ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Practicing tai chi reduces risk of falling in older adults
• Double cheeseburger and a diet soda, please
• Differential immuno-capture biochip offers specific leukocyte counting for HIV diagnosis
• Change in mosquito mating may control Zika virus
• The dangers, risks of binge drinking
• Virus common among livestock depends on a micro-RNA to replicate
• Parents of premature babies get confidence boost from home-from-hospital project
• Ultrasonic surgery reduces pain, swelling after chin surgery
• Functional heart muscle regenerated in decellularized human hearts
• CPAP may not improve glycemic control in people with diabetes
• If you treat a parent's depression, will their child's asthma improve?
• Early detection: Colorectal cancer rates declining in Germany
• Unpacking space radiation to control astronaut, earthbound cancer risk
• Skin has the nerve to tell you to scratch
• Touting 'naturalness' of breastfeeding could backfire, experts warn
• Lack of TRPV2 impairs thermogenesis in mouse brown adipose tissue
• Researchers develop promising candidate for next-generation anti-malarial drug
• Researchers dig up new molecular details on 'the other type' of stem cells
• Soap bubbles for treating stenosed blood vessels
• New, non-invasive method allows to determine whether a child is celiac or not with just a puncture in the finger
• Family-based counseling increases physical activity, improves diet quality in children
• Insufficient knowledge of stroke patient's last hours of life
• Different kinds of physical activity shown to improve brain volume, cut Alzheimer's risk in half
• Heart attacks could be reduced by rethinking the way we prescribe statins
• New lifeline for patients with inoperable neuroendocrine cancers
• Younger sibling may be good for your child's health
• Seismic for the spine: Vibration technology offers alternative to MRI
• Multi-gene test identifies early breast cancer patients who can be spared chemo
• Can nutritional supplements impact genetic hearing loss in children?
• Light exposure improves depressive symptoms among cancer survivors
• Blacks face a higher risk of kidney failure than whites, regardless of genetics
• New studies of the 'natural history' of schizophrenia raise hope for new treatments
• Drug overdoses in Pennsylvania increased 14-fold in past 4 decades

Practicing tai chi reduces risk of falling in older adults Posted: 11 Mar 2016 12:01 PM PST Researchers have compared the effects of tai chi to leg strengthening exercises (a physical therapy called 'lower extremity training,' or LET) in reducing falls. After six months of training, people in the tai chi group were significantly less likely to experience an injury-causing fall than were people in the LET group.

Double cheeseburger and a diet soda, please Posted: 11 Mar 2016 11:18 AM PST While more consumers than ever are making healthier choices at the grocery store, they tend to purchase a balance of healthy and less-healthy foods, according to new research.

Differential immuno-capture biochip offers specific leukocyte counting for HIV diagnosis Posted: 11 Mar 2016 10:32 AM PST A highly sensitive biosensor based on a differential immuno-capture technology can detect sub-populations of white blood cells, scientists report. As part of a small, disposable biochip, the microfluidic biosensor can count CD4+/CD8+ T cells quickly and accurately for AIDS diagnosis in the field.

Change in mosquito mating may control Zika virus Posted: 11 Mar 2016 10:32 AM PST Genetic cues from male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes passed on during sex affect which genes are turned on or off in a females' reproductive tract post-mating, including genes related to blood feeding, egg development and immune defense, according to new research.The researchers believe such processes provide information that could be exploited to fight mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika virus.

The dangers, risks of binge drinking Posted: 11 Mar 2016 09:53 AM PST Experts take an in-depth look into a favorite college pastime -- binge drinking -- by understanding the dangers and risks of alcohol. Moderate drinking is defined as no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men, translating to seven or fewer drinks per week for women and 14 or fewer drinks per week for men.

Virus common among livestock depends on a micro-RNA to replicate Posted: 11 Mar 2016 09:50 AM PST Increasingly, scientists are finding that small RNA molecules might be effective targets for antiviral drugs. Using a new screening method, researchers now show that a number of RNA viruses need access to micro-RNAs produced by their host cells to replicate.

Parents of premature babies get confidence boost from home-from-hospital project Posted: 11 Mar 2016 09:50 AM PST New parents benefit from help to prepare them to bring their premature babies home from hospital, researchers have found. A team examined the effects of a parent-orientated discharge planning process, known as the Train-to Home intervention.

