ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Psychologists develop first adult self-assessment for repetitive behaviours in autism
• Scientists identify key genetic factor that keeps moles from turning into melanoma
• Enthusiasm for personalized medicine is premature, prominent public health scholars argue
• Meniscal transplant in patients age 50 and under relieves pain, delays additional surgery
• Romantic kissing is not the norm in most cultures
• Reserach team gets the beat, develops method of quantifying ciliary movement
• Computer algorithm can forecast patients' deadly sepsis
• Powerful molecular promoter of colon cancers
• New medical research reporting requirements may lead to fewer positive outcomes
• Surveys reveal trends in global consumption of sugary beverages, fruit juices and milk
• Stroke therapy put to the test in preclinical randomized controlled trial
• Molecular cell cycle clock discovered that controls stem cell potency
• Scientists solve structure of important protein for tumor growth
• Source of liver stem cells identified
• Endoscopes still contaminated after cleaning, study shows
• Cancer treatment models get real
• Online tool enables public to track 'tip-of-the tongue' states, speech errors
• Long-term followup of type of bariatric surgery finds regain of weight, decrease in diabetes remission
• Gastric bypass surgery lowers women's alcohol tolerance
• Picking up the phone to improve mental health in seniors
• How makerspaces can be accessible to people with disabilities
• Role of intra-abdominal fat in IBD uncovered
• State policies influence vaccination, disease outbreak rates
• Consuming highly refined carbohydrates increases risk of depression
• Cancer markers may be present early during human development
• High salt intake could be a risk factor for multiple sclerosis
• People with type 2 diabetes benefit from blood glucose self-monitoring, study shows
• Storytelling skills support early literacy for African American children
• Viruses thrive in big families, in sickness and in health
• When new parents become unhappy, brothers and sisters become less likely
• How white blood cells limit muscle regeneration
• Combined impact of smoking, early menopause on mortality
• Could body posture during sleep affect how your brain clears waste?
• Oral contraceptives have prevented about 200,000 cases of endometrial cancer in the last decade
• England still struggling to close the gap in cancer survival
• Regular consumption of spicy foods linked to lower risk of early death
• Opioid use and sexual violence among drug-using young adults in NYC
• Molecular tinkering doubles cancer drug's efficacy

Psychologists develop first adult self-assessment for repetitive behaviours in autism Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:18 PM PDT The first self-assessment test designed to help clinicians diagnose autism in adults has been developed by a team of psychologists. These behaviors include common habits and routines, such as lining up objects or arranging them in patterns, fiddling obsessively with objects, or insisting that aspects of a daily routine remain exactly the same.

Scientists identify key genetic factor that keeps moles from turning into melanoma Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:17 PM PDT Moles are benign tumors found on the skin of almost every adult. Scientists have known for years that a mutation in the BRAF gene makes them start growing, but until now haven't understood why they stop. Now, researchers have identified a major genetic factor that keeps moles in their usual non-cancerous, no-growth state.

Enthusiasm for personalized medicine is premature, prominent public health scholars argue Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:17 PM PDT The increasing national focus on personalized or 'precision' medicine is misguided, distracting from broader investments to reduce health inequities and address the social factors that affect population health, two leading public health scholars argue. While investments in precision medicine may ultimately 'open new vistas of science,' enthusiasm about the promise of this research is premature, they say.

Meniscal transplant in patients age 50 and under relieves pain, delays additional surgery Posted: 05 Aug 2015 12:57 PM PDT Most patients younger than age 50 with a torn or severely damaged meniscus experienced reduced pain and improved knee function following transplant surgery, according to a study. However, many patients required additional surgery within 10 years.

Romantic kissing is not the norm in most cultures Posted: 05 Aug 2015 12:57 PM PDT For generations, passionate kisses immortalized in movies, songs and the arts have served as a thermometer of romantic affection. But current research has found that not only is romantic kissing not the norm in most cultures, some find it uncomfortable and even flat-out repulsive.

Reserach team gets the beat, develops method of quantifying ciliary movement Posted: 05 Aug 2015 12:57 PM PDT Researchers have figured out how to objectively quantify the beating action of cilia, the tiny, hair-like projections on cells that line nasal passages, the lungs and almost every other body tissue, according to a study. Such digital signatures could help doctors more quickly and accurately diagnose ciliary motion defects.

Computer algorithm can forecast patients' deadly sepsis Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:54 AM PDT A new computer-based method correctly predicts septic shock in 85 percent of cases, without increasing the false positive rate from screening methods that are common now.

