ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Why we have chins: Our chin comes from evolution, not mechanical forces
• Medical marijuana liquid extract may bring hope for children with severe epilepsy
• Nanoparticles at specific temperature stimulate antitumor response
• Tango dancing benefits Parkinson's patients
• The placebome: Where genetics and the placebo effect meet
• Network 'hubs' in brain attract information, much like airport system
• Cell division research expected to lead to containment of cancer cells and regenerative medical treatments
• Anti-cancer therapy delivering drug to an entire tumor developed
• Promising developments in tackling resistance to blood cancer drugs
• Oncogene regulated by nutrients identified
• How a bacterial cell recognizes its own DNA
• Study challenges view that sight-based brain sensory network organization is impaired with blindness
• Putting clinicians in charge of computer-based decision support
• Babies exposed to narcotic pain relievers more likely to experience withdrawal
• How deep-brain stimulation reshapes neural circuits in Parkinson's disease
• Some atrial fibrillation patients receive unnecessary blood thinners
• Bone mineral density improved in frail elderly women treated with zoledronic acid
• Emergency departments improve readiness to care for children
• Family doctors important in advising young women on egg freezing for future fertility
• New strategy can help determine heart attack in patients within one hour
• Melanoma's 'safe haven' targeted for shut-down
• Researchers identify drug target for ATRA, the first precision cancer therapy
• Identifying patients most at risk of developing pancreatic cancer
• Mental rehearsal helps ER clinicians best prepare for trauma patients
• Spinal surgery: Right on target with new software
• Testicular cancer link found for muscle-building supplements
• Gene therapy superior to half-matched transplant for 'bubble boy disease'
• Limber lungs: One type of airway cell can regenerate another lung cell type
• Human immune system can control re-awakened HIV, suggesting cure is possible
• Heart cells regenerated in mice
• Attaching the propeller: How the motility structure of unicellular archaea is fixed to their surface
• Morphine test printed on paper
• Pain management study reveals patient confusion about opioid addiction
• New evidence for how green tea, apples could protect health
• Pulmonary emphysema: Novel neutrophil elastase isoform discovered
• Stroke from poor air quality
• What's in your wine? How production methods affect color and taste of Pinot Noir
• Appropriate clinical frame is required to enhance the value of pre-clinical work
• Your pain reliever may also be diminishing your joy
• Identifying teens at risk for hashish use
• Role of Tmem2311 defined in maintaining ciliary function
• Adjustments on the treatment of cancer patients with pneumonia
• HPV vaccination of adolescent boys may be cost-effective for preventing oropharyngeal cancer
• Suffering from abuse during childhood increases chances of depression, above all in those adults who are genetically predisposed
• PCBs still found in fat-rich fish near Spain; Consumption linked to increased risk of cancer in males
• Did Richard III manage to keep his scoliosis a secret up until his death in 1485?
• The genetics of psychiatric disorders
• Improving nutrition in cancer survivors
• Is the length of work careers determined in utero?
• Pears could be part of a healthy diet to manage diabetes
• Researchers find protein that may signal more aggressive prostate cancers
• New guidance on contact precautions for hospital visitors

Why we have chins: Our chin comes from evolution, not mechanical forces Posted: 13 Apr 2015 03:37 PM PDT Why are modern humans the only species to have chins? Researchers say it's not due to mechanical forces, such as chewing, but may lie in our evolution: As our faces became smaller, it exposed the bony prominence at the lowest part of our heads.

Medical marijuana liquid extract may bring hope for children with severe epilepsy Posted: 13 Apr 2015 03:37 PM PDT A medicinal liquid form of marijuana may show promise as a treatment for children with severe epilepsy that is not responding to other treatments, according to a new study.

Nanoparticles at specific temperature stimulate antitumor response Posted: 13 Apr 2015 01:13 PM PDT Researchers have identified the precise temperature that results in a distinct body-wide antitumor immune response that resists metastatic disease.

Tango dancing benefits Parkinson's patients Posted: 13 Apr 2015 11:09 AM PDT Dancing the Argentine tango could have potential benefits for people at certain stages in the development of Parkinson's disease, according to findings in a new study that looked at changes in patients' motor abilities following a 12-week tango course, and is also the first study to assess the effect that tango has on non-motor symptoms.

