ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Swine flu pandemic of 2009 more deadly for younger adults
• Fetch, boy! Study shows homes with dogs have more types of bacteria
• Scientists develop worm EEG to test the effects of drugs
• CT detects twice as many lung cancers as X-ray
• Baby's life saved with groundbreaking 3-D printed device that restored his breathing
• Migraine and depression together may be linked with brain size
• Novel approach for influenza vaccination shows promise in early animal testing
• Laws to lower alcohol limits mean lower fatalities says trauma expert
• Good marriage can buffer effects of dad's depression on young children
• Children of married parents less likely to be obese
• Overcoming resistance to anti-cancer drugs by targeting cell 'powerhouses'
• Hospitals profit when patients develop bloodstream infections
• Enzyme-activating antibodies revealed as marker for most severe form of rheumatoid arthritis
• Overeating learned in infancy, study suggests
• Promising new approach to treatment of lung cancer
• Insomnia may cause dysfunction in emotional brain circuitry
• Largest genetic sequencing study of human disease
• First genomic survey of human skin fungal diversity
• Slowing the aging process -- only with antibiotics
• Optics: Statistics light the way
• Re-emergence of moderate iodine deficiency in developed countries
• Calcium supplements linked to longer lifespans in women
• Fish oil supplements may help fight against type 2 diabetes
• How immune system peacefully co-exists with 'good' bacteria
• Study details genes that control whether tumors adapt or die when faced with p53 activating drugs
• Signs of motor disorders can appear years before disease manifestation
• Schizophrenia symptoms eliminated in animal model
• Costs to treat stroke in America may double by 2030
• Molecular roots of cocaine addiction in brain uncovered: Promising new anti-addiction drug revealed
• New pneumococcal vaccine appears to be as safe as previously used vaccine, study suggests
• Fish oil may help the heart beat mental stress
• Inexpensive, accurate way to detect prostate cancer: At-home urine tests
• Addiction as a disorder of decision-making
• Addiction to unhealthy foods could help explain the global obesity epidemic, research suggests
• Cold plasma successful against brain cancer cells, study suggests
• How healthy are you for your age?
• Genetic marker associated with risk for pulmonary fibrosis
• DNA damage: The dark side of respiration
• Mechanism discovered which aids Legionella to camouflage itself in the organism
• Oral vaccine against diarrhea promising
• Phthalates -- chemicals widely found in plastics and processed food -- linked to elevated blood pressure in children and teens
• Important genetic factors that could influence survival in sepsis patients
• Common brain processes of anesthetic-induced unconsciousness identified
• Dietary advice on added sugar is damaging our health, warns heart expert
• Life expectancy gap widens between those with mental illness and general population
• Small cancer risk following CT scans in childhood and adolescence confirmed
• Bacterium uses natural 'thermometer' to trigger diarrheal disease, scientists find
• Antidepressant reduces stress-induced heart condition

Swine flu pandemic of 2009 more deadly for younger adults Posted: 22 May 2013 03:03 PM PDT As the world prepares for what may be the next pandemic strain of influenza virus, in the H7N9 bird flu, a new study reveals that the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic was deadliest for people under the age of 65, while those 65 and over had greater immunity due to previous exposure to similar viruses.

Fetch, boy! Study shows homes with dogs have more types of bacteria Posted: 22 May 2013 03:03 PM PDT New research shows that households with dogs are home to more types of bacteria -- including bacteria that are rarely found in households that do not have dogs. The finding is part of a larger study to improve our understanding of the microscopic life forms that live in our homes.

Scientists develop worm EEG to test the effects of drugs Posted: 22 May 2013 03:01 PM PDT Scientists have developed a device which records the brain activity of worms to help test the effects of drugs. NeuroChip is a microfluidic electrophysiological device, which can trap the microscopic worm Caenorhadbitis elegans and record the activity of discrete neural circuits in its 'brain' - a worm equivalent of the EEG.

CT detects twice as many lung cancers as X-ray Posted: 22 May 2013 03:01 PM PDT CT scans detected twice as many early-stage lung cancers as chest X-ray on initial screening exam, according to new results. Investigators say the 20 percent lung cancer mortality reduction previously reported in the NLST is achievable at screening centers in the U.S.

