ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Critical gaps discovered in breast cancer research
• Finding the place where the brain creates illusory shapes and surfaces
• When cells 'eat' their own power plants: Scientists solve mystery of basic cellular process
• Unhappy with your hospital? You might still be getting great care
• Biological link between diabetes and heart disease discovered
• Depression and mental health services usage
• Cancer biggest killer of Hispanic Texans
• Climate change: Fast out of the gate, slow to the finish the gate
• National screening strategy for hepatitis C urged for Canada
• Small brain biopsies can be used to grow patient's own brain cells
• Cocaine use may increase HIV vulnerability
• Researchers ferret out function of autism gene
• Testosterone promotes reciprocity in the absence of competition
• Researchers gain insight into 'lazy ear'
• Alcohol leaving the UK charts with a hangover
• The immune system benefits from life in the countryside
• Niacin, the fountain of youth
• Young children recognize cigarette brands in countries with most smokers
• Obesity influences school success
• Leukemia cells are addicted to healthy genes
• Forty-eight new genetic variants associated with MS
• Beyond the little blue pill: Compound developed that may treat priapism
• 3 of 4 aware of ACA individual mandate; only 4 of 10 aware of marketplaces, subsidies
• Psychotropic medication use in young children leveling off
• ER visits for kids with concussions skyrocketing
• Atherosclerosis: The Janus-like nature of JAM-A
• And in the beginning was histone 1
• Olympians say poor oral health is impairing performance
• New compounds display strong therapeutic potential for cystic fibrosis
• Biological therapy improves survival in women with recurrent ovarian cancer
• Aspirin may act on blood platelets to improve survival in colon cancer patients
• Estimate of amount of radiotherapy dose wasted in compensating for tumour growth between treatments
• Erratic proteins: New insights into a transport mechanism
• Anti-cancer drug combined with radiotherapy may result in a new treatment for brain tumour
• Avahan Aids initiative may have prevented 600,000 HIV infections in India over 10 years
• Sequencing studies help pinpoint gene in Prader-Willi syndrome
• New approaches to testing cancer drugs needed
• Organized screening for prostate cancer does more harm than good
• Identifying disease-causing mechanisms in cancers with unknown primary site improves treatment, survival
• New antibody drug in lung cancer patients: smokers respond well
• The landscape of medical oncology in Europe threatened
• Two new weapons against thyroid cancer
• Study finds new moves in protein's evolution
• Now is the time to invest in medicare home health program
• New paradigm for nanoscale resolution MRI experimentally achieved

Critical gaps discovered in breast cancer research Posted: 30 Sep 2013 06:16 PM PDT Critical gaps have been identified in breast cancer research. Scientists report on a gap analysis that critically assessed issues and new challenges emerging from recent breast cancer research, and propose strategies for translating solutions into practice.

Finding the place where the brain creates illusory shapes and surfaces Posted: 30 Sep 2013 12:27 PM PDT Neuroscientists have identified the location in the brain's visual cortex responsible for generating a common perceptual illusion: Seeing shapes and surfaces that don't really exist when viewing a fragmented background.

When cells 'eat' their own power plants: Scientists solve mystery of basic cellular process Posted: 30 Sep 2013 11:05 AM PDT A team of scientists reports that they have solved the mystery of a basic biological function essential to cellular health. By discovering a mechanism by which mitochondria signal that they need to be eliminated, the team has opened the door to potential research into cures for disorders such as Parkinson's disease that are believed to be caused by dysfunctional mitochondria in neurons.

Unhappy with your hospital? You might still be getting great care Posted: 30 Sep 2013 11:04 AM PDT A new way to measure hospital quality has been developed - and patient satisfaction plays only a minor role. This research is relevant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which links patient satisfaction to hospital reimbursement.

Biological link between diabetes and heart disease discovered Posted: 30 Sep 2013 09:18 AM PDT Researchers have identified for the first time a biological pathway that is activated when blood sugar levels are abnormally high and causes irregular heartbeats, a condition known as cardiac arrhythmia that is linked with heart failure and sudden cardiac death.

Depression and mental health services usage Posted: 30 Sep 2013 09:18 AM PDT More than half the people in Ontario who reported they had major depression did not use physician-based mental health services in the following year, a new study has found.

