ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

---

• Chronic use of prescription painkillers continues after bariatric surgery
• Hey, wait a minute! Waiting actually makes people more patient
• Smoking during pregnancy may increase risk of bipolar disorder in offspring
• Gene expression databases could uncover therapeutic targets, biological processes
• Scientist sniffs out possible new tick species
• Drinking fluoridated water gives no additional risks for hip fractures
• Genes associated with unhealthy liver function
• Product testing to foster care system
• Genetic influences on cognition increase with age
• Traffic cop for meiosis — with implications for fertility, birth defects
• New process to create artificial cell membranes
• My dishwasher is trying to kill me: Extreme conditions suit pathogenic fungus
• Probing the secrets of the ryegrasses: A route for synthesis of loline alkaloids
• Compound may keep survivors of brain aneurysms from succumbing to stroke
• Acidity can change cell membrane properties
• Discovery goes from the lab to the patient
• Short sleepers most likely to be drowsy drivers
• Role of brain stress in obesity, type 2 diabetes development
• Vaccination and the gentle art of persuasion
• How to stay sharp in retirement
• Blood-pressure drug may help improve cancer treatment
• Alternative to antibiotics: Plasmas attack bacterial cells on several levels
• Insight into combined radiation injury from nuclear disaster
• Despite growth reports, Africa mired in poverty
• Variations in death rates after surgery for cancers prompt initiative to improve patient outcomes
• Concerns over mercury levels in fish may be unfounded
• Americans don't contribute enough to retirement funds
• Plentiful mid-life stress linked to heightened risk of dementia in late life
• International 'war' on illegal drugs failing to curb supply
• Medicare plans understate risky prescribing rates
• Researchers apply regenerative medicine to battlefield injuries
• Zinc discovery may shed light on Parkinson's, Alzheimer's
• When ICUs get busy, doctors triage patients more efficiently
• New tool for studying membrane protein structure
• Liquid biopsy could improve cancer diagnosis, treatment
• Less blood clot risk linked to estradiol than to Premarin pills
• Leisure-time exercise could lower your risk of high blood pressure
• Foods toxins that can cause cervical, liver cancer
• A new way to treat uterine fibroids
• What works for women doesn't work for men
• Study examines adverse neonatal outcomes associated with early-term birth
• Continual increase in bed sharing among black, hispanic infants
• Massachusetts primary care malpractice claims related to alleged misdiagnoses
• Two common estrogen drugs compared regarding cardiovascular safety
• New insights into DNA repair process may spur better cancer therapies
• Young patients with metastatic colorectal cancer at higher risk
• Vacuum dust: A previously unknown disease vector
• Better protein creation may be secret of longevity for the world's longest-living rodent
• With increased age comes decreased risk-taking in decision-making
• Egg growth induced in infertile women, one gives birth

Chronic use of prescription painkillers continues after bariatric surgery Posted: 01 Oct 2013 04:22 PM PDT Chronic use of prescription painkillers, also known as opioids, among obese patients prior to bariatric surgery continues after surgery, according to a new study.

Hey, wait a minute! Waiting actually makes people more patient Posted: 01 Oct 2013 04:22 PM PDT According to a recent study, waiting actually does make people more patient, which can provide a payoff for consumers by helping them make better decisions.

Smoking during pregnancy may increase risk of bipolar disorder in offspring Posted: 01 Oct 2013 04:21 PM PDT A study published suggests an association between smoking during pregnancy and increased risk for developing bipolar disorder in adult children. Researchers evaluated offspring from a large cohort of pregnant women and found that maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with a twofold increased risk of bipolar disorder in their offspring.

Gene expression databases could uncover therapeutic targets, biological processes Posted: 01 Oct 2013 04:21 PM PDT A new computational tool developed by US and Israeli scientists will help scientists exploit the massive databases of gene expression experimental results that have been created over the past decade. Researchers say it could uncover new links between diseases and treatments and provide new insights into biological processes.

Scientist sniffs out possible new tick species Posted: 01 Oct 2013 04:15 PM PDT Kibale National Park is an almost 500-square-mile forest in western Uganda. Here scientists frequently study how infectious diseases spread and evolve in the wild. One scientist returned with a "stow-away" -- a new species of tick.

