ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Nearly 10 percent of patients undergoing procedure such as balloon angioplasty or stent placement readmitted to hospital within 30 days
• Patients requiring transfer to another facility for percutaneous coronary intervention rarely meet recommended guidelines for transfer to treatment times
• Smoking cessation interventions appear to be effective for some current smokers
• Study looks at the nature of change in our aging, changing brains
• Drug may slow spread of deadly eye cancer
• How the brain strings words into sentences
• Biopsy of recurrent breast cancer can alter treatment, new study shows
• Most hospitals miss critical window for heart attack transfer patients, study finds
• Washington pediatricians receive regular requests for alternative child immunization schedules
• Babies embrace punishment earlier than previously thought, study suggests
• Aging stem cells may explain higher prevalence of leukemia, infections among elderly
• Boys with regressive autism, but not early onset autism, have larger brains than age-matched healthy counterparts, study finds
• Mid-morning snacking may sabotage weight-loss efforts
• Vaccine prototype stronger than traditional vaccines
• Cleft lip corrected genetically in mouse model
• New compound defeats drug-resistant bacteria
• New technique puts chemistry breakthroughs on the fast track
• IVC filters: Largest single patient population study to date on placement success, patient follow-up
• Closer to finding treament for duchenne muscular dystrophy
• The immune system has protective memory cells, researchers discover
• 40 percent of youths attempting suicide make first attempt before high school, study finds
• Integrated 3-D imaging facilitates human face transplantation
• Functional brain pathways disrupted in children with ADHD
• Restricted calorie diet improves heart function in obese patients with diabetes
• New handle makes lifting infant car seats safer, easier
• Key area that could sever communication between brain and heart in disease identified
• Cell molecule identified as central player in the formation of new blood vessels
• An unexpected player in a cancer defense system
• Transplanted cells repair the brain in obese mice
• The scoop on the dangers of snow shoveling
• Scientists determine how antibody recognizes key sugars on HIV surface
• Study calls sodium intake guidelines into question
• Among patients with infective endocarditis and heart failure, valvular surgery associated with reduced mortality
• Study evaluates association between urinary salt excretion and risk of cardiovascular events or death
• A first: Lab creates cells used by brain to control muscle cells

Nearly 10 percent of patients undergoing procedure such as balloon angioplasty or stent placement readmitted to hospital within 30 days Posted: 28 Nov 2011 03:38 PM PST In an analysis of the outcomes for more than 15,000 patients who underwent a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; procedures such as balloon angioplasty or stent placement used to open narrowed coronary arteries), nearly one in 10 were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days, and these patients had a higher risk of death within one year, according to a new study. Various factors were associated with hospital readmission, including female sex, Medicare insurance, unstable angina and others.

Patients requiring transfer to another facility for percutaneous coronary intervention rarely meet recommended guidelines for transfer to treatment times Posted: 28 Nov 2011 03:33 PM PST Among patients requiring transfer to another hospital for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; procedures such as balloon angioplasty or stent placement used to open narrowed coronary arteries), the estimated time from arrival to transfer rarely meets recommended guidelines of 30 minutes or less, according to a new report.

Smoking cessation interventions appear to be effective for some current smokers Posted: 28 Nov 2011 03:24 PM PST Nicotine replacement therapy and smoking cessation intervention programs are associated with positive outcomes among current smokers, according to new studies.

Study looks at the nature of change in our aging, changing brains Posted: 28 Nov 2011 02:45 PM PST As we get older, our cognitive abilities change, improving when we're younger and declining as we age. Scientists posit a hierarchical structure within which these abilities are organized. There's the "lowest" level -- measured by specific tests, such as story memory or word memory; the second level, which groups various skills involved in a category of cognitive ability, such as memory, perceptual speed, or reasoning; and finally, the "general," or G, factor, a sort of statistical aggregate of all the thinking abilities. What happens to this structure as we age?

Drug may slow spread of deadly eye cancer Posted: 28 Nov 2011 02:12 PM PST A drug commonly used to treat seizures appears to make eye tumors less likely to grow if they spread to other parts of the body, according to researchers.

How the brain strings words into sentences Posted: 28 Nov 2011 02:12 PM PST Distinct neural pathways are important for different aspects of language processing, researchers have discovered, studying patients with language impairments caused by neurodegenerative diseases.

