ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Smokers and those exposed to passive smoke require more anesthetic and painkiller during operations
• Before an operation, low blood pressure rather than high is a risk factor for death
• Hypothermia occurs during surgery in around half of patients
• Blood pressure medications can lead to increased risk of stroke
• A patient's budding cortex -- in a dish? Networking neurons thrive in 3-D human 'organoid'
• Pembrolizumab shows real promise against head and neck cancer, study suggests
• Researchers engineer E. coli to produce new forms of popular antibiotic
• Anticoagulant medications: Newer, easier to manage medications may not always be the best choice
• Phase 2 trial identifies genetic dysfunction that makes many types of cancer vulnerable to an immunotherapy
• Colorectal cancer genetically different in older and younger patients
• Less-invasive method for kidney diagnostics
• Alzheimer's culprit causes memory loss even before brain degeneration
• Social work researchers create easier, accurate way to analyze TSCC trauma results
• Migraine surgery for teens: Good results in initial experience
• ONT-380 has stage IV HER2+ breast cancer patient 'worrying about normal stuff again'
• Rewriting the book on chemo-resistant cancers with a DNA library
• Biomarker analysis reveals several potential treatment targets in subtype of anal cancer
• Race influences warfarin dose
• Prosthetic hands with a sense of touch? 'Sensory feedback' from artificial limbs
• Restricting firearms access for people who misuse alcohol may prevent violence
• Finding loopholes in the genome
• 'Green chemistry' to quantify the components of cosmetics
• Entolimod may be a promising treatment option for many solid tumors
• Dry mouth: Acupuncture-like electrical nerve stimulation may help
• Inmates denied methadone treatment less likely to seek it once free
• Parental smoking puts nearly half a million UK children into poverty
• Testing how well kidneys are functioning: ACR outperforms eGFR, study suggests
• Smoking legislation prevents more than 11,000 child hospital admissions in England each year
• All forms of smoking are bad for the heart
• Measuring kidney health could better predict heart disease risk
• Manipulating cell membranes using nanotubes
• First successful study of virus attack on cancer
• Brain training induces lasting brain, mental health gains for veterans, civilians with brain injury
• Portable finger-probe device can successfully measure liver function in potential organ donors
• Component in green tea may help reduce prostate cancer in men at high risk
• MEDI4736 combined with tremelimumab results in acceptable toxicity in NSCLC patients
• KeyGenes can predict future identity of human fetal stem cells
• Wild chimps teach scientists about gene that encodes HIV-fighting protein
• New findings shed light on complexities of emerging zoonotic malaria
• HIV's sweet tooth is its downfall
• Regenerating lost taste buds: Key steps discovered
• Genetically elevated triglyceride level associated with protection against type 2 diabetes
• Vision: Deciphering dark and bright
• A new mechanism protecting liver from dangerous inflammation
• Nearly one in seven Hispanic/Latino adults has some hearing loss
• Peek eye testing app shown to work as well as charts for visual acuity

Smokers and those exposed to passive smoke require more anesthetic and painkiller during operations Posted: 29 May 2015 04:36 PM PDT New research shows that both smokers and those exposed to passive smoke require more anesthetic and painkillers to reach the same level of anesthesia as non-smokers.

Before an operation, low blood pressure rather than high is a risk factor for death Posted: 29 May 2015 04:36 PM PDT New research suggests that, before an operation, low blood pressure rather than high blood pressure is an independent risk factor for death.

Hypothermia occurs during surgery in around half of patients Posted: 29 May 2015 04:36 PM PDT A study shows that hypothermia occurs in around half of patients undergoing surgery, despite national guidelines for its prevention.

Blood pressure medications can lead to increased risk of stroke Posted: 29 May 2015 04:35 PM PDT The importance of preventing hypertension is reinforced by a study showing anti-hypertension medicines can increase stroke risk by 248 percent, according to new research.

A patient's budding cortex -- in a dish? Networking neurons thrive in 3-D human 'organoid' Posted: 29 May 2015 11:47 AM PDT Scientists have perfected mini cultured 3-D structures that grow and function much like the outer mantle -- the key working tissue, or cortex -- of the brain of the person from whom they were derived. Strikingly, these 'organoids' buzz with neuronal network activity. Cells talk with each other in circuits, much as they do in our brains.

