ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Two-step immunotherapy attacks advanced ovarian cancer
• Diabetes distresses bone marrow stem cells by damaging their microenvironment
• People having stroke should get therapy within 60 minutes of hospital arrival
• Just 11 percent of adults, 5 percent of children participate in medical research in U.S.
• New device traps particulates, kills airborne pathogens
• Men taking long-acting chronic pain meds five times more likely to have low testosterone levels
• Active duty military personnel prone to sleep disorders and short sleep duration
• Which foods make Americans ill? Whether chicken or salad, food safety at home is key to avoiding illness
• Researcher uncovers potential cause, biomarker for autism and proposes study to investigate theory
• Pediatric orthopaedic surgeons show age-related patterns of spine injury in ATV injuries
• Nanomaterials key to developing stronger artificial hearts
• Hormones can change the breast's genetic material, study finds
• How cancer cells rewire their metabolism to survive
• Scientists identify culprit in obesity-associated high blood pressure
• Longevity Gene: Discovery opens the door to a potential 'molecular fountain of youth'
• Identifying all factors modulating gene expression is actually possible
• Genome-wide atlas of gene enhancers in the brain online
• Nanoparticles that look and act like cells
• Zebrafish may hold the answer to repairing damaged retinas and returning eyesight to people
• A positive family climate in adolescence is linked to marriage quality in adulthood
• Gene finding may lead to treatments effective against all MRSA strains
• 'Petri dish lens' gives hope for new eye treatments
• Time spent watching television is not associated with death among breast cancer survivors
• Electronic health records could help identify which patients most need ICU resources
• Potential of psilocybin to alleviate psychological and spiritual distress in cancer patients is revealed
• 'Neurosteroid' found to prevent brain injury caused by HIV/AIDS
• Exposure to antiepileptic drug in womb linked to autism risk
• Morning after pill conscience clauses in UK risk unwarranted pregnancies, pharmacists argue
• Brain activity study lends insight into schizophrenia
• Patients can emit small, influenza-containing particles into the air during routine care
• Marriage reduces the risk of heart attack in both men and women and at all ages
• Disulfiram: New support for an old addiction drug
• New study highlights impact of environmental change on older people
• Outdoor fast food ads could promote obesity
• Same-day angiography, cardiac surgery confirmed as risk for kidney injury
• Obesity approaching cigarette smoking as leading avoidable cause of premature deaths worldwide

Two-step immunotherapy attacks advanced ovarian cancer Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:30 PM PST Most ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed with late stage disease that is unresponsive to existing therapies. In a new study, researchers show that a two-step personalized immunotherapy treatment -- a dendritic cell vaccine using patients' own tumor followed by adoptive T cell therapy -- triggers anti-tumor immune responses in these type of patients.

Diabetes distresses bone marrow stem cells by damaging their microenvironment Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:30 PM PST New research has shown the presence of a disease affecting small blood vessels, known as microangiopathy, in the bone marrow of diabetic patients.

People having stroke should get therapy within 60 minutes of hospital arrival Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:30 PM PST People having an ischemic stroke should receive clot-dissolving therapy -- if appropriate -- within 60 minutes of arriving at the hospital, according to new American Stroke Association guidelines.

Just 11 percent of adults, 5 percent of children participate in medical research in U.S. Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:29 PM PST Medical research is vital to the advancement of health care, but many medical research studies have too few people who participate. A new study takes an in-depth look at public participation in medical research across the United States.

New device traps particulates, kills airborne pathogens Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:44 PM PST A new device called a soft X-ray electrostatic precipitator protected immunocompromised mice from airborne pathogenic bacteria, viruses, ultrafine particles, and allergens, according to a new article.

Men taking long-acting chronic pain meds five times more likely to have low testosterone levels Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:44 PM PST Low testosterone levels occur five times more often among men who take long-acting instead of short-acting opioids for chronic pain, according to a new study.

Active duty military personnel prone to sleep disorders and short sleep duration Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:44 PM PST A new study found a high prevalence of sleep disorders and a startlingly high rate of short sleep duration among active duty military personnel. The study suggests the need for a cultural change toward appropriate sleep practices throughout the military.

Which foods make Americans ill? Whether chicken or salad, food safety at home is key to avoiding illness Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:43 PM PST A new study analyzing outbreaks of foodborne illness has found contaminated salad greens make the most people sick, but contaminated poultry have resulted in the most deaths. In light of this study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Home Food Safety program -- a collaboration between the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and ConAgra Foods -- encourages Americans, rather than avoid certain foods, to practice safe food handling at home instead.

