ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

---

• Eating Disorders: Ovarian hormones play genes like a fiddle, research finds
• Researchers stimulate human amygdala to gain key insight into sudden unexpected death in epilepsy
• Alzheimer's may affect the brain differently in African-Americans than European-Americans
• Compounds show potential in fighting brain, breast cancers
• Clinical pathway uncovers obstructive sleep apnea in hospitalized patients
• Drug shows promise as single-dose cure and as preventive treatment for malaria
• HIV uses immune system's own tools to suppress it
• Mechanism for altered pattern of brain growth in autism spectrum disorder discovered
• Outcomes comparable for in-person, in-home telerehabilitation following total knee replacement surgery
• Stem cells move one step closer to cure for genetic diseases
• 'Housing First' can reduce alcohol problems for homeless people with mental illness
• Host genetics played a role in vaccine efficacy in the RV144 HIV vaccine trial
• Does heart disease begin in childhood?
• Hydraulic fracturing linked to increases in hospitalization rates in the Marcellus Shale
• Vision-restoring gene therapy also strengthens visual processing pathways in brain
• Breakthrough tools in fight against cryptosporidium
• Review examines nutritional issues related to autism spectrum disorder
• First step toward gene therapy treatment of mitochondrial disease unlocked by scientists
• New antibody treats traumatic brain injury and prevents long-term neurodegeneration
• Southeastern U.S. rural landscapes pose potential risk for salmonella infection
• Cancer Discovery: Protein modification determines enzyme's fate
• Lower-cost procedure for children with digestive tract problems
• Certain air filters using photocatalytic oxidation have dangerous by-product, study shows
• Better chocolate with microbes: Same yeast used in beer, wine and bread
• Defective telomeres are now being linked to dozens of diseases, including many types of cancer
• Sunburn tattoos both trendy and dangerous
• Many opioid overdoses linked to lower prescribed doses, intermittent use
• Nanoparticles used to prevent inflammatory acne through slow-released nitric oxide
• A portable 'paper machine' can diagnose disease for less than $2
• Exercise can improve brain function in older adults
• Analysis reveals needs for improvement in youth fitness
• Subset of plasma cells represent 'historical record' of childhood infections
• Attention beachgoers: Fecal contamination affects sand more than water
• Uncovering a key relationship in ALS
• PET adapted treatment improves outcome of patients with stages I/II Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Rates of drunk driving tied to state alcohol policies
• Fruitfly sperm cells reveal intricate coordination in stem cell replication
• Success in adulthood linked to childhood psychiatric health
• Peripartum cardiomyopathy: Rare but potentially fatal cardiovascular disorder can strike healthy pregnant women
• High blood levels of growth factor correlate with smaller brain areas in patients with schizophrenia
• New evidence linking brain mutation to autism, epilepsy and other neuro disorders
• Your phone knows if you're depressed
• Psychoactive 'bath salt' use among U. S. high school seniors alarmingly high
• Jealousy in a romantic relationship can lead to alcohol problems
• New approach to spinal cord, brain injury research
• Magnetic nanoparticles could be key to effective immunotherapy
• Common diabetes drug can also treat liver cirrhosis, study suggests
• Why does PTSD increase the risk of cardiovascular disease?
• We like seafood, but we don't eat enough, report suggests
• Molecule that could be link that adjusts function of the nervous system to the metabolic state of the organism is identified
• Therapeutic target identified for treatment of spinal cord injuries
• New variant of streptococcal bacteria causing severe infections
• Pneumonia investment doesn't match mortality burden
• Low cost interventions can improve patient and staff safety in mental health wards
• A new strategy against spinal cord injuries
• Vaginal douches may expose women to harmful phthalate chemicals
• Gene therapy gives long-term protection to photoreceptor cells
• Breast cancer survivors gain weight at a higher rate than their cancer-free peers

Eating Disorders: Ovarian hormones play genes like a fiddle, research finds Posted: 15 Jul 2015 06:22 PM PDT A complex relationship between genes, hormones and social factors can lead to eating disorders in women. An eating disorder expert has made monumental strides in deciphering how these factors interact. In her latest discovery, she has found that during the menstrual cycle, ovarian hormones act like a master conductor -- they turn genetic risk on and off in the body.

Researchers stimulate human amygdala to gain key insight into sudden unexpected death in epilepsy Posted: 15 Jul 2015 03:33 PM PDT Researchers have identified areas of the human brain in which breathing is controlled and, in some cases, impaired. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy is becoming increasingly recognized as a very real and devastating problem in which impaired breathing is thought to play a critical role. Researchers believe breathing may be impaired during and after seizures, without the patient's knowledge.

