ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Remote Italian village could harbor secrets of healthy aging
• Nanoparticles deliver anticancer cluster bombs
• Study explores carb-loading's effect on the heart
• Researchers to look at pill to treat postmenopausal women with stress urinary incontinence
• Researcher studies worms to reveal the fountain of youth
• To keep or not to keep a hookworm
• Scientists unlock genetic secret that could help fight malaria
• Screening tools to identify developmental delay in healthy young children not beneficial
• Infradian oscillation of circadian genes in a mouse model of bipolar disorder
• Study finds cessation program delivered on Twitter to be twice as effective as other methods for helping smokers quit
• Are stem-cell therapies for parkinson's disease ready for clinical trials?
• Nonpathogenic viruses transferred during fecal transplants
• Statement published on pairing smoking cessation with lung cancer screening
• Big data-driven method could save money, increase efficiency in pharmaceutical management
• Mimicking a blood vessel to create a 'bridge' to better medicine and precision treatment
• Individualized treatment duration of blood thinning drugs after heart stent procedures
• Study of enzymatic chemical reactions may indicate how the first cells formed colonies
• Another reason to break the habit: Smoking alters bacterial balance in mouth
• Sweet, tasty and healthy: The new essence of juice?
• Decoding sugar molecules offers new key for combating muscular dystrophy
• Take-home naloxone should be an additional standard of care for prevention of heroin overdose death
• Gene study could help heart patients cut craving for salt
• Psychotherapy for depressed rats shows genes aren't destiny
• How child prodigies teach us about autism
• New flu vaccine protects against multiple strains including H1N1
• Breeding humans: Utopias from the early modern period
• Simulations show how helmets would have protected bike crash victims' brains
• Knowledge of bacteria's origin, spread can prevent disease
• New clue to fighting acute myeloid leukemia found
• Multiple sclerosis: Plant peptide could prevent onset of the disease
• Transmissibility of Alzheimer's: No clinical symptoms
• Perfecting a viral pack mule
• For prostate cancer, more radiation may not improve survival
• Children with Cushing syndrome may have higher suicide risk
• 'I care for you,' says the autistic moral brain
• Early-stage embryos with abnormalities may still develop into healthy babies, study shows
• Yearly cost of US premature births linked to air pollution: $4.33 billion
• Imaging predicts long-term effects in veterans with brain injury
• New drug combinations could significantly improve tuberculosis treatment
• Uric acid, gout and kidney disease: The chicken or the egg?
• Researchers assess accuracy of commercially available lab tests
• Wearable defibrillator may be an alternative to ICD for some patients
• Experts recommend policies to stem rising prescription drug costs
• PET imaging technology advanced to improve patient's response to cancer treatment
• Researchers use new technology to sequence mosquito sex chromosome
• Solved: First crystal structure of a transcription terminator protein
• New nanoparticle reveals cancer treatment effectiveness in real time
• Scientific secrets for successful aging?
• Playing action video games may increase the capability for a suicide attempt

Remote Italian village could harbor secrets of healthy aging Posted: 29 Mar 2016 03:53 PM PDT To understand how people can live longer throughout the world, researchers in the United States and Italy have teamed up to study a group of 300 citizens, all over 100 years old, living in a remote Italian village nestled between the ocean and mountains on the country's coast.

Nanoparticles deliver anticancer cluster bombs Posted: 29 Mar 2016 12:34 PM PDT Scientists have devised a triple-stage 'cluster bomb' system for delivering the chemotherapy drug cisplatin, via tiny nanoparticles designed to break up when they reach a tumor.

Study explores carb-loading's effect on the heart Posted: 29 Mar 2016 12:34 PM PDT Drinking a high carbohydrate shake can have an acute and detrimental effect on heart function, a study has found. Researchers studied 33 individuals who were given an acute carbohydrate load in the form of a 264-kilocalorie shake. They studied the subjects' blood levels for six hours looking for a number of things, chief among them whether this acute metabolic challenge could alter the heart's production of atrial natriuretic peptide.

Researchers to look at pill to treat postmenopausal women with stress urinary incontinence Posted: 29 Mar 2016 11:17 AM PDT Could a one-a-day pill be the answer for women with stress urinary incontinence – a condition resulting in leakage with coughing, sneezing and laughing? Urologists are beginning a study on postmenopausal women with stress urinary incontinence, to test a compound that may strengthen pelvic floor muscle and reduce the leakage of urine.

Researcher studies worms to reveal the fountain of youth Posted: 29 Mar 2016 11:17 AM PDT The cellular mechanisms driving the aging process in worms has been identified by researchers, uncovering insights that could increase our own longevity.