Powerful molecular promoter of colon cancers Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:48 AM PDT Cancer researchers already know of some oncogenes and other factors that promote the development of colon cancers, but they don't yet have the full picture of how these cancers originate and spread. Now researchers have illuminated another powerful factor in this process, by unraveling an additional pathway for the origin of colon cancer.

New medical research reporting requirements may lead to fewer positive outcomes Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:48 AM PDT The adoption of new transparent reporting standards may have contributed to a significant reduction in the percentage of studies reporting positive research findings among large-budget clinical trials.

Surveys reveal trends in global consumption of sugary beverages, fruit juices and milk Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:48 AM PDT A team led by researchers has estimated global intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages, fruit juices, and milk across 187 countries. Variation was identified by age, sex and region, with implications for national and global nutrition policies.

Stroke therapy put to the test in preclinical randomized controlled trial Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:48 AM PDT In the midst of what some call a 'crisis' in the ability to replicate results of laboratory studies, a European consortium has conducted a preclinical randomized controlled trial (pRCT) -- which mimics the design and rigorous standards of a clinical trial but is done in animals, and provides one more view of the drug's efficacy before it is used in the clinical trial setting.

Molecular cell cycle clock discovered that controls stem cell potency Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:13 AM PDT Scientists have, for the first time, found further evidence of how the differentiation of pluripotent cells is tied to and controlled by the cell cycle clock. This deeper understanding of how cells become differentiated is extremely important when considering therapeutic potentials.

Scientists solve structure of important protein for tumor growth Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:12 AM PDT Scientists have used a highly specialized X-ray crystallography technique to solve the protein structure of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), important regulators of a tumor's response to low oxygen (hyopoxia).

Source of liver stem cells identified Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:02 AM PDT Scientists have identified stem cells in the liver that give rise to functional liver cells. The work solves a long-standing mystery about the origin of new cells in the liver, which must constantly be replenished as cells die off, even in a healthy organ.

Endoscopes still contaminated after cleaning, study shows Posted: 05 Aug 2015 09:26 AM PDT Potentially harmful bacteria can survive on endoscopes used to examine the interior of the digestive tract, despite a multi-step cleaning and disinfecting process, according to a study.

Cancer treatment models get real Posted: 05 Aug 2015 09:26 AM PDT A custom flow perfusion bioreactor has been used by researchers to show the value of testing cancer samples in realistic environments. By placing cancer cells in a three-dimensional scaffold and subjecting them to the forces that push, pull and continually flow through the body, the researchers are better able to test the efficiency of cancer-fighting drugs.

Online tool enables public to track 'tip-of-the tongue' states, speech errors Posted: 05 Aug 2015 09:26 AM PDT Researchers have produced a web-based tool allowing everyday people to engage in 'citizen science' by recording speech errors, something that is difficult to capture in the lab setting.

Long-term followup of type of bariatric surgery finds regain of weight, decrease in diabetes remission Posted: 05 Aug 2015 09:18 AM PDT While undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy induced weight loss and improvements in obesity-related disorders, long-term followup shows significant weight regain and a decrease in remission rates of diabetes and, to a lesser extent, other obesity-related disorders over time, according to a study.

Gastric bypass surgery lowers women's alcohol tolerance Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:11 AM PDT Women who have gastric bypass surgery to lose weight should keep a close eye on their alcohol consumption, according to a study. The researchers found that changes in how alcohol is metabolized after surgery can speed its delivery into the bloodstream, resulting in earlier and higher peaks in blood-alcohol levels.

Picking up the phone to improve mental health in seniors Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:11 AM PDT Therapy provided via telephone for older adults in rural areas is effective in treating anxiety disorder, a new study has demonstrated. Experts write that the health-care system lacks the capacity to help the growing elderly population and that relying too heavily on sedative medications isn't the answer.

How makerspaces can be accessible to people with disabilities Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:11 AM PDT Researchers have released new guidelines to make MakerSpaces more accessible to people with disabilities, as these communal spaces with soldering irons, 3-D printers, sewing machines and other "making" tools continue to pop up nationwide.

Role of intra-abdominal fat in IBD uncovered Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:10 AM PDT Intra-abdominal fat cells may contribute to the development and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a study.

State policies influence vaccination, disease outbreak rates Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:03 AM PDT Lax state vaccination laws contribute to lower immunization rates and increased outbreaks of preventable diseases—like whooping cough and measles—according to a new study.

