ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Being born in lean times is bad news for baboons
• Herpesvirus activates RIG-I receptor to evade body's immune system
• Oil dispersant used in Gulf Oil Spill causes lung and gill injuries to humans and aquatic animals, also identifies protective enzyme
• Cigarette smoke makes superbugs more aggressive
• Hormone, bone tests may be indicative of dialysis patients' heart health
• DNA can't explain all inherited biological traits, research shows
• Raising retirement age would widen benefit disparities for disadvantaged
• Placenta reflects arsenic exposure in pregnant women, fetuses, study shows
• Can light therapy help the brain?
• Small RNA plays big role suppressing cancer
• Adolescent drinking affects adult behavior through long-lasting changes in genes
• Personalized melanoma vaccines marshal powerful immune response
• How to crowdsource the world for emergency medicine
• Study finds new genetic clues to pediatric seizure disorders
• Body's cancer defenses hijacked to make pancreatic, lung cancers more aggressive
• Dual therapy's 1-2 punch knocks out drug-resistant lung cancer
• 'Open' stem cell chromosomes reveal new possibilities for diabetes
• iPSC model helps to better understand genetic lung/liver disease
• With geomagnetic compass hooked to the brain, blind rats act like they can see
• Mitochondria altered in human cell model of Parkinson's disease
• Sounds from helmets colliding explored as alternative to understanding football collisions
• Statistical analysis reveals Mexican drug war increased homicide rates
• Microbes scared to death by virus presence
• Genetic alterations associated with risk of prostate cancer
• One test can predict which kids will become nearsighted
• Cancer's relentless evolution
• Accurate blood pressure measurement fundamental to early diagnosis in pregnancy
• Liver injury in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis leads to a leaky gut
• Depression, insomnia are strongest risk factors for frequent nightmares
• Dying patients' choices not always aligned to caregivers'
• New treatment options for colon cancer
• Some false postive prenatal genetic screens due to mother's extra DNA segments
• Deaths from cardiovascular disease increase globally while mortality rates decrease
• Future antibiotic-making kit for amateurs? Kit could one day be widely available
• Improved methods to assess membrane protein stability provide insight into the nature of substrate, ligand and lipid interactions
• Beta secretase inhibitors to treat Alzheimer's disease
• Alcohol dependency and early death
• Smart phone diagnosis? Biosensing platform quickly and accurately diagnoses disease and monitors treatment remotely
• What can parents do to prevent the further spread of the measles?
• Each hour spent watching TV daily increases risk of developing diabetes by 3.4 percent
• Physical activity benefits lung cancer patients, survivors
• Polio vaccination: Review of Final steps to polio eradication
• Older people at higher risk of emergency cancer diagnosis
• Babies with clinically suspected serious infections can be safely and effectively treated outside hospital
• Experts test new Ebola vaccine on front-line medical personnel and at risk groups after promising results
• Eating eggs reduces risk of type 2 diabetes, study indicates
• High-fat dairy products linked to reduced type 2 diabetes risk
• Critical windows to turn away junk food craving
• The brain-belly connection: Scientists find key genetic triggers in weight-regulating brain cells
• Key mechanism identified in pediatric bone cancers that allows proliferation of tumor-forming stem cells
• Suicides: Not just a winter problem
• Nanoparticles may exploit tumor weaknesses to selectively attack cancers
• Adults who struggle to follow heart medication regimens should focus on behavior change
• New class of insecticides offers safer, more targeted mosquito control
• Dangers of adolescent energy drink consumption for the heart: Cardiologists urge physicians, parents, educators to monitor adolescents' energy drink consumption more closely

Being born in lean times is bad news for baboons Posted: 02 Apr 2015 03:35 PM PDT The saying 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger' may not hold up to scientific scrutiny. Baboons born in times of famine are more vulnerable to food shortages later in life, finds a new study. The findings are important because they help explain why people who are malnourished in early childhood often experience poor health as adults.

Herpesvirus activates RIG-I receptor to evade body's immune system Posted: 02 Apr 2015 03:35 PM PDT Using herpesvirus, molecular immunologists have discovered a cellular process that activates a critical immune defense against pathogens, which could have implications for developing drugs to bolster one's immunity to infection. Some herpesvirus infections lead to cancer.

Oil dispersant used in Gulf Oil Spill causes lung and gill injuries to humans and aquatic animals, also identifies protective enzyme Posted: 02 Apr 2015 02:43 PM PDT New research suggests that Corexit EC9500A, an oil-dispersal agentl, contributes to damage to epithelium cells within the lungs of humans and gills of marine creatures. The study also identifies an enzyme that is expressed in epithelial cells across species that has protective properties against Corexit-induced damage.

