ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Self-assembling anti-cancer molecules created in minutes: Like a self-assembling 'Lego Death Star'
• New trick for 'old' drug brings hope for pancreatic cancer patients
• New genetic risk markers in pancreatic cancer
• Tumor suppressor mutations alone don't explain deadly cancer: Biomarker for head and neck cancers identified
• New research characterizes in-flight pediatric deaths: 90% of deaths in children under age 2
• Expressive writing may help breast cancer survivors
• Electronic reminders can help patients prevent surgical site infections
• Jailed family member increases risks for kids' adult health
• Some seizures mistaken for epilepsy may be linked to feelings of anxiety
• Consistent nutrition support protocols can help prevent malnutrition in critically ill patients, improve outcomes
• Algorithm reduces use of CT scans when diagnosing children with appendicitis
• Innovative 'genotype first' approach uncovers protective factor for heart disease
• See-through organs and bodies will accelerate biomedical discoveries
• Drug target identified for common childhood blood cancer
• How DNA avoids damage from UV light
• Biochemical mechanisms contributing to fibromuscular dysplasia discovered
• Vacuum treatment may limit damage after traumatic brain injury

Self-assembling anti-cancer molecules created in minutes: Like a self-assembling 'Lego Death Star' Posted: 03 Aug 2014 04:35 PM PDT Researchers have developed a simple and versatile method for making artificial anti-cancer molecules that mimic the properties of one of the body's natural defense systems. The chemists have been able to produce molecules that have a similar structure to peptides which are naturally produced in the body to fight cancer and infection.

New trick for 'old' drug brings hope for pancreatic cancer patients Posted: 03 Aug 2014 04:35 PM PDT Scientists have found a new use for an old drug by showing that it shrinks a particular type of pancreatic cancer tumor and stops it spreading.

New genetic risk markers in pancreatic cancer Posted: 03 Aug 2014 04:31 PM PDT A large DNA analysis of people with and without pancreatic cancer has identified several new genetic markers that signal increased risk of developing the highly lethal disease.

Tumor suppressor mutations alone don't explain deadly cancer: Biomarker for head and neck cancers identified Posted: 03 Aug 2014 04:31 PM PDT Although mutations in a gene dubbed "the guardian of the genome" are widely recognized as being associated with more aggressive forms of cancer, researchers have found evidence suggesting that the deleterious health effects of the mutated gene may in large part be due to other genetic abnormalities, at least in squamous cell head and neck cancers.

New research characterizes in-flight pediatric deaths: 90% of deaths in children under age 2 Posted: 01 Aug 2014 02:11 PM PDT In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers found that lap infants may be at greater risk for death on a commercial airline flight. The study analyzed pediatric medical emergencies on flights worldwide between January 2010 and June 2013 and found 90 percent of deaths occurred in children under the age of 2.

Expressive writing may help breast cancer survivors Posted: 01 Aug 2014 02:11 PM PDT Writing down fears, emotions and the benefits of a cancer diagnosis may improve health outcomes for Asian-American breast cancer survivors, according to a new study.

Electronic reminders can help patients prevent surgical site infections Posted: 01 Aug 2014 02:09 PM PDT The use of electronic reminders such as text messages, emails or voicemails is highly effective at getting surgical patients to adhere to a preadmission antiseptic showering regimen known to help reduce risk of surgical site infections, according to a first-of-its-kind study.

Jailed family member increases risks for kids' adult health Posted: 01 Aug 2014 06:11 AM PDT People whose childhood included a member of the household becoming imprisoned have a 16-percent greater risk of reporting lower overall health quality in adulthood, a new study finds. The risk is independent of other childhood adversity.

Some seizures mistaken for epilepsy may be linked to feelings of anxiety Posted: 01 Aug 2014 06:11 AM PDT New research by clinical psychologists from the UK and US has revealed psychogenic seizures which could be mistaken for epilepsy are linked to feelings of anxiety.

Consistent nutrition support protocols can help prevent malnutrition in critically ill patients, improve outcomes Posted: 01 Aug 2014 06:09 AM PDT Varying practices and frequent lapses in nutrition delivery can put critically ill patients at greater risk for malnutrition and associated complications, according to a new article. The article offers specific strategies to address underfeeding and decrease the time patients spend without nutrition.

Algorithm reduces use of CT scans when diagnosing children with appendicitis Posted: 31 Jul 2014 01:00 PM PDT Implementation of an algorithm aimed to diagnose pediatric patients with suspected appendicitis reduces the utilization of computed tomography scans, without affecting diagnostic accuracy, researchers have found.

Innovative 'genotype first' approach uncovers protective factor for heart disease Posted: 31 Jul 2014 11:58 AM PDT Extensive sequencing of DNA from thousands of individuals in Finland has unearthed scores of mutations that destroy gene function and are found at unusually high frequencies. Among these are two mutations in a gene called LPA that may reduce a person's risk of heart disease. These findings are an exciting proof-of-concept for a new 'genotype first' approach to identifying rare genetic variants associated with, or protecting from, disease followed by extensive medical review of carriers.

See-through organs and bodies will accelerate biomedical discoveries Posted: 31 Jul 2014 11:57 AM PDT The ability to see through organs and even the entire body has been a long-time dream of biologists. A new study has now made that dream a reality, revealing simple methods for making opaque organs, bodies, and human tissue biopsies transparent, while keeping the cellular structures and connections intact. The protocols could pave the way for a better understanding of brain-body interactions, more accurate clinical diagnoses and disease monitoring, and a new generation of therapies.

Drug target identified for common childhood blood cancer Posted: 31 Jul 2014 11:54 AM PDT In what is believed to be the largest genetic analysis of what triggers and propels progression of tumor growth in a common childhood blood cancer, researchers report that they have identified a possible new drug target for treating the disease. T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia is one of the most common and aggressive childhood blood cancers. An estimated quarter of the 500 adolescents and young adults diagnosed with the cancer each year in the U.S. fail to achieve remission with standard chemo drugs.

How DNA avoids damage from UV light Posted: 31 Jul 2014 08:10 AM PDT Scientists describes how DNA avoids damage when exposed to UV light. Too quick for the eye to see, UV light causes an electron to be transferred from one base to another on a single DNA strand. A base is the smallest unit of the genetic code, a small molecule that constitutes an individual "rung" on DNA's ladder. The findings advance fundamental understanding of DNA damage by the UV rays found in sunlight. This damage can lead to skin cancer, aging and some degenerative eye diseases.

Biochemical mechanisms contributing to fibromuscular dysplasia discovered Posted: 31 Jul 2014 08:10 AM PDT A new report suggests FMD may not be limited to the arteries as currently believed. In addition, the report suggests a connection to abnormalities of bones and joints, as well as evidence that inflammation may be driving the vascular disease in FMD patients.

Vacuum treatment may limit damage after traumatic brain injury Posted: 31 Jul 2014 07:24 AM PDT Controlled application of vacuum pressure is a promising approach to limiting tissue damage after traumatic brain injury, suggests an experimental study.

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