ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Researchers identify how zinc regulates key enzyme involved in cell death
• Strain-specific Lyme disease immunity lasts for years
• '3-D' test could reduce reliance on animals for testing asthma and allergy medications
• Key chocolate ingredients could help prevent obesity, diabetes
• Infants are sensitive to pleasant touch
• Pathological complete response predictor of favorable breast cancer outcome
• Good diet boosts health but not wealth
• Levels of sodium intake recommended by CDC associated with harmful health outcomes
• Coffee Consumption Reduces Mortality Risk from Liver Cirrhosis
• Trans Fat, Regulation, Legislation and Human Health
• Similarities between HIV/AIDS, opioid addiction epidemics
• Overuse of blood transfusions increases infection risk
• The mammography dilemma: 50 years of analysis
• Adult tonsillectomy complications and health care expenses
• Emergency department dental care treatment raises access, cost issues for policymakers
• Epilepsy drug target implications for sleep disruption in brain disorders
• Twenty Years Later: How Breast Cancer Risk Genes are Changing Patient Care
• Low sodium levels pre-transplant does not affect liver transplant recipient survival
• Depressed young men at highest risk of becoming sedentary later
• Good vibrations: Using light-heated water to deliver drugs
• Factor present in gestational, type 2 diabetes could provide new treatment options
• 'Sewing machine' idea gives insight into origins of Alzheimer's
• Common molecular defect offers treatment hope for group of rare disorders
• Spine surgeons need to screen more patients for anxiety, depression, study suggests
• Breast milk and diet up to two years old: A means of preventing the risk of child obesity
• Human 'hairless' gene identified: One form of baldness explained
• Monkey caloric restriction study shows big benefit; contradicts earlier study
• Clinical trial results inconsistently reported among journals, government website, study suggests
• Better way to grow motor neurons from stem cells
• Early intervention reduces aggressive behavior in adulthood
• Simple changes in ICU can help heart attack patients: Study
• Customers prefer restaurants that offer nutrition facts, healthful foods
• 1.1 million Americans caring for recently wounded veterans, study finds
• New screening tool to diagnose common sleep problem in children
• Lose the paunch, halt the hair loss?
• New test makes Parkinson's-like disorder of middle age detectable in young adulthood
• Need to regulate antimicrobial ingredients in consumer products, scientific evidence shows
• Higher risk of death from skin cancer among men living alone
• Hospital Readmission Rates Not Reliable Measure of Hospital Quality in Cardiac Surgical Care
• Clinical habits die hard: Nursing traditions often trump evidence-based practice
• Why vitamin D deficiency diagnoses surged
• Want spring allergy relief? Avoid stress
• Gratitude, not 'gimme,' makes for more satisfaction, study finds
• Link between HIV infection, coronary artery disease
• Heart health as young adult linked to mental function in mid-life
• Limiting screen time improves sleep, academics, behavior, study finds
• Nearly 97 percent of health professionals wash their hands when patients are asked to watch: Study

Researchers identify how zinc regulates key enzyme involved in cell death Posted: 02 Apr 2014 08:16 AM PDT The molecular details of how zinc, an essential trace element of human metabolism, interacts with the enzyme caspase-3, which is central to apoptosis or cell death, have been elucidated in a new study led by researchers. Dysregulation of apoptosis is implicated in cancer and neurodegenerative disease. Zinc is known to affect the process by inhibiting the activity of caspases, which are important drug targets for the treatment of the above conditions.

Strain-specific Lyme disease immunity lasts for years Posted: 02 Apr 2014 08:00 AM PDT Lyme disease, if not treated promptly with antibiotics, can become a lingering problem for those infected. But a new study led by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania has some brighter news: Once infected with a particular strain of the disease-causing bacteria, humans appear to develop immunity against that strain that can last six to nine years.

'3-D' test could reduce reliance on animals for testing asthma and allergy medications Posted: 02 Apr 2014 08:00 AM PDT To determine whether new medicines are safe and effective for humans, researchers must first test them in animals, which is costly and time-consuming, as well as ethically challenging. Scientists now report that they've developed a simple, '3-D' laboratory method to test asthma and allergy medications that mimics what happens in the body, which could help reduce the need for animal testing.

Key chocolate ingredients could help prevent obesity, diabetes Posted: 02 Apr 2014 08:00 AM PDT Improved thinking. Decreased appetite. Lowered blood pressure. The potential health benefits of dark chocolate keep piling up, and scientists are now homing in on what ingredients in chocolate might help prevent obesity, as well as type-2 diabetes. They found that one particular type of antioxidant in cocoa prevented laboratory mice from gaining excess weight and lowered their blood sugar levels.

