ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Rapid molecular assay may help diagnose sepsis
• Eliminating food deserts may not achieve improved dietary quality in the United States
• African sleeping sickness: Study suggests new way to help the immune system fight off parasite
• New risk score identifies link between lifestyle risk factors and mortality
• Call for police killings, police deaths to be reported as public health data
• Hip osteoarthritis may not appear on x-ray
• Portable device can quickly determine the extent of an eye injury
• Telemedicine effective for patients, helps providers establish important relationships
• What contributes to healthy living behaviors among children? It depends
• Researchers resolve structure of a key component of bacterial decision-making
• Human trials suggest 'rescued' drug could be safer treatment for bipolar disorder
• Cooperating bacteria isolate cheaters
• One in four new doctors may be depressed, and their patients may suffer because of it
• SABCS15: 'Weeding the garden' with radiation while continuing breast cancer therapy
• Biomarkers outperform symptoms in parsing psychosis subgroups
• Experimental 'urban garden' helps cancer survivors' lower risk for recurrence, chronic illness
• Eating disorder prevention program reduces brain reward region response to supermodels
• Oral chemo still too expensive even after doughnut hole closes
• Study establishes biomarkers to help diagnose, treat psychosis
• Molecule that may lead to Chagas disease vaccine identified
• How distracting is talking to your car? Researchers develop a new framework for measuring cognitive distraction
• World's first ibuprofen patch created
• New schizophrenia treatments may be effective for subgroup of patients
• Microplastics: Rhine one of the most polluted rivers worldwide
• Research probes influence of gender, background on doctors' career paths
• Gene that protects breast cancer patients against 'chemobrain' discovered
• New clinical practice guidelines recommend use of arteries rather than veins in heart bypass surgery
• Getting the most from your stretching routine
• Anti-platelet therapy does not significantly reduce pain crises in sickle cell disease
• Alcohol aromatherapy eases nausea in the ER
• Link between polycystic ovarian syndrome in the mother and autism in the child
• Children with common allergies have twice heart disease risk
• Chemicals in e-cigarette flavors linked to respiratory disease
• Antidepressant with novel action appears safe, effective in clinical trial
• Multiple myeloma patient study shows promise for natural killer cells
• Blood thinner, antidiabetic drug mix increases hospitalizations
• New technology may standardize sickle cell disease screening for infants
• Drug shows potential as safe, effective for most prevalent form of adult leukemia
• Three studies point to effectiveness of new therapies for multiple myeloma
• Leukemia patients who switched kinase inhibitors had favorable outcomes
• Catching cellular impacts of bubbles and jets
• Breakthrough imaging tool maps cells' composition in 3-D
• High response rates, long-term remissions seen in trials of personalized cellular therapy CTL019 for pediatric and adult blood cancers
• Obesity contributes to metastasis in ovarian cancer patients
• Testosterone-lowering therapy for prostate cancer may increase Alzheimer's risk
• Inmates getting access to medicaid upon release from jail or prison
• Reform model not yet helping people with mental illness
• Molecular shift stops stem cells in Drosophila from making tumors
• Scientists redefine arterial wall inflammation, offer cardiovascular disease treatment hope

Rapid molecular assay may help diagnose sepsis Posted: 08 Dec 2015 12:06 PM PST Measuring the levels of RNA biomarkers in blood may help quickly differentiate sepsis from infection-negative systemic inflammation, according to new research. Scientists describe the discovery and validation of a molecular classifier consisting of 4 RNA transcripts (SeptiCyte Lab), which in several selected patient cohorts was able to diagnose sepsis more accurately than procalcitonin or clinical parameters, and more quickly than blood culture.

Eliminating food deserts may not achieve improved dietary quality in the United States Posted: 08 Dec 2015 12:06 PM PST Initiatives to eliminate food deserts, low-income geographic areas that lack access to a supermarket or large grocery store, may not have an effect on improving dietary quality or reducing disparities in diet quality, according to a new article.

