ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

---

• Baby wash does not damage baby's skin barrier function, study finds
• Caffeine linked to low birth weight babies
• A solution to sinusitis from the sea
• Thigh fat may be to blame for older adults who slow down
• Could an old antidepressant treat sickle cell disease?
• Bone marrow cells used in bladder regeneration
• New study on hepatitis C drug treatment in vivo and in vitro
• Shedding new light on infant brain development
• Reduced Lung Function in Infancy Associated with Wheeze Later
• Women have higher risk of hip implant failure
• National screening benchmarks for finding polyps during a colonoscopy might be too low
• Office workers beware: Sitting time associated with increased risk of chronic diseases
• Stem cell-based bioartificial tissues and organs
• International space station plays host to innovative infectious disease research
• Memory appears susceptible to eradication of fear responses
• Pathway controlling cell growth revealed
• Gut bacteria linked to cholesterol metabolism
• Molecules generated that can halt metastasis of colon cancer
• Paving the way for better sleep in Alzheimer's
• Genetic key to preventing spine tumors
• Blood is thicker than water – and blood plasma is, too
• Diamond sheds light on basic building blocks of life
• 'Activating' RNA takes DNA on a loop through time and space
• Genetically modified crops are overregulated, food science expert says
• Heart condition: Arrhythmia culprit caught in action
• Fighting disease deep inside the brain
• The quest for a better bionic hand: Implantable interfaces connect a hand prosthesis to the nerves
• Links between ozone levels and cardiac arrest analyzed
• Ancient teeth bacteria record disease evolution
• Losing hope of a good night's sleep is risk factor for suicide
• Novel herbal compound offers potential to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease
• Possible link between diabetes and increased risk of heart attack death
• New enzyme that acts as innate immunity sensor discovered
• Neuronal activity induces tau release from healthy neurons
• New findings on genetic risks of Behçet's disease
• Big improvement in diabetes control over past decades
• Not your conventional nucleic acids: Spherical nucleic acids have novel properties that are perfect for biomedical applications
• 'The Scars of Human Evolution': Physical fallout from two-footed walking
• Mussel-inspired 'glue' for surgical repair and cancer drug delivery
• Same genetic defect causes Pompe disease in both humans and dogs
• Horse meat scandal: Experts views from across Europe
• Is there a Neanderthal in the house?
• Prevention efforts focused on youth reduce prescription abuse into adulthood
• Natural probiotic for osteoporosis? Building healthy bones takes guts
• Hospitalization: Strong link between income inequality and readmission risk, but not mortality
• Smoking bans linked with 'successive reductions' in preterm birth
• Combo of Avastin, second drug shows promise fighting brain cancer
• Alcohol consumption is a leading preventable cause of cancer death in U.S., experts say
• The human pathogen Streptococcus pneumonia shields foreign DNA derived from other bacteria to promote genetic diversity and vaccine evasion

Baby wash does not damage baby's skin barrier function, study finds Posted: 18 Feb 2013 05:15 PM PST New research has found washing newborn babies in a specific baby wash is just as safe as using water alone in terms of maintaining healthy skin.

Caffeine linked to low birth weight babies Posted: 18 Feb 2013 05:15 PM PST Maternal nutrition is important to a developing embryo and to the health of the child later in life. Supplementing the diet with specific vitamins is known to increase health of the fetus for example folic acid (vitamin B9) reduces the risk of spina bifida. However not everything an adult might consume is beneficial to a developing baby. New research shows that caffeine is linked to low birth weight babies and that caffeine from coffee in linked to increasing length of pregnancy.

A solution to sinusitis from the sea Posted: 18 Feb 2013 02:33 PM PST Scientists and surgeons are developing a new nasal spray from a marine microbe originally being investigated to clear the hulls of ships in order to help clear chronic sinusitis.

Thigh fat may be to blame for older adults who slow down Posted: 18 Feb 2013 02:32 PM PST A new study shows that an increase in fat throughout the thigh is predictive of mobility loss in otherwise healthy older adults.

Could an old antidepressant treat sickle cell disease? Posted: 18 Feb 2013 02:32 PM PST An antidepressant drug used since the 1960s may also hold promise for treating sickle cell disease, according to a surprising new finding made in mice and human red blood cells by a team has spent more than three decades studying the basic biology of the condition.

