ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• peripheral artery disease: Home-based walking program eases clogged leg arteries
• Misguided DNA-repair proteins caught in the act
• Disruption of circadian rhythms may contribute to inflammatory disease
• New neural pathway found in eyes that aids in vision
• Weak chemical forces combined to strengthen novel imaging technology
• Pain care curriculum improves clinical skills
• Environmental changes connected to spike in infectious disease, study shows
• Functional nerve cells from skin cells
• Breakthrough: Nasal spray may soon replace pills for delivering drugs to the brain
• New target for chronic pain treatment found
• Personalizing revascularisation strategy for STEMI patients is vital
• Soil bacteria may provide clues to curbing antibiotic resistance
• Dolutegravir in HIV-1 infection: Added benefit in adult patients
• Lipid transport: Research breakthrough paves way for understanding serious diseases
• Device for stopping uncontrolled seizures implanted in patient
• Could Carbon Monoxide Protect Against Anesthesia-Induced Neuroapoptosis?
• New anticancer compound discovered
• In your genes: Family history reveals predisposition to multiple diseases
• Questions raised about physio for hip osteoarthritis
• More maternal mental health surveillance needed, suggests new study
• Cholesterol plays key role in cell migration, study shows
• Interruption of biological rhythms during chemotherapy worsen its side effects
• Nasal bacteria may be predictor of skin infections
• Counterfeit Medication, Viagra: Quicker way to determine who's faking it on the internet
• Inhaler reminders dramatically improve asthma controller adherence
• Vitamin E in canola, other oils hurts lungs
• Adults who lose weight at any age could enjoy improved cardiovascular health
• Increasing severity of heart failure linked to increased risk of developing diabetes
• Experiments using virulent avian flu strains pose risk of accidental release
• Antipsychotic medications for schizophrenia compared: Similar results
• Genetic alterations in lung cancers help select treatment
• Stroke recovery should include exercise prescription, experts say
• Chest pain reports down among older Americans, whites, but not blacks
• How movies may make you drink more
• Hedonistic motives may drive people to drink alcohol, energy drinks together
• Executive function deficits can lead to attentional impairments during alcohol dependence
• 'Supermodel' mouse reveals mechanisms that regulate metabolism
• Better bedbug trap: Made from household items for about $1

peripheral artery disease: Home-based walking program eases clogged leg arteries Posted: 21 May 2014 03:00 PM PDT A home-based exercise program helped people with clogged leg arteries walk farther and faster. Supervised exercise for peripheral artery disease is not usually covered by insurance and is inaccessible for many people with this painful condition. Physicians should recommend walking even if their patients don't have access to a supervised exercise program.

Misguided DNA-repair proteins caught in the act Posted: 21 May 2014 02:59 PM PDT Accumulation of DNA damage can cause aggressive forms of cancer and accelerated aging, so the body's DNA repair mechanisms are normally key to good health. However, in some diseases the DNA repair machinery can become harmful. Scientists have discovered some of the key proteins involved in one type of DNA repair gone awry.

Disruption of circadian rhythms may contribute to inflammatory disease Posted: 21 May 2014 02:59 PM PDT A disruption of circadian rhythms, when combined with a high-fat, high-sugar diet, may contribute to inflammatory bowel disease and other harmful conditions, according to a recent study. "Circadian rhythms, which impose a 24-hour cycle on our bodies, are different from sleep patterns," the first author of the study explained. "Sleep is a consequence of circadian rhythms." While circadian rhythm disruption may be common among some, the research suggests that it may be contributing to a host of diseases.

New neural pathway found in eyes that aids in vision Posted: 21 May 2014 01:27 PM PDT A less-well-known type of retina cell plays a more critical role in vision than previously understood. Working with mice, the scientists found that the ipRGCs -- an atypical type of photoreceptor in the retina -- help detect contrast between light and dark, a crucial element in the formation of visual images. The key to the discovery is the fact that the cells express melanopsin, a type of photopigment that undergoes a chemical change when it absorbs light.

Weak chemical forces combined to strengthen novel imaging technology Posted: 21 May 2014 10:38 AM PDT Increasing the effectiveness of certain contrast agents is often used for imaging blood vessels and internal bleeding by associating them with nanoparticles, biomedical researchers report. The contrast agent being used is packaged inside or bonded to the surface of microscopic particles, which can be designed to target certain regions of the body or prolong the agent's activity.

Pain care curriculum improves clinical skills Posted: 21 May 2014 10:38 AM PDT An online training module designed for the evaluation and care of chronic pain greatly improved medical student clinical skills, according to a report. The module uses an elderly woman with chronic lower back pain as a case study. Chronic pain affects approximately 100 million Americans, costing up to $635 billion in medical treatment and lost productivity and contributing to poor quality of life. Yet, pain treatment is not taught extensively in many health professional schools.

