ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

---

• New material developed for accelerated skin regeneration in major wounds
• Brain’s GPS depends on visual landmarks to triangulate location, researchers find
• Multiple myeloma drug could revolutionize treatment for sickle cell disease
• Using network science to help pinpoint source of seizures
• New genes associated with extreme longevity identified
• Minorities less likely to trust physicians, research reveals
• Gains in health insurance across Texas fall behind rest of US, new report shows
• Scientists identify mechanisms to reduce epileptic seizures following TBI
• Safety net fails grandmother caregivers living in severe poverty
• Exceptional care requires patient-driven education
• Cancer: Pinpoint targeting instead of shotgun approach, say experts
• Nonoperative treatment of appendicitis may have unknown long-term risks and costs
• Identification tags define neural circuits
• Scientists predict activity of human genes
• A brain link to autism
• First flu exposure imprints itself on immune system
• Drugging the microbiome may treat heart disease
• Probing the mystery of how cancer cells die
• Pancreas cancer liquid biopsy flows from blood-borne packets of tumor genes
• Nursing study examines obesity in relation to breast cancer related lymphedema
• New insights into molecular basis of memory
• Immuno, targeted therapy provide new options for difficult-to-treat head and neck cancer
• Younger age associated with increased likelihood of targetable genotype in lung cancer
• When cancer of unknown origin strikes, patient's family members face increased risk
• 'Smart fat cells' cross blood-brain barrier to catch early brain tumors
• Gerontologist offers suggestions for families coping with dementia
• Brain networks under attack
• Men also recommend getting help for depression
• High fat/low carb diet could combat schizophrenia
• Multiple-dose, targeted radiation more effective for treating pituitary tumors, research shows
• Binge drinking with chronic alcohol use more destructive than previously thought
• Bone drug protects stem cells from aging
• New test for cancer, diabetes biomarkers 1000x more detailed
• New research offers reassurance over multiple artery procedures for heart attack victims
• Fish oil helps transform fat cells from storage to burning
• Hepatitis C prevention, control efforts should focus on incarcerated individuals
• Deadly candidiasis must be addressed swiftly to help vulnerable patients
• 'Homing' treatment could aid recovery for brain damaged patients
• Mathematical model suggests select DCIS patients could delay treatment
• 'Hunger hormone' may treat severe peripheral artery disease
• The transformation of cancer imaging: From shades of gray to living color
• New 'exercise hormone' promotes physical endurance
• Scientists discover the function, connections of three cell types in the brain
• Chewing slowly helps prevent excessive weight gain in children
• Greywater reuse for irrigation is safe, study shows
• Environment, behavior contribute to some 80 percent of cancers, study reveals
• New weapon in fight against breast cancer: New mouse model
• Early childhood depression alters brain development?

New material developed for accelerated skin regeneration in major wounds Posted: 17 Dec 2015 01:56 PM PST Researchers have developed a synthetic biomaterial that fills wounds and aids in regeneration of skin cells, which ultimately improves wound healing.

Brain’s GPS depends on visual landmarks to triangulate location, researchers find Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:18 PM PST Researchers have found that space-mapping neurons -- the GPS system in the brain -- have a strong dependence on what is being looked at when triangulating location, a finding that resolves a neurological mystery that has vexed scientists for more than four decades.

Multiple myeloma drug could revolutionize treatment for sickle cell disease Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:16 PM PST An established drug for recurrent multiple myeloma might effectively be repurposed to improve the survival and day-to-day lives of patients with devastating sickle cell disease, according to new research.

Using network science to help pinpoint source of seizures Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:16 PM PST The ability to reliably pinpoint the anatomical source of epileptic seizures, different for each patient, remains elusive. New research looks at networks of electrical activity in the brain just prior to the onset of a seizure by studying the recordings of 88 seizures from 22 patients.

New genes associated with extreme longevity identified Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:15 PM PST Centenarians show successful aging as they remain active and alert at very old ages. Scientists have begun to unravel the basis for longevity by finding genetic loci associated with extreme longevity. A new study uses a new statistical method (termed 'informed GWAS') to identify five longevity loci that provide clues about physiological mechanisms for successful aging.

