ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Expanding blood pressure screenings beyond primary care can improve hypertension detection
• How cannabis use affects people with Bipolar Disorder
• More than 2 million people die prematurely every year because treatment for kidney failure is unavailable
• Energy drinks raise resting blood pressure, with effect most dramatic in those not used to caffeine
• Common herpes medication reduces HIV-1 levels, independent of herpes infection
• Prolonged shortened sleep increases blood pressure at night, researchers find
• High-end imaging: New blending techniques
• Bariatric surgery appears to cut risks for serious asthma-related events
• Enhanced flu protection: Four beats three
• Big toe's big foot holds evolutionary key
• Evolution of childbirth: Wider hips don't make locomotion easier, so why is labor so hard?
• Why do cells rush to heal a wound? Mysteries of wound healing unlocked
• Environmental tobacco smoke is associated with periodontitis in US non-smokers
• Birth weight and pregnancy complications associated with the enamel defects
• Genetically engineered immunotoxin shows early promise in patients with B-cell malignancies
• Novel monitoring tools tackle chemical surface waters pollution
• Presentation is key in patient information, research suggests
• Tablet use: significance of usage position, potential for neck damage
• Blood pressure drug protects against symptoms of multiple sclerosis in animal models
• Minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery: Less painful, faster recovery, smaller incisions
• New genome-editing technology to help treat blood cancers
• Antibiotic nanoparticles attack respiratory infection at source, reduce drug side effects
• Building a genomic GPS
• New protocol can help emergency departments evaluate patients with acute chest pain
• Nine superfruits and super seeds to add to your diet
• Electronic cigarette vapors contain toxins, have potential to be a public health concern
• Inflammatory factor IL-3 may play essential role in development of sepsis
• Origin of lymphatic vasculature uncovered

Expanding blood pressure screenings beyond primary care can improve hypertension detection Posted: 13 Mar 2015 10:09 AM PDT Expanding blood pressure screenings to non-primary care settings can help identify more patients with high blood pressure, commonly called hypertension, and could contribute to better hypertension control and management, according to a study.

How cannabis use affects people with Bipolar Disorder Posted: 13 Mar 2015 10:08 AM PDT The first study to examine the use of cannabis in the context of daily life among people with Bipolar Disorder has shown how the drug is linked to increases in both manic and depressive symptoms.

More than 2 million people die prematurely every year because treatment for kidney failure is unavailable Posted: 13 Mar 2015 10:08 AM PDT At best, only half of people worldwide needing kidney dialysis or transplantation to treat kidney failure in 2010 received it, new research shows. This suggests that at least 2.3 million people may have died prematurely from kidney failure because they could not access this life-saving treatment.

Energy drinks raise resting blood pressure, with effect most dramatic in those not used to caffeine Posted: 13 Mar 2015 10:07 AM PDT Healthy young adults who don't consume caffeine regularly experienced greater rise in resting blood pressure after consumption of a commercially available energy drink — compared to a placebo drink — thus raising the concern that energy drinks may increase the risk of cardiac events, researchers found.

Common herpes medication reduces HIV-1 levels, independent of herpes infection Posted: 13 Mar 2015 10:07 AM PDT Valacyclovir reduces HIV-1 levels — even when patients do not have herpes -- results from a resent study indicate. The result not only means that Valacyclovir can be used effectively with a broader range of HIV-1 patients, but also suggests promising new avenues for the development of HIV-fighting drugs. This insight is particularly significant given that some forms of HIV-1 have become resistant to existing medications.

Prolonged shortened sleep increases blood pressure at night, researchers find Posted: 13 Mar 2015 10:07 AM PDT People exposed to prolonged periods of shortened sleep have significant increases in blood pressure during nighttime hours, researchers report in a small study of eight participants.

High-end imaging: New blending techniques Posted: 13 Mar 2015 10:07 AM PDT Researchers have achieved the first "image fusion" of mass spectrometry and microscopy — a technical tour de force that could, among other things, dramatically improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Bariatric surgery appears to cut risks for serious asthma-related events Posted: 13 Mar 2015 08:04 AM PDT Bariatric surgery can significantly reduce the risk of asthma attacks -- also called exacerbations -- in obese patients with asthma, research shows. The report is the first to find that significant weight reduction can reduce serious asthma-associated events.

