ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• New patient-friendly way to make stem cells for fight against heart disease
• Scientists identify key biological mechanism in multiple sclerosis
• Sneak peek at early course of bladder infection caused by widespread, understudied parasite
• Promising drug slows down advance of Parkinson's disease and improves symptoms
• Milk drinkers may yet get heart-healthy omega-3s by the glass
• New insights into mosquitoes' role as involuntary bioterrorists
• Controversial treatment for autism may do more harm than good, researchers find
• Defining career paths in health systems improvement
• Proteins that work at the ends of DNA could provide cancer insight
• Chromatin remodeling: Activating ACL1 with a little help from 'friends'
• Autism severity may stem from fear
• Delayed treatment for advanced breast cancer has 'profound effect'
• Adapting fish defenses to block human infections: Antimicrobial peptide of fish gills inspire clean surfaces
• Precisely engineering 3-D brain tissues
• Body language, not facial expressions, broadcasts what's happening to us
• X-ray laser helps fight sleeping sickness: Exploiting parasite's weak spot may lead to new treatments
• Nanobiotechnology: Versatile 3-D nanostructures using DNA 'bricks'
• Mild vibrations may provide exercise-like benefits for obese
• Roadmap to metabolic reprogramming for aging
• Biology behind brain development disorder: Mutations in the gene, UBE3B, cause a rare genetic disorder in children
• Resolving debate about how tumors spread
• Insects beware: The sea anemone is coming
• Bacteria hijack host cell process, create their own food supply to become infectious
• Children with higher intelligence less likely to report chronic widespread pain in adulthood
• From rabbits in Congo, a jump in kids' health
• Cancer drug shows promise in eradicating latent HIV infection
• Homicide spreads like infectious disease
• Newly created fly to study how a normal cell turns cancerous
• Most of the harmful mutations in people arose in the past 5,000 to 10,000 years
• Rules devised for building ideal protein molecules from scratch
• Testicular cancer risk tripled in boys whose testes fail to descend
• Findings support safety of whooping cough vaccine for older adults
• Relative length of adults' fingers indicator of verbal aggression: Prenatal exposure to testosterone linked
• Short-term exposure to essential oils lowers blood pressure and heart rate... but only when exposure is less than one hour
• Making music together connects brains
• Increasing poverty in older age will lead to adverse health outcomes, experts say
• Brain inflammation likely key initiator to Prion and Parkinson's disease
• Immune cells of the brain renew hopes for curing Alzheimer’s disease

New patient-friendly way to make stem cells for fight against heart disease Posted: 29 Nov 2012 08:26 PM PST Scientists have developed a patient-friendly and efficient way to make stem cells out of blood, increasing the hope that scientists could one day use stem cells made from patients' own cells to treat cardiovascular disease.

Scientists identify key biological mechanism in multiple sclerosis Posted: 29 Nov 2012 02:39 PM PST Scientists have defined for the first time a key underlying process implicated in multiple sclerosis -- a disease that causes progressive and irreversible damage to nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. This discovery offers new hope for the millions who suffer from this debilitating disease for which there is no cure.

Sneak peek at early course of bladder infection caused by widespread, understudied parasite Posted: 29 Nov 2012 02:39 PM PST Using standard tools of the molecular-biology trade and a new, much-improved animal model of a prevalent but poorly understood tropical parasitic disease called urogenital schistosomiasis, researchers were able to obtain "snapshots" of shifting gene activity levels during the early, acute phase of what for most becomes a chronic bladder infection.

Promising drug slows down advance of Parkinson's disease and improves symptoms Posted: 29 Nov 2012 02:38 PM PST Treating Parkinson's disease patients with the experimental drug GM1 ganglioside improved symptoms and slowed their progression during a two and a half-year trial.

