ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Speedier scans reveal new distinctions in resting and active brain
• Novel drug shuts down master protein key to lymphoma
• Stimulating brain cells can make false memories
• Re-learning how to see: Researchers find crucial on-off switch in visual development
• New type of protein modification may play a role in cancer and diabetes
• Blocking key enzyme in cancer cells could lead to new therapy
• Advance in regenerative medicine could make reprogrammed cells safer while improving their function
• Removing a protein enhances defense against bacteria in CGD mice
• As climate, disease links become clearer, study highlights need to forecast future shifts
• Common genetic ancestors lived during roughly same time period
• Two dimensions of value: Dopamine neurons represent reward but not aversiveness
• Long-sought method to efficiently make complex anticancer compound developed
• New treatment strategy for breast cancer spread to brain
• The when and where of the Y: Research on Y chromosomes uncovers new clues about human ancestry
• New target for the fight against cancer as a result of excessive blood vessel formation
• Stray prenatal gene network suspected in schizophrenia
• We each live in our own little world -- smellwise
• Promising compound could offer new treatment for heart failure
• When prescribing antibiotics, doctors most often choose strongest types of drugs
• Catching cancer early by chasing it: Portable diagnostic device that can travel to the patient
• A roadblock to personalized cancer care?
• Targeted therapy identified for protein that protects and nourishes cancer
• New insight into how brain 'learns' cocaine addiction
• New metabolic pathway involved in cell growth and implicated in cancer as well as metabolic disorders identified
• Potential nutritional therapy for childhood neurodegenerative disease
• New designer compound treats heart failure by targeting cell nucleus
• Efficient model for generating human induced pluripotent stem cells
• Researchers find home of best stem cells for bone marrow transplants
• Protein linked to cognitive deficits in Angelman syndrome discovered
• New model for staph bone infections outlined
• Antibiotic resistance among hospital-acquired infections is much greater than prior CDC estimates
• Researchers target 'cell sleep' to lower chances of cancer recurrence
• Fetal stress disrupts the way genes are transmitted
• A new tool for brain research
• New target identified for food allergy therapy
• Breath analysis reliably indicates presence, level of infection in mice
• New analysis sheds light on the links between chemicals in our body and income
• Fatty acids could aid cancer prevention and treatment
• For lung transplant, researchers surprised to learn bigger appears to be better
• Scientists discover a molecular 'switch' in cancers of the testis and ovary
• What causes a small, benign polyp to develop into severe invasive bladder cancer?
• Ultrasound patch heals venous ulcers in human trial
• Fly study finds two new drivers of RNA editing
• Novel molecules to target the cytoskeleton
• Both parents experience highs and lows in sexuality after childbirth
• The rise of deadly insect sting allergies: Is there a cure?
• Target for drug development for chronic jaw pain disorder revealed
• Therapy for severe vasculitis shows long-term effectiveness
• Placebo effects of different therapies not identical
• Breast cancer cells' sugar craving is target for new type of treatment
• New 3-D colonoscopy eases detection of precancerous lesions
• Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder impacts brain development throughout childhood and adolescence not just at birth
• New signal stabilizes atherosclerotic plaques
• Bio-imaging: Probing for deeper diagnostics
• Loss of health insurance: Boomers hit hardest by 'Great Recession'

Speedier scans reveal new distinctions in resting and active brain Posted: 01 Aug 2013 03:04 PM PDT A boost in the speed of brain scans is unveiling new insights into how brain regions work with each other in cooperative groups called networks.

Novel drug shuts down master protein key to lymphoma Posted: 01 Aug 2013 03:04 PM PDT Researchers have discovered how an experimental drug is capable of completely eradicating human lymphoma in mice after just five doses. The study sets the stage for testing the drug in clinical trials of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, itself the seventh most frequently diagnosed cancer in the US.

Stimulating brain cells can make false memories Posted: 01 Aug 2013 03:03 PM PDT By activating a subset of brain cells in mice, researchers changed the way the animals remembered a particular setting. To determine if they could alter the way a mouse remembered a setting by activating neurons associated with it, researchers attempted to change whether or not a mouse was afraid of a particular cage. Their experiements implicated neurons in the brain's dentate gyrus as being responsible for inducing the animal's false memory of their cage.

