ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Immune cells cluster and communicate 'like bees,' researcher says
• Normal prion protein regulates iron metabolism
• Evidence supports blocking immune response to enhance viral therapy against solid tumors
• Scientists find age-related changes in how autism affects the brain
• Polo takes the bait: A better 'mousetrap' discovered in fruit flies might stop a human cancer-driving kinase in its tracks
• New hope in fight against leading infectious cause of congenital birth defects
• Using hansfree kit or sending texts behind the wheel is as dangerous as being twice over legal alcohol limit, study suggests
• Local chemotherapy has a stronger effect on reducing tumor growth, research suggests
• Paving the way for greater use of ancient medical knowledge
• New approaches for controlling pesticide exposure in children
• Breakthrough in battle against leukemia
• Current HIV screening guidelines are too conservative
• Polycystic ovary syndrome puts glucose control in double jeopardy
• Chicken pox vaccine saving children's lives
• Structured weight loss program helps kids from low-income families lower BMI
• Fertility after ectopic pregnancy: first randomised trial finds reassuring evidence on the effect of different treatments
• Cancer researchers discover new type of retinoblastoma in babies
• Low cognitive score and risk of brain injury linked
• Using fat to fight brain cancer: Stem cells from human adipose tissue used to chase migrating cancer cells
• Preventing HIV infection with anti-HIV drugs in people at risk is cost-effective
• Weight gain after quitting smoking does not negate health benefits
• Duration of breastfeeding during infancy does not reduce a child's risk of being overweight, obese, study finds
• Regardless of possible weight gain, quitting smoking associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
• Brain imaging after mild head injury/concussion can show lesions
• Potential early indicator of kidney injury identified
• Political strife undermines HIV treatment
• Promising new drug treats and protects against radiotherapy-associated oral mucositis
• Autistic children may be at greater risk of suicide ideation and attempts
• New hope for reversing the effects of spinal cord injury
• Bitter melon juice prevents pancreatic cancer in mouse models
• Device may lead to quicker, more efficient diagnostics
• Job burnout can severely compromise heart health
• Therapeutic targets to alter inflammation, type 2 diabetes
• Antibiotic-resistant strain of E. coli increasing among older adults and residents of nursing homes
• Nose's unheralded neighbor: Maxillary sinuses allow noses to change shapes
• Nearly a third of antibiotic prescriptions for dialysis patients inappropriate, experts say
• Some bacteria may protect against disease caused by stomach infection
• Pre-clinical research shows promising treatment for diabetic wounds using stem cells
• Green food labels make nutrition-poor food seem healthy
• Prediction of seasonal flu strains improves chances of universal vaccine
• Repairing the nose after skin cancer in just one step
• Financial incentives affect prostate cancer treatment patterns
• Brain spikes: Synchrony may be key to cracking brain's neural code
• High-dose oral vitamins, minerals do not reduce recurrent cardiac events in heart attack patients
• Drug reduces chest pain in patients with diabetes
• Clot-busting drug as effective as angioplasty, study suggests
• Drug may improve outcomes after heart attack
• Exercise during gestation might affect future fertility
• Heart-lung machine? Off-pump bypass better for high-risk patients, study suggests
• Hereditary neurodegeneration linked to ADP-ribose modification
• Pesticide application as potential source of noroviruses in fresh food supply chains
• New survey reports low rate of patient awareness during anesthesia
• Prenatal exposure to pesticide DDT linked to adult high blood pressure
• Single concussion may cause lasting brain damage
• What impact does a day of roller derby have on our skin microbiome? Skaters skin microbiomes get mixed up 'bouting'
• Kid's consumption of sugared beverages linked to higher caloric intake of food
• Men in same-sex marriages are living longer, according to new study
• Fertilizers could help tackle nutritional deficiency in African country
• Tickling the brain with magnetic stimulation improves memory in schizophrenia
• Steroids may help reduce deaths from all types of tuberculosis

Immune cells cluster and communicate 'like bees,' researcher says Posted: 13 Mar 2013 10:19 AM PDT The immune system's T cells, while coordinating responses to diseases and vaccines, act like honey bees sharing information about the best honey sources, according to a new study.

