ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Child born with HIV still in remission after 18 months off treatment
• Study focused on transitioning cystic fibrosis care
• Strategy to expand patient participation in hard-to-enroll clinical trials
• Child neurologist finds potential route to better treatments for Fragile X, autism
• Diabetes drug with chemo, radiation may improve outcomes for lung cancer
• Lower blood sugars may be good for the brain
• Cancer wasting due in part to tumor factors that block muscle repair, study shows
• Protein safeguards against cataracts
• Detailed look at a DNA repair protein in action
• TopoChip reveals the Braille code of cells
• Induced pluripotent stem cells reveal differences between humans and great apes
• Prenatal diagnosis, birth location may significantly improve neonatal HLHS survival
• Common courtesy lacking among doctors-in-training
• How liver 'talks' to muscle: A well-timed, coordinated conversation
• H5N1 bird flu genes show nature can pick worrisome traits
• Researchers discover new genetic errors that could cause deadly leukemia
• Imaging breast cancer with light
• A simple test may catch early pancreatic cancer
• Researchers discover potential new treatment for colitis
• Development of novel robots funded to assist people with disabilities, aid doctors
• What Should You Know About E-cigarettes?
• Paper-based device could bring medical testing to remote locales
• Vinyl flooring linked to potentially harmful substances at schools and daycare centers
• Testosterone therapy may reduce risk of cardiovascular disease
• Stealth nanoparticles lower drug-resistant tumors' defenses
• A step towards early Alzheimer's diagnosis
• Complete care improves patient outcomes
• Peer pressure can influence food choices at restaurants
• Natural compound can be used for 3-D printing of medical implants
• Nanodiamonds: A cancer patient's best friend?
• Self-rated health puts aging, health needs on the agenda
• Burning Mouth Syndrome is often difficult to diagnose
• Changes in epigenetic DNA functions links diabetes predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease
• Study links youth obesity to TV fast food advertising
• Value, limitations of patient assistance programs for women with breast cancer
• The hitchhiker antigen: Cause for concern?
• Multiple ssclerosis: Functional change in brain as cause of cognitive disorders
• Novel autism candidate genes identified
• Tailored doses of cytostatic improve survival rate after stem cell transplantation
• Putting together the pieces of the Parkinson's puzzle
• Insights into how TB tricks the immune system could help combat the disease
• Birth control good for education, women’s work, growth in Africa
• New software traces origins of genetic disorders 20 times more accurately
• Nanopore opens new cellular doorway for drug transport
• New eye treatment effective in laboratory tests
• Chronic pain in dogs with bone cancer relieved with new treatment
• Researchers link DDT, obesity
• Genetic variation alters efficacy of antidepressant
• Test may improve diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in HIV-infected individuals
• RNA signatures from suspected TB patients could form basis of diagnostic test
• HIV elimination in South Africa could be achieved by current treatment policy
• Predicting the fate of stem cells
• Homeless people more frequent users of ED, other health services

Child born with HIV still in remission after 18 months off treatment Posted: 23 Oct 2013 03:32 PM PDT A three-year-old Mississippi child born with HIV and treated with a combination of antiviral drugs unusually early continues to do well and remains free of active infection 18 months after all treatment ceased, according to an updated case report.

Study focused on transitioning cystic fibrosis care Posted: 23 Oct 2013 01:52 PM PDT A new study on cystic fibrosis care has found that patients had a less rapid decline in pulmonary function and no other significant health-related changes after transitioning from pediatric to adult care.

Strategy to expand patient participation in hard-to-enroll clinical trials Posted: 23 Oct 2013 01:52 PM PDT Clinical trials are key to finding new cancer treatments, but with patient participation hovering around 5 percent, new strategies are needed to boost enrollment, particularly to study the rare cancers that have so few cases.

Child neurologist finds potential route to better treatments for Fragile X, autism Posted: 23 Oct 2013 01:52 PM PDT Researchers describe a major reason why current medications only moderately alleviate Fragile X symptoms. His team discovered that three specific drugs affect three different kinds of neurotransmitter receptors that all seem to play roles in Fragile X. As a result, current Fragile X drugs have limited benefit because most of them only affect one receptor.

