ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Kissing cousins, arranged marriages and genetic diversity
• Trigger identified that likely unleashes autoimmune disease
• Smoking and angioplasty: Not a good combination
• Huntington's disease monkeys display progressive clinical changes and neurodegeneration
• A sobering thought: One billion smokers and 240 million people with alcohol use disorder, worldwide
• Breakthrough in tinnitus research could lead to testable model
• Many fixed-dose drug combinations in India lack central regulatory approval
• Discovery provides insight into development of autoimmunity
• Scientists regenerate bone tissue using only proteins secreted by stem cells
• Nerve cells in the fast lane
• Prenatal exercise lowers risks of C-sections, higher birth weights
• siRNA-toting nanoparticles inhibit breast cancer metastasis
• How the brain balances hearing between our ears
• Food dye, near infrared light can aid in breast resection
• Finding should enhance treatments that stop immune system attacks
• Cause of regression in individuals with down syndrome identified
• Bacteria the newest tool in detecting environmental damage
• New device provides chikungunya test results in an hour
• Seasonal immunity: Activity of thousands of genes differs from winter to summer
• Novel computer intelligence system for acute stroke detection
• Sexual orientation, gender identity linked to eating disorders
• Training teachers for deaf children gets a robotic helping hand
• Survival from rare bone cancer remains low
• Psychotic hallucinations, delusions rarely precede violence
• Scientists unravel mystery of tubulin code
• Inconsistent Medicaid expansion would widen disparities in screenings for women's cancers
• Significant progress made towards individualized cancer immunotherapy
• Alcohol treatment programs prove effective in cutting reoffending, study shows
• Six times more expensive to travel by car than by bicycle: Study
• Aclidinium bromide/formoterol in COPD: Added benefit for certain patient groups
• Family genetics study reveals new clues to autism risk
• Microscope created allowing deep brain exploration
• New research will help forecast bad ozone days over the Western US
• Researchers take step toward bringing precision medicine to all cancer patients
• E-skin and pocket-sized diagnostic devices give patients the power back
• Molecular chaperones help with folding
• Unique program to use social media to develop computer model for Ebola spread
• Deciphering the neural code that links food to aging
• Fish and other animals produce their own sunscreen: Copied for potential use in humans
• How E. coli thrive in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
• MRI shows potential to improve breast cancer risk prediction
• Malaria testing yet to reach its potential
• Gender difference in vital cell count of HIV patients
• Obesity increases risk of developing cancer

Kissing cousins, arranged marriages and genetic diversity Posted: 12 May 2015 03:50 PM PDT In the first study of its kind, a research team has examined the effects of arranged marriages on genetic diversity. From hemophilia and color blindness amongst British and Russian monarchies, people have long known the potential damaging genetic consequences of inbreeding. But until recently, no one could measure or understand the impact of marriage rules on genetic diversity.

Trigger identified that likely unleashes autoimmune disease Posted: 12 May 2015 01:45 PM PDT Researchers believe they have discovered a group of cells that trigger autoimmune disease, as well as the molecular 'trigger guard' that normally holds them in check. These previously undetected cells are renegade versions of the cells that make the 'high affinity' antibodies required for long-term immunity.

Smoking and angioplasty: Not a good combination Posted: 12 May 2015 01:45 PM PDT Quitting smoking when you have angioplasty is associated with better quality of life and less chest pain. People who continued to smoke after angioplasty had much worse chest pain and quality of life compared to non-smokers, a study concludes. Researchers recommend that patients work with healthcare providers to break smoking habits to maximize angioplasty benefits.

Huntington's disease monkeys display progressive clinical changes and neurodegeneration Posted: 12 May 2015 12:27 PM PDT A preclinical, large animal model of Huntington's disease has been developed for assessing new therapeutics, which could ultimately provide better treatment options, possibly including altering the course of the disease.

A sobering thought: One billion smokers and 240 million people with alcohol use disorder, worldwide Posted: 12 May 2015 12:27 PM PDT A new study has compiled the best, most up-to-date evidence on addictive disorders globally. It shows that almost 5 percent of the world's adult population (240 million people) have an alcohol use disorder and more than 20 percent (1 billion people) smoke tobacco. Getting good data on other drugs such as heroin and cannabis is much more difficult but for comparison the number of people injecting drugs is estimated at around 15 million worldwide.

Breakthrough in tinnitus research could lead to testable model Posted: 12 May 2015 12:26 PM PDT A major breakthrough has been made that provides new insights into how tinnitus, and the often co-occurring hyperacusis, might develop and be sustained. Tinnitus is largely a mystery, a phantom sound heard in the absence of actual sound. Tinnitus patients "hear" ringing, buzzing or hissing in their ears much like an amputee might "feel" pain in a missing limb. It is a symptom, not a disease, and though exposure to loud noise may cause it, some cases have no apparent trigger.

