ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• As life expectancy grows, men still lagging
• Antihypertensive medications and fracture risk: Is there an association?
• Blood test could predict best treatment for lung cancer
• 'Minimal' shoes may reduce running injuries
• A(H5N8) risk to humans is very low
• Sniffing out cultural differences
• Structure of human astrovirus could lead to antiviral therapies, vaccines
• A good combination: Model and experiment for a deeper look
• Insight into the brain's control of hunger, satiety
• Immune receptors amplify 'invader' signals by turning into mini-machines
• Protein that protects during stress sheds light on how diabetes drug prevents tumors
• Drug and alcohol addiction treatment results improved when teens stopped smoking, researcher finds
• Scientists create innovative drug design strategy to improve breast cancer treatment
• Gene study finds hearts 'primed to fail'
• Dementia on the downslide, especially among people with more education, study finds
• Scientists tissue engineer human intestines and functioning nerves
• New sensor system predicts heart failure events
• The best way to cover your sneeze
• Sooner on your feet after hip fracture
• Charting a new course for Keratoconus
• Most women unaware of breast density's effect on cancer risk, study finds
• Frontline attack against HIV infection is closer to reality
• Three risk factors suggest a reduction in healthy renal function in patients with diabetes
• Newborn screening practices: Issue of genetic ownership examined
• Vitamin D supplements may benefit children with autism spectrum disorder
• Smart drug targets the deadliest brain cancer for destruction
• Flavors influence appeal and use of most tobacco products, especially for youth
• Mechanism of protective protein identified in fight against harmful bacteria
• El Niño conditions in Pacific precede dengue fever epidemics in South Asia
• Gut bacteria affect our metabolism
• New research links genetic defects in carbohydrate digestion to irritable bowel syndrome
• Alzheimer's disease proteins could be at fault for leading cause of vision loss among older people
• Among antidementia drugs, memantine is associated with the highest risk of pneumonia
• Early childhood household smoke exposure predicts later delinquency and dropout risk at age 12
• What impact do medication errors have on nursing home residents?
• New test for cocaine in urine, oral fluid could lead to rapid, low cost roadside testing
• Understanding the mechanics of breastfeeding

As life expectancy grows, men still lagging Posted: 21 Nov 2016 02:58 PM PST A new study of mortality patterns in humans, monkeys and apes suggests that the last few generations of humans have enjoyed the biggest life expectancy boost in primate history. Yet males still lag behind females -- not just in humans but across the primate family tree.

Antihypertensive medications and fracture risk: Is there an association? Posted: 21 Nov 2016 02:55 PM PST Further examination of randomized clinical trial data suggests that thiazide diuretics to treat hypertension may be associated with lower risk of hip and pelvic fractures compared with some other antihypertensive medications, according to an article.

Blood test could predict best treatment for lung cancer Posted: 21 Nov 2016 02:50 PM PST A blood test could predict how well small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients will respond to treatment, according to new research.

'Minimal' shoes may reduce running injuries Posted: 21 Nov 2016 02:02 PM PST Runners who wear running shoes with no cushioning and land on the ball of their foot rather than the heel put significantly less demand on their bodies, new research suggests.

A(H5N8) risk to humans is very low Posted: 21 Nov 2016 02:00 PM PST Eight European countries have reported highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N8) viruses in wild birds, zoo birds and poultry holdings. This is the second time this virus has been introduced into Europe via the autumn migration of wild birds although A(H5N8) has been circulating continuously in Asia since 2010. Full genome sequencing of recent HPAI A(H5N8) viruses suggest that these viruses remain essentially bird viruses without any specific increased risk for humans. No human infections with this virus have ever been reported world-wide. ECDC's updated rapid risk assessment concludes that the risk of transmission to the general public in Europe is considered to be very low.

Sniffing out cultural differences Posted: 21 Nov 2016 01:31 PM PST When two people smell the same thing, they can have remarkably different reactions, depending on their cultural background. Researchers have found that even when two cultures share the same language and many traditions, their reactions to the same smells can be different.

Structure of human astrovirus could lead to antiviral therapies, vaccines Posted: 21 Nov 2016 01:30 PM PST A new study shows where neutralizing antibody binds to human astrovirus, a leading cause of viral diarrhea in children, elderly, and immune-compromised people.

A good combination: Model and experiment for a deeper look Posted: 21 Nov 2016 01:28 PM PST Doctors performing medical check-ups want a full picture of the patient's health without using the scalpel. Engineers who want to investigate the stability of a bridge without cutting into it are in the same position. Non-destructive testing methods play a major role in guaranteeing quality and safety, driving substantial interest in refined methodologies. Now researchers have developed a method that gives a precise picture of the inner world of objects combining a computerized model and experiment.

