ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• 'Everything in moderation' diet advice may lead to poor metabolic health in US adults
• Pregnancy antibiotics no cause for concern, study says
• Self-injury: Raising the profile of a dangerous behavior
• New immunotherapy treatment may clear cancer-causing HPV infections faster
• Diet lacking soluble fiber promotes weight gain, mouse study suggests
• The lying game
• Researchers identify association between reproductive factors and risk of death
• Researchers discover new way to measure if a person is pre-diabetic
• Obese pregnant women who lose weight save money, have healthier newborns, study shows
• Researchers discover simple, affordable diagnostic kit for chikungunya
• Treatment of severe acne hampered by antibiotic overuse, delays in prescribing more potent medication
• Kids meals, toys, and TV advertising: A triple threat to child health
• Tug of war among bacteria
• Reptile pets: Food insects shuttle allergens into homes
• Factor found to balance medically useful stem cell qualities
• Researchers shed light on protein-related diseases
• Hair-GEL online tool gives bird's eye view of hair follicle formation
• Gut bacteria could be blamed for obesity, diabetes
• To scratch an itch is a hairy problem
• 'Superhero' microbiome bacteria protect against deadly symptoms during infection
• Protein complex links cellular metabolism to gene expression, offers potential therapeutic target
• Rashes often associated with viruses in children
• Exercise Could Provide a Margin of Safety for Women Who Want to Delay Preventive Mastectomy, Penn Study Shows
• Genetics of cancer cells: Computational models to sort out the chaos
• Possible new explanation for ALS
• HIV/AIDS deaths are down in South Africa, but most are still unacknowledged
• Study of basic cell processes may inform health, synthetic biology efforts
• Computer-based modeling improves outcomes for infants in drug withdrawal
• Achilles tendon ruptures missed in one of four cases, but surgery not needed for most
• New thyroid cancer gene discovered
• Immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer boosts survival by more than 75 percent in mice
• Vaccine candidate supports immunity where it matters most
• Scientists show how frequently mutated prostate cancer gene suppresses tumors
• 'Tummy tuck' complications: Study looks at rates and risk factors
• New imaging technique reduces risk in gallbladder surgery
• Early life stress and adolescent depression linked to impaired development of reward circuits
• The right to say No: Compulsory treatment in psychiatric wards

'Everything in moderation' diet advice may lead to poor metabolic health in US adults Posted: 30 Oct 2015 01:13 PM PDT Diet diversity, as defined by less similarity among the foods people eat, may be linked to lower diet quality and worse metabolic health, according to researchers.

Pregnancy antibiotics no cause for concern, study says Posted: 30 Oct 2015 08:19 AM PDT The four out of ten women who use antibiotics during pregnancy can breathe easy, as a comprehensive new study shows that the two most often prescribed drugs have no adverse outcome on the child's physical development.

Self-injury: Raising the profile of a dangerous behavior Posted: 30 Oct 2015 08:17 AM PDT Nonsuicidal self-injury is not officially recognized by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) as a mental disorder, which means insurance may not cover treatment - despite estimates that anywhere from 10 to 40 percent of adolescents suffer from it. New research lays out a case for recognizing the condition, as profiled in a new report.

New immunotherapy treatment may clear cancer-causing HPV infections faster Posted: 30 Oct 2015 08:17 AM PDT A new therapeutic vaccine, GTL001, developed to clear HPV strains 16 and 18 – the types most likely to cause cancer – is being evaluated for safety in a Phase I clinical trial.

Diet lacking soluble fiber promotes weight gain, mouse study suggests Posted: 30 Oct 2015 08:17 AM PDT A new study highlights the importance of the gut microbiome in maintaining intestinal and metabolic health and suggests that eating more foods high in soluble fiber may help prevent metabolic disease and obesity.

