ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Race now or later? Calculating best time to compete after altitude training
• Moonwalker flies backing up
• Cave-dwelling fish examination finds possible genetic link to human disorders
• Patient stem cells help identify common problem in ALS
• New study casts doubt on heart regeneration in mammals
• 'Unbreakable' security codes inspired by nature
• Tumor suppressor gene TP53 mutated in 90 percent of most common childhood bone tumor
• Unraveling tangled origin of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Pulmonary hypertension deaths have increased over past decade, according to report
• Tiny power generator runs on spit
• Nanoparticles cause cancer cells to self-destruct
• Radium-223 dichloride in prostate cancer: Major added benefit for certain patients
• Drawing conclusions: Children's drawings during abuse investigations
• Pocket-size ultrasonic nebulizer employing a novel nozzle improves inhalers
• Structural insights into inner workings of viral nanomachine
• Chowing down on watermelon could lower blood pressure, study suggests
• Metabolites' role in understanding disease emphasized
• Ultrathin collagen matrix biomaterial tool for 3-D microtissue engineering
• Bruising detection system can distinguish between accident, real harm in child injuries
• Economic evaluation of an osteoporosis screening campaign using FRAX
• Body positive movement: Consumerist revolution?
• Recovering from abdominal hernia repair often takes longer than patients expect, study finds
• Caucasian Boys Show Highest Prevalence of Color Blindness Among Preschoolers
• Morning rays keep off pounds
• Body odor changes following vaccination
• First blood test to predict risk of sudden cardiac death
• Cardiopulmonary arrest in premature infant after cyclomydril eyedrops
• Running, cardio activities in young adulthood may preserve thinking skills in middle age
• Unplanned pregnancy remains high among young Australian women
• Gastro outbreaks hit elderly hardest
• To boldly go? Experts issue ethics guidelines for health standards on NASA's next generation of risky missions
• Novel biomarker for head and neck cancer, non-small cell lung cancer identified
• New general concept for treatment of cancer
• Call for circumcision gets a boost from experts
• Cell-surface receptor offers promising breakthrough for pancreatic cancer patients
• Longer stay in hospital ICU has lasting impact on quality of life
• Food pantry clients struggle to afford diapers, detergent, other non-food items
• E-cigarettes: No smoke, no danger?
• Noisy brain signals: How schizophrenic brain misinterprets the world
• Treating tumors: Radiation able to be securely stored in nontoxic molecule, study suggests
• Pharmocogenomics has not fulfilled its promise to developing countries
• Florida's participation in quality initiative resulted in statewide improvement
• Care of heart failure patients falling short in UK
• Probiotics do not help infants with colic, study finds
• New dementia diagnosis targets will lead to overdiagnosis, expert says
• New study into 24/7 care
• Unvaccinated infants act as 'kindling' to fuel epidemics
• Well-rested flies: Therapeutic agent reduces age-related sleep problems in fruit flies
• Preventing relapse in cocaine-addicted patients with new methods

Race now or later? Calculating best time to compete after altitude training Posted: 03 Apr 2014 11:18 AM PDT A number of studies focus on the optimal time to begin altitude training before competition, but few address the best time to come down from altitude and how long athletes should wait to reacclimatize before competing. Researchers search for the answers in the new review article.

Moonwalker flies backing up Posted: 03 Apr 2014 11:18 AM PDT A team of researchers managed to isolate "moonwalker flies" in a high-throughput screen. Screening a large collection of fruit flies, the scientists found specimens that seemed locked in reverse gear. Researchers were able to trace these changes in walking direction back to the activity of specific neurons in the brain.

Cave-dwelling fish examination finds possible genetic link to human disorders Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:23 AM PDT Researchers have identified a genetic association with facial asymmetry in an ancient cavefish, a natural trait that may solve mysteries surrounding facial asymmetries in humans -- conditions such as cleft palate or hemifacial microsomia. "By understanding how genes are behaving differently on the right versus the left sides, we hope to discover why many craniofacial alterations are more severe or present on only one side of the face in humans," says Gross.

Patient stem cells help identify common problem in ALS Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:22 AM PDT A recently approved medication for epilepsy may possibly be a meaningful treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -- Lou Gehrig's disease, a uniformly fatal neurodegenerative disorder, new stem cell research has shown. The researchers are now designing an initial clinical trial testing the safety of the treatment in ALS patients.