Bone marrow cells used in bladder regeneration Posted: 18 Feb 2013 01:42 PM PST A new approach to bladder regeneration uses bone marrow cells to recreate the organ's smooth muscle, vasculature and nerve tissue.

New study on hepatitis C drug treatment in vivo and in vitro Posted: 18 Feb 2013 01:41 PM PST Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects 4 million in the US and is the prirmary cause of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. New research shows that daclatasvir, an ant - HCV drug, has two modes of action and provides a more accurate estimate of the HCV half-life.

Shedding new light on infant brain development Posted: 18 Feb 2013 01:41 PM PST A new study finds that the infant brain does not control its blood flow the same way as the adult brain, that the control of brain blood flow develops with age. These findings could change the way researchers study brain development in infants and children.

Reduced Lung Function in Infancy Associated with Wheeze Later Posted: 18 Feb 2013 01:41 PM PST A study in Australia suggests that reduced lung function in infancy was associated with wheezing beyond childhood at 18 years of age, according to a new report.

Women have higher risk of hip implant failure Posted: 18 Feb 2013 01:41 PM PST Women appear to have a higher risk of implant failure than men following total hip replacement after considering patient-, surgery-, surgeon-, volume- and implant-specific risk factors, according to a new report.

National screening benchmarks for finding polyps during a colonoscopy might be too low Posted: 18 Feb 2013 10:23 AM PST Current national guidelines provide benchmarks regarding the number of polyps physicians should detect, on average, during a colonoscopy. Recent studies suggest these benchmarks may be too low.

Office workers beware: Sitting time associated with increased risk of chronic diseases Posted: 18 Feb 2013 10:23 AM PST Those who sat for more than four hours per day were significantly more likely to report having a chronic disease such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.

Stem cell-based bioartificial tissues and organs Posted: 18 Feb 2013 07:30 AM PST Surgeons have successfully transplanting bioengineered stem cell-based trachea, composed of both artificial and biological material. Now they plan to use the technique to recreate more complex tissues, such as the esophagus and diaphragm or organs such as the heart and lungs. Researchers have also made an experimental attempt to regenerate brain tissue in mice and rats.

International space station plays host to innovative infectious disease research Posted: 18 Feb 2013 07:30 AM PST A microbiologist is using the ISS platform to pursue new research into the effects of microgravity on disease-causing organisms.

Memory appears susceptible to eradication of fear responses Posted: 18 Feb 2013 07:29 AM PST Fear responses can only be erased when people learn something new while retrieving the fear memory. This is the conclusion of a new study.

Pathway controlling cell growth revealed Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:27 AM PST Scientists have discovered a genetic defect that can halt cell growth and force cells into a death-evading survival state.

Gut bacteria linked to cholesterol metabolism Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:25 AM PST Researchers have shown that cholesterol metabolism is regulated by bacteria in the small intestine. These findings may be important for the development of new drugs for cardiovascular disease.

Molecules generated that can halt metastasis of colon cancer Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:25 AM PST Medical researchers have managed to halt the progress of colon cancer and its metastasis in the liver in an experimental model with mice. This advance, that may open a new path for the future treatment of such pathologies, has been achieved by creating molecules which interfere with the adhesion of tumor cells to other cells of the organism. In this way, the molecules halt both the growth of the tumor and the dissemination of the tumor to and its proliferation in other organs.

Paving the way for better sleep in Alzheimer's Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:25 AM PST A new sleep pattern monitoring system has been developed by UK researchers to help spot sleep disturbance in people diagnosed with early dementia. The system, known as PAViS, could be used remotely by healthcare workers to view sleep profiles and analyze sleep patterns based on sensory data gathered at the patient's home.

Genetic key to preventing spine tumors Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:25 AM PST Genetic medicine experts have identified a new gene responsible for causing an inherited form of tumor, known as spinal meningioma. Meningiomas are the commonest form of tumor affecting the brain and spine.

Blood is thicker than water – and blood plasma is, too Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:25 AM PST Blood flows differently than water. Anyone who has ever cut themselves knows that blood flows viscously and rather erratically. The similarity between blood and ketchup is something not only filmmakers are aware of. Experts refer to these materials as "non-Newtonian fluids," of which ketchup and blood are prime examples. These fluids have flow properties that change depending on conditions, with some becoming more viscous, while others become less viscous.

