ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Breakthrough improves chances tissue grafts will survive and thrive
• Mechanics of biofilms: Sacrifice of the few for the benefit of the many
• Researchers discover new type of 'pili' used by bacteria to cling to hosts
• Malaria: New route of access to the heart of the parasite
• Brain on LSD revealed: First scans show how the drug affects the brain
• Dysfunctional endosomes are early sign of neurodegeneration
• Omega factor: Novel method measures mortality risk when multiple diseases threaten
• Radiation improves survival in older patients with soft tissue sarcomas
• Social thinking in the infant brain revealed
• More than three percent of men on active surveillance for prostate cancer may have metastases
• Inequality linked to large, growing gap in lifespans
• Maryland's 2011 alcohol sales tax reduced alcohol sales, study suggests
• Building Immunity: Team recreates a T-cell receptor signaling pathway
• Kidney stone patients hospitalized on the weekend may get delayed treatment
• Whites receive more state funding for autism services than other racial/ethnic groups
• Solving a genetic mystery in type 1 diabetes
• Researchers find key to zinc rich plants to combat malnutrition
• Macrophages surrounding lymph nodes block the progression of melanoma, other cancers
• Analysis of nearly 600,000 genomes for resilience project
• Novel mechanism of crizotinib resistance in a ROS1+ NSCLC patient
• Common brain cell shapes the nervous system in unexpected ways
• Hepatitis B and C could be eliminated as public health problems in US
• Blood processing methods affect microparticles and mtDNA linked to transfusion reactions
• New public repository of patient-derived cancer models aims to improve drug testing
• Can more fiber restore microbiome diversity?
• Mapping the routes to drug resistance in cancer
• Smokers may have a tougher time finding a job, earn less money
• Antibiotics don't promote swapping of resistance genes
• How two types of immune cells can arise from one
• Microfilter allows non-invasive diagnosis of fetal abnormalities
• Small nerve fibers defy neuropathy conventions
• Handwashing gets skipped a third of the time in outpatient healthcare
• Highly-sensitive detection method makes close monitoring of HDL kinetics possible
• New hybrid drug plugs the hole in malaria drug resistance
• Breakthrough may stop multiple sclerosis in its tracks
• Paper tape can help prevent foot blisters, study shows
• Studying the help-seeking behaviors of ethnic minority, immigrant victims
• Research brings 'smart hands' closer to reality
• Being married may help prolong survival in cancer patients
• Face- and eye-muscle research sheds new light on Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• Shining new light on diabetes treatment
• Breakthrough toothpaste ingredient hardens your teeth while you sleep
• Damaging consequences of Zika virus infection in human minibrains
• New clue in lupus autoantibody production found
• Fatty Liver Disease Is Common and Linked with Certain Risk Factors in Liver Transplant Recipients
• Scientists investigate sperm-boosting nutrient which may help infertile couples
• Exploring synapses with a gigantic advantage
• More options for personalized medicine
• Lipid helps lymphocytes patrol
• Research uncovers the effects of traumatic childbirth on midwives and obstetricians
• Zika virus may now be tied to another brain disease
• HIV vaccine candidate confirms promise in preclinical study
• Neuronal structures associated with memory sprout in response to novel molecules
• Beta cells from love handles
• Millions of maternal and child lives could be saved every year for less than $5 a person
• Exposure to cigarette smoke and flu virus may prevent lung medications working properly

Breakthrough improves chances tissue grafts will survive and thrive Posted: 11 Apr 2016 12:54 PM PDT Matching the structure of engineered blood vessels to the structure of the host tissues at the site of implantation greatly improves the chances that grafted tissues will survive and thrive, an international team of researchers has determined.

Mechanics of biofilms: Sacrifice of the few for the benefit of the many Posted: 11 Apr 2016 12:52 PM PDT Suicide allows bacteria found in opportunistic infections to create an antibiotic tolerant biofilm, according to a team of researchers. In new work, the scientists found that a molecule secreted by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes a breakdown in the respiratory chain, killing some of the population and triggering the creation of a biofilm among survivors, and thus conferring increased tolerance to antibiotics.