Diabetes drug with chemo, radiation may improve outcomes for lung cancer Posted: 23 Oct 2013 01:52 PM PDT Treating aggressive lung cancer with the diabetes drug metformin along with radiation and chemotherapy may slow tumor growth and recurrence, suggests new preliminary findings from researchers.

Lower blood sugars may be good for the brain Posted: 23 Oct 2013 01:50 PM PDT Even for people who don't have diabetes or high blood sugar, those with higher blood sugar levels are more likely to have memory problems, according to a new study.

Cancer wasting due in part to tumor factors that block muscle repair, study shows Posted: 23 Oct 2013 12:37 PM PDT A new study reveals that tumors release factors into the bloodstream that inhibit the repair of damaged muscle fibers, and that this contributes to muscle loss during cancer wasting. The condition, also called cancer cachexia, accompanies certain cancers, causes life-threatening loss of body weight and is responsible for up to one-in-four cancer deaths. The condition has no treatment. The study points to new strategies and new drug targets for treating cancer cachexia.

Protein safeguards against cataracts Posted: 23 Oct 2013 11:11 AM PDT The refractive power of the human eye lens relies on a densely packed mixture of proteins. Special protective proteins ensure that these proteins do not clump together as time passes. When this protective mechanism fails, the ocular lens becomes clouded -- the patient develops a cataract. Scientists have now resolved the activation mechanism of one of these protective proteins, laying the foundation for the development of new therapeutic alternatives.

Detailed look at a DNA repair protein in action Posted: 23 Oct 2013 11:11 AM PDT Researchers have invented a new technique for studying the process by which certain errors in the genetic code are detected and repaired. The technique is based on a combination of hybrid nanomaterials and SAXS imaging at the ALS SIBYLS beamline.

TopoChip reveals the Braille code of cells Posted: 23 Oct 2013 11:11 AM PDT A new tool is uncovering the fundamentals of how cells respond to surfaces and could potentially improve the effectiveness of biomedical implants.

Induced pluripotent stem cells reveal differences between humans and great apes Posted: 23 Oct 2013 11:10 AM PDT Researchers have, for the first time, taken chimpanzee and bonobo skin cells and turned them into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), a type of cell that has the ability to form any other cell or tissue in the body.

Prenatal diagnosis, birth location may significantly improve neonatal HLHS survival Posted: 23 Oct 2013 10:18 AM PDT A first-of-its-kind study has found that infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) born far from a hospital providing neonatal cardiac surgery for HLHS have increased neonatal mortality, with most deaths occurring before surgery. Researchers also concluded that efforts to improve prenatal diagnosis of HLHS and subsequent delivery near a large volume cardiac surgical center may significantly improve neonatal HLHS survival.

Common courtesy lacking among doctors-in-training Posted: 23 Oct 2013 10:18 AM PDT Investigators have found that doctors-in-training are unlikely to introduce themselves fully to hospitalized patients or sit down to talk to them eye-to-eye, despite research suggesting that courteous bedside manners improve medical recovery along with patient satisfaction.

How liver 'talks' to muscle: A well-timed, coordinated conversation Posted: 23 Oct 2013 10:17 AM PDT A major collaborative research effort has uncovered a novel signal mechanism that controls how fat storage in the liver can communicate with fat burning in skeletal muscle.

H5N1 bird flu genes show nature can pick worrisome traits Posted: 23 Oct 2013 10:17 AM PDT In the beginning, all flu viruses came from birds. Over time, the virus evolved to adapt to other animals, including humans, as natural selection favored viruses with mutations that allowed them to more readily infect the cells of new host species.