Enhanced flu protection: Four beats three Posted: 13 Mar 2015 08:04 AM PDT New research findings parallel earlier results: Adding a strain of influenza B could improve effectiveness of an influenza vaccine. Findings from this study of flu vaccines delivered by a small needle intradermally parallel earlier results that found adding a strain of influenza B could improve the effectiveness of a flu vaccine nasal spray and a traditional intramuscular vaccine that is injected as a shot in the arm muscle. All studies showed the addition of the B strain improved the antibody response to that strain and didn't weaken the body's immune response to other flu strains in the vaccine.

Big toe's big foot holds evolutionary key Posted: 13 Mar 2015 07:18 AM PDT Our skeletons hold tell-tale signs that show that human bipedalism are unique to humans especially when compared to our closest living relatives, apes. Exactly when these signs first appear in our evolutionary history is one of the fundamental questions driving Palaeoanthropology studies today. Scientists have now combined visualization techniques, engineering principles, and statistical analysis into a powerful new way of analyzing the structure of long bones.

Evolution of childbirth: Wider hips don't make locomotion easier, so why is labor so hard? Posted: 13 Mar 2015 06:45 AM PDT A new study found no connection between hip width and efficient locomotion, and suggests that scientists have long approached the problem in the wrong way. "This idea, that pelvic width for birth and pelvic width for locomotion are connected, is deeply ingrained in this discipline," said the first author of the study. "Everyone thinks they know this is true...but it's wrong, and it's wrong for two reasons. First, the way we had modeled the forces involved didn't make sense. Second, we found that you can't predict, from the width of the pelvis, how much energy someone is using, so we've been looking at this biomechanical problem entirely wrong."

Why do cells rush to heal a wound? Mysteries of wound healing unlocked Posted: 13 Mar 2015 06:45 AM PDT A multidisciplinary research team has discovered how cells know to rush to a wound and heal it -- opening the door to new treatments for diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The findings shed light on the mechanisms of cell migration, particularly in the wound-healing process. The results represent a major advancement for regenerative medicine, in which biomedical engineers and other researchers manipulate cells' form and function to create new tissues, and even organs, to repair, restore or replace those damaged by injury or disease.

Environmental tobacco smoke is associated with periodontitis in US non-smokers Posted: 13 Mar 2015 05:36 AM PDT Periodontitis affects approximately 47% of adults in the United States and the U.S. Surgeon General has concluded that cigarette smoking is one of its causes. Despite numerous adverse health effects of environmental tobacco smoke, an association between periodontitis and this "second-hand smoke" in non-smokers remains questionable. In this study, the researchers aimed to investigate the association between serum cotinine and periodontitis among U.S. non-smokers.

Birth weight and pregnancy complications associated with the enamel defects Posted: 13 Mar 2015 05:36 AM PDT A cross-sectional representative study aimed to assess the association between birth weight and severity of defects development of enamel (DDE) in the primary dentition. The sample was comprised 1,309 children five years of age, enrolled in kindergarten in the city of Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. The children were examined at school for the diagnosis of DDE. The mothers answered a questionnaire containing information of complications during pregnancy. The response variable was dichotomized in greater and lesser gravity of developmental defects of enamel, depending on the location of the DDE, when in the previous sector was considered minor and when he was in the posterior region or both, greater severity. The covariates were child gender, birth weight, prematurity, age of the mother during pregnancy and complications during pregnancy.

Genetically engineered immunotoxin shows early promise in patients with B-cell malignancies Posted: 13 Mar 2015 05:36 AM PDT DT2219, a new bispecific ligand-directed diphtheria toxin, was found to be safe and clinically effective in a small group of patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies, according to phase I clinical trial data.

Novel monitoring tools tackle chemical surface waters pollution Posted: 13 Mar 2015 05:34 AM PDT With the socio-economic developments of the last decades, new emerging compounds have been produced, released and discharged through different point and diffuse sources in European rivers, lakes, and marine-coastal and transitional waters. Treated municipal wastewaters contain a multitude of organic chemicals including pharmaceuticals, hormones, and personal care products, which are continuously introduced into aquatic ecosystems. Their possible effects on the environment and human health is often unknown.

