ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Getting to the root of enamel evolution
• Governor signs bill banning extreme-strength alcohol in Maryland
• Nerve damage after hip surgery may be due to inflammation
• Standard test that measures 'everyday task' performance is a good predictor of hospital readmission
• Family-based exposure therapy effective treatment for young children with OCD
• Dementia diagnosis twice as likely if older adult has schizophrenia; Cancer less likely
• Caring for horses eases symptoms of dementia
• Physician practice facilitation ensures key medical care reaches children
• Soy sauce molecule may unlock drug therapy for HIV patients
• Domestic violence victims more likely to take up smoking
• Bone marrow-on-a-chip unveiled
• How does stress increase risk for stroke, heart attack?
• Animal hoarding: Lesser-known problem for public health, welfare
• New knowledge about muscular dystrophy uncovered
• Women and PAD: Excellent treatment outcomes in spite of disease severity
• New cause of high blood pressure, heart disease discovered: Phosphate-rich foods
• Fluorescent sensor developed for detecting nitric oxide, a molecule related to many diseases
• Robot caregivers to help the elderly
• World's smallest cardiac pacemaker implanted
• Stimulant drug may help women cope with post-menopausal memory lapses
• Infusion of young blood recharges brains of old mice
• Glutamine ratio is key ovarian cancer indicator
• Dual method to remove precancerous colon polyps may substantially reduce health-care costs
• Few children receive dental care before recommended age of 1 year
• Disease outbreak may not spur parents to have children vaccinated
• Electronic tool helps reduce drug errors among hospitalized children
• Being born 4-6 weeks premature can affect brain structure, function
• Journey between XX, XY: Getting closer to unravelling mystery of sexual ambiguity
• No danger from magnetic fields in electric cars, experts say
• Analyzing living cells quickly, accurately
• New combination therapy for hepatitis C
• Number of children treated in U. S. emergency departments for baby gate-related injuries nearly quadrupled since 1990
• Bioinformatics approach helps researchers find new use for old drug
• Tracking proteins in single HIV particle
• Risk of nutritional deficiencies in obese teens
• New approach to treating brittle bone disease unveiled
• Young parents who use e-cigarettes believe devices are safer for those around them, despite any evidence
• Motivational interviewing can positively impact childhood obesity
• Prophylactic antibiotics prevent UTI recurrences in children with vesicoureteral reflux

Getting to the root of enamel evolution Posted: 05 May 2014 12:53 PM PDT Thick tooth enamel is one of the features that distinguishes our genus, Homo, from our primate relatives and forebears. A new study offers insight into exactly how evolution shaped our teeth, one gene at a time. By comparing the human genome with those of five other primate species, a team of geneticists and evolutionary anthropologists has identified two segments of DNA where natural selection acted to give modern humans their thick enamel.

Governor signs bill banning extreme-strength alcohol in Maryland Posted: 05 May 2014 11:20 AM PDT Today, Gov. O'Malley signed legislation banning the retail sale of alcohol 190-proof and stronger effective July 1. Maryland joins the ranks of more than a dozen other states that ban the sale of such products, including Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia.

Nerve damage after hip surgery may be due to inflammation Posted: 05 May 2014 11:20 AM PDT A recent article links some nerve damage after hip surgery to inflammatory neuropathy. Historically, nerve damage from hip surgery has been attributed to mechanical factors caused by anesthesiologists or surgeons, such as positioning of the patient during surgery or direct surgical injury of the nerves. In this study, researchers examined patients who developed inflammatory neuropathies, where the immune system attacks the nerves, leading to weakness and pain. Inflammatory neuropathies may be treated with immunotherapy.

Standard test that measures 'everyday task' performance is a good predictor of hospital readmission Posted: 05 May 2014 11:20 AM PDT Patients freshly discharged from acute care hospitals with low scores on a standard test that measures how well they perform such everyday activities as moving from a bed to a chair are far more likely to need readmission to a hospital within 30 days than those who score better, according to new research.

Family-based exposure therapy effective treatment for young children with OCD Posted: 05 May 2014 10:05 AM PDT Family-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is beneficial to young children between the ages of five and eight with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The study found developmentally sensitive family-based CBT that included exposure/response prevention was more effective in reducing OCD symptoms and functional impairment in this age group than a similarly structured relaxation program.

