ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Multiple malaria vaccine offers protection to people most at risk
• Potential new drug target could stop debilitating effects of multiple sclerosis
• Religious, spiritual support benefits men and women facing chronic illness, study finds
• Source found for immune system effects on learning, memory
• Better estimating vaccine coverage: Vaccination coverage estimates can be improved by combining administrative data with survey data
• Found in the developing brain: Mental health risk genes and gender differences
• Human brains are made of the same stuff, despite DNA differences
• Annual screening with chest X-ray does not reduce rate of lung cancer deaths, study finds
• Infection is an important post-stroke problem
• Lab-made skin cells will aid transplantation, cancer, drug discovery research, say scientists
• Genetic basis of human metabolic individuality identified; Research may lead to highly targeted, individualized therapies
• Advance toward a breath test to diagnose multiple sclerosis
• Boaters' risk of illness on Chicago River similar to other waterways
• Food chemical regulations rely heavily on industry self-policing and lack transparency, report finds
• Whipple procedure wound infections cut in half with new measures
• Study shows benefits, limits of therapy for rare inflammatory syndrome
• Gene responsible for relapses in young leukemia patients
• Chiral metal surfaces may help to manufacture pharmaceuticals; Novel approach could be used in pharmaceutical drug synthesis
• Architects of the brain: How different receptors promote the formation of nerve cell processes
• Teenage girls and senior students suffered highest levels of PTSD after major earthquake, study finds
• Environmental toxin bisphenol A (BPA) can affect newborn brain, mouse study shows
• Additional investments in youth needed as world population tops 7 billion, states United Nations report
• Compound found in common wart treatment shows promise as leukemia therapy
• Study shows why underrepresented men should be included in binge eating research
• Study uncovers clues to young children's aggressive behavior
• Good relationship with teacher can protect first graders from aggression
• Poverty-related stress affects readiness for school
• Slowing quivering hearts: Promising results from landmark ARISTOTLE trial finds new drug may revolutionize the treatment of atrial fibrillation
• Nanoparticles could help pain-relieving osteoarthritis drugs last longer, study indicates

Multiple malaria vaccine offers protection to people most at risk Posted: 26 Oct 2011 02:53 PM PDT A new malaria vaccine could be the first to tackle different forms of the disease and help those most vulnerable to infection, a study suggests.

Potential new drug target could stop debilitating effects of multiple sclerosis Posted: 26 Oct 2011 01:27 PM PDT Medical researchers in Canada have discovered a potential new drug target for multiple sclerosis that could prevent physical disability associated with the disease, once a new drug is developed.

Religious, spiritual support benefits men and women facing chronic illness, study finds Posted: 26 Oct 2011 11:38 AM PDT Individuals who practice religion and spirituality report better physical and mental health than those who do not. To better understand this relationship and how spirituality/religion can be used for coping with significant health issues, researchers are examining what aspects of religion are most beneficial and for what populations. Now, researchers have found that religious and spiritual support improves health outcomes for both men and women who face chronic health conditions.

Source found for immune system effects on learning, memory Posted: 26 Oct 2011 11:38 AM PDT Immune system cells of the brain, which scavenge pathogens and damaged neurons, are also key players in memory and learning, according to new research by neuroscientists. Earlier studies had shown that laboratory rats experiencing an infection at an early age have an aggressive immune response to subsequent infections, which also harms their learning and memory. In a new study, researchers have identified the source of the learning difficulties and traces it back to the immune system itself.

Better estimating vaccine coverage: Vaccination coverage estimates can be improved by combining administrative data with survey data Posted: 26 Oct 2011 11:37 AM PDT Immunizations are a valuable tool for controlling infectious diseases among populations both in the U.S. and globally. Routine immunizations and supplemental immunization activities, such as immunization campaigns, are designed to provide immunization coverage to entire populations. Current measurements used to determine the success and rates of immunization can be flawed and inconsistent. According to a new study, estimates of vaccination coverage can be significantly improved by combining administrative data with survey data.

Found in the developing brain: Mental health risk genes and gender differences Posted: 26 Oct 2011 11:37 AM PDT Most genes associated with psychiatric illnesses are expressed before birth in the developing human brain, a massive study has revealed. In addition, hundreds of genetic differences were found between males and females as their brains take shape in the womb.