Environmental changes connected to spike in infectious disease, study shows Posted: 21 May 2014 10:38 AM PDT Anthropogenic changes in Africa's Lake Malaui are a driving force behind the increase of urogenital schistosomiasis, a debilitating disease caused by parasitic flatworms. In some villages along Lake Malaui, 73 percent of people and up to 94 percent of schoolchildren are infected. The research suggests the spike in infection is linked to an increase in human populations and agricultural activities near Lake Malaui.

Functional nerve cells from skin cells Posted: 21 May 2014 10:37 AM PDT Research will make the study of diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's easier, and could lead to personalized therapies for a variety of neurodegenerative disorders. The nerve cells generated by this new method show the same functional characteristics as the mature cells found in the body, making them much better models for the study of age-related diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and for the testing of new drugs.

Breakthrough: Nasal spray may soon replace pills for delivering drugs to the brain Posted: 21 May 2014 10:36 AM PDT When the doctor gives us medicine, it is often in the shape of a pill. But when it comes to brain diseases, pills are actually an extremely inefficient way to deliver drugs to the brain, and according to researchers, we need to find new and more efficient ways of transporting drugs to the brain. Spraying the patient's nose could be one such way.

New target for chronic pain treatment found Posted: 21 May 2014 10:35 AM PDT The enzyme PIP5K1C controls the activity of cellular receptors that signal pain, researchers have found. By reducing the enzyme, researchers showed that levels of a lipid called PIP2 is also lessened. They also found a compound that can dampen the activity of PIP5K1C. These findings could lead to a new kind of pain reliever for the more than 100 million people who suffer from chronic pain in the US.

Personalizing revascularisation strategy for STEMI patients is vital Posted: 21 May 2014 10:33 AM PDT The role of the two most valuable strategies to save the lives of ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) patients has been a hot topic among experts of late: primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus thrombolysis. Both of these are effective treatments that actively save lives, and when there is no option for primary percutaneous coronary intervention, thrombolysis is the way to proceed, they have now agreed.

Soil bacteria may provide clues to curbing antibiotic resistance Posted: 21 May 2014 10:31 AM PDT Bacteria that naturally live in the soil have a vast collection of genes to fight off antibiotics, but they are much less likely to share these genes, a new study has revealed. Drug-resistant bacteria annually sicken 2 million Americans and kill at least 23,000. A driving force behind this growing public health threat is the ability of bacteria to share genes that provide antibiotic resistance.

Dolutegravir in HIV-1 infection: Added benefit in adult patients Posted: 21 May 2014 07:20 AM PDT Adults without pretreatment and adults with pretreatment for whom an integrase inhibitor is mandatory have fewer side effects under dolutegravir than under the comparator therapy. No added benefit could be determined for pretreated adults who do not require INIs (i. e. in whom no integrase inhibitor is indicated) and for adolescents above 12 years of age, because there were no study data.

Lipid transport: Research breakthrough paves way for understanding serious diseases Posted: 21 May 2014 07:20 AM PDT New basic research reveals how the body's cells transport lipid. Defects in the mechanism can lead to serious neurological diseases, liver diseases and involuntary childlessness, and the new knowledge is an important step on the way to understanding and treating these diseases.

Device for stopping uncontrolled seizures implanted in patient Posted: 21 May 2014 07:18 AM PDT Last month the first hospital outside of a clinical trial site implanted a pacemaker-like device in the brain of a patient. This may be a game-changer for patients with epilepsy. The device, called the RNS System, was implanted April 17, 2014 in a patient with seizures that previously could not be controlled with medication, or intractable epilepsy. The patient has recovered completely from the surgery.

Could Carbon Monoxide Protect Against Anesthesia-Induced Neuroapoptosis? Posted: 21 May 2014 07:18 AM PDT Basic science research suggests a promising, if surprising, method to protect against anesthesia-induced developmental neurotoxicity: subclinical carbon monoxide (CO) inhalation, according to a new report. Low concentrations of CO limit apoptosis after isoflurane exposure in immature mice, through a mechanism of cytochrome c peroxidase inhibition.

New anticancer compound discovered Posted: 21 May 2014 06:49 AM PDT A previously unknown Cent-1 molecule that kills cancer cells has been discovered by scientists. The objective of the research was to accelerate the drug development process by identifying new compounds that would possess similar binding properties and cellular phenotype, but a different chemical structure, as the selected drugs in clinical use or investigational compounds in development. The scientists combined computer-based screening and cell-based assays to create a method that can significantly accelerate drug discovery and thereby lower development costs.

