ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• From slowdown to shutdown: US leadership in biomedical research takes a blow, experts say
• Women suffer most from urinary tract infections, men more likely to be hospitalized
• Postpartum depression spans generations, animal study suggests
• Weighed down by guilt: Research shows it's more than a metaphor
• Minimally invasive operation helps elderly patients after colon cancer treatment
• Breast cancer rates stable among active component service women
• Combination of anemia, high altitude challenge outcomes for children with pneumonia
• New therapeutic target that prevents cell division
• Excessive nerve cell pruning leads to disease
• Something in the (expecting mother's) water: Contaminated water breeds low-weight babies, sometimes born prematurely
• 'Cyberchondria' from online health searches is worse for those who fear the unknown
• Two genes linked to increased risk for eating disorders
• DNA research sheds light on ancestry of Ashkenazi Jews
• Surgeons report two new approaches to lessen postoperative pain
• Same-hospital readmission rate an unreliable predictor for all-hospital readmission rate
• 'Yes' to one drug could become 'yes' for other drugs
• Non-specific, specific RNA binding proteins found to be fundamentally similar
• How viral proteins are produced: New clues
• Sunscreen saves superhero gene
• Adherence to guidelines for severe traumatic brain injury saves lives
• A potential new strategy to address dementia
• New funding for development of mucosal vaccines based on nanoparticle technology
• No viral cause for breast cancer and brain tumors
• Abusive parenting may have a biological basis
• Malaria vaccine candidate reduces disease in children
• Evaluating mobile weight loss apps on use of evidence-based behavioral strategies
• Parasites with greater infectivity associated with treatment failure
• Liquorice alleviates troublesome symptoms following intubation
• Personalised therapy reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease for diabetics
• Eating disorders associated with reproductive health problems
• Reading is good for your health
• Unexpected genomic change through 400 years of French-Canadian history
• Link between car crashes, adverse pregnancy outcomes
• The negative results of concealing who you really are on the job
• Just 5 in every 1,000 NHS doctors prompt performance concerns each year
• Death rates higher among middle aged, elderly when economy is booming
• New more effective antimicrobials might rise from old
• Researchers test effectiveness of treatments for alcoholism, anxiety
• Debit cards deduct nutrition from school lunches
• Leptin may explain link between abdominal obesity, cardiovascular disease
• Smoking affects molecular mechanisms, children's immune systems
• Study explains why diabetic retinopathy is difficult to treat
• People mean most for our collective happiness
• Dietary intervention reduces stomach problems for diabetes patients

From slowdown to shutdown: US leadership in biomedical research takes a blow, experts say Posted: 08 Oct 2013 12:22 PM PDT The American Society for Cell Biology warns that temporary shutdown is inflicting long-term damage on American biomedicine.

Women suffer most from urinary tract infections, men more likely to be hospitalized Posted: 08 Oct 2013 11:22 AM PDT While women are far more likely to suffer urinary tract infections, men are more prone to be hospitalized for treatment. The first-of-its-kind research for the most common bacterial infection in the US is important in providing predictors of hospital admission at a time when the health care industry is searching for ways to reduce costs.

Postpartum depression spans generations, animal study suggests Posted: 08 Oct 2013 10:29 AM PDT A recently published study suggests that exposure to social stress not only impairs a mother's ability to care for her children but can also negatively impact her daughter's ability to provide maternal care to future offspring.

Weighed down by guilt: Research shows it's more than a metaphor Posted: 08 Oct 2013 10:28 AM PDT Ever feel the weight of guilt? Lots of people say they do. They're "carrying guilt" or "weighed down by guilt." Are these just expressions, or is there something more to these metaphors? Researchers have now found evidence that the emotional experience of guilt can be grounded in subjective bodily sensation.

Minimally invasive operation helps elderly patients after colon cancer treatment Posted: 08 Oct 2013 10:28 AM PDT Investigators have found that selected patients over the age of 70 were more likely to be discharged to their own homes -- instead of a nursing facility -- following laparoscopic operations when compared with patients who had a standard open surgical procedure for colon cancer.

