ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Chips with olestra cause body toxins to dip, study finds
• Telephone medication therapy management works for some but not all home health patients
• Synthetic collagen promotes natural clotting
• Bone marrow stem cells show promise in stroke treatment
• Genome sequencing of MRSA infection predicts disease severity
• See what a child will look like using automated age-progression software
• Bad penny: Cancer's thirst for copper can be targeted
• Promising agents burst through 'superbug' defenses to fight antibiotic resistance
• Can animals really help people in hospitals, aged care?
• Toward a faster, more accurate way to diagnose stroke
• Stressful environments genetically affect African American boys
• Restaurants in public housing developments serve fewer healthy meals, nearly 75 percent of entrées unhealthy
• Cancer cells may respond to mechanical force
• Physical activity is beneficial for late-life cognition
• Possible target to combat muscle wasting
• Proprioceptive feedback helps rehab patients learning to operate robotic prosthetic
• Most schools meet new USDA drinking water mandate; more steps needed to encourage consumption
• Small cash incentives dramatically improve hepatitis B vaccination rates among injecting drug users
• Regular aerobic exercise boosts memory area of brain in older women
• Access to improved water and sanitation varies widely within sub-Saharan Africa
• The long reach of Alzheimer's: Ensuring that policies meet needs
• Biomarkers in HPV negative squamous-cell carcinomas of head, neck
• Study examines criteria for 'choosing wisely' lists of least beneficial medical services
• Chemotherapy may be better for certain patients with advanced lung cancer
• Italian adolescents wrongly believe energy drinks are comparable to soda, sports drinks
• Chronic smoking can diminish postural stability
• Crafty alcohol advertising directed at US adolescents through music, branding
• Experimental drug shows promise for treatment-resistant leukemias
• Lipid levels during prenatal brain development impact autism, study shows
• Most hospital pregnancy tests found to be unreliable after first few weeks of pregnancy
• Double whammy of multiple sex partners, drinking in HIV/STI prevention
• Genetic trigger found for RSV-induced infant hospitalizations
• Unlocking secrets of breast tissue: A unique population of microbes?
• How our immune system kills abnormal blood cells
• Why auditory pitch and spatial elevation get high together: Shape of human ear may have evolved to mirror acoustics in natural world
• Snowstorms, power outages present elevated risk for carbon monoxide poisoning
• New ammunition in fight against type 2 diabetes
• Running geese give insight into low oxygen tolerance
• Deep brain stimulation may improve cognition in dementia, other neurodegenerative diseases
• Potential target for epithelial ovarian cancer treatment identified
• More clues on how pregnancy protects against breast cancer
• Potential Combination Therapy for Aggressive Thyroid Cancer
• Genomic analysis yields abnormalities associated with targeted treatments in rare and poor prognosis cancers

Chips with olestra cause body toxins to dip, study finds Posted: 09 Apr 2014 11:39 AM PDT A snack food ingredient called olestra has been found to speed up the removal of toxins in the body, according to a recent clinical trial. The trial demonstrated that olestra -- a zero-calorie fat substitute found in low-calorie snack foods such as Pringles -- could reduce the levels of serum polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in people who had been exposed to PCBs. High levels of PCBs in the body are associated with an increase in hypertension and diabetes.

Telephone medication therapy management works for some but not all home health patients Posted: 09 Apr 2014 11:39 AM PDT Low-risk Medicare patients entering home health care who received medication therapy management by phone were three times less likely to be hospitalized within the next two months, while those at greater risk saw no benefit. The study helped determine which patients benefit most from medication therapy management by phone and a way to identify them through a standardized risk score.

Synthetic collagen promotes natural clotting Posted: 09 Apr 2014 10:49 AM PDT Synthetic collagen may help wounds heal by directing the natural clotting of blood. The material, KOD, mimics natural collagen, a fibrous protein that binds cells together into organs and tissues. It could improve upon commercial sponges or therapies based on naturally derived porcine or bovine-derived collagen now used to aid healing during or after surgery.

