ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Brazilian Zika outbreak followed upsurge in air travel
• Malaria family tree has bird roots
• Microneedle patch delivers localized cancer immunotherapy to melanoma
• Insured Texans lack clear understanding of their health insurance plans
• What's the relational toll of living in a sexist, heterosexist context?
• 'Clogged-up' immune cells help explain smoking risk for TB
• Embryo development: Some cells are more equal than others even at four-cell stage
• Fighting high anxiety with fly anxiety
• Presence of hormone at key developmental period may point to origin of type 2 diabetes in kids
• Neuron type-specific gene loss linked to angelman syndrome seizures
• Genetic changes that cause autism are more diverse than previously thought
• Sleep tight, fruit fly: Scientists find gene responsible for sleep deprivation and metabolic disorders
• Study adapts proven community health worker model for outpatient setting
• No increased heart failure with incretin-based drugs
• Sequence features accurately predict genome-wide MeCP2 binding in vivo
• Losing weight with a high-protein diet can help adults sleep better
• Common plastics chemical BPA linked to preterm birth
• Voice-controlled nutrition tracker may aid weight loss
• Research proposes new test on prosthetic legs in competitive sports
• Air pollution increases risk of early death in Gothenburg
• Children with autism need intervention over a long period of time
• Research shows potential for emergence of new Ebola virus that causes disease in humans
• Breakthrough made in cleft lip and palate research
• New computational method reveals significant degeneration of knee cartilage in overweight people
• Researchers uncover factors associated with hospital deaths in the oldest old
• Experts call for global drug policy reform as evidence shows 'war on drugs' has harmed public health, human rights
• Developing better drugs for asthma, high blood pressure
• New methods of enhancing efficiency of genetic engineering in mice, rats
• High serum omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations linked to lower risk of type 2 diabetes
• Genetic cause found for loss of beta cells during diabetes development
• Health experts call for improved TB care for refugees
• Blood test can predict risk of developing tuberculosis
• Sterile Box offers safer surgeries

Brazilian Zika outbreak followed upsurge in air travel Posted: 24 Mar 2016 11:59 AM PDT The first genome analysis of the Zika virus outbreak in Brazil, which has been potentially linked to the birth condition microcephaly, offers new information on how and when the virus might have entered the Americas.

Malaria family tree has bird roots Posted: 24 Mar 2016 11:32 AM PDT Extensive testing of malarial DNA found in birds, bats and other small mammals from five East African countries revealed that malaria has its roots in bird hosts. It then spread from birds to bats and on to other mammals.

Microneedle patch delivers localized cancer immunotherapy to melanoma Posted: 24 Mar 2016 11:32 AM PDT Biomedical engineering researchers have developed a technique that uses a patch embedded with microneedles to deliver cancer immunotherapy treatment directly to the site of melanoma skin cancer. In animal studies, the technique more effectively targeted melanoma than other immunotherapy treatments.

Insured Texans lack clear understanding of their health insurance plans Posted: 24 Mar 2016 11:32 AM PDT Texans who bought their own health insurance were less likely to understand basic terms and how to use their plans compared with those who have Medicare, Medicaid or employee-sponsored health insurance, finds a new study.

What's the relational toll of living in a sexist, heterosexist context? Posted: 24 Mar 2016 11:29 AM PDT Relationships, and especially romantic relationships, are central aspects of our social lives and primary sources of support. For sexual minority (e.g., lesbian, bisexual, and queer) women, relationship quality may be hindered by the multiple oppressions they experience, such as sexist and heterosexist discrimination, as well as internalized sexism and heterosexism (i.e., incorporation of negative dominant societal attitudes and beliefs about women and sexual minority persons).

'Clogged-up' immune cells help explain smoking risk for TB Posted: 24 Mar 2016 11:29 AM PDT Smoking increases an individual's risk of developing tuberculosis -- and makes the infection worse -- because it causes vital immune cells to become clogged up, slowing their movement and impeding their ability to fight infection, according to new research.