Researchers discover new type of 'pili' used by bacteria to cling to hosts Posted: 11 Apr 2016 12:52 PM PDT Many bacteria interact with their environment through hair-like structures known as pili, which attach to and help mediate infection of host organisms, among other things. Now a research team has discovered that certain bacteria prevalent in the human gut and mouth assemble their pili in a previously unknown way – information that could potentially open up new ways of fighting infection.

Malaria: New route of access to the heart of the parasite Posted: 11 Apr 2016 12:30 PM PDT Scientists have just identified an Achilles heel in the parasite that causes malaria, by showing that its optimum development is dependent on its ability to expropriate RNA molecules in infected cells – a host-pathogen interaction that had never previously been observed. Although the precise function of this deviation remains mysterious, these findings open new perspectives for the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents within the parasite.

Brain on LSD revealed: First scans show how the drug affects the brain Posted: 11 Apr 2016 12:30 PM PDT For the first time, researchers have visualized the effects of LSD on the human brain. In a series of experiments, scientists have gained a glimpse into how the psychedelic compound affects brain activity. The team administered LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) to 20 healthy volunteers in a specialist research centre and used various leading-edge and complementary brain scanning techniques to visualize how LSD alters the way the brain works.

Dysfunctional endosomes are early sign of neurodegeneration Posted: 11 Apr 2016 12:28 PM PDT Abnormalities in a protein that helps transport and sort materials inside cells are linked to axonal dysfunction and degeneration of neurons in Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome, report investigators.

Omega factor: Novel method measures mortality risk when multiple diseases threaten Posted: 11 Apr 2016 12:26 PM PDT A novel method has been developed for assessing mortality risk in elderly patients with cancer who also suffer from other serious diseases or conditions. The prognostic model, they say, is more precise and provides a more useful tool for determining the best treatments when more than one disease is involved.

Radiation improves survival in older patients with soft tissue sarcomas Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:48 AM PDT Radiation therapy following surgery benefits older patients more than their younger counterparts, researchers report, a surprising finding that could change the way some patients are treated for soft tissue sarcomas (STS).

Social thinking in the infant brain revealed Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:48 AM PDT An innovative collaboration between neuroscientists and developmental psychologists that investigated how infants' brains process other people's action provides the first evidence that directly links neural responses from the motor system to overt social behavior in infants.

More than three percent of men on active surveillance for prostate cancer may have metastases Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:46 AM PDT Radical treatment such as surgery and radiation for localized prostate cancer may cause significant side effects. Active surveillance is increasingly accepted as an option for treating patients with clinically insignificant disease to maintain their quality of life. Despite close monitoring, however, metastatic disease develops in a small number of men on active surveillance. About three percent of patients on surveillance had metastasis by a median of seven years after diagnosis.

Inequality linked to large, growing gap in lifespans Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:45 AM PDT Poverty in the United States is often associated with deprivation, in areas including housing, employment, and education. Now a study has shown, in unprecedented geographic detail, another stark reality: Poor people live shorter lives, too.

Maryland's 2011 alcohol sales tax reduced alcohol sales, study suggests Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:45 AM PDT Maryland's 2011 increase in the alcohol sales tax appears to have led to fewer purchases of beer, wine and liquor in the state, suggesting reduced alcohol use, new research indicates.

Building Immunity: Team recreates a T-cell receptor signaling pathway Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:45 AM PDT By successfully re-creating a T-cell receptor signaling pathway independent of the cell itself, scientists have gained novel insights into how protein signaling works in a complex cellular process.

Kidney stone patients hospitalized on the weekend may get delayed treatment Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:45 AM PDT Patients with severe cases of kidney stones are 26 percent less likely to receive timely treatment when they're admitted to the hospital on the weekend, according to a new report. The study is the first to show that a risk factor called the 'weekend effect' affects kidney stone treatment and outcomes.

Whites receive more state funding for autism services than other racial/ethnic groups Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:43 AM PDT Whites with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in California receive more state funding than Hispanics, African Americans, Asians and others, new research has found.

Solving a genetic mystery in type 1 diabetes Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:43 AM PDT In type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks the body's own insulin-producing cells. Scientists understand reasonably well how this autoimmune attack progresses, but they don't understand what triggers the attack or how to stop it. New research may provide a clue.

