ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• New drug combination treats hepatitis C patients also infected with HIV
• New treatment avenue to prevent serious retinal detachment
• Choosing Wisely in newborn medicine: Improving health outcomes, reducing costs
• Targeting bacteria causing ulcers may prevent stomach cancer
• In pursuit of precision medicine for PTSD
• Cellphones seen as change agents for health among young, poor, urban women in need of care
• Specific protein as missing link for earliest known change in Alzheimer's pathology
• Manipulating molecule in the brain improves stress response, new target for depression treatment
• Diabetes drug may protect against Parkinson's disease
• Nursing, medical students learn teamwork with virtual teammates
• Early antiretroviral therapy prevents non-AIDS outcomes in HIV-infected people, study concludes
• Questionnaire beats blood test in identifying at-risk drinking among ER patients
• Applying New Jersey population traits to Louisiana reverses colorectal cancer trends
• Evolution, not just mutation, drives development of cancer
• New treatment for severe depression with far fewer side effects
• Acupuncture impacts same biologic pathways in rats that pain drugs target in humans
• Tracing the evolution of a drug-resistant pathogen
• Sound waves gently cull circulating tumor cells from blood samples
• Comprehensive global prevention can end HIV/AIDS pandemic, experts say
• Blood vessels can actually get better with age
• Bust up big kidney stones with tamsulosin
• Poor diabetes control found in older Americans
• Buyer beware: dental implants prone to fracture
• Antibiotic use and decrease in INR levels among patients taking vitamin K antagonists
• Adjuvants improve immune response to H7N9 flu vaccine
• Examination of use of diabetes drug pioglitazone and risk of bladder cancer
• The earlier the better: bystanders save lives with CPR for cardiac arrest
• Medical odyssey of an undiagnosed child
• First synthesis of molecules that cause rapid cell death in cancer
• Neighborhood revitalization motivated exercise
• iPSCs show promise for kidney treatment
• New mussel-inspired surgical protein glue: Close wounds, open medical possibilities
• One night of sleep loss can alter clock genes in your tissues
• Sweet revenge against superbugs
• Elderberry benefits air travelers
• Foods with added phosphate cause spike in blood, even in people with healthy kidneys
• Virus-like particle vaccine protects mice from many flu strains
• Common chemicals may act together to increase cancer risk, study finds
• Fluorescent material reveals how cells grow
• Slowness as organization principle in the brain
• Altering RNA helicases in roundworms doubles their lifespan: similar technique could be used on human cells, experts say
• Transgender youth have typical hormone levels
• Juvenile inmates have more mental health hospitalizations, study finds
• Former professional rugby players have greater cervical spine degeneration
• Stem cell therapy shows promise in small clinical trial for rare lung disease
• Healthcare providers a major contributor to problem of antibiotic overuse
• African-Americans face twice the rate of sudden cardiac arrest, compared to Caucasians
• Mom's weight during first pregnancy may impact second child
• Genomic fingerprint may predict aggressive prostate cancer in African Americans
• Alefacept preserves beta cell function in some new-onset type 1 diabetes patients out to two years
• Uncovering the secrets of immune system invaders

New drug combination treats hepatitis C patients also infected with HIV Posted: 21 Jul 2015 04:42 PM PDT A new combination of drugs that effectively treats hepatitis C (HCV) patients co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) has been discovered by researchers who report that the novel treatment has a 97 percent success rate in co-infected patients .

New treatment avenue to prevent serious retinal detachment Posted: 21 Jul 2015 04:40 PM PDT Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision loss in older individuals. AMD and other serious chronic eye problems that affect younger individuals result when fluid accumulates abnormally under or within the retina. A new study shows for the first time that the release of substances from mast cells may be a causal factor in this type of eye pathology, and inhibitors of this release may offer new ways to treat serous retinal detachment.

Choosing Wisely in newborn medicine: Improving health outcomes, reducing costs Posted: 21 Jul 2015 04:39 PM PDT Advances in technology have spurred better outcomes for infants treated in neonatal intensive care units, but parents and physicians need to work together to avoid unnecessary and potentially harmful tests and treatments, according to new Choosing Wisely recommendation.

