ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Drug reverses brain deficits of Alzheimer's in animal model
• A campaign involving Muslim clerics has increased uptake of polio vaccination in Nigeria
• Pregnant women are often given inappropriate treatment for malaria
• Monthly preventative treatment with a new drug combination reduces malaria in children
• New clues to repairing an injured spinal cord
• Common chemical in mothers may negatively affect the IQ of their unborn children
• Butterflies could hold key to probes that repair genes
• New 'whey' to control diabetes
• Eating more dietary pulses can increase fullness, may help manage weight
• Does your training routine really need to be that complicated?
• Social networking key to helping bugs spread, study shows
• Surprise discovery could see graphene used to improve health
• Grizzly research offers surprising insights into diabetes-obesity link
• Seamless gene correction of beta-thalassemia mutations in patient-specific cells
• 3-in-1 optical skin cancer probe
• Smart bacteria help each other survive
• Set rituals can help older people remember to take asthma meds
• An embryonic cell's fate sealed by speed of a signal
• Home-based primary care lowers medicare costs for high-risk elders, data shows
• Warning to parents on high acidity drinks
• Obesity paradox in survival from sepsis
• Why patients with autism spectrum disorder have difficulty noticing 'being imitated'
• Mammography benefits women over 75, new study finds
• Why tendons break down with age
• New methods to identify MRSA in pigs
• Pre-pregnancy risk drinking predicts toddler behavior problems
• Wasp venom used in new therapy for breast cancer
• Bisphenol A and food intolerance: Link established for first time
• Diabetes-related mutation found in Mexican population
• Why interval walking training is better than continuous walking training
• Crowdsourcing may help dieters lose weight
• HIV infection linked to lower multiple sclerosis risk
• Diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea in adults: New recommendations
• Hepatitis C will become a rare disease in 22 years, study predicts
• African American professional women positive on medical research
• Speedier diagnosis of diseases such as cancer likely thanks to new dna analysis technique
• Model of viral lifecycle could help in finding a cure for hepatitis B
• Minuscule chips for NMR spectroscopy promise portability, parallelization
• Epidemic outbreaks caused by environment, not evolution
• Version 2.0 of Prostate Cancer Risk Calculator now online, complete with emojis
• Anorexia fueled by pride about weight loss
• Alzheimer's disease in African Americans: Gene may increase risk, researchers say
• Most gay, bisexual men in United States have used lubricants during sexual activity
• Very early treatment may be key to combatting inherited metabolic disorder
• Maternal singing during skin-to-skin contact benefits both preterm infants, mothers
• Children in immigrant families more likely to be sedentary
• Patient navigation may aid in breast cancer treatment in high-risk populations
• Pharmacology: Serotonin receptor structure revealed

Drug reverses brain deficits of Alzheimer's in animal model Posted: 05 Aug 2014 12:08 PM PDT Researchers have discovered a new drug compound that reverses the brain deficits of Alzheimer's disease in an animal model. The compound, TC-2153, inhibits the negative effects of a protein called STtriatal-Enriched tyrosine Phosphatase (STEP), which is key to regulating learning and memory.

A campaign involving Muslim clerics has increased uptake of polio vaccination in Nigeria Posted: 05 Aug 2014 12:08 PM PDT A coalition campaign involving imams, Islamic school teachers, traditional rulers, doctors, journalists, and polio survivors is gradually turning the tide against polio vaccine rejection in northern Nigeria, according to experts from Nigeria.

Pregnant women are often given inappropriate treatment for malaria Posted: 05 Aug 2014 12:08 PM PDT Not all pregnant women with symptoms of malaria seek care from their formal healthcare system and if they do seek care, they may be given inappropriate treatment because healthcare providers often fail to adhere to the standard (World Health Organization) diagnostic and treatment guidelines, according to a new study.

Monthly preventative treatment with a new drug combination reduces malaria in children Posted: 05 Aug 2014 12:08 PM PDT Preventative treatment with a monthly dose of a newer antimalarial drug can reduce the risk of malarial infection among young children, according to a new study. The study finds that treating young children with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine decreased their risk of contracting malaria.