Cigarette smoke makes superbugs more aggressive Posted: 02 Apr 2015 02:43 PM PDT Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an antibiotic-resistant superbug, can cause life-threatening skin, bloodstream and surgical site infections or pneumonia. Researchers now report that cigarette smoke may make matters worse. The study shows that MRSA bacteria exposed to cigarette smoke become even more resistant to killing by the immune system.

Hormone, bone tests may be indicative of dialysis patients' heart health Posted: 02 Apr 2015 02:43 PM PDT Approximately 2 million kidney disease patients in the world receive some sort of dialysis treatment. Now researchers say that in these patients, high parathyroid hormone levels and subsequent bone loss are major risk factors for worsening of coronary artery calcification.

DNA can't explain all inherited biological traits, research shows Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:17 PM PDT Characteristics passed between generations are not decided solely by DNA, but can be brought about by other material in cells, new research shows. Scientists studied proteins found in cells, known as histones, which are not part of the genetic code, but act as spools around which DNA is wound. Histones are known to control whether or not genes are switched on.

Raising retirement age would widen benefit disparities for disadvantaged Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:17 PM PDT The age to receive full Social Security benefits should be closer to 70, according to a report. 'We're living longer and healthier than ever before, but the statutory age of retirement for receiving Social Security benefits doesn't reflect that,' says the study's lead author.

Placenta reflects arsenic exposure in pregnant women, fetuses, study shows Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:16 PM PDT The placenta can be used to reliably measure arsenic exposure in pregnant women and how much of the toxic metal is transferred to their fetuses, a study shows in the largest ever analysis of household drinking water arsenic and the mother-to-fetus connection.

Can light therapy help the brain? Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:16 PM PDT An innovative therapy that applies red and near-infrared light to the brain is now being tested for Gulf War Illness, traumatic brain injury, and PTSD.

Small RNA plays big role suppressing cancer Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:16 PM PDT The micro RNA miR-22 has long been known for its ability to suppress cancer. However, questions remain about how it achieves this feat. For example, which molecules are regulating miR-22, and which are miR22 targets? Researchers have unraveled some of these relationships, identifying several interactions that directly impact liver and colon cancer.

Adolescent drinking affects adult behavior through long-lasting changes in genes Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:15 PM PDT Binge-drinking during adolescence may perturb brain development at a critical time and leave lasting effects on genes and behavior that persist into adulthood. The findings were reached using an animal model.

Personalized melanoma vaccines marshal powerful immune response Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:14 PM PDT Personalized melanoma vaccines can be used to marshal a powerful immune response against unique mutations in patients' tumors, according to early data in a first-in-people clinical trial.

How to crowdsource the world for emergency medicine Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:28 AM PDT Two new studies illustrate the power of social media and the Internet to promote scholarly dialogue around the world and the importance of establishing criteria for what constitutes high-quality blogs and podcasts.

Study finds new genetic clues to pediatric seizure disorders Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT Researchers have identified a new genetic mutation at the heart of a severe and potentially deadly seizure disorder found in infants and young children. The finding may help scientists unravel the complex biological mechanism behind these diseases. Epileptic seizures are the result of bursts of electrical activity in the brain caused when groups of neurons fire in an abnormal pattern.

Body's cancer defenses hijacked to make pancreatic, lung cancers more aggressive Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT A vital self-destruct switch in cells can be hijacked, making some pancreatic and non small cell lung cancers more aggressive, according to research. Researchers found that mutations in the KRAS gene interferes with protective self-destruct switches, known as TRAIL receptors, which usually help to kill potentially cancerous cells.

Dual therapy's 1-2 punch knocks out drug-resistant lung cancer Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT Capitalizing on a rare opportunity to thoroughly analyze a tumor from a lung cancer patient who had developed resistance to targeted drug treatment, scientists identified a biological escape hatch that explains the resistance, and developed a strategy in mice for shutting it down.

'Open' stem cell chromosomes reveal new possibilities for diabetes Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT Cells of the intestine, liver and pancreas are difficult to produce from stem cells. Scientists have discovered that chromosomes in laboratory stem cells open slowly over time, in the same sequence that occurs during embryonic development. It isn't until certain chromosomal regions have acquired the 'open' state that they are able to respond and become liver or pancreatic cells.

iPSC model helps to better understand genetic lung/liver disease Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT Using patient-derived stem cells known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) to study the genetic lung/liver disease called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, researchers have for the first time created a disease signature that may help explain how abnormal protein leads to liver disease.