Researchers discover new genetic errors that could cause deadly leukemia Posted: 23 Oct 2013 09:57 AM PDT Acute dendritic leukemia is a rare type of leukemia, but one with the worst prognosis -- the average patient survival rate is just 12-14 months, and it is difficult to treat. Now researchers have, for the first time, sequenced the exome of dendritic cell leukemia. The analyses uncover new genetic pathways that could revolutionize treatment guidelines for these patients.

Imaging breast cancer with light Posted: 23 Oct 2013 09:56 AM PDT Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and cancer deaths among women worldwide. Routine screening can increase breast cancer survival by detecting the disease early and allowing doctors to address it at this critical stage. A team of researchers has developed a prototype of a new imaging tool that may one day help to detect breast cancer early, when it is most treatable.

A simple test may catch early pancreatic cancer Posted: 23 Oct 2013 09:56 AM PDT Reporting on a small preliminary study, researchers say a simple blood test based on detection of tiny epigenetic alterations may reveal the earliest signs of pancreatic cancer, a disease that is nearly always fatal because it isn't usually discovered until it has spread to other parts of the body.

Researchers discover potential new treatment for colitis Posted: 23 Oct 2013 09:56 AM PDT A drug currently on the market to treat leukemia reversed symptoms of colitis in lab tests.

Development of novel robots funded to assist people with disabilities, aid doctors Posted: 23 Oct 2013 09:54 AM PDT As part of the National Robotics Initiative, NIH has awarded funding for three projects to develop the next generation of robots that work cooperatively with people.

What Should You Know About E-cigarettes? Posted: 23 Oct 2013 09:54 AM PDT E-cigarettes are becoming increasingly popular and widely available as the use of regular cigarettes drops. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that e-cigarette use by children doubled from 2011 and 2012. The health effects of e-cigarettes have not been effectively studied and the ingredients have little or no regulation.

Paper-based device could bring medical testing to remote locales Posted: 23 Oct 2013 08:26 AM PDT In remote regions of the world where electricity is hard to come by and scientific instruments are even scarcer, conducting medical tests at a doctor's office or medical lab is rarely an option. Scientists are now reporting progress toward an inexpensive point-of-care, paper-based device to fill that void with no electronics required.

Vinyl flooring linked to potentially harmful substances at schools and daycare centers Posted: 23 Oct 2013 08:26 AM PDT Large areas of vinyl flooring in daycares and schools appear to expose children to a group of compounds called phthalates, which have been linked to reproductive and developmental problems, scientists are reporting.

Testosterone therapy may reduce risk of cardiovascular disease Posted: 23 Oct 2013 08:26 AM PDT Research suggests that testosterone treatment in hypogonadal (testosterone deficient) men restores normal lipid profiles and may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Stealth nanoparticles lower drug-resistant tumors' defenses Posted: 23 Oct 2013 08:26 AM PDT Some of the most dangerous cancers are those that can outmaneuver the very drugs designed to defeat them, but researchers are now reporting a new Trojan-horse approach. In a preliminary study focusing on a type of breast cancer that is highly resistant to current therapies, they describe a way to sneak small particles into tumor cells, lower their defenses and attack them with drugs, potentially making the therapy much more effective.

A step towards early Alzheimer's diagnosis Posted: 23 Oct 2013 08:26 AM PDT If Alzheimer's disease is to be treated in the future, it requires an early diagnosis, which is not yet possible. Now researchers at higher education institutions have identified six proteins in spinal fluid that can be used as markers for the illness.

Complete care improves patient outcomes Posted: 23 Oct 2013 08:26 AM PDT Complete Care, a collaborative approach to meeting patient needs, is improving outcomes for patients. Results from the program are described as, "a dramatic and impressive example of what is possible with a carefully designed and implemented system-level intervention."

Peer pressure can influence food choices at restaurants Posted: 23 Oct 2013 08:25 AM PDT If you want to eat healthier when dining out, research recommends surrounding yourself with friends who make healthy food choices. A study showed that when groups of people eat together at a restaurant at which they must state their food choice aloud, they tend to select items from the same menu categories.

