الأربعاء، 16 نوفمبر 2016

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

Possible explanation for recurring breast cancer

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 01:43 PM PST

Many breast cancer survivors worry that their breast cancer may come back. Recurrence has puzzled scientists and health care providers, recognizing that it can suddenly reappear, often with a vengeance, months or years after treatment is over. Now, researchers have found that dormant tumor cells might have become latent because they cannibalized--basically ate--the body's own stem cells.

Zika virus can live for hours on hard, non-porous surfaces

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 01:42 PM PST

The Zika virus is most commonly transmitted in humans as the result of a bite from an infected mosquito or from an infected human to another human. What is not well known is that the virus also can be transmitted via the environment if an individual is pricked with an infected needle or has an open cut and comes in contact with the live virus. While there are no known cases to date of the general public being infected with the Zika virus through the environment, there has been at least one documented case of laboratory acquired Zika virus infection.

A rising tide of heart attacks followed Hurricane Katrina

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 12:09 PM PST

Ten years after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, hospital admissions for heart attacks in the city were three times higher than they were before the storm, according to new research.

The aging brain benefits from distraction

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 12:07 PM PST

As you age, you may find it more difficult to focus on certain tasks. But while distractions can be frustrating, they may not be as bad as we think. In a new report, researchers suggest that there may be some benefits to reduced focus, especially in people over 50. Using behavioral studies and neuroimaging evidence, the researchers discuss how being easily distracted can help adults with, for example, problem solving and learning new information.

People with Ebola may not always show symptoms

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 12:06 PM PST

25 percent of individuals in a Sierra Leone village were infected with the Ebola virus but had no symptoms, a research team has determined, suggesting broader transmission of the virus than originally thought.

Antibiotic restores cell communication in brain areas damaged by Alzheimer's-like disease in mice

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 12:02 PM PST

New research has found a way to partially restore brain cell communication around areas damaged by plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Research suggests 'missed opportunities' to prescribe drugs for stroke prevention

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 12:02 PM PST

An analysis of the records of UK patients who had experienced a stroke has found that over half of those who should get drugs to prevent strokes were not prescribed them.

Potent antibody that neutralizes nearly all HIV strains identified

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 11:57 AM PST

Scientists have identified an antibody from an HIV-infected person that potently neutralized 98 percent of HIV isolates tested, including 16 of 20 strains resistant to other antibodies of the same class. The remarkable breadth and potency of this antibody, named N6, make it an attractive candidate for further development to potentially treat or prevent HIV infection, say the researchers.

Smoke + hot temperatures = increased SIDS risk

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 10:25 AM PST

Researchers are a step closer to understanding why cigarette smoke exposure during pregnancy may increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the unexplained, sudden death of a child younger than one year of age. A new study finds that prenatal cigarette smoke exposure in rats affected breathing responses and immune function of their offspring. Breathing and immune function are further negatively affected by high room temperatures.

Study explores how immune system functions during sleep

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 10:25 AM PST

Researchers have found new insights into sleep's importance to overall health: it may give the immune system a chance to regroup at a time when the relative risk of infection is low. As the foundation of the human body's immune system, large quantities of T cells—a type of white blood cell—are present in the bloodstream and are ready to attack viruses and other pathogens that invade the body.

Depression during pregnancy is associated with abnormal brain structure in children

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:33 AM PST

Depressive symptoms in women during and after pregnancy are associated with reduced thickness of the cortex -- the outer layer of the brain responsible for complex thought and behavior -- in preschool-age kids, according to a new study. The findings suggest that a mother's mood may affect her child's brain development at critical stages in life.

Scientists devise more accurate system for predicting risks of new chemical products

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:32 AM PST

A new structural alert system could reduce years and millions of dollars from bringing a new drug or product to market, report scientists.

Following a healthy lifestyle can greatly reduce genetic heart attack risk

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:21 AM PST

It is well known that following a healthy lifestyle -- not smoking, avoiding excess weight and getting regular exercise -- can reduce the risk of heart disease. But what about people who have inherited gene variants known to increase risk? A study has found that, even among those at high genetic risk, following a healthy lifestyle can cut in half the probability of a heart attack or similar event.

For First Nations people, effects of European contact are recorded in the genome

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:14 AM PST

A study of the genomes of 25 individuals who lived 1,000 to 6,000 years ago on the north coast of present-day British Columbia, and 25 of their descendants who still live in the region today, opens a new window on the catastrophic consequences of European colonization for indigenous peoples in that part of the world.

Two new tools to enhance effectiveness of behavioral therapy in children with autism

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:13 AM PST

Two approaches have been revealed by researchers that have the potential to help a large number of children with autism spectrum disorder through behavioral therapy.

New protein provides critical link between aging and age-dependent disease

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:09 AM PST

The discovery of a novel protein that links aging and age-dependent retinal diseases could lead to potential new treatments for conditions that cause sight loss in later life.

Good drugs for bad bugs: Simple changes to antibiotic treatment of MRSA may help beat the bacteria

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 09:00 AM PST

Simple changes to the antibiotic treatment of MRSA may help beat the bacteria, explain scientists. 20% of patients infected with MRSA die from systemic infections. Antimicrobial resistance infections are projected to cause more deaths than cancer by 2050 if not addressed urgently.

