ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• 3-D bioprinting builds a better blood vessel
• Atomic structure of essential circadian clock protein complex determined
• Dangers of chemotherapy regimen for bladder cancer patients uncovered by clinical trial
• Researchers see stem cells take key step toward development: A first
• Identification of central nervous system involvement for patients with AIDS-related lymphomas
• More patients with ovarian cancer are receiving chemotherapy before surgery
• Overall survival benefit for patients with Stage III soft tissue sarcomas
• Green tea could reduce pancreatic cancer risk: Study explains how
• Phase I study in patients with pancreatic or ovarian cancer
• New clinical guidelines for cancer-related fatigue
• Radiation for prostate cancer linked to secondary cancers, study finds
• Eating prunes can help weight loss, study shows
• Standard approaches to menopause symptoms discount non-Western experiences
• Stem cell therapy may help recondition lungs previously rejected for transplant
• Significant side effects experienced by BRCA mutation carriers following cancer risk-reducing surgical procedure
• Key protein factor linked to alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Gene expression signature identifies patients at higher risk for cardiovascular death
• Improvements in blood pressure control may have prevented hundreds of thousands of major cardiovascular events
• Systolic, diastolic blood pressures predict risk of different cardiovascular diseases
• New 3-D representation of Richard III's spine shows 'spiral nature' of his scoliosis
• Mothers of women with polycystic ovary syndrome have increased risk of early death
• One cell's meat is another cell's poison: How the loss of a cell protein favors cancer cells while harming healthy cells
• Rectal artesunate is probably beneficial in young children with severe malaria, but may be harmful in older children and adults
• Appeal of well-being apps often short-lived
• Positive activities administered online help in pain management
• Powerful tool combs family genomes to find shared variations causing disease
• Poker, marketing strategies might help doctors think better
• New coronavirus inhibitor exhibits antiviral activity by blocking viral hijacking of host
• Depression, early death among seniors with diabetes: Strong link found by research
• Unexpected death of a loved one linked to onset of psychiatric disorders
• Deception improved athletic performance
• Drop in global malnutrition depends on agricultural productivity, climate change
• Neural transplant reduces absence epilepsy seizures in mice
• Tool to better screen, treat aneurysm patients
• Caught by a hair: Quick, new identification of hair may help crime fighters
• Improved identification of war wound infections promises more successful treatment
• How breast cancer 'expresses itself'
• Keloid development: New genes identified may unlock its mystery
• Unprecedented detail of intact neuronal receptor offers blueprint for drug developers
• Rectal cancer surgery outcomes enhanced with colorectal surgeons
• Melanoma of the eye caused by two gene mutations
• Mountaineering and mountain medicine
• Path to better pain control for orthopedic patients discovered

3-D bioprinting builds a better blood vessel Posted: 30 May 2014 04:05 PM PDT The tangled highway of blood vessels that twists and turns inside our bodies, delivering essential nutrients and disposing of hazardous waste to keep our organs working properly has been a conundrum for scientists trying to make artificial vessels from scratch. Now a team has made headway in fabricating blood vessels using a three-dimensional bioprinting technique.

Atomic structure of essential circadian clock protein complex determined Posted: 30 May 2014 10:33 AM PDT For the first time, the molecular structure of a protein complex that plays an important role in regulating the circadian rhythm has been identified by a team of researchers. "Our circadian clock controls many important physiological functions," explained one resesarcher. If the natural rhythm is disrupted, as for example in the case of people on shift work, the likelihood of developing metabolic disorders, diabetes, or cancer is significantly increased.

Dangers of chemotherapy regimen for bladder cancer patients uncovered by clinical trial Posted: 30 May 2014 10:33 AM PDT Patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer often benefit from chemotherapy before surgery to remove the tumor, but a test of one regimen by researchers was halted when too many people experienced serious side effects such as heart attacks and blood clots in the legs and lungs.

Researchers see stem cells take key step toward development: A first Posted: 30 May 2014 10:33 AM PDT The gap between stem cell research and regenerative medicine just became a lot narrower, thanks to a new technique that coaxes stem cells to take the first step to specialization for the first time in a laboratory. Researchers demonstrated that not only is it possible for mouse embryonic stem cells to form three distinct germ layers in the lab, but also that it requires correct timing, chemical factors and mechanical environment.