With geomagnetic compass hooked to the brain, blind rats act like they can see Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT By attaching a microstimulator and geomagnetic compass to the brains of blind rats, researchers have found that the animals can spontaneously learn to use new information about their location to navigate through a maze nearly as well as normally sighted rats. Researchers say the findings suggest that a similar kind of neuroprosthesis might also help blind people walk freely through the world.

Mitochondria altered in human cell model of Parkinson's disease Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT Based on research in fruit flies, it has long been suspected that the most common mutation linked to both sporadic and familial Parkinson's disease (PD) wreaks its havoc by altering the function of mitochondria in neurons that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. Using stem cells derived from patients who have PD, scientists have confirmed that finding in human cells for the first time.

Sounds from helmets colliding explored as alternative to understanding football collisions Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT When football helmets collide, they produce an unmistakable sound. New research of those sound waves produces a unique understanding of the forces involved in those collisions and, perhaps one day, researchers hope, inexpensive sensing methods may be developed for a safer game.

Statistical analysis reveals Mexican drug war increased homicide rates Posted: 02 Apr 2015 09:13 AM PDT In the short term, the Mexican government's war against drugs increased the average murder rate in regions subjected to military-style interventions, a new statistical analysis suggests. The Mexican government--beginning in December 2006 during former President Felipe Calderón's term and continuing through current President Enrique Peña Nieto's administration--has been fighting an internal war against drug traffickers. A 2013 report by Human Rights Watch estimates 60,000 people were killed between 2006 and 2012 as a result of the military interventions and drug cartels fighting each other for control of territory.

Microbes scared to death by virus presence Posted: 02 Apr 2015 08:47 AM PDT The microbe Sulfolobus islandicus can go dormant, ceasing to grow and reproduce, in order to protect themselves from infection by Sulfolobus spindle-shaped virus 9 (SSV9), researchers have discovered. The dormant microbes are able to recover if the virus goes away within 24 to 48 hours -- otherwise they die.

Genetic alterations associated with risk of prostate cancer Posted: 02 Apr 2015 08:46 AM PDT 22 genetic variations that are associated with an increased risk of developing prostate cancer have been identified by an international team of researchers. Prostate cancer affects one out of every 6 men during their lifetime and is the second most common cause of cancer-related death for men in the United States, resulting in an estimated 27,500 deaths in 2015.

One test can predict which kids will become nearsighted Posted: 02 Apr 2015 08:46 AM PDT A study of 4,500 U.S. children over 20 years has identified a single test that can predict which kids will become nearsighted by the eighth grade: a measure of their current refractive error. The refractive error, or eyeglasses prescription, results from mismatches in the size and optical power of the eye that lead to blurry vision.

Cancer's relentless evolution Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:15 AM PDT In new research, investigators describe compulsive evolution and dramatic genetic diversity in cells belonging to one of the most treatment-resistant and lethal forms of blood cancer: acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The authors suggest the research may point to new paradigms in both the diagnosis and treatment of aggressive cancers, like AML.

Accurate blood pressure measurement fundamental to early diagnosis in pregnancy Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:15 AM PDT Accurate blood pressure measurement is fundamental to the early diagnosis of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, says a review. The diagnosis and management of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, as well as obstetric haemorrhage, sepsis and safe abortion contribute to more than half of all maternal deaths globally, so the accuracy of BP measurement is vital, the review concludes.

Liver injury in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis leads to a leaky gut Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:15 AM PDT Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the more severe form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease that can progress to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, is associated with leakiness of the intestinal wall, which in turn may worsen liver disease, according to research.

Depression, insomnia are strongest risk factors for frequent nightmares Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:15 AM PDT Symptoms of depression and insomnia are the strongest predictors of having frequent nightmares, a new study concludes. "Our study shows a clear connection between well-being and nightmares," reports the lead author.

Dying patients' choices not always aligned to caregivers' Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:14 AM PDT An illuminating study compares the willingness of stage IV cancer patients, and their caregivers; to pay to extend their lives by one year against that of other end-of-life improvements.

New treatment options for colon cancer Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:14 AM PDT An existing chemotherapy drug used to treat leukemia could prevent and control the growth of colorectal tumors, scientists have discovered.

Some false postive prenatal genetic screens due to mother's extra DNA segments Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:14 AM PDT In prenatal care, maternal blood screening for extra chromosomes in the fetus is becoming increasingly common. Such tests might give false-positive results if the mother's genome contains more than the usual number of certain DNA segments, especially if the fetus has inherited an elongated chromosome. The tests could be improved to account for the fact that chromosomes can vary in size and composition among people.

