ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• No benefit of evening primrose oil for treating eczema, review suggests
• Targeting prescribers can reduce excessive use of antibiotics in hospitals
• Smoking prevention in schools: Does it work?
• Identification of gene variants affecting fertility offers new treatment possibility
• Microglia can be derived from patient-specific human induced pluripotent stem cells and may help modulate the course of central nervous system diseases
• Scientists discover how a protein finds its way
• Connection between inflammatory stimulus and Parkinson's disease examined
• Silicone liquid crystal stiffens with repeated compression: Discovery may point toward self-healing materials
• Frequently used biologic agents might cause acute liver injury
• Retirement expert: Medicare already means-tested
• New methods to explore astrocyte effects on brain function
• Pregnant women with high celiac disease antibodies are at risk for low birth weight babies
• Rare, lethal childhood disease tracked to protein
• New subtype of ataxia identified
• Cancer studies often lack necessary rigor to answer key questions
• People with congenital heart disease need physical activity, study suggests
• Researcher reveals new way to safeguard forensic dna samples against contamination
• Modeling disease spread, including flu
• Antidepressants linked with increased risks after surgery
• More evidence suggests eating omega 3s and avoiding meat, dairy linked to preserving memory
• U. S. children born outside the United States have lower risk of allergic disease
• Relationship of medical interventions in childhood and prevalence of later intellectual disability
• Do you obsess over your appearance? Your brain might be wired abnormally
• Key shift in brain that creates drive to overeat identified
• Researchers devise method for enhancing CEST MRI
• Big data analysis identifies prognostic RNA markers in a common form of breast cancer
• Adults lack stem cells for making new eggs
• Sharing examination questions threatens trust in medical profession
• Patterned hearts: Bioengineers create rubber-like material bearing micropatterns for stronger, more elastic hearts
• Sniffing out schizophrenia
• Comparing proteins at a glance: Technique for easy comparisons of proteins in solution
• Foul-smelling gas shows health benefits in reducing joint swelling
• Analysis: U.S. emergency care cost estimates are too low
• Molecular role of gene linked to blood vessel formation uncovered
• Will green tea help you lose weight?
• Warning system predicts outbreaks of dengue fever
• Researchers increase the success rate of tooth implants
• Rear seat design: A priority for children's safety in cars

No benefit of evening primrose oil for treating eczema, review suggests Posted: 29 Apr 2013 06:09 PM PDT Research into the complementary therapies evening primrose oil and borage oil shows little, if any, benefit for people with eczema compared with placebo, according to a new systematic review. The authors conclude that further studies on the therapies would be difficult to justify.

Targeting prescribers can reduce excessive use of antibiotics in hospitals Posted: 29 Apr 2013 06:09 PM PDT Giving prescribers access to education and advice or imposing restrictions on use can curb overuse or inappropriate use of antibiotics in hospitals, according to a new Cochrane systematic review. This is important because unnecessary use of these life-saving drugs is a key source of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

Smoking prevention in schools: Does it work? Posted: 29 Apr 2013 06:09 PM PDT Smoking prevention in schools reduces the number of young people who will later become smokers, according to a new systematic review. For young people who have never smoked, these programs appear to be effective at least one year after implementation.

Identification of gene variants affecting fertility offers new treatment possibility Posted: 29 Apr 2013 06:08 PM PDT Identification of genetic variations in the genes coding for the hormone FSH may provide new treatments for male and female infertility, according to new work. Scientists have characterized gene variations which may improve treatment for almost half of infertile men, as well as allowing tailored treatment for women undergoing assisted reproduction.

Microglia can be derived from patient-specific human induced pluripotent stem cells and may help modulate the course of central nervous system diseases Posted: 29 Apr 2013 02:59 PM PDT Overall importance of microglia in various brain and spinal cord diseases surprises researchers, who find patient-specific stem cells can be turned into microglia, which could be very useful in future treatment options.

Scientists discover how a protein finds its way Posted: 29 Apr 2013 02:59 PM PDT Scientists have uncovered how an enzyme co-factor can bestow specificity on a class of proteins with otherwise nonspecific biochemical activity. Proteins can have more than one function, but they often need to be very specific in their action or they create cellular havoc, possibly leading to disease.

Connection between inflammatory stimulus and Parkinson's disease examined Posted: 29 Apr 2013 02:59 PM PDT The precise cause(s) of Parkinson's Disease is unknown, but there is consensus that an inflammatory event or episode is involved in the initiation of neurodegeneration. A new study has brought the understanding of inflammation's role a step further.