Milk drinkers may yet get heart-healthy omega-3s by the glass Posted: 29 Nov 2012 02:38 PM PST Food science researchers may have reeled milk into the fish oil delivery system, showing it is possible to incorporate omega-3 fatty acids into milk and dairy-based beverages in amounts sufficient to promote heart health, without destroying the milk's taste. The innovation may be a way to help people who do not eat fish get some of the heart-healthy benefits of fish oil.

New insights into mosquitoes' role as involuntary bioterrorists Posted: 29 Nov 2012 02:37 PM PST Biologists have discovered mosquitoes possess a previously unknown mechanism for destroying pathogens that takes advantage of the peculiarities of the insect's circulatory system to increase its effectiveness.

Controversial treatment for autism may do more harm than good, researchers find Posted: 29 Nov 2012 01:21 PM PST A controversial treatment for autism spectrum disorder is not only ineffective but may be harmful, according to a new study.

Defining career paths in health systems improvement Posted: 29 Nov 2012 12:20 PM PST Among numerous programs aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of the US health care system, training the next generation of experts needed to help lead these efforts has received inadequate, according to three physicians. They propose a framework for career development in what they call "health systems improvement."

Proteins that work at the ends of DNA could provide cancer insight Posted: 29 Nov 2012 12:20 PM PST New insights into a protein complex that regulates the very tips of chromosomes could improve methods of screening anti-cancer drugs. Researchers determined the binding mechanism of proteins that protect and regulate telomeres, segments of repeating DNA units that cap the ends of chromosomes and a key target of cancer researchers.

Chromatin remodeling: Activating ACL1 with a little help from 'friends' Posted: 29 Nov 2012 12:19 PM PST Chromatin remodeling —- the packaging and unpackaging of genomic DNA and its associated proteins —- regulates a host of fundamental cellular processes including gene transcription, DNA repair, programmed cell death as well as cell fate. In their latest study, scientists are continuing to unravel the finicky details of how these architectural alterations are controlled.

Autism severity may stem from fear Posted: 29 Nov 2012 11:35 AM PST New research on autism shows that children with the diagnosis struggle to let go of old, outdated fears. Even more significantly, the study found that this rigid fearfulness is linked to the severity of classic symptoms of autism, such as repeated movements and resistance to change.

Delayed treatment for advanced breast cancer has 'profound effect' Posted: 29 Nov 2012 11:35 AM PST Results from a recent study show women who wait more than 60 days to begin treatment for advanced breast cancer face significantly higher risks of dying than women who start therapy shortly after diagnosis.

Adapting fish defenses to block human infections: Antimicrobial peptide of fish gills inspire clean surfaces Posted: 29 Nov 2012 11:35 AM PST Living in an environment teaming with bacteria and fungi, fish have evolved powerful defenses, including antimicrobial peptides located in their gills. Undergraduate researchers are studying the biology and mechanics of one of those peptides with the aim of creating engineered surfaces that can kill bacteria responsible for foodborne illnesses and hospital-acquired infections.

Precisely engineering 3-D brain tissues Posted: 29 Nov 2012 11:34 AM PST Borrowing from microfabrication techniques used in the semiconductor industry, engineers have developed a simple and inexpensive way to create three-dimensional brain tissues in a lab dish.

Body language, not facial expressions, broadcasts what's happening to us Posted: 29 Nov 2012 11:33 AM PST If you think that you can judge by examining someone's facial expressions if he has just hit the jackpot in the lottery or lost everything in the stock market -- think again. Researchers have discovered that -- despite what leading theoretical models and conventional wisdom might indicate -- it just doesn't work that way.

X-ray laser helps fight sleeping sickness: Exploiting parasite's weak spot may lead to new treatments Posted: 29 Nov 2012 11:33 AM PST Scientists have mapped a weak spot in the parasite that causes African sleeping sickness, pinpointing a promising new target for treating a disease that kills tens of thousands of people each year.

