ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• World's first genetic modification of human embryos reported: Experts consider ethics
• Discovery may open door for treating fragile X carriers
• Significant increase in major depression reported during recent recession
• Delayed diagnosis of celiac disease may put lives at risk: Is screening the solution?
• New light shed on brain's source of power
• New insight into how brain makes memories
• Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Steatohepatitis: NASH linked to 50% higher death rate compared with NAFLD
• Novel therapeutic candidate targets key driver of HCC in genomically defined subset of patients
• Cancer rates among patients with hepatitis C are increased compared to those not infected
• Beyond genes: Are centrioles carriers of biological information?
• Discovery of a protein capable of regulating DNA repair during sperm formation
• Understanding the body's response to worms and allergies
• Danger in using car seats, sitting and carrying devices for sleeping infants
• Are hospitals doing all they can to prevent C. difficile infections? Not yet, new study suggests
• Scientists announce final trial results of the world’s most advanced malaria vaccine
• Heavy drinking and binge drinking rise sharply in US counties
• Strength vs. endurance: Does exercise type matter in the fight against obesity?
• Making the heart beat with ultrasonic waves
• Researchers add a new wrinkle to cell culture
• Finding new life for first-line antibiotics
• Expert panels successfully rate medical research proposals
• Making waves with robotic ultrasound between New York and Chicago
• Human tape worm drug shows promise against MRSA in lab
• How to stop a stroke in its tracks
• Fat tissue controls brain's response to food scarcity, helping regulate optimal amount of body fat for brain function
• Gene-editing technique offers hope for hereditary diseases
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease shown to affect the development of coronary artery calcification
• Alginate-enriched bread shown to reduce fat digestion and absorption in patients with NAFLD
• Chilli peppers hold promise of preventing liver damage and progression
• Long-term therapy with ETV or TDF demonstrates positive 5-year survival in patients with chronic HBV
• Novel immunotherapeutic, TG1050, shows early signs of potential for chronic hepatitis B cure
• Delaying treatment for hepatitis C puts patients' lives at risk
• Investigational anti-diabetic may offer potential for management of non-alcoholic fatty liver
• Pooled analysis confirms vitamin E as a treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
• Genomic analyses point to the potential of personalized care for liver cancer patients
• Daclatasvir-sofosbuvir combination highly effective and well tolerated in patients with hepatitis C
• Diabetes drug shows promise in the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
• Rising antibiotic shortages raise concerns about patient care
• Exhaled breath test can smell ketosis: May help diabetics
• Sugar and carbs, not physical inactivity, behind surge in obesity, say experts
• Substantial health threat: Never-before-seen tick-borne disease
• Personalized medicine: Device identifies drugs that will work best for each patient

World's first genetic modification of human embryos reported: Experts consider ethics Posted: 24 Apr 2015 09:23 AM PDT Chinese scientists say they've genetically modified human embryos for the very first time. The team attempted to modify the gene responsible for beta-thalassaemia, a potentially fatal blood disorder, using a gene-editing technique known as CRISPR/Cas9. Gene editing is a recently developed type of genetic engineering in which DNA is inserted, replaced, or removed. Here, experts weigh-in with ethical questions and considerations.

Discovery may open door for treating fragile X carriers Posted: 24 Apr 2015 09:18 AM PDT Fragile X syndrome, an inherited cause of autism and intellectual disability, can have consequences even for carriers of the disorder who don't have full-blown symptoms.

Significant increase in major depression reported during recent recession Posted: 24 Apr 2015 07:54 AM PDT The recent Great Recession was accompanied by a significant and sustained increase in major depression in US adults, according to a new study.

Delayed diagnosis of celiac disease may put lives at risk: Is screening the solution? Posted: 24 Apr 2015 07:53 AM PDT Celiac disease is one of the most common life-long conditions in Europe, yet many people remain undiagnosed and lengthy diagnostic delays may be putting lives at risk. Today, doctors are being urged to consider testing for celiac disease in anyone showing signs and symptoms of the condition and to consider screening everyone in high-risk groups.

