ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Scientists use synthetic gene, magnets to alter behavior of mice, fish
• New imaging method makes gall bladder removals, other procedures more safe
• Colorectal cancer biomarker discovered, leading to potential personalized treatment
• Lead exposure changes gut microbiota, increases chance for obesity
• New gene variants found in childhood body mass index
• Protein increases signals that protect cancer cells, study finds
• Form of genetically elevated 'good' cholesterol may actually be bad
• Patterns of brain swelling may explain susceptibility of children to cerebral malaria
• New class of drugs specifically induces cell death in B cell blood cancers
• Link between gum disease and cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s
• HIV-infected young males have higher rates of bone loss than females
• Fighting cavities could one day be as easy as taking a pill, research shows
• Surgery improves survival rates for men with prostate cancer if radiation treatments fail
• Final review of health problems that may be linked to Agent Orange exposure during Vietnam War
• Negative cancer trials: Short-term whimper, long-term bang
• Scientists synthesize anti-cancer agent
• Two out of five U.S. infants from low-income families are not vaccinated against rotavirus
• Virility drug may boost skin cancer growth
• Combination of lapatinib and trastuzumab shrinks HER2 positive breast cancer significantly in 11 days after diagnosis
• Possible marker for lung cancer chemotherapy identified
• Wealth doesn't protect US blacks from greater chance of incarceration
• Scientists may have found the 'trigger' of Alzheimer's disease
• Gut microbes influence platelet function, risk of thrombosis, study shows
• Modified form of CRISPR acts as a toggle switch to control gene expression in stem cells
• Higher ozone, lower humidity levels associated with dry eye disease
• Revision rates, patient characteristics in those undergoing septorhinoplasty
• Grid cells' role in human imagination revealed
• Super-clear synapses at super resolutions
• Disproving hypothesis clears path for research for new treatment options for schizophrenia
• Scientists watch activity of newborn brain cells in mice; reveal they are required for memory
• Reverse engineering human biology with organs-on-chips
• Brown fat may warm us up at dawn
• Widely used kidney cancer drugs can't stop recurrence
• Oxytocin can improve compassion in people with symptoms of PTSD
• Enzyme involved in glucose metabolism promotes wound healing, study finds
• Is hip arthroscopic surgery a sham? Researchers seek answer
• Adapting soccer training to age
• To prevent cancer in butterfly disease patients
• Bus drivers' health at risk due to sedentary behavior, research reveals
• Major breakthrough in new MRI scan technology for lung disease
• Optimization in sport optimal fixture scheduling
• Researchers optimize methods to study neurons during motor activity
• Nutritional drink can help to conserve memory in case of prodromal Alzheimer's disease
• News coverage of Fukushima disaster found lacking
• 'Daedalus dilemma' of the immune system
• Robust method for analysis of intestinal bacteria
• Blood stem cells study could pave the way for new cancer therapy
• New type of protein clump may be implicated in ALS
• Gene may worsen cancer outcome by speeding metabolism of drugs
• Hispanic women who identify as white are healthier than those who don't
• Does ethnicity affect breast cancer biology?
• ADHD or just immature?
• Sexual responses can be learned, unlearned
• Breast cancer has a higher incidence in obese women because fat facilitates cancer stem cells expansion
• Blast behaviour research could save British troops
• Tracking the 'social networks' of genes disrupted in complex diseases
• Repetitive body movements may form long-lasting motor memory
• Major differences between male and female breast cancers uncovered, but male patients still disadvantaged by lack of research

Scientists use synthetic gene, magnets to alter behavior of mice, fish Posted: 10 Mar 2016 01:49 PM PST Neurons in the brain that have been supplemented with a synthetic gene can be remotely manipulated by a magnetic field, scientists have shown. The finding has implications for possible future treatment of a range of neurological diseases, such as schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease.

New imaging method makes gall bladder removals, other procedures more safe Posted: 10 Mar 2016 01:48 PM PST Researchers have discovered an optimal way to image the bile ducts during gallbladder removal surgeries using a tested and safe dye and a real-time near-infrared florescence laparoscopic camera.

