ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Insulin plus growth factor inhibitor limits vision damage in diabetic mice
• Holiday spices often abused for cheap highs, says toxicologist
• Hypertension traced to source in brain, triggering new paradigm for hypertension treatment
• People with HIV hospitalized less often since combination antiretroviral drug therapy introduced
• Emerging ethical dilemmas in science and technology
• Study estimates prevalence of pediatric caustic ingestion injuries
• Two cups of milk a day ideal for children's health, new research shows
• Chances seen rising for chikungunya outbreaks in NYC, Atlanta, Miami
• Scientists developing quick way to ID people exposed to ionizing radiation
• Should physicians prescribe cognitive enhancers to healthy individuals?
• Autoimmune disease: Retraining white blood cells
• Genetic manipulation of urate alters neurodegeneration in mouse model of Parkinson's disease
• New immune therapy successfully treats brain tumors in mice
• Radio waves to kidneys lower persistent high blood pressure
• Rise in New Jersey autism prevalence documented in new study
• Hybrid tunnel may help guide severed nerves back to health
• Chronic worriers at higher risk for PTSD, research finds
• New technology may enable earlier cancer diagnosis: Nanoparticles amplify tumor signals, making them much easier to detect in urine
• Speaking skills crucial for hearing impaired children in the classroom
• Combo-snacks of cheese and vegetables cut kids calories, study suggests
• PRT versus IMRT toxicity in Medicare beneficiaries with prostate cancer
• New window on Parkinson's disease: Metallic probe proves able to detect fibrils from misfolded proteins in real time
• GOOOAAALLL! What soccer can teach health researchers
• To revert breast cancer cells, give them the squeeze
• Re-engineered optogenetic switches allow direct measurement of complex cellular systems
• Immune cells use tethered slings to avoid being swept away
• Breast cancer cells growing in 3-D matrix revert to normal
• Fitting 'smart' mobile phone with magnifying optics creates 'real' cell phone
• Rare, lethal childhood disease tracked to failure to degrade nerve cells' filaments
• Changes in progenitor cell population in breast may be overlooked factor in breast cancer
• New cell-based system can screen drug candidates for cardiac toxicity long before they leave lab
• Neurons die in Alzheimer's because of faulty cell cycle control before plaques and tangles appear
• New guidelines can improve treatment for severe heart attack patients
• Novel role for protein linked to obesity and development of type 2 diabetes identified
• New form of cell division found: Natural back-up mechanism during faulty cell division
• Improving the development of new cancer models using an advanced biomedical imaging method
• Rationing soft drink sizes: A good public health move for Canada, experts argue
• Physicians in Canada should not prescribe ADD drugs to healthy people, experts argue
• Regulator of healthy life span uncovered
• Perceived stress may predict future coronary heart disease risk
• New molecule linked to late-stage breast cancer
• Muscle weakness in Down syndrome: New study offers insights
• A layer of cool, healthy air: Stratum ventilation systems may reduce spread of airborne diseases
• Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders in children
• Research into bleeding prevention post-birth could save lives
• Role of oxidative stress in diseases needs to be re-evaluated: Preventive detention for oxidizing agents
• Brain imaging identifies bipolar disorder risk in adolescents
• Genetic defect in sex cells may predispose to childhood leukemia
• Resident fatigue, stress trigger motor vehicle incidents
• Biological pathway that controls the leakiness of blood vessels unraveled
• Why are kids in asthma hotspots in NYC more likely to visit the ER? Exercise may be a factor
• Mechanism used by BRCA1 to suppress tumors uncovered
• Flexing fingers for micro-robotics: Scientists create a powerful, microscale actuator
• Snack attack: Eating unhealthy snack foods may affect cancer risk in patients with Lynch syndrome
• New technology allows scientists to capture and preserve cancer cells circulating in the bloodstream
• Sense of security most important for older people receiving care at home
• Worries about dementia: How hospitalization affects the elderly
• New public-access source with 3-D information for protein interactions
• Reproduction and life span are intertwined
• Achilles' heel of pathogenic bacteria discovered

Insulin plus growth factor inhibitor limits vision damage in diabetic mice Posted: 17 Dec 2012 04:06 PM PST A new therapeutic approach to diabetes that combines insulin and an inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) betacellulin could limit the progression of diabetic macular edema (DME), researchers report.

Holiday spices often abused for cheap highs, says toxicologist Posted: 17 Dec 2012 04:05 PM PST Cinnamon, nutmeg and even marshmallows are being intentionally abused in risky behavior, says a toxicologist. Once folly for teenagers, pre-teens are now copying what they see from Internet videos with dangerous results.