African sleeping sickness: Study suggests new way to help the immune system fight off parasite Posted: 08 Dec 2015 12:06 PM PST African sleeping sickness, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei, is transmitted by the tsetse fly and is fatal if left untreated. New research reveals a method to manipulate trypanosomes in the mammalian bloodstream to acquire fly stage characteristics. The findings suggest that inhibiting specific proteins can 'trick' the parasite into differentiating to a different stage of its lifecycle.

New risk score identifies link between lifestyle risk factors and mortality Posted: 08 Dec 2015 12:06 PM PST A new lifestyle risk score based on six health behaviors identified two new risk factors (sedentary behavior and sleep) that can be used in addition to traditional risk factors, such as smoking and excessive alcohol use to predict risk of mortality.

Call for police killings, police deaths to be reported as public health data Posted: 08 Dec 2015 12:06 PM PST Although no reliable official data currently exist on the number of law enforcement-related deaths each year in the U.S., counting these deaths can and should be done because the data constitute crucial public health information that could help prevent future deaths.

Hip osteoarthritis may not appear on x-ray Posted: 08 Dec 2015 10:46 AM PST In the majority of cases, hip x-rays are not reliable for diagnosing hip osteoarthritis (OA), and can delay the treatment of this debilitating disease. These findings are the first to evaluate the diagnostic performance of an x-ray in patients with clinical signs and symptoms of classic OA.

Portable device can quickly determine the extent of an eye injury Posted: 08 Dec 2015 10:46 AM PST An engineer and an ophthalmologist are developing a portable sensor that can quickly and inexpensively determine whether an eye injury is mild or severe. The device, called OcuCheck, measures levels of vitamin C in the fluids that coat or leak from the eye. The sensor could speed efforts to determine the extent of eye injuries at accident sites or on the battlefield, the researchers said.

Telemedicine effective for patients, helps providers establish important relationships Posted: 08 Dec 2015 10:46 AM PST More than 50 million Americans live in rural areas, and many have limited access to health care. Now, a study shows that patients and providers alike are satisfied with video-based health care.

What contributes to healthy living behaviors among children? It depends Posted: 08 Dec 2015 10:41 AM PST Experts have participated in several peer-reviewed articles on the issue of healthy behaviors among children.

Researchers resolve structure of a key component of bacterial decision-making Posted: 08 Dec 2015 10:41 AM PST For bacteria that swim, determining whether to stay the course or head in a new direction is vital to survival. A new study offers atomic-level details of the molecular machinery that allows swimming bacteria to sense their environment and change direction when needed.

Human trials suggest 'rescued' drug could be safer treatment for bipolar disorder Posted: 08 Dec 2015 10:41 AM PST Ebselen, abandoned as a stroke treatment, has a successful first human trial as scientists aim to repurpose it as a treatment for bipolar disorder.

Cooperating bacteria isolate cheaters Posted: 08 Dec 2015 10:34 AM PST Bacteria, which reciprocally exchange amino acids, stabilize their partnership on two-dimensional surfaces and limit the access of non-cooperating bacteria to exchanged nutrients. Scientists have shown that bacteria that do not contribute to metabolite production are excluded from the cooperative benefits. The researchers demonstrated that cooperative cross-feeders that grow on two-dimensional surfaces are protected from being exploited by non-cooperating bacteria.

One in four new doctors may be depressed, and their patients may suffer because of it Posted: 08 Dec 2015 10:21 AM PST More than one in four doctors in the early stages of their careers has signs of depression, a comprehensive new study finds. And the grueling years of training for a medical career may deserve some of the blame. That's bad news not just for the young doctors themselves, but also for the patients they care for now and in the future.

SABCS15: 'Weeding the garden' with radiation while continuing breast cancer therapy Posted: 08 Dec 2015 10:21 AM PST An ongoing phase IIR/III clinical trial seeks to answer an important question in the treatment of early metastatic breast cancer: Should surgery or stereotactic body radiation be used to 'weed the garden' of a few sites of metastasis while continuing treatment that may still be controlling the initial tumor?

