ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Hispanics' health in the United States: Report
• Plant-derived compound targets cancer stem cells
• High fever: Is it measles or flu?
• 'Herd immunity' threatened in measles outbreak, pathologist says
• Thoughts drive dieting plans but feelings drive dieting behavior, study finds
• Popular electric brain stimulation method used to boost brainpower is detrimental to IQ scores
• 3-D models of neuronal networks reveal organizational principles of sensory cortex
• ASTRO issues guideline on definitive and adjuvant RT for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer
• Who benefits from a catheter -- and who doesn't? New guide aims to protect patients
• Researchers observe the moment when a mind is changed
• Redesigned systems may increase access to MRI for patients with implanted medical devices
• Childhood maltreatment linked to sleep problems among adults
• Compact light source improves CT scans
• Molecular link between high glucose, metabolic disease may offer new strategies to control diabetes
• Enzyme responsible for obesity-related high blood pressure identified
• Nail biters, beware: Teeth grinding is next
• Late-night snacking: Is it your brain's fault?
• Traumatic brain injury linked to increased road rage
• Treatment reduces risk of recurrence of C. difficile infection
• Studies show effectiveness of combo treatment for HCV patients with, without cirrhosis
• Interferon-free therapy clears hepatitis C in 93 percent of patients in trial
• How noise changes the way the brain gets information
• How relaxation response may help treat two gastrointestinal disorders
• Connecting uninsured patients to primary care could reduce emergency department use
• Strategy found for safely prescribing antidepressants to children and adolescents
• One in five people will develop heart failure
• Chest strap heart rate monitor
• How do neural cells respond to ischemia?
• Treating gum disease reduces prostate symptoms, researchers find
• 'Tangles' trigger early-stage Alzheimer's abnormalities in neocortical networks
• Scientists look through the mirror to reveal secrets of a new drug
• Accelerated brain aging in type 1 diabetes related to cognitive complications
• The dark side of cannabis: Panic attacks, nausea
• Breast cancer vaccines may work better with silicon microparticles
• 'Freezing a bullet' to find clues to ribosome assembly process
• Shedding light on rods: Novel technique to investigate the activity of these retinal cells
• The media is the message: How stem cells grow depends on what they grow up in
• Women hospitalized 60 percent more than men after emergency asthma treatment
• Proteomics provides new leads into nerve regeneration
• First extensive description of the human secreted miRNome
• Profiling approach to enable right lung cancer treatment match
• Gene variant determines early or late onset of Huntington's disease
• Nerves move to avoid damage
• Oral spores of harmless C. difficile prevent repeated C. difficile infection
• Carrying a little extra weight decreases mortality from type 2 diabetes
• Are scare tactics off the table for public health campaigns targeting HIV?
• Unexpected role for calcium in controlling inflammation during chronic lung infection

Hispanics' health in the United States: Report Posted: 05 May 2015 03:27 PM PDT The first national study on Hispanic health risks and leading causes of death in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that similar to non-Hispanic whites (whites), the two leading causes of death in Hispanics are heart disease and cancer. Fewer Hispanics than whites die from the 10 leading causes of death, but Hispanics had higher death rates than whites from diabetes and chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.

Plant-derived compound targets cancer stem cells Posted: 05 May 2015 03:26 PM PDT A compound and an enzyme that occur naturally in cruciferous vegetables--cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprouts--may help prevent recurrence and spread of some cancers, according to researchers. When they treated human cervical cancer stem cells with phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) in a Petri dish, about 75 percent died within 24 hours using a 20-micromolar concentration of the compound.

High fever: Is it measles or flu? Posted: 05 May 2015 03:26 PM PDT A pathologist and infectious disease expert offers symptoms parents should watch for if they suspect their child has the measles.