New study casts doubt on heart regeneration in mammals Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:22 AM PDT The mammalian heart has generally been considered to lack the ability to repair itself after injury, but a 2011 study in newborn mice challenged this view, providing evidence for complete regeneration after resection of 10 percent of the apex, the lowest part of the heart. In a new study researchers attempted to replicate these recent findings but failed to uncover any evidence of complete heart regeneration in newborn mice that underwent apex resection.

'Unbreakable' security codes inspired by nature Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:21 AM PDT A revolutionary new method of encrypting confidential information has been patented by scientists inspired by their discoveries from human biology, which model how the heart and lungs coordinate their rhythms by passing information between each other.

Tumor suppressor gene TP53 mutated in 90 percent of most common childhood bone tumor Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:19 AM PDT Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene TP53 have been found in 90 percent of osteosarcomas, suggesting the alteration plays a key role early in development of the bone cancer. The discovery that TP53 is altered in nearly every osteosarcoma also helps to explain a long-standing paradox in osteosarcoma treatment, which is why at standard doses radiation therapy is largely ineffective against the tumor.

Unraveling tangled origin of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:17 AM PDT By studying nerve cells that originated in patients with a severe neurological disease, a researcher has pinpointed an error in protein formation that could be the root of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Also called Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS causes paralysis and death. According to the ALS Association, as many as 30,000 Americans are living with ALS.

Pulmonary hypertension deaths have increased over past decade, according to report Posted: 03 Apr 2014 07:58 AM PDT Deaths from pulmonary hypertension have increased over the past decade, according to a study. Pulmonary hypertension is characterized by increased blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, causing the right side of the heart to work harder. Common causes of pulmonary hypertension include congestive heart failure, other heart diseases, birth defects of the heart, chronic lung disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and certain autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis. The risk of pulmonary hypertension increases in older patients.

Tiny power generator runs on spit Posted: 03 Apr 2014 07:58 AM PDT Saliva-powered micro-sized microbial fuel cells can produce minute amounts of energy sufficient to run on-chip applications, according to engineers. Biomedical devices using micro-sized microbial fuel cells would be portable and have their energy source available anywhere.

Nanoparticles cause cancer cells to self-destruct Posted: 03 Apr 2014 07:58 AM PDT Using magnetically controlled nanoparticles to force tumor cells to 'self-destruct' sounds like science fiction, but could be a future part of cancer treatment, according to research. "The clever thing about the technique is that we can target selected cells without harming surrounding tissue. There are many ways to kill cells, but this method is contained and remote-controlled," said one researcher.

Radium-223 dichloride in prostate cancer: Major added benefit for certain patients Posted: 03 Apr 2014 07:58 AM PDT Radium-223 dichloride has been approved since November 2013 for men with advanced prostate cancer, in whom hormone blockade is no longer effective, and symptomatic bone metastases, but without visceral metastases. In an early benefit assessment, researchers examined whether this new drug offers an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapy. No evaluable data were available for the comparison with docetaxel in patients in whom prolongation of life was the primary treatment goal. Hence an added benefit is not proven for this comparison.

Drawing conclusions: Children's drawings during abuse investigations Posted: 03 Apr 2014 07:22 AM PDT Illustrations by children can be a critical tool in forensic investigations of child abuse. A recent study compared the results when child abuse victims were offered the opportunity to draw during questioning with results when victims were not offered this opportunity. "The act of drawing was not only an empowering experience for these children," said the lead investigator. "We had no idea the gap would be so great between those who drew and those who weren't given this option."

Pocket-size ultrasonic nebulizer employing a novel nozzle improves inhalers Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:55 AM PDT Inhalation is an increasingly important route for non-invasive drug delivery for both systemic and local applications. Control of particle size and output plays a critical role in the efficient and effective delivery of often expensive medications to the lung. Drugs designed to treat pulmonary diseases or for systemic absorption through the alveolar capillary bed require optimum particle sizes for effective delivery.

Structural insights into inner workings of viral nanomachine Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:55 AM PDT Researchers are using new nanoscale imaging approaches to shed light on the dynamic activities of rotaviruses, important pathogens that cause life-threatening diarrhea in young children. Once a rotavirus enters a host cell, it sheds its outermost protein layer, leaving behind a double-layered particle (DLP). These DLPs are the form of the virus that produces messenger RNA molecules, which are critical for launching the infection.

Chowing down on watermelon could lower blood pressure, study suggests Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:54 AM PDT Watermelon could significantly reduce blood pressure in overweight individuals both at rest and while under stress. "The pressure on the aorta and on the heart decreased after consuming watermelon extract," the small study concludes.