Colorectal cancer biomarker discovered, leading to potential personalized treatment Posted: 10 Mar 2016 12:50 PM PST Researchers report that they have found markedly low levels of the protein NLRX1 in multiple laboratory models of colorectal cancer, and in samples of human tissue. Studies have shown that the protein is known to be involved in regulating immune system signals in order to prevent hyperactive inflammatory responses by the immune system, but now researchers believe their finding also points to a role for the protein in preventing colorectal cancer growth. Based on their findings, they believe they've identified a potential treatment for colorectal cancer with low NLRX1.

Lead exposure changes gut microbiota, increases chance for obesity Posted: 10 Mar 2016 12:50 PM PST Exposure to lead during early development can alter the the gut microbiota, increasing the chances for obesity in adulthood, researcher have found.

New gene variants found in childhood body mass index Posted: 10 Mar 2016 12:44 PM PST An international team of scientists has identified novel gene locations associated with childhood body mass index -- an important measurement related to childhood obesity. This largest-ever genetic study of childhood BMI may offer biological clues to designing future interventions.

Protein increases signals that protect cancer cells, study finds Posted: 10 Mar 2016 11:38 AM PST Researchers have identified a link between the expression of a cancer-related gene and cell-surface molecules that protect tumors from the immune system.

Form of genetically elevated 'good' cholesterol may actually be bad Posted: 10 Mar 2016 11:38 AM PST The generally accepted medical maxim that elevated HDL cholesterol is 'good' has been overturned by a multi-center, international study, They show that a certain genetic cause of increased HDL-C may actually be 'bad,' noting that a specific mutation in a gene which encodes a cell receptor protein that binds to HDL prevents the receptor from functioning. It causes an increased risk of heart disease even in the presence of elevated levels of 'good' cholesterol.

Patterns of brain swelling may explain susceptibility of children to cerebral malaria Posted: 10 Mar 2016 11:37 AM PST Brain swelling is a strong predictor of death in children with cerebral malaria (a severe form of the disease where parasites have accumulated in brain vessels), and also in mice with experimental cerebral malaria. A high-resolution whole brain imaging analysis of swelling in ECM suggests that cerebral malaria depends on the permissive environment in a specific brain area.

New class of drugs specifically induces cell death in B cell blood cancers Posted: 10 Mar 2016 11:14 AM PST New research shows how one protein found on the endoplasmic reticulum can serve as a target for stimulating the immune system and a more direct target for cellular death in B cell malignancies. B cell malignancies include illnesses like chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma.

Link between gum disease and cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s Posted: 10 Mar 2016 11:13 AM PST A new study has found a link between gum disease and greater rates of cognitive decline in people with early stages of Alzheimer's Disease.Periodontitis or gum disease is common in older people and may become more common in Alzheimer's disease because of a reduced ability to take care of oral hygiene as the disease progresses. Higher levels of antibodies to periodontal bacteria are associated with an increase in levels of inflammatory molecules elsewhere in the body, which in turn has been linked to greater rates of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease in previous studies. The latest study set out to determine whether periodontitis or gum disease is associated with increased dementia severity and subsequent greater progression of cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer's disease.

HIV-infected young males have higher rates of bone loss than females Posted: 10 Mar 2016 11:12 AM PST Rates of low bone mass are greater in HIV-infected males than in females, accumulating evidence suggests. Researchers studied 11 biomarkers associated with inflammation, bone loss and/or bone formation in about 450 individuals -- assessed by sex and HIV status -- to try to determine causes of this differential bone loss.

Fighting cavities could one day be as easy as taking a pill, research shows Posted: 10 Mar 2016 11:12 AM PST Researchers have identified a new strain of bacteria in the mouth that may keep bad bacteria in check -- and could lead to a way to prevent cavities using probiotics.

