الجمعة، 8 مايو 2015

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

Researchers develop custom artificial membranes with programmable surfaces

Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 PM PDT

Researchers have developed artificial membranes with programmable features, enabling studies of cell communication and the molecular basis of disease. The new study demonstrates how researchers can examine the interactions of cell surfaces with other biological molecules, with far ranging applications in medicine, biochemistry and biophysics.

Walking or cycling to work could help you lose weight

Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 PM PDT

Leaving your car at home could help shed pounds – according to new research. Given that car use is high, the findings strengthen the case for incentivising walking or cycling to boost population health, suggest the researchers.

Sleep loss impedes decision making in crisis, research shows

Posted: 07 May 2015 01:54 PM PDT

The difference between life and death in the operating room, on the battlefield or during a police shootout often comes down to the ability to adapt to the unexpected. Sleep deprivation may make it difficult to do so, according to a study that for the first time created a laboratory experiment that simulates how sleep loss affects critical aspects of decision making in high-stakes, real-world situations.

Hip strengthening might ease pain of clogged leg arteries

Posted: 07 May 2015 01:54 PM PDT

Exercise to strengthen hip flexor muscles may increase how far some patients can walk without calf pain. Gait analysis reveals that people with clogged leg arteries use calf muscles to compensate for weakness of certain hip muscles.

Ebola virus in patient’s eye fluid 10 weeks after it was undetectable in blood

Posted: 07 May 2015 01:54 PM PDT

Researchers are reporting a case study in which viable Ebola virus was present in the eye's aqueous humor — the clear fluid in the front of the eye, between the lens and the cornea — 10 weeks after the virus was no longer detectable in the patient's blood.

New intervention helps mothers address depression

Posted: 07 May 2015 12:41 PM PDT

A new intervention has been developed that identifies potentially depressed mothers and encourages them to seek treatment. The Motivating our Mothers (MOM) program takes a unique approach, relying on pediatricians rather than the mother's doctor for diagnosis.

Ecologist warns of bamboo fueling spread of hantavirus

Posted: 07 May 2015 12:41 PM PDT

The popularity of bamboo landscaping could increase the spread of hantavirus, researchers say, with the plant's prolific seed production creating a population boom among seed-eating deer mice that carry the disease.

'Fracture' prints, not fingerprints, help solve child abuse cases

Posted: 07 May 2015 12:41 PM PDT

Much like a finger leaves its own unique print to help identify a person, researchers are now discovering that skull fractures leave certain signatures that can help investigators better determine what caused the injury.

The opioid epidemic and its impact on orthopaedic care

Posted: 07 May 2015 12:41 PM PDT

The United States makes up less than five percent of the world's population but consumes 80 percent of the global opioid supply and approximately 99 percent of all hydrocodone -- the most commonly prescribed opioid in the world.

Viagra to prevent transmission of the malaria parasite?

Posted: 07 May 2015 12:39 PM PDT

By increasing the stiffness of erythrocytes infected by the causal agent of malaria, Viagra favors their elimination from the blood circulation and may therefore reduce transmission of the parasite from humans to mosquitoes. This astonishing discovery could lead to a treatment to reduce the spread of malaria within a population.

Researchers hack a teleoperated surgical robot to reveal security flaws

Posted: 07 May 2015 11:53 AM PDT

How safe is that robot doing your surgery? Researchers easily hacked a next generation teleoperated surgical robot to test how easily a malicious attack could hijack remotely-controlled operations in the future and to offer security solutions.

Scientists resolve debate over how many bacteria fight off invaders

Posted: 07 May 2015 11:53 AM PDT

Every inch of our body, inside and out, is oozing with bacteria. In fact, the human body carries 10 times the number of bacterial cells as human cells. Many are our friends, helping us digest food and fight off infections, for instance. But much about these abundant organisms, upon which our life depends, remains mysterious. New research finally cracks the code of a fundamental process bacteria use to defend themselves against invaders.

Strong statin-diabetes link seen in large study

Posted: 07 May 2015 11:53 AM PDT

In a study of nearly 26,000 beneficiaries of Tricare, the military health system, those taking statin drugs to control their cholesterol were 87 percent more likely to develop diabetes. The research confirms past findings on the link between the widely prescribed drugs and diabetes risk. But it is among the first to show the connection in a relatively healthy group of people. The study included only people who at baseline were free of heart disease, diabetes, and other severe chronic disease.

