ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Fetuses yawn in the womb, according to new research
• Cartilage made easy with novel hybrid printer
• Step forward in regenerating and repairing damaged nerve cells
• Gateway enzyme for chemicals from catnip to cancer drug discovered
• Computer-navigated total knee replacement provides no advantage over traditional surgical procedure, study suggests
• Architecture of rod sensory cilium disrupted by mutation
• Simple, inexpensive way to improve healing after massive bone loss
• Need a lot of sleep? An antidote for hypersomnia
• Neural interaction in silence: Neurophysiologists study widespread networks of neurons responsible for memory
• Key events early in process of cellular aging defined
• Autism-like behaviors reversed in mice: New hope for understanding autism
• First report of state-level COPD prevalence in U.S.
• Pathway identified in human lymphoma points way to new blood cancer treatments
• Aging: Scientists further unravel telomere biology
• Rhythmic brain waves: Fluctuations in electrical activity may allow brain to form thoughts and memories
• Novel mechanism through which normal stromal cells become cancer-promoting stromal cells identified
• Inhaled nitric oxide improves outcomes in mice resuscitated with stored blood
• Diabetes drug improves memory, study suggests
• Evolution of human intellect: Human-specific regulation of neuronal genes
• Beneficial microbes are 'selected and nurtured' in the human gut
• Human obedience: The myth of blind conformity
• Discovery offers new treatment for epilepsy
• Natural fungus may provide effective bed bug control
• New electrically conductive polymer nanoparticles can generate heat to kill colorectal cancer cells
• Tiny probes shine brightly to reveal the location of targeted tissues
• New method helps target Parkinson's disease
• Decline in availability and use of electroconvulsive therapy for depression
• Ribosome regulates viral protein synthesis, revealing potential therapeutic target
• Well-known protein implicated in fibrosis
• Reasons for severe bleeding in hemophilia revealed
• How does antibiotic resistance spread? Scientists find answers in the nose
• Sweat glands play major role in healing human wounds
• Discovery of molecular pathway of Alzheimer's disease reveals new drug targets
• Nanomedicine breakthrough could improve chemotherapy for childhood cancer
• Scientists identify inhibitor of myelin formation in central nervous system
• Telomere lengths predict life expectancy in the wild, research shows
• Cancer: Some cells don't know when to stop
• Medications are being discontinued, and the pharmacist may not know
• Smoking in pregnancy tied to lower reading scores
• Potential cause of Parkinson's disease identified
• New tumor tracking technique may improve outcomes for lung cancer patients
• Faulty development of immature brain cells causes hydrocephalus
• Chronic pain in parents appears associated with chronic pain in adolescents and young adults
• Electronic visits offer accurate diagnoses, may lead to overprescribing of antibiotics
• High Vitamin D levels in pregnancy may protect mother more than baby against multiple sclerosis
• Multiple sclerosis ‘immune exchange’ between brain and blood is uncovered
• Happy youngsters more likely to grow into wealthy adults, study finds
• 'Different kind of stem cell' possesses attributes favoring regenerative medicine
• Body may be able to 'coach' transplanted stem cells to differentiate appropriately
• How yeast protein breaks up amyloid fibrils and disordered protein clumps
• Experimental drug improves memory in mice with multiple sclerosis
• Embattled childhoods may be the real trauma for soldiers with PTSD
• Need to filter water? Fight infection? Just open package, mix polymers
• Genetic factor holds key to blood vessel health
• 3-D light switch for the brain: Device may help treat Parkinson's, epilepsy; aid understanding of consciousness
• Inpatient sleeping drug quadrupled fall risk
• Certain jobs linked to increased breast cancer risk
• Breast cancer cells' reaction to cancer drugs can be predicted, study suggests
• New technology for a more efficient treatment of Pompe disease and other metabolic disorders
• Blood cancer gene BCL6 identified as a key factor for differentiation of nerve cells of cerebral cortex

Fetuses yawn in the womb, according to new research Posted: 21 Nov 2012 06:03 PM PST We know that unborn babies hiccup, swallow and stretch in the womb but new observational research concludes that they also yawn.