Targeting bacteria causing ulcers may prevent stomach cancer Posted: 21 Jul 2015 04:38 PM PDT Eliminating Helicobacter pylori bacterium -- the main cause of stomach ulcers - with a short course of therapy of two commonly used medicines may help to reduce the risk of gastric cancer, researchers suggest.

In pursuit of precision medicine for PTSD Posted: 21 Jul 2015 01:25 PM PDT Brain scans of war veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder have led researchers to an area of the prefrontal cortex that appears to be a good predictor of response to treatment with SSRIs -- the first-line drug treatment for PTSD.

Cellphones seen as change agents for health among young, poor, urban women in need of care Posted: 21 Jul 2015 12:08 PM PDT In a survey of a diverse group of almost 250 young, low-income, inner-city pregnant and postpartum women, researchers have learned that more than 90 percent use smartphones or regular cellphones to give and get information.

Specific protein as missing link for earliest known change in Alzheimer's pathology Posted: 21 Jul 2015 12:02 PM PDT A recent study implicates a new culprit in Alzheimer's disease development. The research reveals that a precursor of an amyloid beta peptide acts at the earliest stage of Alzheimer's to initiate a range of abnormalities leading to the loss of groups of neurons critical for memory formation.

Manipulating molecule in the brain improves stress response, new target for depression treatment Posted: 21 Jul 2015 12:02 PM PDT Increasing the levels of a signaling molecule found in the brain can positively alter response to stress, revealing a potential new therapeutic target for treatment of depression, researchers report.

Diabetes drug may protect against Parkinson's disease Posted: 21 Jul 2015 12:02 PM PDT Diabetes patients taking glitazone antidiabetes drugs had a 28 percent lower incidence of Parkinson's disease than people taking other antidiabetic treatments, according to new research led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Nursing, medical students learn teamwork with virtual teammates Posted: 21 Jul 2015 10:49 AM PDT A virtual interprofessional education curriculum has been developed in which students were paired with a virtual team member to learn with, from, and about each other to improve collaboration and the delivery of care.

Early antiretroviral therapy prevents non-AIDS outcomes in HIV-infected people, study concludes Posted: 21 Jul 2015 10:49 AM PDT Starting antiretroviral therapy early not only prevents serious AIDS-related diseases, but also prevents the onset of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other non-AIDS-related diseases in HIV-infected people, according to a new analysis of data. This is the first large-scale randomized clinical trial to establish that earlier antiretroviral treatment benefits all HIV-infected individuals. Rates of both serious AIDS-related events and serious non-AIDS-related events were significantly reduced with early therapy.

Questionnaire beats blood test in identifying at-risk drinking among ER patients Posted: 21 Jul 2015 10:49 AM PDT Emergency room physicians treating patients with alcohol-related trauma can better identify those at risk of future drinking-related trauma with a 10-point questionnaire rather than the standard blood alcohol content test, according to a study.

Applying New Jersey population traits to Louisiana reverses colorectal cancer trends Posted: 21 Jul 2015 10:48 AM PDT If Louisiana had the same risk factors, screening uptake, and survival rates as New Jersey, incidence and mortality from the disease would drop to levels below that of New Jersey.

Evolution, not just mutation, drives development of cancer Posted: 21 Jul 2015 10:48 AM PDT A new article argues against the commonly held 'accumulation of mutations' model of oncogenesis in favor of a model that depends on evolutionary pressures acting on populations of cells.

New treatment for severe depression with far fewer side effects Posted: 21 Jul 2015 10:48 AM PDT Electroconvulsive therapy remains one of the most effective treatments for severe depression, but new research shows ultra-brief pulse stimulation is almost as effective as standard ECT, with far fewer cognitive side effects.

Acupuncture impacts same biologic pathways in rats that pain drugs target in humans Posted: 21 Jul 2015 10:48 AM PDT In animal models, acupuncture appears to impact the same biologic pathways ramped up by pain and stress, analogous to what drugs do in humans. The researchers say their animal study provides the strongest evidence to date on the mechanism of this ancient Chinese therapy in chronic stress.