Diamond sheds light on basic building blocks of life Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:42 AM PST The UK's national synchrotron facility, Diamond Light Source, is now the first and only place in Europe where pathogens requiring Containment Level 3 – including serious viruses such as those responsible for AIDS, Hepatitis and some types of flu – can be analyzed at atomic and molecular level using synchrotron light. Studying pathogens in this way has the potential to open up new paths for the development of therapeutic treatments and vaccines.

'Activating' RNA takes DNA on a loop through time and space Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:42 AM PST Long segments of RNA -- encoded in our DNA but not translated into protein -- are key to physically manipulating DNA in order to activate certain genes, say researchers. These non-coding RNA-activator molecules help create a loop of DNA to open up genes for transcription. They have a crucial role in turning genes on and off during early embryonic development, and have also been connected with genetic diseases, such as FG syndrome, and cancer.

Genetically modified crops are overregulated, food science expert says Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:42 AM PST Scientists argue that genetically modified foods are safe for consumption and overregulated.

Heart condition: Arrhythmia culprit caught in action Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:42 AM PST Using powerful X-rays, researchers have reconstructed a crime scene too small for any microscope to observe -- and caught the culprit of arrhythmia in action.

Fighting disease deep inside the brain Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:42 AM PST Mini, ultra-flexible electrodes could improve treatment of Parkinson's and other health issues.

The quest for a better bionic hand: Implantable interfaces connect a hand prosthesis to the nerves Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:42 AM PST New implantable interfaces connect a hand prosthesis to the nerves, making for smarter prosthetics that feel and function more like the real thing.

Links between ozone levels and cardiac arrest analyzed Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:42 AM PST Researchers working with a massive data set unique to Houston, have found a direct correlation between out-of-hospital heart attacks and levels of air pollution and ozone.

Ancient teeth bacteria record disease evolution Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:41 AM PST DNA preserved in calcified bacteria on the teeth of ancient human skeletons has shed light on the health consequences of the evolving diet and behavior from the Stone Age to the modern day.

Losing hope of a good night's sleep is risk factor for suicide Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:53 AM PST When people lose hope that they will ever get another good night's sleep, they become at high risk for suicide, researchers report.

Novel herbal compound offers potential to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:53 AM PST Administration of the active compound tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside derived from the Chinese herbal medicine Polygonum multiflorum Thunb, reversed both overexpression of ±-synuclein, a small protein found in the brain, and its accumulation using a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. These results may shed light on the neuropathology of AD and open up new avenues of treatment.

Possible link between diabetes and increased risk of heart attack death Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:52 AM PST Having diabetes doubles a person's risk of dying after a heart attack, but the reason for the increased risk is not clear. A new study suggests the link may lie in the over-activation of an important heart enzyme, which leads to death of pacemaker cells, abnormal heart rhythm, and increased risk of sudden death in diabetic mice following a heart attack.

New enzyme that acts as innate immunity sensor discovered Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:50 AM PST Two studies could lead to new treatments for lupus and other autoimmune diseases and strengthen current therapies for viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections.

Neuronal activity induces tau release from healthy neurons Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:50 AM PST Researchers have discovered that neuronal activity can stimulate tau release from healthy neurons in the absence of cell death. The results show that treatment of neurons with known biological signaling molecules increases the release of tau into the culture medium. The release of tau from cortical neurons is therefore a physiological process that can be regulated by neuronal activity.

New findings on genetic risks of Behçet's disease Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:50 AM PST Researchers don't know the exact cause of Behçet's disease, a condition that leads to serious complications such as blindness, but new research brings better understanding to what makes some people more susceptible to being affected.

Big improvement in diabetes control over past decades Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:45 AM PST More people are meeting recommended goals in the 3 key markers of diabetes control, according to a new study.

