الأربعاء، 16 أبريل 2014

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

Rare disease of the inner ear: New insights

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:38 PM PDT

In the most comprehensive study of Ménière's Disease to date, researchers have been able to suggest what goes wrong in the body when people develop the disease, and provide an insight into factors that lead to its development. The analysis also showed that Ménière's patients were more likely to suffer falls and mental health problems, such as depression, than people without the condition.

Functional brain imaging reliably predicts which vegetative patients have potential to recover consciousness

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:37 PM PDT

A functional brain imaging technique known as positron emission tomography is a promising tool for determining which severely brain damaged individuals in vegetative states have the potential to recover consciousness, according to new research.

Antibiotics improve growth in children in developing countries

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:36 PM PDT

Antibiotics improve growth in children at risk of undernourishment in low and middle income countries, according to researchers who have just conducted a research literature review on the subject. Their results suggest that the youngest children from the most vulnerable populations benefit most and show significant improvements toward expected growth for their age and sex, particularly for weight.

Prolonged, heavy bleeding during menopause is common

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:36 PM PDT

Women going through menopause most likely think of it as the time for an end to predictable monthly periods. Researchers say it's normal, however, for the majority of them to experience an increase in the amount and duration of bleeding episodes, which may occur at various times throughout the menopausal transition.

New standards proposed for gauging muscle decline in older adults

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 03:14 PM PDT

Sarcopenia -- the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength -- may put up to 50 percent of seniors at greater risk for disability, yet there is no consensus within the medical community for how this condition should be measured. However, a new collection of articles lays out an empirically derived set of criteria for diagnosing sarcopenia.

Mouse model would have predicted toxicity of drug that killed 5 in 1993 clinical trial

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 03:13 PM PDT

Over 20 years after the fatal fialuridine trial, a new study demonstrates that mice with humanized livers recapitulate the drug's toxicity. The work suggests that this mouse model should be added to the repertoire of tools used in preclinical screening of drugs for liver toxicity before they are given to human participants in clinical trials.

Brain changes associated with casual marijuana use in young adults: More 'joints' equal more damage

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 03:11 PM PDT

The size and shape of two brain regions involved in emotion and motivation may differ in young adults who smoke marijuana at least once a week, according to a new study. The findings suggest that recreational marijuana use may lead to previously unidentified brain changes, and highlight the importance of research aimed at understanding the long-term effects of low to moderate marijuana use on the brain. 

Blacks with financial worries have lower health scores

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 03:11 PM PDT

Black adults who reported feeling more financial strain also rated their health more poorly than those with less financial strain, finds a new study. While lower income and education among minorities have been linked to poor health for decades, this study focused just on the connection between financial worries and poor health.

Potent, puzzling and (now less) toxic: Team discovers how antifungal drug works

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 12:38 PM PDT

Scientists have solved a decades-old medical mystery -- and in the process have found a potentially less toxic way to fight invasive fungal infections, which kill about 1.5 million people a year. The researchers say they now understand the mechanism of action of amphotericin, an antifungal drug that has been in use for more than 50 years -- even though it is nearly as toxic to human cells as it is to the microbes it attacks.

Changes in processing, handling could reduce commercial fishing injuries

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 12:38 PM PDT

Handling frozen fish caused nearly half of all injuries aboard commercial freezer-trawlers and about a quarter of the injuries on freezer-longliner vessels operating off the coast of Alaska. Many injuries could be prevented with the right interventions. Researchers are hoping to build from this research and explore other fishing-related injuries and prevention strategies. The Dungeness crab industry is one area that may be explored and another is land-based fish-processing, researchers said.

Pre-diabetes, diabetes nearly double over the past two decades

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 12:37 PM PDT

Cases of diabetes and pre-diabetes in the United States have nearly doubled since 1988, suggests new research, with obesity apparently to blame for the surge. The researchers also found that the burden of the disease has not hit all groups equally, with alarming increases in diabetes in blacks, Hispanics and the elderly.

SSRI use during pregnancy linked to autism and developmental delays in boys

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 12:37 PM PDT

In a study of nearly 1,000 mother-child pairs, researchers found that prenatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a frequently prescribed treatment for depression, anxiety and other disorders, was associated with autism spectrum disorder and developmental delays in boys.