Cartilage made easy with novel hybrid printer Posted: 21 Nov 2012 06:01 PM PST The printing of three-dimensional tissue has taken a major step forward with the creation of a novel hybrid printer that simplifies the process of creating implantable cartilage.

Step forward in regenerating and repairing damaged nerve cells Posted: 21 Nov 2012 11:56 AM PST Researchers recently uncovered a nerve cell's internal clock, used during embryonic development. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new tools to repair and regenerate nerve cells following injuries to the central nervous system.

Gateway enzyme for chemicals from catnip to cancer drug discovered Posted: 21 Nov 2012 11:56 AM PST Scientists have discovered an enzyme used in nature to make powerful chemicals from catnip to a cancer drug, vinblastine. The discovery opens up the prospect of producing these chemicals cheaply and efficiently.

Computer-navigated total knee replacement provides no advantage over traditional surgical procedure, study suggests Posted: 21 Nov 2012 11:56 AM PST For many years, the use of computer-assisted navigation has been touted as improving the positioning, sizing and alignment of replacement knee joints, resulting in greater durability of joints and overall improvement in patient movement. But new research suggests there is no difference in knee function, pain, mobility and activity level between computer-assisted navigation and traditional surgery.

Architecture of rod sensory cilium disrupted by mutation Posted: 21 Nov 2012 11:56 AM PST Using a new technique called cryo-electron tomography, scientists have created a three-dimensional map that gives a better understanding of how the architecture of the rod sensory cilium (part of one type of photoreceptor in the eye) is changed by genetic mutation and how that affects its ability to transport proteins as part of the light-sensing process.

Simple, inexpensive way to improve healing after massive bone loss Posted: 21 Nov 2012 11:56 AM PST Researchers have identified a new approach to treating massive bone fractures, a major clinical problem faced by orthopedic surgeons, including on the battlefield.

Need a lot of sleep? An antidote for hypersomnia Posted: 21 Nov 2012 11:56 AM PST Researchers have discovered that dozens of adults with an elevated need for sleep have a substance in their cerebrospinal fluid that acts like a sleeping pill. Some members of this patient population appear to have a distinct, disabling sleep disorder called "primary hypersomnia," which is separate from better-known conditions such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy.

Neural interaction in silence: Neurophysiologists study widespread networks of neurons responsible for memory Posted: 21 Nov 2012 11:55 AM PST While in deep dreamless sleep, our hippocampus sends messages to our cortex and changes its plasticity, possibly transferring recently acquired knowledge to long-term memory. But how exactly is this done? Scientists have now developed a novel multimodal methodology called "neural event-triggered functional magnetic resonance imaging" and presented the very first results obtained using it in experiments with both anesthetized and awake, behaving monkeys.

Key events early in process of cellular aging defined Posted: 21 Nov 2012 11:54 AM PST Scientists have now defined key events that take place early in the process of cellular aging. Together the discoveries, made through a series of experiments in yeast, bring unprecedented clarity to the complex cascade of events that comprise the aging process and pave the way to understanding how genetics and environmental factors like diet interact to influence lifespan, aging and age-related diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

Autism-like behaviors reversed in mice: New hope for understanding autism Posted: 21 Nov 2012 11:54 AM PST Researchers have uncovered a crucial link between protein synthesis and autism spectrum disorder. The study also reveals that autism-like behaviors can be rectified in adult mice with compounds inhibiting protein synthesis, or with gene-therapy targeting neuroligins.

First report of state-level COPD prevalence in U.S. Posted: 21 Nov 2012 10:09 AM PST The age-adjusted prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease varies considerably within the United States, from less than four percent of the population in Washington and Minnesota to more than nine percent in Alabama and Kentucky.