Pembrolizumab shows real promise against head and neck cancer, study suggests Posted: 29 May 2015 11:47 AM PDT Immunotherapy with the anti-PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab decreased the size of tumors by 30 percent or more in 24.8 percent of 132 patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer. That's nearly twice as effective as the current preferred treatment.

Researchers engineer E. coli to produce new forms of popular antibiotic Posted: 29 May 2015 11:47 AM PDT In Science Advances, University at Buffalo researchers will report that they have managed to turn E. coli into tiny factories for producing new forms of the popular antibiotic erythromycin -- including three that were shown in the lab to kill drug-resistant bacteria.

Anticoagulant medications: Newer, easier to manage medications may not always be the best choice Posted: 29 May 2015 11:45 AM PDT If you are over age 75, and taking an anticoagulant, the old standard may be the gold standard, Mayo Clinic researchers and collaborators have determined.

Phase 2 trial identifies genetic dysfunction that makes many types of cancer vulnerable to an immunotherapy Posted: 29 May 2015 11:45 AM PDT A team of researchers has identified a genetic malfunction that predicts the effectiveness of response to a groundbreaking immunotherapy. The results of their Phase 2 clinical trial reveal that, regardless of its tissue of origin, tumors whose cells are deficient in repairing mismatched DNA sequences--and so preventing mutations--are far more susceptible to the checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab than those that retain this ability.

Colorectal cancer genetically different in older and younger patients Posted: 29 May 2015 10:23 AM PDT While the overall rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) is declining, CRC specifically among young patients is increasing. Previous studies have shown that CRC in patients younger than 50 years old tends to be more aggressive than CRC in older patients. A new study offers early evidence of genetic differences between CRC in young and old patients, possibly pointing toward different treatments and strategies in combating the young form of the disease.

Less-invasive method for kidney diagnostics Posted: 29 May 2015 10:18 AM PDT Researchers have identified a new, less-invasive method to provide diagnostic information on kidney disease and its severity.

Alzheimer's culprit causes memory loss even before brain degeneration Posted: 29 May 2015 10:18 AM PDT A brain protein believed to be a key component in the progress of dementia can cause memory loss in healthy brains even before physical signs of degeneration appear, according to new research.

Social work researchers create easier, accurate way to analyze TSCC trauma results Posted: 29 May 2015 10:18 AM PDT A social work research team has proposed and tested an alternative method to using the Trauma Symptoms Checklist for Children in assessing trauma in children -- especially those in the juvenile justice system.

Migraine surgery for teens: Good results in initial experience Posted: 29 May 2015 10:18 AM PDT As in adults, migraine surgery is effective for selected adolescent patients with severe migraine headaches that don't respond to standard treatments, reports a new study.

ONT-380 has stage IV HER2+ breast cancer patient 'worrying about normal stuff again' Posted: 29 May 2015 10:15 AM PDT Promising clinical trial results show activity of the investigational anti-cancer agent ONT-380 against HER2+ breast cancer, in one case specifically against brain metastases and in another case in overall survival of heavily pretreated HER2+ breast cancer patients.

Rewriting the book on chemo-resistant cancers with a DNA library Posted: 29 May 2015 10:15 AM PDT Researcher are finding out why ovarian cancer is resistant to certain types of chemo and hope to eventually identify a different drug target.

Biomarker analysis reveals several potential treatment targets in subtype of anal cancer Posted: 29 May 2015 10:14 AM PDT A multiplatform biomarker analysis of squamous cell anal carcinoma samples has revealed several actionable targets.

Race influences warfarin dose Posted: 29 May 2015 08:21 AM PDT A new report demonstrates that clinical and genetic factors affecting dose requirements for warfarin vary by race. The study proposes race-specific equations to help clinicians better calculate warfarin dosage.

Prosthetic hands with a sense of touch? 'Sensory feedback' from artificial limbs Posted: 29 May 2015 08:20 AM PDT Researchers are exploring new approaches to designing prosthetic hands capable of providing "sensory feedback." New advances have been made toward developing prostheses with a sense of touch.

