ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

---

• Marijuana shows potential in treating autoimmune disease
• Humans' tiny cellular machines: Spliceosomes in detail
• One in four children with leukemia not taking maintenance medication, study shows
• Worry, behavior among teens at higher risk for breast cancer: Focus of new study
• Sperm-inspired robots controlled by magnetic fields may be useful for drug delivery, IVF, cell sorting and other applications
• No harm in yoga: But not much help for asthma sufferers, study finds
• Long-term results encouraging for combination immunotherapy for advanced melanoma
• Surgeons report fewer postoperative blood clots using risk-based preventive measures
• CPAP rapidly improves blood pressure, arterial tone in adults with sleep apnea
• How the 'long shadow' of an inner city childhood affects adult success
• Harnessing power of immune system for therapies against cancer
• Prenatal maternal stress predicts asthma and autism traits in 6 1/2-year-old children
• 'Healthy' component of red wine, resveratrol, causes pancreatic abnormalities in fetuses
• Why inflammation leads to a leaky blood-brain barrier: MicroRNA-155
• Common, hard-to-treat cancers: Potential new targeted therapies
• New strategies to improve quality of life for cancer patients, caregivers
• Marijuana use associated with impaired sleep quality
• Poor sleep equal to binge drinking, marijuana use in predicting academic problems
• Half of pregnant women who have hypertension and snore unknowingly have a sleep disorder
• Suicides far more likely to occur after midnight, study finds
• Same face, many first impressions
• Common cholesterol drug greatly alters inflammatory response to common cold
• Early steps toward personalized fitness: Interval training may benefit men more than women
• Antipsychotic medication during pregnancy does affect babies, study shows
• Cystic fibrosis, diabetes link explained
• Do your stomach bacteria protect you from obesity?
• Hypnosis extends restorative slow-wave sleep, research shows
• Speaking two languages benefits the aging brain
• E-cigarette TV ads targeting youth increased 256% in past two years
• Prevention of C. diff infections in hospitals achieved with collaborative intervention
• Joint implants without an expiry date
• Medical errors often result from language barriers
• Tale of two prognoses in pediatric brain tumor, pilocytic astrocytoma
• Improving bystander resuscitation following cardiac arrest outside hospital could save 100,000 lives across Europe each year
• Children exposed to secondhand tobacco or cooking smoke have very high rates of pain, complications after tonsillectomy
• Parental presence improves quality of child anesthesia, research shows
• Ovarian cancer subtypes may predict response to bevacizumab
• Revolutionizing diets, improving health with discovery of new genes involved in food preferences
• Uncovering deletions, duplications in the exome can help pinpoint cause of unexplained genetic diseases
• Crowdsourcing answer to cancer cell drug sensitivities
• Leptin also influences brain cells that control appetite, researchers find
• 'Quadrapeutics' works in preclinical study of hard-to-treat tumors: Animal tests show technology effective against aggressive cancer
• New genetic cause of male reproductive birth defects identified
• Smokers with gene defect have one in four chance of developing lung cancer
• Drug combination extends survival by more than a year in metastatic prostate cancer
• Hormone that controls supply of iron in red blood cell production discovered by researchers
• Paired enzyme action in yeast reveals backup system for DNA repair
• Newly identified brain cancer mutation will aid drug development
• Nearly 19 million cancer survivors in the U.S. by 2024, new report estimates
• Enzyme used in antidepressants could help researchers develop prostate cancer treatments
• Drug combination may be highly effective in recurrent ovarian cancer
• Vaccine for malignant brain tumors: Update on phase II trial
• Single agent -- trastuzumab -- remains the gold standard in HER2 breast cancer care, study shows
• Chemotherapy following radiation treatment improves progression-free survival, overall survival in adults with low-grade brain cancer

Marijuana shows potential in treating autoimmune disease Posted: 02 Jun 2014 12:09 PM PDT Researchers have discovered a novel pathway through which marijuana can suppress the body's immune functions. The recent findings show that marijuana THC can change critical molecules of epigenome called histones, leading to suppression of inflammation.

