ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Genetic risk for autism stems mostly from common genes
• New technique maps life's effects on our DNA: Powerful single-cell technique to study environmental effects on DNA
• Genetic cause of common breast tumors found
• Metabolic enzyme stops progression of most common type of kidney cancer
• Scientists map one of most important proteins in life -- and cancer
• New HIV prevention recommendations combine biomedical, behavioral approaches
• Offering option of initial HIV care at home increases use of antiretroviral therapy
• Growth hormone analog may reduce risk of fatty liver disease in HIV-infected patients
• Effect on pregnancy of receiving antiretroviral therapy for prevention of HIV
• Combination treatment for hep C associated with favorable response among HIV patients
• Rate of HIV diagnosis in U.S. examined in study
• Performance improvement program helps doctors better manage depression, report researchers
• Negative HPV test may predict lower cervical cancer risk than a negative Pap
• Antipsychotic drugs linked to slight decrease in brain volume
• Interleukin-10 aids survival of cells transplanted to repair cardiac tissues after MI
• Eight ways zinc affects the human body
• Tiniest catch: Scientists' fishing expedition reveals viral diversity in sea

Genetic risk for autism stems mostly from common genes Posted: 20 Jul 2014 05:46 PM PDT Using new statistical tools, scientists have discovered that most of the genetic risk for autism comes from versions of genes that are common in the population rather than from rare variants or spontaneous glitches.

New technique maps life's effects on our DNA: Powerful single-cell technique to study environmental effects on DNA Posted: 20 Jul 2014 05:43 PM PDT Researchers have developed a powerful new single-cell technique to help investigate how the environment affects our development and the traits we inherit from our parents.

Genetic cause of common breast tumors found Posted: 20 Jul 2014 05:43 PM PDT A major breakthrough in understanding the molecular basis of fibroadenoma, one of the most common breast tumors diagnosed in women, has been made by a multidisciplinary team of scientists. The team used advanced DNA sequencing technologies to identify a critical gene called MED12 that was repeatedly disrupted in nearly 60 percent of fibroadenoma cases.

Metabolic enzyme stops progression of most common type of kidney cancer Posted: 20 Jul 2014 05:42 PM PDT An enzyme called FBP1 -- essential for regulating metabolism -- binds to a transcription factor in the nucleus of certain kidney cells and restrains energy production in the cell body, researchers report. What's more, they determined that this enzyme is missing from all kidney tumor tissue analyzed. These tumor cells without FBP1 produce energy at a much faster rate than their non-cancer cell counterparts.

Scientists map one of most important proteins in life -- and cancer Posted: 20 Jul 2014 05:42 PM PDT Scientists reveal the structure of one of the most important and complicated proteins in cell division -- a fundamental process in life and the development of cancer -- in a new research article. Images of the gigantic protein in unprecedented detail will transform scientists' understanding of exactly how cells copy their chromosomes and divide, and could reveal binding sites for future cancer drugs.

New HIV prevention recommendations combine biomedical, behavioral approaches Posted: 19 Jul 2014 01:38 PM PDT In an innovative approach to HIV prevention, an interdisciplinary group of experts has come together for the first time to lay out a framework of best practices to optimize the role of the clinician in achieving an AIDS-free generation. The recommendations are intended as guidelines for clinicians to implement a combined biomedical-behavioral approach to HIV care and prevention. They are based on a comprehensive review of data that was either published or presented at scientific conferences over the past 17 years.

Offering option of initial HIV care at home increases use of antiretroviral therapy Posted: 19 Jul 2014 01:35 PM PDT Offering adults in Malawi optional home initiation of care following HIV self-testing resulted in a significant increase in the proportion of adults initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) compared with standard HIV care, a study indicates. "At a time when universal test and treat approaches to controlling the HIV epidemic are being considered, home initiation of HIV care shows high promise as a simple strategy to improve the uptake of ART when HIV self-testing is carried out at home," a researcher noted.