Identification of central nervous system involvement for patients with AIDS-related lymphomas Posted: 30 May 2014 10:33 AM PDT Patients with AIDS-related lymphomas may face an increased risk of central nervous system involvement (CNSi) compared to other lymphomas. The effect of CNSi on survival outcomes, however, hasn't been thoroughly examined until now. Infection with human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, greatly increases a person's risk of being diagnosed with many lymphomas. AIDS-related lymphomas (ARL), which include diffuse large cell lymphomas and small noncleaved cell lymphomas, are particularly aggressive forms of disease.

More patients with ovarian cancer are receiving chemotherapy before surgery Posted: 30 May 2014 10:32 AM PDT The use of chemotherapy before surgery to remove ovarian cancer has increased dramatically in recent decades, particularly among certain patients, according to a new analysis. Having government-run health insurance -- Medicaid or Medicare -- also increased a woman's odds of undergoing chemotherapy before surgery. In contrast, race and location did not appear to influence her likelihood of receiving neoadjuvant therapy.

Overall survival benefit for patients with Stage III soft tissue sarcomas Posted: 30 May 2014 10:32 AM PDT The first retrospective analysis of adjuvant chemotherapy's impact on overall survival in patients with stage III soft tissue sarcomas (STS) has been conducted, adjusted for socioeconomic status and other variables. The findings show that regardless of socioeconomic status and comorbidities, adjuvant chemotherapy improved survival by approximately 23 percent in stage III STS.

Green tea could reduce pancreatic cancer risk: Study explains how Posted: 30 May 2014 10:32 AM PDT A new study explains how green tea changed the metabolism of pancreatic cancer cells, opening a new area in cancer-fighting research. Green tea and its extracts have been widely touted as potential treatments for cancer, as well as several other diseases. But scientists have struggled to explain how the green tea and its extracts may work to reduce the risk of cancer or to slow the growth of cancer cells.

Phase I study in patients with pancreatic or ovarian cancer Posted: 30 May 2014 10:32 AM PDT In this early clinical trial with the goal of identifying possible risks and defining likely dosages, the drug was well tolerated and in some patients showed initial evidence of anti-cancer activity. The drug is in fact a combination of a chemotherapeutic agent with an antibody, technically called an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC).

New clinical guidelines for cancer-related fatigue Posted: 30 May 2014 09:44 AM PDT Fatigue is a debilitating problem for cancer patients undergoing treatment; however, it also poses a huge detriment after treatment and can significantly affect quality of life. Approximately 30 percent of cancer patients endure persistent fatigue for several years after treatment, according to an expert panel.

Radiation for prostate cancer linked to secondary cancers, study finds Posted: 30 May 2014 09:44 AM PDT Among men treated for prostate cancer, those who received radiation therapy were more likely to develop bladder or rectal cancer, according to a new study. "Overall the incidence of these cancers is low. But when men have received radiation treatments, it's important to evaluate carefully any symptoms that could be a sign of bladder or rectal cancer," says the senior study author.

Eating prunes can help weight loss, study shows Posted: 30 May 2014 09:43 AM PDT Eating prunes as part of a weight control diet can improve weight loss, research shows. Consumption of dried fruit is not readily recommended during weight loss despite evidence it enhances feelings of fullness. However, a study of 100 overweight and obese low fiber consumers tested whether eating prunes as part of a weight loss diet helped or hindered weight control over a 12-week period. The results were promising.

Standard approaches to menopause symptoms discount non-Western experiences Posted: 30 May 2014 09:43 AM PDT Understanding menopausal symptoms through a simple checklist has serious limitations, particularly within different ethnic groups or populations, according to a new study of British Pakistani women's beliefs about and experiences of menopause. The research concludes that the symptom experience of non-Western groups has not had the opportunity to inform theoretical developments around menopause symptoms in the same way that the experience of Western groups has.

Stem cell therapy may help recondition lungs previously rejected for transplant Posted: 30 May 2014 09:15 AM PDT Stem cells therapy has been used to "recondition" abnormally functioning donor lungs that were deemed unusable for transplantion. This study could have implications for increasing the supply of suitable donor lungs. Nearly 1,650 people in the U.S. are awaiting lung transplants. Unfortunately, both domestically and abroad, the demand for donor lungs far outpaces the supply. The limited availability of donor lungs can lead to long delays before transplant, leaving patients to face a mortality rate of up to 40 percent while they wait.