Humans' tiny cellular machines: Spliceosomes in detail Posted: 02 Jun 2014 12:07 PM PDT Like exploring the inner workings of a clock, researchers are digging into the inner workings of the tiny cellular machines called spliceosomes, which help make all of the proteins our bodies need to function. They have now captured images of this machine, revealing details never seen before.

One in four children with leukemia not taking maintenance medication, study shows Posted: 02 Jun 2014 11:17 AM PDT An estimated 25 percent of children in remission from acute lymphocytic leukemia are missing too many doses of an essential maintenance medication that minimizes their risk of relapse, according to a study. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), a cancer of the white blood cells, is the most common form of childhood cancer. While more than 95 percent of children with ALL enter remission within a month of receiving initial cancer therapy, one in five will relapse. In order to remain cancer-free, children in remission must take a form of oral chemotherapy every day for two years.

Worry, behavior among teens at higher risk for breast cancer: Focus of new study Posted: 02 Jun 2014 11:16 AM PDT Teenage girls with a familial or genetic risk for breast cancer worry more about getting the disease, even when their mother has no history, compared to girls their age with no known high risks, according to new data. Early analyses suggest that such worry may increase risk behavior, such as smoking and potentially alcohol use, but does not appear to influence positive behavior, such as exercise.

Sperm-inspired robots controlled by magnetic fields may be useful for drug delivery, IVF, cell sorting and other applications Posted: 02 Jun 2014 11:16 AM PDT A team of researchers has developed sperm-inspired microrobots, which consist of a head coated in a thick cobalt-nickel layer and an uncoated tail. When the robot is subjected to an oscillating field of less than five millitesla, it experiences a magnetic torque on its head, which causes its flagellum to oscillate and propel it forward. The researchers are then able to steer the robot by directing the magnetic field lines towards a reference point.

No harm in yoga: But not much help for asthma sufferers, study finds Posted: 02 Jun 2014 10:22 AM PDT A recent report examined 14 studies to determine the effectiveness of yoga in the treatment of asthma and found there isn't enough evidence to support yoga as a routine intervention to alleviate symptoms. "Many people practice yoga for its health benefits, including asthma sufferers," said the lead author of the study. "We reviewed the available data to see if it made a difference and found only weak evidence that it does. Yoga can't be considered a routine intervention for patients with asthma at this time."

Long-term results encouraging for combination immunotherapy for advanced melanoma Posted: 02 Jun 2014 10:22 AM PDT The first long-term follow-up results from a phase 1b immunotherapy trial combining drugs for advanced melanoma patients has shown encouraging results -- long-lasting with high survival rates -- researchers report. The trial evaluated the safety and activity of the combination regimen of nivolumab (anti-PD-1), an investigational PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, and ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4; Yervoy), given either concurrently or sequentially, to patients with advanced melanoma whose disease progressed after prior treatment.

Surgeons report fewer postoperative blood clots using risk-based preventive measures Posted: 02 Jun 2014 08:58 AM PDT Surgery patients are much less likely to get a blood clot in the lower extremities or lungs if they receive preventive treatment based on their individual clotting risk, in addition to walking soon after the operation. Researchers reported that they lowered the frequency of deep venous thromboses -- blood clots in a deep vein, usually in a lower extremity -- by 84 percent two years after the prevention efforts began, compared with the results two years before the program. The occurrence of pulmonary emboli, or blood clots that travel to the lungs, fell by 55 percent in the same period.

CPAP rapidly improves blood pressure, arterial tone in adults with sleep apnea Posted: 02 Jun 2014 08:58 AM PDT Continuous positive airway pressure therapy rapidly improves blood pressure and arterial tone in adults with obstructive sleep apnea, research confirms. Results show that there was a significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressures among sleep apnea patients who were compliant with CPAP therapy for three months. Successful treatment of sleep apnea also was associated with decreased vascular tone and arterial stiffness.