Re-learning how to see: Researchers find crucial on-off switch in visual development Posted: 01 Aug 2013 12:57 PM PDT A new discovery offers hope for treating "lazy eye" and other serious visual problems that are usually permanent unless they are corrected in early childhood.

New type of protein modification may play a role in cancer and diabetes Posted: 01 Aug 2013 12:57 PM PDT Scientists have discovered a new type of chemical modification that affects numerous proteins within mammalian cells. The modification appears to work as a regulator of important cellular processes including the metabolism of glucose. Further study of this modification could provide insights into the causes of diabetes, cancer and other disorders.

Blocking key enzyme in cancer cells could lead to new therapy Posted: 01 Aug 2013 12:57 PM PDT Researchers have identified a characteristic unique to cancer cells in an animal model of cancer -- and they believe it could be exploited as a target to develop new treatment strategies.

Advance in regenerative medicine could make reprogrammed cells safer while improving their function Posted: 01 Aug 2013 11:24 AM PDT The enormous promise of regenerative medicine is matched by equally enormous challenges. But a new finding has the potential to improve both the safety and performance of reprogrammed cells.

Removing a protein enhances defense against bacteria in CGD mice Posted: 01 Aug 2013 11:24 AM PDT Deletion of a protein in white blood cells improves their ability to fight the bacteria staphylococcus aureus and possibly other infections in mice with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), according to a new study. CGD, a genetic disorder also found in people, is marked by recurrent, life-threatening infections.

As climate, disease links become clearer, study highlights need to forecast future shifts Posted: 01 Aug 2013 11:23 AM PDT Climate change is affecting the spread of infectious diseases worldwide, according to an international team of leading disease ecologists, with serious impacts to human health and biodiversity conservation.

Common genetic ancestors lived during roughly same time period Posted: 01 Aug 2013 11:23 AM PDT Mitochondrial Eve and Y-chromosomal Adam -- two individuals who passed down a portion of their genomes to the vast expanse of humanity -- are known as our most recent common ancestors, or MRCAs. But many aspects of their existence, including when they lived, are shrouded in mystery. Now, a new study indicates the two roughly overlapped during evolutionary time: from between 120,000 to 156,000 years ago for the man, and between 99,000 and 148,000 years ago for the woman.

Two dimensions of value: Dopamine neurons represent reward but not aversiveness Posted: 01 Aug 2013 11:23 AM PDT The experiments reported here show that dopamine neurons are sensitive to the value of reward but not punishment (like the aversiveness of a bitter taste). This demonstrates that reward and aversiveness are represented as two discrete dimensions (or categories) in the brain.

Long-sought method to efficiently make complex anticancer compound developed Posted: 01 Aug 2013 11:22 AM PDT Scientists have achieved the first efficient chemical synthesis of ingenol, a highly complex, plant-derived compound that has long been of interest to drug developers for its anticancer potential. The achievement will enable scientists to synthesize a wide variety of ingenol derivatives and investigate their therapeutic properties. The achievement also sets the stage for the efficient commercial production of ingenol mebutate, a treatment for actinic keratosis (a common precursor to non-melanoma skin cancer), that at present must be extracted and refined inefficiently from plants.

New treatment strategy for breast cancer spread to brain Posted: 01 Aug 2013 11:21 AM PDT Researchers have successfully combined cellular therapy and gene therapy in a mouse model system to develop a viable treatment strategy for breast cancer that has metastasized to the patient's brain.

The when and where of the Y: Research on Y chromosomes uncovers new clues about human ancestry Posted: 01 Aug 2013 11:21 AM PDT Using advanced analysis of DNA from Y chromosomes from men all over the world, scientists have shed new light on the mystery of when and how a few early human ancestors started to give rise to the incredible diversity of today's population.

New target for the fight against cancer as a result of excessive blood vessel formation Posted: 01 Aug 2013 09:56 AM PDT New blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) stimulates the growth of cancer and other diseases. Anti-angiogenic inhibitors slow down cancer growth by disrupting the blood supply to the tumor. To date, the success of these treatments is limited by resistance, poor efficiency and harmful side effects. Scientists reported that sugar metabolism (a process that we call glycolysis) also plays an essential role in the formation of new blood vessels.