New clues to repairing an injured spinal cord Posted: 05 Aug 2014 12:06 PM PDT Frogs, dogs, whales, snails can all do it, but humans and primates can't. Regrow nerves after an injury, that is -- while many animals have this ability, humans don't. But new research suggests that a small molecule may be able to convince damaged nerves to grow and effectively rewire circuits. Such a feat could eventually lead to therapies for the thousands of Americans with severe spinal cord injuries and paralysis. Scientists hope to borrow strategy from simpler animals to repair damaged spinal cord nerves in humans.

Common chemical in mothers may negatively affect the IQ of their unborn children Posted: 05 Aug 2014 10:25 AM PDT In some women, abnormally high levels of a common and pervasive chemical may lead to adverse effects in their offspring, researchers report. The study is the first of its kind to shed light on the possible harmful side effects of perchlorate in mothers and their children. "The reason people really care about perchlorate is because it is ubiquitous. It's everywhere," said one investigator. "Prior studies have already shown perchlorate, at low levels, can be found in each and every one of us."

Butterflies could hold key to probes that repair genes Posted: 05 Aug 2014 10:25 AM PDT New discoveries about how butterflies feed could help engineers develop tiny probes that siphon liquid out of single cells for a wide range of medical tests and treatments, according to researchers. The technology could be used for medical devices, nanobioreactors that make complex materials and flying "micro-air vehicles" the size of an insect.

New 'whey' to control diabetes Posted: 05 Aug 2014 10:22 AM PDT Blood sugar surges -- after-meal glucose 'spikes' -- can be life threatening for the 29 million Americans with diabetes. Now a new study suggests a novel way to suppress these deadly post-meal glucose surges: the consumption of whey protein concentrate, found in the watery portion of milk separated from cheese curds, before breakfast.

Eating more dietary pulses can increase fullness, may help manage weight Posted: 05 Aug 2014 10:21 AM PDT Eating about one serving a day of beans, peas, chickpeas or lentils can increase fullness, which may lead to better weight management and weight loss, a new study has found. Pulses have a low glycemic index (meaning that they are foods that break down slowly) and can be used to reduce or displace animal protein as well as "bad" fats such as trans fat in a dish or meal.

Does your training routine really need to be that complicated? Posted: 05 Aug 2014 10:21 AM PDT Researchers investigated the value of the Pre-Exhaustion training method and found that that the various arrangements of different exercise protocols is of less relevance than simply performing resistance training exercises with a high intensity of effort within any protocol. PreEx training is based on the principle that the targeted muscles can be pre-exhausted with isolation exercises immediately prior to a compound exercise -- thereby providing greater stimulation to the target muscles.

Social networking key to helping bugs spread, study shows Posted: 05 Aug 2014 10:21 AM PDT Fresh discoveries about how bacteria co-operate with each other when causing infection could help scientists identify animal diseases that might transmit to people. Bugs that can co-operate best with each other are most likely to be able to jump to new species, including humans, a new study shows.

Surprise discovery could see graphene used to improve health Posted: 05 Aug 2014 10:20 AM PDT A chance discovery about the 'wonder material' graphene -- already exciting scientists because of its potential uses in electronics, energy storage and energy generation -- takes it a step closer to being used in medicine and human health.

Grizzly research offers surprising insights into diabetes-obesity link Posted: 05 Aug 2014 10:19 AM PDT Researchers studying grizzly bears have now discovered a natural state of diabetes that serves a real biological purpose and is also reversible. Investigators note that grizzly bears are obese but not diabetic in the fall, become diabetic only weeks later in hibernation, and then become 'cured' of diabetes in the spring. The research reveals how natural biology can teach us new things about how animals naturally cope with conditions that would cause disease in humans.

Seamless gene correction of beta-thalassemia mutations in patient-specific cells Posted: 05 Aug 2014 10:19 AM PDT A major hurdle in gene therapy is the efficient integration of a corrected gene into a patient's genome without mutating off-target sites. In a new paper, scientists explain having used CRISPR/Cas genome editing technology to seamlessly and efficiently correct disease-causing mutations in cells from patients with beta-thalassemia.

3-in-1 optical skin cancer probe Posted: 05 Aug 2014 10:17 AM PDT Researchers have now developed a probe that combines into one device three unique ways of using light to measure the properties of skin tissue and detect cancer. The researchers have begun testing their 3-in-1 device in pilot clinical trials.

