ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Scientists to bypass brain damage by re-encoding memories
• Sleep may strengthen long-term memories in the immune system
• Primary care-based addiction treatment lowers substance dependence in people with HIV
• Tools for illuminating brain function make their own light
• Discovery provides insight into life-threatening respiratory distress in newborns
• Mobile robots could help the elderly live fuller lives, experts say
• More support needed to make shopping easier for people with intellectual disabilities
• Researchers disguise drugs as platelets to target cancer
• Multicenter study examines safety of medical cannabis in treatment of chronic pain
• Study sheds light on powerful process that turns food into energy
• Wearable electronic health patches may now be cheaper, easier to make
• How the retina marches to the beat of its own drum
• Researchers link spatial neglect after stroke with poor outcomes
• Five genetic regions implicated in cystic fibrosis severity
• Racial, ethnic differences found in fetal growth
• Climate change negatively affects birth weight, study finds
• Wrangling proteins gone wild
• Low-cost blood test good predictor of increased bleeding risk in pediatric trauma patients
• New methods for collecting forensic DNA to combat sexual violence in conflict
• New research about shopping addiction
• Hopes of improved brain implants
• Alternative therapies to prevent malaria in pregnancy
• Disruption of brain-blood barrier might influence progression of Alzheimer’s
• How more women with earlier Caesarean sections can give birth vaginally next time
• Targeted cancer treatment: New dual strategy halts cell division
• Preventing cerebral palsy in preterm infants through dermal monitoring
• Doctors warn hikers, other endurance athletes, and medical personnel about the risks of water intoxication
• Portable, rapid DNA test can detect Ebola, other pathogens
• Novel tool can identify COPD
• HIV patients should be included in early clinical trials of anti-TB drugs
• Air pollution, traffic linked to deaths, organ rejection in lung transplant patients
• First classification of severe asthma
• Biomarkers in maternal blood can identify pregnant women with lupus at low risk for adverse outcomes
• Meningitis model shows infection's sci-fi-worthy creep into the brain
• Pediatric injuries from toppled TV sets: Risk factors, strategies for prevention
• MRI technique could reduce need for breast biopsies
• Sound wave technology studied to help diagnose concussion
• Decision aids help patients with depression feel better about medication choices
• Finding about how water gets into neurons provides new treatment targets for deadly brain swelling
• Scientists identify promising drug candidate to treat chronic itch, avoid side effects
• Word 'breakthrough' dramatically affects perceptions of a new drug's effectiveness
• Best way to prepare fat cells for grafting? Jury's still out
• Natural light switch: Scientists identify, map the protein behind a light-sensing mechanism
• New guideline aims to help physicians manage deep vein blood clots in patients
• Universal TB screening of immigrants to Canada costly, inefficient
• Childhood stress impacts adult health
• New research exposes health risks of fructose, sugary drinks
• Early intervention improves preschoolers' heart healthy habits
• Unsaturated fats, high-quality carbs lower risk of heart disease

Scientists to bypass brain damage by re-encoding memories Posted: 29 Sep 2015 11:25 AM PDT Researchers are testing a prosthesis that translates short-term memories into longer-term ones, with the potential to bypass damaged portions of the brain.

Sleep may strengthen long-term memories in the immune system Posted: 29 Sep 2015 11:20 AM PDT More than a century ago, scientists demonstrated that sleep supports the retention of memories of facts and events. Later studies have shown that slow-wave sleep, often referred to as deep sleep, is important for transforming fragile, recently formed memories into stable, long-term memories. Now, in a new article, researchers propose that deep sleep may also strengthen immunological memories of previously encountered pathogens.

Primary care-based addiction treatment lowers substance dependence in people with HIV Posted: 29 Sep 2015 09:54 AM PDT A program that integrates addiction treatment into primary care for patients with or at risk for HIV, has been shown to lower patients' substance dependence and encourage their engagement in treatment.

Tools for illuminating brain function make their own light Posted: 29 Sep 2015 09:54 AM PDT Researchers have developed tools that could allow neuroscientists to put aside the fiber optic cable, and use a glowing protein from coral as the light source instead. A variant on the optogenetics technique gives neuroscientists the choice of activating neurons with light or an externally supplied chemical.

Discovery provides insight into life-threatening respiratory distress in newborns Posted: 29 Sep 2015 08:32 AM PDT St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists advance understanding of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, a liver disorder that leaves infants born to affected mothers at risk for severe respiratory distress

Mobile robots could help the elderly live fuller lives, experts say Posted: 29 Sep 2015 08:21 AM PDT Mobile service robots developed by computer scientists could soon be helping elderly people stay independent and active for longer. The project, which includes artificial intelligence and robotics experts, will include a large-scale evaluation where robots will be deployed within the extra-care homes of LACE Housing Association in the UK, to care homes in Greece and to elderly people's own homes in Poland, for one year.