Fragments of tRNA suggest a novel mechanism for cancer progression

Posted: 07 May 2015 11:53 AM PDT

Researchers discover that particular genetic fragments, of a type of RNA known as transfer RNA, or tRNA, appear to be capable of reducing the growth and spread of breast cancer cells.

Light in sight: A step towards a potential therapy for acquired blindness

Posted: 07 May 2015 11:52 AM PDT

A promising new therapeutic approach for hereditary blindness based on a technology termed 'optogenetics' is to introduce light-sensing proteins into these surviving retinal cells, turning them into 'replacement photoreceptors' and thereby restoring vision. However, several factors limit the feasibility of a clinical optogenetic therapy using traditional light-sensitive proteins, as they require unnaturally high and potentially harmful light intensities and employ a foreign signaling mechanism within the target retinal cells.

Near-atomic resolution of protein structure by electron microscopy holds promise

Posted: 07 May 2015 11:52 AM PDT

A new study shows that it is possible to use an imaging technique called cryo-electron microscopy to view, in near-atomic detail, the architecture of a metabolic enzyme bound to a drug that blocks its activity. This advance provides a new path for solving molecular structures that may revolutionize drug development, noted the researchers.

Chagas disease vaccine shows long-term protection in mice

Posted: 07 May 2015 11:51 AM PDT

Chagas disease, caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite and transmitted by insects in Latin America is among the most common tropical diseases, and so far without effective vaccine. A new study now shows that a candidate vaccine can induce long-lasting immunity against the parasite in mice.

Gene expression is key to understanding differences between individuals and disease susceptibility

Posted: 07 May 2015 11:51 AM PDT

The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project consortia has now published its results from their first pilot study contributing to a better understanding of genomic variation and give us new clues about disease susceptibility.

Biting back: Scientists aim to forecast West Nile outbreaks

Posted: 07 May 2015 10:59 AM PDT

New research has identified correlations between weather conditions and the occurrence of West Nile virus disease in the United States, raising the possibility of being able to better predict outbreaks.

Cancer drugs approved quickly but not to patient's benefit, researcher says

Posted: 07 May 2015 10:59 AM PDT

Highly priced cancer drugs get rushed approvals despite poor trial methodology and little effect on the longevity of patients, cautions one expert, who adds that drug reviewers don't look at the long term survival of patients who take them.

Naturally occurring amino acid could improve oral health

Posted: 07 May 2015 10:59 AM PDT

Arginine, a common amino acid found naturally in foods, breaks down dental plaque, which could help millions of people avoid cavities and gum disease, researchers have discovered.

Potential new painkiller provides longer lasting effects

Posted: 07 May 2015 10:59 AM PDT

Medications have long been used to treat pain caused by injury or chronic conditions. Unfortunately, most are short-term fixes or cause side effects that limit their use. Researchers have discovered a new compound that offers longer lasting painkilling effects, and shows promise as an alternative to current anesthetics.

Can the Ebola outbreak rejuvenate global health security?

Posted: 07 May 2015 10:58 AM PDT

The west African Ebola epidemic has rekindled interest in global health security, but it has also highlighted a troubling lack of political commitment to public health, and it is far from clear whether the crisis will be enough to rejuvenate global health security, say leading global health experts.

Nuclear medicine scan could identify who might benefit from aromatase inhibitor treatment

Posted: 07 May 2015 09:30 AM PDT

A new, noninvasive nuclear medicine test can be used to determine whether aromatase inhibitor treatment will be effective for specific cancer patients, according to a recent study reported in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. The research shows that a PET scan with the ligand C-11-vorozole reliably detects aromatase in all body organs - demonstrating the value of its future use to pre-determine the effectiveness of the treatment for breast, ovarian, endometrial and lung cancer patients.

Potential cause of schizophrenic symptoms identified

Posted: 07 May 2015 09:30 AM PDT

Researchers believe they have discovered an abnormality in the schizophrenic brain that could be responsible for many of the disease's symptoms and could provide a drug target for therapeutic treatments. Schizophrenia affects millions of people worldwide but the cause of its wide-ranging symptoms remains largely unknown.