Nanobiotechnology: Versatile 3-D nanostructures using DNA 'bricks' Posted: 29 Nov 2012 11:32 AM PST Researchers have created more than 100 three-dimensional nanostructures using DNA building blocks that function like Lego bricks -- a major advance from the two-dimensional structures the same team built a few months ago.

Mild vibrations may provide exercise-like benefits for obese Posted: 29 Nov 2012 10:06 AM PST If you're looking to get some of the benefits of exercise without doing the work, here's some good news. A new research report shows that low-intensity vibrations led to improvements in the immune function of obese mice. If the same effect can be found in people, this could have clinical benefits for obese people suffering from a wide range of immune problems related to obesity.

Roadmap to metabolic reprogramming for aging Posted: 29 Nov 2012 10:05 AM PST To survey previously uncharted territory, a team of researchers have created an "atlas" that maps more than 1,500 unique landmarks within mitochondria that could provide clues to the metabolic connections between caloric restriction and aging.

Biology behind brain development disorder: Mutations in the gene, UBE3B, cause a rare genetic disorder in children Posted: 29 Nov 2012 10:04 AM PST A combination of sequencing and mouse models were used to identify the gene responsible for a brain developmental disorder seen in four patients. The study also shows that the biology uncovered in the mouse model helps to understand the symptoms in patients.

Resolving debate about how tumors spread Posted: 29 Nov 2012 10:03 AM PST Scientists have shown for the first time how cancer cells control the ON/OFF switch of a program used by developing embryos to effectively metastasize in vivo, breaking free and spreading to other parts of the body, where they can proliferate and grow into secondary tumors.

Insects beware: The sea anemone is coming Posted: 29 Nov 2012 08:18 AM PST Insects are becoming resistant to insecticides, presenting a growing need to develop novel ways of pest control. New research shows that the sea anemone's venom harbors toxins that could pose a new generation of environmentally friendly insecticides, which avoid insect resistance. These toxins disable ion channels that mediate pain and inflammation, and could also spur drug development aimed at pain, cardiac disorders, epilepsy and seizure disorders, and immunological diseases.

Bacteria hijack host cell process, create their own food supply to become infectious Posted: 29 Nov 2012 08:18 AM PST Bacteria that cause the tick-borne disease anaplasmosis in humans create their own food supply by hijacking a process in host cells that normally should help kill the pathogenic bugs, scientists have found.

Children with higher intelligence less likely to report chronic widespread pain in adulthood Posted: 29 Nov 2012 08:18 AM PST There is a correlation between childhood intelligence and chronic widespread pain (CWP) in adulthood, according to a new study. About 10-15 percent of adults report CWP, a common musculoskeletal complaint that tends to occur more frequently among women and those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. CWP is a core symptom of fibromyalgia and is one of the most common reasons for consulting a rheumatologist.

From rabbits in Congo, a jump in kids' health Posted: 29 Nov 2012 08:17 AM PST For children in the Democratic Republic of Congo, rabbits are more than furry pets. They are symbol of resilience as the basis of a microfinance program aimed at improving youth health and social outcomes.

Cancer drug shows promise in eradicating latent HIV infection Posted: 29 Nov 2012 07:35 AM PST Breakthrough drugs help people to live longer with HIV, but more research is needed for an actual cure. One challenge involves eradicating the virus when it is latent in the body. New research suggests the cancer drug, JQ1, may be useful in purging latent HIV infection by activating the virus in the presence of potent therapy -- essentially a dead end for the virus.

Homicide spreads like infectious disease Posted: 29 Nov 2012 07:35 AM PST Homicide moves through a city in a process similar to infectious disease, according to a new study that may give police a new tool in tracking and ultimately preventing murders.

Newly created fly to study how a normal cell turns cancerous Posted: 29 Nov 2012 07:35 AM PST The wing of a fruit fly may hold the key to unraveling the genetic and molecular events that transform a normal cell into a cancerous one. The study, conducted on Drosophila melanogaster has reproduced each of the steps known to take place when a healthy cell turns cancerous. The researchers have thus provided an inexpensive and effective model that will allow to scrutinize the genes and molecules involved in each step.