Tracing the evolution of a drug-resistant pathogen Posted: 21 Jul 2015 09:50 AM PDT Researchers are studying a antibiotic-resistant pathogen to learn how to better fight it. They have identified several mechanisms bacteria use to share genes and expand their antibiotic resistance.

Sound waves gently cull circulating tumor cells from blood samples Posted: 21 Jul 2015 09:50 AM PDT The capture and analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is a valuable tool for cancer treatment decisions and therapy monitoring. Researchers are using sound waves to isolate CTCs without physical contact or damage to the cells, assuring that their original characteristics are maintained. The contact-free nature of the method offers the potential for more precise cancer treatment and monitoring.

Comprehensive global prevention can end HIV/AIDS pandemic, experts say Posted: 21 Jul 2015 09:46 AM PDT Although much progress has been made in combating the global HIV/AIDS pandemic, to halt new infections and end the pandemic, a combination of non-vaccine and vaccine prevention modalities will be needed.

Blood vessels can actually get better with age Posted: 21 Jul 2015 09:46 AM PDT Oxidative stress has been linked to cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases including diabetes, hypertension and age-related cancers. However, researchers recently found that aging actually offered significant protection against oxidative stress. These findings suggest that aging may trigger an adaptive response to counteract the effects of oxidative stress on blood vessels.

Bust up big kidney stones with tamsulosin Posted: 21 Jul 2015 09:44 AM PDT Tamsulosin works no better than placebo on small kidney stones, but does improve passage of more large kidney stones than placebo does, a new study concludes. 83.3 percent of patients treated with tamsulosin whose kidney stones measured between 5 and 10 millimeters in length passed their stones, compared to only 61 percent of those who were treated with placebo.

Poor diabetes control found in older Americans Posted: 21 Jul 2015 08:24 AM PDT Only one in three older Americans has their diabetes under control as measured by guidelines set by the American Diabetes Association, new research suggests. Some argue that ADA guidelines may be too stringent for some older adults. But even using less stringent measures, the researchers found, there are still many older Americans whose diabetes is not well managed, a condition that can lead to multiple long-term health problems ranging from kidney disease to blindness.

Buyer beware: dental implants prone to fracture Posted: 21 Jul 2015 08:24 AM PDT An examination of 100 discarded dental implants under a scanning electron microscope found that more than 60 percent of them had cracks and other flaws that made them prone to fracturing. More than 3 million people in the U.S. alone have dental implants.

Antibiotic use and decrease in INR levels among patients taking vitamin K antagonists Posted: 21 Jul 2015 08:14 AM PDT Researchers have found an association between treatment with the antibiotic dicloxacillin and a decrease in international normalized ratio (INR; a measure of blood coagulation) levels among patients taking the vitamin K antagonists warfarin or phenprocoumon, according to a new study.

Adjuvants improve immune response to H7N9 flu vaccine Posted: 21 Jul 2015 08:14 AM PDT In a phase 2 trial that included nearly 1,000 adults, the AS03 and MF59 adjuvants (a component that improves immune response of inactivated influenza vaccines) increased the immune responses to two doses of an inactivated H7N9 influenza vaccine, with AS03-adjuvanted formulations inducing the highest amount of antibody response, according to a new study.

Examination of use of diabetes drug pioglitazone and risk of bladder cancer Posted: 21 Jul 2015 08:14 AM PDT Although some previous studies have suggested an increased risk of bladder cancer with use of the diabetes drug pioglitazone, analyses that included nearly 200,000 patients found no statistically significant increased risk, however a small increased risk could not be excluded, according to a new study.

The earlier the better: bystanders save lives with CPR for cardiac arrest Posted: 21 Jul 2015 08:14 AM PDT Sudden cardiac arrest kills an estimated 200,000 people a year in the United States, but many of those lives could be saved if ordinary bystanders simply performed CPR, a new study shows. The early application of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by an average person nearby, combined with defibrillation by firefighters or police before the arrival of emergency medical services (EMS), was the one intervention that substantially increased survival from cardiac arrest, according to new findings.

Medical odyssey of an undiagnosed child Posted: 21 Jul 2015 08:12 AM PDT For parents of children with ADNP-related autism syndrome, the mystery surrounding their infants' suffering can be even more agonizing than the syndrome itself, which has no known cure. Recent research is easing some of that agony.