Alzheimer's may affect the brain differently in African-Americans than European-Americans Posted: 15 Jul 2015 02:06 PM PDT Alzheimer's disease may cause different changes in the brain, or pathologies, in African-Americans than in white Americans of European descent, according to a new study.

Compounds show potential in fighting brain, breast cancers Posted: 15 Jul 2015 02:05 PM PDT A new discovery has potential to help brain and breast cancer patients, scientists suggest. The researchers examined compounds that inhibit Stat3, a protein implicated in a variety of cancers that include brain and breast cancers.

Clinical pathway uncovers obstructive sleep apnea in hospitalized patients Posted: 15 Jul 2015 02:05 PM PDT A multi-disciplinary group of researchers and physicians has created a clinical pathway to identify obstructive sleep apnea in higher-risk, hospitalized patients.

Drug shows promise as single-dose cure and as preventive treatment for malaria Posted: 15 Jul 2015 01:06 PM PDT Researchers have shown that a drug currently in testing shows potential to cure malaria in a single dose and offers promise as a preventive treatment as well.

HIV uses immune system's own tools to suppress it Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:54 PM PDT A research team has made a significant discovery on how HIV escapes the body's antiviral responses. The team uncovered how an HIV viral protein known as Vpu tricks the immune system by using its own regulatory process to evade the host's first line of defence. The findings pave the way for future HIV prevention or cure strategies.

Mechanism for altered pattern of brain growth in autism spectrum disorder discovered Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:54 PM PDT Scientists have uncovered how mutations in a specific autism risk gene alter the basic trajectory of early brain development in animal models.

Outcomes comparable for in-person, in-home telerehabilitation following total knee replacement surgery Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:54 PM PDT Patients who received rehabilitation instructions via video teleconference, or 'telerehabilitation,' following total knee replacement surgery had comparable outcomes to patients who received in-person physical therapy, according to a study.

Stem cells move one step closer to cure for genetic diseases Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:54 PM PDT Scientists have created mutation-free lines of stem cells from human patients with mitochondrial diseases.

'Housing First' can reduce alcohol problems for homeless people with mental illness Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:53 PM PDT A 'Housing First' approach can reduce alcohol-related problems among homeless people with mental illness, a study finds.

Host genetics played a role in vaccine efficacy in the RV144 HIV vaccine trial Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:53 PM PDT Host genetics played a role in protection against HIV infection in the landmark RV144 vaccine trial conducted in Thailand, research shows.

Does heart disease begin in childhood? Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:53 PM PDT A 'statistically significant association' between higher vitamin D levels and lower non-HDL cholesterol in kids has been found by researchers. There has been evidence that low vitamin D levels in adults are linked to cardiovascular disease, as well as other health issues such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes. But that link hadn't been studied in children.

Hydraulic fracturing linked to increases in hospitalization rates in the Marcellus Shale Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:53 PM PDT Hospitalizations for heart conditions, neurological illness, and other conditions were higher among people who live near unconventional gas and oil drilling (hydraulic fracturing), according to new research. Over the past ten years in the United States, hydraulic fracturing has experienced a meteoric increase. Due to substantial increases in well drilling, potential for air and water pollution posing a health threat has been a concern for nearby residents.

Vision-restoring gene therapy also strengthens visual processing pathways in brain Posted: 15 Jul 2015 12:53 PM PDT Since 2007, clinical trials using gene therapy have resulted in often-dramatic sight restoration for dozens of children and adults who were otherwise doomed to blindness. Now, researchers have found evidence that this sight restoration leads to strengthening of visual pathways in the brain.

Breakthrough tools in fight against cryptosporidium Posted: 15 Jul 2015 11:11 AM PDT New tools have been developed to study and genetically manipulate cryptosporidium. The tools will ultimately help researchers find new treatments and vaccines for cryptosporidium, a major cause of disease and death in children under 2 years old.

Review examines nutritional issues related to autism spectrum disorder Posted: 15 Jul 2015 11:09 AM PDT There is consensus that children with autism have selective eating patterns, food neophobia, limited food repertoire, and sensory issues. Researchers now report that there are inconsistent results about the extent and type of nutrient deficiencies.