New care approach to colorectal operations speeds patients' recovery times

Posted: 07 May 2015 09:29 AM PDT

Patients undergoing colorectal operations who participated in an enhanced recovery program left the hospital sooner and had significantly lower hospital costs than patients who had the traditional approach to their care, according to a new study, which also found further postoperative improvements after adding an infection prevention protocol.

Snoring keeping you up at night?

Posted: 07 May 2015 09:29 AM PDT

In patients with primary snoring or mild OSA, oropharyngeal, or mouth and tongue, exercises significantly reduced the frequency of snoring by 36 percent and total power of snoring by 59 percent, a study concludes.

Mammary gland 'remembers' prior pregnancy, spurring milk production

Posted: 07 May 2015 09:28 AM PDT

Anecdotal reports of nursing mothers have long suggested that giving milk is a lot easier in second and subsequent pregnancies, compared with a first pregnancy. Now, researchers can explain why. Their work shows the mammary gland forms a long-term memory of pregnancy that primes it to respond to the hormonal changes that announce succeeding pregnancies.

New mechanism of blood pressure regulation by a stress-sensitive gatekeeper

Posted: 07 May 2015 09:28 AM PDT

A new mechanism for the regulation of blood pressure has been discovered by scientists. The study shows that blood pressure can drop dramatically if the protein ERAP1 is released from cells and enters the blood stream.

3D 'organoids' grown from patient tumors could personalize drug screening

Posted: 07 May 2015 09:28 AM PDT

Three-dimensional cultures (or 'organoids') derived from the tumors of cancer patients closely replicate key properties of the original tumors, reveals a study. These 'organoid' cultures are amenable to large-scale drug screens for the detection of genetic changes associated with drug sensitivity and pave the way for personalized treatment approaches that could optimize clinical outcomes in cancer patients.

Researchers connect haywire protein to breast cancer, leukemia

Posted: 07 May 2015 09:27 AM PDT

The cause of some cancers, including breast cancer and leukemia, is better understood, thanks to recent research. In the new study, the researchers found that too much of a key protein, called cyclin E, slows down DNA replication and introduces potentially harmful cancer-linked mutations when cells divide.

Locating the brain's SAD center

Posted: 07 May 2015 09:26 AM PDT

Biologists have known that variations in the amount of sunlight a person receives and her or his circadian clock play a role in the disorder. They have also proposed that the neurotransmitters serotonin and melatonin may be involved. However, they have not yet identified the underlying neurobiological mechanisms responsible. Biologists have now localized the seasonal light cycle effects that drive seasonal affective disorder to a small region of the brain called the dorsal raphe nucleus.

As life slips by: Why eye movement doesn't blur the picture

Posted: 07 May 2015 09:26 AM PDT

Researchers have identified the molecular "glue" that builds the brain connections that keep visual images clear and still, even as objects or your eyes move. Using mouse models, the researchers demonstrate that image stabilization depends upon two proteins, Contactin-4 and amyloid precursor protein, binding during embryonic development.

Metabolic link between bacterial 'biofilms' and colon cancer found

Posted: 07 May 2015 09:26 AM PDT

A team of scientists has uncovered a big clue to how bacteria may promote some colon cancers. The study used novel metabolomic technologies to reveal molecular evidence suggesting a vicious circle in which cancerous changes in colon cells promote the growth of bacterial conglomerations called biofilms, and biofilms in turn promote cancer development.

New player in the occurrence of obesity complications

Posted: 07 May 2015 08:43 AM PDT

Metabolic complications of obesity and overweight, such as type 2 diabetes, are an important challenge to public health. Teams of researchers have succeeded in elucidating part of the mechanisms involved in the development of these metabolic complications associated with obesity.

Children sleep better when they have a nightly bedtime routine

Posted: 07 May 2015 08:43 AM PDT

Having a regular bedtime routine is associated with better sleep in young children up to six years of age, and the positive impact on sleep increases with the consistency of the nightly routine, a multinational study suggests.

Impact of post-treatment surveillance in head and neck squamous cell cancer

Posted: 07 May 2015 08:42 AM PDT

Compliance with post-treatment surveillance, income level and the travel distance for follow-up care had effects on survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer, according to a report.