Drinking fluoridated water gives no additional risks for hip fractures Posted: 01 Oct 2013 11:14 AM PDT A team of researchers investigated possible adverse health effects on bone tissue from drinking fluoridated water. With nearly half a million individuals participating in this study, this is believed to be one of the largest studies of its kind.

Genes associated with unhealthy liver function Posted: 01 Oct 2013 11:13 AM PDT A groundbreaking study of nearly 2,300 extremely obese diabetes patients has identified genes associated with unhealthy liver function. This is believed to be the nation's first large-scale genome-wide association study in overweight patients with diabetes.

Product testing to foster care system Posted: 01 Oct 2013 11:13 AM PDT Ever since cruise lines first began building mock suites for passengers to try out before installing the rooms on ocean liners in the 1940s, businesses have been devising trial runs for a small number of consumers to test merchandise. Companies still make important changes based on this "usability testing" before taking their goods to the wider market, and researchers say that what works for cell phones and video games may work for human services.

Genetic influences on cognition increase with age Posted: 01 Oct 2013 11:12 AM PDT New psychology research shows how genes can be stimulated or suppressed depending on the child's environment and could help bridge the achievement gap between rich and poor students.

Traffic cop for meiosis — with implications for fertility, birth defects Posted: 01 Oct 2013 10:13 AM PDT Researchers have identified the mechanism that plays "traffic cop" in meiosis. Their findings shed new light on fertility and may lead to greater understanding of the factors that lead to birth defects.

New process to create artificial cell membranes Posted: 01 Oct 2013 10:12 AM PDT The membranes surrounding and inside cells are involved in every aspect of biological function. They separate the cell's various metabolic functions, compartmentalize the genetic material, and drive evolution by separating a cell's biochemical activities. They are also the largest and most complex structures that cells synthesize.

My dishwasher is trying to kill me: Extreme conditions suit pathogenic fungus Posted: 01 Oct 2013 10:12 AM PDT A potentially pathogenic fungus has found a home living in extreme conditions in some of the most common household appliances, researchers have found. Scientists have shown that these sites make perfect habitats for extremotolerant fungi (which includes black yeasts). Some of these are potentially dangerous to human health.

Probing the secrets of the ryegrasses: A route for synthesis of loline alkaloids Posted: 01 Oct 2013 10:12 AM PDT Loline alkaloids protect plants from attack by insects and have other interesting features that have yet to be studied in detail. Chemists have developed a method for the effective synthesis of these compounds, which will facilitate further investigations in biology and medicine.

Compound may keep survivors of brain aneurysms from succumbing to stroke Posted: 01 Oct 2013 09:40 AM PDT Working with mice, researchers say they have identified a chemical compound that reduces the risk of dangerous, potentially stroke-causing blood vessel spasms that often occur after the rupture of a bulging vessel in the brain.

Acidity can change cell membrane properties Posted: 01 Oct 2013 09:40 AM PDT Understanding cell bilayers is important for advances in biology and biotechnology. Now an interdisciplinary team of researchers has determined how to control their properties in a new way.

Discovery goes from the lab to the patient Posted: 01 Oct 2013 09:35 AM PDT A laboratory testing kit that estimates the risk of breast cancer relapse in spite of anti-hormone treatment has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This technology is based on a gene signature known as "PAM50".

Short sleepers most likely to be drowsy drivers Posted: 01 Oct 2013 09:35 AM PDT New research is revealing that short sleepers, those who sleep less than six hours per night on average, are the most likely to experience drowsy driving, even when they feel completely rested.

Role of brain stress in obesity, type 2 diabetes development Posted: 01 Oct 2013 09:35 AM PDT Researchers have gained new insights into how obesity and type 2 diabetes can create a stress response in the brain, especially in the hypothalamus (the brain region that regulates appetite and energy production), that may contribute to altering metabolism throughout the body.

Vaccination and the gentle art of persuasion Posted: 01 Oct 2013 08:57 AM PDT A new study demonstrates that nearly all pediatricians in Israel strongly support the vaccination of infants, but most do not believe that their role is to force the treatment on parents. The study recommends that communications experts could be of service in the discussion of the risks and virtues of vaccination.