How the 'long shadow' of an inner city childhood affects adult success Posted: 02 Jun 2014 08:55 AM PDT Nearly 800 Baltimore school children were followed in a ground-breaking study for a quarter of a century. The conclusion: their fates were substantially determined by the economic status of the family they were born into. Through repeated interviews with the children and their parents and teachers, the research team observed the group as its members made their way through elementary, middle and high school, joined the work force and started families.

Harnessing power of immune system for therapies against cancer Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:49 AM PDT Innovative immunotherapies treatments for advanced or high-risk melanoma and cervical cancer -- used alone or in combination -- fight cancer by activating and amplifying the body's immune response to the disease. New studies find high activity with investigative drugs for advanced melanoma, and show for the first time that ipilimumab, a treatment already approved for advanced melanoma, can substantially decrease the risk of melanoma recurrence in certain patients with earlier-stage disease.

Prenatal maternal stress predicts asthma and autism traits in 6 1/2-year-old children Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:48 AM PDT A new study finds a link between prenatal maternal stress and the development of symptoms of asthma and autism in children. Scientists have been studying women who were pregnant during the January 1998 Quebec ice storm since June of that year and observing effects of their stress on their children's development (Project Ice Storm). The team examined the degree to which the mothers' objective degree of hardship from the storm and their subjective degree of distress explained differences among the women's children in asthma-like symptoms and in autism-like traits.

'Healthy' component of red wine, resveratrol, causes pancreatic abnormalities in fetuses Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:47 AM PDT Here's more evidence that pregnant women should be careful about what they eat and drink: A new research report shows that when taken during pregnancy, resveratrol supplements led to developmental abnormalities in the fetal pancreas. This study has direct relevance to human health--Resveratrol is widely used for its recognized health benefits, and is readily available over the counter.

Why inflammation leads to a leaky blood-brain barrier: MicroRNA-155 Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:47 AM PDT Until now, scientists have not known exactly how inflammation weakens the blood-brain barrier, allowing toxins and other molecules access to the brain. A new research report solves this mystery by showing that a molecule, called 'microRNA-155,' is responsible for cleaving epithelial cells to create microscopic gaps that let material through.

Common, hard-to-treat cancers: Potential new targeted therapies Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:20 AM PDT Positive results from four clinical trials of investigational targeted drugs for advanced ovarian, lung, and thyroid cancers, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia were highlighted recently by researchers. Findings from the mid- and late-stage trials suggest new ways to slow disease progression and improve survival for patients who experience relapses or resistance to available treatments.

New strategies to improve quality of life for cancer patients, caregivers Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:20 AM PDT New strategies for easing the short- and long-term effects of cancer therapy and improving the quality of life of patients with cancer, as well as their caregivers have been released by researchers. "We've made incredible strides in cancer treatment, and more cancer survivors are alive today than ever before. But oncology isn't just about helping people live longer -- we need to ensure that patients have the best quality of life possible at every stage of their cancer journey," said one expert.

Marijuana use associated with impaired sleep quality Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:20 AM PDT Marijuana use is associated with impaired sleep quality, research suggests. Results show that any history of cannabis use was associated with an increased likelihood of reporting difficulty falling asleep, struggling to maintain sleep, experiencing non-restorative sleep, and feeling daytime sleepiness. The strongest association was found in adults who started marijuana use before age 15; they were about twice as likely to have severe problems falling asleep, experiencing non-restorative sleep and feeling overly sleepy during the day.

Poor sleep equal to binge drinking, marijuana use in predicting academic problems Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:20 AM PDT College students who are poor sleepers are much more likely to earn worse grades and withdraw from a course than healthy sleeping peers, new research shows. Results show that sleep timing and maintenance problems in college students are a strong predictor of academic problems. The study also found that sleep problems have about the same impact on grade point average (GPA) as binge drinking and marijuana use.

