ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Fourfold increase in rate of diagnosed cases of celiac disease in the UK
• Galectins direct immunity against bacteria that employ camouflage
• Patient stem cells used to make 'heart disease-on-a-chip'
• Flexible supercapacitor raises bar for volumetric energy density; Could be woven into clothes to power devices
• Predicting hepatitis C treatment success
• Calcium supplements not associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease in women
• Improved detection of patient disabilities can reduce disparities in clinical care
• Shorter men live longer, study shows
• Long-term childhood poverty contributes to young adult obesity rates
• Forty not too old or too late to start endurance training
• Adult obesity predicted in almost all European countries by 2030
• Grape skin extract may soon be answer to treating diabetes
• States opting out of Medicaid leave 1.1 million community health center patients without health insurance
• Implantable cuff with electrodes
• Frequent arguments with family, friends linked to doubling in death risk in middle age
• Short bursts of intense exercise before meals control blood sugar better than 1 continuous 30 minute session
• Extra doctor visit may help prevent rehospitalization of kidney failure patients
• Common test used on heart patients who need defibrillator implants unnecessary: Study
• Ovarian cancer cells more aggressive on soft tissues
• Few women at high-risk for hereditary breast, ovarian cancer receive genetic counseling
• Statins given early decrease progression of kidney disease
• New genomics technique could improve treatment, control of malaria
• Vascular simulation research reveals new mechanism that switches in disease
• New automated tool can screen for diabetic retinopathy
• Collaboration Between Psychologists, Physicians Important to Improving Primary Health Care
• Recycling patient's lost blood during surgery better than using banked blood

Fourfold increase in rate of diagnosed cases of celiac disease in the UK Posted: 11 May 2014 06:48 PM PDT New research has found a fourfold increase in the rate of diagnosed cases of celiac disease in the United Kingdom over the past two decades, but, still it appears that three quarters of people with celiac disease remain undiagnosed.

Galectins direct immunity against bacteria that employ camouflage Posted: 11 May 2014 01:55 PM PDT Our bodies produce a family of proteins that recognize and kill bacteria whose carbohydrate coatings resemble those of our own cells too closely. Called galectins, these proteins recognize carbohydrates from a broad range of disease-causing bacteria, and could potentially be deployed as antibiotics to treat certain infections.

Patient stem cells used to make 'heart disease-on-a-chip' Posted: 11 May 2014 01:55 PM PDT Scientists have merged stem cell and 'organ-on-a-chip' technologies to grow, for the first time, functioning human heart tissue carrying an inherited cardiovascular disease. The research appears to be a big step forward for personalized medicine, as it is working proof that a chunk of tissue containing a patient's specific genetic disorder can be replicated in the laboratory.

Flexible supercapacitor raises bar for volumetric energy density; Could be woven into clothes to power devices Posted: 11 May 2014 01:55 PM PDT Scientists have taken a large step toward making a fiber-like energy storage device that can be woven into clothing and power wearable medical monitors, communications equipment or other small electronics. Their supercapacitor packs an interconnected network of graphene and carbon nanotubes so tightly that it stores energy comparable to some thin-film lithium batteries.

Predicting hepatitis C treatment success Posted: 09 May 2014 10:16 AM PDT Levels of interferon-stimulated genes in the liver and blood could help predict if a patient with hepatitis C will respond to conventional therapy, researchers suggest. The team analyzed liver and blood samples from hepatitis C patients taken before treatment, and found that fewer immune cells reached the livers of patients with the therapy-resistant genotype.

Calcium supplements not associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease in women Posted: 09 May 2014 10:00 AM PDT Calcium supplements are widely taken by women for bone health. Previous studies have suggested that calcium supplements may increase risk of cardiovascular disease, but the data has been inconsistent. A new study did not find that calcium supplement intake increases risk of cardiovascular disease in women. The researchers found that at the start of the study, women who took calcium supplements had higher levels of physical activity, smoked less, and had lower trans fat intake compared to women who did not take calcium supplements.

Improved detection of patient disabilities can reduce disparities in clinical care Posted: 09 May 2014 09:59 AM PDT People with disabilities have greater risk for experiencing healthcare disparities and differences in diagnoses, treatments and outcomes, according to research. Nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population lives with a disability, but little attention has been paid to improving the quality of healthcare provided to disabled patients. A major factor has been inadequate identification of specific disabilities.