Infants are sensitive to pleasant touch Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:57 AM PDT Infants show unique physiological and behavioral responses to pleasant touch, which may help to cement the bonds between child and parent and promote early social and physiological development, according to research. According to the researchers, the findings "support the notion that pleasant touch plays a vital role in human social interactions by demonstrating that the sensitivity to pleasant touch emerges early in human development."

Pathological complete response predictor of favorable breast cancer outcome Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:57 AM PDT Pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is an independent predictive factor of favorable clinical outcomes in all molecular subtypes of breast cancer, a new trial demonstrates.

Good diet boosts health but not wealth Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:58 AM PDT The idea that a good diet means a healthy population with lower health costs only holds true when it comes to emergency care, a study shows. Although men and women aged over 65 years who ate healthily had shorter stays in hospital, they were strong users of other medical services. In fact, they tended to make greater use of outpatient services, preventive care and dental care than those who did not follow a healthy eating plan.

Levels of sodium intake recommended by CDC associated with harmful health outcomes Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:58 AM PDT Current levels of sodium intake recommended by the CDC have been discovered as unhealthy, according to a new study. concluded that 2,645 -- 4,945 mg of sodium per day, a range of intake within which the vast majority of Americans fall, actually results in more favorable health outcomes than the CDC's current recommendation of less than 2300mg/day for healthy individuals under 50 years old, and less than 1500 mg/day for most over 50 years.

Coffee Consumption Reduces Mortality Risk from Liver Cirrhosis Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:56 AM PDT Consuming two or more cups of coffee each day reduces the risk of death from liver cirrhosis by 66%, specifically cirrhosis caused by non-viral hepatitis, new research reveals. Findings show that tea, fruit juice, and soft drink consumption are not linked to cirrhosis mortality risk. As with previous studies, heavy alcohol use was found to increase risk of death from cirrhosis.

Trans Fat, Regulation, Legislation and Human Health Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:54 AM PDT A new report focuses on the science and policy leading up to the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) preliminary steps toward restricting industrially produced trans fatty acids, or trans fat, at the federal level. "Trans fat is a compelling topic because although it directly impacts human health, it also cues up controversy in multiple disciplines, including economics and politics," said one expert.

Similarities between HIV/AIDS, opioid addiction epidemics Posted: 01 Apr 2014 01:22 PM PDT There are important parallels between the early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the current epidemic of opioid addiction -- ones that could trigger a significant shift in opioid addiction prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Researchers detail how the HIV/AIDS epidemic spurred a public health approach centered on human rights, which included biomedical breakthroughs and life-saving treatment. Fast forward 30 years and the response to HIV/AIDS has attracted an unprecedented commitment of resources and international aid. Researchers assert that a parallel response is needed in response to the epidemic of addiction.

Overuse of blood transfusions increases infection risk Posted: 01 Apr 2014 01:21 PM PDT The fewer the red blood cell transfusions, the less likely patients were to develop infections like pneumonia, a new study has illustrated. Elderly patients undergoing hip or knee surgeries were most susceptible, with a 30 percent lower risk of infection when fewer transfusions were used. Overall, for every 38 hospitalized patients considered for a red blood cell transfusion (RBC), one patient would be spared a serious infection if fewer transfusions were used.

The mammography dilemma: 50 years of analysis Posted: 01 Apr 2014 01:21 PM PDT A comprehensive review of 50 year's worth of international studies assessing the benefits and harms of mammography screening suggests that the benefits of the screening are often overestimated, while harms are underestimated. The authors report that the best estimate of the reduction in mortality from breast cancer due to annual screening for women overall is about 19 percent. For women in their 40s, the reduction in risk was about 15 percent, and for women in their 60s, about 32 percent. But how much a woman benefits depends on her underlying risk of breast cancer.

Adult tonsillectomy complications and health care expenses Posted: 01 Apr 2014 11:22 AM PDT A study of 36,210 adult tonsillectomy patients finds that 20 percent will have a complication, offering valuable new insights to a decades long discussion. The study examines the prevalence of complications in adult tonsillectomies and the impact on health care expenditures. "Researchers have been examining variation in tonsillectomy for years," explained a corresponding author. "Yet most research has been documented in pediatric populations. Much less is known about the safety and risks to adult patients that undergo the procedure."