Pathway identified in human lymphoma points way to new blood cancer treatments Posted: 21 Nov 2012 10:09 AM PST Research, shows for the first time that the "unfolded protein response" is active in patients with human lymphomas and mice genetically bred to develop lymphomas. Importantly, when the UPR is inactivated, lymphoma cells readily undergo cell death.

Aging: Scientists further unravel telomere biology Posted: 21 Nov 2012 10:09 AM PST Researchers have resolved the structure of that allows a telomere-related protein, Cdc13, to form dimers in yeast. Mutations in this region of Cdc13 put the kibosh on the ability of telomerase and other proteins to maintain telomeres.

Rhythmic brain waves: Fluctuations in electrical activity may allow brain to form thoughts and memories Posted: 21 Nov 2012 10:08 AM PST A new study sheds light on how neural ensembles form thoughts and support the flexibility to change one's mind.

Novel mechanism through which normal stromal cells become cancer-promoting stromal cells identified Posted: 21 Nov 2012 07:44 AM PST New understanding of molecular changes that convert harmless cells surrounding ovarian cancer cells into cells that promote tumor growth and metastasis provides potential new therapeutic targets for this deadly disease, according to new research.

Inhaled nitric oxide improves outcomes in mice resuscitated with stored blood Posted: 21 Nov 2012 06:26 AM PST Inhaled nitric oxide reduced the adverse effects of transfusing stored blood in mice, according to a new study.

Diabetes drug improves memory, study suggests Posted: 20 Nov 2012 04:49 PM PST An FDA-approved drug initially used to treat insulin resistance in diabetics has shown promise as a way to improve cognitive performance in some people with Alzheimer's disease.

Evolution of human intellect: Human-specific regulation of neuronal genes Posted: 20 Nov 2012 04:49 PM PST A new study has identified hundreds of small regions of the genome that appear to be uniquely regulated in human neurons. These regulatory differences distinguish us from other primates, including monkeys and apes, and as neurons are at the core of our unique cognitive abilities, these features may ultimately hold the key to our intellectual prowess (and also to our potential vulnerability to a wide range of 'human-specific' diseases from autism to Alzheimer's).

Beneficial microbes are 'selected and nurtured' in the human gut Posted: 20 Nov 2012 04:35 PM PST Animals, including humans, actively select the gut microbes that are the best partners and nurture them with nutritious secretions, suggests a new study.

Human obedience: The myth of blind conformity Posted: 20 Nov 2012 04:35 PM PST In the 1960s and 1970s, classic social psychological studies were conducted that provided evidence that even normal, decent people can engage in acts of extreme cruelty when instructed to do so by others. However, professors revisit these studies' conclusions and explain how awful acts involve not just obedience, but enthusiasm too -- challenging the long-held belief that human beings are 'programmed' for conformity.

Discovery offers new treatment for epilepsy Posted: 20 Nov 2012 04:33 PM PST New drugs derived from components of a specific diet used by children with severe, drug-resistant epilepsy could offer a new treatment.

Natural fungus may provide effective bed bug control Posted: 20 Nov 2012 01:09 PM PST "Don't let the bed bugs bite" is no longer a harmless adage. In reality today, these bloodthirsty bugs infest thousands of homes. According to entomologists, biopesticides -- naturally occurring microorganisms -- might provide an answer to this pest problem.

New electrically conductive polymer nanoparticles can generate heat to kill colorectal cancer cells Posted: 20 Nov 2012 12:24 PM PST Researchers have modified electrically conductive polymers, commonly used in solar energy applications, to develop revolutionary polymer nanoparticles for a medical application. When the nanoparticles are exposed to infrared light, they generate heat that can be used to kill colorectal cancer cells.

Tiny probes shine brightly to reveal the location of targeted tissues Posted: 20 Nov 2012 12:24 PM PST Nanostructures called BRIGHTs seek out biomarkers on cells and then beam brightly to reveal their locations. In the tiny gap between the gold skin and the gold core of the nanoparticle, there is an electromagnetic hot spot that lights up the reporter molecules trapped there. BRIGHTs, which shine about 1.7 x 10^11 more brightly than isolated Raman reporters, are intended for use in noinvasive bioimaging.