Shorter men live longer, study shows Posted: 09 May 2014 08:07 AM PDT Short height and long life have a direct connection in Japanese men, according to new research. Shorter men are more likely to have a protective form of the longevity gene, FOXO3, leading to smaller body size during early development and a longer lifespan. Shorter men are also more likely to have lower blood insulin levels and less cancer.

Long-term childhood poverty contributes to young adult obesity rates Posted: 09 May 2014 08:07 AM PDT Childhood poverty reaches into the lives of white, Hispanic and African-American young adult women, contributing to their propensity to be overweight and obese, a research study finds. The study examined how repeated exposure to poverty during childhood impacts a young adult's risk of being overweight or obese, as well as the impact of family dynamics on nutrition, health and obesity.

Forty not too old or too late to start endurance training Posted: 09 May 2014 08:07 AM PDT A study of healthy senior men has found that 'relatively intensive' endurance exercise confers benefits on the heart irrespective of the age at which they began training. The benefits were evident and comparable in those who had started training before the age of 30 or after the age of 40. As a result, said the investigators, 40 is not too old to start endurance training.

Adult obesity predicted in almost all European countries by 2030 Posted: 09 May 2014 08:07 AM PDT Rates of obesity and overweight in both male and females are projected to increase in almost all countries of Europe by 2030, according to a statistical modelling study. However, the forecast rates vary throughout the 53 Euro-region countries, with projected male obesity levels ranging from 15 percent in the Netherlands and Belgium, to 47 percent in Ireland. The highest obesity prevalence in females was projected in Ireland (47 percent), and the lowest in Romania (10 percent).

Grape skin extract may soon be answer to treating diabetes Posted: 09 May 2014 08:02 AM PDT The diabetes rate in the United States nearly doubled in the past 10 years. Approximately 26 million Americans are now classified as diabetic, stressing an urgent need for safe and effective complementary strategies to enhance the existing conventional treatment for diabetes.Preliminary studies have demonstrated that grape skin extract (GSE) exerts a novel inhibitory activity on hyperglycemia and could be developed and used to aid in diabetes management.

States opting out of Medicaid leave 1.1 million community health center patients without health insurance Posted: 09 May 2014 04:45 AM PDT An estimated 1.1 million community health center patients are left without the benefits of health coverage simply because they live in one of 24 states that have opted out of the Medicaid expansion, a key part of the Affordable Care Act, according to a new report. The vast majority (71 percent) of the 1.1 million patients left behind live in just 11 southern states (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA).

Implantable cuff with electrodes Posted: 09 May 2014 04:42 AM PDT High blood pressure is the greatest health risk worldwide behind smoking and alcohol consumption. Microsystems engineers and neurosurgeons have teamed up to develop a new cuff equipped with electrodes that can lower blood pressure without causing side effects. The scientists tested the device on rats and succeeded in lowering their mean blood pressure by 30 percent, without causing side effects such as a reduced heart rate or a drastic decrease in respiratory rate.

Frequent arguments with family, friends linked to doubling in death risk in middle age Posted: 08 May 2014 04:25 PM PDT Frequent arguments with partners, relatives, or neighbors may boost the risk of death from any cause in middle age, suggests research. Men and those not in work seemed to be the most vulnerable, the findings indicate. Constant arguing seemed to be the most harmful for health. The evidence also suggests that supportive social networks and strong relationships are good for general health and wellbeing.

Short bursts of intense exercise before meals control blood sugar better than 1 continuous 30 minute session Posted: 08 May 2014 04:24 PM PDT Brief bursts of intense exercise before meals helps control blood sugar in people with insulin resistance more effectively than one daily 30-minute session of moderate exercise, a study finds. "The notion of doing small amounts of interval exercise before meals is a unique and very important feature of this study," says one researcher. "Sustained hyperglycaemia following meals is an important feature of insulin resistance. Reducing these post-meal spikes is important for reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and its associated complications."

Extra doctor visit may help prevent rehospitalization of kidney failure patients Posted: 08 May 2014 02:22 PM PDT Among kidney failure patients on dialysis who were treated in the hospital, one additional doctor visit in the month following hospital discharge was estimated to reduce the probability of 30-day hospital readmission by 3.5 percent. Seeing kidney failure patients one additional time in the month following discharge could save $240 million in health care costs each year.

