ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• On-the-spot diagnosis of certain cancers and other diseases is closer to becoming a reality thanks to a sensitive biosensor
• Surface chemistry offers new approach to directing crystal formation in pharmaceutical industry
• Children born prematurely are disadvantaged at school and into adulthood but delaying school entry may not be the answer
• Low cost, 25 min TB-test could help reduce tuberculosis death rate among patients with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa
• Depression, high blood pressure, other chronic conditions may be common at MS diagnosis
• Don't let youth trip you; more than 50 percent of young adults fall, trip
• 'Dose-dense' chemo for premenopausal breast cancer patients improves survival
• New treatment regimen cuts severity of drug-resistant malaria in pregnancy
• Nicotine vaccine delays the drug's effects in mice
• High coronary calcium score may signal increased risk of cancer, kidney and lung disease
• Child care providers need more education, training on benefits of breastfeeding, human milk
• Small peptides attack ovarian cancer on two fronts, research shows
• Virtual time machine of Earth's geology now in the cloud
• Compounds restore antibiotics' efficacy against MRSA
• Combining two imaging technologies may better identify dangerous coronary plaques
• Physical activity encouraged more in boys than in girls
• Delivery strategies of chemotherapy to the central nervous system
• New intervention program reduces bullying in early childhood
• Periorbital transplantation may be promising alternative to protect vision in facial transplant candidates
• Can yoga help those experiencing depression, anxiety or PTSD?
• Excess heat significantly affects health of migratory workers
• Serotonin deficiency implicated in rheumatoid arthritis
• Work climate contributes significantly to working moms' decision to breastfeed
• Risks less likely to be reported by public-health researchers paid by industry or military
• Key step in process of Shigella infection identified
• Being bullied does not lead to higher substance abuse
• Vision restored in rabbits following stem cell transplantation
• Stem cells regenerate human lens after cataract surgery, restoring vision
• More dental patients could be spared the drill with new diagnostic liquid
• HIV patients in Africa with a specific genetic variant have much lower rate of TB
• Maternal bacterial infections trigger abnormal proliferation of neurons in fetal brain
• Study lays groundwork for potential bipolar disorder therapies
• Want a younger brain? Stay in school -- and take the stairs
• One-size-fits-all support services don't suit needs of younger grandmothers raising grandchildren
• Study seeks to reduce pediatric HIV infection rates in Africa
• Potential antibody treatment for H7 avian flu
• 'Big data' drills down into metabolic details
• New staffing model reveals unintended consequences in public mental health clinics
• Mechanism to regenerate heart tissue identified
• The gut: Performing into old age
• Changes in heart activity may signal epilepsy
• Self-harming youngsters put at risk by 'cycle of shame'
• Early childhood offers opportunity to head off metabolic syndrome, obesity
• Boosting fat-burning by blocking Gq proteins
• Imaging advance may bring earlier disease detection
• Widespread use of meldonium among elite athletes, research shows
• Research identifies first step in design of new anti-cancer drugs
• Incidence, risk factors for intracranial bleeding in older adults newly prescribed warfarin
• Get sleep sorted by age five to help children settle at school
• Nothing to sneeze at: Battling mucus to beat cancer
• Screening with tomosynthesis or ultrasound detects more cancers in dense breasts
• Dingo skull resistant to change from cross breeding with dogs, research shows
• New device shortens chest-tube insertion from minutes to seconds
• 25 percent of Texans say they don't understand basic health insurance terms
• Full dose radiotherapy to whole breast may not be needed in early breast cancer
• Gut Microbes Linked to Deadly Intestinal Disease in Preemies
• Cheap, simple tests could improve Alzheimer’s disease management at the bedside
• Tortoise and the hare of spinal neuronal circuits
• Drinkers tend to jump the gun
• Domestic violence during pregnancy doubles risk of preterm birth, low birth weight

On-the-spot diagnosis of certain cancers and other diseases is closer to becoming a reality thanks to a sensitive biosensor Posted: 09 Mar 2016 05:57 PM PST A compact optical device that can rapidly and sensitively detect biomarkers in urine has been developed. It has promise for developing simple point-of-care diagnosis of cancer and other diseases.

Surface chemistry offers new approach to directing crystal formation in pharmaceutical industry Posted: 09 Mar 2016 05:57 PM PST A study suggests the surface properties of the glass vessels in which pharmaceutical ingredients are prepared has an effect on how they crystallize.

