ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• How does the brain react to virtual reality? Completely different pattern of activity in brain
• Basic vs. advanced life support outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
• Delaying ART in patients with HIV reduces likelihood of restoring CD4 counts
• Two studies, 2 editorials put focus on school breakfasts, lunches
• Muscle relaxant may be viable treatment for rare form of diabetes
• Most older adults qualify for statin therapy under new cholesterol guidelines, study show
• Study shows mental health impact of breast size differences in teens
• Obese children burdened by more than weight
• Preconception care for diabetic women could potentially save $5.5 billion
• Provider-focused intervention improves HPV vaccination rates
• Selenium compounds boost immune system to fight against cancer
• Important element in fight against sleeping sickness found
• Masking HIV target cells prevents viral transmission in animal model
• Pain and itch in a dish: Skin cells converted into pain sensing neurons
• Excessive contact between cellular organelles disrupts metabolism in obesity
• Cataloguing 10 million human gut microbial genes: Unparalleled accomplishment
• Sleep apnea linked to poor aerobic fitness
• Experience with family verbal conflict as a child can help in stressful situations as an adult
• An inside job: Designer nanoparticles infiltrate, kill cancer cells from within
• How our bodies keep unwelcome visitors out of cell nuclei
• Developing noninvasive test for endometriosis
• Sorting through recycling bins to learn about alcohol use
• Educating on sickle cell risk in sub-Saharan Africa
• Football players found to have brain damage from mild 'unreported' concussions
• Ultrafast, low-cost DNA sequencing technology a step closer to reality
• Teens prescribed anxiety, sleep medications likelier to illegally abuse them later
• Does dip decrease or deepen addiction to nicotine?
• For important tumor-suppressing protein, context is key
• Protein that rouses brain from sleep may be target for Alzheimer's prevention
• Declining loneliness among American teenagers
• Neurodegenerative diseases: Has a possible new lead been found?
• Mutant protein takes babies' breath away
• Healthy gut microbiota can prevent metabolic syndrome, researchers say
• Schizophrenia may be triggered by excess protein during brain development
• Motor coordination issues in autism are caused by abnormal neural connections
• Adult survivors of childhood eye cancer experience few cognitive or social setbacks
• Universal health coverage for US military veterans within reach, but many still lack coverage
• Musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace under study
• Remotely controlled magnetic nanoparticles stimulate stem cells to regenerate bones
• Breakthrough discovery contributes to future treatment of multiple sclerosis, autoimmune inflammation
• High-dose interleukin-2 effective in mRCC pre-treated with VEGF-targeted therapies
• New method quickly determines antibiotic resistance
• Suicide risk falls substantially after talk therapy
• Quitting cigarettes tougher for heavy-drinking smokers, but phone counseling can help

How does the brain react to virtual reality? Completely different pattern of activity in brain Posted: 24 Nov 2014 01:29 PM PST Neurophysicists studying a key brain region where Alzheimer's disease begins have discovered how the brain processes virtual reality. 'The pattern of activity in a brain region involved in spatial learning in the virtual world is completely different than in the real world,' said the professor of physics, neurology, and neurobiology.

Basic vs. advanced life support outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest Posted: 24 Nov 2014 01:29 PM PST Patients who had cardiac arrest at home or elsewhere outside of a hospital had greater survival to hospital discharge and to 90 days beyond if they received basic life support vs. advanced life support from ambulance personnel, according to a report.

Delaying ART in patients with HIV reduces likelihood of restoring CD4 counts Posted: 24 Nov 2014 01:29 PM PST A larger percentage of patients with human immunodeficiency virus achieved normalization of CD4+ T-cell counts when they started antiretroviral therapy within 12 months of the estimated dates of seroconversion rather than later, according to a report.

Two studies, 2 editorials put focus on school breakfasts, lunches Posted: 24 Nov 2014 01:29 PM PST Schools offering Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) had higher participation in the national school breakfast program and attendance, but math and reading achievement did not differ between schools with or without BIC, according to a study.

Muscle relaxant may be viable treatment for rare form of diabetes Posted: 24 Nov 2014 12:26 PM PST A commonly prescribed muscle relaxant may be an effective treatment for a rare but devastating form of diabetes, researchers report. The drug, dantrolene, prevents the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in animal models of Wolfram syndrome and in cells taken from patients who have the illness.

