ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Predicting the next eye pathogen: Analysis of a novel adenovirus
• First objective measure of pain discovered in brain scan patterns
• Scientists use nature against nature to develop an antibiotic with reduced resistance
• How Seattle Cancer Care Alliance implemented Washington's Death with Dignity Act
• High levels of lead detected in rice imported from certain countries
• Dementia and driving
• Reducing infant exposure to smoke
• Brain imaging studies reveal neurobiology of eating disorders
• Overactive Marker May Shorten Survival of Brain Tumor Patients
• Biofilm helps Salmonella survive hostile conditions
• Researchers engineer 'protein switch' to dissect role of cancer's key players
• Naturally-occurring substance proves effective against deadly skin cancer in test tube and mice studies
• Single best practice to prevent DVT reduces hospital costs by more than $1.5 million annually
• New way to clear cholesterol from the blood
• Signature of circulating breast tumor cells that spread to the brain found
• Benefits of cognitive pain relief methods
• Genetic alteration predicts pain recovery after sexual assault
• Rx target for HPV, Hep C and related cancers revealed
• One in five seniors on risky meds; more in US South
• Surprising ability of blood stem cells to respond to emergencies
• Transparent brain using hydrogel process
• Neurodegenerative disease advance: Study details how brain enzyme interacts with drug-like lead compound for Huntington's
• Team unravels central mystery of Alzheimer's
• GUMBOS technology promises new drugs, electronic devices
• Fighting disease from within the mosquito: New techniques to help halt the spread of disease
• Arsenic contamination in food and water supplies
• Overcoming a major barrier to medical and other uses of 'microrockets' and 'micromotors'
• Clinging to crevices, E. coli thrive
• Cardiopoietic 'smart' stem cells show promise in heart failure patients
• Doctors not informed of harmful effects of medicines during sales visits
• Effect of medication is affected by copies of genetic information
• Metagenomics used to identify organisms in outbreaks of serious infectious disease
• Dark lightning: Are airplane passengers exposed to radiation from intense bursts of gamma-rays from thunderclouds?
• Some lung cancers linked to common virus
• Adult generations of today are less healthy than their counterparts of previous generations
• New method restores grip function more quickly to patients with tetraplegia
• Some types of papilloma virus might prevent cervical cancer
• 'Unknown' neurological disorder often incorrectly diagnosed
• New therapy for fragile X chromosome syndrome discovered
• People who normally practice sport have a better attention span than those with bad physical health
• Modest population-wide weight loss could result in reductions in Type 2 diabetes and cardio disease
• Gene linked to nearly twice Alzheimer's risk in African-Americans

Predicting the next eye pathogen: Analysis of a novel adenovirus Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:19 PM PDT Researchers used a combined genomic, bioinformatics and biological analysis to identify a unique deletion in a key protein of the viral capsid and further suggested the potential of the virus to cause severe ocular infection. The results point toward a possible approach for predicting pathogenicity for newly identified and recently emergent human pathogens.

First objective measure of pain discovered in brain scan patterns Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:18 PM PDT For the first time, scientists have been able to predict how much pain people are feeling by looking at images of their brains, according to a new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder.

Scientists use nature against nature to develop an antibiotic with reduced resistance Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:18 PM PDT A new broad range antibiotic has been found to kill a wide range of bacteria, including drug-resistant Staphylococcus (MRSA) bacteria that do not respond to traditional drugs, in mice. The antibiotic, Epimerox, targets weaknesses in bacteria that have long been exploited by viruses that attack them, known as phage, and promises to avoid the problem of resistance that plagues other antibiotics.

How Seattle Cancer Care Alliance implemented Washington's Death with Dignity Act Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:18 PM PDT Because several states are considering similar Death with Dignity laws, and because such legislation disproportionately affects cancer patients and their families, SCCA conducted a study to describe the institution's implementation of the Washington state law and its experience with patients who chose to participate.

High levels of lead detected in rice imported from certain countries Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:18 PM PDT Rice imported from certain countries contains high levels of lead that could pose health risks, particularly for infants and children, who are especially sensitive to lead's effects, and adults of Asian heritage who consume large amounts of rice, scientists say.

Dementia and driving Posted: 10 Apr 2013 04:28 PM PDT A new clinical pathway provides health workers with clear guidelines to help and advise dementia patients who still drive.

Reducing infant exposure to smoke Posted: 10 Apr 2013 04:16 PM PDT A study to investigate whether a hospital-initiated behavioral therapy program conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit can reduce secondhand smoke in homes with infants at risk for pulmonary problems has been launched by UTHealth researchers.

Brain imaging studies reveal neurobiology of eating disorders Posted: 10 Apr 2013 04:15 PM PDT Walter Kaye, MD, professor of psychiatry and director of the Eating Disorder Treatment and Research Program at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. and colleagues are beginning to be use advanced brain imaging technologies to study and improve eating disorder treatments.