Children born prematurely are disadvantaged at school and into adulthood but delaying school entry may not be the answer Posted: 09 Mar 2016 05:22 PM PST Children born before 34 weeks gestation have poorer reading and maths skills than those born at full term, and the difficulties they experience at school continue to have effects into adulthood: by the age of 42, adults who were born prematurely have lower incomes and are less likely to own their own home than those born at full term.

Low cost, 25 min TB-test could help reduce tuberculosis death rate among patients with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa Posted: 09 Mar 2016 05:21 PM PST A low cost, easy to use, urine test to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) among patients with HIV could help reduce the TB death rate of HIV-positive patients in hospital, according to a new study.

Depression, high blood pressure, other chronic conditions may be common at MS diagnosis Posted: 09 Mar 2016 03:29 PM PST People newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) may often have other chronic health conditions as well, according to a study. For the study, researchers examined how common several chronic conditions were in 23,382 people with MS at the time of their diagnosis and 116,638 people of the same age and sex without the disease.

Don't let youth trip you; more than 50 percent of young adults fall, trip Posted: 09 Mar 2016 03:28 PM PST Young adults fall more frequently than expected, and most falls occur during everyday activities such walking and talking, according to new research. 'The most commonly cited statistic is that one in three older adults falls each year due to age-related changes in balance, and in this four-month study, more than half of the college students fell during daily activities,' said a professor of health and kinesiology.

'Dose-dense' chemo for premenopausal breast cancer patients improves survival Posted: 09 Mar 2016 03:28 PM PST Premenopausal women with breast cancer have a better chance of survival if they are given cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy closer together, every two weeks rather than every three weeks. Furthermore, this regime does not increase the risk of early menopause, according to results of a meta-analysis of trials involving over 3,000 patients.

New treatment regimen cuts severity of drug-resistant malaria in pregnancy Posted: 09 Mar 2016 03:28 PM PST A two-drug preventive treatment greatly reduces the severity of malaria during pregnancy, according to a new study. The treatment provides an alternative for many parts of Africa where the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum has grown resistant to standard treatment.

Nicotine vaccine delays the drug's effects in mice Posted: 09 Mar 2016 01:07 PM PST Many people who smoke want to quit, but the urge to light up is often irresistible. An effective vaccine to help people kick the habit once and for all has been elusive. But now, scientists report on a new vaccine design that could help achieve this goal.

High coronary calcium score may signal increased risk of cancer, kidney and lung disease Posted: 09 Mar 2016 12:34 PM PST A high coronary artery calcium score puts people at greater risk not only for heart and vascular disease but also for cancer, chronic kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a 10-year follow-up study of more than 6,000 people who underwent heart CT scans suggests.

Child care providers need more education, training on benefits of breastfeeding, human milk Posted: 09 Mar 2016 12:18 PM PST A research team investigated individual child care centers' attitudes and policies related to breastfeeding in two distinct areas in Philadelphia. Their research concluded that there is much room for improvement in educating and training child care providers and staff on the benefits of breastfeeding and human milk.

Small peptides attack ovarian cancer on two fronts, research shows Posted: 09 Mar 2016 12:18 PM PST Two forms of a peptide derived from a naturally-occurring human protein can force tumors to shrink significantly in an animal model of metastatic ovarian cancer, according to a team of researchers.

Virtual time machine of Earth's geology now in the cloud Posted: 09 Mar 2016 12:18 PM PST Cloud-based virtual globes developed by a team led by University of Sydney geologists mean anyone with a smartphone, laptop or computer can now visualize, with unprecedented speed and ease of use, how the Earth evolved geologically.

Compounds restore antibiotics' efficacy against MRSA Posted: 09 Mar 2016 12:18 PM PST Antibiotics rendered useless by the notorious methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, (MRSA) may get a second life, thanks to compounds that can restore the bug's susceptibility to antibiotics, according to a new study in mice.

Combining two imaging technologies may better identify dangerous coronary plaques Posted: 09 Mar 2016 12:18 PM PST Combing optical coherence tomography with near-infrared autofluorescence imaging may more accurately identify coronary artery plaques that are most likely to rupture and cause a heart attack, say investigators.

Physical activity encouraged more in boys than in girls Posted: 09 Mar 2016 12:18 PM PST School and family influences on physical activity may be stronger in boys than in girls in Australia, according to a new study.

Delivery strategies of chemotherapy to the central nervous system Posted: 09 Mar 2016 11:00 AM PST The blood-brain barrier and the blood-tumor barrier remain great obstacles to the drug delivery to brain tumors. A new paper reviews the importance of BBB and BTB and the current status and future perspectives of these delivery procedures.

