ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Telomere length influences cancer cell differentiation
• Protein in blood exerts natural anti-cancer protection
• Gold standard dialysis procedure may not be so golden for elderly patients
• Molecule drives aggressive breast cancer
• Surgeons report melanoma recurs after 10 years in more than 6 percent of patients
• Early brain stimulation may help stroke survivors recover language function
• Ritalin shows promise in treating addiction
• Radiation from airport scanners: The dose we actually get is low
• Could a diet high in fish and flax help prevent broken hips?
• Aerial mosquito spraying study finds no immediate public health risks
• Protein is involved with colon cancer cell's ability to invade other cells
• New maps depict impact of HIV in America
• Biochemists identify protease substrates important for bacterial growth and development
• Helping SAD sufferers sleep soundly
• After Great Dane success, cancer doc eyes brain tumors
• Brain's 'garbage truck' may hold key to treating Alzheimer's and other disorders
• Key step in protein synthesis revealed
• A second amyloid may play a role in Alzheimer's disease
• Prevailing view of how the brain is wired overturned?
• High-resolution mapping technique uncovers underlying circuit architecture of the brain
• Stress: It should never be ignored, experts say
• A look inside children's minds
• Inside the minds of murderers: Impulsive murderers much more mentally impaired than those who kill strategically
• Type 1 diabetes: Can insulin-producing cells be regenerated?
• Research raises concerns over smoke detectors' effectiveness in waking children
• Factory insurance would fight blight
• Seniors are not just wrinkly adults
• Food contaminants worsen metabolic problems in obese mice
• Turning off cells in habit-associated brain region prevents rats from learning to run maze on autopilot
• A telescope for your eye: New contact lens design may improve sight of patients with macular degeneration
• Pneumonia revealed in a cough: Coughs give vital clues to the presence or absence of pneumonia in children
• Polymer coatings a key step toward oral delivery of protein-based drugs
• Gene deletion affects early language and brain white matter
• Imagination can change what we hear and see
• Scientists discern signatures of old versus young stem cells
• Bringing long-term intensive care within hospital walls shows promise for cost savings and improved patient care
• Research in fruit flies provides new insight into Barrett's esophagus
• Can silver promote the colonization of bacteria on medical devices?
• Babies can read each other’s moods, study finds
• Link shown between Crohn's disease and virus
• How to boost Hispanics' participation in clinical trials? Relate to them, study shows
• Insulin differs between ethnicities, study finds
• Using computer models to predict more effective therapies for colon tumors
• Promising Alzheimer's 'drug' halts memory loss
• Brain cancer: A circuitous route to therapy resistance

Telomere length influences cancer cell differentiation Posted: 27 Jun 2013 04:06 PM PDT Researchers have discovered that forced elongation of telomeres (extensions on the end of chromosomes) promotes the differentiation of cancer cells, probably reducing malignancy, which is strongly associated with a loss of cell differentiation.

Protein in blood exerts natural anti-cancer protection Posted: 27 Jun 2013 04:03 PM PDT Researchers have discovered that decorin, a naturally occurring protein that circulates in the blood, acts as a potent inhibitor of tumor growth modulating the tumor microenvironment.

Gold standard dialysis procedure may not be so golden for elderly patients Posted: 27 Jun 2013 04:03 PM PDT Elderly patients with kidney failure may not gain the same benefits from what's considered the gold standard for accessing the blood for dialysis compared with younger patients, according to a new study. The findings suggest that vascular access procedures should be tailored to individual dialysis patients in the elderly population.

Molecule drives aggressive breast cancer Posted: 27 Jun 2013 04:03 PM PDT Recent studies have shown a gene known to coordinate initial development of the eye (EYA1) is a powerful breast tumor promoter in mice. The gene EYA1 was also shown to be overexpressed in a genetic breast cancer subtype called luminal B.

Surgeons report melanoma recurs after 10 years in more than 6 percent of patients Posted: 27 Jun 2013 01:14 PM PDT Recurrence of melanoma skin cancer 10 or more years after initial treatment is more common than previously thought, occurring in more than one in 20 patients. However, according to a new study, these patients tend to live longer after their cancer returns than patients whose melanoma recurs in the first three years.