Insight into the brain's control of hunger, satiety Posted: 21 Nov 2016 01:27 PM PST Researchers have identified previously unknown neural circuitry that plays a role in promoting satiety, the feeling of having had enough to eat. The discovery revises the current models for homeostatic control -- the mechanisms by which the brain maintains the body's status quo -- of feeding behavior.

Immune receptors amplify 'invader' signals by turning into mini-machines Posted: 21 Nov 2016 01:26 PM PST When a receptor on the surface of a T cell -- a sentry of the human immune system -- senses a single particle from a harmful intruder, it immediately kicks the cell into action, launching a larger immune response. But exactly how the signal from a single receptor, among thousands on each T cell, can be amplified to affect a whole cell has puzzled immunologists for decades.

Protein that protects during stress sheds light on how diabetes drug prevents tumors Posted: 21 Nov 2016 01:18 PM PST Researchers have identified a previously unknown mechanism that helps fortify the structure and tight junctions between epithelial cells — a basic cell type that lines various body cavities and organs throughout the body, forming a protective barrier against toxins, pathogens and inflammatory triggers. Breaches of this barrier can provoke organ dysfunction and development of tumors.

Drug and alcohol addiction treatment results improved when teens stopped smoking, researcher finds Posted: 21 Nov 2016 11:46 AM PST Addiction treatment results improved when teens in a residential program stopped smoking, new research confirms.

Scientists create innovative drug design strategy to improve breast cancer treatment Posted: 21 Nov 2016 10:16 AM PST A new study offers a novel structure-based drug design strategy aimed at altering the basic landscape of this type of breast cancer treatment.

Gene study finds hearts 'primed to fail' Posted: 21 Nov 2016 10:10 AM PST Around one per cent of the population carry a gene which could mean they have hearts 'primed to fail," a new study has discovered.

Dementia on the downslide, especially among people with more education, study finds Posted: 21 Nov 2016 10:09 AM PST In a hopeful sign for the health of the nation's brains, the percentage of American seniors with dementia is dropping, a new study finds. The downward trend has emerged despite something else the study shows: a rising tide of three factors that are thought to raise dementia risk by interfering with brain blood flow, namely diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

Scientists tissue engineer human intestines and functioning nerves Posted: 21 Nov 2016 10:09 AM PST Scientists report using human pluripotent stem cells to grow human intestinal tissues that have functioning nerves in a laboratory, and then using these to recreate and study a severe intestinal nerve disorder called Hirschsprung's disease.

New sensor system predicts heart failure events Posted: 21 Nov 2016 10:06 AM PST A suite of sensors can predict heart failure events by detecting when a patient's condition is worsening, according to a new report.

The best way to cover your sneeze Posted: 21 Nov 2016 10:06 AM PST It's normal to sneeze: It's the body's natural reflex to an invader -- whether pollen, cat hair or a virus that leads to the common cold -- in your nose linings. No matter the cause, your sneezes spread germs, and it's best to catch them the correct way to prevent spreading illness.

Sooner on your feet after hip fracture Posted: 21 Nov 2016 08:23 AM PST An already available drug can help patients get back on their feet more rapidly after a hip fracture, according to an international study. The results suggest that treatment with the drug accelerates the healing process in broken bones.

Charting a new course for Keratoconus Posted: 21 Nov 2016 08:13 AM PST Young adults now have access to an outpatient procedure that can help prevent progressive vision loss and avoid corneal transplants.

Most women unaware of breast density's effect on cancer risk, study finds Posted: 21 Nov 2016 08:13 AM PST Most women don't know that having dense breasts increases their risk for breast cancer and reduces a mammogram's ability to detect cancer, according to a study. A random phone survey of 1,024 Virginia women ages 35 to 70 found that just 1 in 8 women were aware that breast density is a risk factor for breast cancer, while just 1 in 5 women knew that dense breasts reduced the sensitivity of mammograms to find tumors.

Frontline attack against HIV infection is closer to reality Posted: 21 Nov 2016 08:11 AM PST Significant progress has been made in the development of a potential vaccine to protect against HIV infection, report scientists.

Three risk factors suggest a reduction in healthy renal function in patients with diabetes Posted: 21 Nov 2016 08:11 AM PST Patients with diabetes and suffering from acute kidney injury (AKI), proteinuria and uncontrolled blood sugar experience a sharp reduction in the number of years they have healthy renal function before being forced onto dialysis, according to researchers.