Consuming highly refined carbohydrates increases risk of depression Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:03 AM PDT A diet high in refined carbohydrates may lead to an increased risk for new-onset depression in postmenopausal women, according to a study. The study looked at the dietary glycemic index, glycemic load, types of carbohydrates consumed, and depression in data from more than 70,000 postmenopausal women who participated in the National Institutes of Health's Women's Health Initiative Observational Study between 1994 and 1998.

Cancer markers may be present early during human development Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:02 AM PDT Researchers have uncovered a link between the genomes of cells originating in the neural crest and development of tumors -- a discovery that could lead to new ways to diagnose and treat cancer.

High salt intake could be a risk factor for multiple sclerosis Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:02 AM PDT Here's another reason to put the salt shaker down: New research involving mice shows that diets high in sodium may be a novel risk factor in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) by influencing immune cells that cause the disease.

People with type 2 diabetes benefit from blood glucose self-monitoring, study shows Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:58 AM PDT People with type 2 diabetes can lower their blood sugar if they follow a personalized blood glucose monitoring schedule, even if they don't use insulin, according to a new study.

Storytelling skills support early literacy for African American children Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:52 AM PDT Early narrative skills are tied to kindergarten literacy among young African American children, according to new research. The study is the first to demonstrate the connection between African American preschoolers' storytelling abilities and the development of their early reading skills.

Viruses thrive in big families, in sickness and in health Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:52 AM PDT Every child puts a household at increased risk for viral infections. A new study showed that childless households had infections during 3-4 weeks of the year, while families with six children were infected for 45 weeks. But only half who tested positive reported feeling ill. These results can help families and health care providers know when illness should be cause for concern.

When new parents become unhappy, brothers and sisters become less likely Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:52 AM PDT New parents' drop in subjective well-being helps to explain why many remain with one child, even though they desire two. The investigation deals with a taboo subject: the notion that parents often experience a considerable loss of happiness after the birth of a first child. The new study shows that for mothers and fathers in Germany, the drop in life satisfaction during the year following the first birth is even larger than that caused by unemployment, divorce or the death of a partner.

How white blood cells limit muscle regeneration Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:52 AM PDT Researchers have identified a protein produced by white blood cells that puts the brakes on muscle repair after injury in mice. The findings point to a target for potential treatments aimed at enhancing muscle regeneration.

Combined impact of smoking, early menopause on mortality Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:52 AM PDT Women may now have yet another reason to quit smoking given the results of a new study. The Swedish study involving 25,474 women is the first to quantify the combined effects of smoking and age at menopause on overall mortality in terms of survival time by investigating the role of smoking as a possible effect modifier.

Could body posture during sleep affect how your brain clears waste? Posted: 04 Aug 2015 05:34 PM PDT Sleeping in the side position, as compared to on one's back or stomach, may more effectively remove brain waste and prove to be an important practice to help reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases, new research suggests.

Oral contraceptives have prevented about 200,000 cases of endometrial cancer in the last decade Posted: 04 Aug 2015 05:32 PM PDT Use of oral contraceptives (usually referred to as "the pill"), even for just a few years, gives substantial long-term protection against endometrial (womb) cancer, and the longer the pill is used the greater the reduction in risk, according to a detailed re-analysis of all the available evidence.

England still struggling to close the gap in cancer survival Posted: 04 Aug 2015 05:26 PM PDT Cancer survival in England remains lower than countries with similar healthcare systems, according to a new study. The research compared survival for colon, breast, lung, ovarian, rectal and stomach cancers in England, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Sweden between 1995 and 2009, and survival trends in England up to 2012.

Regular consumption of spicy foods linked to lower risk of early death Posted: 04 Aug 2015 05:26 PM PDT Eating spicy food more frequently as part of a daily diet is associated with a lower risk of death, suggests a new study. The association was also found for deaths from certain conditions such as cancer, and ischemic heart and respiratory diseases.

Opioid use and sexual violence among drug-using young adults in NYC Posted: 04 Aug 2015 11:34 AM PDT New research seeks to identify the potential role of drug use in increasing risk of sexual violence among young adult opioid users in New York City, and to identify the specific social and contextual factors surrounding this group's experiences of sexual violence.

Molecular tinkering doubles cancer drug's efficacy Posted: 04 Aug 2015 11:32 AM PDT Researchers have molecularly repackaged a widely used cancer drug called paclitaxel, more than doubling its effectiveness at destroying tumors than the current gold-standard pharmaceutical, Abraxane.

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