Hypertension traced to source in brain, triggering new paradigm for hypertension treatment Posted: 17 Dec 2012 02:09 PM PST A new study traces hypertension to a newfound cellular source in the brain and shows that treatments targeting this area can reverse the disease.

People with HIV hospitalized less often since combination antiretroviral drug therapy introduced Posted: 17 Dec 2012 01:24 PM PST People with HIV are being hospitalized in Ontario significantly less often than they were 15 years ago when combination antiretroviral drug therapy was introduced, new research has found.

Emerging ethical dilemmas in science and technology Posted: 17 Dec 2012 01:24 PM PST As a new year approaches, a group of scientists have created a list of emerging ethical dilemmas and policy issues in science and technology for 2013.

Study estimates prevalence of pediatric caustic ingestion injuries Posted: 17 Dec 2012 01:24 PM PST The annual economic burden of pediatric caustic ingestion injuries was estimated at nearly $23 million with an estimated prevalence of injuries requiring hospitalization for 807 children in 2009.

Two cups of milk a day ideal for children's health, new research shows Posted: 17 Dec 2012 12:27 PM PST New research has answered one of the most common questions parents ask their doctors: How much milk should I be giving my children? The answer is two cups per day.

Chances seen rising for chikungunya outbreaks in NYC, Atlanta, Miami Posted: 17 Dec 2012 12:27 PM PST Global travel and climate warming could be creating the right conditions for outbreaks of a new virus in this country, according to a new computer model that predicts outbreaks of chikungunya, a painful virus transported by travelers and spread by the invasive Asian tiger mosquito, could occur in 2013 in New York City during August and September, in Atlanta from June through September, and year-round in Miami.

Scientists developing quick way to ID people exposed to ionizing radiation Posted: 17 Dec 2012 12:27 PM PST A new study could lead to a blood test that detects if a person has been exposed to radiation, measures their dose, and separates people suffering from inflammation injuries -- all in a matter of hours. They identified eight DNA-repair genes in human blood whose expression responses change more than twofold soon after blood is exposed to radiation.

Should physicians prescribe cognitive enhancers to healthy individuals? Posted: 17 Dec 2012 12:26 PM PST Physicians should not prescribe cognitive enhancers to healthy individuals, states a new report. The authors provide their recommendation based on the professional integrity of physicians, the drugs' uncertain benefits and harms, and limited health care resources.

Autoimmune disease: Retraining white blood cells Posted: 17 Dec 2012 12:26 PM PST Symptoms of an autoimmune disease disappeared after a team of scientists retrained the white blood cells involved using a specially engineered protein. This method is extremely promising for treating diseases such as type I diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

Genetic manipulation of urate alters neurodegeneration in mouse model of Parkinson's disease Posted: 17 Dec 2012 12:26 PM PST Investigators report that mice with a genetic mutation increasing urate levels were protected against the kind of neurodegeneration that underlies Parkinson's disease, while the damage was worse in animals with abnormally low urate. Their findings add further support to the possibility that increasing levels of urate may protect against Parkinson's disease.

New immune therapy successfully treats brain tumors in mice Posted: 17 Dec 2012 12:26 PM PST Using an artificial protein that stimulates the body's natural immune system to fight cancer, a research team has engineered a lethal weapon that kills brain tumors in mice while sparing other tissue. If it can be shown to work in humans, it would overcome a major obstacle that has hampered the effectiveness of immune-based therapies.

Radio waves to kidneys lower persistent high blood pressure Posted: 17 Dec 2012 12:25 PM PST A minimally invasive procedure lowered blood pressure in patients whose condition failed to respond to medication. Catheter-based renal denervation was found to be safe and effective in lowering blood pressure up to one year after starting treatment, and did not show any lasting harm to the kidneys or heart. The procedure ultimately may offer a new treatment alternative for reducing high blood pressure, a global public health epidemic.

Rise in New Jersey autism prevalence documented in new study Posted: 17 Dec 2012 12:25 PM PST In a study of 58 communities in four New Jersey counties, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevalence is found to have risen from 10.6 per thousand in 2002, to 17.4 per thousand in 2006.

Hybrid tunnel may help guide severed nerves back to health Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:07 AM PST Building a tunnel made up of both hard and soft materials to guide the reconnection of severed nerve endings may be the first step toward helping patients who have suffered extensive nerve trauma regain feeling and movement, according to a biomedical engineers.

Chronic worriers at higher risk for PTSD, research finds Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:07 AM PST People who worry constantly are at greater risk for post-traumatic stress disorder, according to new research.