Half of pregnant women who have hypertension and snore unknowingly have a sleep disorder Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:20 AM PDT A substantial proportion of hypertensive pregnant women have obstructive sleep apnea, and many may not be aware. We know that habitual snoring is linked with poor pregnancy outcomes for both mother and child, including increased risk of C-sections and smaller babies," says the lead author. "Our findings show that a substantial proportion of hypertensive pregnant women have obstructive sleep apnea and that habitual snoring may be one of the most telling signs to identify this risk early in order to improve health outcomes."

Suicides far more likely to occur after midnight, study finds Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:20 AM PDT Suicides are far more likely to occur between midnight and 4 a.m. than during the daytime or evening, evidence shows. Accounting for more than 38,000 deaths each year, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In comparison, about 16,000 deaths occur each year due to homicide.

Same face, many first impressions Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:17 AM PDT Slight variations in how an individual face is viewed can lead people to develop significantly different first impressions of that individual, according to research. "Our findings suggest that impressions from still photos of individuals could be deeply misleading," says one psychological scientist. "This research has important ramifications for how we think about these impressions and how we test whether they are accurate."

Common cholesterol drug greatly alters inflammatory response to common cold Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:17 AM PDT Cold season may be just behind us, but a new discovery may shed light on how this common condition triggers asthma attacks. In a new report, researchers show that in individuals with asthma, statins significantly reduce the in vitro inflammatory response of human monocytes to rhinovirus, the cause of the common cold.

Early steps toward personalized fitness: Interval training may benefit men more than women Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:17 AM PDT When it comes to reaping benefits of sprint interval training, it appears that men have won the battle of the sexes, if just barely. According to new research, men create more new proteins as a result of this exercise than women do. The good news, however, is that men and women experienced similar increases in aerobic capacity.

Antipsychotic medication during pregnancy does affect babies, study shows Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:16 AM PDT A seven-year study of women who take antipsychotic medication while pregnant, proves it can affect babies. The observational study reveals that while most women gave birth to healthy babies, the use of mood stabilizers or higher doses of antipsychotics during pregnancy increased the need for special care after birth with 43 per cent of babies placed in a Special Care Nursery or a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, almost three times the national rate in Australia.

Cystic fibrosis, diabetes link explained Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:13 AM PDT Many people with cystic fibrosis develop diabetes. The reasons for this have been largely unknown, but now researchers have identified a molecular mechanism that contributes to the raised diabetes risk. Cystic fibrosis is the result of a genetic mutation in an ion channel that normally regulates salt transport in cells, primarily in the lungs and pancreas.

Do your stomach bacteria protect you from obesity? Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:12 AM PDT The germ Helicobacter pylori is the cause of most stomach ulcers. It is estimated that 50% of the global population may be infected with H. pylori; however, only 20% of infected people experience symptoms. New evidence suggests that patients treated for the infection developed significant weight gain compared to subjects with untreated H. pylori colonization.

Hypnosis extends restorative slow-wave sleep, research shows Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:12 AM PDT Sleeping well is a crucial factor contributing to our physical and mental restoration. Slow-Wave sleep (SWS) in particular has a positive impact for instance on memory and the functioning of the immune system. During periods of SWS, growth hormones are secreted, cell repair is promoted and the defense system is stimulated. If you feel sick or have had a hard working day, you often simply want to get some good, deep sleep, a wish that you may not be able to influence through your own will.

Speaking two languages benefits the aging brain Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:12 AM PDT New research reveals that bilingualism has a positive effect on cognition later in life. Findings show that individuals who speak two or more languages, even those who acquired the second language in adulthood, may slow down cognitive decline from aging. Bilingualism is thought to improve cognition and delay dementia in older adults. While prior research has investigated the impact of learning more than one language, ruling out "reverse causality" has proven difficult. The crucial question is whether people improve their cognitive functions through learning new languages or whether those with better baseline cognitive functions are more likely to become bilingual.