Minorities less likely to trust physicians, research reveals Posted: 17 Dec 2015 11:35 AM PST Minority groups such as African-Americans and Latinos are less likely than whites to believe their physicians care about them, new research reveals. The survey cohort consists of 2,800 people 18 and older in the contiguous United States who do not live in institutional settings like jails or mental asylums. In cities across the country, interviewers went door to door asking for volunteers. About seven out of every 10 people agreed to the hour-and-a-half interview.

Gains in health insurance across Texas fall behind rest of US, new report shows Posted: 17 Dec 2015 11:35 AM PST The rate of adults without health insurance across the US dropped nearly twice as much as in Texas from 2013 to 2015, according to a new report. The report found that since enrollment began in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in September 2013, the adult uninsured rate in the U.S. fell by 41 percent. Researchers found Texas' uninsured rate dropped just 21 percent during the same time.

Scientists identify mechanisms to reduce epileptic seizures following TBI Posted: 17 Dec 2015 11:35 AM PST Halting production of new neurons in the brain following traumatic brain injury can help reduce resulting epileptic seizures, cognitive decline, and impaired memory, researchers report.

Safety net fails grandmother caregivers living in severe poverty Posted: 17 Dec 2015 11:35 AM PST The number of grandmothers raising their grandchildren spiked during the Great Recession, but those living in poverty often struggle with a public assistance system not designed to meet their unique needs.

Exceptional care requires patient-driven education Posted: 17 Dec 2015 11:35 AM PST When it comes to quality communication, meeting the needs of all health-literacy levels requires creative thinking, new research confirms.

Cancer: Pinpoint targeting instead of shotgun approach, say experts Posted: 17 Dec 2015 11:33 AM PST Integrins help cells communicate with and adapt to their environment. Also cancer cells depend on their properties to survive and spread throughout the body. Now scientists have successfully developed a small, highly active molecule that binds to a specific integrin that operates in many types of cancer. In the future it may allow patient-specific diagnoses and subsequent targeted treatment of tumor cells.

Nonoperative treatment of appendicitis may have unknown long-term risks and costs Posted: 17 Dec 2015 11:33 AM PST It is too early to change the standard treatment of appendicitis in US adults to initial antibiotic therapy only, rather than surgical removal of the appendix, or appendectomy, authors of a new systematic review study conclude.

Identification tags define neural circuits Posted: 17 Dec 2015 11:33 AM PST Biologists have identified a network of proteins that guides neural synapse formation in Drosophila brains. They discovered that proteins from two different molecular subfamilies bind together selectively. This binding can cause neurons that express Dpr proteins to form connections with neurons that express the corresponding DIP protein, playing an important role in directing the development of the neuromuscular and visual systems in growing Drosophila.

Scientists predict activity of human genes Posted: 17 Dec 2015 10:05 AM PST Genetically identical sibling cells do not always behave the same way. So far this has been attributed to random molecular reactions. Now systems biologists have discovered an overlooked consequence of the spatial separation of cells into a nucleus and a cytoplasm. Building on top of this insight they could predict with supercomputers the activity of genes in individual human cells.

A brain link to autism Posted: 17 Dec 2015 10:05 AM PST Using a visual test that is known to prompt different reactions in autistic and normal brains, researchers have shown that those differences were associated with a breakdown in the signaling pathway used by GABA, one of the brain's chief inhibitory neurotransmitters.

First flu exposure imprints itself on immune system Posted: 17 Dec 2015 10:03 AM PST A person's first infection with the influenza virus likely stimulates the production of key antibodies that then shape later immune responses to different seasonal influenza strains. Now researchers provide insights on how exposure to the flu impacts the immune system, which could be valuable for designing more effective and longer-lasting vaccines.

Drugging the microbiome may treat heart disease Posted: 17 Dec 2015 10:03 AM PST A first-of-a-kind drug that interferes with the metabolic activity of gut microbes could one day treat heart disease in humans, according to a mouse study. Dietary supplementation with a compound that is naturally abundant in red wine and olive oil prevented gut microbes from turning unhealthy foods into metabolic byproducts that clog arteries.

Probing the mystery of how cancer cells die Posted: 17 Dec 2015 10:03 AM PST The role sphingolipids play in the death of cancer cells is now better understood, thanks to a recent study. The research traces how levels of various sphingolipids spike inside cancer cells when the cells are undergoing a highly organized form of cellular death called apoptosis.