Early brain stimulation may help stroke survivors recover language function Posted: 27 Jun 2013 01:14 PM PDT Non-invasive brain stimulation may help stroke survivors recover language function. Survivors treated with the technique regained more language function than those who did not get treatment.

Ritalin shows promise in treating addiction Posted: 27 Jun 2013 12:16 PM PDT ADHD drug helps improve brain functional connectivity in cocaine addiction, according to a new study.

Radiation from airport scanners: The dose we actually get is low Posted: 27 Jun 2013 12:16 PM PDT A new report has found that people absorb less radiation from airport X-ray backscatter scanner than they do while standing in line waiting for the scan itself.

Could a diet high in fish and flax help prevent broken hips? Posted: 27 Jun 2013 12:16 PM PDT Higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood may reduce the risk for hip fractures in postmenopausal women, recent research suggests.

Aerial mosquito spraying study finds no immediate public health risks Posted: 27 Jun 2013 11:25 AM PDT In what researchers say is the first public health study of the aerial mosquito spraying method to prevent West Nile virus, a new study analyzed emergency department records from Sacramento area hospitals during and immediately after aerial sprayings in the summer of 2005.

Protein is involved with colon cancer cell's ability to invade other cells Posted: 27 Jun 2013 11:25 AM PDT Understanding how the protein km23-1 enables in the spread of colon cancer may lead to new treatments for the disease, according to researchers.

New maps depict impact of HIV in America Posted: 27 Jun 2013 11:25 AM PDT New interactive online maps that show the latest HIV prevalence data for 20 US cities by ZIP code or census tract. AIDSVu also includes new city snapshots displaying HIV prevalence alongside various social determinants of health -- such as poverty, lack of health insurance and educational attainment.

Biochemists identify protease substrates important for bacterial growth and development Posted: 27 Jun 2013 11:25 AM PDT Scientists describe using a combination of biochemistry and mass spectrometry to "trap" scores of new candidate substrates of the protease ClpXP to reveal how protein degradation is critical to cell cycle progression and bacterial development. The new understanding could lead to identifying new antibiotic targets.

Helping SAD sufferers sleep soundly Posted: 27 Jun 2013 11:25 AM PDT Researchers report that individuals with seasonal affective disorder -- a winter depression that leads to loss of motivation and interest in daily activities -- have misconceptions about their sleep habits similar to those of insomniacs.

After Great Dane success, cancer doc eyes brain tumors Posted: 27 Jun 2013 11:24 AM PDT A success story with a 12 year old Great Dane, sets the stage for a trial in human glioblastoma of the vaccine that led to the dog's dramatic and prolonged improvement.

Brain's 'garbage truck' may hold key to treating Alzheimer's and other disorders Posted: 27 Jun 2013 11:24 AM PDT Scientists point to a newly discovered system by which the brain removes waste as a potentially powerful new tool to treat neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease. In fact, scientists believe that some of these conditions may arise when the system is not doing its job properly.

Key step in protein synthesis revealed Posted: 27 Jun 2013 11:24 AM PDT Scientists have trapped the ribosome, a protein-building molecular machine essential to all life, in a key transitional state that has long eluded researchers. Now, for the first time, scientists can see how the ribosome performs the precise mechanical movements needed to translate genetic code into proteins without making mistakes.

A second amyloid may play a role in Alzheimer's disease Posted: 27 Jun 2013 11:18 AM PDT A protein secreted with insulin travels through the bloodstream and accumulates in the brains of individuals with type 2 diabetes and dementia, in the same manner as the amyloid beta (Αβ) plaques that are associated with Alzheimer's disease, a study by researchers with the UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Center has found.

Prevailing view of how the brain is wired overturned? Posted: 27 Jun 2013 11:17 AM PDT A series of studies topples convention by showing that sensory information travels to two places at once: not only to the brain's mid-layer (where most axons lead), but also directly to its deeper layers.

