ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• 'Tickling' your ear could be good for your heart
• Engineering bone growth: Coated tissue scaffolds help body grow new bone to repair injuries or congenital defects
• Ruxolitinib for myelofibrosis: Indication of considerable added benefit
• Perampanel for epilepsy: Still no proof of added benefit
• Fruit, vegetable intake still too low; human nutritionist says to focus on lunch
• Genetic key to lupus shows potential of personalized medicine
• Women will benefit from the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive coverage
• Intimacy a strong motivator for PrEP HIV prevention
• Taking a stand: Balancing the benefits, risks of physical activity in children
• The difficult question of Clostridium difficile
• Opioid users breathe easier with novel drug to treat respiratory depression
• Key to saving lives: Hands-only CPR
• Hope for healthy hearts revealed in naked mole rat studies
• Graphene rubber bands could stretch limits of current healthcare, new research finds
• Physically fit kids have beefier brain white matter than their less-fit peers
• Innate lymphoid cells elicit T cell responses
• Bacteria detected in food may cause risks to unborn children
• Surviving attack of killer microbes
• Anesthesia professionals not sufficiently aware of risks of postoperative cognitive side effects
• Deaths rise with shift from in-hospital to outpatient procedures for common urology surgeries, study shows
• Natural (born) killer cells battle pediatric leukemia
• Neglected boys may turn into violent adolescents
• Hospital superbug breakthrough: Antibacterial gel kills Pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococci and E.coli using natural proteins
• Clinical practice guidelines: Trying to get them right the first time
• Selective therapy may improve artery repair after interventional cardiovascular procedures
• Older patients with limited life expectancy still receiving cancer screenings
• Hospitalizations, deaths from heart disease, stroke drop in last decade
• Proteins critical to wound healing identified
• Device monitors key step in development of tumor metastases
• Crucial step in DNA repair identified by researchers
• Targeted brain stimulation aids stroke recovery in mice, scientists find
• Happiness in schizophrenia
• Aspirin, take two: Research identifies a second effect of the drug against inflammation
• Free fatty acids may be as effective as antibiotics in treating catheter infections
• Parents' vaccine intentions influenced by how benefits are communicated

'Tickling' your ear could be good for your heart Posted: 19 Aug 2014 05:02 PM PDT Stimulating nerves in your ear could improve the health of your heart, researchers have discovered. Scientists used a standard TENS machine like those designed to relieve labour pains to apply electrical pulses to the tragus, the small raised flap at the front of the ear immediately in front of the ear canal.

Engineering bone growth: Coated tissue scaffolds help body grow new bone to repair injuries or congenital defects Posted: 19 Aug 2014 12:53 PM PDT Chemical engineers have devised a new implantable tissue scaffold coated with bone growth factors that are released slowly over a few weeks. When applied to bone injuries or defects, this coated scaffold induces the body to rapidly form new bone that looks and behaves just like the original tissue. This type of coated scaffold could offer a dramatic improvement over the current standard for treating bone injuries, which involves transplanting bone from another part of the patient's body -- a painful process that does not always supply enough bone.

Ruxolitinib for myelofibrosis: Indication of considerable added benefit Posted: 19 Aug 2014 09:59 AM PDT In comparison with 'best supportive care', there is an indication that the new drug is better at relieving symptoms, and a hint of longer survival. Myelofibrosis is a rare disease of the bone marrow, in which the bone marrow is replaced by connective tissue. As a consequence of this so-called fibrosis, the bone marrow is no longer able to produce enough blood cells. Sometimes the spleen or the liver takes over some of the blood production. Then these organs enlarge and can cause abdominal discomfort and pain.

Perampanel for epilepsy: Still no proof of added benefit Posted: 19 Aug 2014 09:59 AM PDT In its second dossier, the drug manufacturer deviated from the appropriate comparator therapy and again provided no relevant data for the assessment of the added benefit of perampanel, experts report.

Fruit, vegetable intake still too low; human nutritionist says to focus on lunch Posted: 19 Aug 2014 09:59 AM PDT Children between the ages of 2 and 18 are eating more whole fruits and drinking less fruit juice, a new report finds after the implementation of a new program. However, vegetable intake remains the same, they say. One expert says the switch from fruit juice to whole fruit has been a big improvement.