Smart bacteria help each other survive Posted: 05 Aug 2014 07:25 AM PDT The body's assailants are cleverer than previously thought. New research shows for the first time how bacteria in the airways can help each other replenish vital iron. The bacteria thereby increase their chances of survival, which can happen at the expense of the person's health.

Set rituals can help older people remember to take asthma meds Posted: 05 Aug 2014 07:25 AM PDT Storing it in the bathroom and making it part of a daily routine may be helpful advice that doctors can give their older asthmatic patients who struggle to remember to take their daily prescribed medication. A new discusses how elderly asthmatics cope with taking their inhaled corticosteroid medication as prescribed.

An embryonic cell's fate sealed by speed of a signal Posted: 05 Aug 2014 07:23 AM PDT When embryonic cells get the signal to specialize, the call can come quickly. Or it can arrive slowly. Now, new research suggests the speed at which a cell in an embryo receives that signal has an unexpected influence on that cell's fate. "This finding is another instance of a productive collaboration between biologists and physicists. Neither group, biologists or physicists, could have realized this result working alone," one researcher said.

Home-based primary care lowers medicare costs for high-risk elders, data shows Posted: 05 Aug 2014 07:23 AM PDT Geriatricians found that when medical care for frail elders with advanced illness shifts to the home, total Medicare costs were reduced by 17 percent during a two-year period. A new study underscores the value of home-based primary care for America's aging seniors. The study also revealed there were nine percent fewer hospitalizations, 20 percent fewer emergency department visits, 27 percent fewer skilled nursing facility stays and 23 percent fewer specialist visits. The data revealed high death rates that were similar in both groups.

Warning to parents on high acidity drinks Posted: 05 Aug 2014 07:23 AM PDT Dental researchers are warning parents of the dangers of soft drinks, fruit juice, sports drinks and other drinks high in acidity, which form part of a "triple-threat" of permanent damage to young people's teeth.

Obesity paradox in survival from sepsis Posted: 05 Aug 2014 06:11 AM PDT Obesity usually leads to worse health outcomes, but a study shows extra weight increases chances of surviving sepsis. In a study of 1,404 Medicare beneficiaries, heavier patients were more likely to survive sepsis, a life-threatening infection that can lead to a stay in a hospital's intensive care unit.

Why patients with autism spectrum disorder have difficulty noticing 'being imitated' Posted: 05 Aug 2014 06:11 AM PDT Persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have decreased activity in an area in the brain critical for understanding if his/her movement was imitated by others, researchers have found. Persons with ASD are known to have difficulty in interpersonal communication and have trouble noticing that their movement was imitated. Behavioral intervention research to alleviate ASD is proceeding and indicates that training utilizing imitation is useful.

Mammography benefits women over 75, new study finds Posted: 05 Aug 2014 06:11 AM PDT Mammography-detected breast cancer is associated with a shift to earlier stage diagnosis in older women, subsequently reducing the rate of more advanced, difficult-to-treat cases, according to a new study. Researchers said the findings lend support to regular mammography screening in women ages 75 and older.

Why tendons break down with age Posted: 05 Aug 2014 06:09 AM PDT Scientists have identified differences in the proteins present in young and old tendons, in new research that could guide the development of treatments to stop tissue breakdown from occurring.

New methods to identify MRSA in pigs Posted: 05 Aug 2014 06:09 AM PDT It is important to keep the number of MRSA infections at a low level. The latest technologies within whole genome sequencing have been exploited to develop new methods to identify genes which are important for the survival of MRSA in pigs.

Pre-pregnancy risk drinking predicts toddler behavior problems Posted: 05 Aug 2014 06:09 AM PDT Risk drinking before pregnancy can increase the risk of the development behavioral problems in toddlers. Early intervention to help and support mothers and their children could help to prevent these problems from developing into long term behavioral problems.

Wasp venom used in new therapy for breast cancer Posted: 05 Aug 2014 06:09 AM PDT Despite there currently being a wide variety of compounds against cancer, they all have serious side effects. Furthermore, tumors are capable of becoming resistant, limiting this type of treatment. In order to counteract these two disadvantages, scientists have designed a new therapy based on a peptide - the binding of several amino acids - from wasp venom for its potential use against breast cancer.