New intervention program reduces bullying in early childhood Posted: 09 Mar 2016 11:00 AM PST Physical and relational bullying can happen among children as young as 3- to 5-years-old, but the results of a new study suggest that a relatively short intervention program recently developed by researchers can lead to significant reductions in some of these behaviors.

Periorbital transplantation may be promising alternative to protect vision in facial transplant candidates Posted: 09 Mar 2016 11:00 AM PST Transplantation of the periorbital tissues -- the area surrounding the eyes -- is a 'technically feasible' alternative to protect a functioning eye in some patients being considered for facial transplant, according to a new study.

Can yoga help those experiencing depression, anxiety or PTSD? Posted: 09 Mar 2016 11:00 AM PST Across the country, health and human service providers have shown a growing interest in using yoga as an option for treating people who experience mental health problems. But a recent study has found that while there are some promising benefits to using yoga, there isn't yet enough evidence to support the practice as a standalone solution for improving mental health and well-being.

Excess heat significantly affects health of migratory workers Posted: 09 Mar 2016 11:00 AM PST Hot weather is significantly associated with clinical visits among migratory farmworkers compared to other patients, according to a study. Migratory farmworkers are those who travel for agricultural work while seasonal workers do not change homes or travel away from their established homes for work.

Serotonin deficiency implicated in rheumatoid arthritis Posted: 09 Mar 2016 11:00 AM PST For the first time, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) has been directly implicated in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A new report shows that experimentally-induced RA in serotonin-deficient mice is worse than disease reported in controls and that some effects of RA can be reduced by serotonin or its agonists (compounds that activate serotonin receptors).

Work climate contributes significantly to working moms' decision to breastfeed Posted: 09 Mar 2016 10:58 AM PST Breastfeeding is healthy for baby and for Mom. Research finds there are obstacles to both receiving the full benefits. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continuation of breastfeeding for 12 months or longer. The Affordable Care Act requires employers to provide time and a space for mothers to express milk.

Risks less likely to be reported by public-health researchers paid by industry or military Posted: 09 Mar 2016 10:58 AM PST Scientists looking for environmental and occupational health risks are less likely to find them if they have a financial tie to firms that make, use, or dispose of industrial and commercial products, a researcher has found.

Key step in process of Shigella infection identified Posted: 09 Mar 2016 10:58 AM PST Researchers have discovered a key mechanism used by Shigella to delivery proteins into target host cells. Their findings may apply to additional bacterial species, including those responsible for typhoid fever, bubonic plague and many hospital-acquired pneumonias.

Being bullied does not lead to higher substance abuse Posted: 09 Mar 2016 10:57 AM PST Students who were bullied in third grade did not have a greater risk of using drugs or alcohol by ninth grade, a new study concludes. But the researchers found that children who had experienced the highest level of victimization smoked cigarettes or used alcohol at higher rates than high school peers.

Vision restored in rabbits following stem cell transplantation Posted: 09 Mar 2016 10:57 AM PST Scientists have demonstrated a method for generating several key types of eye tissue from human stem cells in a way that mirrors whole eye development.

Stem cells regenerate human lens after cataract surgery, restoring vision Posted: 09 Mar 2016 10:56 AM PST Researchers have developed a new, regenerative medicine approach to remove congenital cataracts in infants, permitting remaining stem cells to regrow functional lenses.

More dental patients could be spared the drill with new diagnostic liquid Posted: 09 Mar 2016 10:02 AM PST A dentist has created a simple diagnostic liquid solution that can be applied to the surface of a patient's teeth prior to a dental X-ray and which will help show dentists whether a tooth has cavitated decay or is pre-cavity.

HIV patients in Africa with a specific genetic variant have much lower rate of TB Posted: 09 Mar 2016 10:01 AM PST In the first known discovery of its kind, a team has found that HIV patients in Africa with a certain genetic variant have a 63-percent lower chance of developing tuberculosis than HIV patients without the genetic variant.

Maternal bacterial infections trigger abnormal proliferation of neurons in fetal brain Posted: 09 Mar 2016 10:01 AM PST Scientists have identified a mechanism that might explain the link between maternal infections during pregnancy and cognitive problems in children. These findings may impact clinical care, they say.

Study lays groundwork for potential bipolar disorder therapies Posted: 09 Mar 2016 09:57 AM PST Bipolar disorder, which affects nearly eight million Americans, takes a toll not only on patients, but also on their families and communities. In the new study, the researchers focused on a gene known as PDE10A, one of the many genes that has been linked to bipolar disorder, and the proteins this gene produces.