Normal prion protein regulates iron metabolism Posted: 13 Mar 2013 10:19 AM PDT An iron imbalance caused by prion proteins collecting in the brain is a likely cause of cell death in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, researchers have found. The breakthrough follows discoveries that certain proteins found in the brains of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients also regulate iron.

Evidence supports blocking immune response to enhance viral therapy against solid tumors Posted: 13 Mar 2013 09:35 AM PDT Following several years of study, investigators have found more evidence that viral therapy to treat solid tumors can be enhanced by blocking the body's natural immune response.

Scientists find age-related changes in how autism affects the brain Posted: 13 Mar 2013 09:35 AM PDT Autism spectrum disorders affect the brain activity of children and adults differently, according to new research.

Polo takes the bait: A better 'mousetrap' discovered in fruit flies might stop a human cancer-driving kinase in its tracks Posted: 13 Mar 2013 09:35 AM PDT A seemingly obscure gene in the female fruit fly that is only active in cells that will become eggs has led researchers to the discovery of a atypical protein that lures, traps, and inactivates the powerful Polo kinase, widely considered the master regulator of cell division. Its human homolog, Polo-like kinase-1 (Plk1), is misregulated in many types of cancer.

New hope in fight against leading infectious cause of congenital birth defects Posted: 13 Mar 2013 09:35 AM PDT A virus most people probably have never heard of, but that the majority of us carry, is the No. 1 infectious cause of congenital birth defects in the U.S. today. Because of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, 1 in 750 children are born with or develop permanent disabilities. But efforts to develop a CMV vaccine are gaining ground. Researchers have discovered a cellular mechanism that could prove critical in creating a CMV vaccine.

Using hansfree kit or sending texts behind the wheel is as dangerous as being twice over legal alcohol limit, study suggests Posted: 13 Mar 2013 09:33 AM PDT Scientists have compared the effects of mobile phone use while driving with the effects of alcohol using a simulation. Their experiment demonstrates that using a handsfree kit or sending text messages is the same as being above the legal alcohol limit.

Local chemotherapy has a stronger effect on reducing tumor growth, research suggests Posted: 13 Mar 2013 09:33 AM PDT Reducing the growth of a tumor by localized delivery of cancer medication can be achieved by using a combination of ultrasound, temperature-sensitive nanoparticles and MRI, new research suggests.

Paving the way for greater use of ancient medical knowledge Posted: 13 Mar 2013 08:24 AM PDT Scientists are reporting an advance toward overcoming a major barrier to tapping the potential of traditional Chinese medicine and India's Ayurvedic medicine in developing new and more effective modern drugs.

New approaches for controlling pesticide exposure in children Posted: 13 Mar 2013 08:24 AM PDT New research on household pesticide contamination emphasizes the need for less reliance on pesticides and more emphasis on neatness, blocking cracks where insects can enter and other so-called "integrated pest management" (IPM) measures, scientists have concluded.

Breakthrough in battle against leukemia Posted: 13 Mar 2013 08:24 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a critical weakness in leukemic cells, which may pave the way to new treatments.

Current HIV screening guidelines are too conservative Posted: 13 Mar 2013 07:04 AM PDT Researchers report that the CDC's current HIV screening guidelines are too conservative and that more frequent testing would be cost-effective in the long run for both high- and low-risk groups. The researchers performed a mathematical modeling study to assess "optimal testing frequencies" for HIV screening in different risk groups. They concluded screening should be done up to every three months for the highest-risk individuals and low-risk groups should be tested every three years.

Polycystic ovary syndrome puts glucose control in double jeopardy Posted: 13 Mar 2013 07:04 AM PDT Polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition affecting about 10 percent of women and characterized by excess male hormone and increased risk of diabetes and heart disease, appears to cause a sort of double jeopardy for those struggling the hardest to control blood sugar levels, researchers report.

Chicken pox vaccine saving children's lives Posted: 13 Mar 2013 06:52 AM PDT The widespread introduction of a chicken pox vaccine in Australia in 2006 has prevented thousands of children from being hospitalized with severe chicken pox and saved lives, according to new research.

Structured weight loss program helps kids from low-income families lower BMI Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:26 PM PDT Overweight and obese children in low-income households can meet or exceed the Expert Committee Recommendations Regarding the Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment of Childhood and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity when given access to a structured weight management program, according to a new study.