Stray prenatal gene network suspected in schizophrenia Posted: 01 Aug 2013 09:56 AM PDT Researchers have reverse-engineered the outlines of a disrupted prenatal gene network in schizophrenia, by tracing spontaneous mutations to where and when they likely cause damage in the brain. Some people with the brain disorder may suffer from impaired birth of new neurons in the front of their brain during prenatal development, suggest the researchers, who compared spontaneous mutations in 105 affected and 84 unaffected siblings, in families without previous histories of the illness.

We each live in our own little world -- smellwise Posted: 01 Aug 2013 09:52 AM PDT There are some smells we all find revolting. But toward a handful of odors, different people display different sensitivities. A pair of studies identifies the genetic differences that underpin the differences in smell sensitivity. The researchers tested 200 people for their sensitivity to 10 different chemical compounds. They then searched through the subjects' genomes for areas of the DNA that differed between people who could smell a given compound and those who could not.

Promising compound could offer new treatment for heart failure Posted: 01 Aug 2013 09:52 AM PDT Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Current therapies are not adequately effective at improving health. A study reveals the key role of a family of molecules known as BET proteins in activating genes that contribute to heart failure. The study also demonstrates that a BET-inhibiting drug can protect against heart failure in mice, opening up promising new avenues for the treatment of this devastating condition.

When prescribing antibiotics, doctors most often choose strongest types of drugs Posted: 01 Aug 2013 09:51 AM PDT When U.S. physicians prescribe antibiotics, more than 60 percent of the time they choose some of the strongest types of antibiotics, referred to as "broad spectrum," which are capable of killing multiple kinds of bacteria, researchers show in a new study.

Catching cancer early by chasing it: Portable diagnostic device that can travel to the patient Posted: 01 Aug 2013 09:51 AM PDT Reaching a clinic in time to receive an early diagnosis for cancer -- when the disease is most treatable -- is a global problem. Now a team of researchers proposes a global solution: have a user-friendly diagnostic device travel to the patient, anywhere in the world.

A roadblock to personalized cancer care? Posted: 01 Aug 2013 09:51 AM PDT Leading experts in cancer treatment and research, including university researchers, industry and insurance providers, have published a paper urging more focus and attention on the field of research that involves identifying genetic and molecular markers that help guide cancer treatment. The current attitude toward biomarker research has led to a vicious cycle that undervalues the crucial role these kinds of tests play in developing personalized cancer treatments.

Targeted therapy identified for protein that protects and nourishes cancer Posted: 01 Aug 2013 09:50 AM PDT Scientists who identified a protein's dual role in cancer promotion have discovered a way to shut it down, opening a potential new avenue for cancer treatment.

New insight into how brain 'learns' cocaine addiction Posted: 01 Aug 2013 09:50 AM PDT A team of researchers says it has solved the longstanding puzzle of why a key protein linked to learning is also needed to become addicted to cocaine. Results of the study describe how the learning-related protein works with other proteins to forge new pathways in the brain in response to a drug-induced rush of the "pleasure" molecule dopamine. By adding important detail to the process of addiction, the researchers say the work may point the way to new treatments.

New metabolic pathway involved in cell growth and implicated in cancer as well as metabolic disorders identified Posted: 01 Aug 2013 09:50 AM PDT Researchers now have a more complete picture of one particular pathway that can lead to cancer and diabetes. Scientists uncovered how a protein called p62 has a cascade affect in regulating cell growth in response to the presence of nutrients such as amino acids and glucose.

Potential nutritional therapy for childhood neurodegenerative disease Posted: 01 Aug 2013 09:50 AM PDT Researchers have identified the gene mutation responsible for a particularly severe form of pontocerebellar hyplasia, a currently incurable neurodegenerative disease affecting children. Based on results in cultured cells, they are hopeful that a nutritional supplement may one day be able to prevent or reverse the condition.

New designer compound treats heart failure by targeting cell nucleus Posted: 01 Aug 2013 09:50 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a new molecular pathway responsible for causing heart failure and showed that a first-in-class prototype drug, JQ1, blocks this pathway to protect the heart from damage.