To keep or not to keep a hookworm Posted: 29 Mar 2016 11:15 AM PDT Researchers have identified an immune protein in mice that is quickly triggered in the body following infection and serves to protect the body's tissues. Called 'RELMalpha,' this protein (homologue in humans is 'resistin') is responsible more for protecting the body than attacking the parasite -- important evidence that mammals have regulatory systems in place not to kill pathogens, but instead to dampen the immune response.

Scientists unlock genetic secret that could help fight malaria Posted: 29 Mar 2016 11:14 AM PDT A group of scientists has discovered a long-hypothesized male determining gene in the mosquito species that carries malaria, laying the groundwork for the development of strategies that could help control the disease.

Screening tools to identify developmental delay in healthy young children not beneficial Posted: 29 Mar 2016 10:22 AM PDT The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommends against using a screening tool to identify developmental delay in children aged 1 to 4 years who have no apparent signs or parental concerns, according to a new guideline.

Infradian oscillation of circadian genes in a mouse model of bipolar disorder Posted: 29 Mar 2016 10:22 AM PDT Molecular basis of changes in mood and mood-associated behaviors are unknown. Researchers in Japan have succeeded in predicting states of mood-change-like behavior by studying the gene expression patterns in the brain in a bipolar disorder mouse model. They found that expressions of circadian rhythm-associated genes concomitantly change with mood-change-like behaviors in these mice. The current results also provide a novel insight into the molecular basis of bipolar disorder in the brain.

Study finds cessation program delivered on Twitter to be twice as effective as other methods for helping smokers quit Posted: 29 Mar 2016 08:34 AM PDT Subjects in one of the first real-time, fully automated, Twitter-based smoking intervention programs -- Tweet2Quit -- were twice as successful at kicking the habit as those using traditional methods, new research has found.

Are stem-cell therapies for parkinson's disease ready for clinical trials? Posted: 29 Mar 2016 08:33 AM PDT As stem cell-based therapies are moving rapidly towards clinical trials, treatments for Parkinson's Disease (PD), an incurable condition, may be on the horizon. A recent announcement of a Phase I/IIa clinical trial involving transplantation of stem cells into the first human subjects has raised hope among patients and sparked discussions in the research community.

Nonpathogenic viruses transferred during fecal transplants Posted: 29 Mar 2016 08:33 AM PDT Communities of viruses can be transferred during fecal transplants, according to a study. Fortunately for patients who use this procedure, the viruses found to be transmitted in this study appear to be harmless to humans.

Statement published on pairing smoking cessation with lung cancer screening Posted: 29 Mar 2016 08:33 AM PDT Smokers who are screened for lung cancer should be encouraged to quit smoking during their visit, according to experts. Citing a recent recommendation that heavy smokers undergo a yearly screening for lung cancer, the authors note that it does not provide specifics for how smoking-cessation treatment should be offered in conjunction with screenings.

Big data-driven method could save money, increase efficiency in pharmaceutical management Posted: 29 Mar 2016 08:33 AM PDT An optimized approach for determining prescribed medication associations within a high-volume pharmacy environment has been developed, which experts say could save money and time.

Mimicking a blood vessel to create a 'bridge' to better medicine and precision treatment Posted: 29 Mar 2016 08:33 AM PDT A technique has been developed to observe cell to cell interaction at the nanoscale under micro-fluid conditions. They have successfully applied the technique to the study of blood vessel inflammation, a condition that sets the stage for heart disease, the number one cause of death in the US and globally.

Individualized treatment duration of blood thinning drugs after heart stent procedures Posted: 29 Mar 2016 08:33 AM PDT Nearly 1 million people in the United States receive coronary artery stents each year. Nearly all stent patients are expected to take dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) using the combination of aspirin and a second antiplatelet medication to prevent the formation of blood clots. Exactly how long patients should receive DAPT has been debatable.

Study of enzymatic chemical reactions may indicate how the first cells formed colonies Posted: 29 Mar 2016 08:28 AM PDT A novel investigation of how enzymatic reactions can direct the motion and organization of microcapsules may point toward a new theory of how protocells -- the earliest biological cells -- could have organized into colonies and thus, could have ultimately formed larger, differentiated structures.

Another reason to break the habit: Smoking alters bacterial balance in mouth Posted: 29 Mar 2016 08:28 AM PDT Smoking drastically alters the oral microbiome, the mix of roughly 600 bacterial species that live in people's mouths, a new study has found. The researchers say their analysis is the most comprehensive to date to examine the effects of smoking on the make-up and action of bacterial species in the human mouth based on precise genetic testing.