Baby's life saved with groundbreaking 3-D printed device that restored his breathing Posted: 22 May 2013 03:01 PM PDT A bioresorbable splint has been created and used for first time at the University of Michigan, where doctors implanted the device in an infant and stopped a life-threatening condition called tracheobronchomalacia.

Migraine and depression together may be linked with brain size Posted: 22 May 2013 01:39 PM PDT Older people with a history of migraines and depression may have smaller brain tissue volumes than people with only one or neither of the conditions, according to a new study.

Novel approach for influenza vaccination shows promise in early animal testing Posted: 22 May 2013 01:03 PM PDT A new approach for immunizing against influenza elicited a more potent immune response and broader protection than the currently licensed seasonal influenza vaccines when tested in mice and ferrets. The new vaccine concept represents an important step forward in the quest to develop a universal influenza vaccine -- one that would protect against most or all influenza strains without the need for an annual vaccination.

Laws to lower alcohol limits mean lower fatalities says trauma expert Posted: 22 May 2013 01:02 PM PDT The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing that the legal limit for a driver's blood-alcohol content be reduced from 0.08 to 0.05, but and that may not be far enough say experts.

Good marriage can buffer effects of dad's depression on young children Posted: 22 May 2013 12:05 PM PDT What effect does a father's depression have on his young son or daughter? When fathers report a high level of emotional intimacy in their marriage, their children benefit, said a new study.

Children of married parents less likely to be obese Posted: 22 May 2013 11:20 AM PDT Children living in households where the parents are married are less likely to be obese, according to new research.

Overcoming resistance to anti-cancer drugs by targeting cell 'powerhouses' Posted: 22 May 2013 11:20 AM PDT Re-routing anti-cancer drugs to the "power plants" that make energy to keep cells alive is a promising but long-neglected approach to preventing emergence of the drug-resistant forms of cancer -- source of a serious medical problem, scientists are reporting.

Hospitals profit when patients develop bloodstream infections Posted: 22 May 2013 11:18 AM PDT Researchers report that hospitals may be reaping enormous income for patients whose hospital stays are complicated by preventable bloodstream infections contracted in their intensive care units.

Enzyme-activating antibodies revealed as marker for most severe form of rheumatoid arthritis Posted: 22 May 2013 11:18 AM PDT In a series of lab experiments designed to unravel the workings of a key enzyme widely considered a possible trigger of rheumatoid arthritis, researchers have found that in the most severe cases of the disease, the immune system makes a unique subset of antibodies that have a disease-promoting role.

Overeating learned in infancy, study suggests Posted: 22 May 2013 10:12 AM PDT Research shows that clinical obesity at 24 months of age strongly traces back to infant feeding patterns.

Promising new approach to treatment of lung cancer Posted: 22 May 2013 10:12 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new drug delivery system that allows inhalation of chemotherapeutic drugs to help treat lung cancer, and in laboratory and animal tests it appears to reduce the systemic damage done to other organs while significantly improving the treatment of lung tumors -- the tumors virtually disappeared.

Insomnia may cause dysfunction in emotional brain circuitry Posted: 22 May 2013 10:12 AM PDT A new study provides neurobiological evidence for dysfunction in the neural circuitry underlying emotion regulation in people with insomnia, which may have implications for the risk relationship between insomnia and depression.

Largest genetic sequencing study of human disease Posted: 22 May 2013 10:11 AM PDT Researchers have completed the largest sequencing study of human disease to date, investigating the genetic basis of six autoimmune diseases.

First genomic survey of human skin fungal diversity Posted: 22 May 2013 10:11 AM PDT In the first study of human fungal skin diversity, researchers sequenced the DNA of fungi at skin sites of healthy adults to define the normal populations across the skin and to provide a framework for investigating fungal skin conditions.

Slowing the aging process -- only with antibiotics Posted: 22 May 2013 10:11 AM PDT Scientists reveal the mechanism responsible for aging hidden deep within mitochondria -- and dramatically slow it down in worms by administering antibiotics to the young.

Optics: Statistics light the way Posted: 22 May 2013 10:10 AM PDT A revelation of how photoreceptive cells in the eye distinguish between different light sources could pave the way for a novel class of optical devices.

Re-emergence of moderate iodine deficiency in developed countries Posted: 22 May 2013 10:10 AM PDT A commentary accompanying research calls for greater public health policies to eradicate iodine deficiency in the U.K. and other developed countries, including the United States.