Cancer biggest killer of Hispanic Texans Posted: 30 Sep 2013 09:18 AM PDT More Hispanic Texans die from cancer than any other cause, according to a new report. The report documents cancer as the leading cause of death among Hispanic Texans under the age of 76. Only three percent of Hispanic Texans are older than 75. Texas's Hispanic population has more than doubled since 1990, and Texans of Hispanic ethnicity now comprise 38 percent of the state's population.

Climate change: Fast out of the gate, slow to the finish the gate Posted: 30 Sep 2013 09:18 AM PDT Research has focused on the amount of global warming resulting from increased greenhouse gas concentrations. But there has been relatively little study of the pace of the change following these increases. A new study concludes that about half of the warming occurs within the first 10 years after an instantaneous step increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration, but about one-quarter of the warming occurs more than a century after the step increase.

National screening strategy for hepatitis C urged for Canada Posted: 30 Sep 2013 09:16 AM PDT Canada should begin screening 'Baby Boomers' for the hepatitis C virus infection, since this age group is likely the largest group to have the illness, and most don't know they have it, say a group of liver specialists. Unlike many other chronic viral infections, early treatment makes hepatitis C curable.

Small brain biopsies can be used to grow patient's own brain cells Posted: 30 Sep 2013 08:41 AM PDT Scientists have grown brain cells in the laboratory that may be re-integrated into patients' brains to treat neurological conditions. Research shows biopsied brain cells can be used to grow new healthy cells with powerful attributes to protect the brain from future injury. These cells may hopefully yield specific cell types needed for particular treatments, or cross the "blood-brain barrier" as specific therapeutic agents released directly into the brain.

Cocaine use may increase HIV vulnerability Posted: 30 Sep 2013 08:41 AM PDT Cocaine use may increase one's vulnerability to HIV infection, according to a new research. In the report, scientists show that cocaine alters immune cells, called "quiescent CD4 T cells," to render them more susceptible to the virus, and at the same time, to allow for increased proliferation of the virus.

Researchers ferret out function of autism gene Posted: 30 Sep 2013 08:41 AM PDT Researchers say it's clear that some cases of autism are hereditary, but have struggled to draw direct links between the condition and particular genes. Researchers have found that mutations in one autism-linked gene, dubbed NHE9, which is involved in transporting substances in and out of structures within the cell, causes communication problems among brain cells that likely contribute to autism.

Testosterone promotes reciprocity in the absence of competition Posted: 30 Sep 2013 08:39 AM PDT Boosting testosterone can promote generosity, but only when there is no threat of competition, according to new research. The findings show that testosterone is implicated in behaviors that help to foster and maintain social relationships, indicating that its effects are more nuanced than previously thought.

Researchers gain insight into 'lazy ear' Posted: 30 Sep 2013 08:38 AM PDT Short-term hearing loss during childhood may lead to persistent hearing deficits, long after basic auditory sensitivity has returned to normal. Researchers have gained new insight into how this works.

Alcohol leaving the UK charts with a hangover Posted: 30 Sep 2013 07:18 AM PDT Are we allowing alcohol marketing to children and teens via the music they love? As many as one in five songs in the UK top ten today include references to alcohol -- a figure rising partly due to US-imported songs. What impact is this having on the youth of today?

The immune system benefits from life in the countryside Posted: 30 Sep 2013 07:18 AM PDT Research has demonstrated that exposure to a farming environment may prevent or dampen hypersensitivities and allergies -- even in adults.

Niacin, the fountain of youth Posted: 30 Sep 2013 07:18 AM PDT The vitamin niacin has a life-prolonging effect, as demonstrated in roundworms. This study also concludes that so-called reactive oxygen species are healthy, which disagrees with other research findings.

Young children recognize cigarette brands in countries with most smokers Posted: 30 Sep 2013 07:18 AM PDT Nearly two-thirds of young children in low- and middle-income countries can identify cigarette brand logos, according to researchers. The study examined the reach of tobacco marketing among pre-school children from Brazil, China, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Russia. Findings suggest the need for stronger regulations of tobacco marketing worldwide to reduce the attractiveness of smoking among youth.

