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• New approach to HIV vaccine explored by scientists
• Engineering a better way to rebuild bone inside the body
• Family support may improve adherence to CPAP therapy for sleep apnea
• Diet, exercise in cancer prevention, treatment: Focus of special journal edition
• Rare skin cancer on palms, soles more likely to come back compared to other melanomas
• Stress degrades sperm quality, study shows
• Creatures of habit: Disorders of compulsivity share common pattern, brain structure
• Zinc deficiency before conception disrupts fetal development
• Major geographic disparities in access to kidney transplantation
• Where one lives matters in relationship between obesity, life satisfaction
• Circumcision linked to reduced risk of prostate cancer in some men
• Clues to stillbirths may be found in marmoset monkeys
• Dentists' knowledge, confidence tied to care for scleroderma patients
• High burden of tuberculosis in Malaysian prisons
• Most physicians would forgo aggressive treatment for themselves at the end of life
• Suspect strep throat? Re-check negative rapid test results with lab culture
• The scarier the better: Screening results that make smokers stop smoking
• Cure for dry eye could be a blink away
• Women's contraceptive use influenced by contraception education, moral attitudes
• Value of epigenetic test for markers of prostate cancer affirmed in study
• Some consumers confuse 'local' with 'organic' food
• Heart health: Coating stents with vitamin C could reduce clotting risks
• School scheme unable to boost healthy eating, activity among kids
• Why are girl babies winning in the battle for survival?

New approach to HIV vaccine explored by scientists Posted: 29 May 2014 11:25 AM PDT A promising new approach to a live attenuated HIV-1 vaccine is being pursued by scientists, using a genetically modified form of the HIV virus. The new method involves manipulating the virus' codons -- a sequence of three nucleotides that form genetic code -- to rely on an unnatural amino acid for proper protein translation, which allows it to replicate. Because this amino acid is foreign to the human body, the virus cannot continue to reproduce, researchers report.

Engineering a better way to rebuild bone inside the body Posted: 29 May 2014 11:22 AM PDT Traumatic bone injuries such as blast wounds are often so severe that the body can't effectively repair the damage on its own. To aid the recovery, clinicians inject patients with proteins called growth factors. The treatment is costly, requiring large amounts of expensive growth factors. The growth factors also disperse, creating unwanted bone formation in the area around the injury. A new technology under development could one day provide more efficient delivery of the bone regenerating growth factors with greater accuracy and at a lower cost.

Family support may improve adherence to CPAP therapy for sleep apnea Posted: 29 May 2014 07:07 AM PDT People with obstructive sleep apnea who are single or have unsupportive family relationships may be less likely to adhere to continuous positive airway pressure therapy, a study has shown. Results show that individuals who were married or living with a partner had better CPAP adherence after the first three months of treatment than individuals who were single. Higher ratings of family relationship quality also were associated with better adherence. Results were adjusted for potential confounding factors including age, gender and body mass index.

Diet, exercise in cancer prevention, treatment: Focus of special journal edition Posted: 29 May 2014 07:07 AM PDT Invited reviews and original papers investigating various themes such as the role of omega-3 fatty acids, amino acids, cancer cachexia, muscle health, exercise training, adiposity and body composition are the foundation of a new special journal edition.

Rare skin cancer on palms, soles more likely to come back compared to other melanomas Posted: 29 May 2014 07:07 AM PDT A rare type of melanoma that disproportionately attacks the palms and soles and under the nails of Asians, African-Americans, and Hispanics, who all generally have darker skins, and is not caused by sun exposure, is almost twice as likely to recur than other similar types of skin cancer, according to results of a study in 244 patients.

Stress degrades sperm quality, study shows Posted: 29 May 2014 07:07 AM PDT Psychological stress is harmful to sperm and semen quality, affecting its concentration, appearance, and ability to fertilize an egg, according to a study. It is not fully understood how stress affects semen quality. It may trigger the release of steroid hormones called glucocorticoids, which in turn could blunt levels of testosterone and sperm production. Another possibility is oxidative stress, which has been shown to affect semen quality and fertility.