Natural compound can be used for 3-D printing of medical implants Posted: 23 Oct 2013 07:13 AM PDT Biomedical engineering researchers have discovered that a naturally-occurring compound can be incorporated into three-dimensional printing processes to create medical implants out of non-toxic polymers. The compound is riboflavin, which is better known as vitamin B2.

Nanodiamonds: A cancer patient's best friend? Posted: 23 Oct 2013 07:10 AM PDT Real-time monitoring of cancer cell processes could soon be possible thanks to nanometric scale diamonds used as biosensors.

Self-rated health puts aging, health needs on the agenda Posted: 23 Oct 2013 07:10 AM PDT Implementation of national surveys where the population can estimate and assess their own health may give policy makers important insights into the different health interventions that should be implemented. This may include a simple tool that harmonizes the assessment of health in developing countries with the rest of the world.

Burning Mouth Syndrome is often difficult to diagnose Posted: 23 Oct 2013 07:09 AM PDT Oral pain that feels like a scalded mouth and can last for months has baffled dental researchers since the 1970s, when burning oral sensations were linked to mucosal, periodontal, and restorative disorders and mental or emotional causes.

Changes in epigenetic DNA functions links diabetes predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease Posted: 23 Oct 2013 07:09 AM PDT Diabetes and dementia are rising dramatically in the United States and worldwide. In the last few years, epidemiological data has accrued showing that older people with diabetes are significantly more likely to develop cognitive deterioration and increased susceptibility to onset of dementia related to Alzheimer's disease.

Study links youth obesity to TV fast food advertising Posted: 23 Oct 2013 07:09 AM PDT Youth obesity is associated with receptiveness to TV fast food advertising researchers have found.

Value, limitations of patient assistance programs for women with breast cancer Posted: 23 Oct 2013 06:09 AM PDT Patient assistance programs can help breast cancer patients meet a variety of needs that can interfere with getting recommended adjuvant therapies such as radiation, chemotherapy, and hormonal treatments, according to a study.

The hitchhiker antigen: Cause for concern? Posted: 23 Oct 2013 06:09 AM PDT A new article describes the problem of poor antibody performance, which has caused the loss of countless hours of research, to say nothing of the mental anguish of the researchers themselves.

Multiple ssclerosis: Functional change in brain as cause of cognitive disorders Posted: 23 Oct 2013 06:08 AM PDT Over the course of the disease, multiple sclerosis is very often combined with a deteriorating memory and attention deficits. Researchers have now demonstrated by means of a meta-analysis of functional image data that increased activations in the involuntary attention system in the brain are responsible for these disorders in MS patients.

Novel autism candidate genes identified Posted: 23 Oct 2013 06:07 AM PDT A scientific study identifies new genes involved in autism, a polygenic disorder that is difficult to diagnose and treat. Autism spectrum disorders represent a group of neurodevelopmental disorders which affect one out of 80-100 children. Autism's aetiology remains mainly unknown but there is strong evidence that genetic factors play a major role. International research has identified candidate genes that explain the origin and development of the disease.

Tailored doses of cytostatic improve survival rate after stem cell transplantation Posted: 23 Oct 2013 06:07 AM PDT Researchers have managed to improve cytostatic therapy for children with the chronic immune deficiency disorder granulomatous disease prior to stem cell transplantation. By tailoring doses of the cytostatics administered before the transplantation, the researchers achieved a higher rate of survival with minimal adverse reactions. Now more patient groups are to undergo the same therapeutic strategy.

Putting together the pieces of the Parkinson's puzzle Posted: 23 Oct 2013 06:07 AM PDT Parkinson's disease continues to puzzle physicians and biologists alike - even though it is well-established that symptoms like muscle tremors, rigidity, and immobility can all be traced back to the death of a certain type of brain cell called a dopaminergic neuron. The underlying cause of this cellular death is a complex web of interrelated genetic molecular processes as well as external factors. Now for the first time ever, researchers have published an interactive picture containing the current knowledge about the underlying genetic and molecular causes of Parkinson's disease.