Restricting firearms access for people who misuse alcohol may prevent violence Posted: 29 May 2015 07:11 AM PDT Restricting access to firearms for people who misuse alcohol could prevent firearm violence, but policies that more clearly define alcohol misuse should be developed to facilitate enforcement, according to a review of existing research and public policies.

Finding loopholes in the genome Posted: 29 May 2015 07:11 AM PDT R-loops, thought to initiate cellular mutations, genome breaks and diseases, may be identified with an accuracy of between 80-90 percent at lower costs and effort.

'Green chemistry' to quantify the components of cosmetics Posted: 29 May 2015 07:10 AM PDT There are 10,000 components that can be used to make cosmetics. These components have to be monitored to guarantee consumer safety. Scientists have now developed three 'green' analytical methods to simultaneously analyze various components used in cosmetics. In these methods very little solvent is used and very little residue is produced in comparison with other analytical techniques.

Entolimod may be a promising treatment option for many solid tumors Posted: 29 May 2015 07:09 AM PDT The first clinical study of the anticancer effects of the novel agent entolimod are now available. Findings confirm preclinical evidence that the agent, which is derived from salmonella flagellin, is worthy of further investigation as treatment for some of the most common and most resilient solid-tumor cancers.

Dry mouth: Acupuncture-like electrical nerve stimulation may help Posted: 29 May 2015 07:09 AM PDT Phase III results indicate that acupuncture-like, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation may be equally effective as pilocarpine, the current prescription medication in a pill, to treat radiation-induced xerostomia (dry mouth), according to a new study published.

Inmates denied methadone treatment less likely to seek it once free Posted: 29 May 2015 05:35 AM PDT When people on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) are incarcerated in the United States, they are almost always forced off of the addiction-controlling medicine. In a randomized trial, inmates allowed to stay on MMT while in jail proved much more likely to seek treatment after release than those whose treatment was interrupted.

Parental smoking puts nearly half a million UK children into poverty Posted: 29 May 2015 05:35 AM PDT Smoking is not only bad for your health; it also puts 400,000 children in poverty in the UK alone. Smoking places a financial burden on low income families, suggesting that parents are likely to forgo basic household and food necessities in order to fund their addiction.

Testing how well kidneys are functioning: ACR outperforms eGFR, study suggests Posted: 29 May 2015 05:35 AM PDT The usefulness of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, a test used to check how well the kidneys are filtering blood) and albuminuria (excess protein levels in the urine, which can be a sign of kidney damage) for prediction of cardiovascular outcomes is controversial.

Smoking legislation prevents more than 11,000 child hospital admissions in England each year Posted: 29 May 2015 05:34 AM PDT The introduction of smoke-free legislation in England was associated with over 11,000 fewer admissions to hospital a year from respiratory infections in children, according to a new study.

All forms of smoking are bad for the heart Posted: 29 May 2015 05:32 AM PDT All forms of smoking are bad for the heart, the European Society of Cardiology has warned.

Measuring kidney health could better predict heart disease risk Posted: 29 May 2015 05:30 AM PDT Simple measures of kidney function and damage may be just as good at predicting who is at risk for heart failure and death from heart attack and stroke as traditional tests of cholesterol levels and blood pressure, new research suggests.

Manipulating cell membranes using nanotubes Posted: 29 May 2015 05:29 AM PDT Researchers have developed a targeted method for opening up cell membranes in order to deliver drugs to, or manipulate the genes of, individual cells.

First successful study of virus attack on cancer Posted: 28 May 2015 01:31 PM PDT It's a new weapon in the arsenal of cancer fighting treatments: utilizing genetically modified viruses to invade cancer cells and destroy them from the inside. Now scientists have found that stage IIIb to IV melanoma patients treated with a modified cold sore (herpes) virus had improved survival.

Brain training induces lasting brain, mental health gains for veterans, civilians with brain injury Posted: 28 May 2015 12:36 PM PDT In the first study of its kind, veterans and civilians with traumatic brain injury showed improved cognitive performance and psychological and neural health following strategy-based cognitive training. The study was conducted by an interdisciplinary team of cognitive neuroscientists, rehabilitation specialists, and neuroimaging experts.

Portable finger-probe device can successfully measure liver function in potential organ donors Posted: 28 May 2015 12:35 PM PDT A portable, finger-probe device successfully measured liver function in brain dead adult organ donors, a finding that could change the way organs are assessed and save thousands of dollars per transplant, a study has found.

