ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Diabetes susceptibility gene regulates health of cell's powerhouse, study finds
• Scientists use X-rays to look at how DNA protects itself from UV light
• By any stretch: New software harnesses computer vision to more accurately measure infant length
• Among weight loss methods, surgery and drugs achieve highest patient satisfaction
• 'Smat pill' reduces weight in overweight and obese subjects
• Gut microbe levels are linked to type 2 diabetes and obesity
• Growth Hormone Treatment for Children May Exacerbate Feelings of Depression
• Offer kids whole grains; they'll eat them, study shows
• High testosterone may predict more shallow sleep in overweight or obese men
• Bone loss persists two years after weight loss surgery
• Cancer chain in cell membrane seen with supercomputers
• Possible answer to chemo pain found in multiple sclerosis drug
• Ways to improve type 2 diabetes treatments under investigation
• Sleeve gastrectomy surgery improves diabetes control better than medical care
• Anti-androgen therapy for triple-negative breast cancer may benefit lower-androgen tumors
• When couples disagree on stroke recovery, one partner can suffer
• Blood sugar improves with first gastrointestinal microbiome modulator, NM504
• Breakthrough drug-eluting patch stops scar growth, reduces scar tissues
• First demonstration of a self-powered cardiac pacemaker
• Cell stress inflames the gut, research shows
• Mystery solved of source of anti-cancer effects in pregnancy hormone
• Dental hygiene profession sees 'moment of opportunity' to improve access to oral health care
• Prescription drugs overtake cannabis in fatal crashes
• Hormone-disrupting activity of fracking chemicals worse than initially found
• BPA stimulates growth of an advanced subtype of human breast cancer cells called inflammatory breast cancer
• Common BPA substitute, BPS, disrupts heart rhythms in females
• BPA Substitute as bad as BPA? Exposure to BPA substitute causes hyperactivity and brain changes in fish
• Unlocking milk's formula could save lives, say scientists
• Battle of the bulge occurs in the liver
• Cancer by remote-control: Overlooked DNA shuffling drives deadly paediatric brain tumour
• Midwifery matters 'more than ever,' experts say
• Family dysfunction strong predictor of emotional problems in children of cancer patients
• Bisexual men face unique challenges to their sexual health
• Association found between maternal exposure to agricultural pesticides and autism
• Colon has safety mechanism that restricts tumor formation
• Organ network in transparent chip for detailed study of how cancer cells spread
• Not even cell death can stop immune system, inflammation
• Potential avenues for treatment of deadly nasopharyngeal cancer discovered
• Raising low vitamin D levels lowers risk of prediabetes progressing to diabetes
• Veterans with blast traumatic brain injury may have unrecognized pituitary dysfunction
• Vitamin D can lower weight, blood sugar via the brain, study finds
• Soy supplements appear to be safe, beneficial in diabetic men
• Hypothyroidism may lead to impaired driving
• BPA exposure during fetal development raises risk of precancerous prostate lesions later in life
• Low testosterone raises risk of age-related functional disability
• Empagliflozin lowers high blood pressure, blood sugar in diabetics
• Exposure to fungicide, tolyfluanid, disrupts energy metabolism
• Exercising first, dieting later protects patients with metabolic syndrome from muscle loss
• Testosterone replacement may help mobility limited older men improve and maintain aerobic capacity
• Air pollution controls linked to lower death rates in North Carolina
• Easing pain, getting back quality of life for cancer survivors
• Video games, social networks, chat rooms, may help prevent HIV
• Microenvironment of hematopoietic stem cells can be a target for myeloproliferative disorders
• Architecture of signaling proteins enhances knowledge of key receptors
• Protons power protein portal to push zinc out of cells
• Family of proteins plays key role in cellular pump dynamics
• Electronic health record patient safety issues persist long after 'go live' date

Diabetes susceptibility gene regulates health of cell's powerhouse, study finds Posted: 23 Jun 2014 11:43 AM PDT A research team has found that a susceptibility gene for type 1 diabetes regulates self-destruction of the cell's energy factory. The pathway central to this gene could be targeted for prevention and control of type-1 diabetes and may extend to the treatment of other metabolic-associated diseases.