Emergency department dental care treatment raises access, cost issues for policymakers Posted: 01 Apr 2014 11:22 AM PDT The use of emergency departments for dental care -- especially by young adults in low-income communities -- is presenting policymakers with a challenge, according to a report that offers several remedies including expanding hours at the dentist's office.

Epilepsy drug target implications for sleep disruption in brain disorders Posted: 01 Apr 2014 11:21 AM PDT A study using the mutant fruitfly sleepless confirmed that the enzyme GABA transaminase, a target of some epilepsy drugs, contributes to sleep loss. The findings shed light on mechanisms that may be shared between sleep disruption and some neurological disorders. A better understanding of this connection could enable treatments that target both types of symptoms and perhaps provide better therapeutic efficacy.

Twenty Years Later: How Breast Cancer Risk Genes are Changing Patient Care Posted: 01 Apr 2014 11:21 AM PDT In the mid-1990s, scientists for the first time were able to isolate and clone the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, mutations in which were thought to increase susceptibility to early onset breast and ovarian cancers. A article takes a look back at the last twenty years to show how the identification of these genes set in motion a firestorm of research aimed at exploring how genetic information can be used to create both standards of care and strategies for all patients at a high-risk of developing cancer.

Low sodium levels pre-transplant does not affect liver transplant recipient survival Posted: 01 Apr 2014 10:10 AM PDT Low levels of sodium, known as hyponatremia, prior to transplantation does not increase the risk of death following liver transplant. Medical evidence shows that low sodium concentration is common in patients with end stage liver disease (ESLD), with roughly half of those with cirrhosis having sodium levels below the normal range. Following liver transplantation, sodium levels will generally return to normal.

Depressed young men at highest risk of becoming sedentary later Posted: 01 Apr 2014 10:10 AM PDT Young men may be more vulnerable to becoming sedentary later on than women are if they are depressed at a young age, a study finds. It's not news that being a couch potato is bad for your health. Lack of physical activity is associated with a range of diseases from diabetes to heart attacks. Findings from this new study show that young men who have experienced depression early in life may be especially vulnerable to becoming sedentary later in life, and particularly to spending large amounts of time online each day.

Good vibrations: Using light-heated water to deliver drugs Posted: 01 Apr 2014 10:10 AM PDT A new mechanism for using light to activate drug-delivering nanoparticles and other targeted therapeutic substances inside the body has been developed by a collaboration of materials scientists, engineers and neurobiologists. This discovery represents a major innovation. Up to now, only a handful of strategies using light-triggered release from nanoparticles have been reported.

Factor present in gestational, type 2 diabetes could provide new treatment options Posted: 01 Apr 2014 09:23 AM PDT Both pregnant women with diabetes and with type 2 diabetics have high levels of a fat metabolite that impairs pancreatic cells from secreting insulin. These findings suggest that blocking the effects of this fat metabolite may help prevent and treat diabetes.

'Sewing machine' idea gives insight into origins of Alzheimer's Posted: 01 Apr 2014 09:23 AM PDT A new imaging tool inspired by the humble sewing machine has been invented, providing fresh insight into the origins of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. These diseases are caused by tiny toxic proteins too small to be studied with traditional optical microscopy.

Common molecular defect offers treatment hope for group of rare disorders Posted: 01 Apr 2014 09:23 AM PDT Researchers studying tiny, antennae-like structures called cilia have found a potential way to ease some of the physical damage of numerous genetic disorders that result when these essential cellular components are defective. Different genetic defects cause dysfunction of the cilia, which often act as sensory organs that receive signals from other cells. Individually, disorders involving cilia are rare, but collectively the more than 100 diseases in the category known as ciliopathies affect as many as one in 1,000 people.

Spine surgeons need to screen more patients for anxiety, depression, study suggests Posted: 01 Apr 2014 08:21 AM PDT Only 10 percent of orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons follow professional guidelines recommending routine psychological screenings of patients prior to major surgery for severe back and leg pain, a study shows. The oversight, researchers say, may pose a serious risk to patients' surgical recovery. Previous reports have tied bouts of depression to longer recuperations, delayed returns to work, more postsurgical complications and failures to comply with medication schedules after patients leave the hospital.

Breast milk and diet up to two years old: A means of preventing the risk of child obesity Posted: 01 Apr 2014 08:21 AM PDT Scientists have shown that breast-feeding has a protective effect on the risk of obesity at 20 years of age. Researchers also emphasize that nutritional intake at the age of 2 years are critical in providing this beneficial effect.