Obesity influences school success Posted: 30 Sep 2013 07:17 AM PDT A study shows that children who are extremely overweight achieve lower math grades and attend German upper secondary school less frequently than their peers. For the first time, it has been proven that obesity, regardless of the student's social background, influences school performance. Previously, it was only known that people with lower education had a tendency to suffer from weight issues.

Leukemia cells are addicted to healthy genes Posted: 30 Sep 2013 06:39 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that a "standoff" between a mutated gene and its normal counterpart keeps certain cancer cells alive.

Forty-eight new genetic variants associated with MS Posted: 30 Sep 2013 06:38 AM PDT Scientists have identified an additional 48 genetic variants influencing the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. This work nearly doubles the number of known genetic risk factors and thereby provides additional key insights into the biology of this debilitating neurological condition. The study is the largest investigation of multiple sclerosis genetics to date.

Beyond the little blue pill: Compound developed that may treat priapism Posted: 30 Sep 2013 06:38 AM PDT It's not the little blue pill famous for helping men get big results, but the outcome might be more significant. New research offers hope for priapism, which causes erections lasting so long that they cause permanent damage. The compound, "C6'" offered mice relief by normalizing nitric oxide levels in penile blood. The action of C6' also provides insight for future research related to vascular and circulatory disorders.

3 of 4 aware of ACA individual mandate; only 4 of 10 aware of marketplaces, subsidies Posted: 30 Sep 2013 06:38 AM PDT Three-quarters of US adults are aware of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate, while only four of 10 are aware of the new health insurance marketplaces opening on Oct. 1, or the financial assistance that is available to help people with low or moderate incomes pay their health insurance premiums, according to a new Commonwealth Fund survey. It also finds broad support for expanding Medicaid in all states -- 68 percent in favor.

Psychotropic medication use in young children leveling off Posted: 30 Sep 2013 06:38 AM PDT The use of psychotropic prescription medications to treat ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety and other mental health disorders in very young children appears to have leveled off.

ER visits for kids with concussions skyrocketing Posted: 30 Sep 2013 06:38 AM PDT Researchers report a skyrocketing increase in the number of visits to the emergency department for kids with sports-related traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions. The study shows that emergency visits for sports-related TBI increased 92 percent between 2002 and 2011.

Atherosclerosis: The Janus-like nature of JAM-A Posted: 30 Sep 2013 06:37 AM PDT A new study sheds light on the role of the adhesion molecule JAM-A in the recruitment of immune cells to the inner layer of arteries – which promotes the development of atherosclerosis.

And in the beginning was histone 1 Posted: 30 Sep 2013 06:37 AM PDT A research team has identified an essential protein for embryonic viability during the first cell divisions in the fly Drosophila. This protein, called dBigH1, which is a variant of histone 1, could also be associated with fertility issues.

Olympians say poor oral health is impairing performance Posted: 30 Sep 2013 06:37 AM PDT Many of the elite sportsmen and women who competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games had poor levels of oral health similar to those experienced by the most disadvantaged populations. 18 per cent of athletes surveyed said their oral health was having a negative impact on their performance.

New compounds display strong therapeutic potential for cystic fibrosis Posted: 30 Sep 2013 06:37 AM PDT Cystic fibrosis is a lethal genetic disorder that in France affects one child per 4,500 births. An international team has recently discovered two new compounds that could be used to treat patients carrying the most common mutation. By means of virtual screening and experiments on mice and human cells in culture, the scientists were able to screen 200,000 compounds and selected two that allowed the causal mutated protein to express itself and fulfill its function.

Biological therapy improves survival in women with recurrent ovarian cancer Posted: 30 Sep 2013 06:35 AM PDT Women with ovarian cancer that has recurred after chemotherapy have survived for longer after treatment with a biological therapy called cediranib.

Aspirin may act on blood platelets to improve survival in colon cancer patients Posted: 30 Sep 2013 06:35 AM PDT Researchers believe they have discovered how aspirin improves survival in patients diagnosed with colon cancer.

Estimate of amount of radiotherapy dose wasted in compensating for tumour growth between treatments Posted: 30 Sep 2013 06:35 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have estimated the daily dose of radiotherapy that could be wasted in compensating for cancer cell growth that occurs overnight and during weekends in patients with early breast cancer.

