ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Neanderthal viruses found in modern humans
• AIDS guidelines for children may not improve death rates but may improve treatment access
• Natural compound mitigates effects of methamphetamine abuse
• Ureteral injury during robot-assisted prostate surgery
• Non-specialist health workers play important role in improving mental health in developing countries
• New genetic risk factor discovered for severe psychiatric illness
• Fruit bat population covering central Africa carries two deadly viruses
• Key brain signaling mechanism for rapidly acting antidepressants
• Could saving the traditional pub be the answer to Britain's binge drinking problem?
• New study helps predict life expectancy using complete blood count risk score
• Long-lasting gene therapy benefits advanced heart failure patients
• For anxious children and teens, context counts
• Protein regulates burning of body fat
• Innovative vaccine trains immune system to fight melanoma
• New method to diagnose sepsis is faster, cheaper
• Preterm birth risk increases for pregnant women exposed to phthalates
• Drinking more milk as a teenager does not lower risk of hip fracture later
• Beta-blockers before surgery linked to lower risk of heart-related events
• Two studies on the use of breast MRI
• Rural, southern regions lack annual training in CPR
• Study finds similar outcomes for repair or replacement of damaged heart valves
• Staying on medication may not translate to avoiding readmission
• New study may impact practice guidelines for mitral valve surgery
• Faster surgery may be better for hip fractures
• Mutations of immune system found in breast cancers
• Texting your way to weight loss
• A happy patient is well connected to a doctor
• Better outcomes reported from high-volume providers of complex endoscopic procedure
• Consumers order a healthier meal when menu has nutritional labeling
• Pre-op exam, nerve monitor provides valuable thyroid outcomes information
• New treatment effective at reducing blood clots in brain-injured patients
• Without sufficient support, community health centers will drop one million patients
• Control malaria by segmenting sleeping arrangements
• Most teen mental health problems go untreated
• Medication adherence after hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome
• Link between red cell distribution width levels, depression
• End-stage heart failure patients benefit from injection of millions of powerful cells
• Teens who drink alone more likely to develop alcohol problems as young adults
• Vismodegib in basal cell carcinoma: Added benefit not proven
• Manipulation of protein could help stop spread of cancer cells
• More than skin deep: New layer to the body's fight against infection
• Therapy using stem cells, bone marrow cells, appears safe for patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy
• Type of cell therapy does not improve walking ability for patients with peripheral artery disease
• Greater density of coronary artery calcium associated with lower risk of CHD, CVD
• Blood growth factor boosts effect of exercise in peripheral artery disease
• Obesity a major risk factor in developing basal-like breast cancer
• Preschoolers can learn lasting heart-healthy lessons from Sesame Street
• Scientists fingerprint single cancer cells to map cancer's family tree
• Bacteria use lethal cytotoxins to evade antibiotic treatment

Neanderthal viruses found in modern humans Posted: 19 Nov 2013 08:04 PM PST Ancient viruses from Neanderthals have been found in modern human DNA. Researchers compared genetic data from fossils of Neanderthals and another group of ancient human ancestors called Denisovans to data from modern-day cancer patients. They found evidence of Neanderthal and Denisovan viruses in the modern human DNA, suggesting that the viruses originated in our common ancestors more than half a million years ago.

AIDS guidelines for children may not improve death rates but may improve treatment access Posted: 19 Nov 2013 04:36 PM PST Recent changes to World Health Organization guidelines for starting anti-AIDS drugs (antiretroviral therapy—ART) in young children are unlikely to improve death rates but may increase the numbers of children receiving ART by simplifying access to treatment, according to a new study.

Natural compound mitigates effects of methamphetamine abuse Posted: 19 Nov 2013 10:14 AM PST Researchers have found that resveratrol may also block the effects of the highly addictive drug, methamphetamine.

Ureteral injury during robot-assisted prostate surgery Posted: 19 Nov 2013 10:13 AM PST There may be warning signs to help surgeons avoid damaging part of the urinary system during robot-assisted surgical removal of prostate cancer, ultimately preventing the expense of additional surgery, according to researchers. Although rare, they found instances when the ureter -- tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder -- were cut and required repair. In each case, they identified patient characteristics that may forewarn such damage.

Non-specialist health workers play important role in improving mental health in developing countries Posted: 19 Nov 2013 08:31 AM PST Non-specialist health workers are beneficial in providing treatment for people with mental, neurological and substance-abuse problems in developing countries -- where there is often a lack of mental health professionals.