Many fixed-dose drug combinations in India lack central regulatory approval Posted: 12 May 2015 12:00 PM PDT Fixed-dose drug combinations which have not received central regulatory approval are sold in substantial numbers in India -- despite concerns over the safety and efficacy of these combinations -- according to new research.

Discovery provides insight into development of autoimmunity Posted: 12 May 2015 11:08 AM PDT The action of a gene that regulates the education of T cells has been uncovered by researchers, providing insight into how and why the immune system begins mistaking the body's own tissues for targets.

Scientists regenerate bone tissue using only proteins secreted by stem cells Posted: 12 May 2015 09:42 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a way to regrow bone tissue using the protein signals produced by stem cells. This technology could help treat victims who have experienced major trauma to a limb, like soldiers wounded in combat or casualties of a natural disaster. The new method improves on older therapies by providing a sustainable source for fresh tissue and reducing the risk of tumor formation that can arise with stem cell transplants.

Nerve cells in the fast lane Posted: 12 May 2015 09:42 AM PDT Researchers have identified in what way a specific form of dopamine producing cells is generated and which networks it forms in the course of brain development. In the process, the researchers discovered a data highway of sorts: the nerve cells use not only dopamine for signal transmission, but also the much-faster glutamate.

Prenatal exercise lowers risks of C-sections, higher birth weights Posted: 12 May 2015 09:41 AM PDT Pregnant women who exercise can significantly lower the risk of undergoing cesarean sections and giving birth to large babies, a study has found. Prenatal exercise has been suggested to be a means to prevent childhood obesity through a "normalization" in birth weight (ie. reducing the risk of having a large baby at birth).

siRNA-toting nanoparticles inhibit breast cancer metastasis Posted: 12 May 2015 09:41 AM PDT Researchers combined finely crafted nanoparticles with one of nature's potent disrupters to prevent the spread of triple-negative breast cancer in mouse models. The researchers are working toward clinical trials and exploring use of the technology for other cancers and diseases.

How the brain balances hearing between our ears Posted: 12 May 2015 09:41 AM PDT Researchers have answered the longstanding question of how the brain balances hearing between our ears, which is essential for localizing sound, hearing in noisy conditions and for protection from noise damage.

Food dye, near infrared light can aid in breast resection Posted: 12 May 2015 09:39 AM PDT Roughly 1 in 4 women having breast conserving surgery (BCS) return to the surgical suite for further resection because of cancerous tissue left behind due to unclear margins. A research team focuses on coming up with a practical solution that both preserves the surgical practice of inking the margins of breast cancer tumors, and allows quality imaging post-inking.

Finding should enhance treatments that stop immune system attacks Posted: 12 May 2015 09:39 AM PDT An important discovery has been made about an immune cell that is already being used in immunotherapy to treat diseases such as type I diabetes. The work details how regulatory T cells can cure inflammatory diseases, researchers say.

Cause of regression in individuals with down syndrome identified Posted: 12 May 2015 08:24 AM PDT Down syndrome, the most common chromosomal disorder in America, can be complicated by significant deterioration in movement, speech and functioning in some adolescents and young adults. Physicians previously attributed this regression to depression or early-onset Alzheimer's, and it has not responded to treatments. Now, a researcher has found that Catatonia, a treatable disorder, may cause regression in patients with Down syndrome. Individuals with regressive Down syndrome who were treated for Catatonia showed improvement, the researcher found.

Bacteria the newest tool in detecting environmental damage Posted: 12 May 2015 08:24 AM PDT A method of using bacteria to help test for the presence of a wide array of pollutants has been developed by researchers. The scientists say that their method may potentially be used for everything from well water testing to seaside construction purposes.

New device provides chikungunya test results in an hour Posted: 12 May 2015 08:24 AM PDT Health workers now have a quick way to detect the presence of the chikungunya (CHIKV) virus within an hour, rather than waiting for results of laboratory tests that take days, or even weeks, scientists report.

Seasonal immunity: Activity of thousands of genes differs from winter to summer Posted: 12 May 2015 08:23 AM PDT Our immune systems vary with the seasons, according to a study that could help explain why certain conditions such as heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis are aggravated in winter whilst people tend to be healthier in the summer. The study shows that the activity of almost a quarter of our genes (5,136 out of 22,822 genes tested) differs according to the time of year, with some more active in winter and others more active in summer. This seasonality also affects our immune cells and the composition of our blood and adipose tissue (fat).