'Herd immunity' threatened in measles outbreak, pathologist says Posted: 05 May 2015 03:26 PM PDT Spending time with other people is a cure for loneliness. But being a member of a vaccinated community has an important added benefit: preventing the spread of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. The current concern over outbreaks of measles in the United States provides valuable lessons about how vaccinations are effective across a broad community.

Thoughts drive dieting plans but feelings drive dieting behavior, study finds Posted: 05 May 2015 01:16 PM PDT Dieting is a process that involves a plan to change eating behavior and behaving according to that plan. But the factors that guide diet planning differ from those that guide actual diet behavior, according to the results of a new study.

Popular electric brain stimulation method used to boost brainpower is detrimental to IQ scores Posted: 05 May 2015 12:21 PM PDT Using a weak electric current in an attempt to boost brainpower or treat conditions has become popular among scientists and do-it-yourselfers, but a new study shows that using the most common form of electric brain stimulation had a statistically significant detrimental effect on IQ scores.

3-D models of neuronal networks reveal organizational principles of sensory cortex Posted: 05 May 2015 12:21 PM PDT Researchers have succeeded in reconstructing the neuronal networks that interconnect the elementary units of sensory cortex -- cortical columns. The scientists say that this study marks a major step forward to advance the understanding of the organizational principles of the neocortex and sets the stage for future studies that will provide extraordinary insight into how sensory information is represented, processed and encoded within the cortical circuitry.

ASTRO issues guideline on definitive and adjuvant RT for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer Posted: 05 May 2015 11:25 AM PDT The American Society for Radiation Oncology is issuing a new guideline, 'Definitive and adjuvant radiotherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer: An American Society for Radiation Oncology evidence-based clinical practice guideline.'

Who benefits from a catheter -- and who doesn't? New guide aims to protect patients Posted: 05 May 2015 11:25 AM PDT What's the only thing worse than having a urinary catheter when you're in the hospital? Having one and getting a urinary tract infection -- or worse -- as a result. Now, a new detailed guide gives doctors and nurses information to help decide which hospital patients may benefit from a urinary catheter -- and which ones don't.

Researchers observe the moment when a mind is changed Posted: 05 May 2015 11:25 AM PDT Researchers studying how the brain makes decisions have, for the first time, recorded the moment-by-moment fluctuations in brain signals that occur when a monkey making free choices has a change of mind. This basic neuroscience discovery will help create neural prostheses that can withhold moving a prosthetic arm until the user is certain of their decision, thereby averting premature or inopportune movements.

Redesigned systems may increase access to MRI for patients with implanted medical devices Posted: 05 May 2015 11:25 AM PDT New technology may extend the benefits of magnetic resonance imaging to many patients whose access to MRI is currently limited. A redesign of the wire at the core of the leads that carry signals between implanted medical devices and their target structures significantly reduces the generation of heat that occurs when standard wires are exposed to the radiofrequency (RF) energy used in MRI.

Childhood maltreatment linked to sleep problems among adults Posted: 05 May 2015 11:25 AM PDT Adults who experienced multiple incidents of childhood maltreatment were more than two times as likely to have trouble sleeping than their counterparts who were not maltreated during childhood, according to a new study.

Compact light source improves CT scans Posted: 05 May 2015 11:24 AM PDT The recently developed Compact Light Source (CLS) -- a commercial X-ray source -- enables computer tomography scans that reveal more detail than routine scans performed at hospitals today. The new technology could soon be used in preclinical studies and help researchers better understand cancer and other diseases.

Molecular link between high glucose, metabolic disease may offer new strategies to control diabetes Posted: 05 May 2015 10:17 AM PDT Scientists say they've discovered a cause-and-effect link between chronic high blood sugar and disruption of mitochondria, the powerhouses that create the metabolic energy that runs living cells. The discovery sheds light on a long-hidden connection and, they say, could eventually lead to new ways of preventing and treating diabetes.