New technology may enable earlier cancer diagnosis: Nanoparticles amplify tumor signals, making them much easier to detect in urine Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:07 AM PST Finding ways to diagnose cancer earlier could greatly improve the chances of survival for many patients. One way to do this is to look for specific proteins secreted by cancer cells, which circulate in the bloodstream. However, the quantity of these biomarkers is so low that detecting them has proven difficult. A new technology may help to make biomarker detection much easier. Researchers have developed nanoparticles that can home to a tumor and interact with cancer proteins to produce thousands of biomarkers, which can then be easily detected in the patient's urine.

Speaking skills crucial for hearing impaired children in the classroom Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:07 AM PST New research shows that the successful integration of hearing-impaired children into hearing classrooms is dependent upon how well the child can speak. Children with hearing loss, their parents, and their teachers can aid successful integration by focusing on speech development.

Combo-snacks of cheese and vegetables cut kids calories, study suggests Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:06 AM PST A new study finds that serving children combined snacks of vegetables and cheese led them to eat 72 percent fewer calories -- and be just as satisfied as those who were served only potato chips.

PRT versus IMRT toxicity in Medicare beneficiaries with prostate cancer Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:06 AM PST There is no difference between proton radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy when comparing the toxicity among Medicare beneficiary patients with prostate cancer at 12 months post-treatment, according to a new study.

New window on Parkinson's disease: Metallic probe proves able to detect fibrils from misfolded proteins in real time Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:06 AM PST Scientists discover a new molecular probe to track aggregated fibroids inside living cells that cause Parkinson's disease.

GOOOAAALLL! What soccer can teach health researchers Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:06 AM PST Health researchers can learn from soccer to create high-quality studies that recognize complexities in health interventions.

To revert breast cancer cells, give them the squeeze Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:05 AM PST Researchers have found that compression can guide malignant breast cells back to a normal growth pattern. The findings demonstrate the influence of mechanical forces on a cell's destiny.

Re-engineered optogenetic switches allow direct measurement of complex cellular systems Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:05 AM PST A chemical biology lab has re-engineered optogenetic switches so that switches run backward, firing bursts of fluorescent light that reveal newly detailed patterns of electrical activity in neural networks, beating cardiac cells and developing embryos.

Immune cells use tethered slings to avoid being swept away Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:05 AM PST Neutrophils, critical components of the immune system's response to bacteria and other pathogens, throw out tube-like tethers that act as anchor points, controlling their speed as they roll along the walls of blood vessels during extremely fast blood flow en route to an infection site.

Breast cancer cells growing in 3-D matrix revert to normal Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:05 AM PST Cancer cells in lab cultures have not "forgotten" how to be healthy since they can be guided back into their "normal" growth program by giving them the right cues. Applying compressive force to malignant breast epithelial cells growing within a laminin-rich 3-D extracellular matrix caused them to turn into highly organized, growth-arrested acini, the milk-secreting spherical structures that are central to breast tissue.

Fitting 'smart' mobile phone with magnifying optics creates 'real' cell phone Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:05 AM PST By fitting a "smart" mobile phone with magnifying optics, researchers created a real "cell" phone. a diagnostic-quality microscope for clinics in developing countries as well as American biology classrooms.

Rare, lethal childhood disease tracked to failure to degrade nerve cells' filaments Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:05 AM PST A defective protein explains why a failure in protein degradation would lead to the massive aggregations of a class of filaments that disrupt the functioning of neurons of children with the rare, untreatable genetic disease giant axonal neuropathy. Discovery may have implications for more common types of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Changes in progenitor cell population in breast may be overlooked factor in breast cancer Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:05 AM PST DNA mutations that accumulate as women age are not the sole contributor to higher frequency of breast cancer in women over 50. In breast cancer and aging, changes in the populations of progenitor cells in breast tissue may be a powerful and until now overlooked factor.

New cell-based system can screen drug candidates for cardiac toxicity long before they leave lab Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:05 AM PST A new stem cell-derived system for screening experimental drugs for cardiotoxicity could identify dangerous side effects early in the development process, thereby potentially saving time, lives and money. Cardiotoxicity is one of the primary reasons new drugs wash out in preclinical or even full clinical trials. Currently used assays are ineffective at assessing potential adverse interactions with other biochemical or contractile processes.

Neurons die in Alzheimer's because of faulty cell cycle control before plaques and tangles appear Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:05 AM PST The two infamous proteins, amyloid-beta and tau, that characterize advanced Alzheimer's disease, start healthy neurons on road to cell death long before appearance of deadly plaques and tangles by working together to reactivate supposedly blocked cell cycle in brain cells, according to new research.