Deaths from cardiovascular disease increase globally while mortality rates decrease Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:14 AM PDT Deaths from cardiovascular disease increase globally while mortality rates decrease, a new report suggests. Cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of premature death in the world, include heart attacks, strokes, and other circulatory diseases. At the same time, efforts to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases appear to be working as the rise in deaths is slower than the overall growth of the population.

Future antibiotic-making kit for amateurs? Kit could one day be widely available Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:13 AM PDT Researchers have developed a rapid, simple and safe method for generating large libraries of novel organic molecules in a fraction of the time required for traditional organic synthesis. Researcher hope to provide a 'do it yourself' method.

Improved methods to assess membrane protein stability provide insight into the nature of substrate, ligand and lipid interactions Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:13 AM PDT Membrane proteins account for up to 30% of the proteins present in an organism, though relatively few are well characterised compared to their soluble protein counterparts. This is largely due to their instability when extracted from membranes using detergent, which hampers their study. New straightforward and reliable methods are required to assess the integrity of extracted protein.

Beta secretase inhibitors to treat Alzheimer's disease Posted: 02 Apr 2015 06:20 AM PDT With each new amyloid-targeting treatment for Alzheimer's disease that has been developed, there has been a corresponding concern. For example, antibodies targeting amyloid-beta peptide produce inflammation in the brain in some patients. Gamma secretase inhibitors tend to produce adverse effects by interacting with Notch, an important pathway for cellular signaling. Beta secretase 1 (BACE1) inhibitors are a new and promising target for Alzheimer's disease. Inhibiting BACE1 will limit the production of amyloid-beta which, in turn, should reduce the production of neurotoxic fibrils and plaques, scientists say.

Alcohol dependency and early death Posted: 02 Apr 2015 06:20 AM PDT The mortality of alcohol dependent patients in general hospitals is many times higher than that of patients without alcohol dependency. In addition, they die about 7.6 years earlier on average than hospital patients without a history of alcohol addiction. This is what scientists discovered using patient data from various general hospitals in Manchester (England).

Smart phone diagnosis? Biosensing platform quickly and accurately diagnoses disease and monitors treatment remotely Posted: 02 Apr 2015 06:20 AM PDT In much the same way that glucometers and pregnancy tests have revolutionized in-home diagnostic testing, researchers have identified a new biosensing platform that could be used to remotely detect and determine treatment options for HIV, E-coli, Staphylococcus aureas and other bacteria. Using this technology, they also have developed a phone app that could detect bacteria and disease in the blood using images from a cellphone that could easily be analyzed from anywhere in the world.

What can parents do to prevent the further spread of the measles? Posted: 02 Apr 2015 06:20 AM PDT A pediatric infectious diseases specialist helps explain the facts about measles, and how parents can prevent further outbreak. A recent outbreak of confirmed cases of measles involved children who were not vaccinated against the extremely contagious virus, which manifests itself through rash, fever and coughing. While thought to be eradicated in the U.S., the illness has been traced to travelers who were infected in other countries.

Each hour spent watching TV daily increases risk of developing diabetes by 3.4 percent Posted: 02 Apr 2015 05:22 AM PDT Each hour spent watching TV daily increases the risk of developing diabetes by 3.4 percent, concludes a study, emphasizing that changing sedentary behavior has the opportunity to improve health in many different ways.

Physical activity benefits lung cancer patients, survivors Posted: 02 Apr 2015 05:21 AM PDT Exercise and physical activity should be considered as therapeutic options for lung cancer as they have been shown to reduce symptoms, increase exercise tolerance, improve quality of life, and potentially reduce length of hospital stay and complications following surgery for lung cancer.

Polio vaccination: Review of Final steps to polio eradication Posted: 02 Apr 2015 05:21 AM PDT April 12 2015 marks the 60th anniversary of the publication of Jonas Salk's landmark polio vaccine trial results, which confirmed that the first vaccine against polio was safe and effective. A new review provides a comprehensive overview of current polio vaccines, and highlights new and future research initiatives, such as new vaccine formulations, that could help ensure that polio is eradicated and eradication is maintained.

Older people at higher risk of emergency cancer diagnosis Posted: 02 Apr 2015 05:20 AM PDT People over 60 are at higher risk of being diagnosed with lung or bowel cancer as an emergency in hospital than younger people, according to a report. The researchers also found that women and less affluent people are at higher risk of an emergency lung cancer diagnosis, while being unmarried, divorced or widowed was associated with having bowel cancer diagnosed as an emergency.

