ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Researchers demonstrate efficient method for converting fat cells to liver cells
• Small changes in agricultural practices could reduce produce-borne illness
• Contact lens discomfort: What is it, why does it occur, how can it be treated?
• Low vitamin D levels raise anemia risk in children
• A natural boost for MRI scans
• Breast milk protein may be key to protecting babies from HIV
• Major Alzheimer's risk factor linked to red wine target
• Endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts
• Parental perceptions are preventing HPV vaccination success
• Staurosporine safely delivered in liposomes
• Health news stories on local television news broadcasts are too short
• Drug developed based on zebrafish studies passes Phase I clinical trial
• Targeted culling of deer controls disease with little effect on hunting
• Traffic-related air pollution substantial public health concern
• Tuberculosis and the social lives of badgers
• West African bats: No safe haven for malaria parasites
• Controlling triggers of age-related inflammation could extend 'healthspan'
• Largest trial worldwide: Psychotherapy treats anorexia effectively
• 'Chimera' protein could lead to drug treatments for chronic pain
• Changing the common rule to increase minority voices in research
• Hair regeneration method is first to induce new human hair growth
• Parents want e-mail consults with doctors, but don’t want to pay for them
• Shining the soothing light to reduce canker sores in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
• Physical cues help mature cells revert into embryonic-like stem cells
• Role of uncertainty in infectious disease modelling
• Learning new skills keeps an aging mind sharp
• Personal, social concerns motivate organic food buyers
• Fatal cholesterol disease overlooked, untreated
• Maternal smoking may impair infant immunity, causing broad range of infections
• Infant pertussis hospitalizations lower than expected after teen vaccinations
• Buying breast milk online is likely to cause illness in infants
• New drug combinations may benefit patients with pancreatic cancer
• Antibody-drug conjugate may provide new treatment option for pancreatic cancer patients
• New nanopharmaceutical may help overcome resistance to anticancer drugs
• Fiction reading as medicine
• Clinical trials will improve treatment, follow-up for COPD
• Do sunny climates reduce ADHD?
• Excessive alcohol consumption increases progression of atherosclerosis, risk of stroke
• New insight in quest for single vaccine against multiple flus
• Molecular switch suppresses development of liver cancer
• Targeting Cancer's Sweet Tooth
• Scientist uncovers internal clock able to measure age of most human tissues; Women's breast tissue ages faster than rest of body
• Rats! Humans and rodents process their mistakes

Researchers demonstrate efficient method for converting fat cells to liver cells Posted: 21 Oct 2013 01:26 PM PDT In a feat of modern-day alchemy with huge potential for regenerative medicine, Sscientists have developed a fast, efficient way to turn cells extracted from routine liposuction into liver cells.

Small changes in agricultural practices could reduce produce-borne illness Posted: 21 Oct 2013 12:58 PM PDT Researchers have identified some agricultural management practices in the field that can either boost or reduce the risk of contamination in produce from two major foodborne pathogens: salmonella, the biggest single killer among the foodborne microbes, and Listeria monocytogenes.

Contact lens discomfort: What is it, why does it occur, how can it be treated? Posted: 21 Oct 2013 12:58 PM PDT Contact lens discomfort may be the leading cause of patient dissatisfaction with, and discontinuation of, contact lens wear throughout the world -- but there is little agreement among vision researchers and eye care professionals about how to define and manage its causes.

Low vitamin D levels raise anemia risk in children Posted: 21 Oct 2013 12:56 PM PDT Low levels of the "sunshine" vitamin D appear to increase a child's risk of anemia, according to new research. The study is believed to be the first one to extensively explore the link between the two conditions in children.

A natural boost for MRI scans Posted: 21 Oct 2013 12:32 PM PDT Using an innocuous agent that is already naturally produced in the body, researchers have developed a breakthrough method that can make contrast-enhanced MRI safer and cheaper.

Breast milk protein may be key to protecting babies from HIV Posted: 21 Oct 2013 12:32 PM PDT A substance in breast milk that neutralizes HIV and may protect babies from acquiring HIV from their infected mothers has been identified for the first time by researchers.

Major Alzheimer's risk factor linked to red wine target Posted: 21 Oct 2013 12:31 PM PDT The major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), present in about two-thirds of people who develop the disease, is ApoE4, the cholesterol-carrying protein that about a quarter of us are born with. But one of the unsolved mysteries of AD is how ApoE4 causes the risk for the disease. Researchers have found a link between ApoE4 and SirT1, an "anti-aging protein" that is targeted by resveratrol, present in red wine.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts Posted: 21 Oct 2013 11:33 AM PDT Researchers report that in patients with pseudocysts with viscous debris-laden fluid, endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage by using a combination of a nasocystic drain and transmural stents improves clinical outcomes and lowers the stent occlusion rate compared with those who underwent drainage via stents alone.

Parental perceptions are preventing HPV vaccination success Posted: 21 Oct 2013 11:33 AM PDT Experts in pediatrics say that parental perceptions pose a major barrier to acceptance of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination — and that many of those perceptions are wrong.