Pancreas cancer liquid biopsy flows from blood-borne packets of tumor genes Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:52 AM PST Pancreatic cancer tumors spill their molecular secrets into the blood stream, shedding their complete DNA and RNA wrapped inside protective lipid particles that make them ripe for analysis with a liquid biopsy, researchers at report.

Nursing study examines obesity in relation to breast cancer related lymphedema Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:50 AM PST Lymphedema is a major health problem negatively affecting many breast cancer survivors survivors' quality of life. Now researchers have shown this condition can be managed with early and appropriate treatment.

New insights into molecular basis of memory Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:50 AM PST Scientists have shed new light on the molecular basis of memory. Their study confirms that the formation of memories is accompanied by an altered activity of specific genes. In addition, they found an unprecedented amount of evidence that supports the hypothesis that chemical labels on the backbone of the DNA (so-called DNA methylation) may be the molecular basis of long-term memory.

Immuno, targeted therapy provide new options for difficult-to-treat head and neck cancer Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:49 AM PST Novel strategies are on the way for difficult-to-treat and advanced head and neck cancer, the most heterogeneous group of malignancies which are generally associated with poor survival, say researchers.

Younger age associated with increased likelihood of targetable genotype in lung cancer Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:49 AM PST Patients younger than 50 diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer had a higher likelihood of having a targetable genomic alteration for which therapies exist, according to an article.

When cancer of unknown origin strikes, patient's family members face increased risk Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:49 AM PST Cancer usually begins in one location and then spreads, but in 3 percent to 5 percent of cancer patients, the tissue where a cancer begins is unknown. Family members of patients with cancers of unknown origin have a higher risk for getting those and other types of cancers, suggests a new study.

'Smart fat cells' cross blood-brain barrier to catch early brain tumors Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:25 AM PST An MRI contrast agent that can pass through the blood-brain barrier will allow doctors to detect deadly brain tumors called gliomas earlier, say researchers. This ability opens the door to make this fatal cancer treatable.

Gerontologist offers suggestions for families coping with dementia Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:24 AM PST A gerontologist offers tips on coping during the holidays with a family member who has dementia. It is important that families communicate with one another ahead of time and inform each other, especially those family members who live farther away, the expert says.

Brain networks under attack Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:23 AM PST Pruning network links can tell us about the dynamics of neuronal networks, say researchers. Their work offers new perspectives for understanding the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases and the dynamics of complex networks.

Men also recommend getting help for depression Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:17 AM PST Participants in a national survey read a scenario describing someone who had depressed symptoms. Men recommended talking to someone about their problems just as much as women did.

High fat/low carb diet could combat schizophrenia Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:17 AM PST A diet favored by body-builders may be effective in treating schizophrenia, suggest researchers. The ketogenic diet may work by providing alternative energy sources in the form of so-called ketone bodies (products of fat breakdown) and by helping to circumvent abnormally functioning cellular energy pathways in the brains of schizophrenics.

Multiple-dose, targeted radiation more effective for treating pituitary tumors, research shows Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:14 AM PST Multiple small doses of highly focused radiation therapy is safer and more effective than a single larger dose of radiation at destroying pituitary gland tumors, new research has demonstrated.

Binge drinking with chronic alcohol use more destructive than previously thought Posted: 17 Dec 2015 08:14 AM PST Chronic alcohol use, when combined with repeated binge drinking, causes more damage to the liver than previously thought, new research shows.

Bone drug protects stem cells from aging Posted: 17 Dec 2015 05:24 AM PST An existing drug used to treat osteoporosis also protects stem cells from aging, scientists have found. These researchers now want to understand if the drug can be used to revert ageing in stem cells.

New test for cancer, diabetes biomarkers 1000x more detailed Posted: 17 Dec 2015 05:24 AM PST A new test for detecting biomarkers for cancer and diabetes is more than 1000x more detailed and 100% faster than existing methods, report researchers. Named 2D Mass Spectrometry (2DMS), the test provides a new tool in the rapidly expanding field research into the structure and function of proteins: Proteomics.

New research offers reassurance over multiple artery procedures for heart attack victims Posted: 17 Dec 2015 05:24 AM PST A new study has examined the effects on the heart of treating multiple narrowed arteries - rather than just one -- at the time of a heart attack.