E-cigarette TV ads targeting youth increased 256% in past two years Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:01 AM PDT In the absence of the kind of federal regulations that apply to tobacco cigarettes, television advertising for e-cigarettes has increased two-fold for youth and three-fold for young adults in the U.S. in the past two years, according to a study. Researchers found that youth exposure to electronic cigarette advertisements increased by 256 percent from 2011 to 2013 and young adult exposure to e-cigarette ads jumped 321 percent in the same time period.

Prevention of C. diff infections in hospitals achieved with collaborative intervention Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:01 AM PDT In the past decade, the incidence and severity of hospital acquired Clostridium difficile (CDI) infections has increased dramatically in the United States. Research, however, demonstrates that a collaborative multi-hospital model using standardized clinical infection and environmental cleaning programs can be effective in controlling the spread of this pathogen.

Joint implants without an expiry date Posted: 02 Jun 2014 06:51 AM PDT Artificial joints have a limited lifespan. After a few years, many hip and knee joints have to be replaced. Much more complex are intervertebral disc implants, which cannot easily be replaced after their "expiry date" and which up to now have had to be reinforced in most cases. This restricts the patient's freedom of movement considerably. Researchers have now succeeded in coating mobile intervertebral disc implants so that they show no wear and will now last for a lifetime.

Medical errors often result from language barriers Posted: 02 Jun 2014 06:51 AM PDT Despite widespread public and professional attention devoted to medical errors and ways to prevent them, few efforts have focused on addressing a leading cause of errors -- communication problems involving patients with limited proficiency in English. A new study assessed high-risk clinical situations where medical errors are most likely to occur among limited English proficiency patients and when consequences could be severe.

Tale of two prognoses in pediatric brain tumor, pilocytic astrocytoma Posted: 02 Jun 2014 06:51 AM PDT Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is a primarily pediatric brain tumor caused mainly by mutations in the BRAF gene. In fact, there are two specific mechanisms for activation of BRAF implicated in PA formation: by fusion of the gene with nearby gene KIAA1549 (K:B fusion) or by point mutations of the BRAF gene itself. Researchers used a newly designed test for K:B fusion to show that point mutations lead to a more dangerous form of the disease than does K:B fusion.

Improving bystander resuscitation following cardiac arrest outside hospital could save 100,000 lives across Europe each year Posted: 01 Jun 2014 05:20 PM PDT Improving the skills of members of the public, including school children, in resuscitation following cardiac arrest could save up to 100,000 lives in Europe per year, researchers say. Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by lay people increases survival by 2-3 times, however, today it is delivered in only 1 in 5 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests across Europe on average.

Children exposed to secondhand tobacco or cooking smoke have very high rates of pain, complications after tonsillectomy Posted: 01 Jun 2014 05:20 PM PDT Children exposed to indoor coal-burning stoves and/or second-hand tobacco smoke are much more likely to suffer postoperative complications and excessive pain after tonsillectomies, research shows. Almost half of the world's population uses solid fuel including biomass (wood, crop residues, and animal dung) or coal for heating and cooking. Many stoves generate and release pollutants into household air including carbon monoxide.

Parental presence improves quality of child anesthesia, research shows Posted: 01 Jun 2014 05:20 PM PDT Having parents present during the induction of their child's anaesthesia improves the quality of that anesthesia, research shows. The effect of parental presence at anaesthesia induction on children anxiety and children anaesthesia compliance has been previously investigated but the few studies to date have produced contradictory results; and nobody has investigated issues around parental experience and total perceived quality.

Ovarian cancer subtypes may predict response to bevacizumab Posted: 01 Jun 2014 05:19 PM PDT Molecular sequencing could identify ovarian cancer patients who are most likely to benefit from treatment with bevacizumab (Avastin), a study has found. The U.S. spends about $3 billion a year on bevacizumab for cancer treatment. "Unfortunately, two-thirds of those patients don't respond to the drug, which means we are just giving them toxicity with no benefit. This expression data will help us choose which patients should receive this drug," a researcher notes.