Incredible Bulk or Incredible Hulk? Side effects of steroid use

Posted: 07 May 2015 08:40 AM PDT

A lot of hard work, practice and dedication can help you sculpt a well-muscled body, but anabolic steroids will get you there a lot faster. What will it cost you, though? The short side of the long story of this research-based conclusion is: Don't use steroids.

Study links post-acute care hospital costs with lower survival rates

Posted: 07 May 2015 08:40 AM PDT

Spending on post-acute care in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) provides a key signal of inefficiency in the health care system, leading to higher spending and lower patient survival, experts say in a new report.

Migraines, hormones, pre-eclampsia, lifespan all feature in increased strokes for women

Posted: 07 May 2015 08:40 AM PDT

Each year, around 55,000 more women than men will have a stroke. Longer lifespans, pregnancies and hormones all contribute to the disparity, as do illnesses that tend to strike women more frequently. Crunch the numbers and the math adds up to more strokes for women, making it important for women monitor their risk.

Statin drugs can delay prostate cancer progression in patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy, study shows

Posted: 07 May 2015 08:40 AM PDT

Men who went on cholesterol-lowering statin drugs when they began androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer had a longer time in which their disease was under control than did men who didn't take statins, a clinical trial shows.

Smarter, cheaper technologies offer improved point-of-care medicine

Posted: 07 May 2015 07:12 AM PDT

New paper and flexible polymer substrates were combined with special sensing devices for rapid and accurate detection of HIV and other pathogens for point-of-care medicine in remote areas, where there is minimal diagnostic infrastructure and a lack of trained medical technicians.

Herbal supplement may successfully treat glaucoma

Posted: 07 May 2015 06:35 AM PDT

Scientists have found that baicalein significantly lowers eye pressure and may act as an all-natural treatment for glaucoma.

Popular media influences choice of childbirth

Posted: 07 May 2015 06:33 AM PDT

Women's magazines influence whether women decide to have a more natural childbirth or not, with most of the messages biased towards promoting the benefits of medicalized birth, an Australian study has found.

Possible role of gut bacteria in autism

Posted: 07 May 2015 06:33 AM PDT

Autism:  for a condition that continues to confound researchers and physicians alike, a doctor believes that research into the role of the microbiome could hold a key to new treatments and understanding of autism.

Obesity, depression have role in excessive daytime sleepiness

Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 AM PDT

Obesity and depression – not only lack of sleep – are underlying causes for regular drowsiness, according to researchers. They say the findings could lead to more personalized sleep medicine for those with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS).

Photoactive dye could prevent infection during bone-repair surgery

Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 AM PDT

A green dye that sticks to bone grafts becomes antimicrobial with the flick of a light switch and could help reduce the risk of infections during bone-reconstruction surgeries, scientists report. In theory, they explain, the dye could be added to the currently used protocols for sterilizing the bone prior to use in surgery.

Female cystic fibrosis patients need more contraceptive guidance, study finds

Posted: 07 May 2015 05:27 AM PDT

Only half of women with cystic fibrosis report using contraception and frequently apt to become pregnant unintentionally, according to a new study. As recently as the 1960s, children with cystic fibrosis -- an inherited disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to form in the lungs, pancreas, and other organs -- often died before attending elementary school. Today many people with the disease live into their 30s, 40s and beyond.

Why almost half of patients opt out of comprehensive cancer testing

Posted: 07 May 2015 05:27 AM PDT

Some at-risk patients opted out of comprehensive cancer gene screening when presented with the opportunity to be tested for the presence of genes linked to various cancers, according to a recent study. Concern for uncertainty and potential distress were cited among the most common reasons to refuse testing.

Non-hormonal management of menopausal vasomotor symptoms

Posted: 07 May 2015 05:25 AM PDT

Hot flashes are a common menopausal symptom. They tend to intensify during the perimenopause and usually subside within 5 years after the final menstrual period. However in some women frequent hot flashes are a long term problem and may last for more than 7 years. While estrogen-based menopausal hormone therapy is the most effective treatment it is not indicated for all women, such as those with a personal history of breast cancer. A new position statement provides a practical guide to non-hormonal management.