Fertility after ectopic pregnancy: first randomised trial finds reassuring evidence on the effect of different treatments Posted: 12 Mar 2013 08:12 PM PDT The first randomized trial to compare treatments for ectopic pregnancies has found no significant differences in subsequent fertility between medical treatment and conservative surgery on one hand, and conservative or radical surgery on the other.

Cancer researchers discover new type of retinoblastoma in babies Posted: 12 Mar 2013 08:10 PM PDT Cancer researchers have discovered a new type of retinoblastoma, a rapidly developing eye cancer that affects very young babies -– a finding that can immediately change clinical practice and optimize care for these children.

Low cognitive score and risk of brain injury linked Posted: 12 Mar 2013 04:46 PM PDT Young men with low cognitive function and low socioeconomic status are significantly more likely to suffer from mild traumatic brain injury than those without, a new study suggests. Current literature suggests that mild traumatic brain injuries cause changes in brain tissues and have important long-term consequences on cognitive function, but new findings suggest that low cognitive function may come first.

Using fat to fight brain cancer: Stem cells from human adipose tissue used to chase migrating cancer cells Posted: 12 Mar 2013 02:16 PM PDT In laboratory studies, researchers say they have found that stem cells from a patient's own fat may have the potential to deliver new treatments directly into the brain after the surgical removal of a glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive form of brain tumor.

Preventing HIV infection with anti-HIV drugs in people at risk is cost-effective Posted: 12 Mar 2013 02:16 PM PDT An HIV prevention strategy in which people at risk of becoming exposed to HIV take antiretroviral drugs to reduce their chance of becoming infected (often referred to as pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP), may be a cost-effective method of preventing HIV in some settings, according to a new study.

Weight gain after quitting smoking does not negate health benefits Posted: 12 Mar 2013 01:12 PM PDT A new study finds that the health effects of weight gained after quitting smoking do not counteract the known cardiovascular benefits of smoking cessation.

Duration of breastfeeding during infancy does not reduce a child's risk of being overweight, obese, study finds Posted: 12 Mar 2013 01:11 PM PDT In research that included nearly 14,000 healthy infants in Belarus, an intervention that succeeded in improving the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding during infancy did not result in a lower risk of overweight or obesity among the children at age 11.5 years, according to a new study.

Regardless of possible weight gain, quitting smoking associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease Posted: 12 Mar 2013 01:11 PM PDT Among adults without diabetes, quitting smoking, compared with continuing smoking, was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease despite subsequent weight gain, according to a new study.

Brain imaging after mild head injury/concussion can show lesions Posted: 12 Mar 2013 01:11 PM PDT Brain imaging soon after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or mild concussion can detect tiny lesions that may eventually provide a target for treating people with mTBI.

Potential early indicator of kidney injury identified Posted: 12 Mar 2013 12:20 PM PDT Acute kidney injury, a common and serious complication of hospitalization, is on the increase worldwide, affecting an estimated 6 percent of all hospitalized patients and 30-40 percent of adults and children having cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.

Political strife undermines HIV treatment Posted: 12 Mar 2013 12:20 PM PDT Among other tragedies in countries with HIV epidemics, political violence can have the additional long-term consequence of an increase in viral resistance to treatment and HIV treatment failure, say experts. The researchers, who have studied post-strife treatment failure and resistance in Kenya, argue that officials and health care providers need to study and prepare for how violence disrupts antiretroviral treatment and complicates the epidemic.

Promising new drug treats and protects against radiotherapy-associated oral mucositis Posted: 12 Mar 2013 12:20 PM PDT Mouse model studies show that administered genetically or topically, protein Smad7 protects against or heals mouth sores commonly associated with cancer treatment.

Autistic children may be at greater risk of suicide ideation and attempts Posted: 12 Mar 2013 12:20 PM PDT Children with an autism spectrum disorder may be at greater risk for contemplating suicide or attempting suicide than children without autism, according to researchers.

New hope for reversing the effects of spinal cord injury Posted: 12 Mar 2013 12:19 PM PDT New hope for reversing the effects of spinal cord injury may be found in a combination of stem cell therapy and physical therapy according to new findings.

Bitter melon juice prevents pancreatic cancer in mouse models Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:49 AM PDT A new study shows that bitter melon juice restricts the ability of pancreatic cancer cells to metabolize glucose, thus cutting the cells' energy source and eventually killing them.