High-resolution mapping technique uncovers underlying circuit architecture of the brain Posted: 27 Jun 2013 10:18 AM PDT Using an innovative brain-tracing technique, scientists have found a way to untangle neural networks and create a high-resolution map of the brain's underlying molecular circuitry. Their findings offer new insight into how specific brain regions connect to each other, while also revealing clues as to what may happen, neuron by neuron, when these connections are disrupted.

Stress: It should never be ignored, experts say Posted: 27 Jun 2013 10:18 AM PDT Work pressure, tension at home, financial difficulties... the list of causes of stress grows longer every day. There have been several studies in the past showing that stress can have negative effects on health (cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure and more). According to a new study people under stress have twice the risk of a heart attack, compared with others.

A look inside children's minds Posted: 27 Jun 2013 10:18 AM PDT Ever wondered what's going on inside young children's brains when they're looking at things? Researchers have used optical neuroimaging for the first time on 3-and 4-year-olds to determine which areas of the brain are activated in "visual working memory."

Inside the minds of murderers: Impulsive murderers much more mentally impaired than those who kill strategically Posted: 27 Jun 2013 10:18 AM PDT The minds of murderers who kill impulsively, often out of rage, and those who carefully carry out premeditated crimes differ markedly both psychologically and intellectually, according to a new study.

Type 1 diabetes: Can insulin-producing cells be regenerated? Posted: 27 Jun 2013 10:18 AM PDT Scientists have published new results concerning type I diabetes. Researchers have shown that in mice, the pancreas contains cells capable of being converted into insulin-producing cells, something that can be done at any age.

Research raises concerns over smoke detectors' effectiveness in waking children Posted: 27 Jun 2013 10:18 AM PDT Standard domestic smoke detectors may not always wake children in the event of a fire, according to new research.

Factory insurance would fight blight Posted: 27 Jun 2013 09:55 AM PDT Automakers and other private firms should be required by law to carry insurance policies to pay for tearing down their factories and buildings, recommends a hard-hitting study.

Seniors are not just wrinkly adults Posted: 27 Jun 2013 09:55 AM PDT Emergency patients over the age of 74 have significantly different and more complex health and social needs than their younger counterparts, even after controlling for illness severity, which has important implications about aging populations and emergency departments of the future. The results of the most extensive international study of the characteristics and outcomes of older emergency patients to be reported to date have just been published.

Food contaminants worsen metabolic problems in obese mice Posted: 27 Jun 2013 09:55 AM PDT Certain food contaminants are suspected of triggering metabolic disorders, or of worsening them, particularly when they accompany a high-fat diet.

Turning off cells in habit-associated brain region prevents rats from learning to run maze on autopilot Posted: 27 Jun 2013 09:55 AM PDT Neuroscientists have now shown that they can prevent habits from taking root. Our daily routines can become so ingrained that we perform them automatically, such as taking the same route to work every day. Some behaviors, such as smoking or biting your fingernails, become so habitual that we can't stop even if we want to.

A telescope for your eye: New contact lens design may improve sight of patients with macular degeneration Posted: 27 Jun 2013 09:53 AM PDT Contact lenses correct eyesight but do nothing to improve blurry vision of those suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness among older adults in the western world. Now a team of researchers has created a slim, telescopic contact lens that can switch between normal and magnified vision. With refinements, the system could offer AMD patients a relatively unobtrusive way to enhance their vision.

Pneumonia revealed in a cough: Coughs give vital clues to the presence or absence of pneumonia in children Posted: 27 Jun 2013 09:53 AM PDT A new method, which analyzes the sounds in a child's cough, could soon be used in poor, remote regions to diagnose childhood pneumonia reliably. According to researchers, this simple technique of recording coughs with a microphone on the patient's bedside table, has the potential to revolutionize the management of childhood pneumonia.

Polymer coatings a key step toward oral delivery of protein-based drugs Posted: 27 Jun 2013 09:53 AM PDT In a new study, a "bioadhesive" coating significantly improved the intestinal absorption into the bloodstream of nanoparticles that someday could carry protein drugs such as insulin. Such a step is necessary for drugs taken by mouth, rather than injected directly into the blood.