Surgery improves survival rates for men with prostate cancer if radiation treatments fail Posted: 10 Mar 2016 11:12 AM PST Approximately 14 percent of men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lifetimes. Radiation therapy traditionally has been a primary treatment for the cancer, but one-fourth of men have a recurrence of prostate cancer within five years after the therapy. Now, a researcher has found that a complex procedure to remove the prostate achieves excellent long-term survival for men after radiation therapy has failed.

Final review of health problems that may be linked to Agent Orange exposure during Vietnam War Posted: 10 Mar 2016 11:12 AM PST The latest and final in a series of congressionally mandated biennial reviews of the evidence of health problems that may be linked to exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides used during the Vietnam War changed the categorization of health outcomes for bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and spina bifida and clarified the breadth of the previous finding for Parkinson's disease.

Negative cancer trials: Short-term whimper, long-term bang Posted: 10 Mar 2016 09:56 AM PST Cancer clinical trials with negative results don't make an immediate splash in the scientific literature, but they do have a long-term impact on cancer research, according to a new study.

Scientists synthesize anti-cancer agent Posted: 10 Mar 2016 09:56 AM PST Trioxacarcin molecules bind to the DNA of targeted cells and prevent them from replicating, report researchers. This has allowed scientists to develop a new process for the synthesis of a series of potent anti-cancer agents originally found in bacteria.

Two out of five U.S. infants from low-income families are not vaccinated against rotavirus Posted: 10 Mar 2016 09:55 AM PST Rotavirus (RV) infection is the leading cause of diarrheal disease in young children worldwide. Results of a new study show that of the infants who received the first dose of either Rotarix or Rotateq, less than 60% and 50%, respectively, completed the entire series, and researchers noted a link between family income and compliance rate.

Virility drug may boost skin cancer growth Posted: 10 Mar 2016 09:55 AM PST A signaling pathway in melanoma cells is affected by erectile dysfunction drug Sildenafil, biochemists have discovered. Sildenafil is used to treat erectile dysfunction and is the active ingredient in a number of drugs which have been on the market since the late 1990s. Sildenafil is now also contained in a number of generic products for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Combination of lapatinib and trastuzumab shrinks HER2 positive breast cancer significantly in 11 days after diagnosis Posted: 10 Mar 2016 09:55 AM PST Approximately a quarter of women with HER2 positive breast cancer, who were treated with a combination of the targeted drugs lapatinib and trastuzumab before surgery and chemotherapy, saw their tumors shrink significantly or even disappear, according to results from a clinical trial.

Possible marker for lung cancer chemotherapy identified Posted: 10 Mar 2016 09:53 AM PST The activity level -- expression -- of the SMARCA4/BRG1 gene in lung tumors might identify lung-cancer patients who will likely be helped by a particular chemotherapy regimen given to prevent tumor recurrence after surgery, report researchers.

Wealth doesn't protect US blacks from greater chance of incarceration Posted: 10 Mar 2016 09:53 AM PST The chances of incarceration in America are always higher for blacks than for whites or Hispanics, regardless of their level of wealth, according to a new study. In addition, blacks and Hispanics who had previously served jail time were significantly poorer than their white counterparts.

Scientists may have found the 'trigger' of Alzheimer's disease Posted: 10 Mar 2016 09:53 AM PST Scientists have succeeded in sorting out the mechanism of Alzheimer's disease development and possibly distinguished its key trigger.

Gut microbes influence platelet function, risk of thrombosis, study shows Posted: 10 Mar 2016 09:53 AM PST Gut microbes alter platelet function and risk of blood clot-related illnesses like heart attack and stroke, researchers have demonstrated -- for the first time -- through a combination of both clinical studies of over 4,000 patients and animal model studies.

Modified form of CRISPR acts as a toggle switch to control gene expression in stem cells Posted: 10 Mar 2016 09:52 AM PST Combining the two most powerful biological tools of the 21st century, scientists have modified how the genome of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is read for the first time using a variation of the CRISPR-Cas9 system. The development offers a major technological advance in creating cell models of genetic diseases.

Higher ozone, lower humidity levels associated with dry eye disease Posted: 10 Mar 2016 09:49 AM PST The associations between outdoor air pollution and dry eye disease has been the focus of recent study. Researchers made a link in a study of the Korean population.