Enzyme responsible for obesity-related high blood pressure identified Posted: 05 May 2015 09:14 AM PDT Obesity is a serious health problem affecting approximately one-third of the adult population in the United States. Obese individuals have an increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, including hypertension. A recent study has identified the enzyme responsible for obesity-related hypertension -- a finding that could lead to new treatment options.

Nail biters, beware: Teeth grinding is next Posted: 05 May 2015 09:14 AM PDT Anxiety disorders affect approximately one in six adult Americans. The most well-known of these include panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social anxiety disorder. But what of brief bouts of anxiety caused by stressful social situations? New research shows that anxiety experienced in social circumstances elevates the risk of bruxism -- teeth grinding -- causing tooth wear, fractures, and jaw pain.

Late-night snacking: Is it your brain's fault? Posted: 05 May 2015 09:14 AM PDT New light has been shed on why you, your friends, neighbors and most everyone you know tend to snack at night: some areas of the brain don't get the same 'food high' in the evening. The study also reports that participants were subjectively more preoccupied with food at night even though their hunger and "fullness" levels were similar to other times of the day.

Traumatic brain injury linked to increased road rage Posted: 05 May 2015 09:13 AM PDT Ontario adult drivers who say they have experienced at least one traumatic brain injury in their lifetime also report significantly higher incidents of serious road-related driving aggression, said a new study. Serious driver aggression includes: making threats to hurt a fellow driver, passenger or vehicle. These individuals also reported significantly higher odds of being involved in a motor vehicle collision that resulted in hurting themselves, their passenger or their vehicle.

Treatment reduces risk of recurrence of C. difficile infection Posted: 05 May 2015 09:13 AM PDT Among patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) who recovered following standard treatment with the antibiotics metronidazole or vancomycin, oral administration of spores of a strain of C. difficile that does not produce toxins colonized the gastrointestinal tract and significantly reduced CDI recurrence, according to a new study.

Studies show effectiveness of combo treatment for HCV patients with, without cirrhosis Posted: 05 May 2015 09:13 AM PDT Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection and with or without cirrhosis achieved high rates of sustained virologic response after 12 weeks of treatment with a combination of the direct-acting-antiviral drugs daclatasvir, asunaprevir, and beclabuvir, researchers report.

Interferon-free therapy clears hepatitis C in 93 percent of patients in trial Posted: 05 May 2015 09:13 AM PDT A 12-week dose of an investigational three-drug hepatitis C combination cured the virus in 93 percent of patients with liver cirrhosis who hadn't previously been treated, according to a study. For most of the past 20 years, therapies for hepatitis C relied on interferon drugs, which require regular injections for as long as one year and trigger miserable, flu-like side effects that prompt many patients to quit the regimen. Some patients aren't eligible for this treatment if they have anemia, low platelets or other conditions.

How noise changes the way the brain gets information Posted: 05 May 2015 09:12 AM PDT In a study on mice, cells that relay information from the ear to the brain changed their behavior and structure in response to the noise level in the environment. Researchers think the adaptations could aid hearing in different conditions.

How relaxation response may help treat two gastrointestinal disorders Posted: 05 May 2015 08:22 AM PDT Participating in a nine-week training program including elicitation of the relaxation response had a significant impact on clinical symptoms of the gastrointestinal disorders irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease and on the expression of genes related to inflammation and the body's response to stress.

Connecting uninsured patients to primary care could reduce emergency department use Posted: 05 May 2015 08:22 AM PDT An intervention to connect low-income uninsured and Medicaid patients to a reliable source of primary health care shows promise for reducing avoidable use of hospital emergency departments in Maryland.

Strategy found for safely prescribing antidepressants to children and adolescents Posted: 05 May 2015 08:22 AM PDT Two new strategies to treat depression in young people have been developed for the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class of medications. These strategies incorporate a new understanding of how to mitigate the risk of suicide while on SSRI treatment.

One in five people will develop heart failure Posted: 05 May 2015 08:19 AM PDT One person in five is expected to develop heart failure in developed countries, a disease with no cure but which is largely preventable.