Ultrasonic surgery reduces pain, swelling after chin surgery Posted: 11 Mar 2016 09:50 AM PST For patients undergoing plastic surgery of the chin (genioplasty), the use of ultrasonic 'piezosurgery' equipment reduces trauma, pain, and swelling, compared to traditional surgical drills, reports a study.

Functional heart muscle regenerated in decellularized human hearts Posted: 11 Mar 2016 08:07 AM PST Researchers have taken some initial steps toward the creation of bioengineered human hearts using donor hearts stripped of components that would generate an immune response and cardiac muscle cells generated from induced pluripotent stem cells, which could come from a potential recipient.

CPAP may not improve glycemic control in people with diabetes Posted: 11 Mar 2016 07:57 AM PST People with type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may not experience improved glycemic control by using continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, as some studies have suggested, according to the results of a randomized, controlled trial.

If you treat a parent's depression, will their child's asthma improve? Posted: 11 Mar 2016 07:57 AM PST A new study is underway to determine whether treating a depressed caregiver will improve the child's asthma. The researchers say the findings eventually may reduce health disparities in child asthma because there is a higher percentage of depressed caregivers among children with asthma from minority and socio-economically disadvantaged groups.

Early detection: Colorectal cancer rates declining in Germany Posted: 11 Mar 2016 07:56 AM PST The introduction of screening colonoscopy in Germany is showing results: Within ten years of the start of this screening program for the early detection of colorectal cancer, the number of new cases has significantly dropped in the age groups 55 years and over, research shows.

Unpacking space radiation to control astronaut, earthbound cancer risk Posted: 11 Mar 2016 07:55 AM PST Personalizing the assessment of cancer risk due to space radiation may let NASA pinpoint astronauts who could withstand higher doses, removing one barrier to a trip to Mars.

Skin has the nerve to tell you to scratch Posted: 11 Mar 2016 07:55 AM PST A potential drug target for itching sensations has been developed by researchers. Their work shows that skin cells -- when exposed to certain itch-producing chemicals -- can powerfully regulate nearby sensory nerve cells and facilitate transmission of the itchy feelings to the brain. The ion channel TRPV4 functions in skin cells as a pivotal switch in this newly revealed signaling pathway.

Touting 'naturalness' of breastfeeding could backfire, experts warn Posted: 11 Mar 2016 07:54 AM PST Breastfeeding campaigns that extol breastfeeding as the 'natural' way to feed infants could result in harmful decision-making by some parents on other important health matters, according to experts, who warn that promoting breastfeeding in this way may indirectly undercut important health practices not viewed as natural.

Lack of TRPV2 impairs thermogenesis in mouse brown adipose tissue Posted: 11 Mar 2016 07:52 AM PST Brown adipose tissue (BAT), a major site for mammalian non-shivering thermogenesis, could be a target for prevention and treatment of human obesity. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 2 (TRPV2), a Ca2+-permeable cation channel, plays vital roles in the regulation of various cellular functions. Now researchers have revealed that lack of TRPV2 impairs thermogenesis in mouse brown adipose tissue.

Researchers develop promising candidate for next-generation anti-malarial drug Posted: 11 Mar 2016 05:44 AM PST A therapeutic compound has been developed that is effective in inhibiting Plasmodium falciparum, one of five species of parasite that infects people with malaria, and the strain which causes the highest number of malaria deaths.

Researchers dig up new molecular details on 'the other type' of stem cells Posted: 11 Mar 2016 05:42 AM PST Scientists reveal that the combination of two molecular signals determines which cells that have already differentiated can regain their stem cell properties.

Soap bubbles for treating stenosed blood vessels Posted: 11 Mar 2016 05:42 AM PST Liposomes are currently used as drug delivery vehicles but recognized by the immune system. Scientists have shown that special artificial liposomes do not elicit any reaction in human and porcine sera as well as pigs.

New, non-invasive method allows to determine whether a child is celiac or not with just a puncture in the finger Posted: 11 Mar 2016 05:42 AM PST A new, simple and non invasive method has been developed that allows clinicians to determine whether a child aged 2-4 suffers from celiac disease or not without the necessity of a blood extraction.