Silicone liquid crystal stiffens with repeated compression: Discovery may point toward self-healing materials Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:49 PM PDT Scientists have found that liquid crystalline silicone stiffens significantly when compressed repeatedly for hours on end. The discovery may lead to new strategies for self-healing materials or biocompatible materials that mimic human tissues.

Frequently used biologic agents might cause acute liver injury Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:49 PM PDT A commonly used class of biologic response modifying drugs can cause acute liver injury with elevated liver enzymes, according to a new study.

Retirement expert: Medicare already means-tested Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:49 PM PDT The Obama administration's controversial proposal to means-test Medicare recipients has one small problem -- the Medicare program is already means-tested, says an expert on retirement benefits.

New methods to explore astrocyte effects on brain function Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:49 PM PDT A new study presents new methods to evaluate how astrocytes contribute to brain function, paving the way for future exploration of these important brain cells at unprecedented levels of detail.

Pregnant women with high celiac disease antibodies are at risk for low birth weight babies Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:49 PM PDT Pregnant women with mid to high levels of antibodies common in patients with celiac disease are at risk for having babies with reduced fetal weight and birth weight, according to a new study. The antibody tissue transglutaminase is most commonly found in patients with celiac disease.

Rare, lethal childhood disease tracked to protein Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:49 PM PDT Scientists have identified how a defective protein plays a central role in a rare, lethal childhood disease known as giant axonal neuropathy, or GAN. GAN is an extremely rare and untreatable genetic disorder that strikes the central and peripheral nervous systems of young children.

New subtype of ataxia identified Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:48 PM PDT Researchers have identified a new subtype of ataxia, a rare disease without treatment that causes atrophy in the cerebellum and affects around 1.5 million people in the world.

Cancer studies often lack necessary rigor to answer key questions Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:48 PM PDT Fueled in part by an inclination to speed new treatments to patients, research studies for cancer therapies tend to be smaller and less robust than for other diseases.

People with congenital heart disease need physical activity, study suggests Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:48 PM PDT People born with a heart defect need physical activity. Some irregular heart beat conditions may require activity restrictions but for most patients physical activity is unlimited.

Researcher reveals new way to safeguard forensic dna samples against contamination Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:47 PM PDT DNA evidence is invisible and remarkably easy to transfer, making it possible for a sample to be spilled or even planted on a piece of evidence. Scientists have now developed a solution that permanently marks DNA samples to prevent contamination. Hampikian has used nullomers, the smallest DNA sequences that are absent from nature, to create the DNA bar code.

Modeling disease spread, including flu Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:46 PM PDT A collaborative research network that formed nearly 10 years ago has pioneered the use of computational and mathematical models to prepare for, detect and respond to influenza, pertussis, West Nile disease, dengue fever, cholera and other infectious disease threats.

Antidepressants linked with increased risks after surgery Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:46 PM PDT Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – among the most widely prescribed antidepressant medications – are associated with increased risk of bleeding, transfusion, hospital readmission and death when taken around the time of surgery, according to a new analysis.

More evidence suggests eating omega 3s and avoiding meat, dairy linked to preserving memory Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:46 PM PDT A UAB study suggests that the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes consuming foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, chicken and salad dressing, and avoiding saturated fats, meat and dairy foods, may be linked to preserving memory and thinking abilities.

U. S. children born outside the United States have lower risk of allergic disease Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:46 PM PDT A new study suggests children living the in the United States but born outside the U.S. have a lower prevalence of allergic disease that increases after residing in the United States for one decade.

Relationship of medical interventions in childhood and prevalence of later intellectual disability Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:46 PM PDT A new study examines the relationship between medical interventions in early childhood and the increasing prevalence of later intellectual disability.

Do you obsess over your appearance? Your brain might be wired abnormally Posted: 29 Apr 2013 12:42 PM PDT New research has discovered that people with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) have abnormal connections throughout their brain. BDD is a disabling but often-misunderstood psychiatric condition in which individuals perceive that they're disfigured and ugly, even though they look normal to others.

Key shift in brain that creates drive to overeat identified Posted: 29 Apr 2013 12:42 PM PDT Neuroscientists have identified a cellular change in the brain that accompanies obesity. The findings could explain the body's tendency to maintain undesirable weight levels, rather than an ideal weight, and identify possible targets for pharmacological efforts to address obesity. The study identifies a mechanism for the body's ongoing tendency to return to the heavier weight.