Not your conventional nucleic acids: Spherical nucleic acids have novel properties that are perfect for biomedical applications Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:45 AM PST Scientists have invented and developed a powerful nanomaterial that could revolutionize biomedicine: spherical nucleic acids (SNAs). The novel arrangement of nucleic acids imparts interesting chemical and physical properties that are very different from conventional nucleic acids. Potential applications include using SNAs to carry nucleic acid-based therapeutics to the brain for the treatment of glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer, as well as other neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

'The Scars of Human Evolution': Physical fallout from two-footed walking Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:43 AM PST From sore feet to backaches, blame it on human evolution.

Mussel-inspired 'glue' for surgical repair and cancer drug delivery Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:42 AM PST When it comes to sticking power under wet conditions, marine mussels are hard to beat. Scientists have created new materials that mimic mussel adhesive proteins for three medical applications: sealants for fetal membrane repair, self-setting antibacterial hydrogels, and polymers for cancer drug delivery and thermal destruction of cancer cells. All of these materials contain a synthetic form of the catecholic amino acid DOPA (dihydroxyphenylalanine), one of the keys to mussels' sticking power.

Same genetic defect causes Pompe disease in both humans and dogs Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:39 AM PST Pompe disease, a severe glycogen storage disease appearing in Lapphunds is caused by a genetic defect in acid α-glucosidase gene. The same genetic mutation also causes the equivalent disease in humans. Based on this finding, canine Pompe disease can now be diagnosed with a genetic test.

Horse meat scandal: Experts views from across Europe Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:37 AM PST It all started when the Irish Food Standard Authority realized, mid-January, that some of the burgers sold in the country (and in the UK) contained about 29% of equine DNA, upon testing. This was much more than could not be accounted for by cross contamination in a meat factory. Tracing the meat back through complex supply chain, the manufacturer pointed the finger at a meat producer in Poland. At the time of writing, this possible source of contamination has not been confirmed. Doubt remains, particularly because Ireland has been known for poor traceability of its own horse meat aimed at export, which was found to have falsified passports.

Is there a Neanderthal in the house? Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:29 AM PST As we humans evolved over the millennia to walk on two legs, grow larger brains and shorter jaws, bear big babies and live longer, we've also experienced some negative consequences. But keeping our evolutionary history in mind can help us better deal with issues from obesity to difficult childbirth in a much more productive way, according to an anthropologist.

Prevention efforts focused on youth reduce prescription abuse into adulthood Posted: 14 Feb 2013 04:42 PM PST Middle school students from small towns and rural communities who received any of three community-based prevention programs were less likely to abuse prescription medications in late adolescence and young adulthood.

Natural probiotic for osteoporosis? Building healthy bones takes guts Posted: 14 Feb 2013 04:41 PM PST In what could be an early step toward new treatments for people with osteoporosis, scientists report that a natural probiotic supplement can help male mice produce healthier bones.

Hospitalization: Strong link between income inequality and readmission risk, but not mortality Posted: 14 Feb 2013 04:41 PM PST Income inequality is associated with an increased risk of readmission to hospital, but not mortality, finds a large US study of older patients.

Smoking bans linked with 'successive reductions' in preterm birth Posted: 14 Feb 2013 04:41 PM PST Smoking bans are associated with a "consistent pattern of reduction in the risk of preterm delivery," finds a new study.

Combo of Avastin, second drug shows promise fighting brain cancer Posted: 14 Feb 2013 04:41 PM PST The drug bevacizumab, also known by the trade name Avastin, shrinks tumors briefly in patients with an aggressive brain cancer known as glioblastoma multiforme, but then they often grow again and spread throughout the brain for reasons no one previously has understood. Now, researchers have found out why this happens.

Alcohol consumption is a leading preventable cause of cancer death in U.S., experts say Posted: 14 Feb 2013 04:41 PM PST Researchers have shown that alcohol is a major contributor to cancer deaths and years of potential life lost. These findings also show that reducing alcohol consumption is an important cancer prevention strategy as alcohol is a known carcinogen even when consumed in small quantities.

The human pathogen Streptococcus pneumonia shields foreign DNA derived from other bacteria to promote genetic diversity and vaccine evasion Posted: 14 Feb 2013 04:41 PM PST A new report shows that the human pathogen Streptococcus (S.) pneumoniae (one of the known causes of bacterial pneumonia) has an unusual enzyme that protects foreign DNA taken up during transformation, allowing exchange of pathogenicity islands donated from other pathogenic bacteria.

You are subscribed to email updates from ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610