Bone marrow stem cells show promise in stroke treatment Posted: 09 Apr 2014 10:47 AM PDT Stem cells culled from bone marrow may prove beneficial in stroke recovery, scientists have learned. The researchers identified 46 studies that examined the use of mesenchymal stromal cells -- a type of multipotent adult stem cells mostly processed from bone marrow -- in animal models of stroke. They found MSCs to be significantly better than control therapy in 44 of the studies.

Genome sequencing of MRSA infection predicts disease severity Posted: 09 Apr 2014 10:47 AM PDT The spread of the antibiotic-resistant pathogen MRSA remains a concerning public health problem, especially among doctors trying to determine appropriate treatment options for infected patients. In a study, researchers used the genome sequence of MRSA to predict which isolates were highly toxic, thus potentially personalizing the treatment of individual MRSA infections.

See what a child will look like using automated age-progression software Posted: 09 Apr 2014 10:46 AM PDT Researchers have developed software that automatically generates images of a young child's face as it ages through a lifetime. The technique is the first fully automated approach for aging babies to adults that works with variable lighting, expressions and poses.

Bad penny: Cancer's thirst for copper can be targeted Posted: 09 Apr 2014 10:43 AM PDT Drugs used to block copper absorption for a rare genetic condition may find an additional use as a treatment for certain types of cancer, researchers report. The researchers found that cancers with a mutation in the BRAF gene require copper to promote tumor growth. These tumors include melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer that kills an estimated 10,000 people in the United States a year, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Promising agents burst through 'superbug' defenses to fight antibiotic resistance Posted: 09 Apr 2014 08:13 AM PDT In the fight against 'superbugs,' scientists have discovered a class of agents that can make some of the most notorious strains vulnerable to the same antibiotics that they once handily shrugged off. The report on the promising agents called metallopolymers -- large, metal-containing molecules -- demonstrated that they evaded the bacteria's defensive enzymes and destroyed its protective walls, causing the bacteria to burst.

Can animals really help people in hospitals, aged care? Posted: 09 Apr 2014 07:34 AM PDT While many people have an opinion on whether animals can help to improve well-being and care for patients in hospitals, does anyone really know whether there are benefits both for the patients and the animals themselves? Not according to a team of researchers that has conducted a worldwide review of all studies looking at the impact of "animal interventions" in healthcare settings for children.

Toward a faster, more accurate way to diagnose stroke Posted: 09 Apr 2014 07:33 AM PDT When someone suffers from a stroke, a silent countdown begins. A fast diagnosis and treatment can mean the difference between life and death. Scientists are working on a new blood test that one day could rapidly confirm whether someone is having a stroke and what kind. They built a device that can process whole blood and isolate genetic material for two potential stroke biomarkers within minutes. Keeping in mind that identifying more biomarkers could aid in diagnosis, they designed their device so it can analyze a total of four biomarkers at the same time.

Stressful environments genetically affect African American boys Posted: 09 Apr 2014 07:33 AM PDT Stressful upbringings can leave imprints on the genes of children, including African-American boys, according to a study. Such chronic stress during youth leads to physiological weathering similar to aging. "African American children have really not yet been studied through this context," said a co-author. "Previous work has mostly focused on middle-class whites. Our study takes a different approach and really highlights the importance of early intervention to moderate disparities in social and educational opportunities."

Restaurants in public housing developments serve fewer healthy meals, nearly 75 percent of entrées unhealthy Posted: 09 Apr 2014 07:29 AM PDT Restaurants in public housing developments serve fewer healthy meals. Roughly 75 percent of those entrées at restaurants near housing developments were unhealthy, containing too many calories and fats and not enough whole grains, fruits and vegetables. The reason for this large difference is that fast food restaurants outnumber table service restaurants in housing development neighborhoods. This imbalance can influence residents with financial constraints to spend their limited funds on unhealthy foods.

Cancer cells may respond to mechanical force Posted: 09 Apr 2014 06:43 AM PDT The processes and cellular pathways that allow cells to move, stiffen, and react to physical stresses has been identified through new research. This knowledge, researchers hope, could reveal the causes of cancer and help develop treatments, including therapies for a variety of diseases. "In the cancer context, mechanical force is important because tumor cells will generate force as they are invading, pulling on other cells," said one researcher. "They are pulling on the cells they are attached to as they are trying to get away."