Genetic key to lupus shows potential of personalized medicine Posted: 19 Aug 2014 08:31 AM PDT DNA sequencing of a lupus patient has identified a specific genetic mutation that is causing the disease, opening the way for personalized treatments. Researchers identified a variant in the TREX1 gene. This mutation caused the patient's cells to produce a molecule called interferon-alpha. Clinical trials are already underway for drugs to target interferon-alpha in adults.

Women will benefit from the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive coverage Posted: 19 Aug 2014 08:31 AM PDT Women could benefit greatly from the Affordable Care Act's mandate for contraceptive coverage, according to researchers. The Affordable Care Act requires private insurance plans -- except those grandfathered or exempted due to employers' religious beliefs -- to provide women with access to all FDA-approved contraceptive methods without cost-sharing. This first-dollar coverage "has the potential to dramatically shift contraceptive use patterns, to reduce the U.S. unintended pregnancy rate ... and to improve the health of women and families," write experts.

Intimacy a strong motivator for PrEP HIV prevention Posted: 19 Aug 2014 08:30 AM PDT Many HIV-negative gay or bisexual men in steady relationships with other HIV-negative men don't always use condoms out of a desire for intimacy. That same desire, according to a new study, makes such men more inclined to use antiretroviral medications to prevent getting HIV, a recommended practice known as PrEP.

Taking a stand: Balancing the benefits, risks of physical activity in children Posted: 19 Aug 2014 08:30 AM PDT Today the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology took a stand on the promotion of childhood physical activity. This position stand provides an important overview of knowledge in the area of risk of physical activity for children and suggests both practical guidelines and a research agenda. Uniquely, this position stand addresses both benefits and risks of physical activity for children.

The difficult question of Clostridium difficile Posted: 19 Aug 2014 08:30 AM PDT Clostridium difficile is a major problem as an aetiological agent for antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The mechanism by which the bacterium colonizes the gut during infection is poorly understood, but undoubtedly involves a myriad of components present on the bacterial surface. This study provides some insights that may help in developing a new type of drug to treat the infection.

Opioid users breathe easier with novel drug to treat respiratory depression Posted: 19 Aug 2014 08:29 AM PDT People taking prescription opioids to treat moderate to severe pain may be able to breathe a little easier, literally. A study has found that a new therapeutic drug, GAL-021, may reverse or prevent respiratory depression, or inadequate breathing, in patients taking opioid medication without compromising pain relief or increasing sedation.

Key to saving lives: Hands-only CPR Posted: 19 Aug 2014 08:28 AM PDT Cardiac arrest – an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and disrupts the flow of blood to the brain, lungs and other organs - is a leading cause of death. Each year, over 420,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States. When a person has a cardiac arrest, survival depends on immediately getting CPR from someone nearby.

Hope for healthy hearts revealed in naked mole rat studies Posted: 19 Aug 2014 06:40 AM PDT The naked mole rat, the longest lived of rodents, shows superior cardiovascular function to old age in two studies. Cardiovascular disease is the greatest killer of humans the world over, presenting huge financial and quality-of-life issues. It is well known that the heart becomes less efficient with age in all mammals studied to date, even in the absence of overt cardiac disease. However, scientists still don't have a good understanding of how to prevent these functional declines that ultimately may lead to debilitating cardiovascular disease.

Graphene rubber bands could stretch limits of current healthcare, new research finds Posted: 19 Aug 2014 05:34 AM PDT A new type of sensor that can monitor body movements and could help revolutionize healthcare is described in a new study. "These sensors are extraordinarily cheap compared to existing technologies. Each device would probably cost pennies, making it ideal technology for use in developing countries where there are not enough medically trained staff to effectively monitor and treat patients quickly," researchers said.

Physically fit kids have beefier brain white matter than their less-fit peers Posted: 19 Aug 2014 05:34 AM PDT A new study of 9- and 10-year-olds finds that those who are more aerobically fit have more fibrous and compact white-matter tracts in the brain than their peers who are less fit. 'White matter' describes the bundles of axons that carry nerve signals from one brain region to another. More compact white matter is associated with faster and more efficient nerve activity.