New guidelines can improve treatment for severe heart attack patients Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:04 AM PST New streamlined guidelines will help healthcare providers better treat patients with the most severe type of heart attacks, according to an American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology statement.

Novel role for protein linked to obesity and development of type 2 diabetes identified Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:04 AM PST Researchers have taken another step toward better understanding the metabolic functions of obesity and its connection to type 2 diabetes.

New form of cell division found: Natural back-up mechanism during faulty cell division Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:03 AM PST Researchers have discovered a new form of cell division in human cells. They believe it serves as a natural back-up mechanism during faulty cell division, preventing some cells from going down a path that can lead to cancer.

Improving the development of new cancer models using an advanced biomedical imaging method Posted: 17 Dec 2012 09:16 AM PST Scientists have demonstrated that an advanced magnetic resonance imaging method can non-invasively evaluate the cellular proliferation of tumor models of breast cancer. This quantitative imaging method evaluates the diffusion of water in tumor tissue, which correlates with the growth rates of the tumor models. The results can contribute to the development of new tumor models for cancer research.

Rationing soft drink sizes: A good public health move for Canada, experts argue Posted: 17 Dec 2012 09:16 AM PST New York City's limit of a maximum 16-ounce size of sugar-sweetened drinks for sale in eating establishments is a positive public health move and should be replicated in Canada, argues a new editorial.

Physicians in Canada should not prescribe ADD drugs to healthy people, experts argue Posted: 17 Dec 2012 09:16 AM PST Physicians in Canada should consider refusing to prescribe cognitive enhancement medications -- also used to treat attention deficit disorder -- to healthy patients, states a new analysis article. Lack of evidence for benefits and possibility of harm, limited health care resources and professional integrity of physicians are reasons why this use is not acceptable.

Regulator of healthy life span uncovered Posted: 17 Dec 2012 09:14 AM PST A new series of studies in mouse models uncovered that the aging process is characterized by high rates of whole-chromosome losses and gains in various organs, including heart, muscle, kidney and eye, and demonstrate that reducing these rates slows age-related tissue deterioration and promotes a healthier life span.

Perceived stress may predict future coronary heart disease risk Posted: 17 Dec 2012 09:14 AM PST Are you stressed? Results of a new meta-analysis of six studies involving nearly 120,000 people indicate that the answer to that question may help predict one's risk of incident coronary heart disease (CHD) or death from CHD.

New molecule linked to late-stage breast cancer Posted: 17 Dec 2012 09:14 AM PST Researchers have identified a molecule linked to more aggressive forms of breast cancer -- a discovery that could point the way to potential cures.

Muscle weakness in Down syndrome: New study offers insights Posted: 17 Dec 2012 09:14 AM PST Study led by researchers at Syracuse University offers insights into role of muscle weakness in Down syndrome.

A layer of cool, healthy air: Stratum ventilation systems may reduce spread of airborne diseases Posted: 17 Dec 2012 08:07 AM PST Stratum ventilation systems have been touted as a much more energy efficient system for cooling buildings such as school rooms and offices in hotter climes based on the provisions of the recent ANSI/ASHRAE 55-2010. They may also reduce the risk of the spread of airborne diseases according to a new study.

Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders in children Posted: 17 Dec 2012 08:06 AM PST More than one in every ten schoolchildren suffers from a transient tic disorder, and 1% have a particular type of tic disorder known as Tourette syndrome. Researchers report on various modes of diagnosis and treatment for these disorders.

Research into bleeding prevention post-birth could save lives Posted: 17 Dec 2012 08:06 AM PST Research brings together evidence about the potential for misoprostol to prevent bleeding after home births in low resource countries.

Role of oxidative stress in diseases needs to be re-evaluated: Preventive detention for oxidizing agents Posted: 17 Dec 2012 07:26 AM PST Oxidative stress is believed to cause a number of diseases. Up to now, it has been common practice to measure oxidative stress levels by determining the oxidation state of a small molecule called glutathione in cell extracts. Scientists have now discovered that cells under stress deposit their oxidized glutathione in a cellular waste repository. This protects cells from oxidative stress – and questions the validity of the conventional measuring method.

Brain imaging identifies bipolar disorder risk in adolescents Posted: 17 Dec 2012 07:26 AM PST Australian researchers have used brain imaging technology to show that young people with a known risk of bipolar (but as yet have no signs of the condition) have clear and quantifiable differences in brain activity when compared to controls.

Genetic defect in sex cells may predispose to childhood leukemia Posted: 17 Dec 2012 07:25 AM PST Researchers have found a possible heredity mechanism that predisposes children to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common type of blood cancer in children. The presence of a genetic defect in the egg or sperm from which children having ALL arise may be a prerequisite for the disease to develop.