Chest strap heart rate monitor Posted: 05 May 2015 08:12 AM PDT Scientists have developed a novel chest strap device for the long-term monitoring of patients with heart and circulatory problems. What is special about the new system is that it records an electrocardiogram (ECG) of the wearer. It is also self-moistening, which is essential for reliable signal monitoring.

How do neural cells respond to ischemia? Posted: 05 May 2015 07:24 AM PDT The World Health Organization reports cardiovascular diseases to be the leading cause of morbility globally as the majority of deaths are caused by strokes and ischemic heart disease. Researchers have now specified mechanisms related to the development of ischemic disease.

Treating gum disease reduces prostate symptoms, researchers find Posted: 05 May 2015 07:24 AM PDT Treating gum disease reduced symptoms of prostate inflammation, called prostatitis, report researchers. Previous studies have found a link between gum disease and prostatitis, a disease that inflames the gland that produces semen. Inflammation can make urination difficult.

'Tangles' trigger early-stage Alzheimer's abnormalities in neocortical networks Posted: 05 May 2015 07:23 AM PDT A ground-breaking study has now, for the first time, characterized early-stage changes that occur inside individual, Alzheimer's-affected cells in the intact brain. Remarkably, the study indicates that even if only a small number of cells is affected, the result is a reduction of electrical activity throughout the cerebral cortex -- the area of the brain that serves as the center of higher mental function and cognition.

Scientists look through the mirror to reveal secrets of a new drug Posted: 05 May 2015 07:23 AM PDT Research results can help develop anti-inflammatory drugs, scientists say. Results from recent study revealed a nucleic acid molecule that has the perfectly reversed geometry as compared to a naturally occurring RNA/DNA molecule. However, this unusual molecule still interacts strongly with the normal C5a protein built with naturally occurring amino acids, thereby illustrating beautifully how the two sides of the mirror can be reunited and leaving us to wonder about the possibility of a world where both sides of the mirror would have coexisted in harmony.

Accelerated brain aging in type 1 diabetes related to cognitive complications Posted: 05 May 2015 07:23 AM PDT The brains of people with type 1 diabetes show signs of accelerated aging that correlate with slower information processing, according to research. The findings indicate that clinicians should consider screening middle-aged patients with type 1 diabetes for cognitive difficulties. If progressive, these changes could influence their ability to manage their diabetes.

The dark side of cannabis: Panic attacks, nausea Posted: 05 May 2015 07:21 AM PDT Although the use of cannabis as a medical drug is currently booming, we should not forget that leisure time consumption -- for example, smoking weed -- can cause acute and chronic harms. These include panic attacks, impaired coordination of movement, and nausea, as researchers show. The symptoms depend on a patient's age, the amount of the drug consumed, and the frequency of drug use.

Breast cancer vaccines may work better with silicon microparticles Posted: 05 May 2015 07:21 AM PDT The effectiveness of cancer vaccines could be dramatically boosted by first loading the cancer antigens into silicon microparticles, report scientists. Model studies showed that microparticles loaded with an antigen, HER2, not only protected the antigen from premature destruction, but also stimulated the immune system to recognize and relentlessly attack cancer cells overexpressing the HER2 antigen.

'Freezing a bullet' to find clues to ribosome assembly process Posted: 05 May 2015 06:20 AM PDT Finding out how protein-synthesizing cellular machines are assembled in a stepwise fashion has been the focus of recent research. Ribosomes are vital to the function of all living cells. Using the genetic information from RNA, these large molecular complexes build proteins by linking amino acids together in a specific order, the researchers have discovered.

Shedding light on rods: Novel technique to investigate the activity of these retinal cells Posted: 05 May 2015 06:20 AM PDT By using 'unusual' optic fibres in a novel fashion, an international team of researchers scrutinized the response to light of rods, the light-sensitive cells of the retina, and demonstrated that the intensity of response varies according to the region of the cell hit by the light.