First step toward gene therapy treatment of mitochondrial disease unlocked by scientists Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:35 AM PDT The first critical step in developing novel gene and stem cell therapy treatments for patients with mitochondrial disease has been revealed by scientists. This breakthrough sets the stage for replacing diseased tissue in patients and opens the door to a world of regenerative medicine where doctors are able to treat human diseases that are currently incurable.

New antibody treats traumatic brain injury and prevents long-term neurodegeneration Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:35 AM PDT New research provides the first direct evidence linking traumatic brain injury to Alzheimer's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) -- and offers the potential for early intervention to prevent the development of these debilitating neurodegenerative diseases. TBI can result from repetitive contact sport injuries or from exposure to military blasts, and is one of the most significant risk factors for both Alzheimer's disease and CTE.

Southeastern U.S. rural landscapes pose potential risk for salmonella infection Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:08 AM PDT Researchers from the University of Georgia have determined that various freshwater sources in Georgia, such as rivers and lakes, could feature levels of salmonella that pose a risk to humans. Salmonella infections are one of the top causes of gastrointestinal disease in the US, and while regulatory agencies have made progress in reducing foodborne transmission of the pathogen, other infection sources, including exposure to water, have not been as thoroughly examined.

Cancer Discovery: Protein modification determines enzyme's fate Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:08 AM PDT An amino acid tag has the power to greatly influence the function of an enzyme called PRPS2, which is required for human life and can become hyperactive in cancer, researchers have demonstrated.

Lower-cost procedure for children with digestive tract problems Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:08 AM PDT Physicians have published research that suggests a safe and lower-cost way to diagnose and treat problems in the upper gastrointestinal tract of children. The researchers assessed the effectiveness of unsedated transnasal endoscopy (TNE) in evaluating pediatric patients with potentially chronic problems in their esophagus, which is the tube that connects the patient's mouth to the stomach.

Certain air filters using photocatalytic oxidation have dangerous by-product, study shows Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:08 AM PDT Imagine if, in an effort to clean the air more efficiently, you were involuntarily introducing chemicals more dangerous than the ones you were trying to scrub. Researchers have found that this exact situation is happening with a type of air filter called photocatalytic oxidation, a product already on the market. The chemical by-product? Formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen.

Better chocolate with microbes: Same yeast used in beer, wine and bread Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:08 AM PDT For decades, researchers have worked to improve cacao fermentation by controlling the microbes involved. Now, to their surprise, a team of Belgian researchers has discovered that the same species of yeast used in production of beer, bread, and wine works particularly well in chocolate fermentation.

Defective telomeres are now being linked to dozens of diseases, including many types of cancer Posted: 15 Jul 2015 10:08 AM PDT Studying telomeres, the structures that protect the ends of chromosomes, has become a key issue in biology. In recent years, not only has their relation to ageing been confirmed; defective telomeres seem to be linked to more and more illnesses, including many types of cancer.

Sunburn tattoos both trendy and dangerous Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:28 AM PDT They may look neat, but the dangers of sunburn tattoos far outweigh the coolness factor.

Many opioid overdoses linked to lower prescribed doses, intermittent use Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:26 AM PDT Overdoses of opioid pain medications frequently occur in people who aren't chronic users with high prescribed opioid doses -- the groups targeted by current opioid prescribing guidelines, reports a new study.

Nanoparticles used to prevent inflammatory acne through slow-released nitric oxide Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:25 AM PDT Dermatologists have found that the release of nitric oxide over time may be a new way to treat and prevent acne through nanotechnology.

A portable 'paper machine' can diagnose disease for less than $2 Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:25 AM PDT In the US and other industrialized nations, testing for infectious diseases and cancer often requires expensive equipment and highly trained specialists. In countries where resources are limited, performing the same diagnostics is far more challenging. To address this disparity, scientists are developing a portable, low-cost 'paper machine' for point-of-care detection of infectious diseases, genetic conditions and cancer.

Exercise can improve brain function in older adults Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:25 AM PDT Older adults can improve brain function by raising their fitness level, new research suggests. The research indicated that the intensity of the exercise appeared to matter more than the duration.

Analysis reveals needs for improvement in youth fitness Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:25 AM PDT A new study provides a snapshot of health-related physical fitness levels for US schoolchildren in grades first through 12th. Researchers analyzing data collected nationally through the NFL PLAY 60 FITNESSGRAM Partnership Project found that fitness levels sharply declined as students got older.

Subset of plasma cells represent 'historical record' of childhood infections Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:25 AM PDT Immunologists have identified a distinct set of long-lived antibody-producing cells in the human bone marrow that function as an immune archive.