Researchers find key to zinc rich plants to combat malnutrition Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:43 AM PDT The diet in many developing countries is lacking zinc, but researchers have just solved the riddle of how to get more zinc into crop seeds. However, don't expect the zinc rich grain and rice to be on your supermarket isle right away, say researchers. There is still a long way from the lab to the field, they warn.

Macrophages surrounding lymph nodes block the progression of melanoma, other cancers Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:43 AM PDT A type of immune cell that appears to block the progress of melanoma and other cancers in animal models has been identified by researchers.

Analysis of nearly 600,000 genomes for resilience project Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:43 AM PDT Custom-built targeted sequencing panel proves essential in hunt for people naturally resistant to severe disease.

Novel mechanism of crizotinib resistance in a ROS1+ NSCLC patient Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:43 AM PDT Molecular analysis of a tumor biopsy from a proto-oncogene 1 receptor tyrosine kinase positive (ROS1+) patient with acquired crizotinib resistance revealed a novel mutation in the v-kit Hardy Zuckerman 4 feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT) that can potentially be targeted by KIT inhibitors.

Common brain cell shapes the nervous system in unexpected ways Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:40 AM PDT Glial cells nourish, protect, and support neurons, but their role is far from passive. A new study shows how they can change the shape of nerve endings and distinguish between the different types of neurons they encase.

Hepatitis B and C could be eliminated as public health problems in US Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:40 AM PDT It is possible to end the transmission of hepatitis B and C and prevent further sickness and deaths from the diseases, but time, considerable resources, and attention to various barriers will be required, says a new report.

Blood processing methods affect microparticles and mtDNA linked to transfusion reactions Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:39 AM PDT Specific red blood cell manufacturing methods may be less damaging to cells than others, scientists report for the first time. This finding could help reduce adverse reactions in transfusion recipients and may impact the future of how blood is collected in North America and around the world.

New public repository of patient-derived cancer models aims to improve drug testing Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:39 AM PDT Testing experimental cancer drugs in mouse models with patient-derived tumors could reduce the high failure rate of drugs in early clinical trials, according to a new report.

Can more fiber restore microbiome diversity? Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:39 AM PDT Scientists are pushing to restore human health in Western countries by changing our diet to restore the microbial species lost over the evolution of Western diet. Researchers advocate for strategically increasing dietary fiber intake as one path forward in regaining microbial biodiversity.

Mapping the routes to drug resistance in cancer Posted: 11 Apr 2016 10:39 AM PDT When a targeted therapy blocks a pathway that enables tumors to grow, the cells usually manage to get around that obstacle. The result is drug resistance. Researchers have now found a way to map those alternate routes by studying individual cancer cells, suggesting approaches for developing more effective combination therapies.

Smokers may have a tougher time finding a job, earn less money Posted: 11 Apr 2016 09:47 AM PDT Smoking may cost more than the money smokers spend on cigarettes. A new study suggests unemployed smokers were less likely to get new jobs and when they did they earned an average of $5 less an hour.

Antibiotics don't promote swapping of resistance genes Posted: 11 Apr 2016 09:47 AM PDT Outside of a few specific examples, antibiotics do not promote the spread of bacterial antibiotic resistance through genetic swapping, as previously assumed. Researchers report that while the overuse of antibiotics is undeniably at the heart of the growing global crisis, this research suggests population dynamics is to blame, rather than increased DNA sharing. The results have implications for designing antibiotic protocols to avoid the spread of antibacterial resistance.

How two types of immune cells can arise from one Posted: 11 Apr 2016 09:47 AM PDT A newly identified mechanism may offer ways to enhance the immune response to fight cancer or strengthen long-term protection provided by vaccines.

Microfilter allows non-invasive diagnosis of fetal abnormalities Posted: 11 Apr 2016 08:26 AM PDT A new method could allow physicians to diagnose fetal genetic abnormalities during pregnancy without the risks involved in current techniques.

Small nerve fibers defy neuropathy conventions Posted: 11 Apr 2016 08:25 AM PDT Results of a small study of people with tingling pain in their hands and feet have added to evidence that so-called prediabetes is more damaging to motor nerves than once believed, report scientists.