Human 'hairless' gene identified: One form of baldness explained Posted: 01 Apr 2014 08:21 AM PDT It's not a hair-brained idea: A new research report explains why people with a rare balding condition called 'atrichia with papular lesions' lose their hair, and it identifies a strategy for reversing this hair loss. "Identification of hairless as a histone demethylase may shed new insights into its mechanism of action in regulating skin and hair disorders," said the lead author.

Monkey caloric restriction study shows big benefit; contradicts earlier study Posted: 01 Apr 2014 08:19 AM PDT The latest results from a 25-year study of diet and aging in monkeys shows a significant reduction in mortality and in age-associated diseases among those with calorie-restricted diets. The study, begun in 1989, is one of two ongoing, long-term U.S. efforts to examine the effects of a reduced-calorie diet on nonhuman primates.

Clinical trial results inconsistently reported among journals, government website, study suggests Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:30 AM PDT Medical researchers often presented the findings of their clinical trials in a different way on a federal government website than they did in the medical journals where their studies were ultimately published, according to a recent analysis.

Better way to grow motor neurons from stem cells Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:29 AM PDT Researchers report they can generate human motor neurons from stem cells much more quickly and efficiently than previous methods allowed. The finding will aid efforts to model human motor neuron development, and to understand and treat spinal cord injuries and motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Early intervention reduces aggressive behavior in adulthood Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:29 AM PDT An educational intervention program for children between kindergarten and 10th grade, known as Fast Track, reduces aggressive behavior later in life by dampening testosterone levels in response to social threats, according to research. The Fast Track intervention program teaches children social cognitive skills, such as emotional regulation and social problem solving, and previous research suggests that the program may lead to decreased antisocial behavior and aggression in childhood and adolescence.

Simple changes in ICU can help heart attack patients: Study Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:29 AM PDT To improve recovery for heart attack patients, hospitals should maintain normal day and night cycles for those patients during the first few days after the attack, say researchers. The new study shows for the first time that interrupting diurnal rhythms impairs healing immediately after a heart attack.

Customers prefer restaurants that offer nutrition facts, healthful foods Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:29 AM PDT Customers are more likely to frequent restaurants that provide both healthful foods and nutrition information, according to researchers. "The Affordable Care Act has mandated that chain restaurants provide nutrition information to customers," said an author. "Many restaurants had been fighting this legislation because they thought they would lose customers if the customers knew how unhealthy their food was. We found that customers perceive restaurants to be socially responsible when they are provided with nutrition facts and healthful options and, therefore, are more likely to patronize those restaurants."

1.1 million Americans caring for recently wounded veterans, study finds Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:29 AM PDT The spouses, parents and friends who care for the injured and disabled who have served in the US military since Sept. 11, 2001, often do so without a formal support network and put their own well-being at risk. Researchers find that this group is younger than other caregivers, are usually employed outside the home and are more likely to care for someone who has a behavioral health problem.

New screening tool to diagnose common sleep problem in children Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:29 AM PDT A new screening tool to help diagnose obstructive sleep apnea in children has been developed by clinical investigators. Evidence suggests that adults with a large neck circumference are more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), especially males. As neck circumference varies by age and sex, there have been no reference ranges to diagnose pediatric OSA up until now. The new evidence-based diagnostic tool includes reference ranges -- a new pediatric growth curve -- to measure and track neck circumference for boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 17.

Lose the paunch, halt the hair loss? Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:27 AM PDT A new discovery showing how hair growth activated fat tissue growth in the skin below the hair follicle could lead to the development of a cream to dissolve fat. The world first research confirmed that changes in the hair growth cycle led to fluctuations in the thickness of the underlying fat layer of the skin -- essentially meaning that the skin can regulate fat production.

New test makes Parkinson's-like disorder of middle age detectable in young adulthood Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:27 AM PDT The very earliest signs of a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder, in which physical symptoms are not apparent until the fifth decade of life, are detectable in individuals as young as 30 years old using a new, sophisticated type of neuroimaging, researchers have found. People with the condition -- fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) -- experience tremors, poor balance, cognitive impairments and Parkinsonism. The genetic condition results from a mutation in the fragile X mental retardation gene (FMR1).