The placebome: Where genetics and the placebo effect meet Posted: 13 Apr 2015 11:09 AM PDT With the advent of genomics, researchers are learning that placebo responses are modified by a person's genetics. A new review article explores the many questions that this raises regarding the role of the placebo in both patient care and in drug development.

Network 'hubs' in brain attract information, much like airport system Posted: 13 Apr 2015 11:08 AM PDT "Hubs" in the brain -- highly connected regions that like hubs of the airport system -- act as critical destinations where information is received and integrated, scientists report. "Understanding how information transfer occurs in the brain is critical, especially if network hubs are taken off line by anesthesia, tumor or stroke," says the senior study author.

Cell division research expected to lead to containment of cancer cells and regenerative medical treatments Posted: 13 Apr 2015 10:59 AM PDT All organisms grow and develop through the regenerative ability of cell division. An indispensable ability for all living beings, it can be said that life is defined by this process. Now, for the first time in the world, researchers have replicated the contractile ring's structure by isolating a refined protein and placing it within a cell-imitation capsule.

Anti-cancer therapy delivering drug to an entire tumor developed Posted: 13 Apr 2015 10:58 AM PDT To treat inoperable tumors, anti-cancer medicine is commonly used. However, efficient drug delivery to tumor cells is often difficult, treating an entire tumor with drugs even more so. A new highly efficacious anti-cancer nanotechnology has been developed by researchers that delivers anti-cancer drugs uniformly to an entire tumor.

Promising developments in tackling resistance to blood cancer drugs Posted: 13 Apr 2015 10:09 AM PDT A drug with the potential to reverse resistance to immunotherapy has been developed by scientists, showing great promise in pre-clinical models. Researchers say that it will be available to patients with certain leukemias and non-Hodgkin lymphomas in clinical trials later this year. Targeted drugs made from engineered immune proteins -- called monoclonal antibodies -- have revolutionized treatment for several types of cancer in recent years.

Oncogene regulated by nutrients identified Posted: 13 Apr 2015 10:08 AM PDT In response to nutrient excess, the MCRS1 protein acts as a 'switch' for mTOR, a protein that is altered in cancer, diabetes and disorders associated with aging. These results correlate with increased MCRS1 protein levels in samples taken from patients with colorectal cancer. Blocking this protein may prove to be an effective treatment for cancer or other diseases associated with mTOR alterations, researchers say.

How a bacterial cell recognizes its own DNA Posted: 13 Apr 2015 10:08 AM PDT It may come as a bit of a surprise to learn that bacteria have an immune system -- in their case to fight off invasive viruses called phages. And like any immune system -- from single-celled to human -- the first challenge of the bacterial immune system is to detect the difference between 'foreign' and 'self.'

Study challenges view that sight-based brain sensory network organization is impaired with blindness Posted: 13 Apr 2015 10:08 AM PDT New research shows the way the brain organizes its visual sense remains intact even in people blind from birth, and the pattern of functional connectivity between the visual area and the topographical representation of space (up/down etc.) can develop on its own without any visual experience. The findings dispel the long-held belief that the visual cortex completely fails to develop properly in people who are blind at birth, which might might not be completely correct.

Putting clinicians in charge of computer-based decision support Posted: 13 Apr 2015 10:08 AM PDT Rule Authoring and Validation Environment, a powerful new distributed approach to clinician decision support rule authoring 'personalized' to patient population, location and time, has been developed by clinician-researchers and tested at Eskenazi Health, one of the nation's largest safety net hospital systems.

Babies exposed to narcotic pain relievers more likely to experience withdrawal Posted: 13 Apr 2015 10:08 AM PDT Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a drug withdrawal syndrome in infants following birth, has historically been associated with illicit drug use among pregnant women. But a study shows that pregnant women are commonly being prescribed opioids -- narcotic pain relievers such as hydrocodone -- which results in an increased likelihood of NAS. In addition, the study found that opioid type and duration of exposure combined with tobacco use or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use (for treating depression and anxiety) augmented risks for NAS.

How deep-brain stimulation reshapes neural circuits in Parkinson's disease Posted: 13 Apr 2015 10:08 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a possible mechanism for how deep-brain stimulation, a widely used treatment for movement disorders, exerts its therapeutic effects. Few medical treatments show results as rapid and dramatic as those seen with DBS, in which surgically implanted devices deliver electrical pulses to inner brain structures involved in movement. In most Parkinson's disease (PD) patients who receive the treatment, symptoms of slow movement, tremor, and rigidity sharply diminish soon after the stimulation device is activated, and quickly return if the device is turned off.