New genetic risk factor discovered for severe psychiatric illness Posted: 19 Nov 2013 08:28 AM PST Investigators have discovered a new genetic risk factor for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder called NDST3.

Fruit bat population covering central Africa carries two deadly viruses Posted: 19 Nov 2013 08:28 AM PST A population of fruit bats which is found across much of continental Africa is widely infected with two deadly viruses that could spread to humans, new research reveals.

Key brain signaling mechanism for rapidly acting antidepressants Posted: 19 Nov 2013 07:10 AM PST Two years ago, mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR, a signaling protein, was identified as a key mediator of the antidepressant effects of ketamine, the first rapidly acting antidepressant medication to be identified.

Could saving the traditional pub be the answer to Britain's binge drinking problem? Posted: 19 Nov 2013 07:09 AM PST A research study finds evidence for the traditional pub as a site for restrained and responsible social interaction for young adults. The UK government wants further controls to restrict high street bars but on the other hand is concerned about the decline in the number of traditional public houses or pubs. A recent article discusses whether the English Planning System should distinguish between pubs for the 'public good' and licensed premises associated with 'social ills'?

New study helps predict life expectancy using complete blood count risk score Posted: 19 Nov 2013 07:09 AM PST For years, doctors have been divided on how effective annual testing and screenings are for apparently healthy individuals. New research, however, shows that a simple blood test may predict who is at highest risk to develop heart problems – and how long these people may have to live.

Long-lasting gene therapy benefits advanced heart failure patients Posted: 19 Nov 2013 07:09 AM PST Researchers have reported the long-term benefits of a single dose of their gene therapy AAV1/SERCA2a in advanced heart failure patients.

For anxious children and teens, context counts Posted: 19 Nov 2013 06:33 AM PST Researchers have shown that teenagers with anxiety disorders show increased activity in a specific part of the brain, the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), when they are interpreting a neutral situation negatively. Ultimately, the mPFC may serve as a biomarker for illness.

Protein regulates burning of body fat Posted: 19 Nov 2013 06:33 AM PST Body fat contains a small number of brown adipose cells -- special fat cells that generate heat without muscle activity. They do this using a protein known as UCP1 that enables babies or hibernating animals to keep warm without shivering. A research team has found that a specific chemical compound can activate UCP1 under certain conditions, and that could also trigger fat burning.

Innovative vaccine trains immune system to fight melanoma Posted: 19 Nov 2013 06:33 AM PST Melanoma patients are now being enrolled in the first clinical trial in the Midwest of an experimental vaccine that trains a patient's immune system to fight the deadly cancer.

New method to diagnose sepsis is faster, cheaper Posted: 19 Nov 2013 05:29 AM PST A new method could cut hours off the time it takes to diagnose blood infections while also eliminating the need for complicated manual processing and expensive equipment, according to a new report. The method combines a selective lysis step in which blood cells in the sample are destroyed, a centrifugation step to collect any bacteria or fungi in the sample, and a fluorescence step that analyzes the particular fingerprint of any pathogens present in the sample.

Preterm birth risk increases for pregnant women exposed to phthalates Posted: 18 Nov 2013 01:29 PM PST The odds of preterm delivery appear to increase for pregnant women exposed to phthalates, chemicals people are exposed to through contaminated food and water and in a variety of products including lotions, perfumes and deodorants, according to a study.

Drinking more milk as a teenager does not lower risk of hip fracture later Posted: 18 Nov 2013 01:29 PM PST Drinking more milk as a teenager apparently does not lower the risk of hip fracture as an older adult and instead appears to increase that risk for men, according to a study.

Beta-blockers before surgery linked to lower risk of heart-related events Posted: 18 Nov 2013 01:28 PM PST Giving beta-blocker medication to patients with heart disease undergoing noncardiac surgery appears to be associated with a lower risk of death and major adverse cardiovascular events 30 days after surgery in patients with heart failure or a recent myocardial infarction (MI, heart attack), according to a study.

Two studies on the use of breast MRI Posted: 18 Nov 2013 01:28 PM PST The overall use of breast magnetic resonance imaging has increased, with the procedure most commonly used for diagnostic evaluations and screenings, according to a study.

Rural, southern regions lack annual training in CPR Posted: 18 Nov 2013 01:25 PM PST Annual rates of CPR training in the United States are low and vary widely across the country, but the communities most in need of training are the least likely to be trained, according to a new study.