Babies with clinically suspected serious infections can be safely and effectively treated outside hospital Posted: 02 Apr 2015 05:20 AM PDT Newborns and young infants with possible severe bacterial infections (PSBI), such as pneumonia and sepsis, whose families do not accept or cannot access hospital care, can be safely and effectively treated with simplified antibiotic regimens outside hospital, according to the results of three large trials from Africa and Bangladesh.

Experts test new Ebola vaccine on front-line medical personnel and at risk groups after promising results Posted: 02 Apr 2015 05:18 AM PDT The World Health Organisation declared the Ebola virus outbreak a public health emergency in August 2014; since then the development of vaccines against Ebola virus has been fast tracked.

Eating eggs reduces risk of type 2 diabetes, study indicates Posted: 02 Apr 2015 05:18 AM PDT Egg consumption may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to new research. Type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly widespread throughout the world. Research has shown that lifestyle habits, such as exercise and nutrition, play a crucial role in the development of the disease. A new study has found that egg consumption was associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes as well as with lower blood glucose levels. Men who ate approximately four eggs per week had a 37 per cent lower risk of type 2 diabetes than men who only ate approximately one egg per week. This association persisted even after possible confounding factors such as physical activity, body mass index, smoking and consumption of fruits and vegetables were taken into consideration.

High-fat dairy products linked to reduced type 2 diabetes risk Posted: 02 Apr 2015 05:18 AM PDT Consumption of high-fat yoghurt and cheese are linked to a reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes by as much as a fifth, according to new research. High meat consumption, on the other hand, is linked to a higher risk.

Critical windows to turn away junk food craving Posted: 02 Apr 2015 05:17 AM PDT Researchers have shown there are two critical windows during the developmental pathway to adulthood when exposure to junk food is most harmful, particularly for female offspring.

The brain-belly connection: Scientists find key genetic triggers in weight-regulating brain cells Posted: 02 Apr 2015 05:16 AM PDT The little voice inside your head that tells you to eat, or stop eating, isn't a little voice – it's actually a cluster of about 10,000 specialized brain cells. And now, scientists have found tiny triggers inside those cells that give rise to this "voice", and keep it speaking throughout life.

Key mechanism identified in pediatric bone cancers that allows proliferation of tumor-forming stem cells Posted: 02 Apr 2015 05:16 AM PDT A particular molecular pathway permits stem cells in pediatric bone cancers to grow rapidly and aggressively, according to researchers. In the study, the investigators used human and mouse osteosarcomas to pinpoint the molecular mechanisms that inhibit the tumor-suppressive Hippo pathway. The researchers concluded that Sox2 represses the functioning of the Hippo pathway, which, in turn, leads to an increase of the potent growth stimulator Yes Associated Protein, known as YAP, permitting cancer cell proliferation.

Suicides: Not just a winter problem Posted: 02 Apr 2015 05:16 AM PDT A new article looks at seasonal suicide that tends to peak in the Spring months. "Whenever someone makes a conscious decision to attempt or complete suicide, often friends and family ask themselves what they could have done to prevent it," says one expert. "It's an alarming public health problem that needs to addressed in a clinically compassionate way being culturally sensitive to the needs of those seeking to find answers to their personal loss."

Nanoparticles may exploit tumor weaknesses to selectively attack cancers Posted: 02 Apr 2015 05:16 AM PDT Delving into the world of the extremely small, researchers are exploring how biodegradable nanoparticles can precisely deliver anticancer drugs to attack neuroblastoma, an often-deadly children's cancer.

Adults who struggle to follow heart medication regimens should focus on behavior change Posted: 01 Apr 2015 06:58 PM PDT Interventions to encourage patients to take their medications as prescribed were most effective when focused on changing the behavior of patients rather than the behavior of health care providers.

New class of insecticides offers safer, more targeted mosquito control Posted: 01 Apr 2015 06:58 PM PDT A new class of chemical insecticides has been identified that could provide a safer, more selective means of controlling mosquitoes that transmit key infectious diseases such as dengue, yellow fever and elephantiasis.

Dangers of adolescent energy drink consumption for the heart: Cardiologists urge physicians, parents, educators to monitor adolescents' energy drink consumption more closely Posted: 01 Apr 2015 06:56 PM PDT The rapid rise in popularity of energy drinks (EDs), particularly among adolescents (aged 10-19 years) and young adults, has serious implications for cardiac health, scientists say. Their new study focused on the pharmacology of EDs, adverse reactions to them, and how the marketing of these drinks as a means to relieve fatigue and improve physical and cognitive performance may be ignoring real dangers.

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