Biopsy of recurrent breast cancer can alter treatment, new study shows Posted: 28 Nov 2011 02:12 PM PST A recent clinical research study by breast cancer specialists has again proven that comparing a new biopsy of progressing or recurring cancer with that of the original cancer can dictate a change in treatment.

Most hospitals miss critical window for heart attack transfer patients, study finds Posted: 28 Nov 2011 02:12 PM PST Most heart attack patients transferred between hospitals for the emergency artery-opening procedure called angioplasty are not transported as quickly as they should be, researchers report in the first national study of "door-in door-out" time for transfer patients.

Washington pediatricians receive regular requests for alternative child immunization schedules Posted: 28 Nov 2011 12:24 PM PST Seventy-seven percent of Washington state pediatricians report that they are sometimes or frequently asked to provide alternative childhood vaccine schedules for their patients, according to a new study.

Babies embrace punishment earlier than previously thought, study suggests Posted: 28 Nov 2011 12:24 PM PST Babies as young as eight months want people who commit or condone antisocial acts to be punished, according to a new study. While previous research shows that babies uniformly prefer kind acts, the new study suggests that eight-month-old infants support negative behavior if it is directed at those with antisocial behavior -- and dislike those who are nice to bad guys.

Aging stem cells may explain higher prevalence of leukemia, infections among elderly Posted: 28 Nov 2011 12:24 PM PST Human stem cells aren't immune to the aging process, according to scientists. Researchers studied hematopoietic stem cells, which create the cells that comprise the blood and immune system. Understanding when and how these stem cells begin to falter as the years pass may explain why some diseases, such as acute myeloid leukemia, increase in prevalence with age, and also why elderly people tend to be more vulnerable to infections such as colds and the flu.

Boys with regressive autism, but not early onset autism, have larger brains than age-matched healthy counterparts, study finds Posted: 28 Nov 2011 12:24 PM PST In the largest study of brain development in preschoolers with autism to date, researchers have found that three-year-old boys with regressive autism, but not early onset autism, have larger brains than their healthy counterparts.

Mid-morning snacking may sabotage weight-loss efforts Posted: 28 Nov 2011 10:27 AM PST Women dieters who grab a snack between breakfast and lunch lose less weight compared to those who abstain from a mid-morning snack, according to a new study.

Vaccine prototype stronger than traditional vaccines Posted: 28 Nov 2011 10:27 AM PST Researchers have created a vaccine that is more potent than traditional vaccines available today. The glycoconjugate vaccine prototype is 100 times more effective than traditional glycoconjugate vaccines.

Cleft lip corrected genetically in mouse model Posted: 28 Nov 2011 10:27 AM PST Scientists have used genetic methods to successfully repair cleft lips in mice embryos specially engineered for the study of cleft lip and cleft palate. The research breakthrough may show the way to prevent or treat the conditions in humans.

New compound defeats drug-resistant bacteria Posted: 28 Nov 2011 10:27 AM PST Chemists have synthesized a new compound that makes drug-resistant bacteria susceptible again to antibiotics. The compound -- BU-005 -- blocks pumps that a bacterium employs to expel an antibacterial agent called chloramphenicol. The team used a new and highly efficient method for the synthesis of BU-005 and other C-capped dipetptides.

New technique puts chemistry breakthroughs on the fast track Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:15 AM PST Scientists can now take that "a-ha" moment to go with a new method developed -- and successfully tested -- to accomplish "accelerated serendipity" and speed up the chances of an unexpected yet groundbreaking chemical discovery.

IVC filters: Largest single patient population study to date on placement success, patient follow-up Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:15 AM PST Researchers have published the largest single patient population study to date on a method for following patients with retrievable inferior vena cava filters -- devices used to keep blood clots from traveling to the lungs. This study, which is important for individuals with IVC filters and their doctors, supports existing guidelines developed by the Society of Interventional Radiology.

Closer to finding treament for duchenne muscular dystrophy Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:13 AM PST Academics have made an important breakthrough in the development of a treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

The immune system has protective memory cells, researchers discover Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:05 AM PST The immune system possesses a type of cell that can be activated by tissues within the body to remind the immune system not to attack our own molecules, cells and organs, researchers have discovered.

40 percent of youths attempting suicide make first attempt before high school, study finds Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:01 AM PST Thoughts about killing oneself and engaging in suicidal behavior may begin much younger than previously thought. While about one of nine youths attempt suicide by the time they graduate from high school, new findings reveal that a significant proportion make their first suicide attempt in elementary or middle school.