Most older adults qualify for statin therapy under new cholesterol guidelines, study show Posted: 24 Nov 2014 11:36 AM PST Nearly all individuals in their late 60s and early 70s now qualify for a statin medication to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease under the recently released cholesterol guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, an expert outlines.

Study shows mental health impact of breast size differences in teens Posted: 24 Nov 2014 11:33 AM PST Differences in breast size have a significant mental health impact in adolescent girls, affecting self-esteem, emotional well-being, and social functioning, report researchers.

Obese children burdened by more than weight Posted: 24 Nov 2014 11:33 AM PST High blood pressure and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are two emerging health problems related to the epidemic of childhood obesity. In a recent study, researchers sought to determine the prevalence of high blood pressure in children with NAFLD, which places them at risk for premature cardiovascular disease.

Preconception care for diabetic women could potentially save $5.5 billion Posted: 24 Nov 2014 09:56 AM PST Pregnant women with diabetes are at an increased risk for many adverse birth outcomes. Preconception care (PCC) can significantly lower these risks by helping pregnant mothers with diabetes control their glucose levels, resulting in healthier babies and less money spent on complicated deliveries and lifelong medical complications, researchers say, adding that this care could avert an estimated $5.5 billion in health expenditures and lost employment productivity over affected children's lifetimes.

Provider-focused intervention improves HPV vaccination rates Posted: 24 Nov 2014 09:56 AM PST Changing the way doctors practice medicine is difficult, however a new study has shown that combining traditional education with quality improvement and incentives improves Human Papilloma virus vaccination rates in boys and girls. The study has the potential to produce sustained improvements in these vaccination rates.

Selenium compounds boost immune system to fight against cancer Posted: 24 Nov 2014 09:54 AM PST Cancer types such as melanoma, prostate cancer and certain types of leukemia weaken the body by over-activating the natural immune system. Researchers have now demonstrated that selenium -- naturally found in, e.g., garlic and broccoli -- slows down the immune over-response. In the long term, this may improve cancer treatment.

Important element in fight against sleeping sickness found Posted: 24 Nov 2014 09:54 AM PST Researchers have now uncovered how parasites that cause the deadly sleeping sickness in Africa absorb an important nutrient from the human blood stream. The result may help the development of more effective drugs to fight the disease.

Masking HIV target cells prevents viral transmission in animal model Posted: 24 Nov 2014 09:54 AM PST Cloaking immune cells with antibodies that block T cell trafficking to the gut can substantially reduce the risk of viral transmission in a non-human primate model of HIV infection, scientists report.

Pain and itch in a dish: Skin cells converted into pain sensing neurons Posted: 24 Nov 2014 09:53 AM PST After more than six years of intensive effort, and repeated failures that made the quest at times seem futile, researchers have successfully converted mouse and human skin cells into pain sensing neurons that respond to a number of stimuli that cause acute and inflammatory pain.

Excessive contact between cellular organelles disrupts metabolism in obesity Posted: 24 Nov 2014 09:53 AM PST Researchers have found a novel mechanism causing type 2 diabetes that could be targeted to prevent or treat the disease. The research highlights a previously unrecognized molecular pathway that contributes to the malfunction of liver cells in obesity, leading to insulin resistance and diabetes.

Cataloguing 10 million human gut microbial genes: Unparalleled accomplishment Posted: 24 Nov 2014 09:51 AM PST Over the past several years, research on bacteria in the digestive tract (gut microbiome) has confirmed the major role they play in our health. An international consortium has developed the most complete database of microbial genes ever created. The catalogue features nearly ten million genes and will constitute a reference for all research on gut bacteria.

Sleep apnea linked to poor aerobic fitness Posted: 24 Nov 2014 09:50 AM PST People with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea may have an intrinsic inability to burn high amounts of oxygen during strenuous aerobic exercise, according to a new study.

Experience with family verbal conflict as a child can help in stressful situations as an adult Posted: 24 Nov 2014 08:18 AM PST Individuals who were exposed to intense verbal aggression as children are able to handle intense conflict later in life, new research suggests. "Conflict experiences can be beneficial, by alleviating tension and avoiding conflict escalation, reducing communication apprehension, and contributing to closeness within the relationship," said an author of the study. "Given the diversity of outcomes associated with interpersonal conflict, efforts to understand variation in the experienced negativity of conflict experiences are extremely important in helping people navigate these interactions."

An inside job: Designer nanoparticles infiltrate, kill cancer cells from within Posted: 24 Nov 2014 08:18 AM PST Nanoparticle designs target and treat early stage cancer cells by killing those cells with heat, delivered from inside the cell itself. Normal cells are thus left unaffected by the treatment regimen.