Biomarkers outperform symptoms in parsing psychosis subgroups Posted: 08 Dec 2015 10:21 AM PST Three biomarker-based categories, called biotypes, outperformed traditional diagnoses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with psychosis, in sorting psychosis cases into distinct subgroups on the basis of brain biology. The biotypes were more biologically homogeneous than categories based on observable symptoms. Just as fever or infection can have many different causes, multiple psychosis-causing disease processes -- operating via different biological pathways -- can lead to similar symptoms and confound the search for improved treatments.

Experimental 'urban garden' helps cancer survivors' lower risk for recurrence, chronic illness Posted: 08 Dec 2015 06:42 AM PST While there is substantial evidence that diet and body weight can impact cancer development, recurrence, and progression – for the estimated 14.5 million cancer survivors in the US, there are few resources available to help them optimize their dietary patterns and lifestyle behaviors after active cancer treatment is over. Now, new research shows that cancer survivors who participated in a multifaceted urban garden intervention improved their health behaviors, significantly reduced their weight, and improved biomarkers of health – all major improvements related to a reduced risk for developing a secondary cancer or illnesses like diabetes or heart disease. The unique program is promising and could be used as an evidence-based blueprint for other chronic conditions.

Eating disorder prevention program reduces brain reward region response to supermodels Posted: 08 Dec 2015 06:40 AM PST At baseline, when young women at risk for eating disorders viewed images of supermodels while undergoing fMRI, a reward valuation region of their brains was activated. After the intervention, this reward valuation was more activated by exposure to images of healthy, normal weight women than by exposure to thin models. Participants in the control condition did not show this change.

Oral chemo still too expensive even after doughnut hole closes Posted: 08 Dec 2015 05:22 AM PST Oral chemotherapy drugs are so expensive that they will be out of the financial reach of most Medicare patients even when the Part D doughnut hole closes in 2020, according to new research.

Study establishes biomarkers to help diagnose, treat psychosis Posted: 08 Dec 2015 05:22 AM PST A comprehensive set of empirical biomarkers has been established to aid in diagnosis and treatment of psychosis, a groundbreaking study has demonstrated.

Molecule that may lead to Chagas disease vaccine identified Posted: 08 Dec 2015 05:22 AM PST A molecule expressed by Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), which may facilitate the parasite's evasion of the host's immune system, has been identified by researchers.

How distracting is talking to your car? Researchers develop a new framework for measuring cognitive distraction Posted: 08 Dec 2015 05:22 AM PST Distractions while driving can come from visual, physical, and cognitive sources. A new framework for measuring cognitive distraction has now been outlined in a new article, followed by expert commentaries that suggest a way forward for reducing crash risk.

World's first ibuprofen patch created Posted: 08 Dec 2015 05:18 AM PST The world's first ever ibuprofen patch has been produced and patented, delivering the drug directly through skin to exactly where it is needed at a consistent dose rate.

New schizophrenia treatments may be effective for subgroup of patients Posted: 08 Dec 2015 05:18 AM PST Mounting evidence indicates that disturbances in the brain's glutamate pathway contribute to symptoms of schizophrenia. Thus, the glutamate pathway has become the target of a number of new drug therapies. Findings suggest that at least one of these drugs may be an effective treatment for individuals in the early course of the illness.

Microplastics: Rhine one of the most polluted rivers worldwide Posted: 08 Dec 2015 05:18 AM PST Between Basel and Rotterdam, the Rhine has one of the highest microplastics pollution so far measured in rivers, with the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan area showing peak numbers of up to four times the average. Among investigated rivers, the Rhine is thus among those most heavily polluted with microplastics, report researchers who evaluated, for the first time, the plastic concentration at the surface of one of the big European rivers.

Research probes influence of gender, background on doctors' career paths Posted: 08 Dec 2015 05:15 AM PST Junior doctors who opt to become surgeons in the National Health Services in England are more likely to be male, white and from a better-off background according to new research.

