ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Two-fold higher risk of concussions for NFL players during colder game-days, study finds
• Pharmacy on demand: Portable system can be configured to produce different drugs
• US autism rate unchanged in new CDC report
• Investigators identify new pneumonia epidemic in Beijing
• Possibility of curbing synapse loss in Alzheimer's
• Zika virus structure revealed, a critical advance in the development of treatments
• Concern: Diabetes and rising global temperature
• Protease-activated receptors differentially regulate endothelial nitric oxide synthase
• Scientists issue report advances in basal cell carcinoma
• Improved patient outcomes linked to specific health IT resources in hospitals
• Proteins associated with schizophrenia hang around longer than previously thought
• Prostate-specific antigen screening publications influence biopsy rates, associated complications
• Born to run? Study suggests love of exercise starts in the womb
• Researchers tackle mystery of protein folding
• Brain cancer: Two essential amino acids might hold key to better outcomes
• How the brain processes emotions
• Scientists discover a missing link between tau and memory loss
• 3-D 'mini-retinas' grown from mouse and human stem cells
• Virus evolution differs by species of mosquito carrier
• Mom's smoking alters fetal DNA
• Less than one percent of millions of google e-cigarette searches focused on quitting smoking
• Lead in soil another known factor in Flint
• Addiction associated with poor awareness of others, study shows
• For young adults, sleep problems predict later pain problems
• Illuminating the inner 'machines' that give bacteria an energy boost
• Experience in Afghanistan highlights plastic surgeons' role in combat trauma surgery
• Opioid relapse rates fall with use of medication for adults in criminal justice system
• Imitating movements could help Alzheimer's patients
• 'Precision medicine' brings new relief for old diseases
• Handheld surgical 'pen' prints human stem cells
• 'Cancer gene' twice as likely to be defective in children with autism
• Applying parameter selection, verification techniques to an HIV model
• Better hospital financial performance didn’t produce better patient outcomes, study shows
• Data from full hospital stay not much better at predicting risk for readmission than data from first day, researchers find
• Living off the fat of the land
• Novel compounds could yield more effective, less toxic cancer chemotherapy
• Remote eye gaze tracking as a marker for autism
• New drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis shows promising success
• Scientists discover way to improve effectiveness of antibiotics
• Inherited gene changes take years off life expectancy, study finds
• Seasonal influenza vaccination during pregnancy may reduce risk of stillbirth
• Could new class of fungicides play a role in autism, neurodegenerative diseases?
• Minorities' homicide victimization rates fall significantly compared to whites'
• Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery offers viable option for select heart patients
• Could a computer tell you when your time is up?
• Phase-3 drug trial for refractory rheumatoid arthritis succeeds
• Toward reliable reporting for lymphatic filariasis elimination efforts

Two-fold higher risk of concussions for NFL players during colder game-days, study finds Posted: 31 Mar 2016 03:31 PM PDT NFL players had a two-fold greater risk of concussions and 1.5 times higher risk for ankle injuries when games were played at colder temperatures, a new study has found.

Pharmacy on demand: Portable system can be configured to produce different drugs Posted: 31 Mar 2016 12:42 PM PDT Researchers have developed a compact, portable pharmaceutical manufacturing system that can be reconfigured to produce a variety of drugs on demand.

US autism rate unchanged in new CDC report Posted: 31 Mar 2016 12:42 PM PDT A new CDC report finds the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder largely unchanged from two years ago, at one in 68 children..

Investigators identify new pneumonia epidemic in Beijing Posted: 31 Mar 2016 12:42 PM PDT Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections began rising in Beijing last spring, and by December, this pathogen was found in more than half of hospitalized children suffering from pneumonia in that city. Now investigators predict that this epidemic will likely continue well into 2016, and possibly longer. Their data may help clinicians slow the epidemic.

Possibility of curbing synapse loss in Alzheimer's Posted: 31 Mar 2016 12:40 PM PDT Researchers show how brain connections, or synapses, are lost early in Alzheimer's disease and demonstrate that the process starts -- and could potentially be halted -- before telltale plaques accumulate in the brain.

Zika virus structure revealed, a critical advance in the development of treatments Posted: 31 Mar 2016 12:39 PM PDT Researchers have now determined the structure of the Zika virus, a critical advance in the development of vaccines and treatments. The team also identified regions within the Zika virus structure where it differs from other flaviviruses and identified a potential target for antiviral treatments.