In your genes: Family history reveals predisposition to multiple diseases Posted: 21 May 2014 06:49 AM PDT Nine simple questions can be used to identify people who may be at increased risk of various cancers, heart disease and diabetes because of their family history of these conditions, research shows. The family history screening questionnaire can be used to provide insight into people's susceptibility to breast, ovarian, bowel and prostate cancer, melanoma, ischaemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Questions raised about physio for hip osteoarthritis Posted: 21 May 2014 06:49 AM PDT Physiotherapy for hip osteoarthritis does not appear to relieve pain or increase function any more than 'sham' treatments, research has determined. Hip osteoarthritis is a prevalent and costly chronic musculoskeletal condition. Clinical guidelines recommend physiotherapy as treatment, although its effectiveness has never been proven.

More maternal mental health surveillance needed, suggests new study Posted: 21 May 2014 06:49 AM PDT Maternal depression is more common at four years following childbirth than at any other time in the first 12 months after childbirth, and there needs to be a greater focus on maternal mental health, suggests a new study. Results show that almost one in three women reported depressive symptoms in the first four years after birth. The prevalence of depressive symptoms at four years postpartum was 14.5%, and was higher than at any time-point in the first 12 months postpartum.

Cholesterol plays key role in cell migration, study shows Posted: 21 May 2014 06:47 AM PDT Cholesterol plays a key role in cell mobility and tissue invasion, scientists have concluded. The results of a study prove that the accumulation of LDL cholesterol cells —- the one carried by low-density lipoproteins -— may play a crucial role in promoting cell mobility. On the contrary, high levels of HDL cholesterol —- the one carried by high-density lipoproteins -— may avoid cell propagation. This is a key study to better understand cancer metastasis, the process in which cancer cells invade healthy tissues, and foster the discussion on the relationship between cholesterol levels and cancer incidence.

Interruption of biological rhythms during chemotherapy worsen its side effects Posted: 21 May 2014 06:45 AM PDT The circadian system, better known as our biological clock, is responsible for coordinating all the processes that take place in our organism. If it does not function correctly, what is known as a circadian disruption or chronodisruption, has for years been linked to an increased incidence of cancer, obesity, diabetes, depression, cognitive problems or cardiovascular diseases. "Also, circadian disruption in cancer patients aggravates the prognosis of the disease and the chance of survival for these patients diminishes," a researcher noted.

Nasal bacteria may be predictor of skin infections Posted: 21 May 2014 06:43 AM PDT Bacteria found in the nose may be a key indicator for future development of skin and soft-tissue infections in remote areas of the body, researchers say. The nose is the primary S. aureus reservoir in humans and nearly 80% of the time, an individual's colonizing strain is the same strain that causes subsequent remote skin infections. Establishing a nose "marker microbiome" associated with development of SSTI infections may pave the way for focused preventive treatments that target the microbiome, rather than S. aureus itself.

Counterfeit Medication, Viagra: Quicker way to determine who's faking it on the internet Posted: 21 May 2014 06:43 AM PDT An improved chemical analysis method that is more efficient and faster in detecting counterfeit medicine -- which have skyrocketed in recent years -- has been developed by scientists. Buying prescription drugs online exposes the buyer to potentially serious health risks. "These drugs are often manufactured in garages with poor sanitation. They can be dosed less, even devoid of the active ingredient," the lead researcher says. "Worse, they can contain a different substance that can cause undesirable side effects."

Inhaler reminders dramatically improve asthma controller adherence Posted: 21 May 2014 06:43 AM PDT Reminders prompting asthma patients to take their control inhalers if they miss a dose significantly improve medication adherence, according to a primary-care based study. In this six-month investigation, patients receiving reminders took on average 73% of their prescribed doses compared to only 46% in patients who did not have reminders.

Vitamin E in canola, other oils hurts lungs Posted: 20 May 2014 07:04 PM PDT A large new study advances our understanding of vitamin E and ties increasing consumption of supposedly healthy, vitamin E-rich oils -- canola, soybean and corn -- to the rising incidence of lung inflammation and, possibly, asthma. The good news: vitamin E in olive and sunflower oils improves lungs. The study shows drastically different health effects of vitamin E depending on its form: gamma-tocopherol in soybean, canola and corn oil and alpha-tocopherol in olive and sunflower oils.

Adults who lose weight at any age could enjoy improved cardiovascular health Posted: 20 May 2014 03:48 PM PDT Weight loss at any age in adulthood is worthwhile because it could yield long-term heart and vascular benefits, suggests new research. For the first time, the findings indicate that adults who drop a BMI category -- from obese to overweight, or from overweight to normal -- at any time during adult life, even if they regain weight, can reduce these cardiovascular manifestations.

Increasing severity of heart failure linked to increased risk of developing diabetes Posted: 20 May 2014 03:47 PM PDT Increasing severity of heart failure is associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes, a new study has found. The authors conclude: "This study suggests an increased risk of development of diabetes in patients with heart failure, with increasing loop-diuretic dosage used as a proxy for heart failure severity. It emphasizes the need to monitor and treat patients with heart failure to prevent diabetes development. Future strategies for heart failure management should include increased awareness of risk of diabetes in patients with severe heart failure."