Gene that protects breast cancer patients against 'chemobrain' discovered Posted: 08 Dec 2015 05:15 AM PST Variation of a gene may have a role in protecting cancer patients from developing chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment, commonly known as 'chemofog' or 'chemobrain,' a team of researchers has established.

New clinical practice guidelines recommend use of arteries rather than veins in heart bypass surgery Posted: 08 Dec 2015 05:13 AM PST New clinical practice guidelines have been released that recommend expanding the use of arteries from the chest and forearm rather than using veins from the leg when performing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery in certain patients.

Getting the most from your stretching routine Posted: 08 Dec 2015 05:13 AM PST The conclusions of a systematic review of hundreds of studies contradict the most common static stretching findings from the last 15 years. This research reviews hundreds of studies to determine best way to stretch to improve range of motion, prevent injury during sports and exercise.

Anti-platelet therapy does not significantly reduce pain crises in sickle cell disease Posted: 08 Dec 2015 05:13 AM PST Treatment with the antiplatelet agent prasugrel does not significantly reduce the rate of pain crises or severe lung complications in children with sickle cell disease, according to a report describing one of the largest and most geographically diverse international clinical trials on sickle cell disease to date.

Alcohol aromatherapy eases nausea in the ER Posted: 08 Dec 2015 05:13 AM PST Nauseated patients in the emergency department who sniffed pads saturated with isopropyl alcohol were twice as likely to obtain relief from their symptoms as nauseated patients who sniffed pads saturated with saline solution, according to a study.

Link between polycystic ovarian syndrome in the mother and autism in the child Posted: 08 Dec 2015 05:13 AM PST Children born to mothers with polycystic ovarian syndrome, PCOS, are at an increased risk of developing autism spectrum disorders, according to a new epidemiological study from Sweden. The findings support the notion that exposure to sex hormones early in life may be important for the development of autism in both sexes.

Children with common allergies have twice heart disease risk Posted: 08 Dec 2015 05:13 AM PST Children with allergies, particularly asthma and hay fever, have about twice the rate of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, setting them on a course for heart disease at a surprisingly early age, reports a new study. Even when the study controlled for obesity, children with allergic disease had a much higher risk. The study suggests these children need to be screened more aggressively for high cholesterol and high blood pressure, so they can modify their lifestyles and reverse this risk.

Chemicals in e-cigarette flavors linked to respiratory disease Posted: 08 Dec 2015 05:13 AM PST Diacetyl, a flavoring chemical linked to cases of severe respiratory disease, was found in more than 75 percent of flavored electronic cigarettes and refill liquids tested by researchers. Two other potentially harmful related compounds were also found in many of the tested flavors, which included varieties with potential appeal to young people such as Cotton Candy, Fruit Squirts, and Cupcake.

Antidepressant with novel action appears safe, effective in clinical trial Posted: 08 Dec 2015 05:13 AM PST A small clinical trial of a novel antidepressant that stimulates neurogenesis -- the production of new brain cells -- shows that the compound appears to be safe and may be effective against depression.

Multiple myeloma patient study shows promise for natural killer cells Posted: 07 Dec 2015 06:47 PM PST A first-in-human Phase I study of multiple myeloma patients combined expanded cord blood-derived natural killer cells with transplantation of a patient's own stem cells and high-dose chemotherapy with little or none of the side effects seen with current treatments.

Blood thinner, antidiabetic drug mix increases hospitalizations Posted: 07 Dec 2015 06:47 PM PST A common blood thinner warfarin can have a potent interaction in patients treated for diabetes that may land them in the hospital, researchers have discovered.

New technology may standardize sickle cell disease screening for infants Posted: 07 Dec 2015 06:47 PM PST Researchers offer promising findings related to new technology aimed at facilitating early detection of sickle cell disease for infants in developing countries. Over half of babies born with sickle cell disease (SCD) in countries with limited resources die before age five. Over 6 million people in West and Central Africa suffer from the disease, which causes pain crises, widespread organ damage and early mortality.