Physical activity is beneficial for late-life cognition Posted: 09 Apr 2014 06:40 AM PDT Physical activity in midlife seems to protect from dementia in old age, according to a study. Those who engaged in physical activity at least twice a week had a lower risk of dementia than those who were less active. The protective effects were particularly strong among overweight individuals. In addition, the results showed that becoming more physically active after midlife may also contribute to lowering dementia risk.

Possible target to combat muscle wasting Posted: 09 Apr 2014 06:40 AM PDT The pathological atrophy of skeletal muscle is a serious biomedical problem for which no effective treatment is currently available. Those most affected populations are the elderly diagnosed with sarcopenia and patients with cancer, AIDS, and other infectious diseases that develop cachexia.

Proprioceptive feedback helps rehab patients learning to operate robotic prosthetic Posted: 09 Apr 2014 06:36 AM PDT Proprioception significantly improved prosthetic control in the absence of vision, new research has shown. When patients are fitted with a robotic prosthetic limb, they gain control over their prosthesis with the help of a communication pathway provided by a brain-computer interface, or BCI, implanted in the brain. However, BCI-controlled prosthetics currently operate without somatosensory feedback.

Most schools meet new USDA drinking water mandate; more steps needed to encourage consumption Posted: 09 Apr 2014 06:36 AM PDT A new USDA mandate calling for access to free drinking water during lunchtime at schools participating in the National School Lunch Program went into effect at the start of the 2011-12 school year. Researchers examined compliance with the new requirement as well as perceptions about drinking fountain cleanliness and water quality. The study found that most schools met the new requirement; however, additional measures are needed to promote better access and encourage students to drink more water.

Small cash incentives dramatically improve hepatitis B vaccination rates among injecting drug users Posted: 08 Apr 2014 06:35 PM PDT Small financial incentives, totaling as little as £30, can dramatically increase the likelihood of people who inject drugs completing a course of hepatitis B virus vaccination, according to new research. Researchers in the UK found that people undergoing treatment for heroin addiction who received a maximum total of £30 supermarket vouchers in equal or graduated installments in return for full compliance with a regimen of three HBV vaccine injections were at least 12 times as likely to complete the course within 28 days compared to those not receiving a financial incentive.

Regular aerobic exercise boosts memory area of brain in older women Posted: 08 Apr 2014 06:35 PM PDT Regular aerobic exercise seems to boost the size of the area of the brain involved in verbal memory and learning among women whose intellectual capacity has been affected by age, indicates a small study. The researchers tested the impact of different types of exercise on the hippocampal volume of 86 women who said they had mild memory problems, known as mild cognitive impairment -- and a common risk factor for dementia.

Access to improved water and sanitation varies widely within sub-Saharan Africa Posted: 08 Apr 2014 06:35 PM PDT Access to improved drinking water and sanitation is highly variable within individual countries in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new study. Researchers have identified marked geographic inequalities, estimating that coverage of improved drinking water supply varied from as low as 3.2% in some districts of Somalia to as high as 99.0% in urban populations in Namibia, while access to improved sanitation ranged from 0.2% in parts of Chad to close to 100% in Gambia.

The long reach of Alzheimer's: Ensuring that policies meet needs Posted: 08 Apr 2014 01:22 PM PDT To address the burgeoning demands of Alzheimer's disease that will affect generations, new policies will have to be adopted to acknowledge the complex and unique needs of people with dementia. The aging of the US population has turned the prism to focus on the increasing number of families facing the challenge of providing care for people with dementia, one expert states.

Biomarkers in HPV negative squamous-cell carcinomas of head, neck Posted: 08 Apr 2014 01:22 PM PDT A quartet of proteins that play critical roles in cell replication, cell death and DNA repair could lead to better targets for therapy against treatment-resistant head-and-neck squamous cell cancers, research suggests.

Study examines criteria for 'choosing wisely' lists of least beneficial medical services Posted: 08 Apr 2014 01:22 PM PDT In the creation of lists by specialty societies of medical services deemed least beneficial (the 'Choosing Wisely' initiative), inclusion was often justified by evidence suggesting no additional benefit with higher risk, higher cost, or both, compared with other options, according to a study.