Overactive Marker May Shorten Survival of Brain Tumor Patients Posted: 10 Apr 2013 04:15 PM PDT Researchers may have discovered a more accurate way to predict how long patients with the deadliest form of brain cancer will live. The newly identified mechanism is already guiding drug discovery efforts.

Biofilm helps Salmonella survive hostile conditions Posted: 10 Apr 2013 12:49 PM PDT Scientists have provided new evidence that biofilms — bacteria that adhere to surfaces and build protective coatings — are at work in the survival of the human pathogen Salmonella.

Researchers engineer 'protein switch' to dissect role of cancer's key players Posted: 10 Apr 2013 12:49 PM PDT Researchers have "rationally rewired" some of the cell's smallest components to create proteins that can be switched on or off by command. These "protein switches" can be used to interrogate the inner workings of each cell, helping scientists uncover the molecular mechanisms of human health and disease.

Naturally-occurring substance proves effective against deadly skin cancer in test tube and mice studies Posted: 10 Apr 2013 12:46 PM PDT For the first time, scientists have demonstrated the mechanism of action of gossypin, a naturally-occurring substance found in fruits and vegetables, as a treatment for melanoma, which causes the majority of deaths from skin cancer.

Single best practice to prevent DVT reduces hospital costs by more than $1.5 million annually Posted: 10 Apr 2013 11:15 AM PDT Researchers report success in using a concept called "value-based analysis," which simultaneously measures quality and cost and addresses inefficiencies in care. The researchers applied a value-based analysis approach to implementing a single best practice for preventing deep vein thrombosis in surgical patients and were able to reduce hospital costs in excess of $1.5 million per year.

New way to clear cholesterol from the blood Posted: 10 Apr 2013 11:15 AM PDT Researchers have identified a new potential therapeutic target for lowering cholesterol that could be an alternative or complementary therapy to statins.

Signature of circulating breast tumor cells that spread to the brain found Posted: 10 Apr 2013 11:15 AM PDT Some breast tumor circulating cells in the bloodstream are marked by a constellation of biomarkers that identify them as those destined to seed the brain with a deadly spread of cancer, said researchers.

Benefits of cognitive pain relief methods Posted: 10 Apr 2013 11:13 AM PDT Those who accept their pain condition are best able to tolerate pain, while distraction can be the way to lower pain intensity, according to new research.

Genetic alteration predicts pain recovery after sexual assault Posted: 10 Apr 2013 11:13 AM PDT One in five U.S. women are sexually assaulted in their lifetimes and more than half experience severe pain during the week following an attack. A study showed that presence of a genetic variant could significantly reduce pain severity associated with assault.

Rx target for HPV, Hep C and related cancers revealed Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:15 AM PDT New discoveries for the first time reveal the inner workings of a master regulator that controls functions as diverse as the ability of nerve cells to "rewire" themselves in response to external stimuli and the mechanism by which certain viruses hijack normal cellular processes to facilitate their replication that can ultimately lead to cancer.

One in five seniors on risky meds; more in US South Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT A study of more than six million seniors in Medicare Advantage plans in 2009 found that 21 percent received a prescription for at least one potentially harmful "high risk medication." Nearly 5 percent received at least two. Questionable prescriptions are more common in the South and among people who live in poor areas.

Surprising ability of blood stem cells to respond to emergencies Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:12 AM PDT Scientists have revealed an unexpected role for hematopoietic stem cells: They do not merely ensure the continuous renewal of our blood cells; in emergencies they are capable of producing white blood cells "on demand" that help the body deal with inflammation or infection. This property could be used to protect against infections in patients undergoing bone marrow transplants, while their immune system reconstitutes itself.

Transparent brain using hydrogel process Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:12 AM PDT Combining neuroscience and chemical engineering, researchers have developed a process that renders a mouse brain transparent.

Neurodegenerative disease advance: Study details how brain enzyme interacts with drug-like lead compound for Huntington's Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:12 AM PDT A significant breakthrough has been made towards developing an effective treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Researchers have detailed how an enzyme in the brain interacts with a promising drug-like lead compound for Huntington's disease to inhibit its activity. Their findings demonstrate that it can be developed as an effective treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.

Team unravels central mystery of Alzheimer's Posted: 10 Apr 2013 10:11 AM PDT Scientists have shed light on one of the major toxic mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease. The discoveries could lead to a much better understanding of the Alzheimer's process and how to prevent it.

GUMBOS technology promises new drugs, electronic devices Posted: 10 Apr 2013 08:21 AM PDT Mention a breakthrough involving "gumbo" technology in New Orleans, and people think of a new twist on The Local Dish, the stew that's the quintessence of southern Louisiana cooking. But a recent scientific presentation focuses on what may be an advance in developing GUMBOS-based materials with far-reaching medical, electronic and other uses.

Fighting disease from within the mosquito: New techniques to help halt the spread of disease Posted: 10 Apr 2013 07:39 AM PDT Scientists have revealed a new technique to introduce disease-blocking bacteria into mosquitoes, with promising results that may halt the spread of diseases such as dengue, yellow fever and potentially malaria.