The media is the message: How stem cells grow depends on what they grow up in Posted: 05 May 2015 05:30 AM PDT Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) possess the ability to grow into almost any kind of cell, which has made them dynamic tools for studying early human development and disease, but much depends upon what they grow up in. Researchers used a powerful statistical tool called 'design of experiments' or DOE to determine the optimal cell culture formula to grow and produce hPSCs.

Women hospitalized 60 percent more than men after emergency asthma treatment Posted: 05 May 2015 05:30 AM PDT Women with acute asthma who are treated in the emergency department are 60 percent more likely than men to need hospitalization, a study shows. The authors speculate that there are a number of reasons for their findings, including altered perception of airflow obstruction, potential influences of female sex hormones, differences in bronchial hyper responsiveness and health behaviors.

Proteomics provides new leads into nerve regeneration Posted: 05 May 2015 05:30 AM PDT Using proteomics techniques to study injured optic nerves, researchers have identified previously unrecognized proteins and pathways involved in nerve regeneration. Adding back one of these proteins -- the oncogene c-myc -- they achieved unprecedented optic nerve regeneration in mice when combined with two other known strategies.

First extensive description of the human secreted miRNome Posted: 05 May 2015 05:29 AM PDT In an elaborate study, biologists have found out that small molecules named microRNAs are, against many hopes, not yet suitable for early diagnosis of skin cancer, as well as supposedly for other types of cancer, in blood samples. For the first time they analyzed all microRNAs in the serum of healthy people and thus provided a first complete image of the human miRNome in blood samples, in reference to the better-known genome.

Profiling approach to enable right lung cancer treatment match Posted: 05 May 2015 05:29 AM PDT A new way to genetically profile lung cancer samples has been developed by researchers, potentially allowing doctors to more easily identify the most appropriate treatment for patients.

Gene variant determines early or late onset of Huntington's disease Posted: 05 May 2015 05:28 AM PDT A gene variant that influences whether Huntington's disease breaks out earlier or later than expected has been identified by researchers. The findings can contribute to improved diagnosis and disease-modifying therapies, the group says.

Nerves move to avoid damage Posted: 05 May 2015 05:28 AM PDT New research can help explain the prevalence of widespread syndromes such as carpal tunnel syndrome and sciatica. According to the results, neural movements can be measured by using non-invasive techniques, which are also applicable in diagnostics and rehabilitation planning.

Oral spores of harmless C. difficile prevent repeated C. difficile infection Posted: 05 May 2015 05:27 AM PDT In what is a major step towards the prevention of recurring bouts of Clostridium difficile (Cdiff) infection, an international team of researchers has shown that giving spores of non-toxic Cdiff by mouth is effective in stopping repeated bouts of Cdiff infection which occurs in 25-30 percent of patients who suffer an initial episode of diarrhea or colitis.

Carrying a little extra weight decreases mortality from type 2 diabetes Posted: 04 May 2015 03:22 PM PDT Patients with type 2 diabetes who are overweight but not obese live longer than those who are underweight or normal-weight, according to a study. Researchers call this effect the 'obesity paradox.'

Are scare tactics off the table for public health campaigns targeting HIV? Posted: 04 May 2015 01:35 PM PDT Over the last 10 years, public health campaigns in New York City around smoking, obesity, and HIV underwent a dramatic shift to use fear and disgust to spur behavior change, sometimes with the unintended consequence of stigmatizing affected populations. In a new article, scholars explore the implications of this shift to fear-based campaigns in the present public health environment.

Unexpected role for calcium in controlling inflammation during chronic lung infection Posted: 04 May 2015 01:34 PM PDT Many of us take a healthy immune system for granted. But for certain infants with rare, inherited mutations of certain genes, severe infection and death are stark consequences of their impaired immune responses. Researchers have identified an important role for calcium signaling in immune responses to chronic infection resulting from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium causing tuberculosis.

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