ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Intelligent neuroprostheses mimic natural motor control
• Scientists link unexplained childhood paralysis to enterovirus D68
• Pesticides in fruit and vegetables linked to semen quality
• Date syrup shows promise for fighting bacterial infections
• Bacterial genetic pathway involved in body odor production discovered
• Panel predicts whether rare leukemia will respond to treatment
• 3-D human skin maps aid study of relationships between molecules, microbes and environment
• Clues to aging from long-lived lemurs
• 'Wikipedia' for neurons created
• Stop blaming the moon: Intelligent people can develop strong entirely incorrect beliefs
• Oral drug normalizes blood potassium in 98 percent of kidney patients
• Cancer-targeting mechanism under development
• Fasting and less-toxic cancer drug may work as well as chemotherapy
• Mechanisms that link compulsive binge eating with hypertension identified
• Rate of opioid misuse is around 25 percent, addiction rate 10 percent, reports study
• Oxygen therapy in COPD patients associated with burn injury
• Crowdsourced tool for depression
• Study debunks common misconception that urine is sterile
• Component of red grapes, wine could help ease depression
• Setting a dinner table for wildlife can affect their risk of disease
• To stop cancer: Block its messages
• Worked-based wellness programs reduce weight
• 'Pay-for-performance' may lead to higher risk for robotic prostate surgery patients
• Early stage non-small cell lung cancer patients with low tumor metabolic activity have longer survival
• Odds of reversing ICU patients' prior preferences to forgo life-sustaining therapies vary widely across the U.S.
• Could antibodies from camels protect humans from MERS?
• Endoscopes linked to outbreak of drug-resistant E. coli
• Short bouts of high-intensity exercise before a fatty meal best for vascular health
• Prototype 'nanoneedles' generate new blood vessels in mice, paving way for new regenerative medicine
• Newly enlisted T-cell 'policemen' can slow down run-away immune system, scientist says
• Scientists convert microbubbles to nanoparticles
• High-tech method allows rapid imaging of functions in living brain
• New link between neurodegenerative diseases, abnormal immune responses found
• 'Lightning bolts' in brain show learning in action
• Researchers develop new potential drug for rare leukemia
• Family income, parental education related to brain structure in children, adolescents
• Adding peanuts to a meal benefits vascular health
• Eating green leafy vegetables keeps mental abilities sharp
• Two different fat graft techniques have similar effects on facial skin
• Fat grafting technique improves results of breast augmentation
• 'Google Maps' for the body: A biomedical revolution
• 'Atomic chicken-wire' is key to faster DNA sequencing
• Major increase in bowel cancer screening uptake shown with new screening test
• Only one of 32 hockey helmets tested earn 3-star rating
• Adolescents' riskier online behavior suggests need for age-based warnings
• Surprising source of serotonin could affect antidepressant activity
• Rats, reasoning, and rehabilitation: Neuroscientists are uncovering how we reason
• Gap between parental perceptions of child's weight and official classifications
• Fecal transplants successful for treating C. difficile infection
• 'Exploding head syndrome' common in young people: Nearly one in five startled by loud, non-existent noises
• Exercise can outweigh harmful effects of air pollution
• Antibiotic resistance risk for coastal water users in UK
• Classroom behaviour and dyslexia research
• New study of freelance workers examines link between their well-being and hours worked
• Alzheimer's: The killer protein, properly explained
• Major hand hygiene problems in operating rooms observed
• Mother's diet influences weight-control neurocircuits in offspring
• Role of a master gene in skeletal formation probed by researcher

Intelligent neuroprostheses mimic natural motor control Posted: 30 Mar 2015 06:43 PM PDT Neuroscientists are taking inspiration from natural motor control to design new prosthetic devices that can better replace limb function. Researchers have tested a range of brain-controlled devices -- from wheelchairs to robots to advanced limbs -- that work with their users to intelligently perform tasks.