Metabolites' role in understanding disease emphasized Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:54 AM PDT Over-reliance on genetic-centered approaches in predicting, diagnosing and treating disease will lead to few future scientific breakthroughs, cautioned a researcher who co-authored an article that advocates for a greater emphasis on the body's metabolites in understanding illnesses. "To augment the value of genetic data, the scientific community needs to add additional information from things like metabolomics -- the analysis of metabolites within an organism," said the lead author.

Ultrathin collagen matrix biomaterial tool for 3-D microtissue engineering Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:54 AM PDT A novel ultrathin collagen matrix assembly allows for the unprecedented maintenance of liver cell morphology and function in a microscale 'organ-on-a-chip' device that is one example of 3D microtissue engineering. This technology allows researchers to provide cells with the precise extracellular matrix cues that they require to maintain their differentiated form and liverspecific functions, including albumin and urea production.

Bruising detection system can distinguish between accident, real harm in child injuries Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:54 AM PDT A novel sensing skin adapted to a child surrogate is capable of capturing and recording potential bruising locations and impact force when used in simulated injurious events. "The presence, distribution and location of bruising on a child's body provide a roadmap documenting a child's exposure to impact; this information can be critical in a forensic analysis of a child's injuries," states the senior author.

Economic evaluation of an osteoporosis screening campaign using FRAX Posted: 03 Apr 2014 05:44 AM PDT An osteoporosis screening strategy using FRAX as a pre-screening tool is cost-effective if the follow up of the screening and medication adherence are optimized, research shows. FRAX (WHO Fracture Risk Assessment Tool) is a widely used algorithm to determine 10-year risk of fracture based on an individual's risk factors.

Body positive movement: Consumerist revolution? Posted: 03 Apr 2014 05:44 AM PDT The body positive movement seeks to defy media projected bodily stereotypes, celebrate diversity and encourage bodily self-appreciation, warts and all. Does the body positive movement bring deliverance from uniformity or further fuel the consumer-led obsession with self-image?  A new article uses body positive websites: Lady Gaga's 'Body Revolution', 'My Body Gallery' and 'Stop Hating Your Body' to investigate further.

Recovering from abdominal hernia repair often takes longer than patients expect, study finds Posted: 03 Apr 2014 05:42 AM PDT Think having a hernia repaired is going to be a walk in the park — or that you'll be ready to take a walk in the park within hours afterward? It may be time for a reality check, a study suggests. Researchers found that though patients tend to expect to return to normal activities swiftly after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair, many of those studied were still experiencing pain and fatigue several days later. People under 60 and women in particular seemed to have more prolonged recoveries.

Caucasian Boys Show Highest Prevalence of Color Blindness Among Preschoolers Posted: 03 Apr 2014 05:42 AM PDT The first major study of color blindness in a multi-ethnic group of preschoolers has uncovered that Caucasian male children have the highest prevalence among four major ethnicities, with 1 in 20 testing color blind. Researchers also found that color blindness, or color vision deficiency, in boys is lowest in African-Americans, and confirmed that girls have a much lower prevalence of color blindness than boys.

Morning rays keep off pounds Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:25 PM PDT A surprising new strategy for managing your weight? Bright morning light. People who had most of their daily exposure to bright light in the morning had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) than those who had most of their light exposure later in the day, reports a new study. The earlier light exposure occurred, the lower the BMI. The influence of morning light on weight was independent of physical activity, caloric intake, sleep timing, age or season.

Body odor changes following vaccination Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:19 PM PDT New research reveals that immunization can trigger a distinct change in body odor. This is the first demonstration of a bodily odor change due to immune activation. "This work provides further evidence that it is possible to use odors to 'eavesdrop' on the immune system, suggesting that non-invasive disease detection may be possible even before the onset of observable symptoms," one of the researchers said.

First blood test to predict risk of sudden cardiac death Posted: 02 Apr 2014 01:24 PM PDT A simple blood test can predict a person's risk for sudden cardiac death, enabling physicians to more quickly and accurately assess a patient's need for an implantable cardiac defibrillator, new research shows. "This is the first test of its kind; never before have clinicians been able to accurately assess a patient's risk of sudden cardiac death by performing a blood test," the lead researcher said.

Cardiopulmonary arrest in premature infant after cyclomydril eyedrops Posted: 02 Apr 2014 01:23 PM PDT Ophthalmologists should be prepared for life-threatening reactions during retinopathy of prematurity screening, new research suggests. "Cardiopulmonary arrest can occur from just instillation of eyedrops in a premature infant seen for ROP in an outpatient setting, and pediatric ophthalmologists should be prepared to handle such an emergency in their office," warns the main author.