The lying game Posted: 30 Oct 2015 08:15 AM PDT New research is leading towards a clearer understanding of how humans behave when they bend the truth. But gathering reliable research data is a tricky proposition, and so research has been difficult to conduct to date.

Researchers identify association between reproductive factors and risk of death Posted: 30 Oct 2015 08:11 AM PDT Reproductive factors in women, such as a later starting age of menstruation, having children, breastfeeding and use of oral contraceptives, are associated with a reduced risk of death, according to new research. A better understanding of how these factors can influence long-term health could help in the development of clinical strategies to improve women's health.

Researchers discover new way to measure if a person is pre-diabetic Posted: 30 Oct 2015 08:11 AM PDT A new discovery may allow physicians to warn patients years before the onset of diabetes, therefore allowing them to change their lifestyle patterns potentially avoiding the diagnosis of a chronic disease.

Obese pregnant women who lose weight save money, have healthier newborns, study shows Posted: 30 Oct 2015 08:11 AM PDT Severely obese women who maintained or lost weight during pregnancy had healthier babies and lower health care costs, a recent study shows. The work compared 82 severely obese pregnant women with 85 healthy weight women. The obese mothers experienced more medical problems during pregnancy, higher medical costs and longer lengths of hospital stay compared to non-obese women. Twenty-six percent of the obese mothers maintained or lost weight during pregnancy and experienced lower medical costs and gave birth to healthier infants.

Researchers discover simple, affordable diagnostic kit for chikungunya Posted: 30 Oct 2015 08:10 AM PDT A novel and affordable diagnostic test for chikungunya will soon be available thanks to new research. The formerly unknown virus, now named Eilat virus, is related to chikungunya and other mosquito-borne viruses and was collected in Israel's Negev Desert about three decades ago.

Treatment of severe acne hampered by antibiotic overuse, delays in prescribing more potent medication Posted: 30 Oct 2015 08:10 AM PDT Physicians who treat severe acne leave too many patients on ineffective antibiotics for far too long before prescribing more potent needed therapy with the medication isotretinoin, sometimes known by its former brand name Accutane, a medical records analysis concludes.

Kids meals, toys, and TV advertising: A triple threat to child health Posted: 30 Oct 2015 07:52 AM PDT Fast food companies advertise children's meals on TV with ads that feature toy premiums, and it has been suggested that the use of these toy premiums may prompt children to request eating at fast food restaurants. In a new study, researchers found that the more children watched television channels that aired ads for children's fast food meals, the more frequently their families visited those fast food restaurants.

Tug of war among bacteria Posted: 30 Oct 2015 07:52 AM PDT As hide-outs for bacteria, biofilms cause problems for antibiotic treatment or the cleaning of medical tubes. They contribute to the spreading of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. A biofilm is created when bacteria attach to surfaces and multiply. Gradually, bacterial subpopulations can develop different properties although they originated from the same cell. However, very little is known about how this heterogeneity contributes to the development of structure in such biofilms

Reptile pets: Food insects shuttle allergens into homes Posted: 30 Oct 2015 07:52 AM PDT Reptiles are becoming increasingly popular as pets. The number of reptile pets, such as lizards, turtles and snakes, has doubled in the past ten years. Researchers recently showed that grasshoppers used as reptile food can be a source of allergies.

Factor found to balance medically useful stem cell qualities Posted: 29 Oct 2015 04:08 PM PDT Each of us develops from an unspecialized single cell into hundreds of different specific cell types. Stem cells multiply (proliferate) and mature (differentiate) in the womb to become muscle, bone, nerves, etc. Now researchers have discovered that a key protein controls stem cell properties that could make them more useful in regenerative medicine.

Researchers shed light on protein-related diseases Posted: 29 Oct 2015 04:08 PM PDT Some proteins turn into liquid droplets on the way to becoming toxic solids implicated in neurodegenerative diseases and other genetic disorders, researchers have now discovered. The results are important because the human genome is filled with proteins that have similar sequences and almost all understanding of these proteins so far has focused on pathological states.

