ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Nurturing during preschool years boosts child's brain growth
• Regenerating brain tissue brings hope for a new treatment against Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s
• Why is visceral fat worse than subcutaneous fat?
• What scientists know -- and don't know -- about sexual orientation
• Medical literature may overemphasize role of hospital volume in patient outcomes
• Gut feeling: Research examines link between stomach bacteria, PTSD
• Female pelvis adjusts for childbearing years
• New advance announced in fight against Parkinson's, Alzheimer's
• Controlling RNA in living cells
• Head impacts from single season of high school football produce measurable change in brain cells
• Soy shows promise as natural anti-microbial agent
• Risks of harm from spanking confirmed by analysis of 5 decades of research
• Online HIV prevention resources face resistance from black female college students
• Microbial cooperation in the intestine
• Meaning of brain scans for 'pain' called into question
• Modern DNA reveals ancient male population explosions linked to migration and technology
• For some cancers, risk lower among kids of non-US-born Hispanic mothers
• Infants who ate rice, rice products had higher urinary concentrations of arsenic
• Effort to detect, isolate asymptomatic C. difficile carriers linked to lower incidence
• Researchers find potential new treatment target for deadly brain cancer
• Birth defects, pregnancy terminations, miscarriages in users of acne drug
• Expand HPV vaccination programs in Canada to include males, say experts
• Responsible pet care associated with well-controlled blood sugar in diabetic children
• New understanding of enzymes could help to develop new drugs to treat diseases from cancer to Alzheimer's
• Potential target for revolutionary antibiotics
• Red light controls signaling in human cells
• 20 year-old puzzle solved through genetic advances
• First happiness genes have been located
• Pre-pregnancy obesity increases odds of having overweight children
• Hearing aid use is associated with improved cognitive function in hearing-impaired elderly
• Fighting against counterfeit medicine
• Are money problems and violence related?
• Socially meaningful sounds can change ear, improve hearing, study finds
• Changing climate conditions in Michigan pose an emerging public health threat
• Alcohol-induced blackouts: The last five years of research
• Alcohol availability affects local crime patterns
• Graduated driver licensing laws need to be expanded throughout the U.S.
• Using 'heavy drinking days' to measure treatment effectiveness
• Patient attitudes to diabetic foot ulcers have 'significant effect' on survival
• Do anorexia, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigues share a common cause?
• Videogames against malaria: Learn through playing
• Origami for chemists: Folding molecules into screw-shaped structures
• Scientists solve immune system mystery for Type 1 diabetes
• Videogame addiction linked to ADHD
• Infection alert in catheters could tackle hospital superbugs
• Could a combined dietary supplement help ward off heart disease?
• How researchers teach bacteria new behaviors
• New test for early detection of Lyme disease developed
• How vibrio cholera is attracted by bile revealed
• 'Mediterranean' diet linked to lower risk of heart attacks, strokes in heart patients
• Novel anti-biofilm nano coating developed
• New study finds laundry detergent packets more dangerous than other types of detergent
• Research opens new treatment strategies for specific form of psoriasis
• Top tobacco control experts to FDA: Studies of e-cigs suggest more benefit than harm

Nurturing during preschool years boosts child's brain growth Posted: 25 Apr 2016 04:28 PM PDT Children whose mothers were nurturing during the preschool years, as opposed to later in childhood, have more robust growth in brain structures associated with learning, memory and stress response than children with less supportive moms.

Regenerating brain tissue brings hope for a new treatment against Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:16 PM PDT Researchers developed a nanogel that enables the growth of new neurons. Working with animal models, researchers were able to cross the electroencephalic barrier, introduce a nanogel and achieve the growth of neurons within the gel, which shows that it is possible to promote regeneration of brain tissue.

Why is visceral fat worse than subcutaneous fat? Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:13 PM PDT Researchers have long-known that visceral fat -- the kind that wraps around the internal organs -- is more dangerous than subcutaneous fat that lies just under the skin around the belly, thighs and rear. But how visceral fat contributes to insulin resistance and inflammation has remained unknown.