Calcium supplements linked to longer lifespans in women Posted: 22 May 2013 10:09 AM PDT Taking a calcium supplement of up to 1,000 mg per day can help women live longer, according to a recent study.

Fish oil supplements may help fight against type 2 diabetes Posted: 22 May 2013 10:09 AM PDT Widely-used fish oil supplements modestly increase amounts of a hormone that is associated with lower risk of diabetes and heart disease, according to a new study.

How immune system peacefully co-exists with 'good' bacteria Posted: 22 May 2013 10:09 AM PDT The human gut is loaded with helpful bacteria microbes, yet the immune system seemingly turns a blind eye. Now, researchers know how this friendly truce is kept intact. Innate lymphoid cells directly limit the response by inflammatory T cells to commensal bacteria in the gut of mice. Loss of this ILC function effectively puts the immune system on an extended war footing against the commensal bacteria a condition observed in multiple chronic inflammatory diseases.

Study details genes that control whether tumors adapt or die when faced with p53 activating drugs Posted: 22 May 2013 09:32 AM PDT When turned on, the gene p53 turns off cancer. However, when existing drugs boost p53, only a few tumors die -- the rest resist the challenge. A new study shows how: tumors that live even in the face of p53 reactivation create more of the protein p21 than the protein PUMA; tumors that die have more PUMA than p21. And, for the first time, the current study shows a handful of genes that control this ratio.

Signs of motor disorders can appear years before disease manifestation Posted: 22 May 2013 09:31 AM PDT It is known that signs of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease can appear years before the disease becomes manifest; these signs take the form of subtle changes in the brain and behavior of individuals affected. For the first time, scientists have demonstrated the existence of such signatures for motor disorders belonging to the group of "spinocerebellar ataxias."

Schizophrenia symptoms eliminated in animal model Posted: 22 May 2013 09:31 AM PDT Overexpression of a gene associated with schizophrenia causes classic symptoms of the disorder that are reversed when gene expression returns to normal, scientists report. They genetically engineered mice so they could turn up levels of neuregulin-1 to mimic high levels found in some patients then return levels to normal.

Costs to treat stroke in America may double by 2030 Posted: 22 May 2013 09:31 AM PDT Stroke costs are predicted to more than double in the next 20 years. Americans 45-64 years old are expected to have the highest increase in stroke incidence.

Molecular roots of cocaine addiction in brain uncovered: Promising new anti-addiction drug revealed Posted: 22 May 2013 09:30 AM PDT Researchers have unraveled the molecular foundations of cocaine's effects on the brain, and identified a compound that blocks cravings for the drug in cocaine-addicted mice. The compound, already proven safe for humans, is undergoing further animal testing in preparation for possible clinical trials in cocaine addicts, the researchers say.

New pneumococcal vaccine appears to be as safe as previously used vaccine, study suggests Posted: 22 May 2013 08:20 AM PDT The new 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine appears to be as safe as the previous version used prior to 2010, the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, according to a new study.

Fish oil may help the heart beat mental stress Posted: 22 May 2013 08:19 AM PDT Why is fish oil good for the heart? A new study suggests that this omega 3 fatty acid-rich nutrient could blunt some cardiovascular effects of mental stress.

Inexpensive, accurate way to detect prostate cancer: At-home urine tests Posted: 22 May 2013 06:58 AM PDT Early screening for prostate cancer could become as easy for men as personal pregnancy testing is for women, thanks to new research.

Addiction as a disorder of decision-making Posted: 22 May 2013 06:58 AM PDT New research shows that craving drugs such as nicotine can be visualized in specific regions of the brain that are implicated in determining the value of actions, in planning actions and in motivation. Researchers suggest abnormal interactions between these decision-making brain regions could underlie addiction.

Addiction to unhealthy foods could help explain the global obesity epidemic, research suggests Posted: 22 May 2013 06:58 AM PDT New research shows that high-fructose corn syrup can cause behavioral reactions in rats similar to those produced by drugs of abuse such as cocaine. These results suggest food addiction could explain, at least partly, the current global obesity epidemic.