Growth hormone analog may reduce risk of fatty liver disease in HIV-infected patients Posted: 19 Jul 2014 01:35 PM PDT In a preliminary study, HIV-infected patients with excess abdominal fat who received the growth hormone-releasing hormone analog tesamorelin for 6 months experienced modest reductions in liver fat, according to a study. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, abdominal fat accumulation is associated with ectopic (out of place) fat accumulation in the liver. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may progress to end-stage liver disease and liver cancer.

Effect on pregnancy of receiving antiretroviral therapy for prevention of HIV Posted: 19 Jul 2014 01:35 PM PDT Among heterosexual African couples in which the male was HIV positive and the female was not, receipt of antiretroviral pre-exposure preventive (PrEP) therapy did not result in significant differences in pregnancy incidence, birth outcomes, and infant growth compared to females who received placebo, according to a study.

Combination treatment for hep C associated with favorable response among HIV patients Posted: 19 Jul 2014 01:35 PM PDT HIV-infected patients also infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) who received a combination of the medications sofosbuvir plus ribavirin had high rates of sustained HCV virologic response 12 weeks after cessation of therapy, according to a study. Up to 7 million persons worldwide are infected with both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus.

Rate of HIV diagnosis in U.S. examined in study Posted: 19 Jul 2014 01:35 PM PDT The annual HIV diagnosis rate in the U.S. decreased more than 30 percent from 2002-2011, with declines observed in several key populations, although increases were found among certain age groups of men who have sex with men, especially young men, according to a study.

Performance improvement program helps doctors better manage depression, report researchers Posted: 18 Jul 2014 02:20 PM PDT A performance improvement initiative for physicians can significantly increase their use of evidence-based practices in screening for and treating depression, researchers report. Depression is a common and potentially disabling condition that can be difficult to treat. One in three US adults will experience a major depressive episode during their lifetime, yet a quarter of patients are undiagnosed, and fewer than half of those who are diagnosed receive treatment.

Negative HPV test may predict lower cervical cancer risk than a negative Pap Posted: 18 Jul 2014 02:20 PM PDT In the US, cotesting for human papilloma virus and Pap testing for cervical cancer every 5 years for women aged 30-65 years is now recommended. However, human papilloma virus testing alone may provide better reassurance against cervical cancer than Pap testing alone and similar reassurance to cotesting, according to a study.

Antipsychotic drugs linked to slight decrease in brain volume Posted: 18 Jul 2014 02:20 PM PDT A new study has confirmed a link between antipsychotic medication and a slight, but measureable, decrease in brain volume in patients with schizophrenia. For the first time, researchers have been able to examine whether this decrease is harmful for patients' cognitive function and symptoms, and noted that over a nine year follow-up, this decrease did not appear to have any effect.

Interleukin-10 aids survival of cells transplanted to repair cardiac tissues after MI Posted: 18 Jul 2014 10:15 AM PDT Three groups of rats modeled with a myocardial infarction were treated with smooth muscle cell injections into the MI-damaged area of the heart in a new study. One group received unmodified autologous SMCs; another received unmodified allogenic SMCs; the last group received allogenic SMCs modified with interleukin 10 - a small, anti-inflammatory protein. The group receiving allogenic SMCs modified with IL-10 demonstrated cell survival, improved heart function, and protection against the host's rejection of the allogenic SMCs.

Eight ways zinc affects the human body Posted: 18 Jul 2014 08:45 AM PDT Zinc has been identified as one of the most important essential trace metals in human nutrition and lifestyle. Zinc is not only a vital element in various physiological processes; it is also a drug in the prevention of many diseases. The adult body contains about two to three grams of zinc. It is found in organs, tissues, bones, fluids, and cells.

Tiniest catch: Scientists' fishing expedition reveals viral diversity in sea Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:04 PM PDT Using bacteria as bait, scientists caught wild ocean viruses and then deciphered their genomes. They learned that the genetic lines between virus types in nature are less blurred than previously thought. This enables scientists to recognize actual populations of viruses in nature for the first time.

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