ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• New form of brain plasticity: How social isolation disrupts myelin production
• Schizophrenia genetic networks identified; Connection to autism found
• New method of gene identification discovered
• Mutations in genes that modify DNA packaging result in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD)
• Touch-sensitive plastic skin heals itself
• Gene variations linked to lung cancer susceptibility in Asian women
• Detection, analysis of 'cell dust' may allow diagnosis, monitoring of brain cancer
• New research: Limiting carbs to dinner-time increases satiety, reduces risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease
• Statins have potential to treat an autoimmune clotting disorder called antiphospholipid syndrome
• Autoimmune disease linked to pregnancy loss, stroke more often than you’d expect
• Expensive arthritis treatment no better than steroid therapy, study finds
• Hospital-based exercise programs benefit people with osteoarthritis, study finds
• Researchers identify impact of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus on joint replacement surgery outcomes
• Study overturns common assumption about knee replacements in morbidly obese individuals
• Decreasing medication does not equal more risks for people with rheumatoid arthritis in remission
• Lower-income patients fare better than wealthier after knee replacement
• Timing of rehabilitation after total knee replacement surgery may hurt patients’ ability to regain and improve function
• Physical activity in childhood may lead to stronger knee structure as an adult
• Weekly soft drink consumption bubbles up knee osteoarthritis; especially in men
• Extra weight linked to rheumatoid arthritis risk in women
• Autoantibodies could be a warning sign for cardiovascular disease in people with rheumatoid arthritis
• Race and gender: Key factors in lifetime knee osteoarthritis risk; African-American women most at risk
• Depression risk factor for mortality in rheumatoid arthritis; men most at risk
• Bone medication may save knees
• Biologics may prevent premature death in people with rheumatoid arthritis, study suggests
• Fibromyalgia and the brain: New clues reveal how pain and therapies are processed
• Anti-TNF therapy fails to relieve pain caused by hand osteoarthritis, study suggests
• Age-related macular degeneration treatment works even with other eye problem, study finds
• Brain injury and stress disorder strong indicators of vision problems for veterans
• Digital tablets improve speed and ease of reading for people with moderate vision loss
• Glaucoma-related vision loss may increase risk for auto accidents
• Newborn neurons -- even in the adult aging brain -- are critical for memory
• Game changer for arthritis and anti-fibrosis drugs
• It's not just what you eat, but when you eat it: Link between fat cell and brain clock molecules shown
• Better brain implant: Slim electrode cozies up to single neurons
• Early stress may sensitize girls’ brains for later anxiety

New form of brain plasticity: How social isolation disrupts myelin production Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:39 PM PST Animals that are socially isolated for prolonged periods make less myelin in the region of the brain responsible for complex emotional and cognitive behavior, researchers report.

Schizophrenia genetic networks identified; Connection to autism found Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:39 PM PST Although schizophrenia is highly genetic in origin, the genes involved in the disorder have been difficult to identify. In the past few years, researchers have implicated several genes, but it is unclear how they act to produce the disorder. A new study identifies affected gene networks and provides insight into the molecular causes of the disease.

New method of gene identification discovered Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:39 PM PST Scientists studying the genes and proteins of human cells infected with a common cold virus have identified a new gene identification technique that could increase the genetic information we hold on animals by around 70 to 80 per cent.

Mutations in genes that modify DNA packaging result in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:38 PM PST A worldwide group of collaborators has found that the way DNA is packaged in people with this form of muscular dystrophy may be responsible for their disease. A genetic error allows the DNA wrapping to relax and thereby allow a muscle-toxic substance to be produced. The mutation occurs in a gene know for its silencing effects.

Touch-sensitive plastic skin heals itself Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:37 PM PST Chemists and engineers have created the first synthetic material that is both sensitive to touch and capable of healing itself quickly and repeatedly at room temperature. The advance could lead to smarter prosthetics or more resilient personal electronics that repair themselves.

Gene variations linked to lung cancer susceptibility in Asian women Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:37 PM PST An international group of scientists has identified three genetic regions that predispose Asian women who have never smoked to lung cancer. The finding provides further evidence that risk of lung cancer among never-smokers, especially Asian women, may be associated with certain unique inherited genetic characteristics that distinguishes it from lung cancer in smokers.

Detection, analysis of 'cell dust' may allow diagnosis, monitoring of brain cancer Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:37 PM PST A novel miniature diagnostic platform using nuclear magnetic resonance technology is capable of detecting minuscule cell particles known as microvesicles in a drop of blood. Microvesicles shed by cancer cells are even more numerous than those released by normal cells, so detecting them could prove a simple means for diagnosing cancer.

New research: Limiting carbs to dinner-time increases satiety, reduces risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST An experimental diet with carbohydrates eaten mostly at dinner could benefit people suffering from severe and morbid obesity, according to a new study by researchers in Israel.

Statins have potential to treat an autoimmune clotting disorder called antiphospholipid syndrome Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST New research suggests that statins, traditionally used for cholesterol lowering, could be used in the management of individuals who are at risk for developing clotting because they have autoimmune antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL).

Autoimmune disease linked to pregnancy loss, stroke more often than you’d expect Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST A new study provides the first estimates of the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients suffering from pregnancy loss, stroke, myocardial infarction and deep vein thrombosis.

Expensive arthritis treatment no better than steroid therapy, study finds Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST A randomized, double-blind clinical trial has revealed that corticosteroids are more effective than the more expensive treatment in providing pain relief to patients with thumb arthritis.

Hospital-based exercise programs benefit people with osteoarthritis, study finds Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST A low-cost exercise program run by Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City has significantly improved pain, function and quality of life in participants with osteoarthritis, according to new research.