Real-time audio of corporal punishment shows kids misbehave within 10 minutes of spanking

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 11:40 AM PDT

Real-time audio recordings of children being spanked showed parents responded impulsively or emotionally, rather than being intentional with their discipline, says a psychologist and parenting expert. Researchers discovered that spanking was more common than parents admit, that children were hit for trivial misdeeds, and that children misbehaved within 10 minutes of punishment.

Breaking bad mitochondria: How hepatitis C survives for so long

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 11:39 AM PDT

A mechanism has been discovered that explains why people with the hepatitis C virus get liver disease and why the virus is able to persist in the body for so long. The hard-to-kill pathogen, which infects an estimated 200 million people worldwide, attacks the liver cells' energy centers -- the mitochondria -- dismantling the cell's innate ability to fight infection. It does this by altering cells mitochondrial dynamics.

Lifestyle determines gut microbes: Study with modern hunter-gatherers tells tale of bacteria co-evolution

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 10:39 AM PDT

The intestinal bacteria of present-day hunter-gatherers has for the first time been deciphered by an international team of researchers. Bacterial populations have co-evolved with humans over millions of years, and have the potential to help us adapt to new environments and foods. Studies of the Hadza offer an especially rare opportunity for scientists to learn how humans survive by hunting and gathering, in the same environment and using similar foods as our ancestors did.

How mothers help children explore right and wrong

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 10:39 AM PDT

Moms want their kids to grow up to be good people -- but how do they actually help their offspring sort out different types of moral issues? A new study shows many moms talk to their kids in ways that help them understand moral missteps. The study also shows that the nature of the maternal role develops along with the children, as parents evolve from gentle teachers for youngsters to sounding boards for teenagers.

Osteoporosis risk heightened among sleep apnea patients

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 10:38 AM PDT

A diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea may raise the risk of osteoporosis, particularly among women or older individuals, according to a new study. Sleep apnea is a condition that causes brief interruptions in breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form, occurs when a person's airway becomes blocked during sleep. If sleep apnea goes untreated, it can raise the risk for stroke, cardiovascular disease and heart attacks.

Genetic pre-disposition toward exercise, mental development may be linked

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 09:56 AM PDT

A potential link between the genetic pre-disposition for high levels of exercise motivation and the speed at which mental maturation occurs has been found by researchers. These scientists studied the brains of the rats and found much higher levels of neural maturation in the brains of the active rats than in the brains of the lazy rats.

New method of screening children for autism spectrum disorders works at 9 months old

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 09:55 AM PDT

Researchers have identified head circumference and head tilting reflex as two reliable biomarkers in the identification of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children that are between 9 and 12 months of age. ASD is identifiable as early as two years old, although most children are not identified until after the age of four. While a number of studies have reported that parents of children with ASD notice developmental problems in children before their first birthday, there has yet to be a screening tool to identify those children.

Targeting cancer with a triple threat: New nanoparticles can deliver three drugs at once

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 09:55 AM PDT

Chemists have designed nanoparticles that can deliver three cancer drugs at a time. Such particles could be designed to carry even more drugs, allowing researchers to develop new treatment regimens that could better kill cancer cells while avoiding the side effects of traditional chemotherapy. "We think it's the first example of a nanoparticle that carries a precise ratio of three drugs and can release those drugs in response to three distinct triggering mechanisms," says the lead researcher and author.

New method isolates immune cells to study how they ward off oral diseases

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 09:53 AM PDT

Dental researchers have found a less invasive way to extract single rare immune cells from the mouth to study how the mouth's natural defenses ward off infection and inflammation. By isolating some specialized immune cells (white blood cells known as "leukocytes") to study how they fight diseases in the mouth -- or reject foreign tissues, such as in failed organ transplants -- researchers hope to learn more about treating and preventing such health issues as oral cancers, cardiovascular disease, AIDS and other infectious diseases.

Key to easy asthma diagnosis is in the blood

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 09:53 AM PDT

Using just a single drop of blood, a team of researchers has developed a faster, cheaper and more accurate tool for diagnosing even mild cases of asthma. This handheld technology — which takes advantage of a previously unknown correlation between asthmatic patients and the most abundant type of white blood cells in the body — means doctors could diagnose asthma even if their patients are not experiencing symptoms during their visit to the clinic.