Handwashing gets skipped a third of the time in outpatient healthcare Posted: 11 Apr 2016 08:24 AM PDT Despite having policies in place to prevent infections, staff at outpatient care facilities fail to follow recommendations for hand hygiene 37 percent of the time, and for safe injection practices 33 percent of the time, according to a new study.

Highly-sensitive detection method makes close monitoring of HDL kinetics possible Posted: 11 Apr 2016 08:24 AM PDT A mass spectromeric approach allows researchers to identify HDL subfractions of various sizes and distribution. The new technique for monitoring HDL kinetics has helped reveal new lipid biology and may help pharmaceutical companies better design and test lipid modulators in the future, report investigators.

New hybrid drug plugs the hole in malaria drug resistance Posted: 11 Apr 2016 08:22 AM PDT The World Health Organization recommends treating malaria with artemisinin combination therapy (ACT), consisting of artemisinin and another drug. However, malaria resistance to ACT has already started emerging in Southeast Asia. Scientists have now developed a novel hybrid drug that combines a killing factor with an agent that reverses drug resistance. The hybrid drug is very effective against chloroquine- and artemisinin-resistant malaria, presenting a new avenue for treating resistant malaria.

Breakthrough may stop multiple sclerosis in its tracks Posted: 11 Apr 2016 08:22 AM PDT A new plant-derived drug can block the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS), an international research team has demonstrated. MS is a chronic incurable condition marked by attacks that bring gradual deterioration in the patient's health. About 2.5 million people are affected worldwide.

Paper tape can help prevent foot blisters, study shows Posted: 11 Apr 2016 08:22 AM PDT Researchers followed ultra-marathon runners around the world to test whether low-cost paper tape could reduce debilitating and painful blisters. Turns out they can, the researchers report.

Studying the help-seeking behaviors of ethnic minority, immigrant victims Posted: 11 Apr 2016 07:11 AM PDT A comparative, empirical study into the help-seeking behaviors of ethnic minority women in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong has been released by researchers.

Research brings 'smart hands' closer to reality Posted: 11 Apr 2016 07:11 AM PDT Using your skin as a touchscreen has been brought a step closer after scientists successfully created tactile sensations on the palm using ultrasound sent through the hand.

Being married may help prolong survival in cancer patients Posted: 11 Apr 2016 07:11 AM PDT New research has uncovered a link between being married and living longer among cancer patients, with the beneficial effect of marriage differing by race/ethnicity and place of birth.

Face- and eye-muscle research sheds new light on Duchenne muscular dystrophy Posted: 11 Apr 2016 07:11 AM PDT Researchers have investigated the biochemical and physiological characteristics of orbicularis oculi, a group of facial muscles that control the eyelids and are selectively spared or involved in different neuromuscular disorders. What they found also helps to explain why another set of muscles -- the extraocular muscles that control the movement of the eye -- are not affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy, congenital muscular dystrophy, and aging.

Shining new light on diabetes treatment Posted: 11 Apr 2016 06:24 AM PDT New insight into the signalling process of receptors in cells has been provided by new research. The team behind the research believe their findings could pave the way for a new generation of anti-diabetic drugs that are activated by the presence of either blue or ultra-violet light.

Breakthrough toothpaste ingredient hardens your teeth while you sleep Posted: 11 Apr 2016 06:22 AM PDT A new toothpaste ingredient which puts back the lost minerals from tooth enamel and helps prevent  decay and treat  sensitivity while you sleep is available online and from specialist dental distributors now. It is expected to be available through high street stores by the end of the year.

Damaging consequences of Zika virus infection in human minibrains Posted: 11 Apr 2016 06:22 AM PDT Brazilian researchers have demonstrated the harmful effects of ZIKA virus (ZIKV) in human neural stem cells, neurospheres and brain organoids. Since ZIKV has been gradually established as a direct cause of central nervous system malformations, this study help to elucidate the etiological nature of the recently increasing number of microcephaly cases in Brazil.