Device may lead to quicker, more efficient diagnostics Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:49 AM PDT A twist on thin-film technology may provide a way to optically detect and analyze multiple substances simultaneously, leading to quicker diagnostics in such industries as health care and homeland security, according to researchers.

Job burnout can severely compromise heart health Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:49 AM PDT Dr. Sharon Toker of Tel Aviv University has found a link between job burnout and coronary heart disease (CHD), the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries that leads to angina and heart attacks. She says that her findings were more extreme than she expected and make burnout a stronger predictor of CHD than many other risk factors.

Therapeutic targets to alter inflammation, type 2 diabetes Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:47 AM PDT New research reveals that B cells regulate obesity-associated inflammation and type 2 diabetes through two specific mechanisms. The study indicates the importance of continuing to explore B cells as a therapeutic target to treat these diseases.

Antibiotic-resistant strain of E. coli increasing among older adults and residents of nursing homes Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:47 AM PDT Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) continues to proliferate, driven largely by expansion of a strain of E. coli know as sequence type ST131. A new study points to hospitals and long-term care facilities as settings in which this antibiotic-resistant strain is increasingly found.

Nose's unheralded neighbor: Maxillary sinuses allow noses to change shapes Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:47 AM PDT The maxillary sinuses, those pouches on either side of the human nose, have a purpose after all: They act as cushions to allow noses to assume different shapes. A new study explains the relationship for the first time.

Nearly a third of antibiotic prescriptions for dialysis patients inappropriate, experts say Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:47 AM PDT Patients who receive hemodialysis are at a significant risk of developing infections, a leading cause of hospitalization and death in this patient population. A new study highlights the need to improve antibiotic use in outpatient dialysis facilities as data shows nearly a third of antibiotic prescriptions are deemed inappropriate.

Some bacteria may protect against disease caused by stomach infection Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:47 AM PDT Half of the world's human population is infected with the stomach bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, yet it causes disease in only about 10 percent of those infected. Other bacteria living in the stomach may be a key factor in whether or not H. pylori causes disease, according to a new study.

Pre-clinical research shows promising treatment for diabetic wounds using stem cells Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:45 AM PDT Pre-clinical research has generated some very promising findings using adult stem cells for the treatment of diabetic wounds.

Green food labels make nutrition-poor food seem healthy Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:44 AM PDT Green calorie labels may lead people to see nutrition-poor foods in a healthier light. A researcher says consumers are more likely to perceive a candy bar as more healthful when it has a green calorie label compared with when it had a red one – even though the number of calories are the same.

Prediction of seasonal flu strains improves chances of universal vaccine Posted: 12 Mar 2013 09:18 AM PDT Researchers have determined a way to predict and protect against new strains of the flu virus, in the hope of improving immunity against the disease.

Repairing the nose after skin cancer in just one step Posted: 12 Mar 2013 09:18 AM PDT A new reconstruction technique allows surgeons to recreate a functioning nostril after removing skin cancer from the nose. The technique takes only one step, unlike the current practice that requires a return trip the operating room.

Financial incentives affect prostate cancer treatment patterns Posted: 12 Mar 2013 09:08 AM PDT According to a new study, prostate cancer patients of urologists who own expensive radiation equipment are more likely to receive radiation treatment in lieu of surgery than patients treated by urologists without an ownership stake in the equipment.

Brain spikes: Synchrony may be key to cracking brain's neural code Posted: 12 Mar 2013 09:08 AM PDT Biomedical engineers have detailed research progress toward "reading and writing the neural code." The neural code details how the brain's roughly 100 billion neurons turn raw sensory inputs into information we can use to see, hear and feel things in our environment.

High-dose oral vitamins, minerals do not reduce recurrent cardiac events in heart attack patients Posted: 12 Mar 2013 07:26 AM PDT Heart attack patients given a combination of high-dose oral vitamins and minerals do not exhibit a significant reduction in recurrent cardiac events, according to new research. However, the study shows that when combined with active chelation therapy, high-dose vitamins and minerals may provide some additional benefit.

Drug reduces chest pain in patients with diabetes Posted: 12 Mar 2013 07:26 AM PDT A commonly used anti-anginal drug reduces chest pain in patients with type 2 diabetes and appears to have a more pronounced effect in those with poorer glucose control, according to new research.