How to stay sharp in retirement Posted: 01 Oct 2013 08:56 AM PDT The more you want to use your brain -- and the more you enjoy doing it -- the more likely you are to stay sharp as you age.

Blood-pressure drug may help improve cancer treatment Posted: 01 Oct 2013 08:56 AM PDT Use of existing, well-established hypertension drugs could improve the outcome of cancer chemotherapy by opening up collapsed blood vessels in solid tumors.

Alternative to antibiotics: Plasmas attack bacterial cells on several levels Posted: 01 Oct 2013 08:55 AM PDT As they destroy bacteria very efficiently, plasmas constitute an alternative to chemical disinfectants and potentially to antibiotics, as well. How they achieve this effect has been investigated by biologists, plasma physicists and chemists.

Insight into combined radiation injury from nuclear disaster Posted: 01 Oct 2013 07:47 AM PDT A nuclear bomb or nuclear reactor accident can produce a deadly combination of radiation exposure and injuries such as burns and trauma. Now the first study of its kind in 50 years is providing new insights into combined radiation injury.

Despite growth reports, Africa mired in poverty Posted: 01 Oct 2013 06:16 AM PDT Despite continued reports of economic growth in Africa, much of the continent remains wracked by poverty, with roughly one in five citizens saying they frequently lack food, clean water and medical care, according to the largest survey of African citizens.

Variations in death rates after surgery for cancers prompt initiative to improve patient outcomes Posted: 01 Oct 2013 06:12 AM PDT A pilot study has shown large variations between European countries in patient survival after surgery for oesophageal and gastric cancers. The reasons for these differences are not clear and cannot be explained simply in terms of the volume of patients treated at each hospital.

Concerns over mercury levels in fish may be unfounded Posted: 30 Sep 2013 06:17 PM PDT New research suggests that fish accounts for only seven per cent of mercury levels in the human body. Concerns about the negative effects of mercury on fetal development have led to official advice warning against eating too much fish during pregnancy. A new finding suggests that those guidelines may need to be reviewed.

Americans don't contribute enough to retirement funds Posted: 30 Sep 2013 05:07 PM PDT Researchers have found that more than 90 percent of future retirees are contributing only a minimal amount of their salaries to their retirement funds.

Plentiful mid-life stress linked to heightened risk of dementia in late life Posted: 30 Sep 2013 05:07 PM PDT Coping with a lot of stress in middle age may boost the risk of developing dementia in late life -- at least among women -- suggests research.

International 'war' on illegal drugs failing to curb supply Posted: 30 Sep 2013 05:07 PM PDT The international war on illegal drugs is failing to curb supply, despite the increasing amounts of resource being ploughed into law enforcement activities, finds research.

Medicare plans understate risky prescribing rates Posted: 30 Sep 2013 05:07 PM PDT An analysis of a quality measure that Medicare Advantage plans self-report to the government finds that the insurers almost always err in their own favor. More elderly receive high-risk medications than the plans acknowledge.

Researchers apply regenerative medicine to battlefield injuries Posted: 30 Sep 2013 05:00 PM PDT A study has entered its second phase that focuses on developing innovative medical treatments for wounded veterans, including peripheral nerve regeneration, head and face trauma, burns, transplants and other conditions.

Zinc discovery may shed light on Parkinson's, Alzheimer's Posted: 30 Sep 2013 05:00 PM PDT Scientists have made a discovery that, if replicated in humans, suggests a shortage of zinc may contribute to diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, which have been linked to defective proteins clumping together in the brain.

When ICUs get busy, doctors triage patients more efficiently Posted: 30 Sep 2013 05:00 PM PDT A new study has found that busy intensive care units (ICUs) discharge patients more quickly than they otherwise would, and do so without adversely affecting patient outcomes – suggesting that low-value extensions of ICU stays are minimized during times of increased ICU capacity strain.

New tool for studying membrane protein structure Posted: 30 Sep 2013 01:24 PM PDT Membrane proteins are responsible for transporting chemicals and messages between a cell and its environment. But determining their structure has proved challenging for scientists. A study demonstrates a new tool to resolve the structure of membrane-embedded and membrane-associating proteins using the water dynamics gradient they found across and above the lipid bilayer as a unique ruler.