What scientists know -- and don't know -- about sexual orientation Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:13 PM PDT Over the last 50 years, political rights for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals have significantly broadened in some countries, while they have narrowed in others. In many parts of the world, political and popular support for LGB rights hinges on questions about the prevalence, causes, and consequences of non-heterosexual orientations. In a new report, a team of researchers bring the latest science to bear on these issues, providing a comprehensive review of the scientific research on sexual orientation.

Medical literature may overemphasize role of hospital volume in patient outcomes Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:13 PM PDT Current medical research and literature may be overemphasizing the role that hospital volume plays in patient outcomes, according to a study by researchers.

Gut feeling: Research examines link between stomach bacteria, PTSD Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:13 PM PDT Could bacteria in your gut be used to cure or prevent neurological conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety or even depression? Two researchers think that's a strong possibility.

Female pelvis adjusts for childbearing years Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:12 PM PDT Mother Nature has the answer: With the onset of puberty, the female pelvis expands; with the onset of menopause, it contracts again. In contrast, the male pelvis remains on the same developmental trajectory throughout a lifetime. The striking results of this study suggest that the morphology of the female pelvis is influenced by hormonal changes in puberty and during menopause.

New advance announced in fight against Parkinson's, Alzheimer's Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:12 PM PDT A lab-based study seems to have discovered a way of 'reversing' symptoms for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. The researchers have demonstrated that genetic and pharmacological approaches can be used to lower levels of toxic metabolites in the nervous system and thereby alleviate several symptoms of neurodegeneration.

Controlling RNA in living cells Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:12 PM PDT A system of modular proteins that can be used to track or manipulate RNA inside living cells has been developed by researchers. The new strategy is based on human RNA-binding proteins that normally help guide embryonic development. The research team adapted the proteins so that they can be easily targeted to desired RNA sequences.

Head impacts from single season of high school football produce measurable change in brain cells Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:36 AM PDT Repeated impacts to the heads of high school football players cause measurable changes in their brains, even when no concussion occurs, according to new research.

Soy shows promise as natural anti-microbial agent Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:33 AM PDT Soy isoflavones and peptides may inhibit the growth of microbial pathogens that cause food-borne illnesses, according to a new study. Soybean derivatives are already a mainstay in food products, such as cooking oils, cheeses, ice cream, margarine, food spreads, canned foods and baked goods.

Risks of harm from spanking confirmed by analysis of 5 decades of research Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:31 AM PDT The more children are spanked, the more likely they are to defy their parents and to experience increased anti-social behavior, aggression, mental health problems and cognitive difficulties, according to a new meta-analysis of 50 years of research on spanking.

Online HIV prevention resources face resistance from black female college students Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:24 AM PDT Black female college students were often unlikely to use online resources related to HIV prevention, due to the stigma associated with the disease and concerns that their social network would learn they were accessing HIV-related materials.

Microbial cooperation in the intestine Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:24 AM PDT Medical researchers report on a rare example of cooperation between different species of bacteria in the intestine.

Meaning of brain scans for 'pain' called into question Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:18 AM PDT Patterns of brain activity thought to show pain responses have been called into question after researchers saw such patterns in rare patients born without a sense of pain. The study was designed to test the 'pain matrix,' a pattern of brain activity that is often considered a marker for pain. The association is so pervasive that the 'pain matrix' has been used in research to suggest that social rejection or mental effort can cause 'pain.'

Modern DNA reveals ancient male population explosions linked to migration and technology Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:18 AM PDT The largest ever study of global genetic variation in the human Y chromosome has uncovered the hidden history of men. Research reveals explosions in male population numbers in five continents, occurring at times between 55 thousand and four thousand years ago.

For some cancers, risk lower among kids of non-US-born Hispanic mothers Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:18 AM PDT The children of Hispanic mothers not born in the United States appeared to have a lower risk for some types of childhood cancers, according to a new report.

Infants who ate rice, rice products had higher urinary concentrations of arsenic Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:17 AM PDT Although rice and rice products are typical first foods for infants, a new study found that infants who ate rice and rice products had higher urinary arsenic concentrations than those who did not consume any type of rice.

Effort to detect, isolate asymptomatic C. difficile carriers linked to lower incidence Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:15 AM PDT An intervention at an acute care facility to screen and isolate asymptomatic Clostridium difficile carriers was associated with decreased incidence of healthcare-associated C. difficile infection, a finding that needs to be confirmed in additional studies, according to a new study.