Sweet, tasty and healthy: The new essence of juice? Posted: 29 Mar 2016 08:26 AM PDT A cocktail consisting of lime, stevia and beta-glucans can help make a tasty fruit beverage that is both low in sugar and high in fiber, according to a study, adding nutritional value and promote the sensory experience of the juice.

Decoding sugar molecules offers new key for combating muscular dystrophy Posted: 29 Mar 2016 08:26 AM PDT Scientists have succeeded in decoding a sugar molecule and clarifying a mechanism linked to muscular dystrophy. Their discovery has potential implications for muscular dystrophy treatment.

Take-home naloxone should be an additional standard of care for prevention of heroin overdose death Posted: 29 Mar 2016 08:26 AM PDT Take-home naloxone should be an additional standard of care for prevention of heroin overdose death, say scientists. The study estimates that naloxone successfully reversed heroin overdose in 96 to 99% of cases.

Gene study could help heart patients cut craving for salt Posted: 29 Mar 2016 08:25 AM PDT Scientists have shed light on why some people crave salty food, even when they know it can seriously damage their health. The findings suggest it could soon be possible to offer heart disease patients a medicine that helps them manage their salt intake and curb the adverse effects of high blood pressure.

Psychotherapy for depressed rats shows genes aren't destiny Posted: 29 Mar 2016 08:24 AM PDT Genes are not destiny in determining whether a person will suffer from depression, reports a new study. Nurture can override nature. When rats genetically bred for depression received the equivalent of rat 'psychotherapy,' their depressed behavior was alleviated. And, after the depressed rats had the therapy, some of their blood biomarkers for depression changed to non-depressed levels.

How child prodigies teach us about autism Posted: 29 Mar 2016 07:31 AM PDT Scientists may learn a lot about autism from studying a group of people who don't have the disorder. Researchers report that they have uncovered a link between prodigy and autism.

New flu vaccine protects against multiple strains including H1N1 Posted: 29 Mar 2016 07:17 AM PDT Researchers have announced the development of a vaccine that protects against multiple strains of both seasonal and pandemic H1N1 influenza in mouse models.

Breeding humans: Utopias from the early modern period Posted: 29 Mar 2016 07:15 AM PDT The idea to improve humans and to optimise procreation emerged long before genetic engineering. As far back as the 18th century, concepts did exist that appear unthinkable from the modern perspective.

Simulations show how helmets would have protected bike crash victims' brains Posted: 29 Mar 2016 07:15 AM PDT Bicycle helmets can reduce the risk of concussions by 54 percent, and drastically cut the risk of skull fractures, according to a study. To assess the impact on the brain, the researchers compared results of simulations with CT images, in which bleeding was evident in the brains of the crash victims. Then, they conducted simulations with and without helmets to see what would happen.

Knowledge of bacteria's origin, spread can prevent disease Posted: 29 Mar 2016 07:15 AM PDT Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 is an aggressive type of bacteria, which is particularly problematic because it has developed resistance to a number of antimicrobials and has been able to quickly spread throughout the world. Using new technology, a research team has been able to trace the bacteria back to its origin and work out when it developed resistance. The technology can likely be used to monitor new bacterial strains, prevent and not least understand infectious diseases.

New clue to fighting acute myeloid leukemia found Posted: 29 Mar 2016 07:15 AM PDT A new clue has been found that may help fight acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the most common form of cancer of the blood and bone marrow, and an aggressive type of cancer. The findings open a new door to treating the disease more effectively.

Multiple sclerosis: Plant peptide could prevent onset of the disease Posted: 29 Mar 2016 07:12 AM PDT A crucial development has been made in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). A research team has demonstrated in an animal model that, following treatment with a specially synthesized plant peptide (cyclotide), there is no further progression of the usual clinical signs of multiple sclerosis.

Transmissibility of Alzheimer's: No clinical symptoms Posted: 29 Mar 2016 07:12 AM PDT Researchers have published the results of a clarifying research study on the potential transmissibility of Alzheimer's disease. Although the protein associated with Alzheimer's disease, amyloid-?, might be transmissible under very unusual circumstances, this does not go along with a transmission of the clinical manifestation of Alzheimer's disease. The affected persons develop no clinical symptoms of the disease.

Perfecting a viral pack mule Posted: 29 Mar 2016 07:12 AM PDT Viruses aren't always bad. In fact, scientists can harness the capabilities of some viruses for good—modifying the viruses to carry drug molecules, for example.