Family-based counseling increases physical activity, improves diet quality in children Posted: 11 Mar 2016 05:41 AM PST Individualized and family-based lifestyle counseling helps 6-8-year-old children increase their physical activity levels and improve their diet quality during a two-year follow-up, a recent Finnish study has shown.

Insufficient knowledge of stroke patient's last hours of life Posted: 11 Mar 2016 05:41 AM PST Caregivers are displaying insufficient knowledge of how things are for stroke patients the week before they die – for example, staff have difficulties stating whether the patients had someone with them at their death, or if they were experiencing pain. Care for stroke patients therefore risks becoming worse compared to patients who die from cancer.

Different kinds of physical activity shown to improve brain volume, cut Alzheimer's risk in half Posted: 11 Mar 2016 05:41 AM PST A variety of physical activities from walking to gardening and dancing can improve brain volume and cut the risk of Alzheimer's disease by 50%, a new study suggests.

Heart attacks could be reduced by rethinking the way we prescribe statins Posted: 11 Mar 2016 05:39 AM PST Millions of people take statins to help lower their cholesterol level. Currently statins are prescribed to patients based on their future risk of cardiovascular disease, mainly driven by age, which excludes many individuals who may benefit from them. A research team has developed a new approach to determine which individuals should receive these important medications. Their findings could improve prevention of heart disease, especially in younger people.

New lifeline for patients with inoperable neuroendocrine cancers Posted: 11 Mar 2016 05:39 AM PST A novel drug proven to reduce the risk of disease progression by 79% offers new hope to patients with inoperable metastatic advanced midgut neuroendocrine cancer.

Younger sibling may be good for your child's health Posted: 11 Mar 2016 05:39 AM PST Becoming a big brother or big sister before first grade may lower a child's risk of becoming obese, a new study suggests. Children the same age who didn't have a sibling were nearly three times more likely to be obese by first grade, the study showed.

Seismic for the spine: Vibration technology offers alternative to MRI Posted: 11 Mar 2016 05:39 AM PST Vibration has potential as a diagnosis tool that could also identify new categories of back problems, twin control study shows. The findings show the viability of vibration as a diagnostic tool that could help improve MRI utilization in the short term.

Multi-gene test identifies early breast cancer patients who can be spared chemo Posted: 11 Mar 2016 05:39 AM PST Researchers have shown for the first time that it is possible to use a multi-gene test to identify early breast cancer patients who can be spared chemo and who will still be alive and well five years after diagnosis. Results from the phase III PlanB trial, show that showed that 94 percent of women assessed as at low risk of a recurrence of their disease by the 21-gene Recurrence Score (Oncotype DX) test were disease-free after five years.

Can nutritional supplements impact genetic hearing loss in children? Posted: 11 Mar 2016 05:39 AM PST An enhanced diet helped reduce hearing loss in mice with the genetic mutation most commonly responsible for childhood deafness. The study found that an antioxidant regimen of beta carotene (precursor to vitamin A), vitamins C and E and magnesium helped slow progression of hereditary deafness in the mice with a connexin 26 gene deletion. Mutations in this gene are a leading cause of genetic hearing loss in many populations.

Light exposure improves depressive symptoms among cancer survivors Posted: 10 Mar 2016 06:41 PM PST Light therapy decreased depressive symptoms and normalized circadian rhythms among cancer survivors, according to researchers, who add that those exposed to a dim red light experienced no change in symptoms.

Blacks face a higher risk of kidney failure than whites, regardless of genetics Posted: 10 Mar 2016 06:41 PM PST Over nearly 25 years of follow-up, blacks had a higher risk of hypertension, diabetes, and kidney failure than whites, after adjustments. Most blacks with gene variants that have been linked to kidney disease experienced kidney function decline similar to blacks without the variants.

New studies of the 'natural history' of schizophrenia raise hope for new treatments Posted: 10 Mar 2016 11:39 AM PST Emerging evidence on the development, 'prodromal' characteristics, and long-term course of schizophrenia provide reasons for optimism for developing new treatments and preventive approaches for this devastating disorder, according to new research.

Drug overdoses in Pennsylvania increased 14-fold in past 4 decades Posted: 10 Mar 2016 11:38 AM PST White women, younger people are increasingly the victims of overdose deaths, a first detailed analysis about drug overdoses in Pennsylvania reveals.

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