Novel computer intelligence system for acute stroke detection Posted: 12 May 2015 08:23 AM PDT Medical researchers have developed a novel computer-aided detection system for acute stroke using computer intelligence technology. The detection accuracy is 90%, which is as high as that conducted by specialists, but at a much reduced time from 10-15 minutes to 3 minutes.

Sexual orientation, gender identity linked to eating disorders Posted: 12 May 2015 08:22 AM PDT Transgender and non-transgender lesbian, gay and bisexual students are at greater risk for eating disorders, finds a new study. The study used data from the American College Health Association–National College Health Assessment, a survey of 289,024 students from 223 U.S. universities. Researchers found that the rates of self-reported eating disorders were highest in transgender people. Heterosexual men had the lowest rates.

Training teachers for deaf children gets a robotic helping hand Posted: 12 May 2015 08:22 AM PDT Deaf education lecturers are using the Swivl robot in school classrooms in a UK first for teacher training. Swivl is a robotic turntable onto which is placed an iPad or other tablet. It is positioned in the classroom and turns to follow people talking. It then uploads video to a secure cloud for streaming or later viewing.

Survival from rare bone cancer remains low Posted: 12 May 2015 08:22 AM PDT Ten-year survival of a rare malignancy called mesenchymal chondrosarcoma has been reported to be as low as 20 percent. But a new study has found survival is not as dismal as prior reports. More than half (51 percent) of patients survived at least five years, and 43 percent survived at least 10 years.

Psychotic hallucinations, delusions rarely precede violence Posted: 12 May 2015 07:41 AM PDT Mass shootings at the hands of unhinged loners - such as those in Aurora, Colo.; Santa Barbara, Calif., and Newtown, Conn. -- perpetuate a commonly held belief that mental illness triggers violent crimes. But a new study shows that hallucinations and delusions associated with psychiatric disorders seldom foreshadow acts of aggression.

Scientists unravel mystery of tubulin code Posted: 12 May 2015 07:41 AM PDT Driving down the highway, you encounter ever-changing signs -- speed limits, exits, food and gas options. Seeing these roadside markers may cause you to slow down, change lanes or start thinking about lunch. In a similar way, cellular structures called microtubules are tagged with a variety of chemical markers that can influence cell functions. The pattern of these markers makes up the 'tubulin code' and scientists have uncovered the mechanism behind one of the main writers of this code.

Inconsistent Medicaid expansion would widen disparities in screenings for women's cancers Posted: 12 May 2015 07:40 AM PDT Researchers recently conducted a study that found low-income and uninsured women in states that are not expanding their Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid coverage are less likely to receive breast and cervical cancer screenings compared to states that are implementing expansions.

Significant progress made towards individualized cancer immunotherapy Posted: 12 May 2015 07:40 AM PDT Significant advances have been made with regard to the development of individualized immunotherapy strategies for treating cancer. They have managed to identify the relevant genetic changes or mutations associated with various types of cancer and have determined their individual blueprints. This makes it possible for the scientists to readily produce customized cancer vaccines of the kind that have already been demonstrated to be effective in animal models.

Alcohol treatment programs prove effective in cutting reoffending, study shows Posted: 12 May 2015 07:40 AM PDT Offenders enrolled in alcohol treatment programs as part of their sentence are significantly less likely to be charged or reconvicted in the 12 months following their program, a study has shown. Alcohol misuse is associated with about 50 per cent of all violent crimes and 73 per cent of all domestic violence incidents in the United Kingdom and the United States, with nearly 1million violent attacks every year in the United Kingdom alone.

Six times more expensive to travel by car than by bicycle: Study Posted: 12 May 2015 07:40 AM PDT It is six times more expensive for society -- and for you individually -- if you travel by car instead of cycling. This has been shown in a study from Copenhagen, a city of cyclists. It is the first time a price has been put on car use as compared to cycling.

Aclidinium bromide/formoterol in COPD: Added benefit for certain patient groups Posted: 12 May 2015 07:38 AM PDT Patients with COPD grade III with no more than one flare-up per year and grade II patients benefit from the new aclidinium Bromide/formoterol drug combination, researchers note.

Family genetics study reveals new clues to autism risk Posted: 12 May 2015 07:38 AM PDT A study of almost 2,400 children with autism, their parents and unaffected siblings has provided new insights into the genetics of the condition. Researchers found that certain inherited mutations that truncate the formation of proteins were more common in children with autism, compared to their unaffected brothers and sisters. These gene variations were more likely to be passed from mothers with no signs of the disorder to sons, who then developed the condition.