Need to regulate antimicrobial ingredients in consumer products, scientific evidence shows Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:25 AM PDT Does the widespread and still proliferating use of antimicrobial household products cause more harm than good to consumers and the environment? Evidence compiled shows that decades of widespread use of antimicrobials has left consumers with no measurable benefits. Worse yet, lax regulation has caused widespread contamination of the environment, wildlife and human populations with compounds that appear more toxic than safe, according to recent scientific research.

Higher risk of death from skin cancer among men living alone Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:21 AM PDT There are differences in prognosis in cutaneous malignant melanoma depending on cohabitation status and gender, according to a new study. Single men of all ages are more likely to die of their disease. According to the researchers, one possible explanation could relate to insufficient access to skin examinations.

Hospital Readmission Rates Not Reliable Measure of Hospital Quality in Cardiac Surgical Care Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:18 AM PDT Hospital readmission rates are not a reliable measure of hospital quality in cardiac surgical care because they are driven by chance rather than statistically significant measurements, a new study concludes. Overall, the researchers found that readmission rates for the majority of hospitals did not reach a minimum acceptable level of reliability. The researchers also found that hospital case volume is a large determinant of the reliability of readmission rates. The more surgeries a hospital performs per year, the higher the reliability in the readmission rate.

Clinical habits die hard: Nursing traditions often trump evidence-based practice Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:18 AM PDT A new article examines the evidence associated with four common clinical practices and encourages nurses to put the current best evidence into practice, rather than providing care based on tradition alone. Current reviews of clinical practice suggest that fewer than 15 percent of clinicians consistently implement evidence-based care and indicate that it can take up to two decades for original research to be put into routine clinical practice, the article notes.

Why vitamin D deficiency diagnoses surged Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:14 AM PDT Physicians are ordering vitamin D deficiency screening tests for preventive care purposes rather than after patients develop conditions caused by decreased bone density, a study has concluded. For older patients, having a low vitamin D level is a condition that can cause weakening of bones, which can lead to fractures, and in children the deficiency can lead to rickets.

Want spring allergy relief? Avoid stress Posted: 01 Apr 2014 07:14 AM PDT Stress doesn't cause allergies, but easing your mind might mean less allergy flare-ups this spring. According to a study, allergy sufferers with persistent stress experience more allergy flares. "Stress can cause several negative effects on the body, including causing more symptoms for allergy sufferers," said an allergist.

Gratitude, not 'gimme,' makes for more satisfaction, study finds Posted: 31 Mar 2014 03:06 PM PDT People who are materialistic are more likely to be depressed and unsatisfied, in part because they find it harder to be grateful for what they have, according to a study. "Gratitude is a positive mood. It's about other people," said the study's lead author. "Previous research finds that people are motivated to help people that help them." But materialism tends to be "me-centered." A material outlook focuses on what one does not have, impairing the ability to be grateful for what one already has, researchers said.

Link between HIV infection, coronary artery disease Posted: 31 Mar 2014 03:06 PM PDT Men with long-term HIV infections are at higher risk than uninfected men of developing plaque in their coronary arteries, regardless of their other risk factors for coronary artery disease, according to results of a study. The finding is important, investigators say, because advances in treatment have led to long-term survival of people living with HIV/AIDS and the emergence of chronic, age-related heart and other diseases among this population. Coronary artery disease may lead to heart attacks.

Heart health as young adult linked to mental function in mid-life Posted: 31 Mar 2014 02:05 PM PDT Having blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels slightly higher than the recommended guidelines in early adulthood is associated with lower cognitive function in mid-life. "Our study is hopeful, because it tells us we could maybe make a dent in the risks of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia by emphasizing the importance of controlling risk factors among younger people," researchers state.

Limiting screen time improves sleep, academics, behavior, study finds Posted: 31 Mar 2014 02:04 PM PDT Parents may not always see it, but efforts to limit their children's screen time can make a difference. A new study found children get more sleep, do better in school and see other health benefits when parents monitor screen time. The effect is not immediate and that makes it difficult for parents to recognize. As a result, parents may think it is not worth the effort to monitor and limit their children's media use. But researchers say they have more power than they realize.

Nearly 97 percent of health professionals wash their hands when patients are asked to watch: Study Posted: 31 Mar 2014 10:10 AM PDT Improving hand hygiene compliance by healthcare professionals is no easy task, but a first-of-its-kind study shows simply asking patients to audit their healthcare professional is yielding high marks. details the findings of an 11-month pilot project looking at an alternative method of hand hygiene auditing using the patient-as-observer approach. In this method, patients observe and record hand hygiene compliance of their healthcare providers via a survey distributed before their interaction with their healthcare provider.

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