Researchers devise method for enhancing CEST MRI Posted: 29 Apr 2013 12:41 PM PDT Researchers have created a novel way to enhance MRI by reducing interference from large macromolecules that can often obscure images generated by current chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) methods.

Big data analysis identifies prognostic RNA markers in a common form of breast cancer Posted: 29 Apr 2013 12:41 PM PDT An analysis that integrates three large sets of genomic data available through The Cancer Genome Atlas has identified 37 RNA molecules that might predict survival in patients with the most common form of breast cancer. The study analyzed large masses of data from 466 cases of the most common type of breast cancer and provides the first prognostic signature in cancer composed of both mRNA and microRNA.

Adults lack stem cells for making new eggs Posted: 29 Apr 2013 12:41 PM PDT Mammalian females ovulate periodically over their reproductive lifetimes, placing significant demands on their ovaries for egg production. Whether mammals generate new eggs in adulthood using stem cells has been a source of scientific controversy. If true, these "germ-line stem cells" might allow novel treatments for infertility and other diseases.

Sharing examination questions threatens trust in medical profession Posted: 29 Apr 2013 10:36 AM PDT Unethical behavior among physicians-in-training threatens to erode public trust and confidence in the medical profession. Reacting to CNN reports last year about the widespread use of "recalls" and "airplane notes" by radiology and dermatology residents, experts call on leaders in medical education to establish guidelines and change the culture of medical school and training programs.

Patterned hearts: Bioengineers create rubber-like material bearing micropatterns for stronger, more elastic hearts Posted: 29 Apr 2013 10:36 AM PDT Bioengineers report creating artificial heart tissue that closely mimics the functions of natural heart tissue through the use of human-based materials. Their work will advance how clinicians treat the damaging effects caused by heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.

Sniffing out schizophrenia Posted: 29 Apr 2013 10:05 AM PDT Scientists have developed an innovative method for diagnosing schizophrenia by collecting neural tissues from the nose. The finding could lead to early detection of the disease, giving rise to vastly improved treatment overall.

Comparing proteins at a glance: Technique for easy comparisons of proteins in solution Posted: 29 Apr 2013 10:05 AM PDT A revolutionary X-ray analytical technique enables researchers at a glance to identify structural similarities and differences between multiple proteins under a variety of conditions and has already been used to gain valuable new insight into a prime protein target for cancer chemotherapy.

Foul-smelling gas shows health benefits in reducing joint swelling Posted: 29 Apr 2013 10:05 AM PDT Scientists have discovered that a novel drug molecule, which slowly generates the gas hydrogen sulfide, effectively reduces swelling and inflammation in arthritic joints.

Analysis: U.S. emergency care cost estimates are too low Posted: 29 Apr 2013 10:05 AM PDT US emergency care costs may be more than twice previously published estimates, according to a new analysis that critiques those estimates, argues for improved accounting, and suggests considering the value of emergency care as well as total spending.

Molecular role of gene linked to blood vessel formation uncovered Posted: 29 Apr 2013 09:55 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that disrupting a gene that acts as a regulatory switch to turn on other genes can keep blood vessels from forming and developing properly.

Will green tea help you lose weight? Posted: 29 Apr 2013 08:47 AM PDT Green tea extract in tandem with an additional compound could be effective for body weight control and type 2 diabetes, a new study in mice indicates. Evidence has shown that green tea extract may be an effective herbal remedy useful for weight control and helping to regulate glucose in type 2 diabetes.

Warning system predicts outbreaks of dengue fever Posted: 29 Apr 2013 06:50 AM PDT With the help of a warning system which measures the risk of dengue incidence using precipitation and air temperature, it is possible to forecast the outbreak of dengue fever up to 16 weeks in advance.

Researchers increase the success rate of tooth implants Posted: 29 Apr 2013 06:49 AM PDT Elderly or people with osteoporosis, smokers, diabetics or people who have had cancer are sometimes not eligible to receive dental implants as their bones are unable to correctly integrate the new prostheses which replace the root. Researchers have now developed an implant coating with a novel biodegradable material aimed at people with bone deficit. It will also increase the overall success rate of implants through an enhanced biocompatibility and reduce the time of osseointegration or bone integration.

Rear seat design: A priority for children's safety in cars Posted: 29 Apr 2013 06:46 AM PDT New report recommends technology, policy changes to better protect older children and adolescents in crashes.

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