Clot-busting drug as effective as angioplasty, study suggests Posted: 12 Mar 2013 07:26 AM PDT A clot-busting therapy may benefit some heart attack patients who cannot have immediate angioplasty, according to new research.

Drug may improve outcomes after heart attack Posted: 12 Mar 2013 07:25 AM PDT The prescription drug eplerenone appears to reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality and heart failure after a heart attack by more than one-third, according to new research.

Exercise during gestation might affect future fertility Posted: 12 Mar 2013 07:25 AM PDT Researchers have found that exercising pregnant sows could affect ovarian development in their fetuses. Fetuses from exercised sows had greater cell proliferation in their ovaries.

Heart-lung machine? Off-pump bypass better for high-risk patients, study suggests Posted: 12 Mar 2013 07:25 AM PDT Bypass surgery done without a heart-lung machine, known as off-pump, may provide better post-operative outcomes than on-pump bypass surgery for high-risk patients, according to new research.

Hereditary neurodegeneration linked to ADP-ribose modification Posted: 12 Mar 2013 07:25 AM PDT Researchers have identified a much sought after enzyme that removes ADP-ribose modifications from proteins by studying a genetic mutation that causes neurodegenerative disease in humans. The findings suggest that not only addition but also removal of ADP-ribose from proteins is essential for normal cell function.

Pesticide application as potential source of noroviruses in fresh food supply chains Posted: 12 Mar 2013 06:29 AM PDT Contaminated water used to dilute pesticides could be responsible for viruses entering the food chain, warn scientists.

New survey reports low rate of patient awareness during anesthesia Posted: 12 Mar 2013 06:26 AM PDT A major study looked at how many patients experienced accidental awareness during general anesthesia and found the rate to be low.

Prenatal exposure to pesticide DDT linked to adult high blood pressure Posted: 12 Mar 2013 06:26 AM PDT Infant girls exposed to high levels of the pesticide DDT while still inside the womb are three times more likely to develop hypertension when they become adults, according to a new study.

Single concussion may cause lasting brain damage Posted: 12 Mar 2013 06:26 AM PDT A single concussion may cause lasting structural damage to the brain, according to a new study.

What impact does a day of roller derby have on our skin microbiome? Skaters skin microbiomes get mixed up 'bouting' Posted: 12 Mar 2013 06:26 AM PDT The human skin is home to countless microorganisms that we can't see, but these microbes help define who we are. Our invisible passengers -- known as the skin microbiome -- contribute to our health in numerous ways including educating our immune system, protecting us from pathogens, and mediating skin disorders. In a new study, researchers investigated how the skin microbiome is transmitted between players in a contact sport, using roller derby as their model system.

Kid's consumption of sugared beverages linked to higher caloric intake of food Posted: 12 Mar 2013 06:25 AM PDT A new study reports that sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are primarily responsible for higher caloric intakes of children that consume SSBs as compared to children that do not (on a given day). In addition, SSB consumption is also associated with higher intake of unhealthy foods.

Men in same-sex marriages are living longer, according to new study Posted: 12 Mar 2013 06:25 AM PDT The mortality rate for men in same-sex marriages has dropped markedly since the 1990s, according to a Danish study. However, same-sex married women have emerged as the group of women with the highest, and in recent years, even further increasing mortality.

Fertilizers could help tackle nutritional deficiency in African country Posted: 12 Mar 2013 06:25 AM PDT Enriching crops by adding a naturally-occurring soil mineral to fertilizers could potentially help to reduce disease and premature death in the African country of Malawi, researchers have said.

Tickling the brain with magnetic stimulation improves memory in schizophrenia Posted: 12 Mar 2013 06:25 AM PDT Cognitive impairments are disabling for individuals with schizophrenia, and no satisfactory treatments currently exist. These impairments affect a wide range of cognition, including memory, attention, verbal and motor skills, and IQ. They appear in the earliest stages of the disease and disrupt or even prevent normal day-to-day functioning. Scientists are exploring a variety of strategies to reduce these impairments including "exercising the brain" with specially designed computer games and medications that might improve the function of brain circuits.

Steroids may help reduce deaths from all types of tuberculosis Posted: 12 Mar 2013 06:24 AM PDT The routine use of steroids to treat tuberculosis may help reduce deaths from all types of the disease, according to a new review of existing research.

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