ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Too much 'noise' can affect brain development
• New snakebite treatment under development
• New method to reduce accumulation of damaging Huntington's disease protein
• Researchers identify enzyme link between excessive heart muscle growth, cancer growth
• Mothers' milk and the infant gut microbiota: An ancient symbiosis
• Long-term benefits to the kidney in simultaneous liver-kidney transplant
• New scientific evidence of sexual transmission of the Zika virus
• Toward a better nutritional facts panel
• Laser source for biosensors: First time organic lasers integrated into a silicon photonic chip
• Self-understanding helps criminal substance abusers
• The genetic evolution of Zika virus
• A 'pause button' for cells
• Americans live longer but with disabilities or health issues, study shows
• Combination therapy may offer better outcomes for patients with retinoblastoma
• Poor patient warfarin knowledge may increase risk of deadly side effects
• Cancer causing genetic condition risk lower than previously thought
• Immune cells help the brain to self-heal after a stroke
• 'Wrong' scale used to evaluate results of brain surgery
• New guidance on preventing sudden cardiac death in athletes published
• Patients with EGFR expressing NSCLC benefit most from necitumumab added to chemotherapy
• Plasma genotyping to predict treatment benefit in patients with NSCLC
• Treatment for chronic hepatitis B linked to increased rates of colorectal and cervical cancer
• Antiviral therapy prolongs survival in immune tolerant hepatitis B patients
• Additional benefits of type 2 diabetes treatment found for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients
• Study demonstrates benefits of existing treatment for hepatitis D patients
• Scientists uncover a potential approach to combat obesity in those prone to weight gain
• New treatment algorithm can predict benefit of treatment in end-stage liver disease
• Shorter treatment course potentially on the horizon for hep C patients
• Studies demonstrate improved safety results achieved with investigational drug for hep B
• Commonly used reflux, ulcer medication may cause serious kidney damage
• Heavy cannabis use associated with reduced dopamine release in brain
• Greek dancing improves jumping ability of elderly heart failure patients
• Implantable device targets pancreatic cancer
• Protective mastectomies that preserve nipple safe for women at high breast cancer risk
• New project helps researchers build a biomedical knowledgebase
• 'Unmet nursing care' may contribute to racial disparities in rehospitalizations after heart attack
• Potential cholesterol-lowering drug molecule has prostate cancer fighting capabilities
• High-volume lung transplant centers have lower costs and readmissions
• Don't count on strangers in medical emergencies, especially if you're African-American
• High levels of mental illness reported by victims of human trafficking in the UK
• More exposure to vegetation linked with lower mortality rates in women
• Poor responding gynecologic cancers get boost from genomic profiling
• Swapping plaster casts for 3D printing
• Obesity and male infertility: A global health problem
• Neonatal circumcision does not reduce penile sensitivity in men, study finds

Too much 'noise' can affect brain development Posted: 15 Apr 2016 11:39 AM PDT Using cutting-edge imaging technology, biologists have determined that uncontrolled fluctuations (known at "noise) in the concentration of the vitamin A derivative Retinoic acid (RA) can lead to disruptions in brain organization during development.

New snakebite treatment under development Posted: 15 Apr 2016 11:37 AM PDT Thousands are bitten by rattlers and other venomous snakes each year, and a new treatment may serve as a "bridge" to buy time until medical care is available.

New method to reduce accumulation of damaging Huntington's disease protein Posted: 15 Apr 2016 11:36 AM PDT There may be a new way to change the damaging course of Huntington disease, researchers report. They have shown that reducing the aberrant accumulation of a particular form of the mutant Huntingtin protein corresponds to improvement in symptoms and neuroinflammation in HD mice.

Researchers identify enzyme link between excessive heart muscle growth, cancer growth Posted: 15 Apr 2016 11:36 AM PDT Cardiology researchers have identified molecular ties between the growth of cancer cells and heart cells that suggest existing cancer drugs may be able to help those with enlarged heart cells -- a condition that can lead to heart attacks and stroke.

Mothers' milk and the infant gut microbiota: An ancient symbiosis Posted: 15 Apr 2016 11:36 AM PDT Mothers' milk guides the development of neonates' gut microbiota, nourishing a very specific bacterial population that protects the child. Now a team of researchers has identified the compound in the milk that supplies this nourishment, and has shown that it can be obtained from cow's milk, which could result in using cow's milk as a prebiotic for infants.