Revision rates, patient characteristics in those undergoing septorhinoplasty Posted: 10 Mar 2016 09:49 AM PST The overall revision rate for septorhinoplasty (a surgical procedure to fix the nose and nasal septum) was low at 3.3 percent although certain patient characteristics were associated with an increased rate of revision, according to an article.

Grid cells' role in human imagination revealed Posted: 10 Mar 2016 09:49 AM PST Evidence of grid cell activity has been seen in healthy volunteers asked to imagine moving through an environment. The study used fMRI scans to detect brain activity consistent with grid cell activity in the entorhinal cortex, an important 'hub' for navigation and memory. The entorhinal cortex is one of the first areas affected by Alzheimer's disease, so the latest research could help to explain why people with Alzheimer's can have problems imagining as well as remembering things.

Super-clear synapses at super resolutions Posted: 10 Mar 2016 09:49 AM PST Researchers have developed a way to obtain super-resolution 3-D images of delicate structures deep in the brain.The work describes a new process for making brain tissue transparent that outperforms other methods and allows extremely detailed imaging of tiny but important structures within neurons.

Disproving hypothesis clears path for research for new treatment options for schizophrenia Posted: 10 Mar 2016 09:49 AM PST Researchers reported negative results from the first repeated-dose study of a dopamine-1 receptor (D1R) agonist for treating cognitive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.Based on earlier preclinical research suggesting that reduced signaling through the D1R might contribute to these symptoms, scientists speculated that administering ultra-low doses of D1R agonists might counteract these symptoms. For over a decade, researchers have sought to reproduce comparable results in clinical studies, with mixed findings and no definitive answers.

Scientists watch activity of newborn brain cells in mice; reveal they are required for memory Posted: 10 Mar 2016 09:49 AM PST Neuroscientists have described the activity of newly generated brain cells in awake mice -- a process known as adult neurogenesis -- and revealed the critical role these cells play in forming memories. The new research also offers clues as to what happens when the memory-encoding process goes awry.

Reverse engineering human biology with organs-on-chips Posted: 10 Mar 2016 09:48 AM PST While some suggest that organs-on-chips oversimplify human biology, they have been able to reconstitute complex organ-level functions, which has led to new insights into what is and what isn't necessary for life to function. Experts have now described how organs-on-chips offer a powerful way to analyze organ function and human pathophysiology, in addition to providing a potential way to replace animal testing and advance personalized medicine.

Brown fat may warm us up at dawn Posted: 10 Mar 2016 09:48 AM PST Brown fat is well known for protecting the body from cold temperatures, and now researchers have discovered that this cell type in humans shows circadian rhythms in its consumption of glucose -- an energy fuel for heat production. These rhythms, which rise just before waking, may have evolved as a thermal defense mechanism to prepare our ancestors for hunting and gathering in the coldest morning hours.

Widely used kidney cancer drugs can't stop recurrence Posted: 10 Mar 2016 08:24 AM PST Two widely used targeted therapy drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of metastatic kidney cancer—sorafenib and sunitinib—are no more effective than a placebo in preventing return of the disease to increase life spans of patients suffering from advanced kidney cancer after surgery, according to a new multi-institutional study.

Oxytocin can improve compassion in people with symptoms of PTSD Posted: 10 Mar 2016 08:24 AM PST Oxytocin -- "the love hormone" -- may enhance compassion of people suffering from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to new study. Compassion is pro-social motivation to help others who are in distress. It is an outcome of emotional of empathy -- the ability to recognize the feelings of others, and cognitive empathy -- the ability to understand what another person feels and think.

Enzyme involved in glucose metabolism promotes wound healing, study finds Posted: 10 Mar 2016 08:23 AM PST An enzyme involved in glucose metabolism in cells plays a major role in the early steps of wound healing, a finding that could lead to new therapeutic approaches for wound care, according to researchers.