Scientists use X-rays to look at how DNA protects itself from UV light Posted: 23 Jun 2014 11:20 AM PDT The molecular building blocks that make up DNA absorb ultraviolet light so strongly that sunlight should deactivate them -- yet it does not. Now scientists have made detailed observations of a 'relaxation response' that protects these molecules, and the genetic information they encode, from UV damage.

By any stretch: New software harnesses computer vision to more accurately measure infant length Posted: 23 Jun 2014 11:20 AM PDT After the hectic delivery experience, newborns are almost immediately stretched out on an uncomfortable measuring board to assess their length because it serves as an indispensable marker of growth, health, and development. Researchers are now using new software that harnesses computer vision to more accurately measure infant length. The technique is much easier on infants and at least as accurate as conventional measuring methods.

Among weight loss methods, surgery and drugs achieve highest patient satisfaction Posted: 23 Jun 2014 11:19 AM PDT Obese and overweight Americans who have tried losing weight report far greater overall satisfaction with weight loss surgery and prescription weight loss medications than with diet, exercise and other self-modification methods, an Internet survey finds.

'Smat pill' reduces weight in overweight and obese subjects Posted: 23 Jun 2014 11:18 AM PDT A new 'smart pill' called Gelesis100 leads to greater weight loss in overweight and obese individuals compared with those who receive an active comparator/placebo capsule, while all subjects have similar diet and exercise instructions, a new study finds.

Gut microbe levels are linked to type 2 diabetes and obesity Posted: 23 Jun 2014 11:18 AM PDT People with Type 2 diabetes or obesity have changes in the composition of their intestinal micro-organisms —- called the gut microbiota -— that healthy people do not have, researchers have found.

Growth Hormone Treatment for Children May Exacerbate Feelings of Depression Posted: 23 Jun 2014 11:18 AM PDT Short, otherwise healthy children who are treated with growth hormone (GH) may become taller, but they may also become more depressed and withdrawn over time, compared to children the same age and height who are not treated with GH, a new study finds. "This novel study of the cognitive and emotional effects of GH therapy in children with GHD and ISS compared to untreated short children raises concerns that, despite improvements in height, these children may not achieve psychosocial benefits," one researcher said.

Offer kids whole grains; they'll eat them, study shows Posted: 23 Jun 2014 11:17 AM PDT Most parents don't feed their kids whole grains under the assumption children will find them bland. But a new study shows if you offer the children whole grains, they will eat them. Eating whole grains, combined with a healthy diet, may reduce the risk of heart disease and help with weight management. Examples of whole-grain foods include popcorn, oats, whole wheat bread and brown rice.

High testosterone may predict more shallow sleep in overweight or obese men Posted: 23 Jun 2014 11:17 AM PDT In overweight and obese men, higher testosterone levels are associated with poorer sleep quality, according to a new study.

Bone loss persists two years after weight loss surgery Posted: 23 Jun 2014 11:17 AM PDT For at least two years after bariatric surgery, patients continue to lose bone, even after their weight stabilizes, research shows. Gastric bypass is the most common type of weight loss surgery. "The long-term consequences of this substantial bone loss are unclear, but it might put them at increased risk of fracture, or breaking a bone," said the study's principal investigator.

Cancer chain in cell membrane seen with supercomputers Posted: 23 Jun 2014 10:14 AM PDT Supercomputer simulations reveal clusters of a protein linked to cancer warp cell membranes -- findings could help design new anticancer drugs. Researchers used XSEDE/TACC supercomputers Lonestar and Stampede to simulate molecular dynamics of Ras protein clusters at the cell membrane. Simulations give greater understanding of Ras protein role in cancer and provide models for further experimental tests.