Breast cancer rates stable among active component service women Posted: 08 Oct 2013 10:26 AM PDT Crude incidence rates of breast cancer among U.S. female active component service members have fluctuated slightly over the past 12 years, but have remained relatively stable, according to a new study.

Combination of anemia, high altitude challenge outcomes for children with pneumonia Posted: 08 Oct 2013 09:31 AM PDT Pneumonia is the leading cause of death of young children around the world, and a study from an international group of researchers now finds that the risk of poor outcomes -- including persistent pneumonia, secondary infections, organ failure or death -- in children who contract pneumonia is four times higher in those who also have anemia and live at high altitudes.

New therapeutic target that prevents cell division Posted: 08 Oct 2013 09:31 AM PDT Researchers have managed to decode a new mechanism that regulates cell division, in which the key molecule involved, Greatwall -- also known as Mastl -- could be a new therapeutic target for oncology treatments.

Excessive nerve cell pruning leads to disease Posted: 08 Oct 2013 09:31 AM PDT Scientists have made important discoveries about a cellular process that occurs during normal brain development and may play an important role in neurodegenerative diseases. The study's findings point to new pathways and targets for novel therapies for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases that affect millions of people world-wide.

Something in the (expecting mother's) water: Contaminated water breeds low-weight babies, sometimes born prematurely Posted: 08 Oct 2013 09:29 AM PDT Pregnant women living in areas with contaminated drinking water may be more likely to have babies that are premature or with low birth weights (considered less than 5.5 pounds), according to a new study.

'Cyberchondria' from online health searches is worse for those who fear the unknown Posted: 08 Oct 2013 09:29 AM PDT Turning to the Internet to find out what ails you is common, but for folks who have trouble handling uncertainty, "cyberchondria" -- the online counterpart to hypochondria -- worsens as they seek answers.

Two genes linked to increased risk for eating disorders Posted: 08 Oct 2013 09:24 AM PDT Scientists have discovered -- by studying the genetics of two families severely affected by eating disorders -- two gene mutations, one in each family, that are associated with increased risk of developing eating disorders.

DNA research sheds light on ancestry of Ashkenazi Jews Posted: 08 Oct 2013 08:25 AM PDT Many of the maternal ancestors of modern Ashkenazi Jews were European converts, according to new research. Analysis of DNA samples has shown that on the female line, the Ashkenazim are descended not from the Near East but from southern and western Europe.

Surgeons report two new approaches to lessen postoperative pain Posted: 08 Oct 2013 08:25 AM PDT New combinations of postoperative pain treatment decreased both pain and the use of narcotic pain relievers according to two studies presented this week at the 2013 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.

Same-hospital readmission rate an unreliable predictor for all-hospital readmission rate Posted: 08 Oct 2013 08:25 AM PDT According to new research findings presented at the 2013 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons, same-hospital readmission rates are an unreliable surrogate for predicting all-hospital readmissions rates.

'Yes' to one drug could become 'yes' for other drugs Posted: 08 Oct 2013 08:24 AM PDT High school seniors who frown upon the use of drugs are most likely to be female, nonsmokers or hold strong religious beliefs, according to a new study. The work examines how teenagers' attitudes toward marijuana influenced their thoughts on the further use of other illicit drugs. The study was conducted as marijuana use continues to be on the upswing in the United States, along with more lenient legislation and diminishing public disapproval toward its use.

Non-specific, specific RNA binding proteins found to be fundamentally similar Posted: 08 Oct 2013 08:24 AM PDT Researchers have found unexpected similarities between proteins that were thought to be fundamentally different. The team published a new study showing that non-specific proteins actually have the ability to be specific about where they bind to RNA – seeking out and binding with particular sequences of nucleotides.

How viral proteins are produced: New clues Posted: 08 Oct 2013 07:25 AM PDT Understanding how viral proteins are produced can provide important clues on how we might interfere with the process. Scientists have discovered that a key protease of a particular virus breaks itself down into two different functional molecules. The findings may have important implications for the development of defense strategies against diseases caused by flaviviruses.