Some atrial fibrillation patients receive unnecessary blood thinners Posted: 13 Apr 2015 10:06 AM PDT About a quarter of all atrial fibrillation patients at the lowest risk for stroke receive unnecessary blood thinners from cardiology specialists, according to researchers, and these providers must be made aware of the resulting potential health risks.

Bone mineral density improved in frail elderly women treated with zoledronic acid Posted: 13 Apr 2015 10:06 AM PDT A single intravenous dose of the osteoporosis drug zoledronic acid improved bone mineral density in a group of frail elderly women living in nursing homes and long-term-care facilities.

Emergency departments improve readiness to care for children Posted: 13 Apr 2015 10:06 AM PDT Pediatric emergency care coordinators in the nation's emergency departments are strongly linked with improved readiness to care for children, according to a new study. Nearly 50 percent of the nation's emergency departments have a physician or nurse dedicated to address staff training, equipment availability and policies for the care of children -- a three-fold increase since 2003.

Family doctors important in advising young women on egg freezing for future fertility Posted: 13 Apr 2015 10:06 AM PDT Family physicians have an important role in advising women about the benefits and risks of egg freezing, argues a new article.

New strategy can help determine heart attack in patients within one hour Posted: 13 Apr 2015 10:06 AM PDT A new strategy to rule-out and rule-in heart attacks in emergency departments will help physicians treat patients faster, found a clinical trial. Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is a common cause of death and disability around the world. Early diagnosis is critical for treatment and survival.

Melanoma's 'safe haven' targeted for shut-down Posted: 13 Apr 2015 10:05 AM PDT Melanoma cells become drug resistant by using surrounding healthy cells to provide a 'safe haven' from treatment, according to new research. So even if some cancer cells are destroyed, the protected cancer cells may survive -- and the disease can recur in a form that is untreatable. Now scientists are focusing on these 'safe havens' for future melanoma treatment.

Researchers identify drug target for ATRA, the first precision cancer therapy Posted: 13 Apr 2015 09:56 AM PDT Cancerous tumors have the ability to evade targeted therapies by activating alternative pathways. Tumors also contain cancer stem cells, believed responsible for metastasis and drug resistance. Now scientists have identified a drug target that addresses both of these challenges.

Identifying patients most at risk of developing pancreatic cancer Posted: 13 Apr 2015 09:56 AM PDT When people learn they have a lesion in their pancreas that could become pancreatic cancer, they often request frequent CT scans and biopsies, or surgery. Often the lesion is nothing to worry about. A team of international physicians has developed a profile of the patient most at risk of developing lesions that are most likely to develop into cancer.

Mental rehearsal helps ER clinicians best prepare for trauma patients Posted: 13 Apr 2015 08:06 AM PDT Trauma resuscitation teams should map out mental blueprints and communicate their strategy to all team members involved in caring for patients, a new study suggests.

Spinal surgery: Right on target with new software Posted: 13 Apr 2015 08:06 AM PDT Because the spine is made up of repeating elements that look alike, surgeons can mistakenly operate on the wrong vertebra. To avoid this, researchers have developed a software program that works seamlessly with currently available procedures to assist a surgeon's determination of which vertebra is which. Results from its first clinical evaluation show that the LevelCheck software achieves 100 percent accuracy in just 26 seconds.

Testicular cancer link found for muscle-building supplements Posted: 13 Apr 2015 08:06 AM PDT A new study associates taking muscle-building supplements with an increased risk of testicular cancer. Men who used such pills and powders were more likely to have developed testicular cancer than those who did not, especially if they started before age 25, took more than one supplement, or used the supplements for three or more years.

Gene therapy superior to half-matched transplant for 'bubble boy disease' Posted: 13 Apr 2015 08:06 AM PDT Children with 'bubble boy disease' who undergo gene therapy have fewer infections and hospitalizations than those receiving stem cells from a partially matched donor, new research suggests. Children with SCID-X1 are born with a genetic defect that prevents them from developing a normal immune system. Because they are prone to life-threatening infections, infants with SCID-X1 must be kept in a sterile, protective bubble and require extensive treatment for survival beyond infancy.