Dementia diagnosis twice as likely if older adult has schizophrenia; Cancer less likely Posted: 05 May 2014 10:05 AM PDT The rate of dementia diagnosis for patients with schizophrenia has been found to be twice as high as for patients without this chronic, severe and disabling brain disorder. Cancer, however, was less likely. These results come from a study that followed over 30,000 older adults for a decade. This study also found that hospital admissions, hospital lengths of stay, nursing home facility use and nursing home length of stay for patients with schizophrenia were significantly greater than for patients without schizophrenia.

Caring for horses eases symptoms of dementia Posted: 05 May 2014 10:01 AM PDT In the first study of its kind, researchers have determined that spending time with horses eases symptoms of Alzheimer's dementia. The small pilot study suggests that equine therapy -- a treatment used today for children and teens who have emotional and developmental disorders -- could work for adults, too, and could supplement more common forms of animal therapy involving dogs or cats and provide a unique way to ease the symptoms of dementia without drugs.

Physician practice facilitation ensures key medical care reaches children Posted: 05 May 2014 08:26 AM PDT The simple act of adding an outside eye could dramatically improve pediatric care, one researcher surmised. Today, a study of more than 16,000 patient visits proves this thesis correct. Children receive, on average, just half the recommended health care they need. This researcher believed a trained practice facilitator could help to make a major, measurable difference in children's treatment.

Soy sauce molecule may unlock drug therapy for HIV patients Posted: 05 May 2014 08:25 AM PDT For HIV patients being treated with anti-AIDS medications, resistance to drug therapy regimens is commonplace. Often, patients develop resistance to first-line drug therapies, such as Tenofovir, and are forced to adopt more potent medications. Virologists now are testing the next generation of medications that stop HIV from spreading, and are using a molecule related to flavor enhancers found in soy sauce, to develop compounds that are more potent than Tenofovir.

Domestic violence victims more likely to take up smoking Posted: 05 May 2014 08:25 AM PDT One-third of women around the world have experienced physical or sexual violence at the hands of their intimate partners with consequences from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression, to sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Now, in a new study in 29 low-income and middle-income countries, researchers have identified yet another serious health risk associated with intimate partner violence: smoking.

Bone marrow-on-a-chip unveiled Posted: 05 May 2014 07:44 AM PDT The first method to reproduce the structure, functions and cellular make-up of bone marrow in the laboratory has been unveiled by researchers. The new device gives scientists a much-needed new method to test the effects on bone marrow of toxic agents and new drugs to prevent lethal radiation poisoning and dangerous side effects of cancer therapies, all without animal testing.

How does stress increase risk for stroke, heart attack? Posted: 05 May 2014 07:44 AM PDT Scientists have shown that anger, anxiety, and depression not only affect the functioning of the heart, but also increase the risk for heart disease. Stroke and heart attacks are the end products of progressive damage to blood vessels supplying the heart and brain, a process called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis progresses when there are high levels of chemicals in the body called pro-inflammatory cytokines. It is thought that persisting stress increases the risk for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease by evoking negative emotions that, in turn, raise the levels of pro-inflammatory chemicals in the body.

Animal hoarding: Lesser-known problem for public health, welfare Posted: 05 May 2014 07:43 AM PDT Animal hoarding is a psychiatric disorder that consists of accumulating large numbers of animals at home, usually cats and dogs, without providing them with a minimal standard of care. The first European study to provide data on this disorder has been published, outlining the disorder's largely unknown and negative effects on the health of both the people who suffer from it and the animals involved.

New knowledge about muscular dystrophy uncovered Posted: 05 May 2014 07:43 AM PDT A previously unknown function of a cellular enzyme that can disperse toxic aggregates in the cells of patients with muscular dystrophy has been uncovered by researchers. The most common form of muscular dystrophy among adults is dystrophia myotonica type 1 (DM1), where approximately 1 in every 8000 is affected by the disease. The severity of the disease varies from mild forms to severe congenital forms. It is dominantly inherited and accumulates through generations, gaining increased severity and lowered age of onset.

Women and PAD: Excellent treatment outcomes in spite of disease severity Posted: 05 May 2014 07:43 AM PDT Stakes are higher for women with PAD, a circulation issue that's common among older adults. But women benefit just as much as men from procedures to unclog arteries. A new study demonstrates the need for doctors to ask women about leg discomfort and to screen for peripheral artery disease. PAD happens when fatty deposits build up in arteries outside the heart, usually the arteries supplying fresh oxygen and blood to the arms, legs and feet.

New cause of high blood pressure, heart disease discovered: Phosphate-rich foods Posted: 05 May 2014 07:42 AM PDT Phosphate-rich foods include processed cheese, Parmesan, cola, baking powder and most processed foods. Phosphates are widely used in the food industry as preservatives and pH stabilizers. When large quantities of phosphates are consumed, production of the FGF23 hormone is stimulated, which has a negative effect on the cardiovascular system.  One expert warns that "our phosphate consumption is relevant for our state of health."