Want a younger brain? Stay in school -- and take the stairs Posted: 09 Mar 2016 09:55 AM PST A new study shows that the more flights of stairs a person climbs, and the more years of school a person completes, the 'younger' their brain physically appears.

One-size-fits-all support services don't suit needs of younger grandmothers raising grandchildren Posted: 09 Mar 2016 09:54 AM PST Younger African-American grandmothers who are the primary caregivers for their grandchildren may have different needs than older grandmothers, possibly requiring different types of support to reduce depression and improve the quality of their mental health, according to researchers.

Study seeks to reduce pediatric HIV infection rates in Africa Posted: 09 Mar 2016 09:54 AM PST Mother-to-child transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, is still a major problem in resource-limited, rural areas of the world where health care providers are scarce. A new study is trying to reduce those rates in Africa.

Potential antibody treatment for H7 avian flu Posted: 09 Mar 2016 09:54 AM PST Researchers have isolated human antibodies against a type of bird flu that has killed more than 200 people in China since 2012 and which may pose a worldwide pandemic threat.

'Big data' drills down into metabolic details Posted: 09 Mar 2016 09:54 AM PST Bioengineers have introduced a fast computational method to model tissue-specific metabolic pathways that may help find new therapeutic targets for cancer and other diseases.

New staffing model reveals unintended consequences in public mental health clinics Posted: 09 Mar 2016 09:54 AM PST Community mental health clinics have been relying more on independent contractors to treat patients, largely for budgetary reasons. Many of these clinics have simultaneously been moving towards the greater use of evidence-based psychosocial practices, broadly defined as talk therapies that are informed by rigorous research as well as clinician expertise and patient preferences. A new study suggests that these two trends may be in conflict.

Mechanism to regenerate heart tissue identified Posted: 09 Mar 2016 09:52 AM PST New discoveries about the mechanisms underlying the regeneration of heart tissue raise hope that drugs can be identified to help the body grow muscle cells and remove scar tissue, important steps in the regeneration of heart tissue.

The gut: Performing into old age Posted: 09 Mar 2016 09:52 AM PST A breakthrough in basic research and the first comprehensive study on the secretory activity of the human intestine: over a period of eight years, medical researchers have examined more than 2,200 specimens from around 450 patients with bowel disease. The findings are startling: contrary to common beliefs, the secretory capacity of the human gut doesn't decline with age. Nor does gender play a role.

Changes in heart activity may signal epilepsy Posted: 09 Mar 2016 09:52 AM PST Researchers have found that the parasympathetic nervous system modulates breathing and slows the heart rate of sleeping children with epilepsy substantially more than in healthy children. The finding may have implications for diagnosing and treating the disease and understanding sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.

Self-harming youngsters put at risk by 'cycle of shame' Posted: 09 Mar 2016 09:52 AM PST Young people who self-harm avoid Accident and Emergency departments wherever possible, new research concludes. These youth say that they have received punitive treatment from staff, and these experiences perpetuate a cycle of shame, avoidance and further self-harm.

Early childhood offers opportunity to head off metabolic syndrome, obesity Posted: 09 Mar 2016 09:52 AM PST Exposure to poverty does not produce metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers in young, healthy children and identifies childhood as an opportunity to prevent a known association in adults between poverty and the metabolic syndrome, new research suggests. The study is one of the first to characterize the timing of exposure and the emergence of the physiologic changes leading to cardio-metabolic disease and to document these relationships during this critical developmental period.

Boosting fat-burning by blocking Gq proteins Posted: 09 Mar 2016 09:48 AM PST The number of overweight people is increasing worldwide -- and thus the risk of developing diabetes or cardiovascular disease. For this reason, many dream of an active substance which would simply melt off fat deposits. An international team of scientists has now come one small step closer to this dream: The team discovered a switch in the fat cells of mice and humans with which excess pounds can be burned off.

Imaging advance may bring earlier disease detection Posted: 09 Mar 2016 09:48 AM PST Scientists have devised a technique for visualizing tissues that could aid diagnosis and treatment of diseases including cancer.

Widespread use of meldonium among elite athletes, research shows Posted: 09 Mar 2016 09:48 AM PST The use of meldonium -- the substance taken by tennis star Maria Sharapova -- is widespread among elite athletes, reveals new research.