Researchers help Boston Marathon organizers plan for 2014 race

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 08:24 AM PDT

After experiencing a tragic and truncated end to the 2013 Boston Marathon, race organizers were faced not only with grief but with hundreds of administrative decisions, including plans for the 2014 race -- an event beloved by Bostonians and people around the world.

Regenerated esophagus transplanted in rats

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 08:23 AM PDT

Tissue engineering has been used to construct natural esophagi, which in combination with bone marrow stem cells have been safely and effectively transplanted in rats. The study shows that the transplanted organs remain patent and display regeneration of nerves, muscles, epithelial cells and blood vessels.

Unexpected protein partnership has implications for cancer treatment

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 08:13 AM PDT

Two unlikely partners in a type of immune cell called a macrophage that work together in response to cancer drugs have been found by researchers. This partnership increases inflammation in a way that may alter tumor growth.

New insight into SIDS deaths points to lack of oxygen

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 08:13 AM PDT

Researchers have shed new light onto the possible causes of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which could help to prevent future loss of children's lives. In a world-first study, researchers have found that telltale signs in the brains of babies that have died of SIDS are remarkably similar to those of children who died of accidental asphyxiation.

Vitamin D deficiency, cognition appear to be linked in older adults

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 08:13 AM PDT

A study that looks at Vitamin D deficiency and cognition relationship in older adults adds to the existing literature on the subject. "This study provides increasing evidence that suggests there is an association between low vitamin D levels and cognitive decline over time," said the lead author. "Although this study cannot establish a direct cause and effect relationship, it would have a huge public health implication if vitamin D supplementation could be shown to improve cognitive performance over time because deficiency is so common in the population."

Hair from infants gives clues about life in womb

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 08:13 AM PDT

Like rings of a tree, hair can reveal a lot of information about the past. And, as a team of researchers show in a study of rhesus monkeys, it can also reveal the womb environment in which an infant formed. It's the first time researchers have used infant hair to examine the hormonal environment to which the fetus was exposed during development and it promises to yield a wealth of new information. The findings have significant implications for several fields, from neonatology to psychology, social science to neurology.

Whooping cough bacterium evolving in Australia, research shows

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 06:44 AM PDT

The bacterium that causes whooping cough, Bordetella pertussis, has changed in Australia -- most likely in response to the vaccine used to prevent the disease -- with a possible reduced effectiveness of the vaccine as a result. A team of researchers analyzed strains of Bordetella pertussis from across Australia and found that many strains no longer produce a key surface protein called pertactin.

MRI pinpoints region of brain injury in some concussion patients

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:45 AM PDT

Researchers using information provided by a magnetic resonance imaging technique have identified regional white matter damage in the brains of people who experience chronic dizziness and other symptoms after concussion. The findings suggest that information provided by MRI can speed the onset of effective treatments for concussion patients.

New therapy helps to improve stereoscopic vision in stroke patients

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:44 AM PDT

Humans view the world through two eyes, but it is our brain that combines the images from each eye to form a single composite picture. If this function becomes damaged, impaired sight can be the result. Such loss of visual function can be observed in patients who have suffered a stroke or traumatic brain injury or when the oxygen supply to the brain has been reduced (cerebral hypoxia). Those affected by this condition experience blurred vision or can start to see double after only a short period of visual effort.

Obesity: Are lipids hard drugs for the brain?

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:42 AM PDT

Why can we get up for a piece of chocolate, but never because we fancy a carrot? Research has demonstrated part of the answer: triglycerides, fatty substances from food, may act in our brains directly on the reward circuit, the same circuit that is involved in drug addiction. These results show a strong link in mice between fluctuations in triglyceride concentration and brain reward development. Identifying the action of nutritional lipids on motivation and the search for pleasure in dietary intake will help us better understand the causes of some compulsive behaviors and obesity.

