ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Causes of death shifting in people with HIV
• Losing sleep over your divorce? Your blood pressure could suffer
• Discovery may make it easier to develop life-saving stem cells
• Alcohol-programming outreach is especially important for female Black, Latina drinkers
• Gaps in efforts to enforce alcohol laws identified by national study of colleges
• Adding alcohol to energy drinks leads to an increased urge to drink
• Adolescent alcohol abuse disrupts transitions into early adulthood
• Older adults who walk out of necessity are at highest risk for outdoor falls
• Personalized approach enhances communication skills in children with autism
• Eating lean beef daily can help lower blood pressure, study suggests
• In development, it's all about the timing
• Don't skimp on shades this summer
• Protein-building enzymes have undergone metamorphosis, evolved diverse new functions
• Next step in creating HIV-1 immunotherapy using fossil virus
• Orthopedic surgery generally safe for patients age 80 and older
• Lipoic acid helps restore, synchronize 'biological clock'
• Exercise, relaxation activities positively impact people with social anxiety disorders
• Crohn's disease research advances with protein identification
• Obese women may have learning deficit specific to food
• Brown fat found to be at the root of cancer-related wasting syndrome
• Gut microbes turn carbs into colorectal cancer, study shows
• Forty percent of Ontario female prisoners enter correctional system with a traumatic brain injury
• Potential new therapy with brain-on-a-chip axonal strain injury model
• What are the risks of post-traumatic stress disorder after an accident?
• Gene that plays a surprising role in combating aging identified
• Transplanting gene into injured hearts creates biological pacemakers
• Anti-tank missile detector joins fight against malaria
• Research on persons with HIV/AIDS not taking medication, not engaged in care
• Eradicating fatal sleeping sickness by killing off the tsetse fly
• Effects of starvation can be passed to future generations, through small RNAs apparently without DNA involvement
• Measuring nurture: Study shows how 'good mothering' hardwires infant brain
• Asthma drugs suppress children's growth, study suggest
• Seeing the glass as half full: Taking a new look at cognition and aging
• Shift in resuscitation practices in military combat hospitals under review
• Persistent symptoms following concussion may be posttraumatic stress disorder
• Liver transplant patients who receive organs from living donors more likely to survive than those who receive organs from deceased donors
• Immortal line of breast cancer cells being developed; Patient who provided cells called 'brave and self-sacrificing'
• Squid skin protein could improve biomedical technologies, study shows
• Potassium supplements may increase survival in patients taking diuretics for heart failure, study suggests

Causes of death shifting in people with HIV Posted: 17 Jul 2014 06:21 PM PDT HIV-positive adults in high income countries face a substantially reduced risk of death from AIDS-related causes, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease compared with a decade ago, according to a large international study. Although deaths from most causes declined over the study period, there was no reduction in death rates from non-AIDS cancers which remained stable over time (1.6 deaths per 1000 years 1999-2000 to 2.1 in 2009-2011). Non-AIDS cancers are now the leading cause of non-AIDS deaths in people with HIV, accounting for 23% of all deaths.

Losing sleep over your divorce? Your blood pressure could suffer Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:05 PM PDT It's normal for people to experience trouble sleeping after a divorce, but if sleep problems last too long, they can lead to potentially harmful increases in blood pressure, a new study finds. The research suggests that poor sleep quality might be one of the reasons divorce is linked to negative health effects.

Discovery may make it easier to develop life-saving stem cells Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:05 PM PDT Not unlike looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack, a team of researchers has found a gene that could be key to the development of stem cells -- cells that can potentially save millions of lives by morphing into practically any cell in the body. The gene, known as ASF1A, is at least one of the genes responsible for the mechanism of cellular reprogramming, a phenomenon that can turn one cell type into another, which is key to the making of stem cells.

Alcohol-programming outreach is especially important for female Black, Latina drinkers Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:05 PM PDT Ethnic minorities and non-English speakers have more difficulty accessing needed health care services, researchers report. New findings show that female Black and Latina drinkers in particular are at a disadvantage, and that alcohol-programming outreach is especially important for these populations.

Gaps in efforts to enforce alcohol laws identified by national study of colleges Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:05 PM PDT A new study has examined campus police/security responses to serious, underage, and less-serious alcohol incidents on and off campus at 343 colleges across the United States. Results show that campus security or law enforcement officials were not likely to issue citations for alcohol-law violations. Students were usually referred for discipline or sanctions to other university officials rather than formal courts, and were generally not referred to a campus health center for alcohol screening or intervention.