Research identifies first step in design of new anti-cancer drugs Posted: 09 Mar 2016 09:47 AM PST New research has identified a first step in the design of a new generation of anti-cancer drugs that include an agent to inhibit resistance to their effectiveness.

Incidence, risk factors for intracranial bleeding in older adults newly prescribed warfarin Posted: 09 Mar 2016 09:47 AM PST A new study included 31,951 US veterans with atrial fibrillation, 75 years or older, who were new referrals to Veterans Affairs anticoagulation clinics (for warfarin therapy) between 2002 and 2012. The researchers found that the rate of traumatic intracranial bleeding among older adults with AF initiating warfarin therapy was higher than previously reported in clinical trials.

Get sleep sorted by age five to help children settle at school Posted: 09 Mar 2016 07:11 AM PST A child who soothes themselves back to sleep from an early age adjusts to school more easily than those who don't, new research has found.

Nothing to sneeze at: Battling mucus to beat cancer Posted: 09 Mar 2016 07:11 AM PST What do cancer cells and a runny nose have in common? Researchers say the answer may hold the key to making cancer treatment better. They have discovered a new gene target -- a chink in pancreatic cancer's defensive armor. Their discovery may point to new targeted therapies and a way to help make current treatments for this deadly cancer more effective.

Screening with tomosynthesis or ultrasound detects more cancers in dense breasts Posted: 09 Mar 2016 07:10 AM PST In women with dense breasts, adding either tomosynthesis (a form of 3-D mammography) or ultrasound scans to standard mammograms can detect breast cancers that would have been missed, according to new results.

Dingo skull resistant to change from cross breeding with dogs, research shows Posted: 09 Mar 2016 07:10 AM PST Australia's largest predator, the dingo, is resistant to one of the main threats to its survival as a species -- changes to skull shape brought about by cross breeding (hybridization) with dogs, research shows.

New device shortens chest-tube insertion from minutes to seconds Posted: 09 Mar 2016 06:46 AM PST Pneumothorax is a medical emergency: the collection of air in the pleural space separating the lung from the chest wall, causing it to collapse and resulting in suffocation. Pneumothorax is caused by chest trauma, and is believed to be responsible for over a third of preventable deaths on the battlefield and in terror attacks. A new device dramatically shortens the treatment for this condition.

25 percent of Texans say they don't understand basic health insurance terms Posted: 09 Mar 2016 06:43 AM PST Approximately 25 percent of Texans say they lack confidence in understanding some of the most basic terminology about health insurance plans, according to a new report. The report found uninsured, low-income and Hispanic Texans were least likely to understand health-plan terms like "premium," "copayment" and "provider network."

Full dose radiotherapy to whole breast may not be needed in early breast cancer Posted: 09 Mar 2016 06:43 AM PST Five years after breast-conserving surgery, radiotherapy focused around the tumor bed is as good at preventing recurrence as irradiating the whole breast, with fewer side effects, researchers have found.

Gut Microbes Linked to Deadly Intestinal Disease in Preemies Posted: 09 Mar 2016 05:36 AM PST An imbalance of certain gut microbes appears to be the underlying cause of a frequently fatal intestinal illness in premature babies, according to new research.

Cheap, simple tests could improve Alzheimer’s disease management at the bedside Posted: 09 Mar 2016 05:35 AM PST Small, sensitive biosensors could help doctors deliver personalized care, even in developing countries. A portable biosensor that could show how disease is progressing in patients with Alzheimer's could greatly improve people's quality of life in the future, according to a new review.

Tortoise and the hare of spinal neuronal circuits Posted: 09 Mar 2016 05:34 AM PST Changes in one circuit of nerves, but not another, in the spinal cord depend on how quickly muscles must move to complete a task, according to results of a new study. The results could influence physical therapy routines for patients struggling to control their bodies after a stroke or spine injury.

Drinkers tend to jump the gun Posted: 09 Mar 2016 05:32 AM PST Why do we make bad choices? In particular, why do we rush into decisions? In humans, the tendency to show poor behavioral control is one of the hallmarks of people prone to alcohol use disorders. A new report sheds light on why people with alcohol use disorders make one form of maladaptive decision-making, the tendency to "jump the gun." It is known that rodents with high waiting impulsivity, which is the tendency to respond prematurely, are more likely to develop addiction-like behaviors.

Domestic violence during pregnancy doubles risk of preterm birth, low birth weight Posted: 09 Mar 2016 05:31 AM PST Domestic violence by a partner or ex-partner during pregnancy increases the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight and small-for-gestational-age babies, finds a study.

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