Scientists link unexplained childhood paralysis to enterovirus D68 Posted: 30 Mar 2015 06:43 PM PDT Scientists have found the genetic signature of enterovirus D68 in half of the California and Colorado children diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis -- sudden, unexplained muscle weakness and paralysis -- between 2012 and 2014, with most cases occurring during a nationwide outbreak of severe respiratory illness from EV-D68 last fall.

Pesticides in fruit and vegetables linked to semen quality Posted: 30 Mar 2015 06:39 PM PDT The first study to investigate the relationship between eating fruit and vegetables containing pesticide residues and the quality of men's semen has shown a link with lower sperm counts and percentages of normally-formed sperm.

Date syrup shows promise for fighting bacterial infections Posted: 30 Mar 2015 06:39 PM PDT Date syrup – a thick, sweet liquid derived from dates that is widely consumed across the Middle East – shows antibacterial activity against a number of disease-causing bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Bacterial genetic pathway involved in body odor production discovered Posted: 30 Mar 2015 06:39 PM PDT For many, body odor is an unfortunate side effect of their daily lives. The smell is caused by bacteria on the skin breaking down naturally secreted molecules contained within sweat. Now scientists have studied the underarm microbiome and identified a unique set of enzymes in the bacterium Staphylococcus hominis that is effective at breaking down sweat molecules into compounds known as thioalcohols, an important component of the characteristic body odor smell.

Panel predicts whether rare leukemia will respond to treatment Posted: 30 Mar 2015 02:38 PM PDT Patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia have limited treatment options, and those that exist are effective only in fewer than half of patients. Now, a new study identifies a panel of genetic markers that predicted which tumor samples would likely respond to treatment.

3-D human skin maps aid study of relationships between molecules, microbes and environment Posted: 30 Mar 2015 02:38 PM PDT Researchers have produced 3-D maps of molecular and microbial variations across the body. These maps provide a baseline for studies of the interplay between the molecules that make up our skin, our microbiomes, our personal hygiene routines and other environmental factors. The study may help further our understanding of the skin's role in human health and disease.

Clues to aging from long-lived lemurs Posted: 30 Mar 2015 01:33 PM PDT Researchers combed through more than 50 years of medical records on hundreds of lemurs for clues to their longevity. They found that how long these primates live and how fast they age correlates with the amount of time they spend in a state of suspended animation known as torpor. The research may eventually help scientists identify 'anti-aging' genes in humans.

'Wikipedia' for neurons created Posted: 30 Mar 2015 01:33 PM PDT To help scientists make sense of 'brain big data,' researchers have used data mining to create www.neuroelectro.org, a publicly available website that acts like Wikipedia, indexing physiological information about neurons. The site will help to accelerate the advance of neuroscience research by providing a centralized resource for collecting and comparing data on neuronal function.

Stop blaming the moon: Intelligent people can develop strong entirely incorrect beliefs Posted: 30 Mar 2015 01:30 PM PDT The moon does not influence the timing of human births or hospital admissions, a new study finds, confirming what astronomers have known for decades. The study illustrates how intelligent people develop strong beliefs that are incorrect.

Oral drug normalizes blood potassium in 98 percent of kidney patients Posted: 30 Mar 2015 01:30 PM PDT A medication called ZS-9 normalized potassium in the blood of 98 percent of chronic kidney disease patients treated for hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia is high potassium in the blood, and may occur as a side effect of taking kidney disease medications called Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System inhibitors. Hyperkalemia increases the risk of cardiac arrhythmias.

Cancer-targeting mechanism under development Posted: 30 Mar 2015 01:24 PM PDT Researchers are developing molecules that bind to more than 60 types of cancer. Several are being tested in early-stage clinical trials, including one for brain cancer. These custom-made molecules can carry either a "flag" that shines brightly in standard medical scanners or a bit of radiation to kill the targeted cancer cells.

Fasting and less-toxic cancer drug may work as well as chemotherapy Posted: 30 Mar 2015 11:19 AM PDT Fasting in combination with chemotherapy has already been shown to kill cancer cells, but a pair of new studies in mice suggests that a less-toxic class of drugs combined with fasting may kill breast, colorectal and lung cancer cells equally well.