Limber lungs: One type of airway cell can regenerate another lung cell type Posted: 13 Apr 2015 08:05 AM PDT A new collaborative study describes a way that lung tissue can regenerate after injury. The team found that lung tissue has more dexterity in repairing tissue than once thought.

Human immune system can control re-awakened HIV, suggesting cure is possible Posted: 13 Apr 2015 07:26 AM PDT The human immune system can handle large bursts of HIV activity and so it should be possible to cure HIV with a 'kick and kill' strategy, finds new research.

Heart cells regenerated in mice Posted: 13 Apr 2015 07:26 AM PDT Scientists get mouse heart cells to take a step backwards so they can be renewed.

Attaching the propeller: How the motility structure of unicellular archaea is fixed to their surface Posted: 13 Apr 2015 07:25 AM PDT Researchers demonstrate how the motility structure of the unicellular archaea is fixed to the cell wall of archaea – a type of unicellular life form. In addition, the researchers demonstrated that this protein is essential for the structure and functioning of the organ.

Morphine test printed on paper Posted: 13 Apr 2015 07:25 AM PDT Scientists used antibodies - produced by methods of molecular biology - as morphine sensing molecules when creating a printing technology-based morphine test. Using printing technology to manufacture rapid tests enables high production volumes and low production costs. A paper-based test enables a rapid analysis of whether a compound - in this case, morphine - is present in a given sample.

Pain management study reveals patient confusion about opioid addiction Posted: 13 Apr 2015 07:23 AM PDT Emergency department patients have misperceptions about opioid dependence and want more information about their pain management options, according to a new study. The study found that patients seen in the emergency department for acute pain expressed a desire for better communication from physicians about their pain management options, along with discussion of the risks of opioid dependence.

New evidence for how green tea, apples could protect health Posted: 13 Apr 2015 06:52 AM PDT A new study that adds more to the growing body of evidence that certain compounds found naturally in foods have specific effects that help prevent chronic diseases. Researchers have uncovered a mechanism by which polyphenols in green tea and apples affect a key signalling molecule, which could explain other studies that have shown how polyphenol-rich foods reduce risks of chronic diseases.

Pulmonary emphysema: Novel neutrophil elastase isoform discovered Posted: 13 Apr 2015 06:52 AM PDT Elastases of white blood cells are involved in tissue destruction and can thus cause various diseases. Scientists have discovered a new isoform which could be involved both in the pathogenesis of diseases such as pulmonary emphysema as well as in the failure of some therapy approaches.

Stroke from poor air quality Posted: 13 Apr 2015 06:51 AM PDT Air pollution and smog have health consequences for affected populations ranging from respiratory problems to death. Fine particulate matter especially has become the focus in recent years, because it increases the probability of dying from respiratory or cardiovascular disease. In addition, the risk of stroke is increased, as shown by new research.

What's in your wine? How production methods affect color and taste of Pinot Noir Posted: 13 Apr 2015 06:51 AM PDT The taste and color of your wine depends on the methods used to produce it and the chemicals added during production, says new research. The researchers behind the study say wine bottles should carry information about what the manufacturers add during processing – including sugars and acids.

Appropriate clinical frame is required to enhance the value of pre-clinical work Posted: 13 Apr 2015 06:17 AM PDT Once more, the multifactorial and heterogeneous nature of breast cancer fascinates researchers and is newly confirmed and re-interpreted in light of the results of a new study. "Metformin has increasingly drawn the scientists' attention due to its anti-carcinogenetic properties relatively to several oncologic diseases including breast cancer" says one researcher.

Your pain reliever may also be diminishing your joy Posted: 13 Apr 2015 06:16 AM PDT Researchers studying the commonly used pain reliever acetaminophen found it has a previously unknown side effect: It blunts positive emotions. In the study, participants who took acetaminophen reported less strong emotions when they saw both very pleasant and very disturbing photos, when compared to those who took placebos.

Identifying teens at risk for hashish use Posted: 13 Apr 2015 06:16 AM PDT One in ten high school seniors has used hashish, a highly potent form of marijuana. Teens self-described as "hooked" on pot were twice as likely to use hashish.

