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• Genetic discovery may offer new avenue of attack against schistosomiasis
• Rapid testing for gene variants in kidney donors may optimize transplant outcomes
• BPA can adversely affect reproduction of future generations of fish
• Patients who go home after knee replacement do as well as those discharged to rehab facility
• Epidemics: To quarantine or not to quarantine
• New technique paints tissue samples with light
• Chemical tag marks future microRNAs for processing, study shows
• Cancer research breakthrough: Immune markers discovered that can predict ovarian cancer patients' response to treatment
• Link between genetic variation, alcohol dependence found
• Complex genetic ancestry of Americans uncovered
• Women with diabetes more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer
• Red blood cell traits associated with malaria risk in children
• Higher volume of scoliosis surgeries linked to reduced reoperation rates
• Diabetics with ankle fractures have longer lengths of stay, more health care costs
• Norovirus candidate vaccine induces broad antibody responses in trial participants
• Discovery of what attracts pregnant mosquitoes is used to fight malaria
• Music to the ears of dementia suffers: learning to play saxophone after diagnosis
• Pay gap between male and female registered nurses has not narrowed
• National alert issued: Look-alike packaging may cause confusion between neostigmine and phenylephrine
• Got (fresh) milk? Preserving milk using energy efficient pulsed electric field processing
• Laparoscopic hysterectomy with morcellation may be safer than abdominal procedure, new study indicates
• How our DNA may prevent bowel cancer
• Mutations taking place only in brain identified as cause of intractable epilepsy
• Searching for traces in the atmosphere
• Milk could be good for your brain
• Malaria-infected cells produce odors attractive to mosquitoes
• Could a tampon one day help predict endometrial cancer? Researchers say yes
• Brain tumor cells decimated by mitochondrial 'smart bomb'
• Soils retain, contain radioactivity in Fukushima
• Hip replacement an excellent option to relieve pain in juvenile arthritis patients under age 35
• Xpert MTB/RIF assay for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis
• Hip Fracture Patients: Nearly half have delirium, study suggests
• Alzheimer's Patients: Less than half say they were told Alzheimer's diagnosis
• Hip-replacement patients may safely drive as early as two weeks following surgery
• Running barefoot may increase injury risk in older, more experienced athletes
• Men have a higher level of function before and after total knee replacement surgery
• Spinal surgery diminishes low back pain, improves sexual function
• Diabetes, previous joint pain and overall physical health predicts arthritis pain
• Child pedestrians more likely to be struck by motor vehicles in the spring months
• Cutting bone fractures: Routine bisphosphonate treatment for women over age 65
• Cancer patients want more information about medical imaging risk
• More flavorful, healthful chocolate could be on its way
• Artificial hand able to respond sensitively thanks to muscles made from smart metal wires
• Medical residues purified from wastewater with new techniques
• Driving tumor cells to their death
• Staffing problems linked to ward suicides, mental health report finds
• Tau a driver of Alzheimer's disease, study of thousands of brains reveals
• Lung transplant patients in UK fare better than publicly insured Americans
• Fat turns from diabetes foe to potential treatment
• Scientists coax stem cells to form 3-D mini lungs
• New gene influences apple or pear shape, risk of future disease
• Metformin, vitamin D3 show impressive promise in preventing colorectal cancer
• Cytomegalovirus hijacks human enzyme for replication
• Study may identify new cause of brain bleeds in fetuses, newborns
• Promising vaccine strategy for type 1 diabetes extended to humans

Genetic discovery may offer new avenue of attack against schistosomiasis Posted: 24 Mar 2015 11:08 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a group of genes in one species of snail that provide a natural resistance to the flatworm parasite that causes schistosomiasis, and opens the door to possible new drugs or ways to break the transmission cycle of this debilitating disease. It's been called a neglected global pandemic.

Rapid testing for gene variants in kidney donors may optimize transplant outcomes Posted: 24 Mar 2015 11:08 AM PDT Kidney transplantation outcomes from deceased African-American donors may improve through rapid testing for apolipoprotein L1 gene renal risk variants at the time of organ recovery, according to a new study.

BPA can adversely affect reproduction of future generations of fish Posted: 24 Mar 2015 11:08 AM PDT Bisphenol A is a chemical that is used in a variety of consumer products, such as water bottles, dental composites and resins used to line metal food and beverage containers. Often, aquatic environments such as rivers and streams become reservoirs for contaminants, including BPA. Now, scientists have determined that fish exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals will pass adverse reproductive effects onto their offspring as many as three generations later.