Resident fatigue, stress trigger motor vehicle incidents Posted: 17 Dec 2012 07:25 AM PST It appears that long, arduous hours in the hospital are causing more than stress and fatigue among doctors-in-training -- they're crashing, or nearly crashing, their cars after work, according to new research. Nearly half of the roughly 300 Mayo Clinic residents polled during the course of their residencies reported nearly getting into a motor vehicle crash during their training, and about 11 percent were actually involved in a traffic accident.

Biological pathway that controls the leakiness of blood vessels unraveled Posted: 17 Dec 2012 07:25 AM PST Scientists have decoded the entire pathway that regulates leakiness of blood vessels — a condition that promotes a wide number of disorders, such as heart disease, cancer growth and spread, inflammation and respiratory distress.

Why are kids in asthma hotspots in NYC more likely to visit the ER? Exercise may be a factor Posted: 17 Dec 2012 06:15 AM PST Asthmatic children living in asthma hotspots in New York City were twice as likely to have experienced symptoms after exercise and more likely to have visited their doctor in a hurry or an ER because of breathing problems.

Mechanism used by BRCA1 to suppress tumors uncovered Posted: 17 Dec 2012 06:15 AM PST A new reveals how a well-known tumor suppressor gene may be functioning to stop cancer cell growth. The findings focus on the gene BRCA1.

Flexing fingers for micro-robotics: Scientists create a powerful, microscale actuator Posted: 17 Dec 2012 06:15 AM PST Researchers have developed an elegant and powerful new microscale actuator that can flex like a tiny beckoning finger. Based on an oxide material that expands and contracts dramatically in response to a small temperature variation, the actuators are smaller than the width of a human hair and are promising for microfluidics, drug delivery, and artificial muscles.

Snack attack: Eating unhealthy snack foods may affect cancer risk in patients with Lynch syndrome Posted: 17 Dec 2012 06:15 AM PST A new analysis has found that loading up on snack foods may increase cancer risk in individuals with an inborn susceptibility to colorectal and other cancers. The study suggests that an eating pattern low in snack foods could help these individuals -- who have a condition called Lynch syndrome -- lower their risk.

New technology allows scientists to capture and preserve cancer cells circulating in the bloodstream Posted: 17 Dec 2012 06:15 AM PST Scientists have developed a new nanoscale Velcro-like device that captures and releases tumor cells that have broken away from primary tumors and are circulating in the bloodstream. This new nanotechnology could be used for cancer diagnosis and give insight into the mechanisms of how cancer spreads throughout the body.

Sense of security most important for older people receiving care at home Posted: 17 Dec 2012 06:13 AM PST Older people living at home believe they get more effective healthcare services when they have a sense of security and continuity of care through a key or specific professional, according to a new study.

Worries about dementia: How hospitalization affects the elderly Posted: 17 Dec 2012 06:13 AM PST Older people often worry about dementia and while some risks are known, for example alcoholism or stroke, the effects of illness are less clear. New research looks at illness requiring hospitalization and treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) and finds that infection or severe sepsis, neurological dysfunction, such as delirium, or acute dialysis are all independently associated with an increased risk of a subsequent diagnosis of dementia.

New public-access source with 3-D information for protein interactions Posted: 17 Dec 2012 06:11 AM PST Researchers have developed a platform that compiles all the atomic data, previously stored in diverse databases, on protein structures and protein interactions for eight organisms of relevance. They apply a singular homology-based modelling procedure.

Reproduction and life span are intertwined Posted: 17 Dec 2012 06:11 AM PST Removing a roundworm's germ cells prolongs the animal's life. The gonad is well known to be important for reproduction but also affects animal life span. Removal of germ cells – the sperm and egg producing cells – increases longevity of the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms were a mystery. Now scientists have discovered that germ cell removal flips a "molecular switch" that extends the life span by using components of a "developmental clock".

Achilles' heel of pathogenic bacteria discovered Posted: 17 Dec 2012 06:11 AM PST Multidrug-resistant bacteria remain a major concern for hospitals and nursing homes worldwide. Propagation of bacterial resistance is alarming and makes the search for new antimicrobials increasingly urgent. Scientists have now identified a potential new target to fight bacteria: the factor EF-P. EF-P plays a crucial role in the production of proteins that are essential for the virulence of EHEC or salmonellae. The researchers' findings suggest that drugs blocking EF-P would impair the fitness of pathogenic bacteria and might lead to a new generation of specific antibiotics that allow to combat infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens.

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