Significant side effects experienced by BRCA mutation carriers following cancer risk-reducing surgical procedure Posted: 30 May 2014 09:13 AM PDT The majority of women with cancer causing BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations experience sexual dysfunction, menopausal symptoms, cognitive and stress issues, and poor sleep following prophylactic removal of their Fallopian tubes and ovaries -- a procedure known as risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) -- according to results of a new study.

Key protein factor linked to alcoholic fatty liver disease Posted: 30 May 2014 09:13 AM PDT A causative link between a key cell stress response pathway and alcoholic liver disease has been identified by researchers, advancing understanding of how this disease develops. The results demonstrate the first, clear and causative link between a key unfolded protein response and fatty liver disease.

Gene expression signature identifies patients at higher risk for cardiovascular death Posted: 30 May 2014 06:27 AM PDT A gene expression profile associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular death has been identified by a study of 338 patients with coronary artery disease. Used with other indicators such as biochemical markers and family history, the profile -- based on a simple blood test -- may help identify patients who could benefit from personalized treatment and counseling designed to address risk factors.

Improvements in blood pressure control may have prevented hundreds of thousands of major cardiovascular events Posted: 30 May 2014 06:27 AM PDT Hypertension (raised blood pressure) treatment rates have almost doubled and control rates have tripled in England between 1994 and 2011, resulting in the saving of tens of thousands of lives each year, according to a new study. The findings also suggest that if these improvements in blood pressure management continue until 2022, 80% of patients being treated for hypertension will have achieved control of their high blood pressure, preventing a further 50,000 major cardiovascular events (eg, strokes, heart attacks, and deaths) in that year.

Systolic, diastolic blood pressures predict risk of different cardiovascular diseases Posted: 30 May 2014 06:26 AM PDT Raised systolic and diastolic blood pressures may have different effects on different types of cardiovascular diseases and at different ages, according to new research involving 1.25 million patients from primary care practices. The new findings suggest that individuals with higher systolic blood pressures have a greater risk of intracerebral haemorrhage (stroke caused by bleeding within the brain tissue), subarachnoid haemorrhage (the deadliest form of stroke), and stable angina, whereas raised diastolic blood pressure is a better indicator of abdominal aortic aneurysm risk.

New 3-D representation of Richard III's spine shows 'spiral nature' of his scoliosis Posted: 30 May 2014 06:26 AM PDT Shakespeare may have characterized Richard III as a hunchback, but now everyone can explore the true shape of one of history's most famous spinal columns. A polymer reconstruction was photographed from 19 different points, and the pictures were then stitched together digitally to create the interactive 3-D model.

Mothers of women with polycystic ovary syndrome have increased risk of early death Posted: 30 May 2014 06:26 AM PDT Mothers of daughters with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a significantly increased risk of death, particularly if they also have diabetes, when compared to the general population, according to new research. The researchers found that mothers aged over 60 had a risk of death that was one-and-a-half times greater than the general population. When compared with a control group of women with type 2 diabetes from the general population, diabetic mothers of PCOS daughters had a two-fold increased risk of death.

One cell's meat is another cell's poison: How the loss of a cell protein favors cancer cells while harming healthy cells Posted: 30 May 2014 06:24 AM PDT As a new therapeutic approach, Janus kinases are currently in the limelight of cancer research. The focus of interest is the protein JAK2. By inhibiting this protein one tries to cure chronic bone marrow diseases, such as myelofibrosis and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

Rectal artesunate is probably beneficial in young children with severe malaria, but may be harmful in older children and adults Posted: 30 May 2014 06:24 AM PDT An independent review of the effects of pre-referral rectal artesunate for people with severe malaria provides some insight into its best uses and effectiveness. Severe malaria is a serious medical condition that is treated by giving injections of antimalarial drugs, which need to be started as quickly as possible. In some rural areas where malaria is common, injections are unavailable and people often die before reaching hospital. In these areas rectal artesunate could feasibly be administered to start treatment before transporting the patient.

