ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• First corneal transplant with pre-loaded donor tissue
• Women with unintended pregnancy are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression
• Sunshine could benefit health and prolong life, study suggests
• Theta brainwaves reflect ability to beat built-in bias
• Link between intimate partner violence and depression
• Genes show one big European family
• Turning Alzheimer's fuzzy signals into high definition
• Excessive weight gain during pregnancy increases risk of lacerations during childbirth
• Potential therapeutic target for Cushing's disease
• Genetic variations associated with susceptibility to bacteria linked to stomach disorders
• Discovery holds potential in destroying drug-resistant bacteria
• New delivery for cancer drugs
• How breast cancer cells acquire drug resistance
• Amplification of a Stat5 gene produces excess oncogenic protein that drives prostate cancer spread
• MicroRNA cooperation mutes breast cancer oncogenes
• Older adults' memory lapses linked to problems processing everyday events
• Restless legs syndrome, insomnia and brain chemistry: A tangled mystery solved?
• Discovery of new hormone opens doors to new type 2 diabetes treatments
• Protecting the heart health of diabetic patients
• New insights into Ebola infection pave the way for much-needed therapies
• Children's 'healthy' foods marketed at children are higher in fat, sugar and salt
• Nerve stimulation for severe depression changes brain function
• All hospitals should require drug, alcohol tests for physicians, experts say
• Silk and cellulose biologically effective for use in stem cell cartilage repair
• Using anticholinergics for as few as 60 days causes memory problems in older adults
• Once-a-day pill offers relief from ragweed allergy symptoms
• New research technique can help nanoparticles deliver drug treatments
• Stem cell researchers move toward treatments for rare genetic nerve disease
• Parents who suck on their infants' pacifiers may protect their children against developing allergy
• Experimental drug beneficial in trial to treat a rare sarcoma
• Optimal workout partner encourages less to motivate more
• New perspective needed for role of major Alzheimer's gene
• New class of drug targets skin cancer
• Biomechanical performances of old-fashioned leather and modern football helmets compared
• Pathogen turns protein into a virulence factor in one easy step
• Exercise-related changes in estrogen metabolism may lower breast cancer risk
• Sleep problems may increase risk for prostate cancer
• Anti-depressant link to Clostridium difficile infection
• Laminopathies: Key components in the disease mechanism identified
• Breast milk ingredient could prevent deadly intestinal problem in preemies
• Saving money on medical costs: Slowdown in health care spending growth could save Americans $770 billion
• New technique to track cell interactions in living bodies developed
• Personalized bone substitutes created from skin cells
• Effects of stress on brain cells offer clues to new anti-depressant drugs
• Competing antibodies may have limited the protection achieved in HIV vaccine trial in Thailand
• Cognitive impairment in families with exceptional longevity studied
• Solid-state controllable light filter may protect preterm infants from disturbing light
• Local laws key to reducing dangers of lead poisoning

First corneal transplant with pre-loaded donor tissue Posted: 07 May 2013 04:58 PM PDT The first successful cornea transplant with donor endothelial tissue preloaded by an eye bank has been performed.

Women with unintended pregnancy are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression Posted: 07 May 2013 04:58 PM PDT Women with unintended pregnancy are four times more likely to suffer from postpartum depression at twelve months postpartum, suggests a new study.

Sunshine could benefit health and prolong life, study suggests Posted: 07 May 2013 04:58 PM PDT Exposing skin to sunlight may help to reduce blood pressure, cut the risk of heart attack and stroke -- and even prolong life, a study suggests.

Theta brainwaves reflect ability to beat built-in bias Posted: 07 May 2013 04:56 PM PDT Many animals, including humans, harbor ingrained biases to actively obtain rewards and to remain inactive to avoid punishment. Sometimes, however those biases can steer us wrong. A new study finds that theta brainwave activity in the prefrontal cortex predicts how well people can overcome these biases when they are unwanted.

Link between intimate partner violence and depression Posted: 07 May 2013 04:56 PM PDT Not only are women who have experienced violence from their partner (intimate partner violence) at higher risk of becoming depressed, but women who are depressed may also be at increased risk of experiencing intimate partner violence, according to a new study.

Genes show one big European family Posted: 07 May 2013 04:56 PM PDT From Ireland to the Balkans, Europeans are basically one big family, closely related to one another for the past thousand years, according to a new study of the DNA of people from across the continent.