Hair-GEL online tool gives bird's eye view of hair follicle formation Posted: 29 Oct 2015 03:55 PM PDT Researchers have created a resource to help uncover the molecular controls that generate skin and hair. Playfully titled Hair-GEL (gene expression library), the database relies on the fundamental genetic principle that a blueprint for developing tissues is encoded by genes that are differentially activated in specific cell types.

Gut bacteria could be blamed for obesity, diabetes Posted: 29 Oct 2015 03:55 PM PDT An excess of bacteria in the gut can change the way the liver processes fat and could lead to the development of metabolic syndrome, according to health researchers. Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions including obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and excess body fat around the waist. People experiencing three or more of these conditions are considered to have metabolic syndrome and are vulnerable to liver and heart diseases. Approximately 20 to 25 percent of adult Americans have the syndrome.

To scratch an itch is a hairy problem Posted: 29 Oct 2015 12:02 PM PDT An insect lands on your arm, moving the tiny hairs on your skin just enough to make you want to scratch. Researchers have shed light on why light brushing movements like this on our hairy skin make us scratch. Surprisingly, the spinal neurons involved in the tingling sensation caused by a light touch are different from those transmitting pain or a 'chemical' itch, the latter elicited by a mosquito bite or a skin wound that is healing.

'Superhero' microbiome bacteria protect against deadly symptoms during infection Posted: 29 Oct 2015 12:02 PM PDT Once the most powerful and revolutionary of drugs, antibiotics appear to have reached their limits, due to the ability of bacteria to rapidly evolve resistance to the medicines. Now a team of scientists has found E. coli in microbiome capable of protecting the body from infectious diseases, which may help prevent antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

Protein complex links cellular metabolism to gene expression, offers potential therapeutic target Posted: 29 Oct 2015 10:49 AM PDT Researchers have identified a link between cellular metabolism and gene expression, one they say has potentially far-reaching implications for cancer risk prediction and treatment.

Rashes often associated with viruses in children Posted: 29 Oct 2015 10:49 AM PDT Sniffles, stomach bugs, fever and sore throats are often associated with viruses, but rashes are common in children with viral infections as well. Rashes can be itchy and painful for kids and difficult for parents trying to determine if they are a symptom of something serious or just an everyday annoyance.

Exercise Could Provide a Margin of Safety for Women Who Want to Delay Preventive Mastectomy, Penn Study Shows Posted: 29 Oct 2015 10:49 AM PDT Regular physical activity could play a role in helping women at high-risk of breast cancer delay the need for drastic preventive measures such as prophylactic mastectomy, according to new research. Results of the study help clarify the emerging connection between exercise and breast cancer risk. As a result of the new findings, the authors suggest that women who have an elevated breast cancer risk or worry about having such risk should consider doing 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity per day for five days per week.

Genetics of cancer cells: Computational models to sort out the chaos Posted: 29 Oct 2015 10:48 AM PDT A method for analyzing the genome of cancer cells more precisely than ever before has been developed by a team of researchers. The team is employing bioinformatics: Using novel computing processes, the researchers have created models of the genome of cancer cells based on known changes to the genome. These models are useful for determining the structure of DNA in tumors.

Possible new explanation for ALS Posted: 29 Oct 2015 10:46 AM PDT Researchers are proposing a new way of understanding Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the devastating and incurable neurological disease. Their findings could be a major milestone on the path to a treatment for both ALS and dementia. By delving into a previously overlooked corner of ALS research, the team discovered a new way in which the disease kills nerve cells.

HIV/AIDS deaths are down in South Africa, but most are still unacknowledged Posted: 29 Oct 2015 10:46 AM PDT After peaking in 2007, AIDS mortality in South Africa has decreased with the widespread introduction of effective antiretroviral therapy, according to new updated estimates.