Adding alcohol to energy drinks leads to an increased urge to drink Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:04 PM PDT Public-health concerns continue to grow concerning the combining of alcohol with energy drinks (A+ED). New findings indicate that combining A+ED increased the urge to drink alcohol relative to drinking alcohol alone. Study participants who drank A+ED also had significantly higher ratings on liking the cocktail, and wanting to drink more of it, than the alcohol-only condition.

Adolescent alcohol abuse disrupts transitions into early adulthood Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:04 PM PDT Adolescent alcohol abuse is known to be associated with adverse outcomes in early adulthood. It is unclear how much of this association is due to the influence of differences in familial background and shared genetics. New findings implicate a significant causal relationship between elevated drinking problems at age 18.5 and more adverse life outcomes at age 25 that cannot be fully explained by shared genetic and environmental liabilities.

Older adults who walk out of necessity are at highest risk for outdoor falls Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:04 PM PDT Older adults are at a greater danger of falling when walking for utilitarian purposes such as shopping and appointments than when walking for recreation, according to a study.

Personalized approach enhances communication skills in children with autism Posted: 17 Jul 2014 12:15 PM PDT The communication skills of minimally verbal children with autism can be greatly improved through personalized interventions that are combined with the use of computer tablets, researchers report. The three-year study examined different approaches to improving communication abilities among children with autism spectrum disorder and minimal verbal skills. Approximately 30 percent of children with ASD overall remain minimally verbal even after years of intervention.

Eating lean beef daily can help lower blood pressure, study suggests Posted: 17 Jul 2014 11:20 AM PDT Contrary to conventional wisdom, new research suggests that eating lean beef can reduce risk factors for heart disease. The DASH eating plan -- Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension -- is currently recommended by the American Heart Association to lower blood pressure and reduce risk of heart disease. People following the DASH diet are encouraged to eat fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and protein predominantly from plant sources. Lean beef can be enjoyed as the predominant protein source in a DASH-like diet, along with fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy, to effectively help lower blood pressure in healthy individuals, new research suggests.

In development, it's all about the timing Posted: 17 Jul 2014 11:20 AM PDT Closely related organisms share most of their genes, but these similarities belie major differences in behavior, intelligence, and physical appearance. Scientists are beginning to appreciate that the timing of the events that happen during development plays a decisive role in defining an organism. Now, a team of scientists has identified LIN-42 as a key regulator of developmental timing, governing a broad range of events throughout maturation.

Don't skimp on shades this summer Posted: 17 Jul 2014 11:18 AM PDT Sunscreen and sunglasses top the list of summertime must-haves for most people. But just as skin can burn on an overcast or chilly day, eyes can sustain damage anytime you're outdoors without sunglasses. Larger frames may be the style now, but they are also more effective at protecting the eye, eyelid and surrounding tissues from harmful ultraviolet, or UV, rays.

Protein-building enzymes have undergone metamorphosis, evolved diverse new functions Posted: 17 Jul 2014 11:18 AM PDT Ancient enzymes, known for their fundamental role in translating genetic information into proteins, have evolved a myriad of other functions in humans, research shows. The surprising discovery highlights an intriguing oddity of protein evolution as well as a potentially valuable new class of therapeutic proteins and therapeutic targets.

Next step in creating HIV-1 immunotherapy using fossil virus Posted: 17 Jul 2014 09:50 AM PDT An antibody that can neutralize the HIV-1 fossil virus has been discovered by researchers. This may lead to finding a viable immunotherapy option for HIV-1. The research team found that the right antibody directed against an ancestral fossil virus buried within everyone's genomes might be able to target HIV-1 and neutralize it.

Orthopedic surgery generally safe for patients age 80 and older Posted: 17 Jul 2014 09:50 AM PDT Over the past decade, a greater number of patients, age 80 and older, are having elective orthopedic surgery. A new study has found that these surgeries are generally safe with mortality rates decreasing for total hip (THR) and total knee (TKR) replacement and spinal fusion surgeries, and complication rates decreasing for total knee replacement and spinal fusion in patients with few or no comorbidities (other conditions or diseases).

Lipoic acid helps restore, synchronize 'biological clock' Posted: 17 Jul 2014 09:50 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a possible explanation for the surprisingly large range of biological effects that are linked to a micronutrient called lipoic acid: It appears to reset and synchronize circadian rhythms, or the 'biological clock' found in most life forms. The ability of lipoic acid to help restore a more normal circadian rhythm to aging animals could explain its apparent value in so many important biological functions, ranging from stress resistance to cardiac function, hormonal balance, muscle performance, glucose metabolism and the aging process.

Exercise, relaxation activities positively impact people with social anxiety disorders Posted: 17 Jul 2014 09:49 AM PDT New research has shed light on how exercise and relaxation activities like yoga can positively impact people with social anxiety disorders. The study found that exercise and relaxation activities literally change the way people perceive the world, altering their perception so that they view the environment in a less threatening, less negative way. For people with mood and anxiety disorders, this is an important breakthrough.