Fluorescent sensor developed for detecting nitric oxide, a molecule related to many diseases Posted: 05 May 2014 07:42 AM PDT The detection of certain chemical compounds in our body is essential to prevent many diseases and set out their treatment. Thus, making advances in the development of compounds that can be easily detected is key for the development of medicine. This is the case of nitric oxide, which is a molecule involved in countless cardiovascular, neurological and immune system processes, among others. The detection of nitric oxide may be executed more efficiently and selectively thanks to a new compound recently developed.

Robot caregivers to help the elderly Posted: 05 May 2014 07:42 AM PDT Our life expectancy lengthens and members of the 'silver generation' make up an ever-larger proportion of the population. Can technologies help us in caring for ourselves, our older relatives and friends? Could we learn to live together with robots while being watched over by sensors? Some people certainly think so.

World's smallest cardiac pacemaker implanted Posted: 05 May 2014 06:50 AM PDT The world's smallest pacemaker has been implanted as part of a global clinical trial. The procedure was the first of its kind in the United States Midwest. One-tenth the size of a conventional pacemaker, and comparable in size to a large vitamin, the Micra TPS pacemaker is delivered directly into the heart through a catheter inserted in the femoral vein.

Stimulant drug may help women cope with post-menopausal memory lapses Posted: 05 May 2014 06:49 AM PDT The psychostimulant drug lisdexamfetamine can aid post-menopausal women by improving attention and concentration, organization, working memory and recall, preliminary evidence from a recent study indicates. The study enrolled 30 women between the ages of 48 and 60 who had experienced a diminished ability to focus and multi-task in their early post-menopausal years. The cohort was made up of successful women -- none of whom were more than five years post-menopause.

Infusion of young blood recharges brains of old mice Posted: 05 May 2014 06:49 AM PDT Something -- or some things -- in the blood of young mice has the ability to restore mental capabilities in old mice, a new study has found. If the same goes for humans, it could spell a new paradigm for recharging our aging brains, and it might mean new therapeutic approaches for treating dementias such as Alzheimer's disease.

Glutamine ratio is key ovarian cancer indicator Posted: 05 May 2014 06:42 AM PDT An analysis of the metabolic profiles of hundreds of ovarian tumors has revealed a new method for tailoring treatments for ovarian cancer and for assessing whether ovarian cancer cells have the potential to metastasize. The research is part of a growing effort among cancer researchers worldwide to create treatments that target the altered metabolism of cancer cells.

Dual method to remove precancerous colon polyps may substantially reduce health-care costs Posted: 05 May 2014 06:42 AM PDT A surgical method combining two techniques for removing precancerous polyps during colonoscopies can substantially reduce the recovery time and the length of hospital stays, potentially saving the health-care system millions of dollars, according to new research.

Few children receive dental care before recommended age of 1 year Posted: 05 May 2014 06:42 AM PDT Fewer than one per cent of healthy urban children surveyed in Toronto had received dental care by the recommended age of 12 months and fewer than two per cent had seen a dentist by the age of 24 months. Children most susceptible to cavities were least likely to receive early dental care, according to the a new study.

Disease outbreak may not spur parents to have children vaccinated Posted: 05 May 2014 06:42 AM PDT Conventional wisdom holds that when the risk of catching a disease is high, people are more likely to get vaccinated to protect themselves. This may not be the case, however, according to a new study.

Electronic tool helps reduce drug errors among hospitalized children Posted: 05 May 2014 06:42 AM PDT When children are admitted to the hospital, sometimes the medications they take at home are lost in the shuffle, or they may be given the wrong dose. Having a system in place at hospital admission to record and review a child's medication history results in fewer errors, potentially avoiding harm to the patient, according to a new study.

Being born 4-6 weeks premature can affect brain structure, function Posted: 05 May 2014 06:41 AM PDT The brains of children who were born just a few weeks early differ from those born on time, and these differences may affect learning and behavior, according to a new study.

Journey between XX, XY: Getting closer to unravelling mystery of sexual ambiguity Posted: 05 May 2014 06:39 AM PDT In both humans and mammals, sexual development is a long process. In most cases, the genetic sex (XX or XY) results in the development of the corresponding gonadal sex (ovaries or testes), which in turn secretes hormones that will masculinize or feminize the fetus. But throughout gonadal development, various accidents may occur, giving rise to a wide range of alterations and ambiguities. Disorders of gonadal development represent a heterogeneous class of sexual ambiguities caused by defects in gonadal development or a failure of testis differentiation.