Gene deletion affects early language and brain white matter Posted: 27 Jun 2013 09:51 AM PDT A chromosomal deletion is associated with changes in the brain's white matter and delayed language acquisition in youngsters from Southeast Asia or with ancestral connections to the region, said an international consortium led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine. However, many such children who can be described as late-talkers may overcome early speech and language difficulties as they grow.

Imagination can change what we hear and see Posted: 27 Jun 2013 09:51 AM PDT Our imagination may affect how we experience the world more than we perhaps think. What we imagine hearing or seeing "in our head" can change our actual perception. The study sheds new light on a classic question in psychology and neuroscience -- about how our brains combine information from the different senses.

Scientists discern signatures of old versus young stem cells Posted: 27 Jun 2013 09:51 AM PDT A chemical code scrawled on histones -- the protein husks that coat DNA in every animal or plant cell -- determines which genes in that cell are turned on and which are turned off. Now, researchers have taken a new step in the deciphering of that histone code.

Bringing long-term intensive care within hospital walls shows promise for cost savings and improved patient care Posted: 27 Jun 2013 09:45 AM PDT A new study shows that hospitals with specialized units combining the compassionate care of hospice and the level of care offered in medical-surgical units may provide efficient, cost effective assistance to patients with advanced chronic illness or terminal disease.

Research in fruit flies provides new insight into Barrett's esophagus Posted: 27 Jun 2013 09:45 AM PDT Research focused on the regulation of the adult stem cells that line the gastrointestinal tract of Drosophila suggests new models for the study of Barrett's esophagus. Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the cells of the lower esophagus transform into stomach-like cells. In most cases this transformation has been thought to occur directly from chronic acid indigestion. A new study suggests a change in stem cell function for this transformation.

Can silver promote the colonization of bacteria on medical devices? Posted: 27 Jun 2013 09:43 AM PDT Biomaterials are increasingly replacing human organs and tissues and silver is added to reduce the adhesion of bacteria to biomaterials and prevent infections. However, a recent study by researchers in Portugal suggests that -- in one material -- increasing levels of silver may indirectly promote bacterial adhesion.

Babies can read each other’s moods, study finds Posted: 27 Jun 2013 07:28 AM PDT Research shows that babies can understand each others emotional signals at five months of age. This study comes on the heels of research on infants' ability to understand the moods of dogs, monkeys and classical music.

Link shown between Crohn's disease and virus Posted: 27 Jun 2013 07:28 AM PDT A new study reveals that all children with Crohn's disease that were examined had a commonly occurring virus -- an enterovirus -- in their intestines. This link has previously not been shown for this chronic inflammatory intestinal disorder.

How to boost Hispanics' participation in clinical trials? Relate to them, study shows Posted: 27 Jun 2013 07:26 AM PDT Hispanic cancer patients rarely participate in clinical trials, but researchers want to tailor a Spanish DVD to help change this. To create a relevant educational tool, researchers investigated why awareness of and participation in trials are so low in this population.

Insulin differs between ethnicities, study finds Posted: 27 Jun 2013 07:25 AM PDT People have differing abilities to release and react to insulin depending on ethnicity, according to a new study.

Using computer models to predict more effective therapies for colon tumors Posted: 27 Jun 2013 05:31 AM PDT Scientist have used a computer simulation for predicting the effectiveness of various combination therapies for colon tumors.

Promising Alzheimer's 'drug' halts memory loss Posted: 26 Jun 2013 03:40 PM PDT A new class of experimental drug is showing great promise in preventing early memory loss in Alzheimer's disease. It halted memory loss and fixed damaged communication among brain cells in a mouse model of Alzheimer's. Scientists said the new class of drug, if proven effective in humans, could be used early in the disease to arrest its progress.

Brain cancer: A circuitous route to therapy resistance Posted: 26 Jun 2013 11:30 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a cause of resistance to therapy in cases of brain cancer. Microglia cells migrate into tumors and supply cancer cells with a substance needed for the repair of DNA damage. The cells thus escape programmed cell death (apoptosis). Blocking this resistance mechanism might lead to more effective treatments for malignant brain cancer.

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