Running, cardio activities in young adulthood may preserve thinking skills in middle age Posted: 02 Apr 2014 01:23 PM PDT Young adults who run or participate in other cardio fitness activities may preserve their memory and thinking skills in middle age, according to a new study. Middle age was defined as ages 43 to 55 in this study. "These findings are likely to help us earlier identify and consequently prevent or treat those at high risk of developing dementia," researchers said.

Unplanned pregnancy remains high among young Australian women Posted: 02 Apr 2014 12:36 PM PDT Despite high rates of contraceptive use, unwanted pregnancies resulting in terminations remain high among young women. In a new article, researchers examine the paradox of high rates of contraceptive use, over-the-counter availability of emergency contraception and unplanned pregnancy.

Gastro outbreaks hit elderly hardest Posted: 02 Apr 2014 12:36 PM PDT Frail elderly people living in residential care facilities are at increased risk of severe illness or death from outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis. "Notification of outbreaks to public health units should occur within 24 hours of any outbreak so that diagnostic testing and control measures can begin as soon as possible," the researchers state.

To boldly go? Experts issue ethics guidelines for health standards on NASA's next generation of risky missions Posted: 02 Apr 2014 11:42 AM PDT Scientists have issued a report with ethics principles and guidelines to aid NASA in decision-making for longer, higher risk human spaceflights. Such missions, including extended stays on the International Space Station and flights to Mars, have higher risks and are unlikely to meet the space agency's current health standards.

Novel biomarker for head and neck cancer, non-small cell lung cancer identified Posted: 02 Apr 2014 11:03 AM PDT A new biomarker linked to better outcomes of patients with head and neck cancers and non-small cell lung cancer has been identified by researchers. The work could help scientists develop new diagnostics and therapies and help physicians determine the best long-term treatments for patients with these cancers.

New general concept for treatment of cancer Posted: 02 Apr 2014 10:39 AM PDT A team of researchers from five Swedish universities has identified a new way of treating cancer. The concept is based on inhibiting a specific enzyme called MTH1, which cancer cells, unlike normal cells, require for survival. Without this enzyme, oxidized nucleotides are incorporated into DNA, resulting in lethal DNA double-strand breaks in cancer cells.

Call for circumcision gets a boost from experts Posted: 02 Apr 2014 10:38 AM PDT In the United States the rate of circumcision in men has increased to 81% over the past decade. In an important new study, authors have shown that the benefits of infant male circumcision to health exceed the risks by over 100 to 1. Over their lifetime half of uncircumcised males will contract an adverse medical condition caused by their foreskin, the researchers suggest.

Cell-surface receptor offers promising breakthrough for pancreatic cancer patients Posted: 02 Apr 2014 09:14 AM PDT Findings of a new study provide a direct proof for a new therapy and provide hope for the people with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer rates in the U.S. have been rising over the past decade, and the disease takes a very heavy toll. The American Cancer Society estimates that in the last year alone about 45,220 people were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, while 38,460 died of the illness.

Longer stay in hospital ICU has lasting impact on quality of life Posted: 02 Apr 2014 09:14 AM PDT Patients have substantial physical impairments even two years after being discharged from the hospital after a stay in an intensive care unit (ICU), new research suggests. The scientists found that for every day of bed rest in the ICU, muscle strength was between 3 and 11 percent lower over the following months and years.

Food pantry clients struggle to afford diapers, detergent, other non-food items Posted: 02 Apr 2014 08:16 AM PDT Many food-insecure families also struggle to afford basic non-food household goods, such as personal care, household, and baby-care products, according to a new study. "These families often make trade-offs with other living expenses and employ coping strategies in an effort to secure such household items as toilet paper, toothpaste, soap, or disposable diapers," said the lead author.

E-cigarettes: No smoke, no danger? Posted: 02 Apr 2014 08:15 AM PDT Smokers turn to e-cigarettes to ease nicotine withdrawal, or to avoid harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke. But many use e-cigarettes in public spaces and regular cigarettes everywhere else. Quitting half-way won't help. And researchers do not know that smokeless vapor is safe. E-cigarettes create an inhalable nicotine vapor by heating a liquid nicotine solution. While there are many different e-cigarette devices on the market, the basic parts of a typical device include a battery, a cartridge with nicotine (and possibly flavoring), and a heater that vaporizes the nicotine to be inhaled.