Crohn's disease research advances with protein identification Posted: 17 Jul 2014 09:49 AM PDT A protein has been identified by researchers, hiding in plain sight, that acts like a bodyguard to help protect and stabilize another key protein, that when unstable, is involved in Crohn's disease. The fundamental research points to a possible pathway for developing an effective therapy for the inflammatory bowel disease.

Obese women may have learning deficit specific to food Posted: 17 Jul 2014 09:48 AM PDT Obese women have a deficit in reward-based learning, but only when food is involved. Importantly, say researchers, those same women have no trouble at all forming accurate associations when the reward is money instead of food. The findings may lead to new, gender-appropriate ways to tackle the obesity epidemic.

Brown fat found to be at the root of cancer-related wasting syndrome Posted: 17 Jul 2014 09:48 AM PDT Many patients with advanced stages of cancer, AIDS, tuberculosis, and other diseases die from a condition called cachexia, which is characterized as a 'wasting' syndrome that causes extreme thinness with muscle weakness. Cachexia is the direct cause of roughly 20 percent of deaths in cancer patients. While boosting food intake doesn't help, and no effective therapies are available, new research points to a promising strategy that may stimulate weight gain and muscle strength.

Gut microbes turn carbs into colorectal cancer, study shows Posted: 17 Jul 2014 09:48 AM PDT Colorectal cancer has been linked to carbohydrate-rich western diets, but the underlying mechanisms have been unclear. A new study shows that gut microbes metabolize carbohydrates in the diet, causing intestinal cells to proliferate and form tumors in mice that are genetically predisposed to colorectal cancer. Treatment with antibiotics or a low-carbohydrate diet significantly reduced tumors in these mice, suggesting that these easy interventions could prevent a common type of colorectal cancer in humans.

Forty percent of Ontario female prisoners enter correctional system with a traumatic brain injury Posted: 17 Jul 2014 09:45 AM PDT Almost 40 per cent of Ontario female prisoners have a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI), a study has shown. Unlike the men participating in the study, half of these women sustained a TBI before committing their first crime. Typically caused by a blow to the head, TBI is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. TBI is commonly caused by falls, motor vehicle collisions, physical assault or sports injuries.

Potential new therapy with brain-on-a-chip axonal strain injury model Posted: 17 Jul 2014 08:49 AM PDT The use of 'Brain-on-a-Chip' microsystem has been used to assess specific effects of traumatic axonal injury. This innovative approach was used to characterize the biochemical changes that are induced following traumatic axonal injury and highlights an apparent injury threshold that exists in axonal mitochondria.

What are the risks of post-traumatic stress disorder after an accident? Posted: 17 Jul 2014 08:49 AM PDT Many patients continue to suffer from symptoms (headaches, pain) several months after an accident. Now, a research team has studied the subsequent development of 1,300 people who were admitted to hospital for trauma. The researchers demonstrate that it is possible to identify people who will develop post-traumatic stress disorder, which generally occurs when the individual's life was put in danger.

Gene that plays a surprising role in combating aging identified Posted: 17 Jul 2014 08:39 AM PDT It is something of an eternal question: Can we slow or even reverse the aging process? Even though genetic manipulations can, in fact, alter some cellular dynamics, little is known about the mechanisms of the aging process in living organisms.

Transplanting gene into injured hearts creates biological pacemakers Posted: 17 Jul 2014 06:59 AM PDT Cardiologists have developed a minimally invasive gene transplant procedure that changes unspecialized heart cells into "biological pacemaker" cells that keep the heart steadily beating.

Anti-tank missile detector joins fight against malaria Posted: 17 Jul 2014 06:51 AM PDT State-of-the-art military hardware could soon fight malaria, one of the most deadly diseases on the planet. Researchers have used an anti-tank Javelin missile detector, more commonly used in warfare to detect the enemy, in a new test to rapidly identify malaria parasites in blood. The technique is based on Fourier Transform Infrared (FITR) spectroscopy, which provides information on how molecules vibrate.

Research on persons with HIV/AIDS not taking medication, not engaged in care Posted: 17 Jul 2014 06:51 AM PDT A new study describes factors believed to contribute to the critical public health issues of persons with HIV/AIDS not complying with treatment or care. The study has a particular focus on African American and Latino/Hispanic people with HIV/AIDS, the racial/ethnic groups most affected by HIV/AIDS.