Role of Tmem2311 defined in maintaining ciliary function Posted: 13 Apr 2015 06:16 AM PDT Researchers reveal how a protein linked to Meckel syndrome (MKS) and other human diseases regulates the membrane composition of cilia, finger-like projections on the surface of cells that communicate signals. MKS is a rare genetic disease characterized by kidney cysts, the presence of extra fingers and toes, and defects affecting several other organs. It is part of a class of disorders known as ciliopathies, meaning that it results from defects in the structure or function of cilia.

Adjustments on the treatment of cancer patients with pneumonia Posted: 13 Apr 2015 04:52 AM PDT Pneumonia is the most frequent type of infection in cancer patients and it is associated with high mortality rates. Researchers have analyzed the factors associated with severe pneumonia in hospitalized cancer patients and suggest that personalized treatment protocols can reduce mortality in this population. Their work indicates that the standard broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment used by physicians worldwide may not be the better choice for this group.

HPV vaccination of adolescent boys may be cost-effective for preventing oropharyngeal cancer Posted: 13 Apr 2015 04:52 AM PDT A new study indicates that vaccinating 12-year-old boys against the humanpapilloma virus may be a cost-effective strategy for preventing oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer, a cancer that starts at the back of the throat and mouth, and involves the tonsils and base of the tongue.

Suffering from abuse during childhood increases chances of depression, above all in those adults who are genetically predisposed Posted: 13 Apr 2015 04:51 AM PDT The risk of suffering from depression due to abuse during childhood is significantly higher in those patients who are genetically predisposed, a new study shows. "Our results present a fundamental genetic-environmental model to explain this sort of therapeutic response", conclude the researchers.

PCBs still found in fat-rich fish near Spain; Consumption linked to increased risk of cancer in males Posted: 13 Apr 2015 04:51 AM PDT Scientists have demonstrated that the exposure to a chemical pollutant called PCB-153 is positively associated to the risk of suffering from cancer in males. This agent, which has been banned in Spain since the 1980s, can still be found in some fat-rich food, such as large fat-rich fish (tuna, salmon, swordfish, among others), since it is highly resistant to degradation.

Did Richard III manage to keep his scoliosis a secret up until his death in 1485? Posted: 13 Apr 2015 04:50 AM PDT An academic looks at historical sources about Richard's physique and posthumous reputation in new paper. The researcher concludes that Richard III may have kept his severe scoliosis hidden until death, suggesting that having the body of a king would have been part of propaganda of power.

The genetics of psychiatric disorders Posted: 13 Apr 2015 04:50 AM PDT While it has long been recognized that genetics – alongside environmental factors – play a role in developing psychiatric disorders, the function of individual genes is still largely unknown. But an international, multi-disciplinary team is aiming to uncover just that – using fruit flies to isolate and examine the genes involved in the development of schizophrenia, with the hope of improving knowledge and treatments for the condition.

Improving nutrition in cancer survivors Posted: 13 Apr 2015 04:50 AM PDT Stories involving cancer and its devastating consequences are a frequent occurrence in the news. We are constantly being told which foods may cause cancer, and which may prevent it, but how much is fact, and how much is  fiction is often in dispute. The same is true for cancer survivors trying to find reliable nutritional information which will help them to improve their quality of life and prevent future relapses.

Is the length of work careers determined in utero? Posted: 13 Apr 2015 04:50 AM PDT Low weight at birth increased the risk of disability pension among men, reveals a new study. Around 20% of the cohort members born in 1934–44 retired on a disability pension between 1971 and 2011.

Pears could be part of a healthy diet to manage diabetes Posted: 13 Apr 2015 04:49 AM PDT While the phrase "an apple a day" is a popular saying, a new study suggests that pears as part of a healthy diet could play a role in helping to manage type 2 diabetes and diabetes-induced hypertension. New research details potential health benefits of Bartlett and Starkrimson pears.

Researchers find protein that may signal more aggressive prostate cancers Posted: 13 Apr 2015 04:49 AM PDT A biomarker that may be a potentially important breakthrough in diagnosing and treating prostate cancer has been discovered by researchers. Worldwide, prostate cancer is the second-most common cancer in men. In the U.S., about 221,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2015, resulting in roughly 27,500 deaths.

New guidance on contact precautions for hospital visitors Posted: 10 Apr 2015 01:53 PM PDT Leading infectious diseases experts have released new guidance for healthcare facilities looking to establish precautions for visitors of patients with infectious diseases. The guidance looks to reduce the potential for healthcare visitors in spreading dangerous bacteria within the healthcare facility and community.

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