Researcher uncovers potential cause, biomarker for autism and proposes study to investigate theory Posted: 31 Jan 2013 11:44 AM PST Every day, 125 children are diagnosed with autism in the United States. A new study points to a potential cause and calls for further investigation to test the theory. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) is a protein that is necessary for normal nervous system development but may be deficient in babies who later develop autism. IGF, of which breast milk is a natural source, eventually could prove useful as a biomarker, treatment and prevention for autism.

Pediatric orthopaedic surgeons show age-related patterns of spine injury in ATV injuries Posted: 31 Jan 2013 11:44 AM PST Children continue to account for a disproportionate percentage of morbidity and mortality from ATV-related accidents -- up 240 percent since 1997, according to a new report.

Nanomaterials key to developing stronger artificial hearts Posted: 31 Jan 2013 11:44 AM PST A new study details the creation of innovative cardiac patches that utilize nanotechnology to enhance the conductivity of materials to induce cardiac tissue formation. Creation of these ultra-thin cardiac patches put medicine a step closer to durable, high-functioning artificial tissues that could be used to repair damaged hearts and other organs.

Hormones can change the breast's genetic material, study finds Posted: 31 Jan 2013 11:44 AM PST Scientists in Australia have discovered how female steroid hormones can make dramatic changes to the genetic material in breast cells, changes that could potentially lead to breast cancer. Researchers have identified how pregnancy hormones send signals to critical molecules on the DNA to make changes in the epigenome. The epigenome is a series of chemical tags that modify DNA, controlling which genes are switched on and off.

How cancer cells rewire their metabolism to survive Posted: 31 Jan 2013 11:44 AM PST Many scientists have tried killing tumors by taking away their favorite food, a sugar called glucose. Unfortunately, this treatment approach not only fails to work, it backfires--glucose-starved tumors get more aggressive. In a new study, researchers discovered that the protein PKCz is responsible for this paradox. The research suggests that glucose depletion therapies might work, as long as the cancer cells produce PKCz.

Scientists identify culprit in obesity-associated high blood pressure Posted: 31 Jan 2013 11:44 AM PST Obesity and its related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke are among the most challenging of today's healthcare concerns. Together, they constitute the biggest killer in western society. New findings have identified a target that could hold the key to developing safe therapies to treat obesity and its associated conditions.

Longevity Gene: Discovery opens the door to a potential 'molecular fountain of youth' Posted: 31 Jan 2013 11:44 AM PST Researchers were able to turn back the molecular clock of blood stem cells of old mice by infusing them with a longevity gene. The experiment rejuvenated the aged stem cells' regenerative potential, providing new hope for the development of targeted treatments for age-related degenerative diseases.

Identifying all factors modulating gene expression is actually possible Posted: 31 Jan 2013 11:44 AM PST It was in trying to answer a question related to the functioning of our biological clock that a team in Switzerland has developed a method whose applications are proving to be countless. The researchers wanted to understand how 'timed' signals, present in the blood and controlled by our central clock, located in the brain, act on peripheral organs.

Genome-wide atlas of gene enhancers in the brain online Posted: 31 Jan 2013 11:44 AM PST Researchers have unveiled a first-of-its-kind atlas of gene-enhancers in the brain that should greatly benefit future research into the underlying causes of neurological disorders such as autism, epilepsy and schizophrenia.

Nanoparticles that look and act like cells Posted: 31 Jan 2013 11:41 AM PST By cloaking nanoparticles in the membranes of white blood cells, scientists may have found a way to prevent the body from recognizing and destroying them before they deliver their drug payloads.

Zebrafish may hold the answer to repairing damaged retinas and returning eyesight to people Posted: 31 Jan 2013 09:13 AM PST Zebrafish, the staple of genetic research, may hold the answer to repairing damaged retinas and returning eyesight to people. Researchers have discovered that a zebrafish's stem cells can selectively regenerate damaged photoreceptor cells.

A positive family climate in adolescence is linked to marriage quality in adulthood Posted: 31 Jan 2013 09:09 AM PST Experiencing a positive family climate as a teenager may be connected to your relationships later in life, according to new research.

Gene finding may lead to treatments effective against all MRSA strains Posted: 31 Jan 2013 09:06 AM PST New research has pinpointed a gene that causes the dominant strain of MRSA infection to linger on the skin longer than other strains, allowing it to be passed more readily from one person to the next. In uncovering this property, researchers have identified a novel target for developing new treatments against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

'Petri dish lens' gives hope for new eye treatments Posted: 31 Jan 2013 06:52 AM PST A cure for congenital sight impairment caused by lens damage is closer following new research. Scientists in Australia are closer to growing parts of the human eye in the lab. They have, for the first time, derived and purified lens epithelium -- the embryonic tissue from which the lens of the eye develops. The purity of the cells paves the way for future applications in regenerative medicine.