How our bodies keep unwelcome visitors out of cell nuclei Posted: 24 Nov 2014 08:18 AM PST The structure of pores found in cell nuclei has been uncovered by a team of scientists, revealing how they selectively block certain molecules from entering, protecting genetic material and normal cell functions. The discovery could lead to the development of new drugs against viruses that target the cell nucleus and new ways of delivering gene therapies, say the scientists behind the study.

Developing noninvasive test for endometriosis Posted: 24 Nov 2014 07:32 AM PST Patterns of genetic activity that can be used to diagnose endometriosis and its severity have been identified by researchers, a finding that may offer millions of women an alternative to surgery through a simple noninvasive procedure.

Sorting through recycling bins to learn about alcohol use Posted: 24 Nov 2014 07:32 AM PST When researchers wanted to verify alcohol-use survey results at a senior housing center, they came up with a novel way to measure residents' drinking: Count the empty bottles in recycling bins.

Educating on sickle cell risk in sub-Saharan Africa Posted: 24 Nov 2014 07:32 AM PST Members of the public in sub-Saharan Africa who are carriers of the hereditary disease sickle cell disease must be educated aggressively through public health campaigns to raise awareness of the risks of parenting offspring with the disease if their partner is also a carrier, according to research.

Football players found to have brain damage from mild 'unreported' concussions Posted: 24 Nov 2014 07:32 AM PST There wasn't a diagnostic capability to identify mild brain injury early after the trauma until recently. In the NFL, other professional sports and especially school sports, concern has grown about the long-term neuropsychiatric consequences of repeated mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) and specifically sports-related concussive and sub-concussive head impacts.'

Ultrafast, low-cost DNA sequencing technology a step closer to reality Posted: 24 Nov 2014 07:32 AM PST A prototype DNA reader that could make whole genome profiling an everyday practice in medicine has been developed by researchers. "Our goal is to put cheap, simple and powerful DNA and protein diagnostic devices into every single doctor's office," said one researcher. Such technology could help usher in the age of personalized medicine.

Teens prescribed anxiety, sleep medications likelier to illegally abuse them later Posted: 24 Nov 2014 07:31 AM PST The medical community may be inadvertently creating a new generation of illegal, recreational drug users by prescribing anti-anxiety or sleep medications to teenagers, say researchers.

Does dip decrease or deepen addiction to nicotine? Posted: 24 Nov 2014 07:31 AM PST Smokeless tobacco products are marketed as a way for smokers to cut back on the negative effects of tobacco, while still being able to use it. Is that really the case? A new study investigates whether smokers are using smokeless tobacco products as a replacement, or supplement to cigarettes.

For important tumor-suppressing protein, context is key Posted: 24 Nov 2014 06:24 AM PST New details about how an important tumor-suppressing protein, called p53, binds to the human genome have been detected by researchers. As with many things in life, they found that context makes a big difference.

Protein that rouses brain from sleep may be target for Alzheimer's prevention Posted: 24 Nov 2014 06:24 AM PST A protein that stimulates the brain to awaken from sleep may be a target for preventing Alzheimer's disease, a study suggests. The new research, in mice, demonstrates that eliminating that protein -- called orexin -- made mice sleep for longer periods of time and strongly slowed the production of brain plaques.

Declining loneliness among American teenagers Posted: 24 Nov 2014 06:24 AM PST In an effort to study the societal trend of loneliness, researchers conducted an analysis of data on high school and college students in the United States, and come up with some encouraging results.

Neurodegenerative diseases: Has a possible new lead been found? Posted: 24 Nov 2014 06:24 AM PST Good communication between brain cells is vital for optimal (mental) health. Mutations in the TBC1D24 gene inhibit this process, thereby causing neurodegeneration and epilepsy. Fruit flies with a defect in Skywalker, the fruit fly variant of TBC1D24, are being used as a model for neurodegeneration. Researchers have succeeded in completely suppressing neurodegeneration in such fruit flies, by partially inhibiting the breakdown of 'defective' proteins in brain cells.

Mutant protein takes babies' breath away Posted: 24 Nov 2014 05:10 AM PST Researchers had never shown exactly how cells in the brain stem detect carbon dioxide and regulate breathing in humans. After taking a mutation from a two-month-old baby and expressing it in human astrocytes, they did exactly that -- and the research may lead to an early warning system to save premature infants with breathing trouble.