Appeal of well-being apps often short-lived Posted: 30 May 2014 06:24 AM PDT Online and mobile apps for stress management and healthy eating reach a large number of users, but their appeal tends to be short-lived. Apps can contribute to improved well-being and provide support for behavioral changes as long as they are simple, attractive and easy to integrate into everyday life. However, the societal impact of the apps may remain small unless real-world implementation, maintenance and dissemination are planned from the very beginning of the development process.

Positive activities administered online help in pain management Posted: 30 May 2014 06:22 AM PDT Positive activities, such as increasing supportive emotions, can reduce body discomfort in adults with mild to moderate chronic pain, according to research. The authors concluded that teaching very simple, evidence-based, positive activities administered online can lead to lasting reductions in bodily pain. Further, the study demonstrates that positive activities administered over the internet offer practical pain management strategies at very low cost with high sustainability.

Powerful tool combs family genomes to find shared variations causing disease Posted: 29 May 2014 03:27 PM PDT A powerful tool called pVAAST that combines linkage analysis with case control association has been developed to help researchers and clinicians identify disease-causing mutations in families faster and more precisely than ever before. The researchers describe cases in which pVAAST (the pedigree Variant Annotation, Analysis and Search Tool) identified mutations in two families with separate diseases and a de novo or new variation in a 12-year-old who was the only one in his family to suffer from a mysterious and life threatening intestinal problem.

Poker, marketing strategies might help doctors think better Posted: 29 May 2014 03:26 PM PDT Stroke doctors might be wise to think about poker players and marketers before making medical decisions, according to an article. "Sadly, more research has gone into how decisions are made when people gamble or buy a car than it has to discovering how doctors make complex decisions," said the lead author. "I think if doctors better understand a poker player's betting strategy or the psychology behind a salesman's tactics, it might change their decision-making process. Doctors might be more encouraged to use tools that would help them make quick, accurate, unbiased decisions when facing difficult clinical scenarios."

New coronavirus inhibitor exhibits antiviral activity by blocking viral hijacking of host Posted: 29 May 2014 03:26 PM PDT Since the SARS epidemic in 2003, coronaviruses have been on the watch list for emerging pathogens, and the ongoing outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) confirmed that they represent a serious threat. No specific drugs exist against coronaviruses so far, but a new article introduces a new inhibitor of coronaviruses and implicates a specific process in the life cycle of these viruses that it blocks.

Depression, early death among seniors with diabetes: Strong link found by research Posted: 29 May 2014 03:16 PM PDT Depression is linked with a far greater chance for early death among adults 65 and older with diabetes compared with people of the same age who do not have depression, research shows. The researchers suggest that the higher mortality rate among those with depression could stem from the fact that depressed people are less likely than their non-depressed counterparts to adhere to their prescribed medications, diet, exercise and glucose self-monitoring.

Unexpected death of a loved one linked to onset of psychiatric disorders Posted: 29 May 2014 12:41 PM PDT The sudden loss of a loved one can trigger a variety of psychiatric disorders in people with no history of mental illness. While previous studies have suggested there is a link between sudden bereavement and an onset of common psychiatric disorders, this is the first study to show the association of acute bereavement and mania in a large population sample.

Deception improved athletic performance Posted: 29 May 2014 12:40 PM PDT Researchers say a little deception caused cyclists in their 4K time trial to up their performance even after they realized they had been tricked. The findings support the idea that the brain plays a powerful role in how hard athletes push their bodies.

Drop in global malnutrition depends on agricultural productivity, climate change Posted: 29 May 2014 11:25 AM PDT Global malnutrition could fall 84 percent by the year 2050 as incomes in developing countries grow -- but only if agricultural productivity continues to improve and climate change does not severely damage agriculture, researchers say. According to the researchers' models, income growth coupled with projected increases in agricultural productivity could raise more than half a billion people out of extreme hunger by mid-century.

Neural transplant reduces absence epilepsy seizures in mice Posted: 29 May 2014 11:25 AM PDT The areas of the cerebral cortex that are affected in mice with absence epilepsy have been pinpointed by research that also shows that transplanting embryonic neural cells into these areas can alleviate symptoms of the disease by reducing seizure activity. Absence epilepsy primarily affects children. These seizures differ from "clonic-tonic" seizures in that they don't cause muscle spasms; rather, patients "zone out" or stare into space for a period of time, with no memory of the episode afterward.