No danger from magnetic fields in electric cars, experts say Posted: 05 May 2014 06:38 AM PDT Many people are concerned that electric cars produce dangerous magnetic fields. New research shows that this is not the case. Researchers from seven countries have concluded that we can feel safe both in electric-powered cars and in those powered by hydrogen, petrol and diesel. None of them exposes passengers to higher electromagnetic fields than those recommended in international standards. In fact, field intensity is well below the recommended value, experts say.

Analyzing living cells quickly, accurately Posted: 05 May 2014 06:38 AM PDT In order to investigate inflammation, tumors or stem cells, medical practitioners analyze living cells. Non-invasive optical procedures such as Raman spectroscopy accelerate this procedure. Researchers have now developed it to industrial scale, and the technology is being employed on a practical basis by industrial partners. Scientists are working at present on a rapid test for cancer diagnosis, among other endeavors.

New combination therapy for hepatitis C Posted: 05 May 2014 06:38 AM PDT A new combination therapy allows chronic hepatitis C to be treated in a manner that is less aggressive yet equally efficient, new research shows. "This is a revolutionary breakthrough in the treatment of this disease and represents a huge improvement in the quality of life of those affected," says a hepatologist. Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver caused by an infection with the hepatitis C virus. The virus is transmitted mostly via direct contact with contaminated blood or blood products.

Number of children treated in U. S. emergency departments for baby gate-related injuries nearly quadrupled since 1990 Posted: 05 May 2014 06:20 AM PDT If you are a parent, chances are you have used or will use a baby gate at some point. Baby gates are designed to help protect young children from stairs and other dangers around the home. If you use these in your home, take note. A new study has found gates can lead to injury if used incorrectly.

Bioinformatics approach helps researchers find new use for old drug Posted: 05 May 2014 06:20 AM PDT By linking cancer gene expression patterns with drug activity, a research team has found a possible cancer therapy hidden in an antimicrobial agent. Using a novel bioinformatics approach, a team of researchers used a collection of gene expression data from human cancer cells treated with hundreds of small molecule drugs to help in the treatment of patients with advanced kidney cancer.

Tracking proteins in single HIV particle Posted: 04 May 2014 06:10 PM PDT A new technique to examine how proteins interact with each other at the level of a single HIV viral particle has been developed by an interdisciplinary team of scientists. The technique allows scientists to study the life-threatening virus in detail and makes screening potential anti-HIV drugs quicker and more efficient. The technique can also be used to study other diseases.

Risk of nutritional deficiencies in obese teens Posted: 04 May 2014 06:10 PM PDT A new study exposes the risk of nutritional deficiencies in severely obese teens – both those who had weight loss surgery and those who did not. At least five years after undergoing gastric bypass surgery, teens and young adults maintained significant weight loss but were at risk of nutritional deficiencies, particularly low iron, mild anemia and low vitamin D. The study also found low iron and low vitamin D in severely obese teens who did not undergo weight loss surgery. Those who didn't have surgery also had low levels of protein in their blood.

New approach to treating brittle bone disease unveiled Posted: 04 May 2014 10:31 AM PDT A new approach to treating brittle bone disease, a congenital disorder that results in fragile bones that break easily, has been discovered by researchers. The study showed that excessive activity of an important signaling protein in the matrix of the bone called transforming growth factor beta is associated with the cause of the disease.

Young parents who use e-cigarettes believe devices are safer for those around them, despite any evidence Posted: 04 May 2014 06:55 AM PDT Many young parents are using electronic cigarettes, and despite any evidence for safety, the vast majority of young adults who have used the devices believe they are less harmful than regular cigarettes, according to new research.

Motivational interviewing can positively impact childhood obesity Posted: 04 May 2014 06:55 AM PDT Pediatricians and dietitians who used motivational interviewing techniques to counsel families about their young child's weight were successful in reducing children's body mass index percentile 3.1 more points than comparison children over a 2-year period, according to a new study.

Prophylactic antibiotics prevent UTI recurrences in children with vesicoureteral reflux Posted: 04 May 2014 06:55 AM PDT Children diagnosed with vesicoureteral reflux following a urinary tract infection (UTI) are at risk for kidney scarring with subsequent UTIs. New research shows that children receiving antimicrobials over a two-year period to prevent infections (antimicrobial prophylaxis) had a substantially reduced risk of UTI recurrences compared with children receiving a placebo.

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