For prostate cancer, more radiation may not improve survival Posted: 29 Mar 2016 07:10 AM PDT Increasing the total dose of radiation to patients with non-metastatic prostate cancer does not improve their long-term outcomes, according to a new study.

Children with Cushing syndrome may have higher suicide risk Posted: 29 Mar 2016 07:10 AM PDT Children with Cushing syndrome may be at higher risk for suicide as well as for depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions long after their disease has been successfully treated, according to a study.

'I care for you,' says the autistic moral brain Posted: 29 Mar 2016 07:10 AM PDT "Autistic people are cold and feel no empathy." True? It is a pervasive stereotype, but when analyzed through the lens of science, reality turns out to be quite different. According to a study, when autistic people are placed in 'moral dilemma' situations, they show an empathic response similar to the general population. The myth of coldness in autism is likely due to the presence of the subclinical trait of alexithymia.

Early-stage embryos with abnormalities may still develop into healthy babies, study shows Posted: 29 Mar 2016 07:10 AM PDT Abnormal cells in the early embryo are not necessarily a sign that a baby will be born with a birth defect such as Down's syndrome, suggests new research carried out in mice. Scientists show that abnormal cells are eliminated and replaced by healthy cells, repairing -- and in many cases completely fixing -- the embryo.

Yearly cost of US premature births linked to air pollution: $4.33 billion Posted: 29 Mar 2016 07:10 AM PDT The annual economic cost of the nearly 16,000 premature births linked to air pollution in the United States has reached $4.33 billion, according to a new report.

Imaging predicts long-term effects in veterans with brain injury Posted: 29 Mar 2016 07:10 AM PDT Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a type of MRI, may be able to predict functional post-deployment outcomes for veterans who sustained mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion, during combat, according to a new study.

New drug combinations could significantly improve tuberculosis treatment Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:47 PM PDT An important step has been made toward a substantially faster and more effective treatment for tuberculosis, which infects some 10 million people and causes 1.5 million deaths each year.

Uric acid, gout and kidney disease: The chicken or the egg? Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:47 PM PDT The increasing prevalence of both gout and chronic kidney disease has led to a growing interest in the association between hyperuricemia (an abnormally high level of uric acid in the blood) and kidney disease, report investigators.

Researchers assess accuracy of commercially available lab tests Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:47 PM PDT An evaluation uncovers more variability than expected in basic blood tests of healthy adults. The study focused on common blood tests, which typically return a single data point or a few data points. However, as scientists showed, even standard blood tests can generate rich data for statistical analysis.

Wearable defibrillator may be an alternative to ICD for some patients Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:46 PM PDT A wearable automatic defibrillator may be an alternative to an implantable cardiac defibrillator for a small group of patients, say researchers. There are few large, randomized and controlled clinical trials of the vest and similar technologies, so they should not be used except for specific patients.

Experts recommend policies to stem rising prescription drug costs Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:46 PM PDT Experts call for changes that could slow the rising cost of prescription drugs. To address the complex factors at play, their paper offers a series of recommendations aimed at addressing and slowing down the rate of price increase for prescription drugs.

PET imaging technology advanced to improve patient's response to cancer treatment Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:31 PM PDT A promising new discovery could lead to a new method of identifying cancer patients that express high levels of an enzyme and are more likely to respond to cancer treatments.

Researchers use new technology to sequence mosquito sex chromosome Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:18 PM PDT New information about the Y chromosome will facilitate efforts to reduce female mosquitoes or create sterile males -- strategies of interest to research teams across the world.

Solved: First crystal structure of a transcription terminator protein Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:18 PM PDT Researchers have resolved the first protein structure in a family of proteins called transcription terminators that could provide insight into aging and cancer. The work reveals the protein Reb1 to be a traffic signal for coordinating transcription and gene replication, rather than a passive roadblock as previously thought.

New nanoparticle reveals cancer treatment effectiveness in real time Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:18 PM PDT A new technique offers a new approach and a read out on the effectiveness of chemotherapy in as few as eight hours after treatment. The technology can also be used for monitoring the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

Scientific secrets for successful aging? Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:18 PM PDT Metabolites -- substances that are created during metabolism -- can provide a wealth of information about individual health, disease, diet, and life-style. Researchers and collaborators have now identified age-related differences in human blood metabolites.

Playing action video games may increase the capability for a suicide attempt Posted: 28 Mar 2016 10:39 AM PDT Among individuals already thinking about suicide, those who play action video games may be significantly more capable of attempting it than those who play other video game categories, according to a new study.

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