Concern: Diabetes and rising global temperature Posted: 31 Mar 2016 11:23 AM PDT The World Health Organization estimates that of the 500 million people worldwide thought to have diabetes, 90% have type 2 diabetes and the number diagnosed with diabetes by 2020 will increase dramatically. Diabetes can impair the body's ability to thermoregulate leading to a relative inability to adequately regulate core temperature. This can have a profound impact on the ability of individuals with diabetes to work and play in adverse environments which includes workers in many vital industries who may be regularly exposed to harsh environmental conditions.

Protease-activated receptors differentially regulate endothelial nitric oxide synthase Posted: 31 Mar 2016 11:23 AM PDT It has been established that the activation of protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) phosphorylates endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-Ser-1177 through a distinct signaling pathway that leads to the production of the potent vascular vasodilator nitric oxide (NO), while PAR-1 activation phosphorylates eNOS-Thr-495 and decreases NO production through a separate pathway. In this study, we have identified a variance in PAR coupling to the signaling pathways that regulate eNOS phosphorylation and NO production in adult human endothelial cells.

Scientists issue report advances in basal cell carcinoma Posted: 31 Mar 2016 11:23 AM PDT A new report details how two relatively new drugs are helping patients with basal cell carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer, producing nearly 2.8 million new cases annually in the US, and sunny Arizona has one of the world's highest incidences of skin cancer.

Improved patient outcomes linked to specific health IT resources in hospitals Posted: 31 Mar 2016 10:44 AM PDT The number of health information technology vendors has increased from 60 to more than 1,000 since 2008. However, many scholars have expressed concerns that such services are flooding the market without proper development, making hospitals more susceptible to adopting dysfunctional IT systems that are not geared toward the original goal of improving patient care. Now, a researcher has identified three IT capabilities hospitals should have that increase employee productivity.

Proteins associated with schizophrenia hang around longer than previously thought Posted: 31 Mar 2016 10:44 AM PDT While most scientists believe that TCF4 proteins degraded and disappeared after they assigned jobs to cells in the nervous system, a research team discovered that the proteins were hanging around afterward and telling the cells how to do those jobs.

Prostate-specific antigen screening publications influence biopsy rates, associated complications Posted: 31 Mar 2016 10:44 AM PDT While absolute rates of biopsy and post-biopsy complications have decreased following several benchmark prostate-specific antigen screening publications, the relative risk for each patient continues to increase, according to a new study.

Born to run? Study suggests love of exercise starts in the womb Posted: 31 Mar 2016 10:43 AM PDT Female mice that voluntarily exercise during pregnancy have offspring that are more physically active as adults.

Researchers tackle mystery of protein folding Posted: 31 Mar 2016 10:43 AM PDT A chemistry approach is solving some of the riddles of the complex protein-building process of folding. When it goes right, strings of amino acids become well-ordered, three-dimensional proteins in a split second. When it goes awry, though, it's the first step of many serious diseases.

Brain cancer: Two essential amino acids might hold key to better outcomes Posted: 31 Mar 2016 10:43 AM PDT The altered metabolism of two essential amino acids helps drive the development of the most common and lethal form of brain cancer, new research has discovered. The findings suggest new ways to treat the malignancy, slow its progression and reveal its extent more precisely. The study shows that in glioblastoma, the essential amino acids methionine and tryptophan are abnormally metabolized due to the loss of key enzymes in GBM cells.

How the brain processes emotions Posted: 31 Mar 2016 10:43 AM PDT A new study reveals how two populations of neurons in the brain contribute to the brain's inability to correctly assign emotional associations to events. Learning how this information is routed and misrouted could shed light on mental illnesses including depression, addiction, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Scientists discover a missing link between tau and memory loss Posted: 31 Mar 2016 10:43 AM PDT Scientists have long known that the protein tau is involved in dementia, but until recently, they did not understand how it hindered cognitive function. In a new study, researchers reveal how tau disrupts a cell's ability to strengthen connections with other cells, preventing memories from forming.

3-D 'mini-retinas' grown from mouse and human stem cells Posted: 31 Mar 2016 10:34 AM PDT Stem cell science has progressed so that researchers can now share recipes for making human retinas -- the part of the eye that is sensitive to light. Researchers now have another efficient way to make 3-D retina organoids, which mimic the organ's tissue organization, from mouse or human stem cells. Their version of 'mini-retinas' offers new perspectives on retina growth, injury, and repair.

Virus evolution differs by species of mosquito carrier Posted: 31 Mar 2016 10:34 AM PDT A new study on how the West Nile virus evolves in four species of mosquitos shows that viruses accumulate mutations in their insect carriers that reduce how well they reproduce when passed on to a bird host. Viruses carried by one of the tropical species were best able to maintain their reproductive fitness and thus spread. The study could help in the prediction of future viral outbreaks.