Staurosporine safely delivered in liposomes Posted: 21 Oct 2013 11:33 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a way to effectively deliver staurosporine (STS), a powerful anti-cancer compound that has vexed researchers for more than 30 years due to its instability in the blood and toxic nature in both healthy and cancerous cells.

Health news stories on local television news broadcasts are too short Posted: 21 Oct 2013 10:11 AM PDT Researchers have found that while local television news is the most common source of health news for Americans, most health news stories on local news broadcasts are only 30 seconds or less in length.

Drug developed based on zebrafish studies passes Phase I clinical trial Posted: 21 Oct 2013 10:10 AM PDT Zebrafish research achieved a significant milestone when the first drug developed through studies utilizing the tiny animal and then put into clinical trials passed a Phase 1 trial aimed at establishing its safety. The drug has already advanced to Phase II studies designed to determine its efficacy.

Targeted culling of deer controls disease with little effect on hunting Posted: 21 Oct 2013 10:10 AM PDT Chronic wasting disease, the deer-equivalent of mad cow disease, has crept across the US landscape from west to east, and was first detected in the Midwest in 2002. Little is known about its potential to infect humans. Now researchers offer a first look at the long-term effectiveness of the practice of culling deer in areas affected by CWD to keep the disease in check.

Traffic-related air pollution substantial public health concern Posted: 21 Oct 2013 10:10 AM PDT Traffic-related air pollution is increasingly shown to have negative health effects according to a growing body of epidemiologic evidence and is a substantial public health concern in Canada.

Tuberculosis and the social lives of badgers Posted: 21 Oct 2013 10:10 AM PDT Badgers are an important wildlife reservoir for tuberculosis infection, a disease that leads thousands of cattle to slaughter each year. Now, researchers have found that the spread of the disease is influenced in surprising ways by infected badgers, and especially by the details of their social lives.

West African bats: No safe haven for malaria parasites Posted: 21 Oct 2013 10:07 AM PDT In Europe, bats are normally discussed in the context of endangered species threatened by loss of their habitats. However, in recent years, bats have caught the eye of infection biologists. The animals are namely hosts to a surprising number of pathogens, many of which could be dangerous to humans. Scientists have been able to identify in West African bats four genera of parasites that are closely related to the malaria pathogen.

Controlling triggers of age-related inflammation could extend 'healthspan' Posted: 21 Oct 2013 08:57 AM PDT Inflammation is the common denominator of many chronic age-related diseases such as arthritis, gout, Alzheimer's, and diabetes. But according to a study, even in the absence of a disease, inflammation can lead to serious loss of function throughout the body, reducing healthspan -- that portion of our lives spent relatively free of serious illness and disability.

Largest trial worldwide: Psychotherapy treats anorexia effectively Posted: 21 Oct 2013 08:57 AM PDT A large-scale study has now shown that adult women with anorexia whose disorder is not too severe can be treated successfully on an out-patient basis. Even after conclusion of therapy, they continue to make significant weight gains. Two new psychotherapeutic methods offer improved opportunities for successful therapy.

'Chimera' protein could lead to drug treatments for chronic pain Posted: 21 Oct 2013 08:55 AM PDT Scientists have manufactured a new bio-therapeutic molecule that could be used to treat neurological disorders such as chronic pain and epilepsy.

Changing the common rule to increase minority voices in research Posted: 21 Oct 2013 07:42 AM PDT Researchers recommend changing the U.S. federal regulations that govern oversight of human subjects research ("the Common Rule") to address continued underrepresentation of minorities in research studies.

Hair regeneration method is first to induce new human hair growth Posted: 21 Oct 2013 07:42 AM PDT Researchers have devised a hair restoration method that can generate new human hair growth, rather than simply redistribute hair from one part of the scalp to another. The approach could significantly expand the use of hair transplantation to women with hair loss, who tend to have insufficient donor hair, as well as to men in early stages of baldness.

Parents want e-mail consults with doctors, but don’t want to pay for them Posted: 21 Oct 2013 07:37 AM PDT Most parents would love to get an e-mail response from their kids' health care provider for a minor illness rather than making an office visit, but about half say that online consultation should be free.

Shining the soothing light to reduce canker sores in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:52 AM PDT Low-level laser therapy reduces the occurrence of oral mucositis, known as the common canker sore, and improves quality of life in head and neck squamous cell cancer patients.

Physical cues help mature cells revert into embryonic-like stem cells Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:52 AM PDT Bioengineers have shown that physical cues can help reprogram mature cells back into pluripotent stem cells. The study demonstrates for the first time that biomaterials can help regulate the memory of a cell's identity.

Role of uncertainty in infectious disease modelling Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:52 AM PDT Research by scientists has found that greater consideration of the limitations and uncertainties present in every infectious disease model would improve its usefulness and value.