Integrated 3-D imaging facilitates human face transplantation Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:01 AM PST By combining conventional medical imaging with some of the same 3-D modeling techniques used in Hollywood blockbusters, researchers are offering new hope to victims of serious facial injuries who may be candidates for human facial transplants.

Functional brain pathways disrupted in children with ADHD Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:01 AM PST Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, researchers have identified abnormalities in the brains of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder that may serve as a biomarker for the disorder, according to a new study.

Restricted calorie diet improves heart function in obese patients with diabetes Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:01 AM PST A low-calorie diet eliminates insulin dependence and leads to improved heart function in obese patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

New handle makes lifting infant car seats safer, easier Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:01 AM PST Engineers have developed a new handle for infant car seats that makes it easier for parents to lift the seat out of a car -- while retaining a firmer grip on the handle -- making it less likely that the seat will be dropped.

Key area that could sever communication between brain and heart in disease identified Posted: 28 Nov 2011 08:59 AM PST A team of neuroscientists and anesthetists, who have been using pioneering techniques to study how the brain regulates the heart, has identified a crucial part of the nervous system whose malfunction may account for an increased risk of death from heart failure. The findings could lead to more targeted therapies to help reduce serious illness and death in cardiovascular disease.

Cell molecule identified as central player in the formation of new blood vessels Posted: 28 Nov 2011 08:56 AM PST Scientists have identified a cellular protein that plays a central role in the formation of new blood vessels. The molecule is the protein Shc, and new blood vessel formation, or angiogenesis, is seriously impaired without it.

An unexpected player in a cancer defense system Posted: 28 Nov 2011 08:52 AM PST Researchers have identified a new protein involved in a defense mechanism against cancer. The VCP/p97 complex is best known for its role in protein destruction and is involved in a type of familial dementia and ALS. In a novel study the researchers now describe how this complex also plays an important role in regulating the recruitment of the tumor suppressor protein 53BP1 to damaged DNA -- suggesting an important role for VCP/p97 in our body's defense against cancer.

Transplanted cells repair the brain in obese mice Posted: 25 Nov 2011 01:10 PM PST Small numbers of properly selected neurons, transplanted into damaged brain areas in mice, are capable of restoring lost functions. Experiments on mice with a defect resulting in obesity and a series of measurements documenting efficiency of the neuron transplant method has now been carried out.

The scoop on the dangers of snow shoveling Posted: 23 Nov 2011 10:35 AM PST Urban legend warns shoveling snow causes heart attacks, and the legend seems all too accurate, especially for male wintery excavators with a family history of premature cardiovascular disease. However, until recently this warning was based on anecdotal reports. Two of the most important cardiology associations in the US include snow -shoveling on their websites as a high risk physical activity, but all the citation references indicate that this warning was based one or two incidents.

Scientists determine how antibody recognizes key sugars on HIV surface Posted: 23 Nov 2011 10:31 AM PST HIV is coated in sugars that usually hide the virus from the immune system. Newly published research reveals how one broadly neutralizing HIV antibody actually uses part of the sugary cloak to help bind to the virus. The antibody binding site, called the V1/V2 region, represents a suitable HIV vaccine target, according to the scientists who conducted the study.

Study calls sodium intake guidelines into question Posted: 23 Nov 2011 10:29 AM PST For years, doctors have warned that too much salt is bad for your heart. Now a new study suggests that both high and low levels of salt intake may put people with heart disease or diabetes at increased risk of cardiovascular complications.

Among patients with infective endocarditis and heart failure, valvular surgery associated with reduced mortality Posted: 22 Nov 2011 01:28 PM PST Among patients with infective endocarditis and heart failure, about two-thirds undergo valvular surgery, which is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of death in the hospital and at one year, according to a new study.

Study evaluates association between urinary salt excretion and risk of cardiovascular events or death Posted: 22 Nov 2011 01:28 PM PST For persons with cardiovascular disease or diabetes, urinary sodium excretion (a surrogate for salt intake) at higher levels or at lower levels compared to mid-range values was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events (for higher levels) or cardiovascular death and hospitalization for congestive heart failure (for lower levels), according to a new study. Also, higher estimated urinary potassium excretion was associated with a reduced risk of stroke.

A first: Lab creates cells used by brain to control muscle cells Posted: 22 Nov 2011 10:30 AM PST Researchers, for the first time, have used stem cells to grow neuromuscular junctions between human muscle cells and human spinal cord cells, the key connectors used by the brain to communicate and control muscles in the body.

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