Long-term benefits to the kidney in simultaneous liver-kidney transplant Posted: 15 Apr 2016 10:02 AM PDT There may be long-term benefits to simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation versus kidney transplantation alone, new research suggests.

New scientific evidence of sexual transmission of the Zika virus Posted: 15 Apr 2016 09:59 AM PDT The ZIKA virus can be transmitted sexually, a new study has confirmed. The ZIKA virus, a member of the Flavivirus family, is almost exclusively transmitted to humans by Aedes mosquitoes. Although Zika infection usually causes mild symptoms, it can be responsible for severe neurological complications, particularly in the infant of a woman infected while pregnant.

Toward a better nutritional facts panel Posted: 15 Apr 2016 09:59 AM PDT The ubiquitous nutrition facts panel has graced food packages for many years. But can it be improved? Results from a study indicates that the answer is, 'Yes.'

Laser source for biosensors: First time organic lasers integrated into a silicon photonic chip Posted: 15 Apr 2016 09:56 AM PDT In the area of nano photonics, scientists for the first time succeeded in integrating a laser with an organic gain medium on a silicon photonic chip. This approach is of enormous potential for low-cost biosensors that might be used for near-patient diagnosis once and without any sterilization expenditure similar to today's strips for measuring blood sugar.

Self-understanding helps criminal substance abusers Posted: 15 Apr 2016 09:56 AM PDT Researchers have developed the treatment program called Impulsive Lifestyle Counselling, which helps substance abusers who also suffer from impulsive and criminal behavior.

The genetic evolution of Zika virus Posted: 15 Apr 2016 09:56 AM PDT An analysis comparing the individual differences between over 40 strains of Zika virus has identified significant changes in both amino acid and nucleotide sequences during the past half-century. The data support a strong divergence between the Asian and African lineages as well as human and mosquito isolates of the virus, and will likely be helpful as researchers flush out how a relatively unknown pathogen led to the current outbreak.

A 'pause button' for cells Posted: 15 Apr 2016 07:35 AM PDT Throughout our cells, materials are continuously transported via tiny packets called vesicles. This process is called intracellular trafficking and it is crucial for the normal functioning of cells. An optogenetic system inhibits intracellular membrane vesicle trafficking, scientists report.

Americans live longer but with disabilities or health issues, study shows Posted: 15 Apr 2016 07:35 AM PDT Americans are living longer but in poorer health, according to a new study. The study examined life expectancy trends and disability rates in a 40-year period, from 1970 to 2010. The analysis of US vital statistics found that the average total lifespan increased for men and women in those 40 years, but so did the proportion of time spent living with a disability.

Combination therapy may offer better outcomes for patients with retinoblastoma Posted: 15 Apr 2016 06:24 AM PDT Targeting survivin -- a protein that inhibits apoptosis or cell death -- enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy in cells and mouse models of retinoblastoma (Rb), the most common malignant tumor of the eye in children, researchers report.

Poor patient warfarin knowledge may increase risk of deadly side effects Posted: 15 Apr 2016 06:24 AM PDT Patients have poor knowledge of warfarin which may increase their risk of serious side effects, according to research. Warfarin is given to patients at increased risk of blood clots from conditions such as atrial fibrillation or a mechanical heart valve. It 'thins the blood' by slowing down the anticoagulation effect of vitamin K, thereby increasing the time it takes blood to clot and reducing the risk of stroke. Taking too much warfain raises the risk of bleeding.

Cancer causing genetic condition risk lower than previously thought Posted: 15 Apr 2016 05:17 AM PDT The expected odds of children having a genetic condition which causes learning difficulties and tumors have been dramatically cut, thanks to a recent genetic analysis.

Immune cells help the brain to self-heal after a stroke Posted: 15 Apr 2016 05:17 AM PDT After a stroke, there is inflammation in the damaged part of the brain. Until now, the inflammation has been seen as a negative consequence that needs to be abolished as soon as possible. But, as it turns out, there are also some positive sides to the inflammation, and it can actually help the brain to self-repair.