Creatures of habit: Disorders of compulsivity share common pattern, brain structure Posted: 29 May 2014 07:07 AM PDT People affected by binge eating, substance abuse and obsessive compulsive disorder all share a common pattern of decision making and similarities in brain structure, according to new research. "Compulsive disorders can have a profoundly disabling effect of individuals. Now that we know what is going wrong with their decision making, we can look at developing treatments, for example using psychotherapy focused on forward planning or interventions such as medication which target the shift towards habitual choices," authors said.

Zinc deficiency before conception disrupts fetal development Posted: 29 May 2014 06:28 AM PDT Female mice deprived of dietary zinc for a relatively short time before conception experienced fertility and pregnancy problems more than mice that ingested zinc during the same times, according to researchers. Zinc deficiency caused a high incidence of pregnancy loss, and embryos from the zinc-deficient diet group were an average of 38 percent smaller than those from the control group. Preconception zinc deficiency also caused approximately half of embryos to exhibit delayed or aberrant development.

Major geographic disparities in access to kidney transplantation Posted: 29 May 2014 06:28 AM PDT There is substantial geographic variation in access to kidney transplantation among the more than 4,000 US dialysis facilities that treat patients with kidney failure, with a disproportionate lack of access to those in the Southeast. Certain factors seem to explain these differences, and they underscore the need for political, financial, and health systems changes to reduce transplant inequities across the country.

Where one lives matters in relationship between obesity, life satisfaction Posted: 29 May 2014 06:28 AM PDT How one compares weight-wise with others in his or her community plays a key role in determining how satisfied the person is with his or her life. According to the researchers, before accounting for where people live, severely obese men and women have 29 percent and 43 percent lower odds, respectively, than their non-obese counterparts of reporting that they are "very satisfied" with their lives. However, the story is very different among people in counties where obesity is common.

Circumcision linked to reduced risk of prostate cancer in some men Posted: 29 May 2014 06:26 AM PDT Circumcision is performed for various reasons, including those that are based on religion, aesthetics, or health. New research indicates that the procedure may help prevent prostate cancer in some men. The findings add to a growing list of advantages to circumcision Besides advanced age, African ancestry, and family history of prostate cancer, no other risk factors for prostate cancer have been definitively established. This has fueled the search for modifiable risk factors.

Clues to stillbirths may be found in marmoset monkeys Posted: 29 May 2014 06:22 AM PDT The marmoset monkey may offer clues to reducing stillbirths in human mothers, according to new research. The marmoset, a squirrel-sized monkey indigenous to South America, reaches sexual maturity by 15 months of age. They have multiple births, usually twins and triplets. Adult females who were born into triplet litters get pregnant just as often as twin females, but they lose three times as many fetuses. Nearly half of the losses occur during labor and delivery.

Dentists' knowledge, confidence tied to care for scleroderma patients Posted: 29 May 2014 06:22 AM PDT Dentists' confidence in treating patients with scleroderma may be related to their familiarity with the autoimmune disease, results from a survey indicates. Providing education to dentists may improve patient satisfaction and access to care, while simultaneously increasing dentists' knowledge and comfort.

High burden of tuberculosis in Malaysian prisons Posted: 29 May 2014 06:20 AM PDT High levels of previously undiagnosed active TB have been found in Malaysian prisons, especially amongst HIV infected prisoners. Globally, tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among the incarcerated population, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where access to timely healthcare services is limited. Additionally prisons contribute to the TB burden among the general population through released inmates and prison staff.

Most physicians would forgo aggressive treatment for themselves at the end of life Posted: 28 May 2014 03:02 PM PDT Most physicians would choose a do-not-resuscitate or 'no code' status for themselves when they are terminally ill, yet they tend to pursue aggressive, life-prolonging treatment for patients facing the same prognosis, according to a study. It's a disconnect that needs to be better understood, said the lead author of the study. "Why do we physicians choose to pursue such aggressive treatment for our patients when we wouldn't choose it for ourselves?"