More support needed to make shopping easier for people with intellectual disabilities Posted: 29 Sep 2015 08:21 AM PDT Better support can greatly improve the supermarket shopping experience for people with intellectual (learning) disabilities, a study by an independent self-advocacy group reveals.

Researchers disguise drugs as platelets to target cancer Posted: 29 Sep 2015 08:20 AM PDT Researchers have for the first time developed a technique that coats anticancer drugs in membranes made from a patient's own platelets, allowing the drugs to last longer in the body and attack both primary cancer tumors and the circulating tumor cells that can cause a cancer to metastasize. The work was tested successfully in an animal model.

Multicenter study examines safety of medical cannabis in treatment of chronic pain Posted: 29 Sep 2015 08:20 AM PDT A Canadian research team has completed a national multicenter study looking at the safety of medical cannabis use among patients suffering from chronic pain. They found that patients with chronic pain who used cannabis daily for one year, when carefully monitored, did not have an increase in serious adverse events compared to pain patients who did not use cannabis.

Study sheds light on powerful process that turns food into energy Posted: 29 Sep 2015 08:20 AM PDT The way in which our cells convert food into fuel is shared by almost all living things -- now scientists have discovered a likely reason why this is so widespread. Cells that have more energy can grow and renew faster, giving them -- and the organism to which they belong -- an evolutionary advantage.

Wearable electronic health patches may now be cheaper, easier to make Posted: 29 Sep 2015 08:20 AM PDT A team of researchers has invented a method for producing inexpensive and high-performing wearable patches that can continuously monitor the body's vital signs for human health and performance tracking. The researchers believe their new method is compatible with roll-to-roll manufacturing.

How the retina marches to the beat of its own drum Posted: 29 Sep 2015 08:20 AM PDT New research sheds light on how the retina sets its own biological rhythm using a novel light-sensitive pigment, called neuropsin, found in nerve cells at the back of the eye.

Researchers link spatial neglect after stroke with poor outcomes Posted: 29 Sep 2015 06:27 AM PDT Spatial neglect among inpatients with stroke is common, researchers say. At the conclusion of a recent study, the investigators said that affected patients had a higher risk for falls, longer lengths of stay and lesser likelihood of returning home after discharge.

Five genetic regions implicated in cystic fibrosis severity Posted: 29 Sep 2015 06:27 AM PDT If you have two faulty copies of the CFTR gene, you will have cystic fibrosis. But the severity of your disease will depend partly on many other genes. Now, researchers report that five regions of the human genome are home to the genetic variations that play major roles in disease severity.

Racial, ethnic differences found in fetal growth Posted: 29 Sep 2015 06:27 AM PDT Current standards for ultrasound evaluation of fetal growth may lead to misclassification of up to 15 percent of fetuses of minority mothers as being too small, according to a study.

Climate change negatively affects birth weight, study finds Posted: 29 Sep 2015 06:27 AM PDT From melting glaciers to increasing wildfires, the consequences of climate change and strategies to mitigate such consequences are often a hotly debated topic. A new study adds to the ever-growing list of negative impacts climate change can have on humans--low birth weight.

Wrangling proteins gone wild Posted: 29 Sep 2015 06:27 AM PDT A suite of computer programs designed to scan the misfolded proteins that are responsible for diseases such as Alzheimer's and diabetes looking for weak spots has been developed by researchers. They believe their program should speed up the process of drug discovery for diseases of this kind.

Low-cost blood test good predictor of increased bleeding risk in pediatric trauma patients Posted: 29 Sep 2015 04:06 AM PDT A team of researchers concludes that an admission hematocrit provides a reliable screening test for identifying pediatric patients who are at an increased risk of bleeding after injury.

New methods for collecting forensic DNA to combat sexual violence in conflict Posted: 29 Sep 2015 04:04 AM PDT A new project aims to empower victims and support prosecutions in cases of sexual violence in conflict zones. The project will explore new methods for collecting forensic DNA evidence in cases of sexual violence for use in regions where victims do not have access to medical facilities in order to provide victims with access to justice that may otherwise be unavailable.

New research about shopping addiction Posted: 29 Sep 2015 04:04 AM PDT Addicted to shopping? A group of researchers has developed a new and unique method to measure shopping addiction: The Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale.

Hopes of improved brain implants Posted: 29 Sep 2015 04:04 AM PDT Neurons thrive and grow in a new type of nanowire material developed by researchers. In time, the results might improve both neural and retinal implants, and reduce the risk of them losing their effectiveness over time, which is currently a problem.