Attention beachgoers: Fecal contamination affects sand more than water Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:25 AM PDT 'No swimming' signs have already popped up this summer along coastlines where fecal bacteria have invaded otherwise inviting waters. Some vacationers ignore the signs while others resign themselves to tanning and playing on the beach. But should those avoiding the water be wary of the sand, too? New research investigates reasons why the answer could be 'yes.'

Uncovering a key relationship in ALS Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:24 AM PDT Novel antibodies for tracking C9orf72 have been developed by researchers, uncovering a link between genetic cause of ALS and its pathology. ALS is arguable humanity's most puzzling, intractable disease.

PET adapted treatment improves outcome of patients with stages I/II Hodgkin Lymphoma Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:23 AM PDT Final results of the randomized intergroup EORTC, LYSA (Lymphoma Study Association), FIL (Fondazione Italiana Linfomi) H10 trial show that early FDG-PET ( 2-deoxy-2[F-18]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography) adapted treatment improves the outcome of early FDG-PET-positive patients with stages I/II Hodgkin lymphoma.

Rates of drunk driving tied to state alcohol policies Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:23 AM PDT States with more restrictive alcohol policies and regulations have lower rates of self-reported drunk driving, according to a new study.

Fruitfly sperm cells reveal intricate coordination in stem cell replication Posted: 15 Jul 2015 09:23 AM PDT Stem cells are key for the continual renewal of tissues in our bodies. As such, manipulating stem cells also holds much promise for biomedicine if their regenerative capacity can be harnessed. However, understanding how stem cells govern normal tissue renewal is a field still in its infancy. Researchers are making headway in this area by studying stem cells in their natural environment in fruitflies.

Success in adulthood linked to childhood psychiatric health Posted: 15 Jul 2015 08:36 AM PDT Children with even mild or passing bouts of depression, anxiety and/or behavioral issues were more inclined to have serious problems that complicated their ability to lead successful lives as adults, according to new research.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy: Rare but potentially fatal cardiovascular disorder can strike healthy pregnant women Posted: 15 Jul 2015 08:33 AM PDT Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare disorder characterized by weakened pumping of the heart, or "left ventricular dysfunction," which results in otherwise healthy pregnant women experiencing heart failure shortly before or up to five months after they deliver healthy babies. Despite the seriousness of this condition, a new study revealed that no significant research has been undertaken to explore how to prevent or treat this disorder. In fact, only three studies of possible treatments have ever been conducted, and only two of those have shown any promise.

High blood levels of growth factor correlate with smaller brain areas in patients with schizophrenia Posted: 15 Jul 2015 08:32 AM PDT High blood levels of a growth factor known to enable new blood vessel development and brain cell protection correlate with a smaller size of brain areas key to complex thought, emotion and behavior in patients with schizophrenia, researchers report.

New evidence linking brain mutation to autism, epilepsy and other neuro disorders Posted: 15 Jul 2015 08:26 AM PDT The extent a mutation associated with autism and epilepsy plays in impairing a biochemical process in the brain has been revealed by researchers. The study, they say, could provide a new target for treating neurological disorders.

Your phone knows if you're depressed Posted: 15 Jul 2015 08:26 AM PDT Depression can be detected from your smartphone sensor data by tracking the number of minutes you use the phone and your daily geographical locations, reports a new study. The more time you spend using your phone, the more likely you are depressed. Spending most of your time at home and most of your time in fewer locations also are linked to depression. The research could lead to monitoring people at risk of depression and enabling health care providers to intervene.

Psychoactive 'bath salt' use among U. S. high school seniors alarmingly high Posted: 15 Jul 2015 07:37 AM PDT 33% of students who used bath salts reported using only once or twice; however, frequent use was also common among users with an alarming 18% of users reporting using 40 or more times in the last year.

Jealousy in a romantic relationship can lead to alcohol problems Posted: 15 Jul 2015 07:36 AM PDT Jealous people in low quality relationships are at higher risk of alcohol problems, suggests a new study.

New approach to spinal cord, brain injury research Posted: 15 Jul 2015 07:35 AM PDT Many an injury will heal, but the damaged spinal cord is notoriously recalcitrant. There's new hope on the horizon, though. A team of researchers has reported an innate repair mechanism in central nervous system axons that might be harnessed to regenerate nerves after brain or spinal cord injuries.