Revolutionizing diets, improving health with discovery of new genes involved in food preferences Posted: 01 Jun 2014 05:19 PM PDT New understanding of the genes involved in taste perception and food preferences can lead to personalized nutrition plans effective not just in weight loss but in avoiding diseases such as cancer, depression, and hypertension. The ability to devise diets based on individual genetic profiles can lead to significantly better results – for example, a weight loss 33% greater than with a control group who had a similar calorie count but a non-personalized diet plan, researchers say.

Uncovering deletions, duplications in the exome can help pinpoint cause of unexplained genetic diseases Posted: 01 Jun 2014 05:19 PM PDT Analysis of genetic variation in the exome, the DNA sequence of genes that are translated into protein, can aid in uncovering the cause of conditions for which no genetic cause could previously be found, and that this can directly impact clinical management, researchers say. Copy number variants, major genomic deletions or duplications, can contribute to a number of diseases including blindness, deafness, a congenital form of muscular dystrophy, a neonatal-onset metabolic disorder, and an inherited disorder of the immune system, they say.

Crowdsourcing answer to cancer cell drug sensitivities Posted: 01 Jun 2014 05:19 PM PDT An open challenge to predict which breast cancer cell lines will respond to which drugs, based only on the sum of cells' genomic data, has released its results. The winning entry was 78 percent accurate in identifying sensitive versus resistant cell lines, and was one of 44 algorithms submitted by groups from around the world.

Leptin also influences brain cells that control appetite, researchers find Posted: 01 Jun 2014 12:09 PM PDT Twenty years after the hormone leptin was found to regulate metabolism, appetite, and weight through brain cells called neurons, researchers have found that the hormone also acts on other types of cells to control appetite. Leptin, a naturally occurring hormone, is known for its hunger-blocking effect on the hypothalamus, a region in the brain. Food intake is influenced by signals that travel from the body to the brain. Leptin is one of the molecules that signal the brain to modulate food intake.

'Quadrapeutics' works in preclinical study of hard-to-treat tumors: Animal tests show technology effective against aggressive cancer Posted: 01 Jun 2014 12:08 PM PDT The first preclinical tests for a novel anti-cancer technology called 'quadrapeutics' that converts current clinical treatments to instantaneously detect and kill only cancer cells have been successful. Quadrapeutics combines clinically available drugs, colloidal gold, pulsed lasers and radiation in a novel and safe micro-treatment that improved standard therapy by 17-fold against aggressive, drug-resistant tumors.

New genetic cause of male reproductive birth defects identified Posted: 01 Jun 2014 12:08 PM PDT A previously unrecognized genetic cause for two types of birth defects found in newborn boys has described in a report. Cryptorchidism is characterized by the failure of descent of one or both testes into the scrotum during fetal development. In the adult man, the testes produce sperm and the male hormone, testosterone. Hypospadias is the abnormal placement of the opening of the urethra on the penis. Both birth defects are usually surgically repaired during infancy.

Smokers with gene defect have one in four chance of developing lung cancer Posted: 01 Jun 2014 12:08 PM PDT Around a quarter of smokers who carry a defect in the BRCA2 gene will develop lung cancer at some point in their lifetime, a large-scale, international study reveals. Scientists announce a previously unknown link between lung cancer and a particular BRCA2 defect, occurring in around 2 per cent of the population.

Drug combination extends survival by more than a year in metastatic prostate cancer Posted: 01 Jun 2014 12:06 PM PDT Men with newly diagnosed metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer lived more than a year longer when they received a chemotherapy drug as initial treatment instead of waiting to for the disease to become resistant to hormone-blockers, report scientists. The dramatic results in a multi-center phase III trial should change the way physicians have routinely treated such patients since the 1950s, they said.

Hormone that controls supply of iron in red blood cell production discovered by researchers Posted: 01 Jun 2014 12:06 PM PDT A new hormone called erythroferrone, which regulates the iron supply needed for red blood-cell production, has been discovered by researchers. Iron is an essential functional component of hemoglobin. Using a mouse model, researchers found that erythroferrone is made by red blood-cell progenitors in the bone marrow in order to match iron supply with the demands of red blood-cell production. Erythroferrone is greatly increased when red blood-cell production is stimulated, such as after bleeding or in response to anemia.