Experiments using virulent avian flu strains pose risk of accidental release Posted: 20 May 2014 03:47 PM PDT Experiments creating dangerous flu strains that are transmissible between mammals pose too great a risk to human life from potential release, according to an editorial by experts. The researchers are calling for greater scrutiny of experiments that make virulent influenza strains transmissible, and for future studies on flu transmission to use safer and more effective alternative approaches.

Antipsychotic medications for schizophrenia compared: Similar results Posted: 20 May 2014 01:30 PM PDT Among adults with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, treatment with the newer, more costly antipsychotic paliperidone palmitate, compared with the older antipsychotic haloperidol decanoate, found no significant difference on a measure of effectiveness, according to a recent study. Long-acting injectable antipsychotic medications are prescribed to reduce nonadherence to drug therapy and relapse in people diagnosed with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder. The relative effectiveness of long-acting injectable versions of second-generation and older antipsychotic medications has not been previously assessed.

Genetic alterations in lung cancers help select treatment Posted: 20 May 2014 01:30 PM PDT Multiplexed testing of lung cancer tumors identified genetic alterations that were helpful in selecting targeted treatments, a study has shown. Patients that received matched therapy for lung cancer lived longer than patients who did not receive directed therapy, although randomized clinical trials are required to determine if this treatment strategy improves survival.

Stroke recovery should include exercise prescription, experts say Posted: 20 May 2014 01:29 PM PDT Exercise prescriptions could significantly reduce disability and the risk of recurrent stroke in survivors who also may face other barriers such as fatigue and depression. The research suggests that stroke survivors should be prescribed exercise because they experience physical deconditioning and lead inactive lifestyles after stroke. That decreases their ability to perform daily living activities and increases their risk of having another stroke.

Chest pain reports down among older Americans, whites, but not blacks Posted: 20 May 2014 01:29 PM PDT The percentage of people reporting chest pain dropped in the last two decades among Americans 65 and older and whites 40 and older, but not among blacks. The national data included too few Hispanics and other minorities to reveal angina trends among those groups. More effective interventions for preventing and controlling high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking cessation may be needed among blacks, experts conclude.

How movies may make you drink more Posted: 20 May 2014 01:29 PM PDT Alcohol use is often portrayed positively or even glamorized in movies. A new study looks at how alcohol portrayals in movies may affect viewers. Both positive and negative portrayals can contribute to viewers' emotional involvement in, attitude toward, and evaluation of the movie. "Product placement is more subtle than general ads, occurring when a company pays movie makers to portray its brand in a movie. Strategies to embed advertisements in a movie context with appealing actors -- and without viewers' conscious processing of the intentions of the message -- might be even more powerful than general advertising strategies since the message is not perceived as advertising," researchers noted.

Hedonistic motives may drive people to drink alcohol, energy drinks together Posted: 20 May 2014 01:29 PM PDT Mixing alcohol with energy drinks (A+ED) continues to grow in popularity. A new study looks at motivations for both alcohol and A+ED consumption. Results show that hedonistic motives related to sensation and pleasure ideals were highly implicated. "'Hedonism' is a commonly used term in the alcohol field which, in this case, refers to people who are trying to increase pleasure and enjoyment, as opposed to other motivations for drinking such as taste, energy, sociability, or to increase or decrease intoxication," the researchers noted.

Executive function deficits can lead to attentional impairments during alcohol dependence Posted: 20 May 2014 01:29 PM PDT Three brain attentional networks -- alerting, orienting, and executive control -- have been studied among alcohol-dependent (AD) individuals. Results indicate that AD individuals have particularly pronounced deficits in executive control. These deficits were strongly correlated with duration of AD habits, number of previous detoxification treatments, and mean alcohol consumption prior to detoxification.

'Supermodel' mouse reveals mechanisms that regulate metabolism Posted: 20 May 2014 12:29 PM PDT A lean "Supermodel" mouse type has revealed the potentially critical role played by a largely unknown gene that regulates metabolism, findings that could provide new insight into diseases ranging from diabetes to obesity. The Supermodel mouse's phenotype -- the physical characteristics that result from its gene makeup -- include being very small in size, with an unusual body form caused by abnormal distribution of fat.

Better bedbug trap: Made from household items for about $1 Posted: 20 May 2014 09:30 AM PDT The contraption seems so simple, yet so clever, like something The Professor might have concocted on "Gilligan's Island." Researchers have devised a bedbug trap that can be built with household items. All you need are two disposable plastic containers, masking tape and glue, said an urban entomology professor. The traps catch and collect the bugs when they try to travel between people and the places where bedbugs hide, he said.

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