New method helps target Parkinson's disease Posted: 20 Nov 2012 12:24 PM PST Health professionals may soon have a new method of diagnosing Parkinson's disease, one that is noninvasive and inexpensive, and, in early testing, has proved to be effective more than 90 percent of the time.

Decline in availability and use of electroconvulsive therapy for depression Posted: 20 Nov 2012 12:24 PM PST Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is considered the most effective treatment option for patients with severe depression who cannot find symptom relief through antidepressant medications or psychotherapy. In a new study, researchers found a sharp decline in the availability and use of ECT in general hospitals across the US.

Ribosome regulates viral protein synthesis, revealing potential therapeutic target Posted: 20 Nov 2012 10:29 AM PST Rather than target RNA viruses directly, aiming at the host cells they invade could hold promise, but any such strategy would have to be harmless to the host. Now, a surprising discovery made in ribosomes may point the way to fighting fatal viral infections such as rabies.

Well-known protein implicated in fibrosis Posted: 20 Nov 2012 09:20 AM PST Scientists have uncovered a new role for the protein toll-like receptor four in the development of tissue fibrosis, or scarring. This finding has implications for the treatment of scleroderma.

Reasons for severe bleeding in hemophilia revealed Posted: 20 Nov 2012 09:20 AM PST New insights into what causes uncontrollable bleeding in hemophilia patients have been provided. By revealing that blood clots spread in traveling waves through vessels, the study offers new strategies that could lead to the development of more effective treatments for hemophilia as well as common cardiovascular disorders.

How does antibiotic resistance spread? Scientists find answers in the nose Posted: 20 Nov 2012 09:18 AM PST Microbiologists studying bacterial colonization in mice have discovered how the very rapid and efficient spread of antibiotic resistance works in the respiratory pathogen, Streptococcus pneumoniae (also known as the pneumococcus). The team found that resistance stems from the transfer of DNA between bacterial strains in biofilms in the nasopharynx, the area just behind the nose.

Sweat glands play major role in healing human wounds Posted: 20 Nov 2012 07:04 AM PST Researchers have discovered one of the body's most powerful secret weapons in healing: sweat glands.

Discovery of molecular pathway of Alzheimer's disease reveals new drug targets Posted: 20 Nov 2012 07:04 AM PST The discovery of the molecular pathway that drives the changes seen in the brains of Alzheimer's patients is reported today, revealing new targets for drug discovery that could be exploited to combat the disease. The study gives the most detailed understanding yet of the complex processes leading to Alzheimer's.

Nanomedicine breakthrough could improve chemotherapy for childhood cancer Posted: 20 Nov 2012 07:04 AM PST Medical researchers have developed a nanoparticle that could improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy for neuroblastoma by a factor of five.

Scientists identify inhibitor of myelin formation in central nervous system Posted: 20 Nov 2012 07:01 AM PST Scientists have discovered another molecule that plays an important role in regulating myelin formation in the central nervous system. Myelin promotes the conduction of nerve cell impulses by forming a sheath around their projections, the so-called axons, at specific locations -- acting like the plastic insulation around a power cord.

Telomere lengths predict life expectancy in the wild, research shows Posted: 19 Nov 2012 06:31 PM PST Researchers have found that biological age and life expectancy can be predicted by measuring an individual's DNA. They studied the length of chromosome caps -- known as telomeres -- in a 320-strong wild population of Seychelles Warblers on a small isolated island.

Cancer: Some cells don't know when to stop Posted: 19 Nov 2012 02:14 PM PST Certain mutated cells keep trying to replicate their DNA -- with disastrous results -- even after medications rob them of the raw materials to do so, according to new research.