Paired enzyme action in yeast reveals backup system for DNA repair Posted: 01 Jun 2014 12:06 PM PDT The combined action of two enzymes, Srs2 and Exo1, prevents and repairs common genetic mutations in growing yeast cells, according to a new study. Because such mechanisms are generally conserved throughout evolution, at least in part, researchers say the findings suggest that a similar DNA repair kit may exist in humans and could serve as a target for controlling some cancers and treating a rare, enzyme-linked genetic disorder called Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome.

Newly identified brain cancer mutation will aid drug development Posted: 01 Jun 2014 12:06 PM PDT New genetic insights into a rare and deadly form of childhood and young adult brain cancer called brainstem glioma has been identified by an international team of researchers. The researchers identified a genetic mutation in the tumor cells that plays a role in both the growth and the death of a cell. Additionally, the mutation to the newly identified gene may also contribute to the tumor's resistance to radiation.

Nearly 19 million cancer survivors in the U.S. by 2024, new report estimates Posted: 01 Jun 2014 08:40 AM PDT The number of cancer survivors in the United States, currently estimated to be 14.5 million, will grow to almost 19 million by 2024, a new report says. The findings suggest that even though cancer incidence rates have been decreasing for ten years, the number of cancer survivors is growing. This is the result of increases in cancer diagnoses driven by the aging and growth of the population, as well as the fact that people are living longer with cancer because of earlier cancer detection and more effective treatments.

Enzyme used in antidepressants could help researchers develop prostate cancer treatments Posted: 01 Jun 2014 08:39 AM PDT An enzyme commonly used as a target for antidepressants may also promote prostate cancer growth, an international team of scientists report. The study found that suppressing the enzyme monoamine oxidase A, or MAOA, may reduce or even eliminate prostate tumor growth and metastasis in laboratory mice. The finding could open the door for physicians to use antidepressants to fight prostate cancer. Currently, drugs that inhibit MAOA enzymes are used to treat patients with mental illnesses like depression.

Drug combination may be highly effective in recurrent ovarian cancer Posted: 01 Jun 2014 08:39 AM PDT Significant improvement with the use of a combination drug therapy for recurrent ovarian cancer has been identified by recent research. The trial compared the activity of the combination of the drug olaparib, which blocks DNA repair, and the blood vessel inhibitor drug cediranib, vs. olaparib alone. Trial results showed a near doubling of progression-free survival benefit for the combination therapy over use of the single drug alone.

Vaccine for malignant brain tumors: Update on phase II trial Posted: 01 Jun 2014 08:39 AM PDT An immune system-boosting therapy slowed the recurrence of glioblastoma multiforme, or GBM, the most common and deadly malignant brain tumor, a Phase II clinical trial by an international team of researchers has demonstrated. "This is the first placebo-controlled, randomized study of a vaccine for glioblastoma to show a significant benefit in a clinically meaningful endpoint, progression-free survival. In addition, the subgroup of patients with unmethylated MGMT promoter and HLA-A2 appear to particularly benefit," said the study's first author.

Single agent -- trastuzumab -- remains the gold standard in HER2 breast cancer care, study shows Posted: 01 Jun 2014 08:39 AM PDT Lapatinib (Tykerb) did not add benefit to the standard trastuzumab (Herceptin) adjuvant therapy, researchers report following the largest clinical trial testing the effectiveness of one versus two drugs to treat HER2-positive breast cancer.

Chemotherapy following radiation treatment improves progression-free survival, overall survival in adults with low-grade brain cancer Posted: 01 Jun 2014 08:39 AM PDT A chemotherapy regimen consisting of procarbazine, CCNU, and vincristine (PCV) administered following radiation therapy improved progression-free survival and overall survival in adults with low-grade gliomas, a form of brain cancer, when compared to radiation therapy alone, a study shows.

You are subscribed to email updates from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610