Sunscreen saves superhero gene Posted: 08 Oct 2013 07:25 AM PDT Next time your kids complain about putting on sunscreen, tell them this: Sunscreen shields a superhero gene that protects them from getting cancer. Researchers have found sunscreen provides 100 percent protection against all three forms of skin cancer.

Adherence to guidelines for severe traumatic brain injury saves lives Posted: 08 Oct 2013 07:25 AM PDT Researchers found a significant reduction in the number of deaths of patients hospitalized in New York State with severe traumatic brain injury between 2001 and 2009. Data from 22 trauma centers in New York State were studied. The reduction in deaths at these centers corresponded to increased adherence to tenets of the "Guidelines for Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury."

A potential new strategy to address dementia Posted: 08 Oct 2013 07:23 AM PDT Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects millions of people worldwide. As a result of an increase in life expectancy, the number of patients with dementia is expected to increase dramatically. Due to the lack of effective treatments that can slow down or reverse the progression of AD, preventive measures to lower the prevalence rate of AD by means of managing potential or actual risk factors is a reasonable clinical strategy. In this respect, identifying treatable factors which are able to promote cognitive deterioration would have important practical implications.

New funding for development of mucosal vaccines based on nanoparticle technology Posted: 08 Oct 2013 07:23 AM PDT New funds have been invested into the development of new, highly-efficient mucosal vaccines. The vaccines will be drinkable or given as a nasal spray. Researchers wil combine technologies to develop the next generation of effective mucosal vaccines based on immunomodulation and cell-targeted nanoparticles.

No viral cause for breast cancer and brain tumors Posted: 08 Oct 2013 07:23 AM PDT A major study has now disproved theories of a viral cause for breast cancer and the brain tumour, glioblastoma. The study, which was based on over seven billion DNA sequences, found no genetic traces of viruses in these forms of cancer. It has been scientifically proven that about 15 per cent of all cancer cases are the result of viral infection, but many researchers believe that even more cancers could be caused by viruses.

Abusive parenting may have a biological basis Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:17 AM PDT Parents who physically abuse their children appear to have a physiological response that subsequently triggers more harsh parenting when they attempt parenting in warm, positive ways, according to new research.

Malaria vaccine candidate reduces disease in children Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:17 AM PDT Results from a large-scale Phase 3 trial show that the most clinically advanced malaria vaccine candidate, RTS,S, continued to protect young children and infants from clinical malaria up to 18 months after vaccination. Based on these data, scientists now intend to submit, in 2014, a regulatory application to the European Medicines Agency.

Evaluating mobile weight loss apps on use of evidence-based behavioral strategies Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:17 AM PDT In a new study published by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, UMass Medical School behavioral psychologist and weight loss expert Sherry Pagoto, Ph.D., and colleagues find that mobile apps to help people lose weight are lacking when it comes to strategies for changing behaviors.

Parasites with greater infectivity associated with treatment failure Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:17 AM PDT Relapses after treatment for Leishmania infection may be due to a greater infectivity of the parasite rather than drug resistance, as has been previously thought.

Liquorice alleviates troublesome symptoms following intubation Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:14 AM PDT In Traditional Chinese Medicine, liquorice is regarded as a "panacea". A recent study has now, for the first time, scientifically confirmed the healing properties of this natural substance. Researchers investigated patients who require a particularly thick tube (known as a double-lumen tube) following lung surgery and who consequently suffer frequent sore throats, hoarseness and coughs. The prescription of liquorice markedly reduced the frequency of post-operative symptoms. Even more importantly, patients were extremely happy and had less medical complaints following surgery.

Personalised therapy reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease for diabetics Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:12 AM PDT 600,000 to 800,000 Austrians suffer from diabetes mellitus. Thanks to the biomarker known as NT-proBNP (a hormone specific to the heart), the sub-group of people who are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease can be determined even though their hearts appear to be healthy. This group accounts for around 40 per cent of all diabetics.

Eating disorders associated with reproductive health problems Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:12 AM PDT Women with eating disorders are less likely to have children than others in the same age group. The likelihood for miscarriage was more than triple for binge-eating disorder (BED) sufferers and the likelihood of abortion more than double for bulimics than others in the same age group.