Human brains are made of the same stuff, despite DNA differences Posted: 26 Oct 2011 11:37 AM PDT Despite vast differences in the genetic code across individuals and ethnicities, the human brain shows a "consistent molecular architecture," say researchers. The finding is from a pair of studies that have created databases revealing when and where genes turn on and off in multiple brain regions through development. They reveal that rapid gene expression during fetal development switches to much slower rates after birth, levels off in middle age, and surges in the final decades.

Annual screening with chest X-ray does not reduce rate of lung cancer deaths, study finds Posted: 26 Oct 2011 11:37 AM PDT In a trial that included more than 150,000 participants, those who underwent annual chest radiographic screening for up to 4 years did not have a significantly lower rate of death from lung cancer compared to participants who were not screened, according to a new study.

Infection is an important post-stroke problem Posted: 26 Oct 2011 09:24 AM PDT After a stroke the brain tries to protect itself by blocking all inflammation. However, this also makes the patient highly susceptible to infection which can lead to death. Researchers have now discovered the mechanism behind this response and how to possibly treat it.

Lab-made skin cells will aid transplantation, cancer, drug discovery research, say scientists Posted: 26 Oct 2011 09:24 AM PDT Researchers have found a way to create melanocytes from mouse tail cells using embryonic stem cell-like intermediates called inducible pluripotent (iPS) cells. They converted mouse tail-tip fibroblasts into iPS cells, producing pluripotent cells similar to embryonic stem cells, but without the concomitant ethical issues.

Genetic basis of human metabolic individuality identified; Research may lead to highly targeted, individualized therapies Posted: 26 Oct 2011 09:24 AM PDT In what is so far the largest investigation of its kind, researchers uncovered a wide range of new insights about common diseases and how they are affected by differences between two persons' genes. The results from this study could lead to highly targeted, individualized therapies.

Advance toward a breath test to diagnose multiple sclerosis Posted: 26 Oct 2011 09:24 AM PDT Scientists are reporting the development and successful tests in humans of a sensor array that can diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS) from exhaled breath, an advance that they describe as a landmark in the long search for a fast, inexpensive and non-invasive test for MS -- the most common neurological disease in young adults.

Boaters' risk of illness on Chicago River similar to other waterways Posted: 26 Oct 2011 09:24 AM PDT According to a new study, canoeing, kayaking, rowing, boating and fishing on the Chicago River pose the same risk of gastrointestinal illness as performing these same activities on other local waters -- a risk that turns out to be higher than that intended for swimmers at Lake Michigan beaches.

Food chemical regulations rely heavily on industry self-policing and lack transparency, report finds Posted: 26 Oct 2011 09:24 AM PDT Safety decisions concerning one-third of the more than 10,000 substances that may be added to human food were made by food manufacturers and a trade association without review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to a new analysis. The report illustrates potential problems with the US food additive regulatory program.

Whipple procedure wound infections cut in half with new measures Posted: 26 Oct 2011 09:24 AM PDT Surgeons have found that a carefully selected surgical care check list of 12 measures reduced Whipple procedure wound infections by nearly 50 percent. Smoking cessation at least two weeks prior to surgery, gown and glove change prior to skin closure, and using clippers over razors to shave the surgical area are some of the measures that helped reduced infection rates, according to the study.

Study shows benefits, limits of therapy for rare inflammatory syndrome Posted: 26 Oct 2011 08:38 AM PDT A study shows that the medication etanercept reduces the frequency and severity of symptoms of TNF receptor-associated periodic syndrome, a rare inherited condition characterized by recurrent fevers, abdominal pain and skin rashes. The study also points out the need for the development of additional therapies to more thoroughly ease symptoms and prevent long-term complications of the disease.

Gene responsible for relapses in young leukemia patients Posted: 26 Oct 2011 08:38 AM PDT One of the causes of resistance to cancer treatment in children is now beginning to be elucidated. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients with a particular form of the ATF5 gene are at higher risk of having a relapse when treated with E. coli asparaginase, a key chemotherapy drug for this type of leukemia.

Chiral metal surfaces may help to manufacture pharmaceuticals; Novel approach could be used in pharmaceutical drug synthesis Posted: 26 Oct 2011 07:31 AM PDT New research shows how metal surfaces that lack mirror symmetry could provide a novel approach towards manufacturing pharmaceuticals.