Learning new skills keeps an aging mind sharp Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:50 AM PDT Older adults are often encouraged to stay active and engaged to keep their minds sharp, that they have to "use it or lose it." But new research indicates that only certain activities -- learning a mentally demanding skill like photography, for instance -- are likely to improve cognitive functioning. These findings reveal that less demanding activities, such as listening to classical music or completing word puzzles, probably won't bring noticeable benefits to an aging mind.

Personal, social concerns motivate organic food buyers Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:50 AM PDT Predicting whether consumers will purchase organic or conventional food is a multimillion dollar gamble within the food sector. Researchers can now help advertisers more effectively target the fast-growing organic food market.

Fatal cholesterol disease overlooked, untreated Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:50 AM PDT Hereditary high blood cholesterol leads to premature heart disease. It is overlooked and untreated virtually worldwide. This is a major problem as the disease is dangerous for health. However, this disease is easy to diagnose and treat, according to the conclusion of a consensus report.

Maternal smoking may impair infant immunity, causing broad range of infections Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:50 AM PDT Maternal smoking is associated with both respiratory and non-respiratory infections in infants, resulting in increased risk for hospitalization and death.

Infant pertussis hospitalizations lower than expected after teen vaccinations Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:50 AM PDT Widespread vaccination of adolescents for pertussis was associated with lower rates of infant hospitalizations for the respiratory infection than would have been expected had teens not been inoculated.

Buying breast milk online is likely to cause illness in infants Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:50 AM PDT Results from a study found more than three-fourths of breast milk samples purchased over the Internet contained bacteria that can cause illness, and frequently exhibited signs of poor collection, storage or shipping practices.

New drug combinations may benefit patients with pancreatic cancer Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:50 AM PDT Two drug combinations that simultaneously block two major signaling pathways downstream of the protein KRAS, which is aberrantly active in most pancreatic cancers, may provide a new treatment option for patients with this disease, according to preclinical results.

Antibody-drug conjugate may provide new treatment option for pancreatic cancer patients Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:50 AM PDT Patients with pancreatic cancer may benefit from an investigational member of an emerging class of anticancer drugs called antibody-drug conjugates, according to preclinical results.

New nanopharmaceutical may help overcome resistance to anticancer drugs Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:50 AM PDT The nanopharmaceutical drug CRLX101 is showing promise as a potential new treatment for cancers that develop resistance to antiangiogenic drugs and radiation therapy, according to clinical trial results.

Fiction reading as medicine Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:47 AM PDT Fiction reading can be viewed as a considerable factor in the rehabilitation process for persons on sick leave. This is the conclusion of a new interdisciplinary study on sick-listed women's experiences with fiction reading to improve their health, so-called bibliotherapy.

Clinical trials will improve treatment, follow-up for COPD Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:47 AM PDT Three major clinical trials will help to develop and target treatment and follow-up of patients suffering from COPD, lung cancer and rheumatoid arthritis in Norway.

Do sunny climates reduce ADHD? Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:46 AM PDT ADHD is the most common childhood psychiatric disorder. Scientists do not know what causes it, but genetics play a clear role. Other risk factors have also been identified, including premature birth, low birth weight, a mother's use of alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy, and environmental exposures to toxins like lead. Regions with high sunlight intensity have a lower prevalence of ADHD, suggesting that high sunlight intensity may exert a 'protective' effect for ADHD.

Excessive alcohol consumption increases progression of atherosclerosis, risk of stroke Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:46 AM PDT A Finnish population-based study showed that binge drinking was associated with increased atherosclerotic progression in an 11-year follow-up of middle-aged men. The progression of atherosclerosis was increased among men who consumed 6 drinks or more on one occasion. In addition, the risk of stroke increased among men who had at least one hangover per year. Hangovers increased the risk of stroke independent of the total amount of alcohol consumed.

New insight in quest for single vaccine against multiple flus Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:41 AM PDT A study highlights a new approach for developing a universal influenza vaccine that could protect against multiple flu strains, including deadly pandemic strains.

Molecular switch suppresses development of liver cancer Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:41 AM PDT Findings by researchers contribute towards the development and application of therapeutics for liver cancer.

Targeting Cancer's Sweet Tooth Posted: 21 Oct 2013 06:41 AM PDT Researchers find that glioblastomas that rely predominantly on the mTORC2-mediated pathway tend to have the worse prognosis. Further, their studies suggest that lung cancer cells, too, use this pathway to induce the Warburg effect.

Scientist uncovers internal clock able to measure age of most human tissues; Women's breast tissue ages faster than rest of body Posted: 20 Oct 2013 05:30 PM PDT A new study is the first to identify a biological clock able to gauge the age of most human tissues. Some parts of the anatomy, like a woman's breasts, age faster than the rest of the body.

Rats! Humans and rodents process their mistakes Posted: 20 Oct 2013 01:07 PM PDT What happens when the brain recognizes an error? A new study shows that the brains of humans and rats adapt in a similar way to errors by using low-frequency brainwaves in the medial frontal cortex to synchronize neurons in the motor cortex. The finding could be important in studies of mental illnesses such as obsessive compulsive disorder, ADHD, and Parkinson's disease.

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