First synthesis of molecules that cause rapid cell death in cancer Posted: 21 Jul 2015 08:12 AM PDT The first total syntheses of certain compounds involved in excessive cell death in leukemia has been carried out by researchers. The researchers completed the total syntheses of several members of the family of dimeric nuphar alkaloids, which are compounds previously isolated from the yellow pond lily.

Neighborhood revitalization motivated exercise Posted: 21 Jul 2015 08:12 AM PDT A community revitalization effort in a struggling neighborhood of Birmingham, Ala., succeeded in promoting healthy physical activity. A new study also documents the basis of that change in the hopes and concerns of the neighborhood's residents.

iPSCs show promise for kidney treatment Posted: 21 Jul 2015 08:12 AM PDT Renal progenitor cells derived from human iPS cells were shown to have therapeutic effects when transplanted into acute kidney injury model mice. The transplants resulted in a significant reduction of fibrosis, suggesting that they may have preventative measures against chronic kidney disease. The positive effects were attributed to the secretion of renoprotective factors. Using this iPS cell model to identify these factors could lead to new drug candidates.

New mussel-inspired surgical protein glue: Close wounds, open medical possibilities Posted: 21 Jul 2015 08:12 AM PDT Inspired by nature's wonders, scientists have developed new light-activated adhesive hydrogel that is mussel protein-based. The innovative surgical protein glue, called LAMBA, not only closes an open wound on a wet bleeding site within less than 60 seconds but also effectively facilitates the healing process without inflammation or a scar.

One night of sleep loss can alter clock genes in your tissues Posted: 21 Jul 2015 07:27 AM PDT Genes that control the biological clocks in cells throughout the body are altered after losing a single night of sleep, researchers report. For the study the researchers studied 15 healthy normal-weight men who on two separate occasions came to the lab for almost 2-night long stays. During the second night the participants slept as usual (over 8 hours) in one of the two sessions, while they were kept awake in the other of these sessions, but in random order.

Sweet revenge against superbugs Posted: 21 Jul 2015 07:27 AM PDT A special type of synthetic sugar could be the latest weapon in the fight against superbugs. A team of scientists has discovered a potential new class of antibiotics inspired by sugar molecules produced by bacteria. New antibiotics to which bacteria are unlikely to develop resistance are urgently needed to combat the rise of superbugs -- drug resistant bacteria.

Elderberry benefits air travelers Posted: 21 Jul 2015 07:27 AM PDT Intercontinental air travel can be stressful and affect a passenger's physical and psychological wellbeing. Whilst jet lag and fatigue remain the best known problems, holidaymakers also often experience upper respiratory symptoms. The negative health effects of international air travel are well documented but now it seems that the common elderberry can provide some relief.

Foods with added phosphate cause spike in blood, even in people with healthy kidneys Posted: 21 Jul 2015 07:27 AM PDT Phosphates artificially added to dairy and cereal products appear to cause bigger spikes in blood phosphorus levels than naturally occurring phosphates, potentially putting harmful stress on kidneys. Too much dietary phosphate stiffens blood vessels, enlarges the heart and is bad for bones, but a new study suggests it matters where the phosphates come from.

Virus-like particle vaccine protects mice from many flu strains Posted: 21 Jul 2015 07:27 AM PDT Each year, scientists create an influenza (flu) vaccine that protects against a few specific influenza strains that researchers predict are going to be the most common during that year. Now, a new study shows that scientists may be able to create a 'universal' vaccine that can provide broad protection against numerous influenza strains, including those that could cause future pandemics.

Common chemicals may act together to increase cancer risk, study finds Posted: 21 Jul 2015 06:17 AM PDT Common environmental chemicals assumed to be safe at low doses may act separately or together to disrupt human tissues in ways that eventually lead to cancer, a task force reports.

Fluorescent material reveals how cells grow Posted: 21 Jul 2015 05:16 AM PDT Fiber from a semiconducting polymer, developed for solar cells, is an excellent support material for the growth of new human tissue. Researchers have shown that the fiber glows, which makes it possible to follow the growth of the cells inside living tissue.