Intelligent prosthetic liners could ease pain for lower limb amputees

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:41 AM PDT

A new device could help to relieve the pain and discomfort experienced by thousands of amputees as a result of poorly fitting replacement lower limbs. Researchers are developing a prototype of the world's first prosthetic 'intelligent' liner with integrated pressure sensors, which could be available in as little as three years. The sensors for the device measure the pressure and pulling forces at the interface between a patient's stump and socket of their prosthesis. In excess these pressures in excess can cause tissue damage, leading to painful sores.

Nanocrystalline cellulose modified into efficient viral inhibitor

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:41 AM PDT

Researchers have succeeded in creating a surface on nano-sized cellulose crystals that imitates a biological structure. The surface adsorbs viruses and disables them. The results can prove useful in the development of antiviral ointments and surfaces, for instance. 'It would be possible to provide protection against viruses, spread by mosquitoes, by applying ointment containing nanocrystalline cellulose onto the skin. Nanocrystalline cellulose applied on hospital door handles could kill viruses and prevent them from spreading. However, we first need to ascertain if the compounds will remain effective in a non-liquid form and how they work in animal tests,' one researcher suggested.

Outcome of stroke worse for people with infection

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:41 AM PDT

Infection is bad news for all of us - but it can be really serious to people who have had a stroke. Evidence is mounting that infection makes things much worse after a stroke. The researchers show that rodents with pneumonia fared worse after having a stroke than those without the bacterial infection. This study builds on previous research demonstrating that an anti-inflammatory drug, called 'interleukin-1 receptor antagonist', could dramatically limit the amount of brain damage in experimental stroke.

Experimental blood test spots recurrent breast cancers, monitors response to treatment

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:39 AM PDT

A blood test that accurately detects the presence of advanced breast cancer and also holds promise for precisely monitoring response to cancer treatment has been designed by researchers. The test, called the cMethDNA assay, accurately detected the presence of cancer DNA in the blood of patients with metastatic breast cancers up to 95 percent of the time in laboratory studies.

Fiber-optic microscope will help physicians detect cancer, diseases at early stages

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:39 AM PDT

An inexpensive, portable and re-usable endoscopic microscope has been developed that will help clinicians detect and diagnose early-stage disease, primarily cancer. An endoscopic microscope is a tool or technique that obtains histological images from inside the human body in real-time. Some clinicians consider it an optical biopsy.

Awareness campaign shows signs of delaying onset of drug-resistant gonorrhea in UK

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 04:14 PM PDT

Gonorrhea threatens to become resistant to all antibiotics used to treat it. Campaigns in the UK to raise awareness of drug resistance have shown some success in slowing onset of treatment failure, a new study shows. The authors provide guidance for safer sex practices to help with the control of STIs.

Gene variant puts women at higher risk of Alzheimer's than it does men, study finds

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 04:14 PM PDT

Carrying a copy of a gene variant called ApoE4 confers a substantially greater risk for Alzheimer's disease on women than it does on men, according to a new study. The scientists arrived at their findings by analyzing data on large numbers of older individuals who were tracked over time and noting whether they had progressed from good health to mild cognitive impairment -- from which most move on to develop Alzheimer's disease within a few years -- or to Alzheimer's disease itself.

New management, return-to-play guidelines for Female Athlete Triad examined

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 02:21 PM PDT

New evidence-based guidelines on management and return to play of the Female Athlete Triad was recently reviewed by experts. The Female Athlete Triad is a medical condition often observed in physically active girls and women, and involves three components: low energy availability with or without disordered eating, menstrual dysfunction and low bone mineral density.

Physical therapy instructional video may be as good as an in-person visit for shoulder rehabilitation exercises

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 02:21 PM PDT

A rehab video may get the same results as an in-person visit for shoulder rehabilitation exercises, a new study suggests. "These results are significant for two reasons," said the lead researcher. "First, having an additional tool to augment what the patient learns at an initial physical therapy visit may help with exercise accuracy and hopefully therefore improve outcomes. Additionally as access to physical therapy becomes more limited due either to cost or insurance, identifying new tools to better help out patients will be essential."

Which obesity measure best predicts lower extremity injury risk?

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 02:21 PM PDT

Obesity and musculoskeletal injuries are huge health problems in America, including the military. In the civilian setting these injuries are certainly very costly. But in the military, injuries can also slow down or halt the valiant men and women who defend our country. In a new study, those who were classified as obese were at a greater risk for developing lower extremity injuries. Using BMI and abdominal circumference in a combined approach predicted injury risk better than either measure alone.