Most of the harmful mutations in people arose in the past 5,000 to 10,000 years Posted: 29 Nov 2012 06:39 AM PST A study of the age of more than 1 million single-letter variations in the human DNA code reveals that most of these mutations are of recent origin, evolutionarily speaking. They arose as a result of explosive population growth, which provides more chances for new mutations to appear in offspring. Many of these mutations are harmful, some have no effect, and others are beneficial now or may provide an adaptive advantage for future generations.

Rules devised for building ideal protein molecules from scratch Posted: 29 Nov 2012 06:39 AM PST By following certain rules, scientists can prepare architectural plans for building ideal protein molecules not found in the real world. Based on computer renditions, previously non-existent proteins can be produced from scratch in the lab. In our imperfect world, proteins can be beset by bulges, kinks, strains, and improperly buried parts, and many diseases arise from protein malformations. The researchers achieved a library of several ideal structures. The principles could aid in designing drugs, vaccines, industrial enzymes, fuels, and pollutant removers.

Testicular cancer risk tripled in boys whose testes fail to descend Posted: 29 Nov 2012 06:39 AM PST Boys whose testes have not descended at birth -- a condition known as cryptorchidism -- are almost three times as likely to develop testicular cancer in later life, finds a new analysis.

Findings support safety of whooping cough vaccine for older adults Posted: 29 Nov 2012 06:37 AM PST A new study of the safety of the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine supports the recommendation that those 65 and older get the vaccine to protect themselves and others, particularly young babies, from pertussis. The findings come as reported US cases of the bacterial infection, also known as whopping cough, are at the highest level since the 1950s.

Relative length of adults' fingers indicator of verbal aggression: Prenatal exposure to testosterone linked Posted: 29 Nov 2012 06:37 AM PST A new study links verbal aggression to prenatal testosterone exposure. Scientists used the 2D:4D measure to predict verbal aggression. This study is the first to use this method to examine prenatal testosterone exposure as a determinant of a communication trait.

Short-term exposure to essential oils lowers blood pressure and heart rate... but only when exposure is less than one hour Posted: 29 Nov 2012 06:34 AM PST The scents which permeate our health spas from aromatic essential oils may provide more benefits than just a sense of rest and well-being.

Making music together connects brains Posted: 29 Nov 2012 06:34 AM PST Anyone who has ever played in an orchestra will be familiar with the phenomenon: the impulse for one's own actions does not seem to come from one's own mind alone, but rather seems to be controlled by the coordinated activity of the group. And indeed, interbrain networks do emerge when making music together – this has now been demonstrated. Scientists used electrodes to trace the brain waves of guitarists playing in duets. They also observed substantial differences in the musicians' brain activity, depending upon whether musicians were leading or following their companion.

Increasing poverty in older age will lead to adverse health outcomes, experts say Posted: 29 Nov 2012 06:34 AM PST Many people will be much poorer than they had expected in their older age and this has profound implications for the health of our ageing population claims an editorial.

Brain inflammation likely key initiator to Prion and Parkinson's disease Posted: 29 Nov 2012 06:33 AM PST Researchers have shown that neuro-inflammation plays a crucial role in initiating prion disease.

Immune cells of the brain renew hopes for curing Alzheimer’s disease Posted: 29 Nov 2012 06:31 AM PST A new experimental study carried out in mice shows that microglia, immune cells of the brain, might play a key role in protecting the brain from Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is long believed that toxic sticky protein deposits in the brain called amyloid beta (Aβ) are responsible for loss of memory in AD patients. Earlier studies have shown that microglia can remove Aβ protein from the brain and therefore be vital for successful therapy. New research indicates that microglia may play a significant role irrespective of their capacity to remove brain Aβ deposits.

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