Chemotherapy may be better for certain patients with advanced lung cancer Posted: 08 Apr 2014 01:22 PM PDT Among patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer without a mutation of a certain gene, conventional chemotherapy, compared with treatment using epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors, was associated with improvement in survival without progression of the cancer, but not with overall survival, according to a study.

Italian adolescents wrongly believe energy drinks are comparable to soda, sports drinks Posted: 08 Apr 2014 01:22 PM PDT Energy drinks have become increasingly popular among teenagers and young adults during recent years. A new study has examined their use among Italian adolescents. Findings indicate a strong need for comprehensive educational programs focusing on the potential health effects of energy drinks alone, and in combination with alcohol.

Chronic smoking can diminish postural stability Posted: 08 Apr 2014 01:22 PM PDT Chronic cigarette smoking has a high co-occurrence with alcohol use disorders. Postural instability is also common among alcohol dependent individuals. New findings indicate that chronic cigarette use continues to impact the brain systems regulating postural stability even during abstinence from alcohol.

Crafty alcohol advertising directed at US adolescents through music, branding Posted: 08 Apr 2014 01:22 PM PDT Links between adolescents' involvement with music and their drinking-related behaviors have been reviewed by researchers. Results indicate strong associations between liking, owning, and correctly identifying music containing alcohol branding and two early problematic alcohol outcomes. Study authors suggest policy or educational interventions to reduce the impact of these exposures.

Experimental drug shows promise for treatment-resistant leukemias Posted: 08 Apr 2014 12:44 PM PDT Research in mice and human cell lines has identified an experimental compound dubbed TTT-3002 as potentially one of the most potent drugs available to block genetic mutations in cancer cells blamed for some forms of treatment-resistant leukemia. Results show that two doses a day of TTT-3002 eliminated leukemia cells in a group of mice within 10 days. The treatment performed as well as or better than similar drugs in head-to-head comparisons.

Lipid levels during prenatal brain development impact autism, study shows Posted: 08 Apr 2014 10:50 AM PDT Abnormal levels of lipid molecules in the brain can affect the interaction between two key neural pathways in early prenatal brain development, which can trigger autism, researchers have found in a groundbreaking study. And, environmental causes such as exposure to chemicals in some cosmetics and common over-the-counter medication can affect the levels of these lipids, according to the researchers.

Most hospital pregnancy tests found to be unreliable after first few weeks of pregnancy Posted: 08 Apr 2014 10:43 AM PDT Though the 11 most popular hospital urine pregnancy tests perform well in the first month after conception, a new study reveals the alarming statistic that nine of these tests become significantly more likely to produce false-negative results after the 5th to 7th week of pregnancy.

Double whammy of multiple sex partners, drinking in HIV/STI prevention Posted: 08 Apr 2014 09:23 AM PDT The more you drink and sleep around, the less likely you are to participate in HIV intervention counseling, research shows. Understanding why someone does -- or does not -- enroll in a prevention program is a significant piece of information for public health departments. Yet relatively little is known about what motivates individuals to participate in HIV-prevention programs or whether some audiences are more or less willing to take advantage of the HIV-prevention counseling programs commonly provided at health clinics.

Genetic trigger found for RSV-induced infant hospitalizations Posted: 08 Apr 2014 09:19 AM PDT A viral protein has been pinpointed that plays a major role in making respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) the most common cause of hospitalization in children under one year of age. The discovery is the first step toward identifying better diagnostics and potential treatments for an infection that strikes nearly all children before they reach the age of three and causing severe disease in 3 percent of infected children.

Unlocking secrets of breast tissue: A unique population of microbes? Posted: 08 Apr 2014 08:21 AM PDT A unique population of microbes in the female breast may lay the groundwork for understanding how this bacterial community contributes to health and disease, according to a new study. Forms of bacteria known as 'Proteobacteria' were the most abundant, potentially as they are able to metabolize the fatty tissue, said the paper's first author.

How our immune system kills abnormal blood cells Posted: 08 Apr 2014 08:19 AM PDT A team of researchers explains how our immune system kills abnormal blood cells. Their discovery could eventually lead to new treatment avenues for leukemia, lymphoma and certain types of infectious viral diseases. "Our team is studying how natural killer cells can eliminate abnormal hematopoietic (blood) cells," explains the lead researcher. "Natural killer cells are crucial to the immune system and play a critical role in protecting us against viruses and cancer cells."

