ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Researchers have breakthrough on how persistent bacteria avoid antibiotics
• Surgery vs. non-invasive treatment -- which is better for herniated discs?
• New genetic risk factor for type 2 diabetes revealed
• Epigenetics enigma resolved
• New drug candidates show promise for cure for Chagas disease
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent slows rate of progression of neurodegenerative disease
• Use of antidepressant does not improve symptoms from stomach disorder
• Using maths, researchers seek to improve success in transplants
• Gene that influences the ability to remember faces identified
• Cone snails are for life, not just at Christmas
• Attacking fungal infection, one of world's major killers
• Role of chronic medical conditions in readmissions
• Neurobiology: The logistics of learning

Researchers have breakthrough on how persistent bacteria avoid antibiotics Posted: 29 Dec 2013 08:20 AM PST The mechanism by which some bacteria are able to survive antibacterial treatment has been revealed for the first time.  Their work could pave the way for new ways to control such bacteria.

Surgery vs. non-invasive treatment -- which is better for herniated discs? Posted: 27 Dec 2013 01:18 PM PST For patients with herniated discs in the lower (lumbar) spine, surgery leads to greater long-term improvement in pain, functioning, and disability compared to nonsurgical treatment, concludes an eight year follow-up study.

New genetic risk factor for type 2 diabetes revealed Posted: 26 Dec 2013 08:53 AM PST An international team of researchers in Mexico and the United States has uncovered a new genetic clue that contributes to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, particularly the elevated risk among Mexican and other Latin American populations.

Epigenetics enigma resolved Posted: 26 Dec 2013 08:53 AM PST Scientists have obtained the first detailed molecular structure of a member of the Tet family of enzymes. The finding is important for the field of epigenetics because Tet enzymes chemically modify DNA, changing signposts that tell the cell's machinery "this gene is shut off" into other signs that say "ready for a change."

New drug candidates show promise for cure for Chagas disease Posted: 26 Dec 2013 08:53 AM PST A team of Canadian researchers has developed a class of compounds which may help eradicate a neglected tropical disease that is currently hard to kill in its chronic form.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent slows rate of progression of neurodegenerative disease Posted: 24 Dec 2013 03:36 PM PST Among patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy, a lethal, genetic neurodegenerative disease, use of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent diflunisal compared with placebo for two years reduced the rate of progression in neurological impairment and preserved quality of life, according to a study.

Use of antidepressant does not improve symptoms from stomach disorder Posted: 24 Dec 2013 03:36 PM PST Among patients with idiopathic (of unknown cause) gastroparesis, use of the antidepressant nortriptyline compared with placebo for 15 weeks did not result in improvement in overall symptoms, according to a study.

Using maths, researchers seek to improve success in transplants Posted: 24 Dec 2013 03:35 PM PST Given that 10.5 % of patients who receive a transplant reject the new organ, researchers are working in the design of a tool capable of preventing this problem. The process consists in knowing the type of proteins in charge of metabolizing the drugs (enzymes) for each patient which would, helped by a mathematical model, allow to establish the exact dose needed of the immunosuppressive drugs required.

Gene that influences the ability to remember faces identified Posted: 23 Dec 2013 03:14 PM PST New findings suggest the oxytocin receptor, a gene known to influence mother-infant bonding and pair bonding in monogamous species, also plays a special role in the ability to remember faces. This research has important implications for disorders in which social information processing is disrupted, including autism spectrum disorder. In addition, the finding may lead to new strategies for improving social cognition in several psychiatric disorders.

Cone snails are for life, not just at Christmas Posted: 23 Dec 2013 03:13 PM PST Those who fly to tropical shores this Christmas in search of sea and sun may be unaware that an exotic shell picked from the beach could potentially bring relief to many thousands of people suffering life-threatening illnesses.

Attacking fungal infection, one of world's major killers Posted: 23 Dec 2013 03:13 PM PST Fungal infections take more than 1.3 million lives each year worldwide, nearly as many as tuberculosis, in addition to contributing to blindness, asthma and other major health problems. A researcher has made it his mission to reduce the death toll and severe disability that fungi can cause.

Role of chronic medical conditions in readmissions Posted: 23 Dec 2013 08:48 AM PST In new findings, researchers find that the most frequent reasons for readmission were often related, either directly or indirectly, to patients' underlying chronic medical conditions (comorbidities), providing a new opportunity for focus in reducing readmission rates.

Neurobiology: The logistics of learning Posted: 20 Dec 2013 08:36 AM PST Learning requires constant reconfiguration of the connections between nerve cells. Two new studies now yield new insights into the molecular mechanisms that underlie the learning process.

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