Turning Alzheimer's fuzzy signals into high definition Posted: 07 May 2013 04:54 PM PDT Scientists have discovered that cholinesterase inhibitors allow signals to enter the brain with less background noise. And the drugs work in the sensory cortices, not the more sophisticated processing regions.

Excessive weight gain during pregnancy increases risk of lacerations during childbirth Posted: 07 May 2013 01:42 PM PDT Excessive weight gain during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of lacerations during vaginal childbirth, according to a new study. Among more than 1,000 women who participated in the study, 126 experienced a significant increase in their body mass index (BMI), both +1 and +2 category changes, according to the criteria established by the World Health Organization (WHO). Of those women, 85.5 percent experienced lacerations compared to 69 percent with no change in BMI category.

Potential therapeutic target for Cushing's disease Posted: 07 May 2013 01:42 PM PDT Scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have identified a protein that drives the formation of pituitary tumors in Cushing's disease, a development that may give clinicians a therapeutic target to treat this potentially life-threatening disorder.

Genetic variations associated with susceptibility to bacteria linked to stomach disorders Posted: 07 May 2013 01:42 PM PDT Two genome-wide association studies and a subsequent meta-analysis have found that certain genetic variations are associated with susceptibility to Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria that is a major cause of gastritis and stomach ulcers and is linked to stomach cancer, findings that may help explain some of the observed variation in individual risk for H pylori infection.

Discovery holds potential in destroying drug-resistant bacteria Posted: 07 May 2013 12:50 PM PDT Through the serendipity of science, researchers have discovered a potential treatment for deadly, drug-resistant bacterial infections that uses the same approach that HIV uses to infect cells. New research is especially promising in the development of a potential treatment for lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis.

New delivery for cancer drugs Posted: 07 May 2013 12:49 PM PDT Nanopharmaceuticals are beginning to demonstrate their capacity to place the drugs directly in the tumor, where they will do the most good, rather than let them roam freely in the body.

How breast cancer cells acquire drug resistance Posted: 07 May 2013 12:49 PM PDT A seven-year quest to understand how breast cancer cells resist treatment with the targeted therapy lapatinib has revealed a previously unknown molecular network that regulates cell death. The discovery provides new avenues to overcome drug resistance, according to new research.

Amplification of a Stat5 gene produces excess oncogenic protein that drives prostate cancer spread Posted: 07 May 2013 12:49 PM PDT Scientists have solved the mystery of why a substantial percentage of castrate-resistant metastatic prostate cancer cells contain abnormally high levels of the pro-growth protein Stat5.

MicroRNA cooperation mutes breast cancer oncogenes Posted: 07 May 2013 10:46 AM PDT A new study shows that turning up a few microRNAs a little may offer as much anti-breast-cancer activity as turning up one microRNA a lot – and without the unwanted side effects.

Older adults' memory lapses linked to problems processing everyday events Posted: 07 May 2013 10:46 AM PDT Some memory problems common to older adults may stem from an inability to segment daily life into discrete experiences, according to a new study.

Restless legs syndrome, insomnia and brain chemistry: A tangled mystery solved? Posted: 07 May 2013 10:46 AM PDT Researchers believe they may have discovered an explanation for the sleepless nights associated with restless legs syndrome, a symptom that persists even when the disruptive, overwhelming nocturnal urge to move the legs is treated successfully with medication.

Discovery of new hormone opens doors to new type 2 diabetes treatments Posted: 07 May 2013 10:45 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that a particular type of protein (hormone) found in fat cells helps regulate how glucose (blood sugar) is controlled and metabolized in the liver. Using experimental models and state-of-the-art technology, the scientists found that switching off this protein leads to better control of glucose production from the liver, revealing a potential new target that may be used to treat type 2 diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

Protecting the heart health of diabetic patients Posted: 07 May 2013 10:45 AM PDT Diabetics have an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease and plaque build-up in their arteries, even if they receive cholesterol-lowering therapies. New research reveals that high blood sugar levels also boost the production of inflammatory cells, which contribute to plaque in blood vessels.