Magnetic nanoparticles could be key to effective immunotherapy Posted: 15 Jul 2015 07:35 AM PDT In recent years, researchers have hotly pursued immunotherapy, a promising form of treatment that relies on harnessing and training the body's own immune system to better fight cancer and infection. Now, results of a new study suggests that a device composed of a magnetic column paired with custom-made magnetic nanoparticles may hold a key to bringing immunotherapy into widespread and successful clinical use.

Common diabetes drug can also treat liver cirrhosis, study suggests Posted: 15 Jul 2015 06:12 AM PDT Diabetes drug metformin can treat portal hypertension--high blood pressure in the liver resulting from cirrhosis, new research shows. This study adds to the growing body of evidence showing that use of metformin goes beyond treating type 2 diabetes.

Why does PTSD increase the risk of cardiovascular disease? Posted: 15 Jul 2015 06:12 AM PDT A new review article finds that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) leads to overactive nerve activity, dysfunctional immune response and activation of the hormone system that controls blood pressure. These changes can ultimately increase risk of cardiovascular disease.

We like seafood, but we don't eat enough, report suggests Posted: 15 Jul 2015 06:12 AM PDT Nearly half of Floridians eat more seafood than they did five to 10 years ago, but 40 percent still do not eat the federally recommended dietary intake of seafood. Floridians also know seafood is good for them, and they like their seafood caught or harvested in the Sunshine State. But many are not sure they'd know Florida seafood if they saw it, and they're hesitant to pay the higher cost of local seafood.

Molecule that could be link that adjusts function of the nervous system to the metabolic state of the organism is identified Posted: 15 Jul 2015 06:09 AM PDT An important finding has led scientists to identify a molecule, Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), as a possible element implicated in the link between the metabolic state of an organism and its cerebral function.

Therapeutic target identified for treatment of spinal cord injuries Posted: 15 Jul 2015 06:09 AM PDT A therapeutic target for the treatment of acute spinal cord injuries has been identified by researchers. According to this research, conducted on mice, the administration of a drug that prevents loss of myelin -- the insulating sheath around nerve fibers that allows signals to be transmitted -- increases the mobility of the mice after an injury.

New variant of streptococcal bacteria causing severe infections Posted: 15 Jul 2015 06:08 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new variant of streptococcal bacteria that has contributed to a rise in disease cases in the UK over the last 17 years.

Pneumonia investment doesn't match mortality burden Posted: 15 Jul 2015 06:08 AM PDT UK investment in pneumonia research is lacking when compared to spending on influenza and tuberculosis, according to a new study. By calculating the amount spent on researching respiratory infections and their mortality rates, the study authors were able to assess UK public and charitable sector investment against the global burden of the diseases.

Low cost interventions can improve patient and staff safety in mental health wards Posted: 15 Jul 2015 06:08 AM PDT A recent study reveals a set of ten low-cost interventions that can increase safety on psychiatric wards. This Safewards Model reduces aggression, self-harm and other risky behaviors by 15% and reduces coercive control, such as restraint, by 24%.

A new strategy against spinal cord injuries Posted: 15 Jul 2015 06:08 AM PDT Patients, doctors and researchers look with great expectations to epidural electrostimulation, a medical technique that could alleviate the condition of subjects affected by paralysis due to spinal cord injury. Although still relatively rudimentary, the technique is constantly being improved thanks to research. A group of scientists propose a new methodological approach based on distributing the stimulation and modulating the frequency of electrical impulses, which has provided good results in vitro.

Vaginal douches may expose women to harmful phthalate chemicals Posted: 15 Jul 2015 06:06 AM PDT Women who use feminine care products called douches may increase their exposure to harmful chemicals called phthalates -- and black women may be at particularly high risk due to frequent use, according to a new study.

Gene therapy gives long-term protection to photoreceptor cells Posted: 15 Jul 2015 06:06 AM PDT Gene therapy can give life-long protection to the light-sensitive photoreceptor cells responsible for color vision in a mouse model of the most common inherited eye disorder, research has demonstrated. Results show that the preserved cells were able to drive visually-guided behavior, even in later stages of the condition and despite becoming less sensitive to light.

Breast cancer survivors gain weight at a higher rate than their cancer-free peers Posted: 15 Jul 2015 06:05 AM PDT Breast cancer survivors with a family history of the disease, including those who carry BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, gained more weight over the course of four years than cancer-free women -- especially if they were treated with chemotherapy, according to a prospective study.

You are subscribed to email updates from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States