Mom's smoking alters fetal DNA Posted: 31 Mar 2016 10:33 AM PDT A study of over 6,000 mothers and their newborn children -- one of the largest studies of its kind -- solidifies the evidence that smoking cigarettes while pregnant chemically modifies a fetus' DNA, mirroring patterns seen in adult smokers. The researchers also identify new development-related genes affected by smoking. The work suggests a potential explanation for the link between smoking during pregnancy and health complications in children.

Less than one percent of millions of google e-cigarette searches focused on quitting smoking Posted: 31 Mar 2016 09:53 AM PDT The vast majority of searches pertained to e-cigarette shopping, while few related to cessation or vaping health.

Lead in soil another known factor in Flint Posted: 31 Mar 2016 09:47 AM PDT A new study has found that higher rates of Flint children showed elevated lead levels in their blood during drier months of the year, even before the switch to a new water supply. The findings suggest that lead contaminated soil is most likely the culprit especially in the older, more industrial areas of the city.

Addiction associated with poor awareness of others, study shows Posted: 31 Mar 2016 09:47 AM PDT Adolescents with severe alcohol and other drug problems have a low regard for others, as indicated by higher rates of driving under the influence and having unprotected sex with a history of sexually transmitted disease, research shows. The findings also showed that they are less likely to volunteer their time helping others, an activity that she has been shown to help adult alcoholics stay sober.

For young adults, sleep problems predict later pain problems Posted: 31 Mar 2016 09:47 AM PDT For at least some groups of 'emerging adults,' sleep problems are a predictor of chronic pain and worsening pain severity over time, suggests a study.

Illuminating the inner 'machines' that give bacteria an energy boost Posted: 31 Mar 2016 09:45 AM PDT Scientists have tracked how microscopic organisms called cyanobacteria make use of internal protein 'machines' to boost their ability to convert carbon dioxide into sugar during photosynthesis.

Experience in Afghanistan highlights plastic surgeons' role in combat trauma surgery Posted: 31 Mar 2016 09:45 AM PDT Especially with improved chances of survival from severe combat trauma, plastic surgeons play a critical role in managing injuries sustained in modern warfare, suggest researchers with experience at a combat hospital in Afghanistan.

Opioid relapse rates fall with use of medication for adults in criminal justice system Posted: 31 Mar 2016 07:58 AM PDT The first multi-site US clinical trial of extended-release naltrexone shows promise for more effective treatment of opioid addiction. The findings of the study could have a broad impact on how the medical community addresses opiate addiction outside of the patient populations examined in this study, the researchers say.

Imitating movements could help Alzheimer's patients Posted: 31 Mar 2016 07:57 AM PDT While there is no cure, new research shows that patients with Alzheimer's can still benefit from both physical and cognitive rehabilitation, and that mimicry may be a useful tool to help them regain lost abilities.

'Precision medicine' brings new relief for old diseases Posted: 31 Mar 2016 07:57 AM PDT The mystery of a rare, debilitating disease that has afflicted generations of European families -- and long baffled their doctors -- has been solved by an international collaboration of researchers.

Handheld surgical 'pen' prints human stem cells Posted: 31 Mar 2016 07:57 AM PDT In a landmark proof-of-concept experiment, researchers have used a handheld 3-D printing pen to 'draw' human stem cells in free-form patterns with extremely high survival rates.

'Cancer gene' twice as likely to be defective in children with autism Posted: 31 Mar 2016 07:57 AM PDT A gene whose role is to suppress cellular damage from environmental stressors is nearly twice as likely to be defective in children with autism spectrum disorder, researchers report, adding that the deficit is also present in their fathers.

Applying parameter selection, verification techniques to an HIV model Posted: 31 Mar 2016 07:57 AM PDT Physical and biological models often have hundreds of inputs, many of which may have a negligible effect on a model's response. Establishing parameters that can be fixed at nominal values without significantly affecting model outputs is often difficult. In a new paper, authors apply robust parameter selection and verification techniques to a dynamic HIV model.

Better hospital financial performance didn’t produce better patient outcomes, study shows Posted: 31 Mar 2016 05:28 AM PDT How well a hospital performs financially is not associated with better clinical outcomes, based on results of a new study that examined hospital mortality and readmission rates.

Data from full hospital stay not much better at predicting risk for readmission than data from first day, researchers find Posted: 31 Mar 2016 05:28 AM PDT Culling more detailed clinical data from electronic health records throughout a hospital stay did not substantially improve predictions about who was more likely to be readmitted, an analysis showed, suggesting further studies will be needed to help build effective analytical tools that can help predict outcomes and readmissions.