Antioxidant effects of coffee by-products 500 times greater than vitamin C

Posted: 07 May 2015 05:25 AM PDT

The coffee industry plays a major role in the global economy. It also has a significant impact on the environment, producing more than 2 billion tons of coffee by-products annually. Coffee silverskin (the epidermis of the coffee bean) is usually removed during processing, after the beans have been dried, while the coffee grounds are normally directly discarded.

Device created for faster skin biopsies without anesthesia

Posted: 07 May 2015 05:24 AM PDT

A new device for performing skin biopsies has been created by scientists. With this new tool a skin biopsy can be performed with fewer instruments and the length of the procedure is shortened from thirty minutes to less than five. Neither local anesthesia nor specialized personnel are required. As a result, faster diagnosis of pathologies such as skin cancer is possible.

Researchers sound out scaffolds for eardrum replacement

Posted: 07 May 2015 05:24 AM PDT

Tiny, complex scaffolds that mimic the intricate network of collagen fibers that form the human eardrum have been created by an international team of researchers. It is hoped the scaffolds can be used to replace eardrums when they become severely damaged, reducing the need for patients to have their own tissue used in reconstruction surgery.

Small signaling molecule gives green light for cell division

Posted: 07 May 2015 05:24 AM PDT

Generating offspring is the evolutionary goal of all living organisms. The multiplication of individual cells is coordinated by the cell cycle. Researchers have now identified the central switch for reproduction in bacteria. While cell cycle progression in eukaryotes is regulated by small proteins called cyclins, in bacteria this role is adopted by a small signaling molecule, c-di-GMP, scientists describe.

Detecting skin cancer quickly: Full body scanner helps diagnose skin conditions

Posted: 07 May 2015 05:19 AM PDT

Melanoma is aggressive and life-threatening. If it is not detected early, the prospects of recovery drop. Screening is complicated, though. Together with several project partners, researchers have developed an assistance system that helps dermatologists with diagnosis.

Cotton fibers instead of carbon nanotubes for manufacturing?

Posted: 07 May 2015 05:19 AM PDT

Plant-based cellulose nanofibers do not pose a short-term health risk, especially short fibers, shows a new study. But lung cells are less efficient in eliminating longer fibers.

Women in high-income medical education positions still paid less than men

Posted: 07 May 2015 05:19 AM PDT

The existence of gender-based wage gaps in many occupations continues to be a hot-button topic in social and political debates. While much attention has been focused on medium- and lower-wage positions, some studies have shown that wage disparities extend to high-wage, high-prestige positions. According to a new study, women who serve as directors of internal medicine residency programs are paid less than their male counterparts.

Mobile tracking application may help users meet vitamin D Requirements

Posted: 07 May 2015 05:17 AM PDT

Vitamin D is essential for the maintenance of bone health and may be implicated in other chronic diseases, as well as immunity, but adults in Canada are consistently deficient in dietary vitamin D, by nearly 400 international units per day (IU/d) on average. Coupled with low vitamin D synthesis from the sun during fall and winter at Canadian latitudes, tracking intake of vitamin D is vital for those lacking the nutrient. In a new article, a group of researchers examined the validity of a mobile application for tracking vitamin D and calcium intake.

Potential for a more personalized approach to womb cancer

Posted: 07 May 2015 05:17 AM PDT

Traditionally, patients with endometrial cancer -- cancer of the womb lining -- have their disease risk classified using a combination of clinical and tissue characteristics, including their age and the growth and invasion of their tumor. Now high-risk womb cancer patients can be genetically profiled to allow them to receive more appropriate treatment, researchers have demonstrated.

New developments in personalized medicine could save billions of dollars in improved health

Posted: 06 May 2015 06:17 PM PDT

Personalized medical interventions to prevent heart disease could generate $114 billion worth of heath gains in United States, experts say. These interventions tailor medical treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient, according to their susceptibility to a particular illness. But it goes beyond just targeting therapies at individuals who are ill; it includes the ability to identify those at highest risk of developing a disease, and who would benefit most from prevention measures.
مرسلة بواسطة في

ليست هناك تعليقات:

إرسال تعليق

الاشتراك في: تعليقات الرسالة (Atom)