Drug shows potential as safe, effective for most prevalent form of adult leukemia Posted: 07 Dec 2015 02:17 PM PST The new drug acalabrutinib (ACP-196) promotes high response rates that are durable in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) while producing minimal side effects, new clinical results reveal.

Three studies point to effectiveness of new therapies for multiple myeloma Posted: 07 Dec 2015 01:53 PM PST New drug combinations can significantly extend the time in which multiple myeloma is kept in check in patients with relapsed or treatment-resistant forms of the disease, new research indicates.

Leukemia patients who switched kinase inhibitors had favorable outcomes Posted: 07 Dec 2015 01:53 PM PST Chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients who stopped taking the kinase inhibitors, ibrutinib or idelalisib, had mostly favorable outcomes when they switched to the alternate therapy, report investigators.

Catching cellular impacts of bubbles and jets Posted: 07 Dec 2015 01:53 PM PST Researchers have devised a way to take an in-depth look at the diverse effects of jets produced by cavity bubbles on individual cells. These jets are a poorly understood phenomenon that occurs widely in medical procedures associated with therapeutic ultrasound, including those used in shattering kidney stones, delivering drugs to cells, and most recently, breaking the blood-brain barrier.

Breakthrough imaging tool maps cells' composition in 3-D Posted: 07 Dec 2015 01:40 PM PST A one-of-a-kind instrument lets scientists map cellular composition in three dimensions at the nanoscale, allowing researchers to watch how cells respond to new medications at the most minute level ever observed.

High response rates, long-term remissions seen in trials of personalized cellular therapy CTL019 for pediatric and adult blood cancers Posted: 07 Dec 2015 01:40 PM PST Ninety-three percent of pediatric patients (55 of 59) with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) went into remission after receiving an investigational therapy made from their own immune cells, with continuous remissions of over one year in 18 patients and over two years in nine patients. In an emerging new use of the same therapy, known as CTL019, more than half of patients (15 of 28) with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) also responded to infusions of the personalized cellular therapy.

Obesity contributes to metastasis in ovarian cancer patients Posted: 07 Dec 2015 01:39 PM PST An increased body mass index is associated with a greater risk for ovarian cancer with worse overall survival, a large number of studies have shown. However, the influence of obesity on ovarian cancer metastasis had not been evaluated. Researchers set out to determine whether obesity contributes to ovarian cancer metastatic success. In other words, are tumor cells better able to successfully metastasize when the "host" is obese versus lean?

Testosterone-lowering therapy for prostate cancer may increase Alzheimer's risk Posted: 07 Dec 2015 01:39 PM PST Men taking androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer were almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in the years that followed than those who didn't undergo the therapy, an analysis of medical records from two large hospital systems has shown.

Inmates getting access to medicaid upon release from jail or prison Posted: 07 Dec 2015 01:39 PM PST With the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, an entire new population is eligible for government health care: low-income men. A new study suggests that in a single year, just a small number of programs has helped more than 112,000 people exiting prison or jail -- the vast majority of whom are men -- get health care coverage for which they hadn't qualified in the past.

Reform model not yet helping people with mental illness Posted: 07 Dec 2015 01:39 PM PST People who are diagnosed with mental health conditions did not see improvements in coordination and quality of care as hoped but did not experience large cuts in access as some had feared under an early alternative payment model designed to encourage coordinated health care, according to a team of researchers.

Molecular shift stops stem cells in Drosophila from making tumors Posted: 07 Dec 2015 12:13 PM PST Scientists studying neural stem cells in the fruit fly Drosophila have uncovered a molecular change experienced by stem cells as they age. During development of the central nervous system, a protein is expressed that blocks tumor formation.

Scientists redefine arterial wall inflammation, offer cardiovascular disease treatment hope Posted: 07 Dec 2015 12:12 PM PST A specific cell type plays a key role in maintaining healthy arteries after inflammation, researchers have found. It's a discovery that could provide treatment options for cardiovascular disease -- one of the leading causes of death in North America.

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