Alternative therapies to prevent malaria in pregnancy Posted: 29 Sep 2015 04:04 AM PDT A new drug may be more effective at preventing malaria in pregnant woman, especially where there is resistance to the current treatments, scientists report. Malaria infection during pregnancy is a significant health problem to both the mother and the unborn child. It has been associated with chronic anemia in the mother, and with loss of the pregnancy due to miscarriages or stillbirths and with low birth weight in pregnancies that result in livebirths, which in turn results in an increased risk of infant death.

Disruption of brain-blood barrier might influence progression of Alzheimer’s Posted: 29 Sep 2015 04:02 AM PDT More and more data from preclinical and clinical studies strengthen the hypothesis that immune system-mediated actions contribute to and drive pathogenesis in Alzheimer's disease. New insights suggest that A? indeed induces a strong inflammatory response, thereby destroying an important but often neglected brain barrier, called the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier. Disruption of this blood-CSF barrier disturbs brain homeostasis and might negatively affect disease progression. Strikingly, these effects could be blocked in the presence of a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor.

How more women with earlier Caesarean sections can give birth vaginally next time Posted: 29 Sep 2015 04:02 AM PDT In many countries, caesarean section is routinely used if the woman previously gave birth by caesarean section. Doctors and midwives in countries with a high rate of vaginal births after caesarean sections have for the first time been asked in a study to give their views on how to increase the percentage of vaginal births.

Targeted cancer treatment: New dual strategy halts cell division Posted: 29 Sep 2015 04:02 AM PDT A team of researchers has confirmed in a recent study its new concept for the targeted treatment of ovarian cancer. The concept is intended to better control the development of resistance and improve treatment outcomes. The strategy focuses on halting tumor growth by inhibiting two signal networks instead of just one. The results are extremely promising; the next stage involves the verification of the concept in in vivo studies.

Preventing cerebral palsy in preterm infants through dermal monitoring Posted: 29 Sep 2015 04:02 AM PDT A potential method of screening for jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia), a cause of cerebral palsy and loss of hearing in preterm infants with kyperbilirubinemia, has been proposed using painless dermal monitoring. The research group also determined the correct area of skin to monitor for accurate results. This study has expanded the possibilities for accurate methods of monitoring jaundice, and it is hoped that this will lead to a decrease in cerebral palsy and hearing loss in preterm infants due to kyperbilirubinemia.

Doctors warn hikers, other endurance athletes, and medical personnel about the risks of water intoxication Posted: 29 Sep 2015 04:02 AM PDT Knowing the warning signs and responding with the right treatment to of water intoxication can save lives, according to a new report. Exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH), also known as water intoxication, results in an extreme, and potentially fatal, sodium imbalance. As outdoor endurance recreation grows in popularity, so does the risk of EAH.

Portable, rapid DNA test can detect Ebola, other pathogens Posted: 29 Sep 2015 04:01 AM PDT Scientists completed a proof-of-principle study on a real-time blood test based on DNA sequencing that can be used to rapidly diagnose Ebola and other acute infections.

Novel tool can identify COPD Posted: 29 Sep 2015 04:00 AM PDT A novel approach for the identification of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been developed by a team of researchers. COPD is underdiagnosed, and previous screening tools have relied on smoking history and patient report of cough and sputum. COPD is often uncovered during exacerbations and after significant loss of lung function.

HIV patients should be included in early clinical trials of anti-TB drugs Posted: 29 Sep 2015 03:59 AM PDT Tuberculosis is the number one cause of death in HIV-infected patients in Africa and a leading cause of death in this population worldwide, yet the majority of these patients are excluded from the early stages in the development of new, anti-tuberculosis drugs, according to research.

Air pollution, traffic linked to deaths, organ rejection in lung transplant patients Posted: 29 Sep 2015 03:59 AM PDT For the first time, research shows that lung transplant patients in Europe who live on or near busy roads with high levels of air pollution are more likely to die or to experience chronic organ rejection, than those living in less polluted areas.

First classification of severe asthma Posted: 29 Sep 2015 03:59 AM PDT Severe asthma can have a devastating effect on sufferers, affecting their ability to work or go to school and to lead normal lives. It is difficult to treat because it is not a single disease entity. Now, for the first time, a group of researchers has succeeded in defining three distinct types of severe asthma by analyzing sputum samples from a group of patients.

Biomarkers in maternal blood can identify pregnant women with lupus at low risk for adverse outcomes Posted: 29 Sep 2015 03:59 AM PDT Pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus, are at higher risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preeclampsia, placental insufficiency, fetal death, miscarriages, and other complications. A consortium of top researchers reports that monitoring specific angiogenic biomarkers in maternal blood during early pregnancy can successfully predict patients who will likely have normal pregnancies and those at high risk for adverse outcomes. This will enable physicians to identify, counsel, and manage high risk patients at an early stage of pregnancy.