Mechanisms that link compulsive binge eating with hypertension identified Posted: 30 Mar 2015 11:13 AM PDT An estimated eight million adults in the U.S. suffer from binge eating disorder. Now, researchers have shown that compulsive binging on foods that are high in fat and sugar can trigger specific molecular changes that can lead to high blood pressure (hypertension). While others have studied the effects of binge eating on the brain, this study is the first to look at its molecular effects on the expression of certain proteins in the body.

Rate of opioid misuse is around 25 percent, addiction rate 10 percent, reports study Posted: 30 Mar 2015 11:13 AM PDT New estimates suggest that 20 to 30 percent of opioid analgesic drugs prescribed for chronic pain are misused, while the rate of opioid addiction is approximately 10 percent. "On average, misuse was documented in approximately one out of four or five patients and addiction in approximately one out of ten or eleven patients," who were prescribed opioids as part of their treatment for chronic pain, write researchers. They note extremely wide variation in reported rates of misuse, abuse, and addiction and raise questions about the benefits of widespread opioid use for chronic pain, given the harmful consequences.

Oxygen therapy in COPD patients associated with burn injury Posted: 30 Mar 2015 10:46 AM PDT Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease receiving home oxygen have a higher risk of burn injury, a study shows. Physicians prescribing oxygen to patients with COPD struggle to balance the benefits with the risk of fire hazard in patients who continue to smoke. The number of active smokers prescribed oxygen is estimated to be 15 to 25 percent. Having heat source or flame near oxygen gas can ignite a fire.

Crowdsourced tool for depression Posted: 30 Mar 2015 10:45 AM PDT A new peer-to-peer networking tool has been developed that enables sufferers of anxiety and depression to build online support communities and practice therapeutic techniques.

Study debunks common misconception that urine is sterile Posted: 30 Mar 2015 10:45 AM PDT Bacteria have been discovered in the bladders of healthy women, discrediting the common belief that normal urine is sterile. "While traditional urine cultures have been the gold standard to identify urine disorders in the past, they do not detect most bacteria and have limited utility as a result," a researcher said. "They are not as comprehensive as the testing techniques used in this study."

Component of red grapes, wine could help ease depression Posted: 30 Mar 2015 10:44 AM PDT A link between inflammation and depression, which affects approximately 148 million people in the United States, has been identified by researchers. A new study finds that resveratrol -- a natural anti-inflammatory agent found in the skin of red grapes -- can prevent inflammation as well as depression-related behaviors in rodents exposed to a social stress.

Setting a dinner table for wildlife can affect their risk of disease Posted: 30 Mar 2015 09:26 AM PDT Supplemental feeding of wildlife can increase the spread of some infectious diseases and decrease the spread of others. A new study by ecologists finds that the outcome depends on the type of pathogen and the source of food. The findings have implications for human health and wildlife conservation, and contain practical suggestions for wildlife disease management and a roadmap for future study.

To stop cancer: Block its messages Posted: 30 Mar 2015 09:26 AM PDT A potential drug molecule has been discovered that stops cancer cells, but not healthy ones, from getting their 'mail.' The average living cell needs communication skills: It must transmit a constant stream of messages quickly and efficiently from its outer walls to the inner nucleus, where most of the day-to-day decisions are made. But this rapid, long-distance communication system leaves itself open to mutations that can give rise to a "spam attack" that promotes cancer, the researchers say.

Worked-based wellness programs reduce weight Posted: 30 Mar 2015 09:25 AM PDT Workplace wellness programs can be effective in helping people lose weight by providing healthier food choices and increasing opportunities for physical activity, particularly if these efforts are designed with the input and active participation of employees, a new study confirms. The two-year project successfully reduced the number or people considered overweight or obese by almost 9 percent.

'Pay-for-performance' may lead to higher risk for robotic prostate surgery patients Posted: 30 Mar 2015 09:24 AM PDT A 'perverse disincentive' for hospitals that have invested in expensive technology for robotic surgery may be jeopardizing prostate cancer patients who seek out the procedure, concluded a new study. The study, which compared complication rates in hospitals with low volumes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomies to institutions with high volumes of the procedure, suggested that current pay-for-performance healthcare models are to blame.