Study of basic cell processes may inform health, synthetic biology efforts Posted: 29 Oct 2015 10:45 AM PDT The study has implications for cancer research, as scientists try to understand how cells avoid errors that promote cancer development. It could also be useful in synthetic biology, where scientists work to make robust mechanisms for synthetic life.

Computer-based modeling improves outcomes for infants in drug withdrawal Posted: 29 Oct 2015 10:43 AM PDT Computer-based modeling is helping to further reduce length of hospital stay and duration of treatment with opioids that are used therapeutically to wean babies born in withdrawal from drugs their mothers have taken. This condition is known as neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Achilles tendon ruptures missed in one of four cases, but surgery not needed for most Posted: 29 Oct 2015 10:43 AM PDT Achilles tendon disorders are common and often misdiagnosed, with about 25 percent of ruptures missed during initial examination, but the prognosis is favorable for the vast majority of patients, according to researchers.

New thyroid cancer gene discovered Posted: 29 Oct 2015 10:41 AM PDT A new gene associated with Cowden syndrome, an inherited condition that carries high risks of thyroid, breast, and other cancers, and a subset of non-inherited thyroid cancers, has been discovered by scientists.

Immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer boosts survival by more than 75 percent in mice Posted: 29 Oct 2015 10:41 AM PDT A new study in mice has found that a specialized type of immunotherapy -- even when used without chemotherapy or radiation -- can boost survival from pancreatic cancer, a nearly almost-lethal disease, by more than 75 percent. The findings are so promising, human clinical trials are planned within the next year.

Vaccine candidate supports immunity where it matters most Posted: 29 Oct 2015 10:41 AM PDT One virus creates a long-lived immune reaction in parts of our bodies that serve as our first line of defense against infections, making it a strong candidate for a variety of vaccines.

Scientists show how frequently mutated prostate cancer gene suppresses tumors Posted: 29 Oct 2015 10:41 AM PDT New research has found how SPOP, a gene frequently mutated in prostate cancer, is able to halt tumors by inducing senescence, a state of stable cell cycle arrest, which means that the cells have stopped dividing and growing. With this new information, scientists may be able to design therapeutic strategies that can halt cancers caused by these mutated genes that are able to bypass senescence.

'Tummy tuck' complications: Study looks at rates and risk factors Posted: 29 Oct 2015 09:48 AM PDT Abdominoplasty—sometimes called "tummy tuck"—has a higher risk of major complications than other cosmetic plastic surgery procedures, reports a new study. Abdominoplasty is done to remove excess skin and tissue from the abdomen, to create a smoother, firmer abdominal profile.

New imaging technique reduces risk in gallbladder surgery Posted: 29 Oct 2015 07:27 AM PDT Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a minimally invasive procedure for gallbladder removal, and one of the most common surgical procedures worldwide. While the procedure has a very high success rate, 1 in 200 patients will sustain serious bile duct injury, primarily due to misidentification of the biliary anatomy. With 800,000 procedures carried out in the United States each year, that means in the U.S. alone 4,000 patients will be seriously injured.

Early life stress and adolescent depression linked to impaired development of reward circuits Posted: 29 Oct 2015 07:25 AM PDT Early life stress is a major risk factor for later episodes of depression. In fact, adults who are abused or neglected as children are almost twice as likely to experience depression. Scientific research into this link has revealed that the increased risk following such childhood adversity is associated with sensitization of the brain circuits involved with processing threat and driving the stress response. More recently, research has begun to demonstrate that in parallel to this stress sensitization, there may also be diminished processing of reward in the brain and associated reductions in a person's ability to experience positive emotions.

The right to say No: Compulsory treatment in psychiatric wards Posted: 29 Oct 2015 07:25 AM PDT In psychiatric wards, patients used to be medicated indiscriminately against their will for decades if doctors thought it necessary. In Europe, it was only after a Federal Constitution Court ruling a few years ago that patient autonomy has been strengthened. But what does that mean in practice?

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