Study finds similar outcomes for repair or replacement of damaged heart valves Posted: 18 Nov 2013 01:00 PM PST New research has found no difference in outcomes at one-year between two recommended surgical options for treating ischemic mitral regurgitation -- repair of the leaky valve or its replacement with an artificial valve.

Staying on medication may not translate to avoiding readmission Posted: 18 Nov 2013 12:29 PM PST A targeted effort to help high-risk heart failure patients stay on their medications did improve adherence to drug regimens, but had surprisingly little effect lowering hospital readmission rates, according to a study.

New study may impact practice guidelines for mitral valve surgery Posted: 18 Nov 2013 10:24 AM PST Researchers report for the first time evidence on whether or not there is any significant difference between the two current surgical approaches to treat patients with severe ischemic mitral regurgitation -- mitral valve repair and mitral valve replacement.

Faster surgery may be better for hip fractures Posted: 18 Nov 2013 10:24 AM PST Among patients receiving standard care for hip fractures, 47% suffered a major complication of death, heart attack, stroke, pneumonia, blood clot or major bleeding event. However, only 30% of the patients in the accelerated surgery group suffered one of these complications.

Mutations of immune system found in breast cancers Posted: 18 Nov 2013 10:24 AM PST Mutations in the genes that defend the body against cancer-related viruses and other infections may play a larger role in breast cancer than previously thought, according to a study.

Texting your way to weight loss Posted: 18 Nov 2013 09:01 AM PST Tracking information on diet and exercise habits through text messages could save time and improve the likelihood of people sticking with their get-healthy routine, say researchers.

A happy patient is well connected to a doctor Posted: 18 Nov 2013 09:00 AM PST The happiest patients are those who have regular contact with their doctors. A study finds that patients who have established "continuity of care" with primary-care physician are most satisfied with their treatment. The study comes as the American health care system moves to a more team-based approach to care, known as patient-centered medical home.

Better outcomes reported from high-volume providers of complex endoscopic procedure Posted: 18 Nov 2013 09:00 AM PST Patients who seek treatment from physicians who more frequently perform ERCP, a high-risk endoscopic procedure, are less likely to be admitted to the hospital or require a repeat procedure.

Consumers order a healthier meal when menu has nutritional labeling Posted: 18 Nov 2013 08:20 AM PST An evaluation team has published a new study demonstrating that customers of full-service restaurants use nutritional labeling on menus to make healthier food choices. Customers who reported they used labels purchased 400 fewer calories (representing a relative difference of 20 percent).

Pre-op exam, nerve monitor provides valuable thyroid outcomes information Posted: 18 Nov 2013 08:20 AM PST Researchers set out to elucidate the electrophysiologic responses LRNs that were preoperatively paralyzed or invaded by malignancy and to use this information for intraoperative management of cancerous RLNs.

New treatment effective at reducing blood clots in brain-injured patients Posted: 18 Nov 2013 08:20 AM PST Researchers have found that a new protocol that uses preventive blood-thinning medication in the treatment of patients with traumatic brain injuries reduces the risk of patients developing life-threatening blood clots without increasing the risk of bleeding inside the brain.

Without sufficient support, community health centers will drop one million patients Posted: 18 Nov 2013 08:19 AM PST A new report examines the impact of federal and state policy decisions on community health centers and their ability to continue providing primary care to the nation's poorest residents.

Control malaria by segmenting sleeping arrangements Posted: 18 Nov 2013 08:19 AM PST Better malaria control might come from segregating household sleeping arrangements, according to a new study. The researchers found malaria eradication related more to household size than to a country's wealth or temperature. They found that when average household size drops below four persons, malaria extermination is much more likely. "When we controlled for all the variables, the factor that had the most explanatory power on malaria control was household size," said Prof. Ross McKitrick.

Most teen mental health problems go untreated Posted: 18 Nov 2013 08:19 AM PST More than half of adolescents with psychiatric disorders receive no treatment of any sort, says a new study. When treatment does occur, the providers are rarely mental health specialists.

Medication adherence after hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome Posted: 18 Nov 2013 08:19 AM PST Patients better adhered to their medication regimens in the year following hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome when they were part of a program that included personalized attention from a pharmacist compared with usual care, according to a study.

Link between red cell distribution width levels, depression Posted: 18 Nov 2013 08:17 AM PST Researchers have discovered a link between elevated red cell distribution width levels and depression in patients being treated for heart disease. This new discovery can help physicians provide earlier diagnosis and treatment for possible depression in heart patients.