Cold plasma successful against brain cancer cells, study suggests Posted: 22 May 2013 06:57 AM PDT For the first time, physicists, biologists and physicians demonstrated the synergistic effect of cold atmospheric plasma - a partly ionized gas - and chemo therapy on aggressive brain tumor cells. Laboratory tests showed that the proliferation of glioblastoma cells – the most common and aggressive brain tumor in adults – is arrested and that even resistant cell populations become sensitive to treatment with chemo therapy if pre-treated with cold atmospheric plasma. This could be the first step on the way to a new combination therapy, providing new hope for fighting this lethal cancer.

How healthy are you for your age? Posted: 22 May 2013 06:53 AM PDT A new technique measures the health of human genetic material in relation to a patient's age. This could lead to the use of a "genetic thermometer" to assess a patient's health in relation to other individuals of the same age.

Genetic marker associated with risk for pulmonary fibrosis Posted: 22 May 2013 05:54 AM PDT New research finds that a genetic risk factor for pulmonary fibrosis, an uncommon but deadly lung disease, may be effective in identifying individuals at risk for this disease.

DNA damage: The dark side of respiration Posted: 22 May 2013 05:53 AM PDT Adventitious changes in cellular DNA can endanger the whole organism, as they may lead to life-threatening illnesses like cancer. Researchers now report how byproducts of respiration cause mispairing of subunits in the double helix.

Mechanism discovered which aids Legionella to camouflage itself in the organism Posted: 22 May 2013 05:52 AM PDT The feared Legionella pneumophilabacteria is responsible for legionellosis, an infectious disease that can lead to pneumonia. In order to infect us, this pathogen has developed a complex method enabling it to camouflage itself and go unnoticed in our cells, thus avoiding these acting against the infectious bacteria.

Oral vaccine against diarrhea promising Posted: 22 May 2013 05:52 AM PDT Medical researchers have announced promising results in a placebo controlled phase I study of an oral, inactivated Escherichia coli diarrhea vaccine.

Phthalates -- chemicals widely found in plastics and processed food -- linked to elevated blood pressure in children and teens Posted: 22 May 2013 05:50 AM PDT Plastic additives known as phthalates are odorless, colorless and just about everywhere: They turn up in flooring, plastic cups, beach balls, plastic wrap, intravenous tubing and the bodies of most Americans. Once perceived as harmless, phthalates have come under increasing scrutiny. A growing collection of evidence suggests dietary exposure to phthalates (which can leech from packaging and mix with food) may cause significant metabolic and hormonal abnormalities, especially during early development. Now, new research suggests that certain types of phthalates could pose another risk to children: compromised heart health.

Important genetic factors that could influence survival in sepsis patients Posted: 22 May 2013 05:50 AM PDT Scientists have made an important first step in establishing new therapeutic options targeting specific genetic areas that influence the occurrence and severity of sepsis – a life-threatening, whole-body response to infection.

Common brain processes of anesthetic-induced unconsciousness identified Posted: 22 May 2013 05:50 AM PDT Feedback from the front region of the brain is a crucial building block for consciousness and that its disruption is associated with unconsciousness.

Dietary advice on added sugar is damaging our health, warns heart expert Posted: 21 May 2013 04:41 PM PDT Dietary advice on added sugar is damaging our health, warns a cardiologist. He believes that "not only has this advice been manipulated by the food industry for profit but it is actually a risk factor for obesity and diet related disease."

Life expectancy gap widens between those with mental illness and general population Posted: 21 May 2013 04:41 PM PDT The gap between life expectancy in patients with a mental illness and the general population has widened since 1985 and efforts to reduce this gap should focus on improving physical health, suggest new research.

Small cancer risk following CT scans in childhood and adolescence confirmed Posted: 21 May 2013 04:41 PM PDT Young people who undergo CT scans are 24 percent more likely to develop cancer compared with those who do not, a study published today on bmj.com suggests. However the absolute excess for all cancers combined was low, at 9.38 for every 100,000 person years of follow-up.

Bacterium uses natural 'thermometer' to trigger diarrheal disease, scientists find Posted: 21 May 2013 04:40 PM PDT How does the bacterium Shigella -- the cause of a deadly diarrheal disease -- detect that it's in a human host? Scientists have found that a biological "RNA thermometer" monitors whether the environment is right for the bacterium to produce the factors it needs to survive within the body, according to a new study.

Antidepressant reduces stress-induced heart condition Posted: 21 May 2013 04:37 PM PDT A drug commonly used to treat depression and anxiety may improve a stress-related heart condition in people with stable coronary heart disease, according to researchers at Duke Medicine.

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