Embryo development: Some cells are more equal than others even at four-cell stage Posted: 24 Mar 2016 11:29 AM PDT Genetic 'signatures' of early stage embryos confirm that our development begins to take shape as early as the second day after conception, when we are a mere four cells in size, according to new research. Although they seem to be identical, the cells of the two day-old embryo are already beginning to display distinct differences.

Fighting high anxiety with fly anxiety Posted: 24 Mar 2016 11:29 AM PDT Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent of all brain disorders, and yet there's been little progress in drug treatments for anxiety in more than 50 years. Now, researchers suggest that studies in flies might help to elucidate fundamental mechanisms underlying anxiety and point the way to new anti-anxiety treatments.

Presence of hormone at key developmental period may point to origin of type 2 diabetes in kids Posted: 24 Mar 2016 10:38 AM PDT The presence of leptin -- a hormone secreted by fat cells that is critical to maintaining energy balance in the body -- inhibits the prenatal development of neuronal connections between the brain and pancreas, a new study reports. The findings could help explain the origin of type 2 diabetes, particularly in children of obese mothers.

Neuron type-specific gene loss linked to angelman syndrome seizures Posted: 24 Mar 2016 10:38 AM PDT A new study has helped determine that UBE3A gene loss specifically from GABAergic neurons is what's critical for seizures in Angelman patients. But UBE3A loss from other neuron types may drive other phenotypes associated with the condition.

Genetic changes that cause autism are more diverse than previously thought Posted: 24 Mar 2016 10:38 AM PDT The types of gene mutations that contribute to autism are more diverse than previously thought, report researchers. The findings, they say, represent a significant advance in efforts to unravel the genetic basis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Sleep tight, fruit fly: Scientists find gene responsible for sleep deprivation and metabolic disorders Posted: 24 Mar 2016 10:38 AM PDT Like humans, fruit flies sleep at night, caffeine affects their sleep, and if they get a lousy night's sleep it can affect their memory performance. But what can they tell us about the connection between sleep deprivation and metabolic disorders like diabetes and obesity? A lot, according to a new study that is the first to identify that a conserved gene -- translin -- works as a modulator of sleep in response to metabolic changes.

Study adapts proven community health worker model for outpatient setting Posted: 24 Mar 2016 10:34 AM PDT A Community Health Worker model, shown to reduce admissions and lead to better health outcomes for hospitalized patients, can now be used in outpatient settings, according to a study.

No increased heart failure with incretin-based drugs Posted: 24 Mar 2016 10:34 AM PDT Incretin-based drugs, a type of medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, do not increase the risk of being hospitalized for heart failure relative to commonly used combinations of oral anti-diabetic drugs, according to a new study.

Sequence features accurately predict genome-wide MeCP2 binding in vivo Posted: 24 Mar 2016 10:34 AM PDT Researchers are combining in vivo experimentation with computation for highly accurate prediction of the genome-wide binding pattern of a key protein involved in brain disorders.

Losing weight with a high-protein diet can help adults sleep better Posted: 24 Mar 2016 10:30 AM PDT Overweight and obese adults who are losing weight with a high-protein diet are more likely to sleep better, according to new research. The study also has studied how dietary protein quantity, sources and patterns affect appetite, body weight and body composition.

Common plastics chemical BPA linked to preterm birth Posted: 24 Mar 2016 10:30 AM PDT Higher concentrations of the common plastics chemical and environmental pollutant Bisphenol A, or BPA, in a pregnant mother's blood may be a contributing factor in preterm births, according to a new study.

Voice-controlled nutrition tracker may aid weight loss Posted: 24 Mar 2016 10:30 AM PDT A few years ago, nutritionists who had been experimenting with mobile-phone apps for recording caloric intake approached computer scientists with the idea of a spoken-language application that would make meal logging even easier. This week, the researchers are presenting a Web-based prototype of their speech-controlled nutrition-logging system.

Research proposes new test on prosthetic legs in competitive sports Posted: 24 Mar 2016 07:50 AM PDT New guidelines proposed for prosthetic leg technology in international sporting events to prevent competitive advantage.