End-stage heart failure patients benefit from injection of millions of powerful cells Posted: 18 Nov 2013 08:17 AM PST Researchers show end-stage heart failure patients who receive a surgically implanted left ventricular assist device (LVAD) heart pump may also benefit from a single dose of millions of powerful cells injected directly into their heart during surgery.

Teens who drink alone more likely to develop alcohol problems as young adults Posted: 18 Nov 2013 07:39 AM PST Most teenagers who drink alcohol do so with their friends in social settings, but a new study reveals that a significant number of adolescents consume alcohol while they are alone. Furthermore, solitary teenage drinkers are more likely to develop alcohol use disorders in early adulthood.

Vismodegib in basal cell carcinoma: Added benefit not proven Posted: 18 Nov 2013 07:26 AM PST No added benefit was found with the use of the drug Vismodegib versus the appropriate comparator therapy in a study focused on basal cell carcinoma.

Manipulation of protein could help stop spread of cancer cells Posted: 18 Nov 2013 07:26 AM PST Understanding how and why cancer cells move away from their original location is important to find ways to stop the spread of the disease. New findings reveal how a protein, called "PRH," is normally able to prevent cells from unnecessary migration. It is likely that this protein is less effective in cancer cells allowing the cells to venture away.

More than skin deep: New layer to the body's fight against infection Posted: 18 Nov 2013 07:26 AM PST The layers of skin that form the first line of defense in the body's fight against infection have revealed a unanticipated secret. The single cell type that was thought to be behind the skin's immune defense has been found to have a doppelganger, with researchers showing the cells, despite appearing identical, are actually two different types.

Therapy using stem cells, bone marrow cells, appears safe for patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy Posted: 18 Nov 2013 07:26 AM PST Researchers conducted a study to examine the safety of transendocardial stem cell injection with autologous mesenchymal stem cells and bone marrow mononuclear cells in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Type of cell therapy does not improve walking ability for patients with peripheral artery disease Posted: 18 Nov 2013 07:26 AM PST Researchers studied whether therapy with granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, an agent that functions as a white blood cell growth factor, would improve walking performance in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (a form of vascular disease in which there is partial or total blockage of an artery, usually one leading to a leg or arm).

Greater density of coronary artery calcium associated with lower risk of CHD, CVD Posted: 18 Nov 2013 07:26 AM PST Researchers have determined the independent associations of coronary artery calcium (CAC) volume and CAC density with cardiovascular disease events. An increasing body of evidence suggests that greater calcium density in plaques (measured by computed tomography) is associated with decreased CVD risk.

Blood growth factor boosts effect of exercise in peripheral artery disease Posted: 18 Nov 2013 07:26 AM PST A blood cell growth factor can boost the effects of exercise in improving mobility for patients with peripheral artery disease, according to research.

Obesity a major risk factor in developing basal-like breast cancer Posted: 18 Nov 2013 07:22 AM PST Women who are obese face an increased risk of developing an aggressive sub-type of breast cancer known as 'basal-like', according to research.

Preschoolers can learn lasting heart-healthy lessons from Sesame Street Posted: 18 Nov 2013 07:22 AM PST Preschoolers can learn about healthy eating and exercise through Sesame Street. In a study, preschoolers in Bogotá, Colombia participating in a structured curriculum that used Sesame Street's Healthy Habits for Life materials improved their knowledge, attitudes and habits related to a heart-healthy lifestyle. Also, the percentage of children at a healthy weight improved by 13 percent.

Scientists fingerprint single cancer cells to map cancer's family tree Posted: 18 Nov 2013 06:17 AM PST Scientists have used a DNA sequencing technique to identify mutations present across thousands of cancer cells in three patients with leukemia. The technique can identify the founding mutations from which a tumor evolved, and uses computer software to map the cancer's family tree. The findings could be used to identify the key mutations that occur early in a tumor's development, allowing doctors to use targeted treatments more effectively.

Bacteria use lethal cytotoxins to evade antibiotic treatment Posted: 18 Nov 2013 06:17 AM PST Bacteria that cause infectious diseases produce a number of cytotoxins, and an international research team has now found the mechanism behind one of these toxins. The new results could make it possible in future to develop new treatment methods to impair the cytotoxic activity and thereby reduce the severity of infectious diseases.

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