Newborn screening practices: Issue of genetic ownership examined Posted: 21 Nov 2016 08:11 AM PST While newborn screening is one of the national public health services that has transformed preventive healthcare, there are certain ethical and legal concerns about what happens to the babies' genetic information beyond the tests.

Vitamin D supplements may benefit children with autism spectrum disorder Posted: 21 Nov 2016 08:09 AM PST Vitamin D supplementation improved symptoms of autism in a recent trial, report researchers.

Smart drug targets the deadliest brain cancer for destruction Posted: 21 Nov 2016 06:54 AM PST Scientists have designed a smart drug that only targets and kills GBM brain cancer cells. They have validated the compound that sensitizes GBM tumors to chemotherapy and results in a significant extension of life in an animal model.

Flavors influence appeal and use of most tobacco products, especially for youth Posted: 21 Nov 2016 06:54 AM PST The impact of non-menthol tobacco flavors on consumers' perceptions and tobacco use behaviors have been demonstrated in the results of a systematic review of 40 studies completed in the United States and internationally.

Mechanism of protective protein identified in fight against harmful bacteria Posted: 21 Nov 2016 06:41 AM PST A new understanding of a protein that plays an important role in protecting bacterial cells associated with harmful infections has been gathered through new research. Understanding the protein's protective mechanism could help in the development of new antibacterial agents, say scientists.

El Niño conditions in Pacific precede dengue fever epidemics in South Asia Posted: 21 Nov 2016 06:41 AM PST Researchers have found a strong association between El Niño-Southern Oscillation conditions in the Pacific to observed weather and dengue epidemics in Sri Lanka. According to a study , el Niño activity -- measured in sea surface temperature in the pacific -- impacts rainfall and temperatures in Sri Lanka and thus contributes to exacerbated dengue epidemics six months later.

Gut bacteria affect our metabolism Posted: 21 Nov 2016 06:41 AM PST Mice that receive gut bacteria transplants from overweight humans are known to gain more weight than mice transplanted with gut bacteria from normal weight subjects, even when the mice are fed the same diet. A new study confirms this finding while seeking new perspectives on the reasons behind this link.

New research links genetic defects in carbohydrate digestion to irritable bowel syndrome Posted: 21 Nov 2016 06:35 AM PST Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects a large portion of the general population. New research coordinated by Karolinska Institutet now shows a link between defective sucrase-isomaltase gene variants and IBS.

Alzheimer's disease proteins could be at fault for leading cause of vision loss among older people Posted: 21 Nov 2016 06:35 AM PST Research provides new insight into possible causes of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss among people aged 50 and older.

Among antidementia drugs, memantine is associated with the highest risk of pneumonia Posted: 21 Nov 2016 06:35 AM PST Among users of antidementia drugs, persons using memantine have the highest risk of pneumonia, new research shows. The use of rivastigmine patches is associated with an increased risk as well, say researchers.

Early childhood household smoke exposure predicts later delinquency and dropout risk at age 12 Posted: 21 Nov 2016 06:34 AM PST The more children are exposed to household tobacco smoke in early childhood, the greater their risk of adopting antisocial behavior toward others, engaging in proactive and reactive aggression, having conduct problems at school, and dropping out at age 12, research shows.

What impact do medication errors have on nursing home residents? Posted: 21 Nov 2016 06:34 AM PST A new analysis points to surprisingly low rates of serious impacts from medication errors affecting nursing home residents, despite the fact that these errors remain fairly common. The investigators noted that it's unclear whether medication errors resulting in serious outcomes are truly infrequent or are under-reported due to the difficulty in ascertaining them.

New test for cocaine in urine, oral fluid could lead to rapid, low cost roadside testing Posted: 21 Nov 2016 06:34 AM PST Chemistry researchers have developed a simple diagnostic test that can identify the level of cocaine in a person's urine or oral fluid, outlines a new report. The new test offers a low cost, quick method which could be used for testing at the roadside, in the workplace or in prisons.

Understanding the mechanics of breastfeeding Posted: 21 Nov 2016 06:07 AM PST Breastfeeding is a topic that creates discussion and at times even controversy. However, some basic questions about its biology still remain. For instance, does successful infant feeding depend on the mechanics of the breast and, conversely, does breast health depend on breastfeeding? It has been virtually impossible to study these complex dynamics and the delicate interplay that makes breastfeeding possible, but a pair of researchers are working together to build a biomimetic breast that will allow scientists to study how the breast behaves during its primary function: infant feeding.

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