Early stage non-small cell lung cancer patients with low tumor metabolic activity have longer survival Posted: 30 Mar 2015 09:24 AM PDT Low pre-surgery uptake of a labeled glucose analogue, a marker of metabolic activity, in the primary tumor of patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer is associated with increased overall survival and a longer time before tumor recurrence, a study shows. Patients with high labeled glucose uptake may benefit from additional therapy following surgery.

Odds of reversing ICU patients' prior preferences to forgo life-sustaining therapies vary widely across the U.S. Posted: 30 Mar 2015 09:17 AM PDT Intensive care units across the United States vary widely in how they manage the care of patients who have set preexisting limits on life-sustaining therapies, such as authorizing do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders and prohibiting interventions such as feeding tubes or dialysis, according to new research.

Could antibodies from camels protect humans from MERS? Posted: 30 Mar 2015 08:23 AM PDT Antibodies from dromedary camels protected uninfected mice from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and helped infected mice expunge the disease, according to a study.

Endoscopes linked to outbreak of drug-resistant E. coli Posted: 30 Mar 2015 08:23 AM PDT An outbreak of a novel Escherichia coli (E.coli) strain resistant to antibiotics has been linked to contaminated endoscopes in a Washington state hospital. The study indicates that industry standard cleaning guidelines, which were exceeded by hospital staff, may not be sufficient for sterilizing endoscopes adequately.

Short bouts of high-intensity exercise before a fatty meal best for vascular health Posted: 30 Mar 2015 08:23 AM PDT A short burst of intensive exercise before eating a high fat meal is better for blood vessel function in young people than the currently recommended moderate-intensity exercise, according to a new study. Cardiovascular diseases including heart attacks and stroke a leading cause of death, and the process underlying these diseases start in youth. An impairment in the function of blood vessels is thought to be the earliest event in this process, and this is known to occur in the hours after consuming a high fat meal.

Prototype 'nanoneedles' generate new blood vessels in mice, paving way for new regenerative medicine Posted: 30 Mar 2015 08:22 AM PDT Scientists have developed tiny 'nanoneedles' that have successfully prompted parts of the body to generate new blood vessels, in a trial in mice. The researchers hope their nanoneedle technique could ultimately help damaged organs and nerves to repair themselves and help transplanted organs to thrive.

Newly enlisted T-cell 'policemen' can slow down run-away immune system, scientist says Posted: 30 Mar 2015 08:22 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that potentially aggressive T-cells that might lead to auto-immune disease can instead be enlisted to help "police" over-active immune responses, via the molecule CD5. This new breakthrough may open the door to design better treatments for autoimmune diseases, they say.

Scientists convert microbubbles to nanoparticles Posted: 30 Mar 2015 08:22 AM PDT Biomedical researchers have successfully converted microbubble technology already used in diagnostic imaging into nanoparticles that stay trapped in tumors to potentially deliver targeted, therapeutic payloads.

High-tech method allows rapid imaging of functions in living brain Posted: 30 Mar 2015 08:22 AM PDT Using a new high-speed, high-resolution imaging method, researchers were able to see blood flow and other functions inside a living mouse brain at faster rates than ever before.

New link between neurodegenerative diseases, abnormal immune responses found Posted: 30 Mar 2015 08:22 AM PDT New insight into the link between neurodegenerative disorders and inflammation has been gained by a new study that provides a framework to explore more fully the possibility that viral infection may lead to onset of these diseases.

'Lightning bolts' in brain show learning in action Posted: 30 Mar 2015 08:22 AM PDT Researchers have captured images of the underlying biological activity within brain cells and their tree-like extensions, or dendrites, in mice that show how their brains sort, store and make sense out of information during learning.

Researchers develop new potential drug for rare leukemia Posted: 30 Mar 2015 08:22 AM PDT A new drug that shows potential in laboratory studies against a rare type of acute leukemia has been developed by scientists. And additional studies suggest the same compound could play a role in prostate cancer treatment as well, they say.