Insights into how TB tricks the immune system could help combat the disease Posted: 23 Oct 2013 06:07 AM PDT Researchers have identified a potential way to manipulate the immune system to improve its ability to fight off tuberculosis (TB). TB is a major problem for both humans and cattle and the new findings could help scientists to create better drugs to combat the disease in both.

Birth control good for education, women’s work, growth in Africa Posted: 23 Oct 2013 06:05 AM PDT Short birth spacing reduces the chances of African children to go to school. Mothers of shortly spaced children have less opportunity to work and their households generate less wealth. However, the good news is: access to contraceptives and information campaigns reduce these problems as they enable women to plan their births better.

New software traces origins of genetic disorders 20 times more accurately Posted: 23 Oct 2013 06:05 AM PDT In a bioinformatics breakthrough, iMinds – STADIUS – KU Leuven researchers have successfully applied advanced artificial intelligence to enable the automated analysis of huge amounts of genetic data. Their new software suite, eXtasy, automatically generates the most likely cause of a given genetic disorder. The breakthrough directly impacts the treatment of millions of people with a hereditary disease.

Nanopore opens new cellular doorway for drug transport Posted: 23 Oct 2013 06:05 AM PDT A living cell is built with barriers to keep things out – and researchers are constantly trying to find ways to smuggle molecules in. Researchers have now engineered a biological nanopore that acts as a selective revolving door through a cell's lipid membrane. The nanopore could potentially be used in gene therapy and targeted drug delivery.

New eye treatment effective in laboratory tests Posted: 23 Oct 2013 06:05 AM PDT A promising technique for treating human eye disease has proven effective in preclinical studies and may lead to new treatments to prevent blindness.

Chronic pain in dogs with bone cancer relieved with new treatment Posted: 23 Oct 2013 06:04 AM PDT A single injection eased severe, chronic pain caused by late-stage bone cancer in dogs, according to a study. Dogs with bone cancer that received a neurotoxin injection had significantly more pain relief than those that got standard care without the injection.

Researchers link DDT, obesity Posted: 22 Oct 2013 05:51 PM PDT Researchers say ancestral exposures to environmental compounds like the insecticide DDT may be a factor in high rates of obesity. The finding comes as DDT is getting a second look as a tool against malaria.

Genetic variation alters efficacy of antidepressant Posted: 22 Oct 2013 03:32 PM PDT Having a different form of a gene that regulates the brain chemical noradrenaline influences how well men remember negative memories after taking the antidepressant drug reboxetine, according to a study. The findings demonstrate how genes can influence antidepressant response.

Test may improve diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in HIV-infected individuals Posted: 22 Oct 2013 03:32 PM PDT Tuberculous meningitis is a serious and often fatal illness that is difficult to diagnose particularly in resource-poor areas, and is especially common in individuals infected with HIV. Now, a new DNA test is available that can be used in resource-poor settings and is generally used to detect TB in sputum, to detect TB DNA in cerebrospinal fluid.

RNA signatures from suspected TB patients could form basis of diagnostic test Posted: 22 Oct 2013 03:32 PM PDT A set of RNA transcriptional signatures expressed in the blood of patients might provide the basis of a diagnostic test that can distinguish active tuberculosis (TB) from latent TB, and also from other diseases that have similar clinical symptoms and signs.

HIV elimination in South Africa could be achieved by current treatment policy Posted: 22 Oct 2013 03:32 PM PDT The current antiretroviral treatment policy in South Africa could lead to elimination of HIV within the country over the next 24 to 34 years, but a universal test and treat approach could achieve elimination 10 years earlier according to new research.

Predicting the fate of stem cells Posted: 22 Oct 2013 02:07 PM PDT Researchers have developed a method that can rapidly screen human stem cells and better control what they will turn into. The technology could have potential use in regenerative medicine and drug development.

Homeless people more frequent users of ED, other health services Posted: 22 Oct 2013 02:07 PM PDT Single women who are homeless visit a hospital emergency department an average of more than twice a year, 13 times more often than women in the general population, new research has found.

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