Innate lymphoid cells elicit T cell responses Posted: 19 Aug 2014 05:32 AM PDT In case of an inflammation, the body releases substances that increase the immune defense. During chronic inflammation, this immune response gets out of control and can induce organ damage. A research group has now discovered that innate lymphoid cells become activated and induce specific T and B cell responses during inflammation. These lymphoid cells are thus an important target for the treatment of infection and chronic inflammation.

Bacteria detected in food may cause risks to unborn children Posted: 19 Aug 2014 05:32 AM PDT At least 10 percent of the fresh cheese, sausages and meats sold in markets and on the street may be contaminated, Mexican research suggests. Human listeriosis is a disease with a high mortality rate (20 to 30 percent) leading to severe diseases such as meningitis, septicemia, and miscarriages. It usually affects immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, elderly and children. While the infection is spread by fecal-oral route of animal to human and from mother to fetus, the main source of infection is by eating contaminated food because of poor hygiene practices.

Surviving attack of killer microbes Posted: 19 Aug 2014 05:32 AM PDT The ability to find food and avoid predation dictates whether most organisms live to spread their genes to the next generation or die trying. But for some species of microbe, a unique virus changes the rules of the game. This unusual virus turns some individual microbes into killers. That is, when these killer microbes encounter any other microbe that is competing with them for resources, they kill that microbe on the spot.

Anesthesia professionals not sufficiently aware of risks of postoperative cognitive side effects Posted: 19 Aug 2014 05:32 AM PDT Postsurgical cognitive side effects can have major implications for the level of care, length of hospital stay, and the patient's perceived quality of care, especially in elderly and fragile patients. A nationwide survey of Swedish anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists has found there is low awareness of the risks of cognitive side effects following surgery. Furthermore, only around half of the respondents used depth-of-anesthesia monitors.

Deaths rise with shift from in-hospital to outpatient procedures for common urology surgeries, study shows Posted: 19 Aug 2014 05:29 AM PDT As hospitals have shifted an array of common urological surgeries from inpatient procedures to outpatient, potentially preventable deaths have increased following complications. The study also identified older, sicker, minority patients and those with public insurance as more likely to die after a potentially recognizable or preventable complication.

Natural (born) killer cells battle pediatric leukemia Posted: 19 Aug 2014 05:29 AM PDT A select team of immune-system cells can be multiplied in the lab, creating an army of natural killer cells that can be used to destroy leukemia cells, researchers report. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer of childhood. This disease hinders the development of healthy blood cells while cancer cells proliferate. Currently, children with ALL receive chemotherapy for two to three years, exposing them to significant side effects including changes in normal development and future fertility.

Neglected boys may turn into violent adolescents Posted: 18 Aug 2014 07:48 PM PDT Parents who physically neglect their boys may increase the risk that they will raise violent adolescents, according to sociologists. Examples of physical neglect include not taking a sick or injured child to the doctor, improperly clothing a child and not feeding a child, according to the researchers. While physical abuse is a significant contributor to violent behavior, physical neglect alone is an even stronger predictor of male adolescent violence than physical abuse, they noted.

Hospital superbug breakthrough: Antibacterial gel kills Pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococci and E.coli using natural proteins Posted: 18 Aug 2014 07:48 PM PDT Scientists have made a breakthrough in the fight against the most resistant hospital superbugs. The team have developed the first innovative antibacterial gel that acts to kill Pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococci and E.coli using natural proteins. The gels have the ability to break down the thick jelly-like coating, known as biofilms, which cover bacteria making them highly resistant to current therapies, while leaving healthy cells unaffected.

Clinical practice guidelines: Trying to get them right the first time Posted: 18 Aug 2014 07:46 PM PDT The common thought in the medical community is that the randomized, controlled trial is the gold standard in medical research. Findings from these studies are thought to be most reliable and are often endorsed by guideline-making organizations and brought into medical practice. But researchers caution that the rapid adoption of one or two studies as the basis for clinical practice, even if they are randomized controlled trials, can lead to misinformation and potential harm.