'Wrong' scale used to evaluate results of brain surgery Posted: 15 Apr 2016 05:16 AM PDT The most common scale used to evaluate outcome of neurosurgical procedures, the modified rankin scale (mRS), does not measure what is commonly assumed, concludes a study. The researchers state that previous treatment results must now be reevaluated.

New guidance on preventing sudden cardiac death in athletes published Posted: 15 Apr 2016 05:16 AM PDT A new consensus statement establishes guidance for conducting pre-participation screenings of college athletes and encourages emergency action plans for quickly responding to sudden cardiac arrest.

Patients with EGFR expressing NSCLC benefit most from necitumumab added to chemotherapy Posted: 15 Apr 2016 05:15 AM PDT Patients with epidermal growth factor receptor expressing advanced squamous non-small-cell lung cancer benefit most from necitumumab added to gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy, according to a subgroup analysis from the SQUIRE trial.

Plasma genotyping to predict treatment benefit in patients with NSCLC Posted: 15 Apr 2016 05:14 AM PDT The benefit of plasma genotyping to predict treatment benefit in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is confirmed in three studies.

Treatment for chronic hepatitis B linked to increased rates of colorectal and cervical cancer Posted: 15 Apr 2016 05:14 AM PDT A new study demonstrates a potential link between treatment of long-term oral nucleos(t)ide analogues and an increased risk of colorectal (p=0.029) and cervical (p=0.049) cancer in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Antiviral therapy prolongs survival in immune tolerant hepatitis B patients Posted: 15 Apr 2016 05:14 AM PDT A new study demonstrates that the use of antiviral therapy for patients in the immune tolerant phase of hepatitis B (HBV) prolongs overall survival and reduces the risk of the most common form of liver cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma, HCC) and scarring of the liver (cirrhosis).

Additional benefits of type 2 diabetes treatment found for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients Posted: 15 Apr 2016 05:14 AM PDT A type 2 diabetes treatment has been found to also have 'off-label' benefits for glucose control in the liver and in fatty cells known as adipose. The study shows that exenatide, a treatment that targets the pancreas to improve glucose absorption, enhances glucose uptake and reduces insulin resistance in the liver and in adipose tissue.

Study demonstrates benefits of existing treatment for hepatitis D patients Posted: 15 Apr 2016 05:14 AM PDT New research shows that interferon alpha based therapies are effective in suppressing disease progression in a severe form of chronic viral hepatitis, hepatitis delta.

Scientists uncover a potential approach to combat obesity in those prone to weight gain Posted: 15 Apr 2016 05:14 AM PDT For the first time scientists have kick-started the natural process by which genetically predisposed obese mice gain weight, opening new potential approaches to fight off obesity. The study suggests that impaired brown adipose tissue, otherwise known as 'brown fat,' drives obesity, and by stimulating heat production in this fatty tissue, weight-management and glucose tolerance can be improved.

New treatment algorithm can predict benefit of treatment in end-stage liver disease Posted: 15 Apr 2016 05:14 AM PDT A new algorithm designed to help physician decision-making in End-Stage Liver Disease (ESLD), was able to accurately predict death in 96 percent of patients with ESLD.

Shorter treatment course potentially on the horizon for hep C patients Posted: 15 Apr 2016 05:14 AM PDT Data from a Phase 2 clinical trial show that an investigational injectable treatment known as RG-101 in combination with a four week course of oral direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment was well tolerated and resulted in high virologic response rates post-treatment among hepatitis C (HCV) infected patients with genotypes 1 and 4, who had not been treated previously.

Studies demonstrate improved safety results achieved with investigational drug for hep B Posted: 15 Apr 2016 05:13 AM PDT Studies demonstrate that tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) improves patient safety while maintaining efficacy in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection compared to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Viread, TDF).

Commonly used reflux, ulcer medication may cause serious kidney damage Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:48 PM PDT Patients who took proton pump inhibitors for heartburn, acid reflux, or ulcers had an increased risk of kidney function decline, chronic kidney disease, and kidney failure. The longer patients took the drugs, the greater their risk, a new study shows.

Heavy cannabis use associated with reduced dopamine release in brain Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:48 PM PDT Evidence of a compromised dopamine system has been found in heavy users of marijuana. Lower dopamine release was found in the striatum -- a region of the brain that is involved in working memory, impulsive behavior, and attention. Previous studies have shown that addiction to other drugs of abuse, such as cocaine and heroin, have similar effects on dopamine release, but such evidence for cannabis was missing until now.