Liquid biopsy could improve cancer diagnosis, treatment Posted: 30 Sep 2013 01:22 PM PDT A microfluidic chip developed at the University of Michigan is among the best at capturing elusive circulating tumor cells from blood -- and it can support the cells' growth for further analysis.

Less blood clot risk linked to estradiol than to Premarin pills Posted: 30 Sep 2013 01:22 PM PDT Women can choose among several types of estrogen pills, which are equally effective at relieving menopausal symptoms. But in a study, use of estradiol was associated with less risk of developing blood clots in leg veins (deep vein thrombosis) and clots in the lungs (pulmonary emboli) than was use of conjugated equine estrogens (Premarin).

Leisure-time exercise could lower your risk of high blood pressure Posted: 30 Sep 2013 01:22 PM PDT People who exercised more than four hours per week in their leisure time had a 19 percent lower risk of high blood pressure than people who didn't exercise much. Physical activity at work was not linked to a lower risk of high blood pressure.

Foods toxins that can cause cervical, liver cancer Posted: 30 Sep 2013 01:19 PM PDT Mexican scientists identified and quantified the amount of aflatoxins (carcinogenic) in food such as corn tortilla, rice, chili pepper, processed sauces, chicken breast and eggs, and revealed its relationship with cervical and liver cancer in humans.

A new way to treat uterine fibroids Posted: 30 Sep 2013 01:18 PM PDT A new minimally invasive treatment for a common women's health problem is now offered in New Jersey.

What works for women doesn't work for men Posted: 30 Sep 2013 01:15 PM PDT Flushed face, sweating, a sudden rush of heat. The hot flash, the bane of menopausal women, also can affect men who are undergoing hormone therapy for prostate cancer.

Study examines adverse neonatal outcomes associated with early-term birth Posted: 30 Sep 2013 01:15 PM PDT Early-term births (37 to 38 weeks gestation) are associated with higher neonatal morbidity (illness) and with more neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or neonatology service admissions than term births (39 to 41 weeks gestation), according to a study.

Continual increase in bed sharing among black, hispanic infants Posted: 30 Sep 2013 01:15 PM PDT The proportion of infants bed sharing with caregivers increased between 1993 and 2010, especially among black and Hispanic families, according to a study.

Massachusetts primary care malpractice claims related to alleged misdiagnoses Posted: 30 Sep 2013 01:15 PM PDT Most of the primary care malpractice claims filed in Massachusetts are related to alleged misdiagnoses, according to study.

Two common estrogen drugs compared regarding cardiovascular safety Posted: 30 Sep 2013 01:15 PM PDT The oral hormone therapy conjugated equine estrogens (CEEs), which is used by women to relieve menopause symptoms, appears to be associated with increased risk for venous thrombosis (VT, blood clots) and possibly myocardial infarction (heart attack), but not ischemic stroke risk, when compared with the hormone therapy oral estradiol.

New insights into DNA repair process may spur better cancer therapies Posted: 30 Sep 2013 12:28 PM PDT By detailing a process required for repairing DNA breakage, scientists have gained a better understanding of how cells deal with the barrage of damage that can contribute to cancer and other diseases.

Young patients with metastatic colorectal cancer at higher risk Posted: 30 Sep 2013 12:28 PM PDT Younger patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to other parts of the body represent a high-risk group that is less likely to respond to treatment.

Vacuum dust: A previously unknown disease vector Posted: 30 Sep 2013 12:27 PM PDT The aerosolized dust created by vacuums contain bacteria and mold that "could lead to adverse effects in allergic people, infants, and people with compromised immunity," according to researchers.

Better protein creation may be secret of longevity for the world's longest-living rodent Posted: 30 Sep 2013 12:27 PM PDT Biologists conclude that a better protein-making process helps naked mole rats live long, healthy lives.

With increased age comes decreased risk-taking in decision-making Posted: 30 Sep 2013 12:27 PM PDT When faced with uncertain situations, people are less able to make decisions as they age, according to a new study. The study also found that older people are more risk-averse than their midlife counterparts when choosing between possible gains, but more risk-seeking when choosing between losses.

Egg growth induced in infertile women, one gives birth Posted: 30 Sep 2013 12:27 PM PDT Researchers have identified a way to induce the ovaries of some infertile women to produce eggs.

You are subscribed to email updates from ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610