ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• How to turn white fat brown
• Inactive lifestyle linked to ozone-related lung disease
• Researchers uncover new evidence linking inflammation and increased prostate cancer risk
• Uterine microbiota play a key role in implantation and pregnancy success in in vitro fertilization
• Lung cancer: Protein as potential tool for predicting survival
• Researchers find overwhelming evidence of malaria's existence 2,000 years ago
• New compound targets TB bacterium's defense against the immune system
• The Goldilocks effect in aging research
• Small but mighty: Tiny proteins with big roles in biology
• Using the force: Powerful new technique reveals mechanical environment of cells in their natural habitat, the living embryo
• Direct link between REM sleep loss, desire for sugary and fatty foods discovered
• Missing 1-2 hours of sleep doubles crash risk
• Protein that promotes 'cell-suicide' could revolutionize eye cancer treatment
• The balancing act: An enzyme that links endocytosis to membrane recycling
• Resilience: A small, quiet word with huge alcohol use disorder implications
• Pathway linked to slower aging also fuels brain cancer
• Combination immune therapy shows promise against Hodgkin lymphoma
• Scientists show NLRP2 protein's role in maintaining fertility later in life
• What happens in the cell nucleus after fertilization?
• Scientists find mechanism behind side effects in vision-loss treatment
• Immunotherapy shows promise in preventing leukemia relapse
• Economic burden of treatment for diffuse large b-cell lymphoma
• Protecting babies from eczema with low-cost Vaseline
• New survey shows only half of people plan to get flu shots this year
• Designer switches of cell fate could streamline stem cell biology
• New, more effective strategy for producing flu vaccines
• Study reveals more individuals may have 'masked' hypertension than thought
• Researchers uncover possible source of genetic error behind a dozen debilitating diseases
• World-first therapeutic dental vaccine
• Association between steps, functional decline in older hospitalized patients
• RNA interference is activated in human response to influenza, other important viruses

How to turn white fat brown Posted: 06 Dec 2016 09:52 AM PST The browning program in white fat cells is normally suppressed by a protein called FLCN, researchers have found. It performs this function in cooperation with a major cellular signaling hub, a protein complex known as mTOR. Harnessing this knowledge may one day provide the key to better treatments for obesity.

Inactive lifestyle linked to ozone-related lung disease Posted: 06 Dec 2016 09:52 AM PST An inactive lifestyle may increase the risk of environmentally induced asthma symptoms. In a new study, researchers found that sedentary rats exposed to varying degrees of ozone, a type of air pollution, had higher markers for chronic disease when compared to counterparts that were more active.

Researchers uncover new evidence linking inflammation and increased prostate cancer risk Posted: 06 Dec 2016 09:52 AM PST Researchers have discovered a previously unrecognized type of progenitor cell that, though rare in most regions of the human prostate, is found in uncommonly high numbers in inflamed areas of the gland. These progenitor cells have the ability to initiate prostate cancer in response to genetic changes. New study results suggest inflammation increases overall risk for the disease by increasing the available pool of progenitor cells that can develop into prostate cancer.

Uterine microbiota play a key role in implantation and pregnancy success in in vitro fertilization Posted: 06 Dec 2016 09:47 AM PST Endometrial microbiota (bacteria in the uterine cavity) play an important role in determining whether women are able to get pregnant via in vitro fertilization (IVF), according to a new study.

Lung cancer: Protein as potential tool for predicting survival Posted: 06 Dec 2016 09:47 AM PST The biomarker PD-1, a protein, could potentially be used to predict survival or disease-free survival of lung cancer patients who have had the tumour surgically removed, a new study has concluded.

Researchers find overwhelming evidence of malaria's existence 2,000 years ago Posted: 06 Dec 2016 08:17 AM PST An analysis of 2,000-year-old human remains from several regions across the Italian peninsula has confirmed the presence of malaria during the Roman Empire, addressing a longstanding debate about its pervasiveness in this ancient civilization.

New compound targets TB bacterium's defense against the immune system Posted: 06 Dec 2016 08:16 AM PST Chemists have developed a compound that could enable a new drug strategy for treating tuberculosis, report scientists in a new report.

The Goldilocks effect in aging research Posted: 06 Dec 2016 08:16 AM PST For stem cells to be healthy, telomere length has to be just right, scientists have found. The finding deepens our understanding of stem cell biology and could help advance stem cell-based therapies, especially related to aging and regenerative medicine.

Small but mighty: Tiny proteins with big roles in biology Posted: 06 Dec 2016 08:16 AM PST Scientists have discovered a small protein important for cellular housekeeping. The new molecule could provide a better understanding of how the levels of genes, including disease genes, are controlled in the cell.

Using the force: Powerful new technique reveals mechanical environment of cells in their natural habitat, the living embryo Posted: 06 Dec 2016 08:15 AM PST A powerful new technique reveals the mechanical environment of cells in their natural habitat, the living embryo, outlines a new report.

Direct link between REM sleep loss, desire for sugary and fatty foods discovered Posted: 06 Dec 2016 08:03 AM PST A new method has been used by researchers to produce REM sleep loss in mice along with a chemical-genetic technique to block prefrontal cortex neurons and the behaviors they mediate. As a result, the researchers discovered that inhibiting these neurons reversed the effect of REM sleep loss on sucrose consumption while having no effect on fat consumption.

Missing 1-2 hours of sleep doubles crash risk Posted: 06 Dec 2016 08:02 AM PST Drivers who miss one to two hours of sleep nearly double their risk for a crash, new research concludes. Drivers who sleep slightly less -- between four and five hours -- have the same risk of crashing that is associated with driving over the legal limit for alcohol.