Healthy gut microbiota can prevent metabolic syndrome, researchers say Posted: 24 Nov 2014 05:10 AM PST Promoting healthy gut microbiota, the bacteria that live in the intestine, can help treat or prevent metabolic syndrome, a combination of risk factors that increases a person's risk for heart disease, diabetes and stroke, according to researchers.

Schizophrenia may be triggered by excess protein during brain development Posted: 24 Nov 2014 05:10 AM PST A gene associated with schizophrenia plays a role in brain development and may help to explain the biological process of the disease, according to new research. Researchers saytoo much protein expressed by the NOS1AP gene, which has been associated with schizophrenia, causes abnormalities in brain structure and faulty connections between nerve cells that prevent them from communicating properly.

Motor coordination issues in autism are caused by abnormal neural connections Posted: 24 Nov 2014 05:10 AM PST Abnormal connections between neurons are the likely cause of motor coordination issues seen in autism spectrum disorder. Using a mouse model of autism, scientists identified a malfunctioning neural circuit associated with reduced capacity for motor learning. This appears to arise from an inability to eliminate unneeded neural connections in the brain.

Adult survivors of childhood eye cancer experience few cognitive or social setbacks Posted: 24 Nov 2014 05:10 AM PST Adult survivors of retinoblastoma, a type of eye cancer that usually develops in early childhood, have few cognitive or social problems decades following their diagnosis and treatment, researchers report. The findings offer good news for patients, but it's important to continue to monitor for long-term effects as the brain changes throughout life.

Universal health coverage for US military veterans within reach, but many still lack coverage Posted: 24 Nov 2014 05:09 AM PST Over a million US military veterans lacked healthcare coverage in 2012, according to new estimates published in The Lancet. While many people believe that all veterans are covered by the Veterans Affairs health care system, less than half (8.9 million) of the 22 million veterans in the US are covered by VA health benefits, and most veterans are covered by private health insurance. Uninsured veterans are more likely to be young, single, African American, and veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace under study Posted: 24 Nov 2014 04:48 AM PST A major new research center to tackle the impact of musculoskeletal disorders on people's ability to work has been announced by two English medical research bodies. New work will aim to find cost-effective ways of reducing the impact of conditions that affect the muscles, joints and bones on people's employment and productivity, with benefits for patients, employers and society as a whole.

Remotely controlled magnetic nanoparticles stimulate stem cells to regenerate bones Posted: 24 Nov 2014 04:48 AM PST Researchers in bone tissue regeneration believe they have made a significant breakthrough for sufferers of bone trauma, disease or defects such as osteoporosis.

Breakthrough discovery contributes to future treatment of multiple sclerosis, autoimmune inflammation Posted: 24 Nov 2014 04:48 AM PST An avenue for therapeutic intervention of multiple sclerosis may be ahead, thanks to new research. A team found that a new type of immune T helper cells named TH-GM cells play a crucial role in the immune system and pathogenesis of neuronal inflammation. The findings shed light on a possible new avenue for therapeutic intervention, which can be used independently or in conjunction with other treatment options to improve outcomes in the treatment of MS.

High-dose interleukin-2 effective in mRCC pre-treated with VEGF-targeted therapies Posted: 24 Nov 2014 04:48 AM PST High-dose interleukin-2 can be effective in selected metastatic renal cell cancer patients pre-treated with VEGF-targeted agents, reveals research.

New method quickly determines antibiotic resistance Posted: 24 Nov 2014 04:48 AM PST A new method of rapidly identifying which bacteria are causing an infection and determining whether they are resistant or sensitive to antibiotics has been developed by researchers. 'Clinical use of the method would mean that the right antibiotic treatment could be started straightaway, reducing unnecessary use of antibiotics,' says one investigator.

Suicide risk falls substantially after talk therapy Posted: 24 Nov 2014 04:47 AM PST Repeat suicide attempts and deaths by suicide were roughly 25 percent lower among a group of Danish people who underwent voluntary short-term psychosocial counseling after a suicide attempt, new research suggests.

Quitting cigarettes tougher for heavy-drinking smokers, but phone counseling can help Posted: 24 Nov 2014 04:47 AM PST Smokers who drink heavily have a tougher time quitting cigarettes than smokers who drink moderately or not at all. However, a multi-center study found that modifying tobacco-oriented telephone counseling to help hazardous drinkers can help them quit smoking.

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