Bisphenol A and food intolerance: Link established for first time Posted: 05 Aug 2014 06:09 AM PDT Perinatal exposure to low doses of BPA, which is considered to be risk-free in humans, could increase the risk of developing food intolerance in adulthood, research shows. More than 20% of the global population suffer from food allergy or intolerance. An environmental origin for these adverse food reactions is strongly suspected.

Diabetes-related mutation found in Mexican population Posted: 05 Aug 2014 06:09 AM PDT Genetic sequencing of 8000 Mexicans were analyzed in a recent study. Researchers found a mutated gene related to diabetes in 30% of mestizos and in half the indigenous population. The largest genetic study of type II diabetes made between Mexican population has identified a gene present in mestizos (mixed race) and indigenous people of the country that rises five times the likelihood of developing the disease, compared to other populations of the world.

Why interval walking training is better than continuous walking training Posted: 04 Aug 2014 05:21 PM PDT Training with alternating levels of walking intensity could be better than walking at a constant speed to help manage blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, research shows. The effects of exercise on blood sugar (glycaemic) control in individuals with type 2 diabetes are well documented but the optimal exercise intensity and type remains to be defined. Traditionally, high-intensity exercise has not been recommended for individuals with type 2 diabetes due to a fear of inducing injuries and discouraging patients from continuing with the exercise program.

Crowdsourcing may help dieters lose weight Posted: 04 Aug 2014 05:21 PM PDT Crowdsourcing may help dieters stick to healthy foods and lose weight, as participants are as good as trained experts at correctly rating the healthiness of foods and giving feedback on them, indicates research. "Crowdsourcing has potential as a way to improve adherence to dietary self monitoring over a longer period of time," write the researchers. "The results of this study found that when basic feedback on diet quality by peer raters is crowdsourced, it is comparable to feedback from expert raters."

HIV infection linked to lower multiple sclerosis risk Posted: 04 Aug 2014 05:21 PM PDT HIV infection is linked to a significantly lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis, indicates observational research. Chronic dampening down of the immune system as a result of the infection and/or the antiretroviral drugs used to treat it might explain this association, say the researchers. If subsequently found to be causal, this could have considerable implications for the treatment of MS, they suggest.

Diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea in adults: New recommendations Posted: 04 Aug 2014 05:21 PM PDT Doctors should assess the risk factors for and the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with unexplained daytime sleepiness, according to a new evidence-based clinical practice guideline.

Hepatitis C will become a rare disease in 22 years, study predicts Posted: 04 Aug 2014 05:20 PM PDT Effective new drugs and screening would make hepatitis C a rare disease by 2036, according to a computer simulation. "Hepatitis C (HCV) is the leading cause of liver cancer and accounts for more than 15,000 deaths in the U.S. each year," said a corresponding author on the study. "If we can improve access to treatment and incorporate more aggressive screening guidelines, we can reduce the number of chronic HCV cases, prevent more cases of liver cancer and reduce liver-related deaths."

African American professional women positive on medical research Posted: 04 Aug 2014 02:15 PM PDT If a research survey of African American professional women is any indication, attitudes may be changing towards participation in medical research. Researchers teamed up to survey members of the international women's organization, and found that a majority of African American women surveyed are willing to or have taken part in medical research.

Speedier diagnosis of diseases such as cancer likely thanks to new dna analysis technique Posted: 04 Aug 2014 02:10 PM PDT Researchers have achieved a technical breakthrough that should result in speedier diagnosis of cancer and various pre-natal conditions.

Model of viral lifecycle could help in finding a cure for hepatitis B Posted: 04 Aug 2014 12:14 PM PDT A new technique sustains hepatitis B in liver cells, researchers have discovered, allowing for the study of immune response and drug treatments. Around 400 million people worldwide are infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV); of those, one-third will go on to develop life-threatening complications, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. Although there is an effective HBV vaccine, only around 50 percent of people in some countries where the disease is endemic are vaccinated. A complete cure for the disease is very rare, once someone has been chronically infected.