Researchers identify impact of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus on joint replacement surgery outcomes Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST Two new studies have overturned common beliefs about joint replacement in patients with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Study overturns common assumption about knee replacements in morbidly obese individuals Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST After total knee replacement (TKR) surgery, patients who are morbidly obese have similar pain and function outcomes as patients who do not fall into this weight category, according to a new study.

Decreasing medication does not equal more risks for people with rheumatoid arthritis in remission Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST Extending the time between doses, or tapering, TNF-inhibitor drugs in people with rheumatoid arthritis in remission can be done in some patients without significantly increasing disease activity or impairing joint function, according to new research findings.

Lower-income patients fare better than wealthier after knee replacement Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST Patients who make $35,000 a year or less report better outcomes after knee replacement surgery than people who earn more, research shows.

Timing of rehabilitation after total knee replacement surgery may hurt patients’ ability to regain and improve function Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST While more than 900,000 total knee replacement surgeries were performed in the U.S. in 2011 to treat debilitating knee osteoarthritis, the success rate of post-operative functional gains vary widely, according to new research findings.

Physical activity in childhood may lead to stronger knee structure as an adult Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:35 PM PST Being more physically active in childhood is linked to greater knee cartilage and tibial bone area in adulthood, according to new research findings.

Weekly soft drink consumption bubbles up knee osteoarthritis; especially in men Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:35 PM PST Sugary soft drink consumption contributes not only to weight gain, but also may play a role in the progression of knee osteoarthritis, especially in men, according to new research findings.

Extra weight linked to rheumatoid arthritis risk in women Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:35 PM PST Being overweight is linked to a higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis in women, according to new research findings.

Autoantibodies could be a warning sign for cardiovascular disease in people with rheumatoid arthritis Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:35 PM PST The presence of autoantibodies in the blood may be connected to a higher risk of the development of cardiovascular disease, not just in individuals with diagnosed autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, but in the general population, according to new research findings.

Race and gender: Key factors in lifetime knee osteoarthritis risk; African-American women most at risk Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:35 PM PST Race and ethnicity, along with gender, are important factors in determining both short-term and lifetime risk of developing symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, according to new research findings.

Depression risk factor for mortality in rheumatoid arthritis; men most at risk Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:35 PM PST Depression is higher in men and women with rheumatoid arthritis, and may increase mortality in this population, according to new research findings.

Bone medication may save knees Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:34 PM PST According to new research, a daily dose of strontium ranelate -- a medication prescribed for osteoporosis -- may delay knee osteoarthritis progression. The study also revealed that taking strontium ranelate may improve knee pain, reduce joint damage and the need for surgery.

Biologics may prevent premature death in people with rheumatoid arthritis, study suggests Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:34 PM PST According to new research, treatment with biologic medications may reduce the risk of premature death in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Fibromyalgia and the brain: New clues reveal how pain and therapies are processed Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:34 PM PST According to new research, pain experienced by people with fibromyalgia may be caused by a problem with the way pain stimuli are processed in the brain. Abnormal pain signal processing may also be related to a lack of responsiveness to opioids, a common class of pain relievers.

Anti-TNF therapy fails to relieve pain caused by hand osteoarthritis, study suggests Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:34 PM PST A new study suggests that anti-tumor necrosis factor drugs (also called anti-TNF) offer no relief to patients with chronic pain caused from hand osteoarthritis.

Age-related macular degeneration treatment works even with other eye problem, study finds Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:34 PM PST The primary treatment for wet macular degeneration, a chronic eye condition that causes vision loss, is effective even if patients have macular traction problems, a new study shows.

Brain injury and stress disorder strong indicators of vision problems for veterans Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:34 PM PST Many veterans of the United States armed forces who have traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder also have undiagnosed, chronic vision problems, according to two studies.

Digital tablets improve speed and ease of reading for people with moderate vision loss Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:29 PM PST People who have eye diseases that damage their central vision can regain the ability to read quickly and comfortably by using digital tablets, according to a recent study. The research found that people with moderate vision loss could increase their reading speed by 15 words-per-minute, on average. Using a tablet with a back-lit screen resulted in the fastest reading speeds for all study participants, no matter what their level of visual acuity

Glaucoma-related vision loss may increase risk for auto accidents Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:29 PM PST The first study to compare accident rates for drivers who have advanced glaucoma − an eye disease that affects peripheral vision -- with normal-vision drivers, found that the glaucoma group had about twice as many accidents. This study, which was conducted in Japan using a driving simulator, suggests that potential drivers should pass a visual field test to ensure adequate peripheral vision before a license is granted or renewed.

Newborn neurons -- even in the adult aging brain -- are critical for memory Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:29 PM PST Newborn neurons in the adult hippocampus are critical for memory retrieval, according to a new study.

Game changer for arthritis and anti-fibrosis drugs Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:29 PM PST Medical researchers have identified a way to treat inflammation while potentially minimizing a serious side effect of current medications: the increased risk for infection.

It's not just what you eat, but when you eat it: Link between fat cell and brain clock molecules shown Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:29 PM PST Fat cells store excess energy and signal these levels to the brain. Deletion of the clock gene Arntl, also known as Bmal1, in fat cells, causes mice to become obese, with a shift in the timing of when this nocturnal species normally eats. These findings shed light on the complex causes of obesity in humans.

Better brain implant: Slim electrode cozies up to single neurons Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:29 PM PST A thin, flexible electrode is 10 times smaller than the nearest competition and could make long-term measurements of neural activity practical at last.

Early stress may sensitize girls’ brains for later anxiety Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:29 PM PST High levels of family stress in infancy are linked to differences in everyday brain function and anxiety in teenage girls, according to new results of a long-running population study.

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