Family income, parental education related to brain structure in children, adolescents Posted: 30 Mar 2015 08:22 AM PDT Characterizing associations between socioeconomic factors and children's brain development, a team of investigators reports correlative links between family income and brain structure. Relationships between the brain and family income were strongest in the lowest end of the economic range -- suggesting that interventional policies aimed at these children may have the largest societal impact.

Adding peanuts to a meal benefits vascular health Posted: 30 Mar 2015 08:22 AM PDT A study of peanut consumption showed that including them as a part of a high fat meal improved the post-meal triglyceride response and preserved endothelial function. Vascular dysfunction plays a major role in the development of atherosclerosis and the formation of coronary plaques and lesions that lead to coronary artery disease.

Eating green leafy vegetables keeps mental abilities sharp Posted: 30 Mar 2015 08:22 AM PDT Something as easy as adding more spinach, kale, collards and mustard greens to your diet could help slow cognitive decline, according to new research. The study also examined the nutrients responsible for the effect, linking vitamin K consumption to slower cognitive decline for the first time.

Two different fat graft techniques have similar effects on facial skin Posted: 30 Mar 2015 07:16 AM PDT Two approaches to fat grafting—injection of fat cells versus fat-derived stem cells—have similar effects in reversing the cellular-level signs of aging skin, reports a study. The study included six middle-aged patients who were candidates for facelift surgery. All underwent fat grafting to a small area in front of the ear.

Fat grafting technique improves results of breast augmentation Posted: 30 Mar 2015 07:16 AM PDT In women undergoing breast augmentation, a technique using transplantation of a small amount of the patient's own fat cells can produce better cosmetic outcomes, reports a study. In particular, the fat grafting technique can achieve a more natural-appearing cleavage -- avoiding the "separated breasts" appearance that can occur after breast augmentation.

'Google Maps' for the body: A biomedical revolution Posted: 30 Mar 2015 06:54 AM PDT Scientists are using previously top-secret technology to zoom through the human body down to the level of a single cell. Scientists are also using cutting-edge microtome and MRI technology to examine how movement and weight bearing affects the movement of molecules within joints, exploring the relationship between blood, bone, lymphatics and muscle.

'Atomic chicken-wire' is key to faster DNA sequencing Posted: 30 Mar 2015 06:54 AM PDT An unusual and very exciting form of carbon -- that can be created by drawing on paper -- looks to hold the key to real-time, high throughput DNA sequencing, a technique that would revolutionize medical research and testing.

Major increase in bowel cancer screening uptake shown with new screening test Posted: 30 Mar 2015 06:52 AM PDT A large pilot study of a new bowel cancer screening test has demonstrated a major increase in participation rates across population groups. The new test is called a Fecal Immunochemical Test or FIT for short. In addition to being able to detect many more cancers and pre-cancers, the pilot of FIT in 40,000 people in the northwest, midlands and the south of England showed almost double the uptake with FIT than with the current test (guaiac faecal occult blood test or gFOBt) for those who had previously chosen not to participate (14.5 per cent climbed to 25.6 per cent).

Only one of 32 hockey helmets tested earn 3-star rating Posted: 30 Mar 2015 06:51 AM PDT The five-star ratings of hockey helmets, judging their abilities to help prevent concussions, have been released by experts. The findings so far: Only one of 32 tested hockey helmets earned three stars with all other models faring worse in laboratory impact tests.

Adolescents' riskier online behavior suggests need for age-based warnings Posted: 30 Mar 2015 06:51 AM PDT Adolescents who have engaged in past risky online behavior such as providing personal information and befriending strangers are much more likely to repeat such behavior in the future, according to new research that suggests risk information should be tailored to different age groups.

Surprising source of serotonin could affect antidepressant activity Posted: 30 Mar 2015 06:51 AM PDT An unconventional way that serotonin is released from neurons could play an important role in the mechanism through which antidepressant drugs work, scientists report. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that plays a key role in regulating various emotions and behaviors. An imbalance in serotonin signaling is generally thought to contribute to depression.