New light shed on brain's source of power Posted: 24 Apr 2015 07:53 AM PDT New research represents a potentially fundamental shift in our understanding of how nerve cells in the brain generate the energy needed to function. The study shows neurons are more independent than previously believed and this research has implications for a range of neurological disorders.

New insight into how brain makes memories Posted: 24 Apr 2015 07:50 AM PDT Researchers have identified the role that a key protein associated with autism and the co-occurrence of alcohol dependency and depression plays in forming the spines that create new connections in the brain.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Steatohepatitis: NASH linked to 50% higher death rate compared with NAFLD Posted: 24 Apr 2015 05:57 AM PDT Results from a large population-based cohort of almost a million people in the UK found that the chances of dying from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, over a 14-year period, was approximately 50 percent higher than for those with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Novel therapeutic candidate targets key driver of HCC in genomically defined subset of patients Posted: 24 Apr 2015 05:57 AM PDT Findings on a novel therapeutic candidate for a genomically defined subset of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with an aberrant fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) pathway have been presented. BLU-554, a small molecule inhibitor of FGFR4, has been identified as a potential treatment option for up to 30 percent of HCC patients.

Cancer rates among patients with hepatitis C are increased compared to those not infected Posted: 24 Apr 2015 05:57 AM PDT New results show that cancer rates in patients with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) were significantly increased compared to the non-HCV cohort. The researchers suggest an extrahepatic manifestation of HCV may be an increased risk of cancer.

Beyond genes: Are centrioles carriers of biological information? Posted: 24 Apr 2015 05:56 AM PDT Scientists have discover that certain cell structures, the centrioles, could act as information carriers throughout cell generations. The discovery raises the possibility that transmission of biological information could involve more than just genes. Centrioles may actually be carriers of information, which holds profound implications for biology and disease treatment.

Discovery of a protein capable of regulating DNA repair during sperm formation Posted: 24 Apr 2015 05:50 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that the signalling route - a cascade activation of several molecules - triggered by the ATM protein regulates DNA repair during the production of spermatocytes by meiosis, the cell division process which yields spermatozoa.

Understanding the body's response to worms and allergies Posted: 24 Apr 2015 05:50 AM PDT Scientists are a step closer to developing new therapies for controlling the body's response to allergies and parasitic worm infections.

Danger in using car seats, sitting and carrying devices for sleeping infants Posted: 24 Apr 2015 05:49 AM PDT Sleep-related deaths are the most common cause of death for infants 1-12 months of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants sleep on their back on a firm mattress, without loose bedding. However, many parents use sitting or carrying devices, such as car seats, swings, or bouncers, as alternative sleeping environments, which could lead to potential injury or death. Researchers now describe how the improper use of these items can lead to infant deaths. The elapsed time from when the infants were last seen alive to when they were discovered ranged from as little as four minutes to up to 11 hours.

Are hospitals doing all they can to prevent C. difficile infections? Not yet, new study suggests Posted: 24 Apr 2015 05:48 AM PDT Nearly half of American hospitals aren't taking key steps to prevent C. difficile, a kind of gut infection that kills nearly 30,000 people annually and sickens hundreds of thousands more – despite strong evidence that such steps work, according to a new study.

Scientists announce final trial results of the world’s most advanced malaria vaccine Posted: 23 Apr 2015 06:13 PM PDT The first malaria vaccine candidate (RTS,S/AS01) to reach phase 3 clinical testing is partially effective against clinical disease in young African children up to 4 years after vaccination, according to final trial data. The results suggest that the vaccine could prevent a substantial number of cases of clinical malaria, especially in areas of high transmission.