New insights into Ebola infection pave the way for much-needed therapies Posted: 07 May 2013 10:45 AM PDT The Ebola virus is among the deadliest viruses on the planet, killing up to 90 percent of those infected. A new study reveals how the most abundant protein making up the Ebola virus -- viral protein 40 -- allows the virus to leave host cells and spread infection to other cells throughout the human body. The findings could lay the foundation for the development of new drugs and strategies for fighting Ebola infection.

Children's 'healthy' foods marketed at children are higher in fat, sugar and salt Posted: 07 May 2013 10:44 AM PDT Foods being marketed to children in UK supermarkets are less healthy than those marketed to the general population according to researchers who question whether more guidelines may be needed in regulating food marketed to children.

Nerve stimulation for severe depression changes brain function Posted: 07 May 2013 10:44 AM PDT For nearly a decade, doctors have used implanted electronic stimulators to treat severe depression in people who don't respond to standard antidepressant treatments. Now, preliminary brain scan studies are revealing that vagus nerve stimulation brings about changes in brain metabolism weeks or even months before patients begin to feel better.

All hospitals should require drug, alcohol tests for physicians, experts say Posted: 07 May 2013 09:48 AM PDT To improve patient safety, hospitals should randomly test physicians for drug and alcohol use in much the same way other major industries in the United States do to protect their customers.

Silk and cellulose biologically effective for use in stem cell cartilage repair Posted: 07 May 2013 09:48 AM PDT Over 20 million people in Europe suffer from osteoarthritis which can lead to extensive damage to the knee and hip cartilage. Stem cells offer a promising way forward but a key challenge has been to design a 'smart material' that is biologically effective for cartilage tissue regeneration. Now researchers have identified a blend of naturally occurring fibers such as cellulose and silk that makes progress towards affordable and effective cell-based therapy for cartilage repair a step closer.

Using anticholinergics for as few as 60 days causes memory problems in older adults Posted: 07 May 2013 09:48 AM PDT Research on medications commonly taken by older adults has found that drugs with strong anticholinergic effects cause cognitive impairment when taken continuously for as few as 60 days. A similar impact can be seen with 90 days of continuous use when taking multiple drugs with weak anticholinergic effect.

Once-a-day pill offers relief from ragweed allergy symptoms Posted: 07 May 2013 08:55 AM PDT A once-daily tablet containing a high dose of a key ragweed pollen protein effectively blocks the runny noses, sneezes, nasal congestion and itchy eyes experienced by ragweed allergy sufferers.

New research technique can help nanoparticles deliver drug treatments Posted: 07 May 2013 08:55 AM PDT A researcher has successfully tested a technique that can lead to more effective use of nanoparticles as a drug delivery system.

Stem cell researchers move toward treatments for rare genetic nerve disease Posted: 07 May 2013 08:55 AM PDT Researchers have used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) to advance disease-in-a-dish modeling of a rare genetic disorder, Ataxia Telangiectasia. Their discovery shows positive effects of drugs that may lead to effective new treatments for the neurodegenerative disease. iPSC are made from patient skin cells rather than from embryos and can become any type of cells in the laboratory.

Parents who suck on their infants' pacifiers may protect their children against developing allergy Posted: 07 May 2013 07:31 AM PDT Allergies are very common in industrialized countries. It has been suggested that exposure to harmless bacteria during infancy may be protective against the development of allergy. However, it has been difficult to pinpoint which bacteria a baby should be exposed to, and at what time and by which route this exposure should ideally occur.

Experimental drug beneficial in trial to treat a rare sarcoma Posted: 07 May 2013 07:30 AM PDT Patients with advanced alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS), a rare cancer, achieved some control of their disease using an experimental anti-cancer drug called cediranib.

Optimal workout partner encourages less to motivate more Posted: 07 May 2013 07:30 AM PDT The best workout partner may be one who understands that silence is golden, according to a new study.

New perspective needed for role of major Alzheimer's gene Posted: 07 May 2013 06:58 AM PDT Scientists' picture of how a gene strongly linked to Alzheimer's disease harms the brain may have to be revised, researchers have found.

New class of drug targets skin cancer Posted: 07 May 2013 06:58 AM PDT A new class of drug targeting skin cancer's genetic material has been successfully tested in humans for the first time, opening the way to new treatments for a range of conditions from skin cancers to eye diseases.