Selective therapy may improve artery repair after interventional cardiovascular procedures Posted: 18 Aug 2014 04:26 PM PDT A new therapy may help reduce the life-threatening complications of interventional cardiovascular disease treatment. The researchers demonstrated in a rat model that the novel molecular therapy could selectively inhibit blood vessel re-narrowing and simultaneously promote vessel healing following a medical procedure using a balloon catheter to open narrowed or blocked arteries.

Older patients with limited life expectancy still receiving cancer screenings Posted: 18 Aug 2014 04:26 PM PDT A substantial number of older patients with limited life expectancy continue to receive routine screenings for prostate, breast, cervical and colorectal cancer although the procedures are unlikely to benefit them, researchers report.

Hospitalizations, deaths from heart disease, stroke drop in last decade Posted: 18 Aug 2014 01:13 PM PDT U.S. hospitalizations and deaths from heart disease and stroke dropped significantly in the last decade, according to new research. Furthermore, risks of dying for people who went to the hospital within a year decreased about 21 percent for unstable angina, 23 percent for heart attacks and 13 percent for heart failure and stroke.

Proteins critical to wound healing identified Posted: 18 Aug 2014 01:12 PM PDT Mice missing two important proteins of the vascular system develop normally and appear healthy in adulthood, as long as they don't become injured. If they do, their wounds don't heal properly, a new study shows. The research may have implications for treating diseases involving abnormal blood vessel growth, such as the impaired wound healing often seen in diabetes and the loss of vision caused by macular degeneration.

Device monitors key step in development of tumor metastases Posted: 18 Aug 2014 12:36 PM PDT A microfluidic device may help study key steps in the process by which cancer cells break off from a primary tumor to invade other tissues and form metastases. "This device gives us a platform to be used in testing and comparing compounds to block or delay the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, potentially slowing the progression of cancer," says one researcher.

Crucial step in DNA repair identified by researchers Posted: 18 Aug 2014 12:25 PM PDT A crucial step in DNA repair that could lead to targeted gene therapy for hereditary diseases such as 'children of the moon' and a common form of colon cancer has been found by scientists. Such disorders are caused by faulty DNA repair systems that increase the risk for cancer and other conditions.

Targeted brain stimulation aids stroke recovery in mice, scientists find Posted: 18 Aug 2014 12:25 PM PDT When investigators applied light-driven stimulation to nerve cells in the brains of mice that had suffered strokes several days earlier, the mice showed significantly greater recovery in motor ability than mice that had experienced strokes but whose brains weren't stimulated.

Happiness in schizophrenia Posted: 18 Aug 2014 12:21 PM PDT Schizophrenia is among the most severe forms of mental illness, yet some people with the disease are as happy as those in good physical and mental health, according to a study. "People with schizophrenia are clearly less happy than those in the general population at large, but this is not surprising," said the lead author. "What is impressive is that almost 40 percent of these patients are reporting happiness and that their happiness is associated with positive psychosocial attributes that can be potentially enhanced."

Aspirin, take two: Research identifies a second effect of the drug against inflammation Posted: 18 Aug 2014 12:21 PM PDT Aspirin has a second effect, researchers have found: Not only does it kill cyclooxygenase, thus preventing production of the prostaglandins that cause inflammation and pain, it also prompts the enzyme to generate another compound that hastens the end of inflammation, returning the affected cells to homeostatic health.

Free fatty acids may be as effective as antibiotics in treating catheter infections Posted: 18 Aug 2014 08:32 AM PDT A free fatty acid, made up of compounds similar to those naturally made in the body, may be as effective at fighting certain infections as antibiotics, researchers report. More and more bacteria are developing resistance to commonly used antibiotics, and this study shows that clinicians may have an alternative to treat infections caused by intravenous catheters.

Parents' vaccine intentions influenced by how benefits are communicated Posted: 18 Aug 2014 07:21 AM PDT In a study designed to formally look at the content of parent-targeted communications about the benefits of vaccination for measles, mumps and rubella, investigators report that the framing of these messages influences parents' intentions to immunize their children.

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