Protein that promotes 'cell-suicide' could revolutionize eye cancer treatment Posted: 06 Dec 2016 08:01 AM PST New research has identified the role of a specific protein in the human body that can help prevent the survival and spread of eye cancer, by initiating cancer 'cell-suicide.'

The balancing act: An enzyme that links endocytosis to membrane recycling Posted: 06 Dec 2016 08:01 AM PST All cells have surface membranes and maintaining the surface area of this membrane is critical to the normal functioning of cells. The surface membranes of cells lining our lungs, guts and the light-sensing cells of our eyes undergo constant recycling to operate effectively. Using the light-sensitive membranes in fruit fly eyes as a model system, have recently identified an enzyme named Phospholipase D or PLD -- that is essential for recycling of membranes for normal sight.

Resilience: A small, quiet word with huge alcohol use disorder implications Posted: 06 Dec 2016 07:35 AM PST Certain personality traits – such as disinhibition (a lack of restraint) and impulsivity – increase the chances of developing alcohol use disorders (AUDs), new research shows.

Pathway linked to slower aging also fuels brain cancer Posted: 06 Dec 2016 07:35 AM PST A metabolic pathway linked to slower aging is overactive in a deadly form of brain cancer, according to researchers. Their findings suggest that tweaking the pathway to treat cancer may affect other biological processes, such as aging.

Combination immune therapy shows promise against Hodgkin lymphoma Posted: 06 Dec 2016 07:34 AM PST The combination of two new drugs that harness the body's immune system is safe and effective, destroying most cancer cells in 64 percent of patients with recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma, according to the results of an early-phase study.

Scientists show NLRP2 protein's role in maintaining fertility later in life Posted: 06 Dec 2016 06:45 AM PST Researchers have demonstrated in animal models that a protein called NLRP2 plays an important role in early embryogenesis, the process of cell division in fertilized eggs that occurs before they implant into the lining of the uterus. In addition, the protein was shown to become more important with increasing maternal age, as blocking NLRP2 in eggs prevented them from developing in blastocysts. As a similar protein exists in humans, these insights may lead to greater understanding of reproductive disorders and novel paths to treatment, report investigators.

What happens in the cell nucleus after fertilization? Posted: 06 Dec 2016 06:42 AM PST A team of scientists shows changes in the immediate environment of DNA after the ovum and sperm fuse to form the zygote. The results suggest why all conceivable somatic cells can develop from the germ cells.

Scientists find mechanism behind side effects in vision-loss treatment Posted: 06 Dec 2016 06:42 AM PST A common class of drugs for vision loss may actually add to the problem in some patients, according to new research.

Immunotherapy shows promise in preventing leukemia relapse Posted: 05 Dec 2016 04:18 PM PST Promising results have been announced from an early trial in which patients with high-risk acute myeloid leukemia received genetically engineered immune cells. Of the 12 AML patients who received this experimental T-cell therapy after a transplant put their disease in remission, all are still in remission after a median follow-up of more than two years.

Economic burden of treatment for diffuse large b-cell lymphoma Posted: 05 Dec 2016 01:58 PM PST A research team has confirmed expectations of higher healthcare utilization and costs with relapsed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL).

Protecting babies from eczema with low-cost Vaseline Posted: 05 Dec 2016 01:58 PM PST Seven common moisturizers would be cost effective in preventing eczema in high-risk newborns, research shows. By using the cheapest moisturizer in the study (petroleum jelly), the cost benefit for prophylactic moisturization was only $353 per quality-adjusted life year – a generic measure of disease burden that assesses the monetary value of medical interventions in one's life.

New survey shows only half of people plan to get flu shots this year Posted: 05 Dec 2016 01:58 PM PST Americans are split on getting an annual flu shot, with four out of 10 having done so in the past year and around half saying they had already received or were planning to get the vaccine this year, according to new national survey data.

Designer switches of cell fate could streamline stem cell biology Posted: 05 Dec 2016 01:52 PM PST A novel strategy has been developed to reprogram cells from one type to another in a more efficient and less biased manner than previous methods.

New, more effective strategy for producing flu vaccines Posted: 05 Dec 2016 01:52 PM PST A team of researchers has developed technology that could improve the production of vaccines that protect people from influenza B.

Study reveals more individuals may have 'masked' hypertension than thought Posted: 05 Dec 2016 01:50 PM PST Around the clock monitoring of blood pressure during daily activity revealed masked, or undetected, high blood pressure in a significant number of otherwise healthy adults who had normal readings in the clinic, report researchers at the conclusion of a new study.

Researchers uncover possible source of genetic error behind a dozen debilitating diseases Posted: 05 Dec 2016 09:05 AM PST Researchers have discovered a possible explanation for a genetic error that causes over a dozen neuromuscular and neurodegenerative disorders.

World-first therapeutic dental vaccine Posted: 05 Dec 2016 08:37 AM PST A world-first vaccine that could eliminate or at least reduce the need for surgery and antibiotics for severe gum disease has been validated by new research.

Association between steps, functional decline in older hospitalized patients Posted: 05 Dec 2016 08:36 AM PST Is walking fewer than 900 steps per day associated with functional decline in older hospitalized patients? A new research letter suggests it is.

RNA interference is activated in human response to influenza, other important viruses Posted: 05 Dec 2016 08:33 AM PST For the first time, research shows that RNA interference (RNAi) - an antiviral mechanism known to be used by plants and lower organisms - is active in the response of human cells to some important viruses. In their report, the investigators document both the production of RNAi molecules in human cells infected with the influenza A virus and the suppression of RNAi defense by a viral protein known to block the process in a common animal model.

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