Noisy brain signals: How schizophrenic brain misinterprets the world Posted: 02 Apr 2014 08:00 AM PDT Certain errors in visual perception in people with schizophrenia are consistent with interference or 'noise' in a brain signal known as a corollary discharge, a new study shows. Schizophrenia is a disorder that interferes with the ability to think clearly and to manage emotions. People with schizophrenia often attribute their own thoughts and actions to external sources, as in the case of auditory hallucinations. Other common symptoms include delusions and disorganized thinking and speech.

Treating tumors: Radiation able to be securely stored in nontoxic molecule, study suggests Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:56 AM PDT Researchers discovered that microscopic "bubbles" are safe and effective storage lockers for harmful isotopes that emit ionizing radiation for treating tumors. The findings can benefit patient health and advance radiation therapy used to treat cancer and other diseases.

Pharmocogenomics has not fulfilled its promise to developing countries Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:56 AM PDT From 1997 to 2010, despite promises made by the international scientific community, pharmacogenomic research produced few studies focusing on rare, orphan and tropical diseases prevalent in developing countries. Pharmcogenomics is a field of scientific research that studies the interaction between the genomic information of individuals (or populations) and their responses to drugs.

Florida's participation in quality initiative resulted in statewide improvement Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:00 AM PDT A surgical collaborative of hospitals across Florida resulted in broad improvement in the state, helping most hospitals significantly improve, according to a new study. Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®), the Florida Surgical Care Initiative (FSCI) was able to reduce complications by 14.5 percent.

Care of heart failure patients falling short in UK Posted: 01 Apr 2014 06:04 PM PDT Care of patients with heart failure in the UK is inadequate and has not changed in a decade, according to new research. The study highlights inadequacies in heart failure care as well as an uncoordinated approach to diagnosis and management of the condition between primary and secondary care clinicians.

Probiotics do not help infants with colic, study finds Posted: 01 Apr 2014 06:04 PM PDT Giving probiotics to infants with colic does not appear to have any benefit, according to a large trial. Infant colic (excessive crying of unknown cause) affects up to 20% of infants and is a major burden to families and health services. Although it spontaneously resolves three to four months after birth, its cause remains elusive and no single effective treatment exists.

New dementia diagnosis targets will lead to overdiagnosis, expert says Posted: 01 Apr 2014 06:04 PM PDT A general practitioner says that the new targets for diagnosing dementia will lead to more harm than good. He says that diagnosis can bring "great harm if incorrect" but the setting of target rates for diagnoses has gone "largely unchallenged despite its potential to lead to substantial harm," adding that clinical commissioning groups will be "desperate" to remove themselves from the list of worst performing CCGs for dementia diagnosis, and carries concern over the issue.

New study into 24/7 care Posted: 01 Apr 2014 06:03 PM PDT A major new study is to look at how providing more hospital services around the clock affects patient care – and how cost effective it is. The research will investigate patient experiences and outcomes over eight years to provide vital information on the benefits, costs and potential consequences of extending the hours of full operation.

Unvaccinated infants act as 'kindling' to fuel epidemics Posted: 01 Apr 2014 06:02 PM PDT Nearly 4 million children under 5 die from vaccine-preventable diseases worldwide each year, and two doctoral ecology students are working to change that. By taking into account seasonal fluctuations in birth rates, massive vaccination campaigns in the developing world could inoculate more unprotected infants and significantly reduce the number of deaths from diseases like measles, according to the researchers.

Well-rested flies: Therapeutic agent reduces age-related sleep problems in fruit flies Posted: 01 Apr 2014 02:31 PM PDT Elderly flies do not sleep well -- they frequently wake up during the night and wander around restlessly. The same is true of humans. The sleeplessness experienced by the fruit fly Drosophila is therefore a model case for human sleeping behavior. Scientists have now discovered molecules in the flies' cells that affect how the animals sleep in old age: if insulin/IGF signalling is active, the quality of the animals' sleep is reduced and they wake up more often.

Preventing relapse in cocaine-addicted patients with new methods Posted: 01 Apr 2014 02:29 PM PDT Relapse is the most painful and expensive feature of drug addiction -— even after addicted individuals have been drug-free for months or years, the likelihood of sliding back into the habit remains high. Though some relapse triggers can be consciously avoided, such as people, places and things related to drug use, other subconscious triggers related to the brain's reward system may be impossible to avoid -— they can gain entry to the unconscious brain, setting the stage for relapse.

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