Patients who go home after knee replacement do as well as those discharged to rehab facility Posted: 24 Mar 2015 11:07 AM PDT Patients who go home after knee replacement and receive physical therapy at home do as well as those who go to an in-patient rehabilitation facility, a new study concludes. Researchers found no difference in complication rates within six months of knee replacement, whether patients went home or to an inpatient rehab facility after leaving the hospital. Both groups also had similar outcomes in terms of pain and function two years after surgery.

Epidemics: To quarantine or not to quarantine Posted: 24 Mar 2015 10:23 AM PDT The decision to quarantine individuals or groups during epidemics is not an exact science and is open to various interpretations. Providing guiding principles, authors of a new study suggest the need to balance public safety with human rights.

New technique paints tissue samples with light Posted: 24 Mar 2015 10:22 AM PDT One infrared scan can give pathologists a window into the structures and molecules inside tissues and cells, enabling fast and broad diagnostic assessments, thanks to a new imaging technique. Using a combination of advanced microscope imaging and computer analysis, the new technique can give pathologists and researchers precise information without using chemical stains or dyes.

Chemical tag marks future microRNAs for processing, study shows Posted: 24 Mar 2015 10:22 AM PDT By adding a chemical group to a particular sequence on RNA molecules, cells appear able to label the molecules that should be trimmed to make microRNAs. Because microRNAs help control processes throughout the body, this discovery has wide-ranging implications for development, health and disease, including cancer, the entry point for this research.

Cancer research breakthrough: Immune markers discovered that can predict ovarian cancer patients' response to treatment Posted: 24 Mar 2015 10:22 AM PDT A biomarker that will help lead to better predictions of the success of chemotherapy in ovarian cancer patients has been discovered by researchers. This discovery could lead to better treatment options in the fight against ovarian cancer, they say.

Link between genetic variation, alcohol dependence found Posted: 24 Mar 2015 10:22 AM PDT A biological clue that could help explain why some drinkers develop a dependence on alcohol and others do not has been discovered by researchers. The findings move researchers closer to identifying those at risk for addiction early and designing better drug treatments to help people stop drinking.

Complex genetic ancestry of Americans uncovered Posted: 24 Mar 2015 10:22 AM PDT By comparing the genes of current-day North and South Americans with African and European populations, a study has found the genetic fingerprints of the slave trade and colonization that shaped migrations to the Americas hundreds of years ago.

Women with diabetes more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer Posted: 24 Mar 2015 09:09 AM PDT Diabetes is associated with more advanced stage breast cancer, according to a new study that confirms a strong link between diabetes and later stage breast cancer at diagnosis. "Our findings suggest that women with diabetes may be predisposed to more advanced stage breast cancer, which may be a contributor to their higher cancer mortality," said one scientist.

Red blood cell traits associated with malaria risk in children Posted: 24 Mar 2015 09:09 AM PDT Certain red blood cell traits in children can increase or decrease their risk for malaria, researchers say. Researchers also found that a genetic condition known as homozygous X-linked G6PD deficiency correlated with a reduced risk of malaria in girls only. Meanwhile, HbC-trait, in which the body makes an abnormal hemoglobin called hemoglobin C, appeared to increase malaria risk in children. Scientists hope this study will lead to further research into the molecular mechanisms of the malaria-protective effects of red blood cell variants.

Higher volume of scoliosis surgeries linked to reduced reoperation rates Posted: 24 Mar 2015 09:09 AM PDT Adolescent patients who need scoliosis surgery may benefit most from going to a hospital that performs a high volume of the procedures, according to new research. Specifically, 14.1 percent of patients who saw a surgeon that performed a low volume of the procedures (less than 6 per year) needed a new operation, compared to 5.1 percent of patients who saw a surgeon that performed more than 43 surgeries per year, authors say.

Diabetics with ankle fractures have longer lengths of stay, more health care costs Posted: 24 Mar 2015 09:09 AM PDT American researchers have found that patients with diabetes were more likely to incur significantly greater hospital charges (mean: $26,491 diabetes versus $20,428 nondiabetes) and have significantly longer lengths of stay (5.8 days diabetes compared with 3.9 days nondiabetes) compared to patients without diabetes.