Possible answer to chemo pain found in multiple sclerosis drug Posted: 23 Jun 2014 10:13 AM PDT Two discoveries have been described by researchers: a molecular pathway by which a painful chemotherapy side effect happens and a drug that may be able to stop it. "The chemotherapy drug paclitaxel is widely used to treat many forms of cancer, including breast, ovarian and lung cancers," said one researcher. "Though it is highly effective, the medication, like many other chemotherapy drugs, frequently is accompanied by a debilitating side effect called chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy, or CIPN."

Ways to improve type 2 diabetes treatments under investigation Posted: 23 Jun 2014 10:12 AM PDT A better understanding of how the transcription factor Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARgamma) works is critical to find new ways to improve medications to treat type 2 diabetes. Drugs that activate PPARgamma, called thiazolidinediones, have long been regarded as a treatment for type 2 diabetes based on their anti-inflammatory and potent insulin-sensitizing activity.

Sleeve gastrectomy surgery improves diabetes control better than medical care Posted: 23 Jun 2014 10:10 AM PDT Adults with Type 2 diabetes achieve better blood glucose (sugar) control two years after undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy than do patients who receive standard medical diabetes care without this weight loss surgery, a new study finds. In addition, 76 percent of surgery patients were able to reduce their use of diabetes medications, compared with only 26 percent of patients in the nonsurgical group, study authors reported.

Anti-androgen therapy for triple-negative breast cancer may benefit lower-androgen tumors Posted: 23 Jun 2014 09:10 AM PDT Even triple negative breast cancers expressing very low levels of androgen receptor may benefit from anti-androgen therapy, researchers report. "This line of work is starting to change our thinking about who and when -- the timing and patient selection for anti-androgen receptor therapy in triple-negative breast cancer," says the study's first author.

When couples disagree on stroke recovery, one partner can suffer Posted: 23 Jun 2014 09:04 AM PDT When a stroke survivor and his/her caregiving spouse disagree on the survivor's rate of recovery, the caregiver is more likely to experience depression and emotional distress. Researchers found that the magnitude of the discrepancy in spousal perception is key to predicting depression in caregivers. They add that the magnitude of the discrepancy in perceptions between survivors and spousal caregivers is key to predicting depression in spousal caregivers -- which can then cycle back onto the survivors.

Blood sugar improves with first gastrointestinal microbiome modulator, NM504 Posted: 23 Jun 2014 09:04 AM PDT In adults with prediabetes, a new drug that alters microbial populations and their environment in the gastrointestinal tract improves glucose tolerance -- the body's response to consuming carbohydrates -- after four weeks of treatment and without a change in diet. The not-yet-named therapeutic, NM504, is the first in a new class of therapies known as GI microbiome modulators. The GI microbiome -- the mix of microbial and associated physical and chemical factors in the digestive system -- may play a critical part in regulating the body's metabolism, some researchers believe.

Breakthrough drug-eluting patch stops scar growth, reduces scar tissues Posted: 23 Jun 2014 09:04 AM PDT A new invention provides a simple, affordable and -- most importantly -- highly effective way for patients to self-treat keloid scars. It is a special patch made from polymers fabricated into microneedles, which are loaded with the US FDA-approved scar-reducing drug, 5-fluorouracil. Self-administered by patients, the microneedles attach the patch to scar tissue and allow sustained drug-release.

First demonstration of a self-powered cardiac pacemaker Posted: 23 Jun 2014 09:03 AM PDT A self-powered artificial cardiac pacemaker that is operated semi-permanently by a flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator has been developed by researchers. The team's newly designed flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator directly stimulated a living rat's heart using electrical energy converted from the small body movements of the rat. This technology could facilitate the use of self-powered flexible energy harvesters, not only prolonging the lifetime of cardiac pacemakers but also realizing real-time heart monitoring.