Biomechanical performances of old-fashioned leather and modern football helmets compared Posted: 07 May 2013 04:57 AM PDT Researchers have compared the relative safety afforded by two 1930-vintage leather football helmets and 10 modern football helmets during impacts to players' heads. These researchers found that all 10 modern helmets provided significantly more protection than leather helmets used in the first half of the twentieth century, and demonstrated that differences also exist between modern helmets.

Pathogen turns protein into a virulence factor in one easy step Posted: 07 May 2013 03:11 AM PDT To infect its host, the respiratory pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa takes an ordinary protein usually involved in making other proteins and adds three small molecules to turn it into a key for gaining access to human cells. Researchers have now uncovered this previously unknown virulence factor in P. aeruginosa, one of the most common causes of hospital-acquired pneumonia.

Exercise-related changes in estrogen metabolism may lower breast cancer risk Posted: 07 May 2013 03:11 AM PDT Physical activity may reduce breast cancer risk by altering estrogen metabolism. Women who did aerobic exercises had an increased ratio of "good" to "bad" metabolites of estrogen.

Sleep problems may increase risk for prostate cancer Posted: 07 May 2013 03:11 AM PDT Problems falling asleep and staying asleep increased the risk for prostate cancer. The association was stronger for advanced disease. Larger studies with longer follow-up are necessary for confirmation.

Anti-depressant link to Clostridium difficile infection Posted: 07 May 2013 03:10 AM PDT Certain types of anti-depressants have been linked to an increase in the risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) finds a new study. Awareness of this link should improve identification and early treatment of CDI.

Laminopathies: Key components in the disease mechanism identified Posted: 07 May 2013 03:08 AM PDT Laminopathies are hereditary diseases that affect mainly the muscle tissue. These diseases include for example Emery-Dreifuss Muscular dystrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy and Hutchison-Gilford progeria syndrome.

Breast milk ingredient could prevent deadly intestinal problem in preemies Posted: 06 May 2013 03:16 PM PDT An ingredient that naturally occurs in breast milk might be used to prevent premature babies from developing a deadly intestinal condition that currently is largely incurable, according to researchers.

Saving money on medical costs: Slowdown in health care spending growth could save Americans $770 billion Posted: 06 May 2013 03:16 PM PDT A slowdown in the growth of US health care costs could mean that Americans could save as much as $770 billion on Medicare spending over the next decade, economists say. The slowdown, researchers say, is the result of a decline in the development of new drugs and technologies and increased efficiency in the health care system. If those trends continue, government estimates of health care spending could be off by hundreds of billions.

New technique to track cell interactions in living bodies developed Posted: 06 May 2013 03:16 PM PDT Researchers have developed a new technique to see how different types of cells interact in a living mouse.

Personalized bone substitutes created from skin cells Posted: 06 May 2013 03:14 PM PDT Scientists have made patient-specific bone substitutes from skin cells for repair of large bone defects. The study represents a major advance in personalized reconstructive treatments for patients with bone defects resulting from disease or trauma.

Effects of stress on brain cells offer clues to new anti-depressant drugs Posted: 06 May 2013 03:14 PM PDT New research reveals the detailed mechanism behind how stress hormones reduce the number of new brain cells -- a process considered to be linked to depression. The researchers identified a key protein responsible for the long-term detrimental effect of stress on cells, and importantly, successfully used a drug compound to block this effect, offering a potential new avenue for drug discovery.

Competing antibodies may have limited the protection achieved in HIV vaccine trial in Thailand Posted: 06 May 2013 03:13 PM PDT Continuing analysis of an HIV vaccine trial undertaken in Thailand is yielding additional information about how immune responses were triggered and why the vaccine did not protect more people.

Cognitive impairment in families with exceptional longevity studied Posted: 06 May 2013 03:13 PM PDT Researchers examines the relationship between families with exceptional longevity and cognitive impairment consistent with Alzheimer disease.

Solid-state controllable light filter may protect preterm infants from disturbing light Posted: 06 May 2013 01:12 PM PDT Researchers describe a proof-of-concept mirror that switches between reflective and red-transparent states when a small voltage is applied.

Local laws key to reducing dangers of lead poisoning Posted: 06 May 2013 10:24 AM PDT A new study catalogs community-based efforts to develop strategies and policies that -- by targeting high risk housing -- may hold the key to reducing lead hazards in children's homes.

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