Tool to better screen, treat aneurysm patients Posted: 29 May 2014 11:25 AM PDT New research may help physicians better understand the chronological development of a brain aneurysm. Simplified, a cerebral aneurysm is a blood-filled bulge formed in response to a weakness in the wall at branching brain arteries. If the bulge bursts, the person can undergo a brain hemorrhage, which is a subtype of stroke and a life-threatening condition.

Caught by a hair: Quick, new identification of hair may help crime fighters Posted: 29 May 2014 11:25 AM PDT Crime fighters could have a new tool at their disposal. Researchers have developed a cutting-edge technique to identify human hair. Their test is quicker than DNA analysis techniques currently used by law enforcement. Early sample testing produced a 100 percent success rate. Blood samples are often used to identify gender and ethnicity, but blood can deteriorate quickly and can easily be contaminated. Hair, on the other hand, is very stable. Elements in hair originate from sweat secretions that alter with diet, ethnicity, gender, the environment and working conditions.

Improved identification of war wound infections promises more successful treatment Posted: 29 May 2014 11:24 AM PDT War wounds that heal successfully frequently contain different microbial species from those that heal poorly, according to a paper. These and other findings have important implications for improving wound healing, says the first author. The investigators examined 124 wound samples from 61 wounds in 44 patients injured in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. They used a microbial detection microarray that contains DNA probes capable of detecting any microorganisms that have previously been sequenced.

How breast cancer 'expresses itself' Posted: 29 May 2014 11:24 AM PDT 'Gene regulation,' the process that shuts off certain parts of a cell's DNA code or blueprint in healthy breast tissue cells, may also play a critical role in the development of breast cancer, scientists have found. Their research proves a significant link between breast-specific genes and the pathology of cancer.

Keloid development: New genes identified may unlock its mystery Posted: 29 May 2014 11:24 AM PDT Previously unidentified genes that may be responsible for keloid scarring have been uncovered by researchers, a discovery that could unlock the mystery of keloid development and provide insight for more effective treatment. Keloid scars form raised, firm skin areas that may become itchy, tender, and painful. Unlike regular scars, keloids do not subside over time and often extend outside the wound site. Keloids most often occur on the chest, shoulders, earlobes (following ear piercing), upper arms and cheeks.

Unprecedented detail of intact neuronal receptor offers blueprint for drug developers Posted: 29 May 2014 11:23 AM PDT Biologists have succeeded in obtaining an unprecedented view of a type of brain-cell receptor that is implicated in a range of neurological illnesses, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, depression, schizophrenia, autism, and ischemic injuries associated with stroke. The team's atomic-level picture of the intact NMDA receptor should serve as template and guide for the design of therapeutic compounds.

Rectal cancer surgery outcomes enhanced with colorectal surgeons Posted: 29 May 2014 11:20 AM PDT The type of surgeon and the type of hospital have a significant influence on long-term outcomes for patients who undergo surgery for rectal cancer. Researchers looked at records of more than 6,400 Medicare beneficiaries treated in the U.S. at more than 830 hospitals. The study points out that choices regarding treatment are complicated and are not always directly related to an estimation of outcomes.

Melanoma of the eye caused by two gene mutations Posted: 29 May 2014 10:20 AM PDT A therapeutic target for treating the most common form of eye cancer in adults has been identified by researchers. They have also, in experiments with mice, been able to slow eye tumor growth with an existing FDA-approved drug. The researchers looked specifically at uveal melanoma. Uveal collectively refers to parts of the eye, notably the iris, that contain pigment cells. As with melanoma skin cancer, uveal melanoma is a malignancy of these melanin-producing cells.

Mountaineering and mountain medicine Posted: 29 May 2014 06:26 AM PDT Hundreds of millions of people all over the world travel to, work in or live in mountainous regions. The stress caused by high altitudes causes many health problems as their body seems to be incapable of adapting to such conditions. About 15% of the population living in the South American Andes suffer from chronic altitude sickness with severe effects on their everyday lives.

Path to better pain control for orthopedic patients discovered Posted: 29 May 2014 06:22 AM PDT A nerve block technique that avoids the femoral nerve results in the need for less morphine and a potentially speedier recovery for orthopedic surgery patients, a study has shown. The technique allows recovering patients to walk sooner with stronger legs, resulting in improved physical therapy participation.

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