Minuscule chips for NMR spectroscopy promise portability, parallelization Posted: 04 Aug 2014 12:12 PM PDT Engineers have created a truly portable device for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

Epidemic outbreaks caused by environment, not evolution Posted: 04 Aug 2014 12:12 PM PDT Researchers have traced genetic changes in a bacterial pathogen over 450 years, and claim that epidemics of bacterial disease in human history may be caused by chance environmental changes rather than genetic mutations. The research team analyzed 149 genomes of Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A, which is a major cause of enteric fever. Enteric fever is currently estimated at 27 million clinical cases each year, resulting in 200,000 deaths.

Version 2.0 of Prostate Cancer Risk Calculator now online, complete with emojis Posted: 04 Aug 2014 10:43 AM PDT A calculator to help men and their doctors assess their risk of prostate cancer has had a major upgrade. 'The current version gives a more nuanced result that helps understand a man's risk of prostate cancer,' said one expert who helped develop the risk calculator.

Anorexia fueled by pride about weight loss Posted: 04 Aug 2014 10:43 AM PDT Those in a new study being treated for anorexia not only suffered with negative emotions but also felt emotionally positive, having a sense of pride over being able to maintain and exceed their weight-loss goals. "Being in control is important for many of these women," one author said. "What we need to do is find a way to reconnect the positive emotions they feel in losing weight to other aspects of their lives that will lead to a more balanced sense of happiness."

Alzheimer's disease in African Americans: Gene may increase risk, researchers say Posted: 04 Aug 2014 09:33 AM PDT Two rare variants in the AKAP9 gene significantly increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in African-Americans, researchers report. Up to 75 percent of AD cases are thought to have a genetic basis; however the specific genes involved likely differ between ethnic populations. The most well-known AD risk gene, APOE4, does not play as strong a role in AD risk in African Americans as it does in Caucasians, despite the fact that a higher proportion of African Americans than Caucasians are afflicted with this disorder.

Most gay, bisexual men in United States have used lubricants during sexual activity Posted: 04 Aug 2014 09:33 AM PDT More than 90 percent of gay and bisexual men in the United States have used lubricants to enhance a wide range of sexual activities, including but not limited to anal intercourse, researchers report. By minimizing potential skin tears, lubricants may help reduce the likelihood of HIV transmission between partners.

Very early treatment may be key to combatting inherited metabolic disorder Posted: 04 Aug 2014 09:33 AM PDT It is critical to treat lysosomal storage disorders early, before symptoms arise, a new study concludes. These genetic disorders, which are caused by the malfunction of enzymes that normally degrade various substances within cells, lead to numerous ailments including neurological problems.

Maternal singing during skin-to-skin contact benefits both preterm infants, mothers Posted: 04 Aug 2014 09:33 AM PDT A mother who sings to her preterm infant while providing 'kangaroo care,' or holding with direct skin-to-skin contact, may see improvements in both her child's and her own health. The finding comes from a study of 86 mother-infant pairs in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Children in immigrant families more likely to be sedentary Posted: 04 Aug 2014 09:32 AM PDT Immigrant children from all racial and ethnic backgrounds are more likely to be sedentary than U.S.-born white children, according to a new study. The study also found that U.S.-born white children have higher rates of physical activity than minority children born in the U.S., although the gap is smaller than the one that exists with children of immigrants. U.S.-born black children are 1.35 times as likely to have lower levels of physical activity, U.S.-born Hispanic children are 1.23 times as likely and U.S.-born children of unspecified ethnicity are 1.52 times as likely.

Patient navigation may aid in breast cancer treatment in high-risk populations Posted: 04 Aug 2014 09:32 AM PDT Patient navigation, or the linking of a newly diagnosed cancer patient with a professional trained in assisting patients though the complex journey of cancer diagnosis and treatment, may lead to better breast cancer care in high risk and minority women, a study concludes. Navigators are experts in helping patients overcome the numerous obstacles they face, including monetary difficulties, transportation issues, educational and even language barriers, and have become an integral part of the cancer care model.

Pharmacology: Serotonin receptor structure revealed Posted: 04 Aug 2014 09:29 AM PDT The structure of a serotonin receptor has been completely deciphered for the first time using crystallography. This study opens the way towards the design of new drugs that might be able to control nausea, one of the main adverse effects of chemotherapy and anesthesia.

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