Cell stress inflames the gut, research shows Posted: 23 Jun 2014 09:03 AM PDT Inflammatory bowel disease is a common condition in western industrialized countries. What triggers it, however, is not yet fully understood. Nutrition researchers have now identified a new step in the pathogenesis. They used a mouse model to show that a protein in the cells of the intestinal mucosa is one of the root causes of the disease.

Mystery solved of source of anti-cancer effects in pregnancy hormone Posted: 23 Jun 2014 09:01 AM PDT A small molecule found in pregnant women's urine that apparently blocks the growth of several types of cancers, including AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma, which currently has no cure, has been discovered by researchers. These findings resurrect a nearly 20-year controversy over whether human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone produced in high amounts during pregnancy, or its core fragments, or something else yields anti HIV and cancer-fighting activity.

Dental hygiene profession sees 'moment of opportunity' to improve access to oral health care Posted: 23 Jun 2014 09:01 AM PDT With opportunities to take increased responsibility for oral health care and to deliver care in a more comprehensive way, it's an exciting time in the profession of dental hygiene. To help prepare to meet these challenges, the Annual Report on Dental Hygiene has been published, a collection of cutting-edge research and practice updates in the field of dental hygiene.

Prescription drugs overtake cannabis in fatal crashes Posted: 23 Jun 2014 09:00 AM PDT Since 1993, the profile of a drugged driver has changed substantially. A study shows that more drivers are now testing positive for prescription drugs, cannabis, and multiple drugs, and they are more likely to be older than 50. The study finds that the percentage of drugged drivers with three or more drugs in their system nearly doubled from 1993 to 2010, increasing from 11.5 percent to 21.5 percent. "In 1993, about 1 in 8 drivers were using multiple drugs concurrently. By 2010, it was closer to 1 in 5. That's a large increase in drug use," one author said.

Hormone-disrupting activity of fracking chemicals worse than initially found Posted: 23 Jun 2014 07:39 AM PDT Many chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, can disrupt not only the human body's reproductive hormones but also the glucocorticoid and thyroid hormone receptors, which are necessary to maintain good health, a new study finds.

BPA stimulates growth of an advanced subtype of human breast cancer cells called inflammatory breast cancer Posted: 23 Jun 2014 07:39 AM PDT Environmental exposure to the industrial chemical bisphenol A (BPA) lowers the effectiveness of a targeted anti-cancer drug for inflammatory breast cancer, according to a new study. The results also show that BPA causes breast cancer cells to grow faster.

Common BPA substitute, BPS, disrupts heart rhythms in females Posted: 23 Jun 2014 07:39 AM PDT Bisphenol S (BPS), a common substitute for bisphenol A (BPA) in consumer products, may have similar toxic effects on the heart as previously reported for BPA, a new study finds.

BPA Substitute as bad as BPA? Exposure to BPA substitute causes hyperactivity and brain changes in fish Posted: 23 Jun 2014 07:39 AM PDT A chemical found in many "BPA free" consumer products, known as bisphenol S (BPS), is just as potent as bisphenol A (BPA) in altering brain development and causing hyperactive behavior, an animal study finds.

Unlocking milk's formula could save lives, say scientists Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:58 AM PDT A new study on the digestion of milk could lead to the development of new formulas for premature babies, weight loss drinks and potentially new drug delivery systems. The research shows, for the first time, detailed insights into the structure of milk during digestion. While milk's nutritional values are well known, little research has been conducted into the detailed structure of milk and how its fats interact with the digestive system until now.

Battle of the bulge occurs in the liver Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:57 AM PDT An international team of scientists has shown how free radicals contribute to type 2 diabetes, obesity and fatty liver disease. Type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are key complications of obesity as 80 per cent of patients with type 2 diabetes are obese, and 75 per cent of patients who are obese or have type 2 diabetes also have fatty liver disease.