Heavy drinking and binge drinking rise sharply in US counties Posted: 23 Apr 2015 03:25 PM PDT Today, Americans are more likely to be heavy drinkers and binge drinkers than in recent years due in large part to rising rates of drinking among women, according to a new analysis of county-level drinking patterns in the United States. By contrast, the percentage of people who drink any alcohol has remained relatively unchanged over time, according to the latest research.

Strength vs. endurance: Does exercise type matter in the fight against obesity? Posted: 23 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT Researchers look at which form of exercise -- strength, endurance or a combination of both -- work best in tandem with diet to reduce weight and change body composition among obese study participants.

Making the heart beat with ultrasonic waves Posted: 23 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT Researchers have demonstrated that ultrasound can increase the rate at which heart cells beat and describe the settings that can do so most effectively.

Researchers add a new wrinkle to cell culture Posted: 23 Apr 2015 11:32 AM PDT Using a technique that introduces tiny wrinkles into sheets of graphene, researchers have developed new textured surfaces for culturing cells in the lab that better mimic the complex surroundings in which cells grow in the body.

Finding new life for first-line antibiotics Posted: 23 Apr 2015 11:28 AM PDT Researchers have identified a single, simple measure -- recovery time -- to guide antibiotic dosing that could bring an entire arsenal of first-line antibiotics back into the fight against drug-resistant pathogens.

Expert panels successfully rate medical research proposals Posted: 23 Apr 2015 11:28 AM PDT Economists have published an extensive analysis of NIH grants that shows a high correlation between how projects are rated by peer review and the quality of the resulting research.

Making waves with robotic ultrasound between New York and Chicago Posted: 23 Apr 2015 11:27 AM PDT A new clinical trial is testing the feasibility and efficiency of a doctor in New York City remotely performing long-distance, tele-robotic ultrasound exams over the Internet on patients in Chicago.

Human tape worm drug shows promise against MRSA in lab Posted: 23 Apr 2015 10:02 AM PDT A drug already approved to fight tapeworms in people, effectively treated MRSA superbugs in lab cultures and in infected nematode worms. The scientists are pursuing further testing with hope that the findings will lead to new treatments for deadly MRSA infections.

How to stop a stroke in its tracks Posted: 23 Apr 2015 09:56 AM PDT New minimally invasive surgical devices called stentrievers are enabling brain surgeons to stop strokes in their tracks.

Fat tissue controls brain's response to food scarcity, helping regulate optimal amount of body fat for brain function Posted: 23 Apr 2015 09:48 AM PDT An enzyme secreted by the body's fat tissue controls energy levels in the brain, according to new research. The findings, in mice, underscore a role for the body's fat tissue in controlling the brain's response to food scarcity, and suggest there is an optimal amount of body fat for maximizing health and longevity. The findings may help explain the many studies that show a survival benefit to having a body mass index toward the low end of what is considered overweight.

Gene-editing technique offers hope for hereditary diseases Posted: 23 Apr 2015 09:48 AM PDT Scientists have used molecular "scissors" to eliminate mitochondrial mutations in eggs and embryos. They are now investigating the possibility of translating this technology to the clinic in human eggs and embryos.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease shown to affect the development of coronary artery calcification Posted: 23 Apr 2015 05:54 AM PDT New data show that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease plays a role in the early stages of coronary atherosclerosis and in its more severe form it can also promote the development of coronary artery calcification.

Alginate-enriched bread shown to reduce fat digestion and absorption in patients with NAFLD Posted: 23 Apr 2015 05:54 AM PDT Alginate-enriched bread has the potential to inhibit fat digestion and circulatory lipids in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Chilli peppers hold promise of preventing liver damage and progression Posted: 23 Apr 2015 05:54 AM PDT New research shows that the daily consumption of capsaicin, the active compound of chilli peppers, was found to have beneficial effects on liver damage.

Long-term therapy with ETV or TDF demonstrates positive 5-year survival in patients with chronic HBV Posted: 23 Apr 2015 05:54 AM PDT Data show that the long-term use of entecavir or tenofovir results in excellent five-year survival for Caucasian patients with chronic hepatitis B, with more than 95 percent of patients surviving at five years and a significant proportion of deaths coming from liver-unrelated causes.