Norovirus candidate vaccine induces broad antibody responses in trial participants Posted: 24 Mar 2015 09:08 AM PDT A multivalent candidate vaccine elicits broad antibody responses to a range of norovirus strains, including strains not included in the vaccine or previously encountered by participants, according to a new study. The results of the study indicate that a vaccine to norovirus may be available in the future.

Discovery of what attracts pregnant mosquitoes is used to fight malaria Posted: 24 Mar 2015 09:07 AM PDT The battle against malaria is also a battle against its natural host, the mosquito, which means disrupting the insect's lifecycle is every bit as important as putting nets over beds. Now, an international research team has discovered what attracts mosquitoes to lay their eggs in specific places.

Music to the ears of dementia suffers: learning to play saxophone after diagnosis Posted: 24 Mar 2015 09:07 AM PDT Researchers have revealed details of an usual case that offers new insights into frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The story revolves around a patient who, with no prior musical training, learned to play the saxophone after being diagnosed with a behavioural variant of FTD.

Pay gap between male and female registered nurses has not narrowed Posted: 24 Mar 2015 09:06 AM PDT An analysis of the trends in salaries of registered nurses (RNs) in the United States from 1988 through 2013 finds that male RNs outearned female RNs across settings, specialties, and positions, with no narrowing of the pay gap over time, according to a new study.

National alert issued: Look-alike packaging may cause confusion between neostigmine and phenylephrine Posted: 24 Mar 2015 09:06 AM PDT A National Alert for Serious Medication Errors has been issued by ASHP and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), warning of potentially dangerous mix-ups between two relatively new presentations of older medications, neostigmine injection and phenylephrine injection.

Got (fresh) milk? Preserving milk using energy efficient pulsed electric field processing Posted: 24 Mar 2015 08:16 AM PDT High voltage, short pulsed electric fields selectively damage cell membrane directly killing the contaminating bacteria by a process known as electroporation. Once applied multiple times, this process prevents bacteria proliferation in milk during storage, researchers say.

Laparoscopic hysterectomy with morcellation may be safer than abdominal procedure, new study indicates Posted: 24 Mar 2015 08:15 AM PDT A study has compared the relative risks of laparoscopic hysterectomy (with morcellation) with abdominal surgery for hysterectomy in premenopausal women undergoing surgery for presumed uterine fibroids. Examining short- and long-term complications, quality of life, and overall mortality, they found that abdominal surgery carries a higher risk of complications, decreased quality of life, and death.

How our DNA may prevent bowel cancer Posted: 24 Mar 2015 07:14 AM PDT The link between aspirin and colon cancer prevention may depend on a person's individual genetics, scientists report. "We've known for a long time that aspirin lowers the risk of bowel cancer, but we also know that not everyone gets the same degree of protection," said a co-author of a new paper.

Mutations taking place only in brain identified as cause of intractable epilepsy Posted: 24 Mar 2015 07:14 AM PDT Brain somatic mutations in the MTOR gene Researchers propose a targeted therapy to lessen epileptic seizures by suppressing the activation of mTOR kinase, a signaling protein in the brain.

Searching for traces in the atmosphere Posted: 24 Mar 2015 07:14 AM PDT 4th generation halogenated coolants and foaming agents have only been in use for a few years. They have replaced persistent greenhouse gases such as R134a, which were used in (car) air conditioning units, refrigerators and in a variety of foams. Researchers have now published first measurements on the atmospheric distribution and abundance of these new substances. They show that the new coolants are frequently used in Europe -- and that their use is increasing.

Milk could be good for your brain Posted: 24 Mar 2015 07:14 AM PDT A correlation between milk consumption and the levels of a naturally-occurring antioxidant called glutathione in the brain has been discovered in older, healthy adults.

Malaria-infected cells produce odors attractive to mosquitoes Posted: 24 Mar 2015 07:14 AM PDT The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum produces chemical compounds called terpenes that give off odors that attract mosquitoes, according to new research. The study might explain why the insects are more likely to bite humans or animals infected with the organism.

Could a tampon one day help predict endometrial cancer? Researchers say yes Posted: 24 Mar 2015 07:10 AM PDT It is possible to detect endometrial cancer using tumor DNA picked up by ordinary tampons, researchers say. The new approach specifically examines DNA samples from vaginal secretions for the presence of chemical "off" switches — known as methylation — that can disable genes that normally keep cancer in check.