Cancer by remote-control: Overlooked DNA shuffling drives deadly paediatric brain tumour Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:29 AM PDT One of the deadliest forms of paediatric brain tumor, Group 3 medulloblastoma, is linked to a variety of large-scale DNA rearrangements which all have the same overall effect on specific genes located on different chromosomes. "We were surprised to see that in addition to MYC there are two other major drivers of Group 3 medulloblastoma -- two sister genes called GFI1B and GFI1," says Korbel. "Our findings could be relevant for research on other cancers, as we discovered that those genes had been activated in a way that cancer researchers don't usually look for in solid tumors," researchers remarked.

Midwifery matters 'more than ever,' experts say Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:29 AM PDT Midwifery has a crucial part to play in saving the lives of millions of women and children who die during and around the time of pregnancy, according to a major new series published. The Series, produced by an international group of academics, clinicians, professional midwives, policymakers and advocates for women and children, is the most critical, wide-reaching examination of midwifery ever conducted, the experts say. It shows the scale of the positive impact that can be achieved when effective, high-quality midwifery is available to all women and their babies.

Family dysfunction strong predictor of emotional problems in children of cancer patients Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:29 AM PDT A cancer diagnosis affects the whole family, and a significant number of children of cancer patients may be at risk for emotional and behavioral problems. New research suggests that family dysfunction may increase a child's risk of experiencing such problems after learning of a parent's illness. "This means that in view of a life-threatening disease in a parent, the level of family functioning predicts children's behavioral and emotional symptoms more than any other tested variable including illness-related factors," the lead author explained.

Bisexual men face unique challenges to their sexual health Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:29 AM PDT Bisexual men have many unmet public health needs, which leave them vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections and other health problems. This new study illuminates the behavioral, interpersonal, and social realities of men who have sex with men and women, and it explores possible interventions to better serve their needs.

Association found between maternal exposure to agricultural pesticides and autism Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:29 AM PDT Pregnant women who lived in close proximity to fields and farms where chemical pesticides were applied experienced a two-thirds increased risk of having a child with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delay, a study by researchers has found. The study examined associations between specific classes of pesticides, including organophosphates, pyrethroids and carbamates, applied during the study participants' pregnancies and later diagnoses of autism and developmental delay in their offspring.

Colon has safety mechanism that restricts tumor formation Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:22 AM PDT Colon cancer development starts with the formation of benign tumors called adenomas. It is estimated that between 30% and 50% of people over 50 will develop one of these tumors. These adenomas or polyps are the pre-cancerous lesions that, once they accumulate further genetic mutations over many years, can progress to colon cancer. A team has discovered that the colon has a safety mechanism to restrict the formation and growth of adenomas.

Organ network in transparent chip for detailed study of how cancer cells spread Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:21 AM PDT The recent development of the concept of organs on a chip opens the possibility of realistically studying human organs without the use of patients or animal testing. One researcher goes one step further: he intends to make microsystems in which multiple 'organs' are connected through 'blood vessels.' That will, for example, allow precise investigation of how cancer spreads. This could eventually make the development of medical drug much cheaper and faster.

Not even cell death can stop immune system, inflammation Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:21 AM PDT Even after a cell dies, components of the immune system remain active and continue to fuel inflammatory reactions. An international team of researchers has discovered how this incredible form of communication works. The findings offer potentially novel approaches for therapies against many serious diseases that affect a large part of the population, such as gout, atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease.

Potential avenues for treatment of deadly nasopharyngeal cancer discovered Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:21 AM PDT A distinct mutational signature and nine significantly mutated genes associated with nasopharyngeal cancer have been found by an international team of researchers, paving the way to developing novel therapies for this deadly disease. The group has conducted the first successful comprehensive genomic study of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which has a particularly high prevalence in Southern China and Southeast Asia, including Singapore. The findings provide an enhanced road map for the study of the molecular basis of this form of cancer.