Medications are being discontinued, and the pharmacist may not know Posted: 19 Nov 2012 02:13 PM PST More than 85,000 medications are discontinued each year by physicians, yet while physicians share this information with their patients, it is too often not shared with the pharmacists. This communication gap allows discontinued medications continue to be dispensed at pharmacies, representing an important patient safety concern.

Smoking in pregnancy tied to lower reading scores Posted: 19 Nov 2012 01:37 PM PST Researchers have found that children born to mothers who smoked more than one pack per day during pregnancy struggled on tests designed to measure how accurately a child reads aloud and comprehends what they read.

Potential cause of Parkinson's disease identified Posted: 19 Nov 2012 01:36 PM PST Scientists have pinpointed a key factor controlling damage to brain cells in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. The discovery could lead to new targets for Parkinson's that may be useful in preventing the actual condition.

New tumor tracking technique may improve outcomes for lung cancer patients Posted: 19 Nov 2012 01:35 PM PST Researchers have shown that a real-time tracking technique can better predict and track tumor motion and deliver higher levels of radiation to lung cancer patients and others with moving tumor targets, and also successfully be implemented into existing clinical equipment.

Faulty development of immature brain cells causes hydrocephalus Posted: 19 Nov 2012 01:35 PM PST Scientists have discovered a new cause of neonatal hydrocephalus. The team discovered that cell-signaling defects disrupt immature brain cells involved in normal brain development. Treatment with lithium bypasses the defect in mice and reduces the hydrocephalus.

Chronic pain in parents appears associated with chronic pain in adolescents and young adults Posted: 19 Nov 2012 01:33 PM PST Chronic pain in parents appears to be associated with chronic nonspecific pain and chronic multisite pain in adolescents and young adults.

Electronic visits offer accurate diagnoses, may lead to overprescribing of antibiotics Posted: 19 Nov 2012 01:33 PM PST One of the first studies to compare patients who see their doctors in person to those who receive care through the Internet, known as an e-visit, underscores both the promise and the pitfalls of this technology. Researchers found that patients who used e-visits for sinusitis and urinary tract infections (UTIs) were no more likely to need follow-up care than those who saw doctors in person.

High Vitamin D levels in pregnancy may protect mother more than baby against multiple sclerosis Posted: 19 Nov 2012 01:33 PM PST Pregnant women who have higher levels of vitamin D in their blood may have a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis than women with lower levels, while their babies may not see the same protective effect, according to a new study.

Multiple sclerosis ‘immune exchange’ between brain and blood is uncovered Posted: 19 Nov 2012 01:33 PM PST DNA sequences obtained from a handful of patients with multiple sclerosis have revealed the existence of an "immune exchange" that allows the disease-causing cells to move in and out of the brain.

Happy youngsters more likely to grow into wealthy adults, study finds Posted: 19 Nov 2012 12:13 PM PST The first in-depth investigation of whether youthful happiness leads to greater wealth in later life reveals that, even allowing for other influences, happy adolescents are likely to earn more money as adults.

'Different kind of stem cell' possesses attributes favoring regenerative medicine Posted: 19 Nov 2012 12:13 PM PST New and powerful cells first created in the laboratory a year ago constitute a new stem-like state of adult epithelial cells with attributes that may make regenerative medicine truly possible. Researchers report that these new stem-like cells do not express the same genes as embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) do. That explains why they don't produce tumors when they grow in the laboratory, as the other stem cells do, and why they are stable, producing the kind of cells researchers want them to.

Body may be able to 'coach' transplanted stem cells to differentiate appropriately Posted: 19 Nov 2012 12:13 PM PST Pluripotent stem cells are nature's double-edged sword. Because they can develop into a dizzying variety of cell types and tissues, they are a potentially invaluable therapeutic resource. However, that same developmental flexibility can lead to dangerous tumors called teratomas if the stem cells begin to differentiate out of control in the body.