Brain tumor cells decimated by mitochondrial 'smart bomb' Posted: 24 Mar 2015 07:10 AM PDT An experimental drug that attacks brain tumor tissue by crippling the cells' energy source called the mitochondria has passed early tests in animal models and human tissue cultures, say scientists.

Soils retain, contain radioactivity in Fukushima Posted: 24 Mar 2015 07:10 AM PDT The soil's physical and chemical properties in rice fields around the Fukushima site have been the focus of recent study. Researchers examined factors affecting soil-to-plant transfer of radioactive cesium (radiocesium) in the Fukushima area.

Hip replacement an excellent option to relieve pain in juvenile arthritis patients under age 35 Posted: 24 Mar 2015 07:10 AM PDT Hip replacement surgery is an excellent option to alleviate pain and improve function in juvenile arthritis patients under age 35 when conservative treatments fail to provide relief, a new study suggests.

Xpert MTB/RIF assay for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:51 AM PDT Microbiological confirmation of childhood tuberculosis is rare because of the difficulty of collection of specimens, low sensitivity of smear microscopy, and poor access to culture. A new study aimed to establish summary estimates for sensitivity and specificity of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay compared with microscopy in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children.

Hip Fracture Patients: Nearly half have delirium, study suggests Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:49 AM PDT 48 percent of hip fracture patients, age 65 and older, had delirium, or acute confusion, before, during and after surgery (perioperative), resulting in significantly longer hospital stays and higher costs for care, a new study concludes.

Alzheimer's Patients: Less than half say they were told Alzheimer's diagnosis Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:49 AM PDT A new study found that only 45 percent of people with Alzheimer's disease or their caregivers say they were told the diagnosis by their doctor. In contrast, more than 90 percent of people with the four most common cancers (breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancer) say they were told the diagnosis.

Hip-replacement patients may safely drive as early as two weeks following surgery Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:49 AM PDT Thanks to improved surgical, pain management and rehabilitation procedures, patients who undergo a total hip replacement may be able to safely drive as early as two weeks following surgery.

Running barefoot may increase injury risk in older, more experienced athletes Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:49 AM PDT In recent years there has been an explosion in barefoot running, as well as the purchase and use of 'minimalist' running shoes that more closely resemble barefoot running by encouraging the balls of the feet, between the arch and toes, to hit the pavement first. A new study found that a significant number of experienced runners, age 30 and older (40 percent of men and 20 percent of women), maintained a heel-first running pattern -- which naturally occurs when wearing a shoe with an elevated heel -- when running without shoes.

Men have a higher level of function before and after total knee replacement surgery Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:49 AM PDT While men and women have similar levels of improvement following total knee replacement (TKR) surgery, men have higher levels of function before and after TKR.

Spinal surgery diminishes low back pain, improves sexual function Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:49 AM PDT Chronic low back pain can limit everyday activities, including sex. 70 percent of patients consider sexual activity "relevant" to their life quality, and patients who receive surgical treatment for spinal spondylolisthesis (DS) and spinal stenosis (SS) -- common degenerative conditions most often occurring in older adults -- were twice as likely to report no pain during sex.

Diabetes, previous joint pain and overall physical health predicts arthritis pain Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:49 AM PDT Diabetes and previous joint pain, along with a patient's overall physical health status, may predicts arthritis pain with nearly 100 percent accuracy.

Child pedestrians more likely to be struck by motor vehicles in the spring months Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:49 AM PDT New research found that most child pedestrian injuries involving a motor vehicle occurred while children were unsupervised, near schools and bus stops, and in the spring months during the afternoon and evening hours.

Cutting bone fractures: Routine bisphosphonate treatment for women over age 65 Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:49 AM PDT Osteoporosis is a disease of progressive bone loss affecting more than 44 million Americans and contributing to an estimated 2 million bone fractures each year.

Cancer patients want more information about medical imaging risk Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:48 AM PDT A substantial gap exists between patient expectations and current practices for providing information about medical imaging tests that use radiation, according to a new study. Researchers said the findings highlight a need for better communication as medicine enters an era of patient-centered care.

More flavorful, healthful chocolate could be on its way Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:48 AM PDT Chocolate has many health benefits -- it can potentially lower blood pressure and cholesterol and reduce stroke risk. But just as connoisseurs thought it couldn't get any better, there's this tasty new tidbit: researchers have found a way to make the treat even more nutritious -- and sweeter.