Time spent watching television is not associated with death among breast cancer survivors Posted: 31 Jan 2013 06:51 AM PST Study evaluates the link between sedentary time and death among cancer survivors. Spending a lot of time watching television after breast cancer diagnosis is not linked to death in these breast cancer survivors. It appears that after accounting for self-reported physical activity levels after diagnosis, sedentary behavior was not an independent risk factor for death.

Electronic health records could help identify which patients most need ICU resources Posted: 31 Jan 2013 06:50 AM PST Advances in health information technology may lead to more efficient use of limited and expensive critical care resources, authors suggest in a new article.

Potential of psilocybin to alleviate psychological and spiritual distress in cancer patients is revealed Posted: 31 Jan 2013 06:50 AM PST A recently published book chapter reviews the potential of a novel psychoactive drug, psilocybin, in alleviating the psychological and spiritual distress that often accompanies a life-threatening cancer diagnosis.

'Neurosteroid' found to prevent brain injury caused by HIV/AIDS Posted: 31 Jan 2013 05:59 AM PST Scientists found that DHEA-S may prevent neurocognitive impairment affecting a significant percentage of AIDS patients. A new report describes how a network of steroid molecules in the brain, termed "neurosteroids," is disrupted during HIV infection leading to brain damage.

Exposure to antiepileptic drug in womb linked to autism risk Posted: 31 Jan 2013 05:46 AM PST Children whose mothers take the antiepileptic drug sodium valproate while pregnant are at significantly increased risk of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, suggests a small study.

Morning after pill conscience clauses in UK risk unwarranted pregnancies, pharmacists argue Posted: 31 Jan 2013 05:46 AM PST Conscience clauses, which allow pharmacists to opt out of providing the "morning after pill" without a prescription, risk unwanted pregnancies and undermine the principle of universal healthcare in the UK's National Health Service, say pharmacists.

Brain activity study lends insight into schizophrenia Posted: 31 Jan 2013 05:46 AM PST Magnetic fields produced by the naturally occurring electrical currents in the brain could potentially be used as an objective test for schizophrenia and help to better understand the disease, according to new research.

Patients can emit small, influenza-containing particles into the air during routine care Posted: 31 Jan 2013 05:46 AM PST A new study suggests that patients with influenza can emit small virus-containing particles into the surrounding air during routine patient care, potentially exposing health care providers to influenza. The findings raise the possibility that current influenza infection control recommendations may not always be adequate to protect providers from influenza during routine patient care in hospitals.

Marriage reduces the risk of heart attack in both men and women and at all ages Posted: 31 Jan 2013 05:45 AM PST A large population-based study from Finland has shown that being unmarried increases the risk of fatal and non-fatal heart attack in both men and women whatever their age. Conversely, say the study investigators, especially among middle-aged couples, being married and cohabiting are associated with "considerably better prognosis of acute cardiac events both before hospitalization and after reaching the hospital alive".

Disulfiram: New support for an old addiction drug Posted: 31 Jan 2013 05:44 AM PST Disulfiram was the first medication approved for the treatment of alcoholism over 50 years ago. It works, at least in part, by preventing the metabolism of an alcohol by-product, acetaldehyde. High levels of acetaldehyde in the body quickly cause unpleasant symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, headache, and accelerated heart rate. Thus, disulfiram provides a very strong incentive to avoid drinking.

New study highlights impact of environmental change on older people Posted: 31 Jan 2013 05:44 AM PST Recent natural disasters illustrate vulnerability of older people: majority of deaths from the Great East Japan Earthquake (2011) and Hurricane Katrina (2005) occurred among older people. Researchers are calling for better awareness among policy makers and the public of the impact climate change and deteriorating environmental quality will have on an aging population.

Outdoor fast food ads could promote obesity Posted: 31 Jan 2013 05:38 AM PST A new study suggests that the more outdoor advertisements promoting fast food and soft drinks there are in a given census tract, the higher the likelihood that the area's residents are overweight.

Same-day angiography, cardiac surgery confirmed as risk for kidney injury Posted: 31 Jan 2013 05:37 AM PST Performing heart surgery on the same day as angiography is now confirmed as a risk factor for acute kidney injury (AKI), and hospital policy limiting the practice for elective cardiac surgery has significantly reduced the rate of AKI.

Obesity approaching cigarette smoking as leading avoidable cause of premature deaths worldwide Posted: 31 Jan 2013 05:37 AM PST A new study finds that there has been a systematic underestimation during the last several decades of the hazards of obesity and its contribution to avoidable and premature deaths from cardiovascular disease, cancer and other causes.

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