Slowness as organization principle in the brain Posted: 21 Jul 2015 05:16 AM PDT The brain is so complex that its structure cannot be completely determined by genetics. Neuroscientists attempt to figure out which mechanisms nerve cells use to organize themselves. They have suggested that slowness may be the decisive factor.

Altering RNA helicases in roundworms doubles their lifespan: similar technique could be used on human cells, experts say Posted: 21 Jul 2015 05:16 AM PDT The things we do to extend our lives -- quitting smoking, cutting back on carbs, taking up jogging -- all have some impact on our longevity, if only just a little. But no matter how hard we work towards chasing the dream of forever staying fit and youthful, our efforts all end the same way and we must come to terms with the fact that we are mortal beings living on a finite timeline. There is nothing we can do to stop the aging process, and most things people do only serve to delay the inevitable: we can't stop death.

Transgender youth have typical hormone levels Posted: 21 Jul 2015 05:15 AM PDT Researchers who provide care for the largest number of trans youth in the US have enrolled 101 patients in a study to determine the safety and efficacy of treatment that helps patients bring their bodies into closer alignment with their gender of identity.

Juvenile inmates have more mental health hospitalizations, study finds Posted: 21 Jul 2015 05:15 AM PDT Juvenile inmates are much more likely to be hospitalized for mental health problems than children and teenagers who are not incarcerated, according to a new study.

Former professional rugby players have greater cervical spine degeneration Posted: 21 Jul 2015 05:15 AM PDT Clinical examinations and magnetic resonance imaging studies have determined whether retired professional rugby players experience more serious symptoms of cervical spine degeneration than people in the general population. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the largest study of its kind covering any professional contact sport, and it confirms greater cervical spine degeneration in former rugby players.

Stem cell therapy shows promise in small clinical trial for rare lung disease Posted: 20 Jul 2015 02:56 PM PDT Promising results are coming out of the first clinical trial in the world of a genetically-enhanced stem cell therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension. This rare and deadly disease mainly affects young women, and is characterized by very high pressure in the arteries supplying blood to the lungs. The trial was designed to test the feasibility and side effects of the experimental treatment in seven patients.

Healthcare providers a major contributor to problem of antibiotic overuse Posted: 20 Jul 2015 02:56 PM PDT Differences in the routines of individual providers drives variation in antibiotic prescribing, more than differences in patient characteristics, standards of practice at different hospitals, or clinical settings (emergency department, primary care, urgent care). The report is an important step toward understanding the problem of antibiotic overuse, a major public health concern given the rise in antibiotic-resistant 'superbugs.'

African-Americans face twice the rate of sudden cardiac arrest, compared to Caucasians Posted: 20 Jul 2015 02:56 PM PDT Compared to Caucasians, African-Americans face twice the rate of sudden cardiac arrest, according to a new study. The study came out of the Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study, a comprehensive, 16-hospital, multiyear assessment of cardiac deaths in the 1 million population Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area.

Mom's weight during first pregnancy may impact second child Posted: 20 Jul 2015 01:19 PM PDT Researchers showed a relationship between mom's weight during her first uncomplicated pregnancy and problems with subsequent babies. At the conclusion of their study, the researchers recommended health professionals counsel women who are in their child-bearing years on the potential problems an unhealthy weight could pose for pregnant mothers and babies.

Genomic fingerprint may predict aggressive prostate cancer in African Americans Posted: 20 Jul 2015 01:19 PM PDT A set of genes could help stratify African American men in need of more aggressive treatment for prostate cancer. New research shows that African American men may have a distinctly different type of prostate cancer than European American men, according to new genomic fingerprinting results.

Alefacept preserves beta cell function in some new-onset type 1 diabetes patients out to two years Posted: 20 Jul 2015 01:19 PM PDT Individuals with new-onset type 1 diabetes who took two courses of alefacept (Amevive®, Astellas Pharma Inc.) soon after diagnosis show preserved beta cell function after two years compared to those who received a placebo.

Uncovering the secrets of immune system invaders Posted: 20 Jul 2015 12:42 PM PDT Some bacteria and viruses take advantage of the way our immune system works to infect us. Researchers now describe some of the trickery used by mycobacteria.

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