Artificial hand able to respond sensitively thanks to muscles made from smart metal wires Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:47 AM PDT Engineers have taken a leaf out of nature's book by equipping an artificial hand with muscles made from shape-memory wire. The new technology enables the fabrication of flexible and lightweight robot hands for industrial applications and novel prosthetic devices. The muscle fibers are composed of bundles of ultrafine nickel-titanium alloy wires that are able to tense and flex. The material itself has sensory properties allowing the artificial hand to perform extremely precise movements.

Medical residues purified from wastewater with new techniques Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:47 AM PDT Contaminants - such as medical residues and pesticides - go through the traditional wastewater purifying process and go back to the environment. Concern over their volyme in waste and drinking water is growing globally. Research has found that by modernizing the current wastewater purification process, over 95 percent of contaminants can be removed from wastewater.

Driving tumor cells to their death Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:45 AM PDT A new approach to treating B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia has been uncovered by researchers. B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, or B-ALL, is the most common tumor disease in children and also occurs in adults. It develops when signalling pathways in immature B cells, or pre-B cells, are dysregulated. These studies could change the way we think about clinical therapies for treating these tumor diseases, authors say.

Staffing problems linked to ward suicides, mental health report finds Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:43 AM PDT Suicidal patients who are under observation may be put at risk by relying on inexperienced staff and agency nurses, according to a new report issued today. The researchers found that half of deaths examined occurred when checks were carried out by less experienced staff or agency staff who were unfamiliar with the patient. Deaths occurred when staff were distracted by ward disruptions, during busy periods, or when the ward was poorly designed.

Tau a driver of Alzheimer's disease, study of thousands of brains reveals Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:43 AM PDT By examining more than 3,600 postmortem brains, researchers have found that the progression of dysfunctional tau protein drives the cognitive decline and memory loss seen in Alzheimer's disease.

Lung transplant patients in UK fare better than publicly insured Americans Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:43 AM PDT Publicly insured Americans who undergo lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis fare markedly worse in the long run than both publicly insured patients in the United Kingdom and privately insured Americans, according to the results of a study.

Fat turns from diabetes foe to potential treatment Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:43 AM PDT A new weapon in the war against type 2 diabetes is coming in an unexpected form: fat. Researchers have discovered a new class of potentially therapeutic lipids, called FAHFAs, that are at low levels in people with insulin resistance, a risk factor for diabetes. FAHFAs improved glucose metabolism and insulin secretion in diabetic mice.

Scientists coax stem cells to form 3-D mini lungs Posted: 24 Mar 2015 05:43 AM PDT Scientists have coaxed stem cells to grow the first three-dimensional mini lungs. The 3-D structures mimic the complexity of human lungs and may serve as a discovery tool for lung diseases or new therapies.

New gene influences apple or pear shape, risk of future disease Posted: 23 Mar 2015 01:24 PM PDT It's known that people who carry a lot of weight around their bellies are more likely to develop diabetes and heart disease than those who have bigger hips and thighs. But what hasn't been clear is how fat accumulates in different places to produce these classic 'apple' and 'pear' shapes. Now, researchers have discovered that a gene called Plexin D1 in zebrafish controls both where fat is stored and how fat cells are shaped.

Metformin, vitamin D3 show impressive promise in preventing colorectal cancer Posted: 23 Mar 2015 01:24 PM PDT The concept was simple: if two compounds each individually show promise in preventing colon cancer, surely it's worth trying the two together to see if even greater impact is possible. Not only did the combination of the two improve outcomes in animal studies, but the dual-compound effect was dramatically better than either option alone.

Cytomegalovirus hijacks human enzyme for replication Posted: 23 Mar 2015 01:23 PM PDT Cytomegalovirus manipulates a process called fatty acid elongation, which makes the very-long-chain fatty acids necessary for virus replication, researchers have discovered. The research team identified a specific human enzyme -- elongase enzyme 7 -- that the virus induces to turn on fatty acid elongation.

Study may identify new cause of brain bleeds in fetuses, newborns Posted: 23 Mar 2015 01:23 PM PDT A newly discovered bodily process in mice may explain why some human fetuses who have different antigens than their mothers suffer life-threatening brain bleeds, according to a new study.

Promising vaccine strategy for type 1 diabetes extended to humans Posted: 23 Mar 2015 01:22 PM PDT A molecule that prevents type 1 diabetes in mice has provoked an immune response in human cells, according to researchers. The findings suggest that a mutated insulin fragment could be used to prevent type 1 diabetes in humans.

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