Component in green tea may help reduce prostate cancer in men at high risk Posted: 28 May 2015 11:52 AM PDT Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer in men and is predicted to result in an estimated 220,000 cases in the United States in 2015. A team of researchers recently published results of a randomized trial that assessed the safety and effectiveness of the active components in green tea to prevent prostate cancer development in men who have premalignant lesions.

MEDI4736 combined with tremelimumab results in acceptable toxicity in NSCLC patients Posted: 28 May 2015 11:29 AM PDT Advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients have few effective treatment options and low 5-year survival rates. The checkpoint inhibitors MEDI4736 and tremelimumab have both demonstrated acceptable safety and potential efficacy when used as single-agents in several different types of cancer.

KeyGenes can predict future identity of human fetal stem cells Posted: 28 May 2015 11:29 AM PDT A snapshot of gene activity can now determine what organ or tissue type that a cluster of fetal stem cells will ultimately become. An algorithm makes it possible to match what's happening inside of an immature stem cell to known human fetal cell gene expression, thus identifying what the stem cell has the potential to be. The platform is dubbed KeyGenes.

Wild chimps teach scientists about gene that encodes HIV-fighting protein Posted: 28 May 2015 11:29 AM PDT Different people can vary substantially in their genetic susceptibility to viruses, including HIV. Although the biology that underlies this variation in humans is still being uncovered, it seems that we may be able to learn some key lessons from our closest cousins.

New findings shed light on complexities of emerging zoonotic malaria Posted: 28 May 2015 11:28 AM PDT Zoonotic malaria has been shown to be caused by two genetically distinct Plasmodium knowlesi parasite subpopulations associated with different monkey host species in Malaysia, according to new research. The authors believe this could have important implications for how the parasite adapts and spreads in humans.

HIV's sweet tooth is its downfall Posted: 28 May 2015 11:28 AM PDT HIV has a powerful sweet tooth. After the virus invades an immune cell, it craves sugar and nutrients from the cell to replicate and grow. Scientists discovered the switch that flips on the cell's sugar pipeline. Then they blocked the switch with an experimental compound, shutting down the pipeline and starving HIV to death. The virus was unable to replicate in human cells. Similar new compounds could be part of drug 'cocktails' to treat HIV, they say.

Regenerating lost taste buds: Key steps discovered Posted: 28 May 2015 11:28 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a key molecular pathway that aids in the renewal of taste buds, a finding that may help cancer patients suffering from an altered sense of taste during treatment.

Genetically elevated triglyceride level associated with protection against type 2 diabetes Posted: 28 May 2015 11:28 AM PDT Elevated plasma triglyceride level is considered a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but new findings suggest that a genetically-elevated triglyceride level is associated with protection against type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that triglyceride-increasing alleles are associated with decreased type 2 diabetes incidence.

Vision: Deciphering dark and bright Posted: 28 May 2015 11:28 AM PDT The human sensory systems contend with enormous diversity in the natural world. But it has been known for a long time the brain is adapted to exploit statistical regularities that nonetheless arise amongst this diversity. New research reports that established statistical distributions of visual features, such as visual contrast, spatial scale and depth, differ between dark and bright components of the natural world.

A new mechanism protecting liver from dangerous inflammation Posted: 28 May 2015 11:28 AM PDT Life-threatening liver inflammation can be caused by excess alcohol, fatty foods, toxins, as well as viral, bacterial, and parasite infections. A study reports that a specific immune cell type in the liver can dampen the immune response, reduce inflammation, and protect against liver damage.

Nearly one in seven Hispanic/Latino adults has some hearing loss Posted: 28 May 2015 09:44 AM PDT In the largest study to date of hearing loss among Hispanic/Latino adults in the United States, researchers have found that nearly one in seven has hearing loss, a number similar to the general population prevalence. The analysis also looked at the differences between subgroups and found that Hispanics of Puerto Rican descent have the highest rate of hearing loss, while Mexican-Americans have the lowest.

Peek eye testing app shown to work as well as charts for visual acuity Posted: 28 May 2015 09:42 AM PDT A new study shows potential for eye tests to be conducted easily and affordably using a smartphone app.

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