Rats, reasoning, and rehabilitation: Neuroscientists are uncovering how we reason Posted: 30 Mar 2015 05:42 AM PDT Even rats can imagine: A new study finds that rats have the ability to link cause and effect such that they can expect, or imagine, something happening even if it isn't. The findings are important to understanding human reasoning, especially in older adults, as aging degrades the ability to maintain information about unobserved events.

Gap between parental perceptions of child's weight and official classifications Posted: 30 Mar 2015 05:42 AM PDT New study reveals a gap between parental perceptions of their child's weight and official classifications of obesity. The work finds that parents are additionally more likely to underestimate their child's weight if they are Black or south Asian (vs white), from more deprived backgrounds or if their offspring is male. The identification of gaps between parental perceptions and official guidelines, and variations seen in different demographics of the population, may help us evaluate how effective public health interventions for obesity in children are going to be in different groups of the population.

Fecal transplants successful for treating C. difficile infection Posted: 30 Mar 2015 05:42 AM PDT Distasteful though it sounds, the transplantation of fecal matter is more successful for treating Clostridium difficile infections than previously thought. The research reveals that healthy changes to a patient's microbiome are sustained for up to 21 weeks after transplant, and has implications for the regulation of the treatment.

'Exploding head syndrome' common in young people: Nearly one in five startled by loud, non-existent noises Posted: 30 Mar 2015 05:42 AM PDT Researchers have found that an unexpectedly high percentage of young people experience 'exploding head syndrome,' a psychological phenomenon in which they are awakened by abrupt loud noises, even the sensation of an explosion in their head.

Exercise can outweigh harmful effects of air pollution Posted: 30 Mar 2015 05:42 AM PDT The beneficial effects of exercise are more important for our health than the negative effects of air pollution, in relation to the risk of premature mortality, new research shows. In other words, benefits of exercise outweigh the harmful effects of air pollution.

Antibiotic resistance risk for coastal water users in UK Posted: 30 Mar 2015 05:37 AM PDT Recreational users of coastal waters around the United Kingdom, such as swimmers and surfers, are at risk of exposure to antibiotic resistant bacteria, according to new research published this week.

Classroom behaviour and dyslexia research Posted: 30 Mar 2015 05:27 AM PDT The significance of copying and note-taking in the classroom has been studied by researchers including a view on how it affects the learning of Dyslexic children. "Classroom learning is the bedrock of school education, which relies heavily on copying and note-taking. Copying from a board presents serious difficulties to learners with dyslexia," said the main study's author.

New study of freelance workers examines link between their well-being and hours worked Posted: 30 Mar 2015 05:27 AM PDT A new study of freelance workers has discovered key factors that affect their well-being – either making them happier or increasing anxiety and risking depression.

Alzheimer's: The killer protein, properly explained Posted: 30 Mar 2015 05:27 AM PDT Researchers hope to be able, one day, to fight the pathogenic action of the amyloid-beta protein, whose build-up is associated with Alzheimer's disease. In the meantime, scientists have synthesized the knowledge acquired about this protein over the last few decades in a review paper that is destined to become a milestone for future research.

Major hand hygiene problems in operating rooms observed Posted: 30 Mar 2015 05:27 AM PDT 2,393 opportunities for hand disinfection and/or aseptic techniques were identified by researchers in a recent study. Doctors and nurses missed 90% of the opportunities, they report.

Mother's diet influences weight-control neurocircuits in offspring Posted: 30 Mar 2015 05:25 AM PDT Maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation may prime offspring for weight gain and obesity later in life, according to researchers who looked at rats whose mothers consumed a high-fat diet and found that the offspring's feeding controls and feelings of fullness did not function normally.

Role of a master gene in skeletal formation probed by researcher Posted: 29 Mar 2015 11:10 AM PDT The runx2 master transcription factor functions differently in chondrocytes and osteoblasts, two key cells in bone formation, scientists report. This research has taken a major step forward in understanding the bone development function of a gene called runx2, which could lead to future ways to speed bone healing, aid bone bioengineering, stem osteoporosis and reduce arthritis.

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