Meningitis model shows infection's sci-fi-worthy creep into the brain Posted: 29 Sep 2015 03:59 AM PDT Scientists are using transparent fish to watch in real time as Cryptococcal meningitis takes over the brain. The resulting images are worthy of a sci-fi movie teaser, but could be valuable in disrupting the real, crippling brain infection that kills more than 600,000 people worldwide each year.

Pediatric injuries from toppled TV sets: Risk factors, strategies for prevention Posted: 29 Sep 2015 03:59 AM PDT After a thorough review of medical articles describing head injuries caused by toppled television sets in children, researchers assessed the risk factors associated with these events. Based on their assessment, the researchers developed strategies to prevent these injuries.

MRI technique could reduce need for breast biopsies Posted: 29 Sep 2015 03:59 AM PDT A magnetic resonance breast imaging technique that uses no ionizing radiation or contrast agent could reduce unnecessary biopsies by providing additional information about suspicious findings on X-ray screening mammography, according to a new study.

Sound wave technology studied to help diagnose concussion Posted: 28 Sep 2015 12:29 PM PDT Novel sound wave technology is being used by scientists as part of an attempt to more rapidly and accurately diagnose sports concussions on the sidelines during games.

Decision aids help patients with depression feel better about medication choices Posted: 28 Sep 2015 12:25 PM PDT Choosing the right antidepressant can be a daunting task. With so many choices and such unpredictability in their individual effects, patients with depression often spend months or years casting about for the right medication, while clinicians are often uneasy or unwilling to offer options other than their preferred prescriptions.

Finding about how water gets into neurons provides new treatment targets for deadly brain swelling Posted: 28 Sep 2015 12:25 PM PDT High-efficiency transporters that work like a shuttle system to constantly move ions into and out of neurons appear to slam into reverse following a stroke or other injury and start delivering instead too much water, scientists have found.

Scientists identify promising drug candidate to treat chronic itch, avoid side effects Posted: 28 Sep 2015 12:24 PM PDT In a new study, scientists describe a class of compounds with the potential to stop chronic itch without the adverse side effects normally associated with medicating the condition.

Word 'breakthrough' dramatically affects perceptions of a new drug's effectiveness Posted: 28 Sep 2015 12:24 PM PDT Researchers recently took a look at how catchphrases such as 'breakthrough' and 'promising' affect public perception of a new drug. And, the findings of their research study show the answer is pretty significantly.

Best way to prepare fat cells for grafting? Jury's still out Posted: 28 Sep 2015 12:24 PM PDT Fat grafting -- taking fat from one area of the body and transferring it elsewhere -- has become a widely used plastic surgery technique. But what's the best method of processing cells for fat grafting procedures? Available research data still can't settle that long-running debate, according to a review.

Natural light switch: Scientists identify, map the protein behind a light-sensing mechanism Posted: 28 Sep 2015 12:23 PM PDT Scientists have discovered and mapped a light-sensing protein that uses vitamin B12 to perform key functions, including gene regulation.

New guideline aims to help physicians manage deep vein blood clots in patients Posted: 28 Sep 2015 11:40 AM PDT A new Canadian guideline aims to help physicians identify and manage blood clots, specifically iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis, in the groin and thigh. The guideline, based on the latest evidence, was developed by a team of hematologists, interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, emergency department physicians and primary care physicians.

Universal TB screening of immigrants to Canada costly, inefficient Posted: 28 Sep 2015 11:40 AM PDT Canada's blanket practice of screening all newly arriving immigrants for tuberculosis is highly inefficient and should focus on only those arriving from countries with high rates of TB, according to research.

Childhood stress impacts adult health Posted: 28 Sep 2015 11:40 AM PDT A 45-year study of nearly 7,000 people born in a single week in Great Britain in 1958 found psychological distress in childhood -- even when conditions improved in adulthood -- was associated with higher risk for heart disease and diabetes later in life.

New research exposes health risks of fructose, sugary drinks Posted: 28 Sep 2015 11:40 AM PDT There is compelling evidence that drinking too many sugar-sweetened beverages, which contain added sugars in the form of high fructose corn syrup or table sugar (sucrose), can lead to excess weight gain and a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, according to a new review paper.

Early intervention improves preschoolers' heart healthy habits Posted: 28 Sep 2015 11:40 AM PDT Introducing healthy lifestyle behaviors to children in preschool improves their knowledge, attitude and habits toward healthy diet and exercise and can lead to reduced levels of body fat, according to a study. Researchers predict early intervention in children will not only translate to a lifelong understanding of healthy habits but will also serve to encourage their parents to adopt healthier lifestyles.

Unsaturated fats, high-quality carbs lower risk of heart disease Posted: 28 Sep 2015 11:40 AM PDT While eliminating saturated fats can improve heart health, a new study shows that it makes a difference which foods are used in their place. A study shows that replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats and high-quality carbohydrates has the most impact on reducing the risk of heart disease. When saturated fats were replaced with highly processed foods, there was no benefit.

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