Suspect strep throat? Re-check negative rapid test results with lab culture Posted: 28 May 2014 01:38 PM PDT Clinical guidelines for diagnosing strep throat in teens and adults differ, as do physician practices. A recent study supports guidelines that mandate confirming negative rapid test results with a lab culture when a patient has symptoms that suggest a bacterial infection. The rapid test detects certain antigens, one of the body's efforts to fight off strep bacteria. Attempting to grow bacteria from a throat specimen double checks for the presence or absence of Group A Streptococcus bacteria, as well as a few other bacterial infections, and could help avoid both under-treating and over-treating sore throats.

The scarier the better: Screening results that make smokers stop smoking Posted: 28 May 2014 01:37 PM PDT Screening for lung cancer leads to early detection and treatment, but can it also make people stop smoking before they get cancer? The answer is that it depends on the seriousness of the results, according to a study. The researchers point out that "…abnormal screening results may present a 'teachable moment'," and suggest that "Future lung cancer screening programs should take advantage of this opportunity to apply effective smoking cessation programs."

Cure for dry eye could be a blink away Posted: 28 May 2014 12:06 PM PDT The basic motion of tear film traversing the eye has been the focus of recent study. Dry eye -- a burning, gritty condition that can impair vision and damage the cornea -- is a common condition without a cure. Many causes, including the aging process, contribute to discomfort resulting from either a lack of tears or tears that evaporate too quickly. A treatment for dry eye could some day result from computer simulations that map the way tears move across the surface of the eye.

Women's contraceptive use influenced by contraception education, moral attitudes Posted: 28 May 2014 12:06 PM PDT Levels of prior sex education and moral attitudes toward contraception influence whether women use contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. Nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended, and unplanned pregnancies are associated with poorer health and lower rates of educational and economic achievement for women and their children. "Individuals need more access to contraceptive information so they can make informed decisions; however, this information can be difficult to obtain because the national dialogue about sexuality and contraception is very polarized due to individuals' moral attitudes," the lead author said.

Value of epigenetic test for markers of prostate cancer affirmed in study Posted: 28 May 2014 11:58 AM PDT A commercial test designed to rule out the presence of genetic biomarkers of prostate cancer may be accurate enough to exclude the need for repeat prostate biopsies in many — if not most — men, a new article reports. "Often, one biopsy is not enough to definitively rule out prostate cancer," says a study researcher. "Our research finds that by looking for the presence or absence of cancer in a different way, we may be able to offer many men peace of mind without putting them through the pain, bleeding and risk of infection that can come with a repeat biopsy."

Some consumers confuse 'local' with 'organic' food Posted: 28 May 2014 08:41 AM PDT Even though the organic food industry has spent millions on branding, nearly one in five consumers still don't know the difference between "local" and "organic" food. "If consumers can distinguish between local and organic, then by buying organic, they will be able to reduce their exposure to synthetic pesticides," said one author. Locally produced food may not be the most sustainable choice, if same or better quality produce can be grown and transported less expensively from elsewhere.

Heart health: Coating stents with vitamin C could reduce clotting risks Posted: 28 May 2014 07:54 AM PDT Every year, more than one million people in the US who have suffered heart attacks or chest pain from blocked arteries have little mesh tubes called stents inserted into their blood vessels to prop them open. The procedure has saved many lives, but it still has potentially deadly downsides. Now scientists are reporting that coating stents with vitamin C could lower the implants' risks even further.

School scheme unable to boost healthy eating, activity among kids Posted: 27 May 2014 03:53 PM PDT A school-based scheme to encourage children to eat healthily and be active has had little effect, conclude researchers. The findings have relevance for researchers, policy makers, public health practitioners, and doctors, and they suggest that more intense interventions may be required. School based interventions have the potential to reach the vast majority of children, and evidence reviews have suggested some beneficial effect. However, the poor quality of many of the previous trials means their effectiveness may be exaggerated.

Why are girl babies winning in the battle for survival? Posted: 27 May 2014 09:35 AM PDT Sexual inequality between boys and girls starts as early as in the mother's womb – but how and why this occurs could be a key to preventing higher rates of preterm birth, stillbirth and neonatal death among boys. "Our results suggest that there is a distinct sex bias in the regulation of genes in the human placenta," says the lead author, adding that the findings "may be important to help guide future sex-specific therapeutics for pregnant women and for babies in the neonatal nursery."

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