How yeast protein breaks up amyloid fibrils and disordered protein clumps Posted: 19 Nov 2012 12:12 PM PST Hsp104, an enzyme from yeast, breaks up both amyloid fibrils and disordered clumps. For stable amyloid-type structures, Hsp104 needs all six of its subunits, which together make a hexamer, to pull the clumps apart. By contrast, for amorphous, non-amyloid clumps, Hsp104 required only one of its six subunits.

Experimental drug improves memory in mice with multiple sclerosis Posted: 19 Nov 2012 12:12 PM PST Researchers report the successful use of a form of MRI to identify what appears to be a key biochemical marker for cognitive impairment in the brains of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). In follow-up experiments on mice with a rodent form of MS, researchers were able to use an experimental compound to manipulate that same marker and dramatically improve learning and memory.

Embattled childhoods may be the real trauma for soldiers with PTSD Posted: 19 Nov 2012 11:06 AM PST New research on posttraumatic stress disorder in soldiers challenges popular assumptions about the origins and trajectory of PTSD, providing evidence that traumatic experiences in childhood - not combat - may predict which soldiers develop the disorder.

Need to filter water? Fight infection? Just open package, mix polymers Posted: 19 Nov 2012 10:23 AM PST Researchers have developed what they call a one-size-fits-all polymer system that can be fabricated and then specialized to perform healing functions ranging from fighting infection to wound healing.

Genetic factor holds key to blood vessel health Posted: 19 Nov 2012 08:43 AM PST Researchers have identified a genetic factor that prevents blockages from forming in blood vessels, a discovery that could lead to new therapies for cardiovascular diseases. Researchers found that a shortage of the genetic factor KLF4, which regulates endothelial cells lining the interior of blood vessels, makes the lining more prone to the buildup of plaque and fat deposits. Further, the deficiency made the blood vessel more susceptible to clot formation.

3-D light switch for the brain: Device may help treat Parkinson's, epilepsy; aid understanding of consciousness Posted: 19 Nov 2012 08:42 AM PST A new tool for neuroscientists delivers a thousand pinpricks of light to individual neurons in the brain. The new 3-D "light switch", created by biologists and engineers, could one day be used as a neural prosthesis that could treat conditions such as Parkinson's and epilepsy by using gene therapy to turn individual brain cells on and off with light.

Inpatient sleeping drug quadrupled fall risk Posted: 19 Nov 2012 06:46 AM PST A drug commonly prescribed to help patients sleep in hospitals has been associated with an increased risk of falls, according to a new study.

Certain jobs linked to increased breast cancer risk Posted: 19 Nov 2012 06:45 AM PST Is there a link between the risk of breast cancer and the working environment? A new study provides further evidence on this previously neglected research topic, confirming that certain occupations do pose a higher risk of breast cancer than others, particularly those that expose the worker to potential carcinogens and endocrine disrupters.

Breast cancer cells' reaction to cancer drugs can be predicted, study suggests Posted: 19 Nov 2012 06:45 AM PST Can breast cancer cells' reaction to cancer drugs be predicted? The answer is yes. Researchers have developed a solution for predicting responses of breast cancer cells to a set of cancer drugs. The prediction is based on the genomic profiles of the cancer cells. Harnessing genomic profiles of cells in choosing the best treatment is considered the holy grail of personalized medicine.

New technology for a more efficient treatment of Pompe disease and other metabolic disorders Posted: 19 Nov 2012 06:38 AM PST Researchers have developed a new technology that can lead to a more efficient and possibly also cheaper therapy for diseases such as Pompe disease.

Blood cancer gene BCL6 identified as a key factor for differentiation of nerve cells of cerebral cortex Posted: 19 Nov 2012 06:38 AM PST The cerebral cortex is the most complex structure in our brain and the seat of consciousness, emotion, motor control and language. In order to fulfill these functions, it is composed of a diverse array of nerve cells, called cortical neurons, which are affected by many neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. Researchers have opened new perspectives on brain development and stem cell neurobiology by discovering a gene called BCL6 as a key factor in the generation of cortical neurons during embryonic brain development.

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