Erratic proteins: New insights into a transport mechanism Posted: 30 Sep 2013 06:35 AM PDT The outer membrane of bacteria contains many proteins that form tiny pores. They are important for absorbing nutrients and transmitting signals into the cell. Research has now shown for the first time at atomic resolution, that these pore proteins are transported in an unstructured, constantly changing state to the outer bacterial membrane.

Anti-cancer drug combined with radiotherapy may result in a new treatment for brain tumour Posted: 30 Sep 2013 06:35 AM PDT Results from a clinical trial of a new treatment for glioblastoma suggest that researchers may have found a new approach to treating this most aggressive of brain tumours, as well as a potential new biological marker than can predict the tumour's response to treatment.

Avahan Aids initiative may have prevented 600,000 HIV infections in India over 10 years Posted: 29 Sep 2013 04:57 PM PDT A programme funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation may have saved around 600,000 people in India from becoming infected with HIV over the course of a decade, according to a new report.

Sequencing studies help pinpoint gene in Prader-Willi syndrome Posted: 29 Sep 2013 11:27 AM PDT As so many genome studies do, a new study began with a single patient and his parents who were in search of a diagnosis.

New approaches to testing cancer drugs needed Posted: 29 Sep 2013 11:27 AM PDT Research institutes, regulators and the pharmaceutical industry are urged to cooperate to develop new approaches to testing cancer drugs, in order to bring the revolution in personalised medicine to patients across Europe.

Organized screening for prostate cancer does more harm than good Posted: 29 Sep 2013 11:26 AM PDT Prostate cancer screening using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is widely used in France despite a lack of evidence showing that it reduces cancer deaths. Now, researchers have shown that men experience more harm than good from routine PSA screening.

Identifying disease-causing mechanisms in cancers with unknown primary site improves treatment, survival Posted: 29 Sep 2013 11:26 AM PDT Identifying the molecular profile of a tumour where the primary site is unknown is crucial to the choice of treatment. In up to 5% of all cancers, the site of the primary tumour is unknown and the disease is not diagnosed until it is at an advanced stage, when the cancer has metastasised. Until recently, the choice of treatment has been based on efforts to find biomarkers that could indicate the site of origin, but now a team of researchers has succeeded in identifying the particular molecular profiles of the metastatic tumours in a large group of patients, a major step on the road to being able to offer effective treatment to these patients, researchers say.

New antibody drug in lung cancer patients: smokers respond well Posted: 29 Sep 2013 11:26 AM PDT New results from a trial of an antibody that helps the immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells have shown particularly encouraging responses in patients who are smokers or former smokers.

The landscape of medical oncology in Europe threatened Posted: 29 Sep 2013 11:26 AM PDT Many large European countries may be facing a future shortage of medical oncologists without realizing it - a situation that could have dire consequences for cancer patients.

Two new weapons against thyroid cancer Posted: 29 Sep 2013 11:23 AM PDT For many years, patients with advanced thyroid cancer faced bleak prospects and no viable treatment options. But now, building on recent discoveries about the genetics and cell signaling pathways of thyroid tumors, researchers are developing exciting new weapons against the disease, using kinase inhibitors that target tumor cell division and blood vessels.

Study finds new moves in protein's evolution Posted: 29 Sep 2013 11:23 AM PDT Highlighting an important but unexplored area of evolution, scientists have found evidence that, over hundreds of millions of years, an essential protein has evolved chiefly by changing how it moves, rather than by changing its basic molecular structure. The work has implications not only for the understanding of protein evolution, but also for the design of antibiotics and other drugs that target the protein in question.

Now is the time to invest in medicare home health program Posted: 27 Sep 2013 03:29 PM PDT Medicare supports home health services including visiting nurses and therapy, but the current policy should be strengthened to limit fraud, provide consistent services nationally to reduce health disparities and allow for better care coordination, according to one researcher.

New paradigm for nanoscale resolution MRI experimentally achieved Posted: 27 Sep 2013 09:35 AM PDT A team of researchers has devised a novel nuclear magnetic resonance imaging technique that delivers a roughly 10-nanometer spatial resolution. This represents a significant advance in MRI sensitivity -- modern MRI techniques commonly used in medical imaging yield spatial resolutions on the millimeter length scale, with the highest-resolution experimental instruments giving spatial resolution of a few micrometers.

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