Raising low vitamin D levels lowers risk of prediabetes progressing to diabetes Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:20 AM PDT Vitamin D and calcium supplementation along with diet and exercise may prevent Type 2 diabetes in prediabetic individuals who have insufficient vitamin D in their bodies, a study suggests. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to prediabetes, which is a blood glucose, or sugar, level that is too high but not high enough to be considered diabetes. It is unclear, however, if bringing low vitamin D blood levels to normal through supplementation will affect progression to diabetes.

Veterans with blast traumatic brain injury may have unrecognized pituitary dysfunction Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:20 AM PDT In soldiers who survive traumatic brain injury from blast exposure, pituitary dysfunction after their blast injury may be an important, under-recognized, and potentially treatable source of their symptoms, a new study finds. "Our study suggests that deficiencies in the pituitary's growth hormone and testosterone are commonly seen after blast traumatic brain injury, especially in patients who are overweight," says an investigator.

Vitamin D can lower weight, blood sugar via the brain, study finds Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:20 AM PDT Vitamin D treatment acts in the brain to improve weight and blood glucose (sugar) control in obese rats, according to a new study. "Vitamin D deficiency occurs often in obese people and in patients with Type 2 diabetes, yet no one understands if it contributes to these diseases," said the study's principal investigator. A region of the brain called the hypothalamus controls both weight and glucose, and has vitamin D receptors there.

Soy supplements appear to be safe, beneficial in diabetic men Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:20 AM PDT Soy protein supplements, which contain natural estrogens, do not reduce testosterone levels in men with Type 2 diabetes who already have borderline-low testosterone, according to a new study. In addition, soy protein supplements significantly improved diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number in a blood pressure reading) but not systolic blood pressure (the top number).

Hypothyroidism may lead to impaired driving Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:19 AM PDT People with significant hypothyroidism can experience impaired driving similar to those who are driving when intoxicated by alcohol, a new study finds. "Our results uncover a potential public and personal health hazard regarding impaired hypothyroid drivers," one researcher said.

BPA exposure during fetal development raises risk of precancerous prostate lesions later in life Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:19 AM PDT The endocrine-disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA) reprograms the developing prostate, making the gland more susceptible to precancerous lesions and other diseases later in a man's life, a new study has found for the first time. BPA is a chemical used to manufacture certain plastics and is often found in water bottles, food storage containers and other consumer products. BPA disrupts the normal functioning of the body's hormones by mimicking the hormone estrogen.

Low testosterone raises risk of age-related functional disability Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:19 AM PDT Elderly men with low levels of testosterone or other sex hormones have twice the likelihood of having declining physical function over two years' time compared with their peers who have the highest hormone levels, a new study finds. "This study suggests that low testosterone in older men could lead to a decline in muscle strength, which might explain their increased risk of functional disability," one researcher said.

Empagliflozin lowers high blood pressure, blood sugar in diabetics Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:19 AM PDT An investigational drug to treat Type 2 diabetes, empagliflozin, lowers blood pressure in patients with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure), a new study finds. This improvement in blood pressure reportedly was accompanied by a reduction in blood glucose (sugar) levels after 12 weeks of treatment with the drug, which is under development.

Exposure to fungicide, tolyfluanid, disrupts energy metabolism Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:18 AM PDT Mice exposed to the fungicide tolyfluanid (TF) showed metabolic changes similar to those that signify the development of the metabolic syndrome, researchers report. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions including increased blood pressure, high blood sugar level, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels. Together these conditions increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Exercising first, dieting later protects patients with metabolic syndrome from muscle loss Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:18 AM PDT Younger and older women tend to lose lean muscle mass, along with fat, unless they engage in physical activity before they attempt weight loss, a new study finds. "To preserve muscle in metabolic syndrome, irrespective of age, exercise should precede the initiation of weight loss and not be started at the same time as diet," said the lead study author.