Novel immunotherapeutic, TG1050, shows early signs of potential for chronic hepatitis B cure Posted: 23 Apr 2015 05:54 AM PDT A novel immunotherapeutic in early development for chronic hepatitis B , has been shown to reach the clinical goals that are considered to be the hallmarks of a cure for CHB.

Delaying treatment for hepatitis C puts patients' lives at risk Posted: 23 Apr 2015 05:54 AM PDT New data highlights the impact of delaying treatment for the hepatitis C virus. Researchers found that treatment delays have a serious detrimental effect on treatment efficacy, increasing the risk of morbidity and mortality among patients.

Investigational anti-diabetic may offer potential for management of non-alcoholic fatty liver Posted: 23 Apr 2015 05:53 AM PDT New research demonstrates that remogliflozin etabonate, an investigational drug in type 2 diabetes, is a potential treatment option for the management of patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Pooled analysis confirms vitamin E as a treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis Posted: 23 Apr 2015 05:53 AM PDT Vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol) is an effective treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), according to new research. NASH occurs when the liver becomes inflamed due to the accumulation of fat. Over time, persistent inflammation can lead to the formation of fibrous scar tissue in the liver and around its blood vessels, which can eventually cause cirrhosis.

Genomic analyses point to the potential of personalized care for liver cancer patients Posted: 23 Apr 2015 05:53 AM PDT A new study shows that by using genomic analyses to understand how and when carcinogenic mutations occur in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, it is possible to identify specific molecular profiles. It is hoped that these molecular profiles will help identify which patients would benefit from specific anticancer treatments.

Daclatasvir-sofosbuvir combination highly effective and well tolerated in patients with hepatitis C Posted: 23 Apr 2015 05:53 AM PDT Phase III results show that once-daily treatment with daclatasvir plus sofosbuvir resulted in an overall 97 percent sustained virologic response at 12 weeks post-treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus and HIV co-infection, including cirrhotic patients.

Diabetes drug shows promise in the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis Posted: 23 Apr 2015 05:53 AM PDT A drug approved to treat type 2 diabetes could prove to be a powerful new treatment option for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, according to new research.

Rising antibiotic shortages raise concerns about patient care Posted: 23 Apr 2015 05:53 AM PDT Shortages of key antibiotics, including gold-standard therapies and drugs used to treat highly resistant infections, are on the rise, according to a new study of shortages from 2001 to 2013. The trends raise serious concerns about the effects on patient care, particularly for infections without effective alternative treatment options.

Exhaled breath test can smell ketosis: May help diabetics Posted: 23 Apr 2015 05:51 AM PDT Scientists have developed a quick, easy-to-use ketosis test for consumers that can detect acetone on exhaled breath. The test will benefit diabetics and dieters in particular, but it can easily be adapted to other uses as well, such as the detection of the air pollutants formaldehyde or acetaldehyde.

Sugar and carbs, not physical inactivity, behind surge in obesity, say experts Posted: 22 Apr 2015 07:14 PM PDT Excess sugar and carbs, not physical inactivity, are behind the surge in obesity, say experts. It is time to bust myth that anyone -- including athletes -- can outrun a bad diet, they say.

Substantial health threat: Never-before-seen tick-borne disease Posted: 22 Apr 2015 01:50 PM PDT Just in time for spring and the explosion of ticks in forests, lawns and trails, a new study has uncovered a never-before-seen illness transmitted by ticks. The disease could be a 'substantial health threat' to humans and animals in areas where the carrier tick is common.

Personalized medicine: Device identifies drugs that will work best for each patient Posted: 22 Apr 2015 11:23 AM PDT More than 100 drugs have been approved to treat cancer, but predicting which ones will help a particular patient is an inexact science at best. A new implantable device may change that.

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