Common test used on heart patients who need defibrillator implants unnecessary: Study Posted: 08 May 2014 02:20 PM PDT A commonly performed test during certain types of heart surgery is not helpful and possibly harmful. The testing procedure, known as defibrillator testing (DT), is commonly used on people who require implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) to prevent sudden cardiac death. It involves putting the patient into cardiac arrest to determine if the defibrillator can first recognize, then successfully shock the patient back into a normal heart rhythm. It requires the use of general anesthesia and is associated with uncommon but potentially life-threatening complications.

Ovarian cancer cells more aggressive on soft tissues Posted: 08 May 2014 12:12 PM PDT When ovarian cancer spreads from the ovaries it almost always does so to a layer of fatty tissue that lines the gut. A new study has found that ovarian cancer cells are more aggressive on these soft tissues due to the mechanical properties of this environment. The finding is contrary to what is seen with other malignant cancer cells that seem to prefer stiffer tissues.

Few women at high-risk for hereditary breast, ovarian cancer receive genetic counseling Posted: 08 May 2014 11:18 AM PDT Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes account for nearly 25 percent of hereditary breast cancers and most hereditary ovarian cancers, yet a study by cancer prevention and control researchers suggests an alarmingly small amount of women who qualify for BRCA genetic counseling actually receive the services. Additionally, they found that a significant proportion of women with a family history of breast and ovarian cancer underestimate their risk.

Statins given early decrease progression of kidney disease Posted: 08 May 2014 10:32 AM PDT Pravastatin, a medicine widely used for treatment of high cholesterol, also slows down the growth of kidney cysts in children and young adults with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), a study has shown. ADPKD is the most common potentially lethal hereditary kidney disease, affecting at least 1 in 1000 people. ADPKD is characterized by progressive kidney enlargement due to cyst growth, which results in loss of kidney function over time.

New genomics technique could improve treatment, control of malaria Posted: 08 May 2014 10:31 AM PDT Single-cell genomics could provide new insight into the biology of Malaria parasites, including their virulence and levels of drug resistance, to ultimately improve treatment and control of the disease, according to new research. Malaria infections commonly contain complex mixtures of Plasmodium parasites which cause the disease. These mixtures, known as multiple genotype infections (MGI's), can alter the impact of the infection due to parasites competing with one another and can drive the spread of drug resistance. MGI's are extremely common in regions with high levels of malaria infection but their biology is poorly understood.

Vascular simulation research reveals new mechanism that switches in disease Posted: 08 May 2014 10:25 AM PDT Important revelations regarding endothelial cell behavior are emerging from vascular simulation research, as highlighted in two recent papers. Vascular simulation research is a blossoming interdisciplinary field that makes use of novel computational models to uncover the cellular processes and dynamic interactions that take place as arteries and veins are built.

New automated tool can screen for diabetic retinopathy Posted: 08 May 2014 10:25 AM PDT A computer program to screen for diabetic retinopathy, a potentially blinding condition that may affect every person with diabetes, has been developed by scientists. EyeArt is a patent-pending, fully automated set of tools able to quickly offer a refer/no-refer recommendation based on images taken of a patient's retina. Researchers found it to be as accurate as trained specialists in screening for the eye disease.

Collaboration Between Psychologists, Physicians Important to Improving Primary Health Care Posted: 08 May 2014 10:25 AM PDT Primary care teams that include both psychologists and physicians would help address known barriers to improved primary health care, including missed diagnoses, a lack of attention to behavioral factors and limited patient access to needed care, according to health care experts. "The majority of people in the United States receive care for mental disorders, substance use disorders and health behavior problems in the primary care setting," wrote one expert. "Yet primary care professionals have up to this point been poorly equipped to address these behavioral concerns adequately - they diagnose less than one-third of patients so afflicted and provide acceptable treatment for less than half of those correctly identified."

Recycling patient's lost blood during surgery better than using banked blood Posted: 08 May 2014 10:25 AM PDT Patients whose own red blood cells are recycled and given back to them during heart surgery have healthier blood cells better able to carry oxygen where it is most needed compared to those who get transfusions of blood stored in a blood bank, according to results of a small study. To recycle the blood, a machine known as a cell saver is used to collect what a patient loses during surgery, rinse away unneeded fat and tissue, and then centrifuge and separate the red cells, which are then returned to the patient should he or she need it.

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