Efficient model for generating human induced pluripotent stem cells Posted: 01 Aug 2013 09:50 AM PDT Researchers report a simple, easily reproducible RNA-based method of generating human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Their approach has broad applicability for the successful production of iPSCs for use in human stem cell studies and eventual cell therapies.

Researchers find home of best stem cells for bone marrow transplants Posted: 01 Aug 2013 09:50 AM PDT Researchers have revealed the location of human blood stem cells that may improve bone marrow transplants. The best stem cells are at the ends of the bone.

Protein linked to cognitive deficits in Angelman syndrome discovered Posted: 01 Aug 2013 09:50 AM PDT A team of neuroscientists has identified a protein in laboratory mice linked to impairments similar to those afflicted with Angelman syndrome -- a condition associated with symptoms that include autism, intellectual disability, and motor abnormalities.

New model for staph bone infections outlined Posted: 01 Aug 2013 08:32 AM PDT Microbiologists have identified a staph-killing compound that may be an effective treatment for osteomyelitis.

Antibiotic resistance among hospital-acquired infections is much greater than prior CDC estimates Posted: 01 Aug 2013 08:32 AM PDT Hospital-acquired infections' antibiotic resistance is higher than prior CDC reports, and the FDA's reboot of its antibiotic development rules to combat these infections has fallen short.

Researchers target 'cell sleep' to lower chances of cancer recurrence Posted: 01 Aug 2013 08:31 AM PDT By preventing cancer cells from entering a state of cellular sleep, cancer drugs are more effective, and there is a lower chance of cancer recurrence, according to new research from an international research team. The discovery is the first to show that it is possible to therapeutically target cancer cells to keep them from entering a cellular state called quiescence, or "cell sleep."

Fetal stress disrupts the way genes are transmitted Posted: 01 Aug 2013 08:31 AM PDT Stress might have harmed your health even before you were born. In a new report, researchers find that epigenetic disruptions associated with chronic disease later in life are already common at birth. These aberrations result from stressors in the intrauterine environment (maternal smoking, diet, or high levels of endocrine-disrupting chemicals). Consequently, the seeds of disease may be sown before birth, increasing the importance of optimal prenatal care.

A new tool for brain research Posted: 01 Aug 2013 08:31 AM PDT Physicists and neuroscientists have unlocked one of the mysteries of the human brain, thanks to new research using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG).

New target identified for food allergy therapy Posted: 01 Aug 2013 06:59 AM PDT Researchers have identified an enzyme that is essential to the allergic reaction to peanuts. Blocking the enzyme's activity in sensitized mice prevented diarrhea and inflammation, and reduced levels of several proteins associated with allergies. The findings identify the enzyme, known as Cyp11a1, as a potential target for treatment of increasingly common and potentially deadly food allergy.

Breath analysis reliably indicates presence, level of infection in mice Posted: 01 Aug 2013 06:59 AM PDT Breath analysis may prove to be an accurate, noninvasive way to quickly determine the severity of bacterial and other infections, according to a new study.

New analysis sheds light on the links between chemicals in our body and income Posted: 01 Aug 2013 06:59 AM PDT A new study has found that the build-up of harmful chemicals in the body is affecting people of all social standings -- not just those from economically deprived backgrounds as previously thought.

Fatty acids could aid cancer prevention and treatment Posted: 01 Aug 2013 06:55 AM PDT Omega-3 fatty acids, contained in oily fish such as salmon and trout, selectively inhibit growth and induce cell death in early and late-stage oral and skin cancers, according to new research.

For lung transplant, researchers surprised to learn bigger appears to be better Posted: 01 Aug 2013 06:55 AM PDT Transplant teams have long tried to match the size of donor lungs to the size of the recipient as closely as possible, concerned that lungs of the wrong size could lead to poor lung function and poor outcomes. But new research suggests that oversized donor lungs may instead be the best option for patients, finding they are associated with a 30 percent increased chance of survival one year after the operation.

Scientists discover a molecular 'switch' in cancers of the testis and ovary Posted: 01 Aug 2013 06:55 AM PDT Scientists have identified an 'on/off' switch in a type of cancer which typically occurs in the testes and ovaries called 'malignant germ cell tumors.'