Is hip arthroscopic surgery a sham? Researchers seek answer Posted: 10 Mar 2016 08:23 AM PST Arthroscopic hip surgeries have replaced open surgeries as the go-to cure for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). The number of such procedures increased 18-fold in the U.S. within a decade. However, the evidence to date on whether hip arthroscopy works is not conclusive, say investigators.

Adapting soccer training to age Posted: 10 Mar 2016 08:21 AM PST Research advises against using certain training techniques in junior soccer, and instead, suggests a training method using so-called small-sided games (or long ones, depending on the dimensions and number of players) is very widespread in different sports. Small-sided games or 'game-based training' are sports competitions or game-based training generally played by a smaller number of players and on smaller pitches (compared with 11-a-side soccer) in which all the internal logic components of the game are kept in a way that is adaptable and motivating for the players.

To prevent cancer in butterfly disease patients Posted: 10 Mar 2016 08:21 AM PST Fragile skin that blisters easily: 90 percent of the patients that suffer from the skin condition recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) develop rapidly progressing cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas, a type of skin cancer, by the age of 55. 80 percent of these patients will die due to metastasis within five years after the cancer has been first detected. Researchers have now discovered how the two diseases are connected and which molecular mechanisms underlie the aggressive behavior of squamous cell carcinomas in RDEB patients.

Bus drivers' health at risk due to sedentary behavior, research reveals Posted: 10 Mar 2016 08:21 AM PST A new pilot study is underway into bus drivers' sedentary behavior (prolonged sitting) during and outside working hours. Bus drivers are typically sitting for more than 12 hours a day due to the demands of the job -- three hours longer than office workers.

Major breakthrough in new MRI scan technology for lung disease Posted: 10 Mar 2016 08:20 AM PST New scanning technology which will give a much clearer picture of lung disease, say researchers, who report that the technology has taken a major step forward.

Optimization in sport optimal fixture scheduling Posted: 10 Mar 2016 08:20 AM PST Every day, thousands of sports organisations, associations, clubs and competition organisers have to schedule fixtures for leagues and tournaments all over the world. Who is playing who, and when? A Norwegian company is aiming to become a world leader in fixture scheduling for handball, football and volleyball tournaments.

Researchers optimize methods to study neurons during motor activity Posted: 10 Mar 2016 08:19 AM PST Researchers have optimized the techniques for studying motor learning in order to repeatedly assess the activity of neurons for days, weeks, or even months. These sophisticated approaches allow the further characterization of the neurons that are continuously engaged during motor activity and normal behavior.

Nutritional drink can help to conserve memory in case of prodromal Alzheimer's disease Posted: 10 Mar 2016 08:19 AM PST This is the first time a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial has shown that a nutritional intervention can help to conserve the ability of prodromal AD patients to carry out everyday tasks, such as paying bills, or finding your way around, as measured by the Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) -- a combined measure for the ability to think and perform everyday tasks. This is important because those with prodromal AD currently have no approved, available pharmacological options.

News coverage of Fukushima disaster found lacking Posted: 10 Mar 2016 08:18 AM PST A new analysis finds that US news media coverage following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan minimized health risks to the general population.

'Daedalus dilemma' of the immune system Posted: 10 Mar 2016 08:18 AM PST Our immune system constantly fights off bacteria and viruses and while doing so needs to find a critical balance between over- and under-reaction. How this balancing act is regulated at the molecular levels was so far poorly understood. First insights are now provided by a scientific team which reports that in the defense against group A Streptococci a perfectly synchronized interplay of two immune substances is the key.

Robust method for analysis of intestinal bacteria Posted: 10 Mar 2016 08:15 AM PST A research group from Russia have proposed a new method for the comparison of microbiota (bacteria living in and on human body; metagenome) DNA sequences. The method makes it possible to more effectively and quickly solve the task of comparing samples and can be easily embedded in the data-analysis process of any metagenome study. The developed technique allows to investigate differences between bacterial communities in our organisms more efficient and accurate.