Arsenic contamination in food and water supplies Posted: 10 Apr 2013 07:39 AM PDT After virtually eliminating arsenic as a useful tool for homicide, science now faces challenges in doing the same for natural sources of this fabled old "inheritance powder" that contaminates water supplies and food, threatening more than 35 million people worldwide.

Overcoming a major barrier to medical and other uses of 'microrockets' and 'micromotors' Posted: 10 Apr 2013 07:39 AM PDT An advance in micromotor technology akin to the invention of cars that fuel themselves from the pavement or air is opening the door to new medical and industrial uses for these tiny devices, scientists say. Their update on development of the motors -- so small that thousands would fit inside this "o" -- was part of a recent conference presentation.

Clinging to crevices, E. coli thrive Posted: 10 Apr 2013 07:33 AM PDT New research helps to explain how waterborne bacteria can colonize rough surfaces —- even those that have been designed to resist water.

Cardiopoietic 'smart' stem cells show promise in heart failure patients Posted: 10 Apr 2013 07:33 AM PDT Therapy with cardiopoietic (cardiogenically-instructed) or "smart" stem cells can improve heart health for people suffering from heart failure. This is the first application in patients of lineage-guided stem cells for targeted regeneration of a failing organ, paving the way to development of next generation regenerative medicine solutions.

Doctors not informed of harmful effects of medicines during sales visits Posted: 10 Apr 2013 06:43 AM PDT The majority of family doctors receive little or no information about harmful effects of medicines when visited by drug company representatives, according to a new study.

Effect of medication is affected by copies of genetic information Posted: 10 Apr 2013 06:41 AM PDT The number of copies of the complete genetic information found in human cells can have a decisive effect on the properties of these cells. The results may help to explain why certain medications have strong side effects on sperm and eggs, and why certain organisms remain unaffected by environmental changes.

Metagenomics used to identify organisms in outbreaks of serious infectious disease Posted: 10 Apr 2013 06:41 AM PDT Researchers have been able to reconstruct the genome sequence of an outbreak strain of Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC), which caused over 50 deaths in Germany, using an approach known as metagenomics which bypasses the need for growing bacteria in the lab.

Dark lightning: Are airplane passengers exposed to radiation from intense bursts of gamma-rays from thunderclouds? Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:27 AM PDT Scientists have known for almost a decade that thunderstorms are capable of generating brief but powerful bursts of gamma-rays called terrestrial gamma-ray flashes, or TGFs. Because they can originate near the same altitudes at which commercial aircraft routinely fly, scientists have been trying to determine whether or not terrestrial gamma ray flashes present a radiation hazard to individuals in aircraft. In the middle of the storm, radiation doses could be roughly equal to a full-body CT scan, preliminary research suggests.

Some lung cancers linked to common virus Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:27 AM PDT A common virus known to cause cervical and head and neck cancers may also trigger some cases of lung cancer, according to new research.

Adult generations of today are less healthy than their counterparts of previous generations Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:24 AM PDT Despite their greater life expectancy, the adults of today are less "metabolically" healthy than their counterparts of previous generations. That's the conclusion of a large cohort study which compared generational shifts in a range of well established metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Assessing the trends, the investigators concluded that "the more recently born generations are doing worse", and warn "that the prevalence of metabolic risk factors and the lifelong exposure to them have increased and probably will continue to increase."

New method restores grip function more quickly to patients with tetraplegia Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:24 AM PDT A new method in which a number of operations are performed simultaneously can provide people with tetraplegia with a better grip function and the ability to open their hand. This method also shortens the patient's rehabilitation period by at least three months, reveals a new research.

Some types of papilloma virus might prevent cervical cancer Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:24 AM PDT Certain types of papilloma virus might actually prevent cervical cancer, according to a new study.

'Unknown' neurological disorder often incorrectly diagnosed Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:24 AM PDT The very serious hereditary disease HDLS was discovered in 1984 in Sweden. Many HDLS patients are still incorrectly diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, MS or Parkinson's disease, but researchers have now developed a more certain diagnosis method - and are seeking to find a treatment for the "unknown" neurological disorder.

New therapy for fragile X chromosome syndrome discovered Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:24 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a new therapy for the fragile X chromosome syndrome. This new therapy proposes the modulation of the cerebral endocannabinoid system in order to ameliorate the symptoms of the disease.

People who normally practice sport have a better attention span than those with bad physical health Posted: 10 Apr 2013 05:21 AM PDT Good physical health is related to a better functioning of both the central nervous system (CNS) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS), according to new research.

Modest population-wide weight loss could result in reductions in Type 2 diabetes and cardio disease Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:19 PM PDT A new article suggests a strong association between population-wide weight change and risk of death from Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Gene linked to nearly twice Alzheimer's risk in African-Americans Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:32 PM PDT African-Americans with a variant of the ABCA7 gene have almost double the risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease compared with African-Americans who lack the variant.

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