What causes a small, benign polyp to develop into severe invasive bladder cancer? Posted: 01 Aug 2013 06:55 AM PDT Researchers have for the first time identified the mechanism that causes a small, benign polyp to develop into severe invasive bladder cancer.

Ultrasound patch heals venous ulcers in human trial Posted: 01 Aug 2013 06:54 AM PDT In a small clinical study, researchers administered a new method for treating chronic wounds using a novel ultrasound applicator that can be worn like a band-aid. The applicator delivers low-frequency, low-intensity ultrasound directly to wounds, and was found to significantly accelerate healing in five patients with venous ulcers.

Fly study finds two new drivers of RNA editing Posted: 01 Aug 2013 06:54 AM PDT A new study finds that RNA editing is not only regulated by sequences and structures near the editing sites but also by ones found much farther away. One newly discovered structure gives an editing enzyme an alternate docking site. The other appears to throttle competing splicing activity.

Novel molecules to target the cytoskeleton Posted: 01 Aug 2013 06:52 AM PDT The dysfunction of the cytoskeleton, a constituent element of the cell, is often associated with pathologies such as the onset of metastases. For this reason, it is a target of interest in numerous therapies. Scientists have now synthesized molecules capable of causing rapid growth of actin networks, one of the components of the cytoskeleton. This is a breakthrough because, until now, only molecules that stabilize or destroy the cytoskeleton of actin have been available.

Both parents experience highs and lows in sexuality after childbirth Posted: 01 Aug 2013 06:52 AM PDT Partners of new mothers often experience shifts in sexuality, and these shifts are often unrelated to biological or medical factors pertaining to childbirth. The findings expand current understanding of postpartum sexuality, and may help health professionals as they counsel new parents.

The rise of deadly insect sting allergies: Is there a cure? Posted: 01 Aug 2013 06:46 AM PDT Insect sting allergy is increasing, affecting five percent of the population. But what much of the population may not understand is that there is something that can be done about it.

Target for drug development for chronic jaw pain disorder revealed Posted: 01 Aug 2013 06:42 AM PDT In a study in mice, researchers have identified a protein that is critical to temporomandibular joint disorder pain, and could be a promising target for developing treatments for the disorder.

Therapy for severe vasculitis shows long-term effectiveness Posted: 31 Jul 2013 08:01 PM PDT Administering the drug rituximab once weekly for one month provides the same benefits as 18 months of daily immunosuppressive therapy in people with severe forms of vasculitis, or inflammation of the blood vessels, a study has found.

Placebo effects of different therapies not identical Posted: 31 Jul 2013 08:01 PM PDT Not all placebos are equal, and patients who respond to one placebo don't always respond to others, according to new research.

Breast cancer cells' sugar craving is target for new type of treatment Posted: 31 Jul 2013 08:00 PM PDT A new way to target a breast cancer cells' appetite for over-indulging in sugar, that could provide an alternative treatment for chemotherapy resistant breast cancer is being developed.

New 3-D colonoscopy eases detection of precancerous lesions Posted: 31 Jul 2013 12:22 PM PDT New technology offers three-dimensional images, making it easier to detect precancerous lesions.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder impacts brain development throughout childhood and adolescence not just at birth Posted: 31 Jul 2013 12:22 PM PDT Medical researchers recently published findings showing that brain development is delayed throughout childhood and adolescence for people born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

New signal stabilizes atherosclerotic plaques Posted: 31 Jul 2013 12:22 PM PDT Researchers have identified a new stabilizing agent of atherosclerotic plaques. These findings show how the immune system can improve the condition in blood vessels to help the body avoid heart attacks.

Bio-imaging: Probing for deeper diagnostics Posted: 31 Jul 2013 12:20 PM PDT Multi-armed polymers with dual fluorescent and magnetic imaging capabilities boost the resolution of cancer detection tools.

Loss of health insurance: Boomers hit hardest by 'Great Recession' Posted: 31 Jul 2013 10:39 AM PDT A new study looks at California data on the uninsured between 2007 and 2009 and finds that of the approximately 700,000 Californians to lose health insurance during this time, a majority were between the ages of 45-64.

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