Living off the fat of the land Posted: 31 Mar 2016 05:28 AM PDT For more than 80 years, scientists have thought that cancer cells fuel their explosive growth by soaking up glucose from the blood, using its energy and atoms to crank out duplicate sets of cellular components. But is this really true? Work in a metabolomics laboratory suggests not.

Novel compounds could yield more effective, less toxic cancer chemotherapy Posted: 31 Mar 2016 05:28 AM PDT A novel class of compounds could yield more effective and less toxic chemotherapy drugs to treat cancer, say researchers. The approach offers advantages over existing chemotherapy drugs which target nucleic acids found in DNA.

Remote eye gaze tracking as a marker for autism Posted: 31 Mar 2016 05:26 AM PDT Eye tracking can differentiate children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from children without ASD but with other developmental problems (non-ASD). At present, ASD is identified using subjective methods such as parent report, interviews, and clinician observations. Having an objective marker of ASD could substantially increase the accuracy of clinical diagnosis. It could also help parents, who are often wary of accepting clinical impressions alone, accept the diagnosis. Using two samples of at-risk patients referred for evaluation, a group of researchers examined whether remotely tracking patients' eye gaze to social and non-social aspects of still pictures and dynamic videos could differentiate children aged 3-8 who would go on to be diagnosed with ASD versus those without ASD.

New drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis shows promising success Posted: 31 Mar 2016 05:26 AM PDT In a clinical phase-3-study, an international research cooperation has achieved significant success with the drug Baricitinib for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The test persons exhibited significantly less symptoms of the disorder.

Scientists discover way to improve effectiveness of antibiotics Posted: 31 Mar 2016 05:26 AM PDT A scientific breakthrough may lead to new treatments for chronic infections, report researchers, describing their major step forward in tackling the growing concern of antibiotic resistance.

Inherited gene changes take years off life expectancy, study finds Posted: 31 Mar 2016 05:25 AM PDT Scientists have identified DNA changes that can cut a person's lifespan by up to three years. One of the variants is linked to a gene associated with an increased risk of lung cancer and severe respiratory problems in people who smoke. The other is in a gene associated with Alzheimer's disease and high cholesterol.

Seasonal influenza vaccination during pregnancy may reduce risk of stillbirth Posted: 31 Mar 2016 05:25 AM PDT Seasonal influenza vaccination may guard against stillbirth, a new study suggests. Researchers in Western Australia analyzed data from nearly 60,000 births that occurred during the southern hemisphere's 2012 and 2013 seasonal influenza epidemics, and found that women who received the trivalent influenza vaccine during pregnancy were 51 percent less likely to experience a stillbirth than unvaccinated mothers.

Could new class of fungicides play a role in autism, neurodegenerative diseases? Posted: 31 Mar 2016 05:25 AM PDT A class of commonly used fungicides has been found that produce gene expression changes similar to those in people with autism and neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease.

Minorities' homicide victimization rates fall significantly compared to whites' Posted: 31 Mar 2016 05:24 AM PDT While homicide victimization rates declined for whites, blacks, and Hispanics in the United States from 1990-2010, the drop was much more precipitous for the two minority groups, new research concludes.

Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery offers viable option for select heart patients Posted: 31 Mar 2016 05:24 AM PDT Patients undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve repair or replacement (mini-MVR) have similar outcomes as patients undergoing conventional surgery and also experience shorter hospital stays and fewer blood transfusions, according to an article.

Could a computer tell you when your time is up? Posted: 30 Mar 2016 06:10 PM PDT Statisticians, computer scientists and medics are launching a new project to predict how long you will live. They will use 'Big Data' to predict life expectancy -- and particularly how various chronic diseases and their treatments impact longevity.

Phase-3 drug trial for refractory rheumatoid arthritis succeeds Posted: 30 Mar 2016 03:42 PM PDT A new drug appears to help people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, but eventually stop benefitting from the use of the current top treatment: injectable, bioengineered proteins that interfere with the action of a powerful inflammatory substance.

Toward reliable reporting for lymphatic filariasis elimination efforts Posted: 30 Mar 2016 12:20 PM PDT Large-scale disease elimination programs depend critically on the accuracy of data reported back from local implementation sites. WHO and some of its partners recently developed a data quality assessment (DQA) tool specific to efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). A new study applying the tool to the lymphatic filariasis program in Ghana finds problems with the routinely reported data and suggests ways toward improving their accuracy.

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