Fish oil helps transform fat cells from storage to burning Posted: 17 Dec 2015 05:14 AM PST Fish oil transforms fat-storage cells into fat-burning cells, which may reduce weight gain in middle age, new research shows. Fish oil activates receptors in the digestive tract, fires the sympathetic nervous system, and induces storage cells to metabolize fat.

Hepatitis C prevention, control efforts should focus on incarcerated individuals Posted: 17 Dec 2015 05:14 AM PST More than 1 in 9 people with hepatitis C in Canada spend time in a correctional facility each year, say researchers. This presents unique opportunity to focus hepatitis C prevention and control efforts.

Deadly candidiasis must be addressed swiftly to help vulnerable patients Posted: 17 Dec 2015 05:14 AM PST One of the most common causes of healthcare-associated infections, candidiasis is a serious, life-threatening fungal infection that needs to be treated early, aggressively and appropriately, updated guidelines outline.

'Homing' treatment could aid recovery for brain damaged patients Posted: 16 Dec 2015 08:13 PM PST Scientists believe they may have found a way to aid recovery and minimize the risk of life-threatening infections in patients with traumatic brain injuries.

Mathematical model suggests select DCIS patients could delay treatment Posted: 16 Dec 2015 02:47 PM PST Active surveillance could be a viable alternative to surgery and radiation for select patients with ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS, according to a mathematical model.

'Hunger hormone' may treat severe peripheral artery disease Posted: 16 Dec 2015 02:45 PM PST The appetite-regulating hormone ghrelin could be used clinically for the early treatment of critical limb ischemia, an advanced form of peripheral artery disease, suggests a research team.

The transformation of cancer imaging: From shades of gray to living color Posted: 16 Dec 2015 01:24 PM PST New technology called spectral CT imaging allows clinicians to get a more complete picture of patients' health. The technology for colored imaging is not only on the horizon, but it is also on the campus of a research facility, where researchers are giving the phrase "in living color" a new meaning.

New 'exercise hormone' promotes physical endurance Posted: 16 Dec 2015 12:19 PM PST Exercise causes muscle to release a peptide that builds the muscle's capacity for energy production and increases physical endurance, allowing for longer and more intense exercise, a study in mice shows.

Scientists discover the function, connections of three cell types in the brain Posted: 16 Dec 2015 12:19 PM PST Using genetic tools to interrogate cell types sheds light on how the brain processes visual information, report scientists. Learning how the brain analyzes visual information at a detailed level may one day help doctors understand elements of disorders like schizophrenia and autism.

Chewing slowly helps prevent excessive weight gain in children Posted: 16 Dec 2015 12:17 PM PST Waiting 30 seconds in between bites of food allows children to realize they're no longer hungry before they overeat -- preventing excessive weight gain, concludes a new study.

Greywater reuse for irrigation is safe, study shows Posted: 16 Dec 2015 12:17 PM PST There was no additional incidence of gastroenteritis or water-related diseases caused by use of treated greywater in gardens, even when compared to tap water and other irrigation water sources, researchers report at the conclusion of their study. In fact, the rate of illnesses was found to be lower with the treated greywater than from the control group at times.

Environment, behavior contribute to some 80 percent of cancers, study reveals Posted: 16 Dec 2015 11:48 AM PST A team of researchers has found quantitative evidence proving that extrinsic risk factors, such as environmental exposures and behaviors weigh heavily on the development of a vast majority (approximately 70 to 90 percent) of cancers.

New weapon in fight against breast cancer: New mouse model Posted: 16 Dec 2015 11:45 AM PST The first clinically-relevant mouse model of human breast cancer to successfully express functional estrogen receptor positive adenocarcinomas has been created by researchers. This model should be a powerful tool for testing therapies for aggressive ER+ breast cancers and for studying luminal cancers -- the most prevalent and deadliest forms of breast cancer.

Early childhood depression alters brain development? Posted: 16 Dec 2015 09:01 AM PST The brains of children who suffer clinical depression as preschoolers develop abnormally, compared with the brains of preschoolers unaffected by the disorder, according to new research. Their gray matter is lower in volume and thinner in the cortex, a part of the brain important in the processing of emotions.

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