Brand/type of helmet, mouthguard may not significantly reduce risk of sport-related concussion in high school football players

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 02:21 PM PDT

A sports medicine physician has concluded the the brand or type of helmet or mouthguard does not significantly reduce concussion risk among high school football players. While helmet brand or age did not significantly affect the incidence or severity of sport-related concussion, prior concussion and the use of specialized or custom mouthguards were associated with an increased incidence of the injury. This is in contrast to manufacturers' claims that a specific brand of helmet or type of mouthguard can significantly reduce the risk of concussion.

Nano shake-up: Routine handling can affect nano drug carriers

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 12:44 PM PDT

Routine processing can affect the size of nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery, new research shows. Nanotechnology has unlocked new pathways for targeted drug delivery, including the use of nanocarriers, or capsules, that can transport cargoes of small-molecule therapeutics to specific locations in the body. The catch? These carriers are tiny, and it matters just how tiny they are. Change the size from 10 nanometers to 100 nanometers, and the drugs can end up in the wrong cells or organs and thereby damage healthy tissues.

Identifying children with emotional behavior difficulties

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 12:08 PM PDT

Research on children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in South Africa may provide insight on how to identify and help children with emotional behavior issues in other areas of the world, which may have limited access to healthcare and further research that could lead to successful interventions. "There has been a big push to understand what we can do to help these kids, but also how to identify these children in the community," said the author.

Shared decision making improves patient satisfaction during radiation therapy, may help alleviate anxiety, depression

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 12:07 PM PDT

Taking an active role in their radiation treatment decisions leaves cancer patients feeling more satisfied with their care, and may even relieve psychological distress around the experience. "Our findings emphasize the value of patient-physician relationships and communication specifically in radiation oncology, something that hasn't been shown before," said the lead author.

Website information on colon cancer too complex, fails to address key concerns, researcher finds

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 11:07 AM PDT

Popular web information on colorectal cancer is too difficult for most lay people to read and doesn't address the appropriate risks to and concerns of patients, a study by a gastroenterologists suggests. The study is the first to analyze the appropriateness of internet-based materials in terms of health literacy. "Internet information is best used as a supplement. With colon cancer screening, there are many options and each has its risks and benefits. An actual discussion with a physician would help patients choose the best option," the researcher notes.

Telemedicine training for rural parents of children with autism

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 10:40 AM PDT

An effective distance parent training program has been developed to address critical shortage of ABA-trained professionals in rural communities. Through this program, parents increased their knowledge of ABA strategies and concepts by an average of 39 percentage points and improved their implementation of these strategies with their children by an average of 41 percentage points, said one author, who employs technology to help make evidence-based practices accessible to rural and underserved populations.

Long-term antibiotic treatment for Q fever causes weight gain

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 09:38 AM PDT

Scientists have unearthed still more evidence that antibiotics can contribute to obesity. Research suggests that patients on long-term antibiotic treatment gained weight and had significant changes in their gut microbiota. The study followed 48 patients who were being treated long-term with doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine for Q fever, and 34 control subjects. Nearly one quarter of the treated patients gained anywhere from two to 13 kg (five to 30 lbs), while none of the controls exhibited weight gain. Patients typically received treatment for 18 months.

Osteoporosis drugs appear to impede cell membrane repair

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 09:38 AM PDT

A class of drugs widely used to treat osteoporosis appears to impede a cell's ability to repair a protective outer membrane that helps determine what enters and exits, researchers report. The inability to quickly repair a membrane is lethal to a cell and may help explain the rare and serious side effect of jawbone destruction that can occur following dental work in patients taking these drugs, the researchers note.

Likely key driver of colorectal cancer development, progression

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 09:37 AM PDT

A molecule that is a probable driving force in colorectal cancer has been identified in a new study. The molecule could be an important target for colorectal cancer treatment and a valuable biomarker of tumor progression. The researchers demonstrate that miR-135b is present at abnormally high levels in both mouse and human colorectal (CRC) tumors. The overexpression can be induced by the mutations in either well-known oncogenes or tumor-suppressor genes that frequently occur in CRC, they say.
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