Why auditory pitch and spatial elevation get high together: Shape of human ear may have evolved to mirror acoustics in natural world Posted: 08 Apr 2014 08:14 AM PDT Have you ever wondered why most natural languages invariably use the same spatial attributes -- high versus low -- to describe auditory pitch? Or why, throughout the history of musical notation, high notes have been represented high on the staff? According to neuroscientists, high pitched sounds feel 'high' because, in our daily lives, sounds coming from high elevations are indeed more likely to be higher in pitch.

Snowstorms, power outages present elevated risk for carbon monoxide poisoning Posted: 08 Apr 2014 04:49 AM PDT Large weather events, such as snowstorms and heavy storms that cause power outages, can lead to an increase in the number of reported carbon monoxide exposures. Researchers explored the link between these major storms and the rise in carbon monoxide exposure cases. They found that portable generators were the most common source of carbon monoxide exposure after storms which resulted in power losses; car exhaust was the most frequent source of exposure after heavy snowstorms.

New ammunition in fight against type 2 diabetes Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:49 PM PDT Gastric banding can play a vital role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes in people who are overweight and not obese, according to new research. "This is the first randomized controlled trial demonstrating that treatment of type 2 diabetes in overweight people by substantial weight loss is safe and hugely beneficial," the lead author said. "As there are no alternative options that can achieve such a result, this study indicates a potentially attractive path for the overweight person with diabetes and for those providing the care."

Running geese give insight into low oxygen tolerance Posted: 07 Apr 2014 04:28 PM PDT A new study into how the world's highest flying bird, the bar-headed goose, is able to survive at extreme altitudes may have future implications for low oxygen medical conditions in humans. An international team of scientists recently tracked the bar-headed goose while it migrated across the Himalayas. Now they have shown how these birds are able to tolerate running at top speed while breathing only 7% oxygen.

Deep brain stimulation may improve cognition in dementia, other neurodegenerative diseases Posted: 07 Apr 2014 04:26 PM PDT Intralaminar thalamic deep brain stimulation (ILN-DBS) has been studying to find out if it could have an effect on dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases that cause severe cognitive dysfunction. Growing evidence shows the efficacy of deep brain stimulation in patients with neuropsychiatric diseases.

Potential target for epithelial ovarian cancer treatment identified Posted: 07 Apr 2014 01:52 PM PDT Researchers who are investigating the biological mechanisms behind metastatic epithelial ovarian cancer recently found that an enzyme called focal adhesive kinase (FAK) can play a critical -- and previously unstudied -- role in the growth and spread of the disease. FAK, which is also known as PTK2, helps cells adhere to each other and to other substances It also mediates multiple normal processes that are often disrupted or corrupted in cancer cells, including cell growth, proliferation, survival, angiogenesis and migration.

More clues on how pregnancy protects against breast cancer Posted: 07 Apr 2014 01:52 PM PDT New clues about how pregnancy reduces women's risk of developing breast cancer have been unearthed by researchers. Taking a detailed look at the genetic material of women who had and had not given birth, the researchers noted differences in elements related to key processes that, when they go awry, can increase the risk of developing cancer.

Potential Combination Therapy for Aggressive Thyroid Cancer Posted: 07 Apr 2014 01:47 PM PDT A novel mouse model of anaplastic thyroid cancer has been developed by scientists who have also identified a combination of targeted therapies that shrinks these tumors. Most patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer do very well, but in a small fraction of patients it evolves into aggressive forms of thyroid cancer. Among these, the extremely aggressive human ATC is associated with one of the worst prognoses of any kind of human cancer.

Genomic analysis yields abnormalities associated with targeted treatments in rare and poor prognosis cancers Posted: 07 Apr 2014 01:47 PM PDT Genomic profiling identifies genomic alterations in tumors that can be associated with targeted treatments for rare and poor prognosis cancers, new research shows. Analyzing tumors through clinical grade Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology has been useful in identifying genetic abnormalities in tumors that may make them vulnerable to molecularly targeted cancer treatment, the researchers note.

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