Eradicating fatal sleeping sickness by killing off the tsetse fly Posted: 17 Jul 2014 06:49 AM PDT A professor of biology has lent his expertise in understanding insect movement to help shape a UN-sanctioned eradication effort of the tsetse fly -- a creature that passes the fatal African sleeping sickness to humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. The tsetse fly is the main vector for Human African Trypanosomiasis (aka sleeping sickness), and spreads the disease by biting humans or animals. The disease affects the central nervous system and is fatal if untreated. For some forms of the disease, victims can reach the terminal stage before symptoms even start to show.

Effects of starvation can be passed to future generations, through small RNAs apparently without DNA involvement Posted: 17 Jul 2014 06:46 AM PDT A new study, involving roundworms, shows that starvation induces specific changes in so-called small RNAs and that these changes are inherited through at least three consecutive generations, apparently without any DNA involvement.

Measuring nurture: Study shows how 'good mothering' hardwires infant brain Posted: 17 Jul 2014 06:45 AM PDT By carefully watching nearly a hundred hours of video showing mother rats protecting, warming, and feeding their young pups, and then matching up what they saw to real-time electrical readings from the pups' brains, researchers have found that the mother's presence and social interactions -— her nurturing role -— directly molds the early neural activity and growth of her offsprings' brain.

Asthma drugs suppress children's growth, study suggest Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:46 PM PDT Corticosteroid drugs that are given by inhalers to children with asthma may suppress their growth, evidence suggests. Two new systematic reviews focus on the effects of inhaled corticosteroid drugs on growth rates. The authors found children's growth slowed in the first year of treatment, although the effects were minimized by using lower doses.

Seeing the glass as half full: Taking a new look at cognition and aging Posted: 16 Jul 2014 01:58 PM PDT From a cognitive perspective, aging is typically associated with decline. But the news isn't all bad when it comes to cognitive aging, according to new articles recently published. Researchers show how several factors -- including motivation and crystallized knowledge -- can play important roles in supporting and maintaining cognitive function in the decades past middle age.

Shift in resuscitation practices in military combat hospitals under review Posted: 16 Jul 2014 01:58 PM PDT Widespread military adoption of damage control resuscitation policies has shifted resuscitation practices at combat hospitals during conflicts. One of the most important advancements in combat trauma care has been the adoption of DCR, with the basic principles of early, balanced administration of blood products, aggressive correction of coagulopathy (when blood will not clot) and the minimization of crystalloid fluids (intravenous fluids). Adoption of DCR has been credited with improvements in survival among severely injured patients.

Persistent symptoms following concussion may be posttraumatic stress disorder Posted: 16 Jul 2014 01:58 PM PDT The long-lasting symptoms that many patients contend with following mild traumatic brain injury, also known as concussion, may be posttraumatic disorder and not postconcussion syndrome. Concussion accounts for more than 90 percent of all TBIs, although little is known about prognosis for the injury.

Liver transplant patients who receive organs from living donors more likely to survive than those who receive organs from deceased donors Posted: 16 Jul 2014 12:11 PM PDT Research derived from early national experience of liver transplantation has shown that deceased donor liver transplants offered recipients better survival rates than living donor liver transplants, making them the preferred method of transplantation for most physicians. Now, the first data-driven study in over a decade disputes this notion. Living donor transplant outcomes are superior to those found with deceased donors with appropriate donor selection and when surgeries are performed at an experienced center.

Immortal line of breast cancer cells being developed; Patient who provided cells called 'brave and self-sacrificing' Posted: 16 Jul 2014 12:11 PM PDT Kimberly Koss is fighting an aggressive form of breast cancer. She hopes that long after she dies, her cancer cells will continue to live on in an immortal cell line that would be similar to the cell line described in the book "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" -– with one crucial difference. While the cervical cancer cell line was derived from patient Henrietta Lacks without her knowledge or consent, Koss has enthusiastically entrusted her cells to a research team. Indeed, the cell line was Koss' idea.

Squid skin protein could improve biomedical technologies, study shows Posted: 16 Jul 2014 11:13 AM PDT The common pencil squid may hold the key to a new generation of medical technologies that could communicate more directly with the human body. Materials science researchers have discovered that reflectin, a protein in the tentacled creature's skin, can conduct positive electrical charges, or protons, making it a promising material for building biologically inspired devices.

Potassium supplements may increase survival in patients taking diuretics for heart failure, study suggests Posted: 16 Jul 2014 11:10 AM PDT Patients taking prescription potassium supplements together with loop diuretics for heart failure have better survival rates than patients taking diuretics without the potassium. Moreover, the degree of benefit increases with higher diuretic doses, research finds. "Using potassium supplementation for patients receiving loop diuretic therapy may be a relatively inexpensive way to save lives," said the lead author. "In today's climate of seeking cost-effective measures to keep patients healthy, this is a therapy that certainly merits additional consideration."

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