Presentation is key in patient information, research suggests Posted: 13 Mar 2015 05:34 AM PDT The font type of written text and how easy it is to read can be influential when it comes to engaging people with important health information and recruiting them for potentially beneficial programs, new research has found.

Tablet use: significance of usage position, potential for neck damage Posted: 13 Mar 2015 05:34 AM PDT Tablet use has rocketed. Last year in the US, for example, 42% of under 18's owned one and more than half of 35-49 year olds used them regularly. This figure seems unlikely to decrease and yet only limited guidance is available on minimizing health risks. Tablet use requires significant head and neck flexion and has implications for potential neck injury to users. In a new article, researchers evaluate the head-neck biomechanics during tablet use, the implications for the neck musculature and future ergonomics recommendations.

Blood pressure drug protects against symptoms of multiple sclerosis in animal models Posted: 13 Mar 2015 05:32 AM PDT An FDA-approved drug for high blood pressure, guanabenz, prevents myelin loss and alleviates clinical symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in animal models, according to a new study. The drug appears to enhance an innate cellular mechanism that protects myelin-producing cells.

Minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery: Less painful, faster recovery, smaller incisions Posted: 12 Mar 2015 07:16 PM PDT A minimally invasive spinal fusion back surgery results in less blood loss, less postoperative pain, smaller incisions, a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery and return to work. Rather than cutting through paraspinal (back) muscles, the surgeon spreads and dilates the muscles to obtain access to the lumbar (lower back) spine.

New genome-editing technology to help treat blood cancers Posted: 12 Mar 2015 05:22 PM PDT A new genome editing technology has been developed that can target and kill blood cancer cells with high accuracy. Using the technology, researchers were able to kill human lymphoma cells by locating and deleting an essential gene for cancer cell survival.

Antibiotic nanoparticles attack respiratory infection at source, reduce drug side effects Posted: 12 Mar 2015 05:21 PM PDT Treating respiratory disease is often difficult because drugs have to cross biological barriers such as respiratory tissue and mucosa, and must therefore be given in large quantities in order for an effective amount to reach the target. Now researchers have shown that the use of nanoparticles to carry antibiotics across biological barriers can be effective in treating lung infections. Doing so allows better delivery of the drug to the site of infection, and hence prevents the development of antibiotic resistance which may be caused by too large and continued doses of antibiotic. Additionally, such a strategy might help to overcome the rapid metabolism and excretion of the antibiotic from the body, which happens when it is administered by traditional routes, either orally or intravenously.

Building a genomic GPS Posted: 12 Mar 2015 02:38 PM PDT A new 'app' for finding and mapping chromosomal loci using multicolored versions of CRISPR/Cas9, one of the hottest tools in biomedical research today, has been developed by scientists.

New protocol can help emergency departments evaluate patients with acute chest pain Posted: 12 Mar 2015 02:37 PM PDT A recently developed risk-evaluation protocol can help hospital emergency department personnel more efficiently determine which patients with acute chest pain can be sent home safely, according to a randomized trial.

Nine superfruits and super seeds to add to your diet Posted: 12 Mar 2015 02:35 PM PDT Although there is no universal standard definition of a super seed or superfruit, they are often described as providing a number of nutrients and health benefits all in one package. A new article describes nine seeds and superfruits that fit the bill for consumers' desire for natural, minimally processed foods.

Electronic cigarette vapors contain toxins, have potential to be a public health concern Posted: 12 Mar 2015 12:38 PM PDT On the heels of the Federal Drug Administration's (FDA) second public workshop to explore the public health considerations associated with e-cigarettes, researchers explore the composition of e-cigarette vapor and the potential health impacts of secondhand exposure.

Inflammatory factor IL-3 may play essential role in development of sepsis Posted: 12 Mar 2015 11:29 AM PDT A new study finds that Interleukin-3, an inflammatory factor most associated with allergic reactions, has an important role in the overwhelming, life-threatening immune reaction called sepsis. Investigators found that the presence of IL-3 is essential to the development of sepsis in a mouse model and that IL-3 levels in human patients with sepsis are higher in those at greater risk of dying.

Origin of lymphatic vasculature uncovered Posted: 12 Mar 2015 09:35 AM PDT A novel mechanism by which lymphatic vessels form during embryonic development has been described by researchers. The finding may open new possibilities for repairing damaged lymphatic vessels using stem cells, scientists say.

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