Testosterone replacement may help mobility limited older men improve and maintain aerobic capacity Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:18 AM PDT Testosterone replacement therapy may help older men who have limited mobility and low testosterone improve their aerobic capacity and lessen its decline with age, new research finds. Aerobic fitness declines as people grow older. In previous research, the authors showed that testosterone therapy might improve endurance capacity in aging men, but the effects of testosterone on aerobic performance in mobility limited older men have not been evaluated.

Air pollution controls linked to lower death rates in North Carolina Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:18 AM PDT National and state air pollution controls that went into effect in the early 1990s coincide with decreasing death rates from emphysema, asthma and pneumonia among people in North Carolina, according to a study. Using mortality trends from state public health data, along with monthly measurements from air-monitoring stations across North Carolina from 1993-2010, the researchers were able to draw a close association between improved air quality and declining death rates from respiratory illnesses.

Easing pain, getting back quality of life for cancer survivors Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:18 AM PDT More and more people are surviving their cancer but they don't need to cope with lingering pain in silence. A review paper now describes what survivors can do to improve their quality of life. "Pain makes people less functional," says one author. "I think the key thing people need to know is to ask for help if they have chronic pain after cancer. They need to know that there are lots of different ways to address pain. Just because the cancer is gone doesn't mean you're going to be 100 percent the way you were before you were treated." Survivors shouldn't suffer in silence.

Video games, social networks, chat rooms, may help prevent HIV Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:18 AM PDT While many HIV prevention interventions have traditionally been delivered face-to-face, a study suggests that digital outreach efforts delivered via text messages, interactive games, chat rooms, and social networks may be an effective way to reach at-risk younger men who have sex with men. "This is a population that is very used to technology, and there is built-in privacy and immediacy with digital communication that may be especially appealing," says the lead study author. "If we want to reduce HIV infection rates, particularly among younger men, we need to explore the use of technology to meet them where they live -- online and on their phones."

Microenvironment of hematopoietic stem cells can be a target for myeloproliferative disorders Posted: 22 Jun 2014 11:22 AM PDT The protective microenvironment of the hematopoietic stem cell niche, which produces cells of the blood and the immune system, also protects against myeloproliferative neoplasia. Protecting this microenvironment, or niche, has thus emerged as a new route for the treatment of these diseases, for which there is currently no fully effective treatment.

Architecture of signaling proteins enhances knowledge of key receptors Posted: 22 Jun 2014 11:22 AM PDT The underlying architecture of a cellular signaling complex involved in the body's response to stimuli such as light and pain has been determined by a team of researchers. This complex, consisting of a human cell surface receptor and its regulatory protein, reveals a two-step mechanism that has been hypothesized previously but not directly documented.

Protons power protein portal to push zinc out of cells Posted: 22 Jun 2014 11:21 AM PDT Researchers report that they have deciphered the inner workings of a protein called YiiP that prevents the lethal buildup of zinc inside bacteria. They say understanding YiiP's movements will help in the design of drugs aimed at modifying the behavior of ZnT proteins, eight human proteins that are similar to YiiP, which play important roles in hormone secretion and in signaling between neurons.

Family of proteins plays key role in cellular pump dynamics Posted: 22 Jun 2014 11:21 AM PDT Scientists have discovered how a family of proteins — cation diffusion facilitators (CDFs) — regulates an important cellular cycle where a cell's energy generated is converted to necessary cellular functions. The finding could eventually to significant breakthroughs in the treatment of Parkinson's, chronic liver disease and heart disease.

Electronic health record patient safety issues persist long after 'go live' date Posted: 21 Jun 2014 06:31 PM PDT Patient safety issues related to electronic health records persist long after the 'go live' date, concludes research. EHRs can improve the quality of patient care, but recent evidence suggests that their use can also prompt new patient safety concerns, such as when computer glitches cause clinical decision support to suddenly stop working or when network outages occur. Sophisticated monitoring systems are needed to unearth the complex mix of human and technological causes behind these problems, say the authors.

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