Blood stem cells study could pave the way for new cancer therapy Posted: 10 Mar 2016 08:15 AM PST People with leukemia could be helped by new research that sheds light on how the body produces its blood supply. Enabling scientists to grow the stem cells artificially from pluripotent stem cells could also lead to the development of personalized blood therapies, researchers say.

New type of protein clump may be implicated in ALS Posted: 10 Mar 2016 05:26 AM PST A new study suggests that cells construct protein 'clumps' to protect against neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a.k.a. ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Gene may worsen cancer outcome by speeding metabolism of drugs Posted: 10 Mar 2016 05:26 AM PST Some patients with breast cancer, lung cancer and leukemia seem to fare poorly after treatment because of the effects of a particular gene, a new study finds. The gene, called CYP3A7, is normally only active in infancy, but in some people it continues to be switched on into adulthood, and over-activates their metabolism.

Hispanic women who identify as white are healthier than those who don't Posted: 10 Mar 2016 05:25 AM PST Hispanic women who identify as Black or another race have worse functional health than their counterparts who identify as White, according to new research.

Does ethnicity affect breast cancer biology? Posted: 10 Mar 2016 05:25 AM PST Although breast cancer is somewhat more aggressive in South Asian and Black women than in White women, this is largely due to age differences between ethnic groups in the UK, according to new research. The findings suggest that inherent differences in tumor biology between the ethnic groups are unlikely to play a role.

ADHD or just immature? Posted: 10 Mar 2016 05:25 AM PST Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is typically diagnosed in childhood and manifests as an inability to sustain attention and control activity levels and impulse control. Some reports have indicated a prevalence of up to 15 percent in Western countries. Although the causes of ADHD are still unknown, a new study found that a child's age at school entry may have an effect on the diagnosis of ADHD.

Sexual responses can be learned, unlearned Posted: 10 Mar 2016 05:08 AM PST Undesirable associations with sex can be unlearned, but return if the circumstances change. They must therefore be unlearned in different situations, say researchers, noting that the drug D-cycloserine may help here.

Breast cancer has a higher incidence in obese women because fat facilitates cancer stem cells expansion Posted: 10 Mar 2016 05:08 AM PST Medical researchers have revealed new data on why breast cancer has a higher incidence and is more aggressive in obese people. The reason is that peritumoral fat (the fat around the tumor) facilitates the expansion and invasion of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are responsible of the onset and growth of the tumor.

Blast behaviour research could save British troops Posted: 10 Mar 2016 05:08 AM PST New research that sheds unprecedented light on the behavior of blasts produced by landmines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) could aid the development of enhanced protection for UK soldiers on military, peace-keeping and humanitarian missions.

Tracking the 'social networks' of genes disrupted in complex diseases Posted: 10 Mar 2016 05:05 AM PST Your personal risk of developing complex diseases such as diabetes, depression or cancer is influenced in part by genetic variants, that is, letters in your DNA sequence that differ between people. These variants disrupt networks of interacting genes in different tissues of your body, two studies have found. Innovative software tools allowed the scientists to construct accurate "maps" of gene networks for about 400 different human cell and tissue types, ranging from immune cells to brain tissues, whereas previous studies were limited to just one or few tissues. Each of these networks describes hundreds of thousands of regulatory interactions among thousands of genes, giving the first global view of the "control system" of diverse cells and tissues.

Repetitive body movements may form long-lasting motor memory Posted: 10 Mar 2016 05:05 AM PST Repetitive movements in slow-learning stages can alter an area of the brain responsible for movement, and help individuals retain these motor skills, researchers have found.

Major differences between male and female breast cancers uncovered, but male patients still disadvantaged by lack of research Posted: 10 Mar 2016 05:05 AM PST Male breast cancer (Male BC) has important biological differences that distinguish it from female breast cancer, but to date these have been little studied and Male BC patients have been excluded from many clinical trials in breast cancer. Male patients are also usually diagnosed later when their cancers are more advanced, leading to a worse outcome. New research has now uncovered some of the differences between the two types of breast cancer, and the researchers hope that this will help doctors to make better treatment choices for Male BC patients.

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