Architects of the brain: How different receptors promote the formation of nerve cell processes Posted: 26 Oct 2011 07:27 AM PDT Neurobiologists have found that certain receptors for the neurotransmitter glutamate determine the architecture of nerve cells in the developing brain. Individual receptor variants lead to especially long and branched processes called dendrites, which the cells communicate with. The researchers also showed that the growth-promoting property of the receptors is linked to how much calcium they allow to flow into the cells.

Teenage girls and senior students suffered highest levels of PTSD after major earthquake, study finds Posted: 26 Oct 2011 07:27 AM PDT Researchers who spoke to nearly 2,000 teenagers three months after an 8.0 earthquake found high level of post-traumatic stress disorder, especially among girls and senior students. The findings underline the need for young people to receive prompt psychological support after major disasters to avoid them developing long-term mental health problems. The study may be of particular interest to journalists doing follow-up pieces on the aftermath of the Turkish earthquake.

Environmental toxin bisphenol A (BPA) can affect newborn brain, mouse study shows Posted: 26 Oct 2011 06:42 AM PDT Newborn mice that are exposed to bisphenol A (BPA) develop changes in their spontaneous behavior and evince poorer adaptation to new environments, as well hyperactivity as young adults, according to researchers. Their study also revealed that one of the brain's most important signal systems, the cholinergic signal system, is affected by bisphenol A and that the effect persisted into adulthood.

Additional investments in youth needed as world population tops 7 billion, states United Nations report Posted: 26 Oct 2011 06:21 AM PDT In five days, world population is projected to reach 7 billion. How we respond now will determine whether we have a healthy, sustainable and prosperous future or one that is marked by inequalities, environmental decline and economic setbacks, according to The State of World Population 2011 report, published Oct. 26, 2011 by the United Nations Population Fund.

Compound found in common wart treatment shows promise as leukemia therapy Posted: 26 Oct 2011 06:12 AM PDT A new potential leukemia therapy targets only cancer cells, while leaving healthy cells alone. Many current chemotherapy treatments affect cancer cells and healthy cells, causing significant side effects, such as fatigue, hair loss, nausea, anxiety and depression.

Study shows why underrepresented men should be included in binge eating research Posted: 26 Oct 2011 06:12 AM PDT Binge eating is a disorder which affects both men and women, yet men remain underrepresented in research. A new study has found that the medical impact of the disorder is just as damaging to men as it is to women, yet research has shown that the number of men seeking treatment is far lower than the estimated number of sufferers

Study uncovers clues to young children's aggressive behavior Posted: 26 Oct 2011 06:12 AM PDT In a new longitudinal study that moves beyond descriptive findings to explain underlying processes, researchers looked at difficult infant temperament and negative maternal parenting for more than 260 mother and child pairs and found that negative maternal parenting mattered more than difficult infant temperament in putting parent-child pairs at risk for conflict in the toddler period, and then putting children at risk for conduct problems at school age.

Good relationship with teacher can protect first graders from aggression Posted: 26 Oct 2011 06:12 AM PDT A new study of 217 Canadian seven-year-old twins finds that children who were genetically vulnerable to being aggressive were more likely to be victimized by their classmates than others. However, these children were protected from acting aggressively and being the target of other children's aggression if they had a very good relationship with their teacher. The study included both identical and fraternal twin pairs who were not in the same classroom.

Poverty-related stress affects readiness for school Posted: 26 Oct 2011 06:12 AM PDT Researchers studying 1,300 mostly low-income children looked at demographic characteristics, household environment, parenting quality, and cortisol levels when the children were 7-24 months old and executive functions when the children were 3. They found that children in lower-income homes received less positive parenting and had higher levels of cortisol in their first two years than children in slightly better-off homes, and that higher levels of cortisol were associated with lower levels of executive function abilities.

Slowing quivering hearts: Promising results from landmark ARISTOTLE trial finds new drug may revolutionize the treatment of atrial fibrillation Posted: 26 Oct 2011 06:12 AM PDT New research has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of atrial fibrillation, a condition affecting a quarter of a million Canadians which is expected to strike even more in the coming years, as the Canadian population ages.

Nanoparticles could help pain-relieving osteoarthritis drugs last longer, study indicates Posted: 26 Oct 2011 06:12 AM PDT A novel study demonstrates that using nanoparticles to deliver osteoarthritis drugs to the knee joint could help increase the retention of the drug in the knee cavity, and therefore reduce the frequency of injections patients must receive.

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