Microscope created allowing deep brain exploration Posted: 12 May 2015 07:38 AM PDT A team of neuroscientists and bioengineers has created a miniature, fiber-optic microscope designed to peer deeply inside a living brain. The laser-scanning microscope, a prototype which will be further refined, uses fiber-optics and a tiny electrowetting lens. Compared to other small, focusing lenses, it's fast and not sensitive to motion. This allows it to reliably focus on living tissue.

New research will help forecast bad ozone days over the Western US Posted: 12 May 2015 07:38 AM PDT A strong connection between high ozone days in the western US during late spring and La Nina, an ocean-atmosphere phenomena that affects global weather patterns, has been identified by researchers. Recognizing this link offers insight for public health and air quality managers.

Researchers take step toward bringing precision medicine to all cancer patients Posted: 12 May 2015 07:33 AM PDT Researchers have developed and tested a new tool that searches for the most common genetic anomalies seen in cancer. The assay demonstrates the ability to make gene sequencing easier over a large volume of samples.

E-skin and pocket-sized diagnostic devices give patients the power back Posted: 12 May 2015 06:07 AM PDT Wearable E-skin that can measure heart rate and blood pressure, and paper diagnostic machines the size of a credit card that can give instant readings on blood and saliva samples are two new bio-sensing technologies. Bio-sensors can detect and analyze data to give patients information on their heart rate and blood pressure, blood sugar and hormone levels, and even test whether they are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This detection technology is a step forward in personal medicine, giving patients real-time information about how their bodies are functioning and suggesting suitable treatments.

Molecular chaperones help with folding Posted: 12 May 2015 06:07 AM PDT Chaperones are molecular helpers that assist other proteins with folding. One such chaperone is the so-called heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60). This protein forms structures in mitochondria that resemble barrels in which folding processes take place. A team of researchers has discovered how these barrels, or protein machines, form.

Unique program to use social media to develop computer model for Ebola spread Posted: 12 May 2015 06:06 AM PDT Identifying and tracking individuals affected by the Ebola virus in densely populated areas presents a unique and urgent set of challenges in public health surveillance. Currently, mapping the spread of the Ebola virus is done manually. Researchers are developing an innovative model of Ebola spread using massive amounts of data from various sources including Twitter feeds, Facebook and Google.

Deciphering the neural code that links food to aging Posted: 12 May 2015 04:54 AM PDT Diet exerts a major impact on health and aging. The nervous system plays an important role in this process but, thus far, how food signals are interpreted by the nervous system has been a mystery. A new study has found that serotonin and TGF-beta hormone levels in specific neurons of C. elegans communicate information about food abundance in roundworms. These signals from the nervous system influence the animal's lifespan, thus mediating the effects of food on aging.

Fish and other animals produce their own sunscreen: Copied for potential use in humans Posted: 12 May 2015 04:54 AM PDT Fish can produce their own sunscreen, scientists have discovered. Following suit, the researchers have copied the method used by fish for potential use in humans.

How E. coli thrive in patients with inflammatory bowel disease Posted: 12 May 2015 04:54 AM PDT The survival and proliferation of usually harmless Escherichia coli in the gut of inflammatory bowel disease patients may now be better understood, as researchers have defined a fundamental mechanism through which the bacteria can thrive during flare-ups.

MRI shows potential to improve breast cancer risk prediction Posted: 12 May 2015 04:54 AM PDT Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides important information about a woman's future risk of developing breast cancer, according to a new study. Researchers said the findings support an expanded role for MRI in more personalized approaches to breast cancer screening and prevention.

Malaria testing yet to reach its potential Posted: 12 May 2015 04:52 AM PDT Researchers present a new model for systematically evaluating new malaria treatment programs in routine conditions across multiple countries. Despite major investments in malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) in recent years, there remains limited evidence of their impact on treatment decisions in routine program conditions.

Gender difference in vital cell count of HIV patients Posted: 12 May 2015 04:51 AM PDT Male HIV patients in rural South Africa reach the low immunity levels required to become eligible for antiretroviral treatment in less than half the time it takes for immunity levels to drop to similar levels in women, according to new research. Researchers also found a link between potential proxy measures of nutritional status and disease progression, with those reporting food shortages and use of nutritional supplements reaching lower levels of immunity faster.

Obesity increases risk of developing cancer Posted: 12 May 2015 04:51 AM PDT Cancer is more likely to develop in people who are very overweight (obese), because surplus body fat interferes with various hormone cycles and with glucose and fat metabolism. A metabolic expert draws attention to the fact that more and more people are suffering from obesity, spurring several studies to investigate the links between obesity, metabolic disorders and cancer.

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