Air pollution increases risk of early death in Gothenburg Posted: 24 Mar 2016 07:49 AM PDT People who live where there are high levels of air pollution have an increased risk of dying prematurely. Air pollution levels in Gothenburg have, however, decreased by half in the past few decades.

Children with autism need intervention over a long period of time Posted: 24 Mar 2016 07:49 AM PDT Nine out of 10 preschool children with autism still have major difficulties within the autism field at school age, despite having received early intervention. A majority of the parents stated that the children do not receive sufficient support at school. New research has explored these issues in a study where children who had received an autism diagnosis between the ages of 2 and 4.5 years of age were followed up after 8 years.

Research shows potential for emergence of new Ebola virus that causes disease in humans Posted: 24 Mar 2016 07:48 AM PDT New research has highlighted the potential for the emergence of a new form of Ebola virus. A team examined the differences between Ebolaviruses that cause severe disease in humans and the Reston virus that does not.

Breakthrough made in cleft lip and palate research Posted: 24 Mar 2016 07:48 AM PDT Leading scientists have identified an important gene that is associated with cleft lip and palate. Experts say the discovery is a step closer to understanding how this birth defect arises, and will help in the development of medical approaches to prevent the disfiguring condition.

New computational method reveals significant degeneration of knee cartilage in overweight people Posted: 24 Mar 2016 07:47 AM PDT Researchers have developed and validated a novel computational modelling method for the assessment of the patient-specific progression of osteoarthritis in the knee joint by using MRI data.

Researchers uncover factors associated with hospital deaths in the oldest old Posted: 24 Mar 2016 07:47 AM PDT Despite the rates of hospital deaths in England declining, nearly two-thirds of people aged 85 and over, and more than half of people aged 95 and over still die in hospital, new research has found.

Experts call for global drug policy reform as evidence shows 'war on drugs' has harmed public health, human rights Posted: 24 Mar 2016 07:45 AM PDT Fifty years of drug policies aimed at restricting and criminalizing drug use and minor possession have had serious detrimental effects on the health, well-being and human rights of drug users and the wider public, according to a major new report.

Developing better drugs for asthma, high blood pressure Posted: 24 Mar 2016 05:30 AM PDT If a patient is ill and takes drugs for that illness, these drugs often lead to further illnesses and complications. This affects millions of people throughout the world. An international research team is studying how to prevent this problem.

New methods of enhancing efficiency of genetic engineering in mice, rats Posted: 24 Mar 2016 05:30 AM PDT Two new gene modification methods have been developed: lsODN (long single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotide) and 2H2OP (two-hit two-oligo with plasmid). These methods use CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) -Cas systems and ssODN (single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotide).

High serum omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations linked to lower risk of type 2 diabetes Posted: 24 Mar 2016 05:30 AM PDT High serum omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations are linked to a significantly reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. The study found that high serum omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations were associated with a 46% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes during the follow-up.

Genetic cause found for loss of beta cells during diabetes development Posted: 24 Mar 2016 05:28 AM PDT A common genetic defect in beta cells may underlie both known forms of diabetes, new research has found. Thanks to our genetic make-up, some of us have beta cells that are tough and robust, while others have beta cells that are fragile and can't handle stress. It is these people who develop diabetes, either type 1 or type 2.

Health experts call for improved TB care for refugees Posted: 23 Mar 2016 07:04 PM PDT Refugees traveling across countries in Europe must have better access to tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics and treatments in order to prevent a rise in new cases of the disease, according to experts.

Blood test can predict risk of developing tuberculosis Posted: 23 Mar 2016 03:56 PM PDT Only a fraction of those infected with the bacterium that causes TB ever develops symptomatic illness. Now, an international team of researchers has identified biological markers in the blood of latently infected people that may lead doctors to a way to predict who is at high risk of developing active TB. If validated, a test based on these blood biomarkers would allow doctors to target therapies to at-risk people, thus preventing them from getting sick.

Sterile Box offers safer surgeries Posted: 23 Mar 2016 12:20 PM PDT Researchers have validated their Sterile Box, a mobile, solar-powered facility to sterilize surgical instruments in low-resource settings.

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