Too much fatty food could set children up for mental problems: Study in mice

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 08:48 AM PST

Chances are that children who eat excessive amounts of fatty foods will not only become obese, but will develop cognitive and psychiatric problems when they are older, a study in mice suggests. This is because, according to a recent study, diets rich in fat deplete the levels of a key protein known to help synapses in the brain to work properly. In turn, this leads to a dip in several forms of cognitive functions, such as behavioral flexibility and memory.

Scientists uncover genetic evidence that 'we are what we eat'

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 08:17 AM PST

Researchers have demonstrated that the diets of organisms can affect the DNA sequences of their genes.

Organized prescription drug collection programs may have minimal impact on reducing availability of controlled medications

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 08:16 AM PST

More than 3.8 billion controlled medications, such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, Valium and Adderall, are dispensed by pharmacies annually in the United States. It has been estimated that only about 30 percent of these drugs are used by the people for whom they were prescribed. The remaining 70 percent represent a large surplus of controlled medications that could be abused or sold to others for abuse.

Microbes in your gut influence age-related macular degeneration

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 08:14 AM PST

Bacteria in your intestines may play an important role in determining if you will develop blinding wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Rheumatoid arthritis drugs: Direct switch has a beneficial effect

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 08:14 AM PST

For the first time, a multicentre study has compared the action of two rheumatoid arthritis drugs from the same class. The study established that the two TNF inhibitors investigated are equally effective. It was also shown that, if treatment is failing, patients can benefit from an "on-the-fly" switch from one drug to the other. For example, 40% of patients responded positively to the "new" drug. This could result in a paradigm shift in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Depression rates growing among adolescents, particularly girls

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 06:45 AM PST

The rate of adolescents reporting a recent bout of clinical depression grew by 37 percent over the decade ending in 2014, with one in six girls reporting an episode in the past year, new research suggests.

New drug beats standard therapy in advanced kidney cancer

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 06:15 AM PST

An experimental kidney cancer drug outperformed the standard first-line therapy for patients with metastatic disease who are considered at risk for poorer than average outcomes, according to results of a randomized phase II clinical trial.

Parkinson's disease patients benefit from physical activity

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 05:39 AM PST

People living with Parkinson's disease (PD) can benefit from being physically active, especially when it comes to improving gait and balance, and reducing risks of falls. New research concludes that health professionals should be confident about prescribing physical activity to improve the health and quality of life of PD patients.

Structure of 'Iron Hammer' protein complex solved

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 05:39 AM PST

Translation of the genetic code in proteins is a central process in life and takes place in the ribosome, a giant molecule consisting of two subunits. This is where long chains of amino acids are formed like on an assembly line. An interdisciplinary research group has now succeeded in solving the structure of a central player in this process bound to the small ribosomal subunit: the protein containing a unique iron-sulphur domain with the nickname "Iron Hammer" splits the two subunits of the ribosome when a protein chain is completed so that production of a new protein can begin.

Cancer research: How cells die by ferroptosis

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 05:39 AM PST

Ferroptosis is a recently discovered form of cell death, which is still only partially understood. Scientists have now identified an enzyme that plays a key role in generating the signal that initiates cell death. Their findings could now give new impetus to research into the fields of cancer, neurodegeneration and other degenerative diseases.

Active, inactive cells in the brain's memory system

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 05:39 AM PST

For the first time, neuroscientists were able to differentiate between active and inactive cells in the brain morphologically, for instance, based on the cells' structure. Investigating granule cells in the rat's brain, they found a much larger proportion of inactive than active cells.

How mammary glands appeared in the course of evolution

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 05:37 AM PST

A team of geneticists demonstrated that the emergence of mammary glands in placental mammals and marsupials results from recycling certain 'architect' genes. The latter, known as Hox genes, are responsible for coordinating the formation of the organs and limbs during the embryonic stage. Such genes are controlled by complex regulatory networks. In the course of evolution, parts of these networks were reused to produce different functions. Architect genes were thus requisitioned to form the mammary bud and, later, for gestation.

New insights into cause of phantom limb pain may have therapeutic benefits

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 05:37 AM PST

Phantom limb pain is the pain experienced following loss of a limb, either from injury or amputation. This sensation of pain was previously thought to be caused by abnormal plasticity in the sensorimotor cortex of the brain, and rehabilitative therapies have focused on restoring normal motor function to relieve the pain. However, conflicting results left the question of whether and how phantom pain is caused by changes in sensorimotor activity unanswered.

Scientists discover clues to altered brain wiring in autism

Posted: 15 Nov 2016 05:37 AM PST

Autism is an agonizing puzzle, a complex mixture of genetic and environmental factors. One piece of this puzzle that has emerged in recent years is a biochemical cascade called the mTOR pathway that regulates growth in the developing brain. A mutation in one of the genes that controls this pathway, PTEN (also known as phosphatase and tensin homolog), can cause a particular form of autism called macrocephaly/autism syndrome.

Which genes are crucial for the energy metabolism of Archaea?

