Prevention programs significantly reduce ankle injuries in soccer athletes Posted: 07 Sep 2016 06:52 PM PDT Injuries to the lower extremities are the most common in soccer. Now research demonstrates that prevention programs are effective at reducing the risk of ankle injuries by 40 percent in soccer players.

Implementation of lean processes shows potential to reduce surgical wait times at VA hospitals Posted: 07 Sep 2016 06:52 PM PDT Researchers have examined whether lean processes can be used to improve wait times for surgical procedures in Veterans Affairs hospitals. This health system has come under increased media scrutiny over the past 2 years for delays in scheduling, lengthy patient wait times, and lack of access.

Lengthy ER visits for psychiatric patients often result in transfer, not treatment Posted: 07 Sep 2016 06:52 PM PDT People who visit emergency rooms for mental health care were transferred to another facility at six times the rate of people who visit ERs for non-psychiatric conditions, and could wait almost two hours longer, shows new research. The study highlights a persisting shortfall in emergency psychiatric services in the country.

Early impact of the Affordable Care Act on oral contraceptive cost sharing Posted: 07 Sep 2016 06:52 PM PDT Researchers have examined how the Affordable Care Act mandate requiring most commercial insurance plans to cover Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods, without cost sharing (co-pays and deductibles), has impacted oral contraceptive use.

Experts recommend shared decision-making in treating adult sinusitis Posted: 07 Sep 2016 06:52 PM PDT A process of shared decision-making between physicians and patients is recommended in a new article for the treatment of adult sinusitis. The article is a pragmatic, evidence-based approach to best practice in treating sinus infections in adults.

Humira provides effective, non-steroid alternative for eye inflammation Posted: 07 Sep 2016 06:52 PM PDT Patients suffering from noninfectious uveitis, a group of diseases that causes eye inflammation, can get effective treatment from a corticosteroid alternative that has previously been approved for treatment of arthritis and Crohn's disease, according to a study.

Surgery at high-quality hospitals costs Medicare less than at low-quality hospitals Posted: 07 Sep 2016 06:51 PM PDT Patients who had major surgery at high-quality hospitals in the United States cost Medicare less than those who had surgery at low-quality hospitals, according to a new study.

Physical activity may offset some of alcohol's lethal harms Posted: 07 Sep 2016 06:51 PM PDT Exercising, at even basic recommended weekly physical activity levels (at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity), may offset some of the harmful effects of drinking alcohol, suggests new research. This first-of-its-kind study found that for alcohol drinkers, physical activity may decrease the risks of dying both from cancer and from 'all-cause mortality' that is, deaths from any cause.

Stroke: Study examines risk, risk factors for depression Posted: 07 Sep 2016 01:05 PM PDT During the first three months after stroke, the risk for depression was found to be eight times higher than in a reference population of people without stroke, according to a new article.

Mechanical engineering in hot pursuit of creeping bacteria Posted: 07 Sep 2016 01:05 PM PDT The growth of bacterial biofilm is problematic when you think of all the liquid flowing through all those miles of tubing at your local hospital or Medi-Centre. The movement of bacteria with flow can lead to the spread of infection. A mechanical engineering professor's lab set out to study the formation of the filaments, as well as the conditions under which they begin to break down and finally break off.

The whole of epigenetic regulation may be greater than the sum of its parts Posted: 07 Sep 2016 01:05 PM PDT Scientists may be closer to answering a long-standing question in biology -- how do the components of cells' molecular machinery work together to transmit vital gene regulatory information from one cell generation to the next?

Combination therapy shows promise for chronic myeloid leukemia Posted: 07 Sep 2016 11:31 AM PDT A study in mice combining two inhibitor drugs for treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia has revealed potential for not only stopping the disease completely, but also significantly lowering the cost for treatment.

Why bones don't heal: Researchers identify risk factors for nonunion of fractures Posted: 07 Sep 2016 10:51 AM PDT Researchers have identified risk factors which may help orthopaedic surgeons better predict a serious complication of bone fractures. Fracture nonunion may be increasing as more patients survive serious fractures.

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