Reading is good for your health Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:12 AM PDT People with poor reading skills are likely to be less healthy than those who read easily, according to recent research. Literacy skills are important for keeping in good shape.

Unexpected genomic change through 400 years of French-Canadian history Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:12 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that the genomic signature inherited by today's 6 million French Canadians from the first 8,500 French settlers who colonized New France some 400 years ago has gone through an unparalleled change in human history, in a remarkably short timescale. This unique signature could serve as an ideal model to study the effect of demographic processes on human genetic diversity, including the identification of possibly damaging mutations associated with population-specific diseases.

Link between car crashes, adverse pregnancy outcomes Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:12 AM PDT Motor vehicle crashes can be hazardous for pregnant women, especially if they are not wearing a seat belt when the accident occurs.

The negative results of concealing who you really are on the job Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:07 AM PDT Most know that hiding something from others can cause internal angst. New research suggests the consequences can go far beyond emotional strife, and that being forced to keep information concealed, such as one's sexual orientation, disrupts the concealer's basic skills and abilities, including intellectual acuity, physical strength, and interpersonal grace—skills critical to workplace success.

Just 5 in every 1,000 NHS doctors prompt performance concerns each year Posted: 07 Oct 2013 04:08 PM PDT Just five in every 1000 NHS doctors -- less than 1 percent of the workforce -- prompt concerns about their performance every year, sufficient to warrant the need for outside help, indicates an analysis of 11 years of data.

Death rates higher among middle aged, elderly when economy is booming Posted: 07 Oct 2013 04:08 PM PDT Death rates among middle aged and older people are higher when the economy is growing than when it's heading for recession, reveals a long term analysis of the economic cycles of developed countries.

New more effective antimicrobials might rise from old Posted: 07 Oct 2013 12:16 PM PDT By tinkering with their chemical structures, researchers have essentially re-invented a class of popular antimicrobial drugs, restoring and in some cases, expanding or improving, their effectiveness against drug-resistant pathogens in animal models.

Researchers test effectiveness of treatments for alcoholism, anxiety Posted: 07 Oct 2013 09:25 AM PDT Researchers have studied the effect of behavioral and medication treatments on patients with alcoholism and anxiety and have found that Transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy was more effective in reducing heavy drinking in anxious alcoholics than progressive muscle relaxation therapy.

Debit cards deduct nutrition from school lunches Posted: 07 Oct 2013 08:19 AM PDT School cafeterias that accept only electronic payments may be inadvertently promoting junkier food and adding empty calories to students' diets.

Leptin may explain link between abdominal obesity, cardiovascular disease Posted: 07 Oct 2013 06:43 AM PDT High levels of adipose tissue hormone leptin in the blood reduces blood vessels' ability to dilate, and also affects blood clotting, all of which increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Smoking affects molecular mechanisms, children's immune systems Posted: 07 Oct 2013 06:43 AM PDT Researchers have gained new insights on the influence of tobacco smoke in utero. For the first time, it could be demonstrated with smoking pregnant women and their children how exposure to tobacco smoke affects the development of human immune system on molecular level. The focus was on microRNA – a short, single-stranded RNA molecule that is now recognized as playing an important role in gene regulation.

Study explains why diabetic retinopathy is difficult to treat Posted: 07 Oct 2013 06:42 AM PDT Retinal damage is one of the most common complications of diabetes, affecting about 90 percent of type 1 diabetics and 75 percent of type 2 diabetics. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in adults of working age, and its incidence is showing an upward trend.

People mean most for our collective happiness Posted: 07 Oct 2013 06:42 AM PDT Swedish soccer star Zlatan is associated with happiness, but not iPhones. A new study suggests that our collective picture of what makes us happy is more about relationships, and less about things.

Dietary intervention reduces stomach problems for diabetes patients Posted: 07 Oct 2013 06:42 AM PDT Many diabetes patients suffer from symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and lack of appetite. A doctoral thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy shows that a diet consisting of foods that fall apart easily, for example boiled potatoes and fish gratin, can help alleviate the condition.

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