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 01:21 PM PST

Microorganisms are still often perceived only as disease promoters, although the vast majority of them plays an important ecological role in the global geochemical cycles: without the metabolic activities of the smallest of all living organisms, bacteria and archaea, life on Earth would not be possible. It is now also known from microbiome research that our gut bacteria affect not only our general health, but even our psyche, report investigators.

What molecules you leave on your phone reveal about your lifestyle

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 12:28 PM PST

By sampling the molecules on cell phones, researchers were able to construct lifestyle sketches for each phone's owner, including diet, preferred hygiene products, health status and locations visited. This proof-of-concept study could have a number of applications, including criminal profiling, airport screening, medication adherence monitoring, clinical trial participant stratification and environmental exposure studies.

West Nile virus linked to risk of shorter life span

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 11:40 AM PST

West Nile virus may be much more deadly than previously believed, with deaths attributable to the mosquito-borne disease occurring not just in the immediate aftermath of the infection but also years later, long after patients seem to have recovered from the initial illness, according to a new study.

Stress urinary incontinence drug's benefits do not outweigh harms

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 11:37 AM PST

A new study indicates that the benefits of duloxetine, a drug used in Europe to treat stress incontinence in women, do not outweigh the harms.

Inability to safely store fat increases risk of diabetes, heart disease

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 11:35 AM PST

A large-scale genetic study has provided strong evidence that the development of insulin resistance - a risk factor for type 2 diabetes and heart attacks and one of the key adverse consequences of obesity - results from the failure to safely store excess fat in the body.

Researchers create synthetic cells to isolate genetic circuits

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 11:34 AM PST

Encapsulating molecular components in artificial membranes offers more flexibility in designing circuits, report researchers.

Homicide rates rise after introduction of 'Stand Your Ground' self-defense law

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 11:34 AM PST

A change in self-defense laws in Florida that gave citizens the right to use lethal force to protect themselves in public has been linked with the state's homicide rates going up by nearly a quarter.

Stronger gun laws tied to decreased firearm homicides

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 11:33 AM PST

A review of 34 studies finds the strongest evidence yet for laws that strengthen background checks and require a permit to purchase a firearm.

Cellular 'cannibalism' may be fundamental to development across evolution

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 11:30 AM PST

In living beings, from roundworms to humans, some cells may ball up unwanted contents on their surfaces for other cells to "eat," researchers describe in a new report.

Slow motion waves of jumping genes in the human genome

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 11:28 AM PST

Scientists have made detailed predictions about an intriguing mechanism of genomic evolution. The findings are an important step toward understanding the complex ways that genomes change over the lifetime of individual organisms, and how they evolve over generations.

Ability to recognize, recall odors may identify those at risk for Alzheimer's disease

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 11:26 AM PST

Testing of both olfactory and cognitive abilities could designate candidates for treatments designed to halt or slow Alzheimer's symptom development.

Biologists give bacteria thermostat controls

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 11:23 AM PST

A new helper in the fight against cancer and other diseases of the gut may be genetically altered bacteria that release medicines to tumors or the gut, report scientists.

New study finds cardiac PET/CT imaging effective in detecting calcium blockages, assessing heart attack risk

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 09:50 AM PST

Many people who experience chest pain but don't have a heart attack breathe a big sigh of relief when a stress test comes back negative for blockages in their blood vessels. But a new study has found they may not be off the hook after all.

Long-sought genetic model of common infant leukemia revealed

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 09:49 AM PST

After nearly two decades of unsuccessful attempts, researchers have created the first mouse model for the most common form of infant leukemia. Their model replicates the human genetic flaw that causes this disease. It could hasten development and testing of new drug therapies.

Gene deletion allows cancer cells to thrive when migrating within the brain

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 08:53 AM PST

Astronauts survive in space by wearing high-tech space suits. But how do brain cancer cells thrive when they migrate to inhospitable sites within the brain?

X-ray laser gets first real-time snapshots of a chemical flipping a biological switch

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 08:07 AM PST

Scientists have used the powerful X-ray laser to make the first snapshots of a chemical interaction between two biomolecules -- one that flips an RNA "switch" that regulates production of proteins, the workhorse molecules of life.

International team decodes cellular death signals

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 08:07 AM PST

A multidisciplinary international team of scientists has solved the mystery of a recently discovered type of controlled cell death, mapping the path to potential therapies for conditions ranging from radiation injury to cancer.

Moderate alcohol intake may slow good cholesterol's decline

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 08:01 AM PST

In a study of 80,000 healthy Chinese adults, moderate drinking was associated with slower declines in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or good cholesterol, over time, according to a preliminary study.

Anti-inflammatory drug use effects on cardiovascular health outlined in ten-year, 13-country precision trial

Posted: 14 Nov 2016 07:59 AM PST

A 10-year trial involving osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients in 13 countries reveals new insights on the cardiovascular safety of widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and COX-2-specific inhibitors, according to new research findings. Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease affecting middle-age and older people. It is characterized by progressive damage to the joint cartilage -- the cushioning material at the end of long bones--and causes changes in the structures around the joint.
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