New clue in lupus autoantibody production found Posted: 11 Apr 2016 05:29 AM PDT A signaling molecule called interferon gamma could hold the key to understanding how harmful autoantibodies form in lupus patients. The finding could lead to new treatments for the chronic autoimmune disease, say researchers.

Fatty Liver Disease Is Common and Linked with Certain Risk Factors in Liver Transplant Recipients Posted: 11 Apr 2016 05:28 AM PDT Researchers have characterized the prevalence and risk factors of fatty liver disease in patients who undergo liver transplantation. The findings could have important implications for safeguarding transplant recipients' health.

Scientists investigate sperm-boosting nutrient which may help infertile couples Posted: 11 Apr 2016 05:28 AM PDT A pioneering study is being launched to investigate if a simple extra nutrient can boost male fertility. It is estimated that one in six couples are unable to conceive -- in about half of cases the problem is caused by poor sperm quality.

Exploring synapses with a gigantic advantage Posted: 11 Apr 2016 05:27 AM PDT How does memory occur? And what about movement, or thinking? One key element to understand all these brain functions are the synapses. A synapse is the contact point between two neurons, where a signal is transmitted one-way, from one neuron to another. Now scientists report that they have created giant neural connections in culture for the first time, allowing for new ways to study them.

More options for personalized medicine Posted: 11 Apr 2016 05:26 AM PDT Researchers have developed a particularly flexible additive manufacturing method that allows them to produce bone implants, dentures, surgical tools, or microreactors in almost any conceivable design.

Lipid helps lymphocytes patrol Posted: 11 Apr 2016 05:26 AM PDT The mechanism of efficient lymphocyte motility within lymphoid tissues has remained unknown. A research group has found for the first time that a lipid called lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) plays a vital role in regulating lymphocyte motility within lymph nodes. Targeting LPA and its receptors may provide novel strategies to control immune responses.

Research uncovers the effects of traumatic childbirth on midwives and obstetricians Posted: 11 Apr 2016 05:26 AM PDT When complications arise in the delivery room that lead to traumatic childbirth, clinicians providing care may feel upset and experience secondary traumatic stress. A new study found that feelings of blame and guilt dominate when midwives and obstetricians struggle to cope with the aftermath of a traumatic childbirth, but such events also made them think more about the meaning of life and helped them become better midwives and doctors. Medical mistakes primarily affect patients and relatives, but healthcare professionals can also be profoundly affected. When errors occur, and even when problems arise that may not have been avoided, clinicians often feel personally responsible for negative outcomes experienced by patients.

Zika virus may now be tied to another brain disease Posted: 11 Apr 2016 05:23 AM PDT The Zika virus may be associated with an autoimmune disorder that attacks the brain's myelin similar to multiple sclerosis, according to a small study.

HIV vaccine candidate confirms promise in preclinical study Posted: 11 Apr 2016 05:23 AM PDT An HIV vaccine candidate has shown to generate more than 80 percent protection in groups of twelve female monkeys against high dose, repeated AIDS virus exposures during part of a preclinical study.

Neuronal structures associated with memory sprout in response to novel molecules Posted: 11 Apr 2016 05:23 AM PDT Chemists have designed a set of molecules that promote microscopic, anatomical changes in neurons associated with the formation and retention of memories. These drug candidates also prevent deterioration of the same neuronal structures in the presence of amyloid-beta, a protein fragment that accumulates in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.

Beta cells from love handles Posted: 11 Apr 2016 05:23 AM PDT A synthetic genetic program has been used to instruct stem cells taken from fatty tissue to become cells that are almost identical to natural beta cells. This brings them a major step closer to a personal repair kit for diabetes sufferers.

Millions of maternal and child lives could be saved every year for less than $5 a person Posted: 10 Apr 2016 12:05 PM PDT By spending less than $5 per person on essential health care services such as contraception, medication for serious illnesses and nutritional supplements, millions of maternal and child lives could be saved every year, according to a new analysis.

Exposure to cigarette smoke and flu virus may prevent lung medications working properly Posted: 10 Apr 2016 12:05 PM PDT A new study backs up observations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients showing reduced effectiveness of symptom-reliever medication in flare-ups linked to cigarette smoking and infection with viruses such as influenza.

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