Greek dancing improves jumping ability of elderly heart failure patients Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:48 PM PDT Greek dancing improves the jumping ability of elderly patients with heart failure, according to new research.

Implantable device targets pancreatic cancer Posted: 14 Apr 2016 02:44 PM PDT A small, implantable device that delivers chemotherapy drugs directly to pancreatic tumors has been developed by scientists. This thin, flexible film could also be adapted to treat other hard-to-reach tumors, according to the researchers.

Protective mastectomies that preserve nipple safe for women at high breast cancer risk Posted: 14 Apr 2016 02:00 PM PDT Protective mastectomies that preserve the nipple and surrounding skin prevent breast cancer as effectively as more invasive surgeries for women with a genetic mutation called BRCA that raises their risk of developing breast cancer, a multi-institution study has found.

New project helps researchers build a biomedical knowledgebase Posted: 14 Apr 2016 02:00 PM PDT Over the past 10 years, the volume and rate of biomedical research has increased dramatically, leading to a rapid growth in biomedical knowledge. However, this knowledge is currently fragmented across countless resources. Scientists have integrated biomedical data into Wikidata, a public, editable database where researchers can easily link genes, proteins and more.

'Unmet nursing care' may contribute to racial disparities in rehospitalizations after heart attack Posted: 14 Apr 2016 02:00 PM PDT Why are black older adults at higher risk of repeat hospital admission after a heart attack? Treatment at hospitals with higher rates of missed nursing care may be a contributing factor, reports a study.

Potential cholesterol-lowering drug molecule has prostate cancer fighting capabilities Posted: 14 Apr 2016 02:00 PM PDT Standard treatment for prostate cancer can include chemotherapy that targets receptors on cancer cells. However, drug-resistant cancer cells can emerge during chemotherapy, limiting its effectiveness as a cancer-fighting agent. Researchers have proven that a compound initially developed as a cholesterol-fighting molecule not only halts the progression of prostate cancer, but also can kill cancerous cells.

High-volume lung transplant centers have lower costs and readmissions Posted: 14 Apr 2016 02:00 PM PDT High-volume lung transplant centers have lower transplantation costs and their patients are less likely to be readmitted within 30 days of leaving the hospital following surgery, according to a new study of more than 3,000 Medicare patients who received lung transplants.

Don't count on strangers in medical emergencies, especially if you're African-American Posted: 14 Apr 2016 02:00 PM PDT In the first study of its kind, sociologists have found that people who have a medical emergency in a public place can't necessarily rely on the kindness of strangers. Only 2.5 percent of people, or 1 in 39, got help from strangers before emergency medical personnel arrived, the research shows.

High levels of mental illness reported by victims of human trafficking in the UK Posted: 14 Apr 2016 02:00 PM PDT New research reveals the severe mental health problems experienced by men and women trafficked to the UK for sexual exploitation, domestic servitude and forced labor, including high levels of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

More exposure to vegetation linked with lower mortality rates in women Posted: 14 Apr 2016 02:00 PM PDT Women in the U.S. who live in homes surrounded by more vegetation appear to have significantly lower mortality rates than those who live in areas with less vegetation, according to a new study.

Poor responding gynecologic cancers get boost from genomic profiling Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:55 AM PDT Research examining gynecologic cancers that poorly respond to therapy shows genomic profiling can help identify alternate and targeted treatments, report scientists.

Swapping plaster casts for 3D printing Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:53 AM PDT NovaCast is a device that prevents infections, ulcers and even amputation of limbs, is ten times lighter than the traditional material and allows a good ventilation.

Obesity and male infertility: A global health problem Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:52 AM PDT Infertility is a silent problem that obese men have to face. This is a health issue that deserves attention from policymakers and the media, suggest experts in a new article.

Neonatal circumcision does not reduce penile sensitivity in men, study finds Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:42 AM PDT Few data are available concerning the consequences of neonatal circumcision on penile sensitivity in adults. New research indicates that there are no differences in penile sensitivity for a variety of stimulus types and penile sites between circumcised and intact men. Additionally, this study challenges past research suggesting that the foreskin is the most sensitive and, in turn, most sexually relevant, part of the adult penis.

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