Researchers find potential new treatment target for deadly brain cancer Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:15 AM PDT A key player in brain tumor formation has been found that may lead to new therapies for a deadly and incurable cancer. The study is the first to show that a protein called OSMR (Oncostatin M Receptor) is required for glioblastoma tumours to form. Glioblastoma is one of the most deadly cancers, resistant to radiation, chemotherapy and difficult to remove with surgery.

Birth defects, pregnancy terminations, miscarriages in users of acne drug Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:15 AM PDT Canada's program that aims to prevent pregnancy in women who use the powerful acne drug isotretinoin (Accutane) is not effective, found a new study. Isotretinoin is used to treat severe acne. It can severely harm a fetus, causing craniofacial, cardiac and central nervous system defects, as well as a high likelihood of miscarriage or medical termination, report researchers.

Expand HPV vaccination programs in Canada to include males, say experts Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:15 AM PDT Expanding human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs to include males in Canada will help protect them against HPV-related cancers, according to an analysis.

Responsible pet care associated with well-controlled blood sugar in diabetic children Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:28 AM PDT In a sample of young people with type I diabetes, those who actively helped care for family pets were 2.5 times more likely to have well-controlled blood sugar levels, according to a new study.

New understanding of enzymes could help to develop new drugs to treat diseases from cancer to Alzheimer's Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:25 AM PDT Researchers shed light on the role of inositol phosphate molecules in gene regulatory complexes.

Potential target for revolutionary antibiotics Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:25 AM PDT Researchers have discovered which enzyme enables Escherichia coli bacterium to breathe. E. coli uses special enzymes to breathe, which are absent in the human body. This opens the door to the creation of new drugs which will be detrimental to the bacteria without harming humans.

Red light controls signaling in human cells Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:25 AM PDT Optogenetics now enables the development of new methods that can be used like light switches to turn on and off specific processes in cells. Optogenetic methods are based on the isolation and modification of light-sensitive proteins in a first step and their subsequent incorporation into an individual target cell or an entire tissue. A recent paper describes successful red light experiments.

20 year-old puzzle solved through genetic advances Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:24 AM PDT A specific gene that plays a key role in an inherited eye disorder has been identified by researchers. The discovery solves a 20 year-old puzzle for a family in Liverpool who all developed epithelial recurrent erosion dystrophy (ERED), a genetic corneal dystrophy disorder that causes abnormality of the outer layer of the eye.

First happiness genes have been located Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:24 AM PDT For the first time in history, researchers have isolated the parts of the human genome that could explain the differences in how humans experience happiness. These are the findings of a large-scale international study in over 298,000 people.

Pre-pregnancy obesity increases odds of having overweight children Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:22 AM PDT Pre-pregnancy obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of the child becoming overweight at age two, research shows. The study also found breastfeeding for at least six months helped reduce the likelihood of a child being overweight at age two.

Hearing aid use is associated with improved cognitive function in hearing-impaired elderly Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:22 AM PDT Older adults who used a hearing aid performed significantly better on cognitive tests than those who did not use a hearing aid, despite having poorer hearing, new research indicates.

Fighting against counterfeit medicine Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:22 AM PDT Around the world, especially in developing nations, counterfeit medicines are a real problem. Until now, in many countries there hasn't been a standard protocol to conduct investigations and pursue prosecution.

Are money problems and violence related? Posted: 25 Apr 2016 07:05 AM PDT An association between financials stress and severe domestic abuse has been discovered by researchers, however, the discovery doesn't prove that one leads to the other.

Socially meaningful sounds can change ear, improve hearing, study finds Posted: 25 Apr 2016 07:05 AM PDT Hearing socially meaningful sounds can change the ear and enable it to better detect those sounds, according to researchers who studied the phenomenon in green treefrogs.

Changing climate conditions in Michigan pose an emerging public health threat Posted: 25 Apr 2016 07:04 AM PDT Changing climate conditions—including warmer temperatures and an increased frequency of heavy rainstorms—represent "an emerging threat to public health in Michigan," according to a new report from university researchers and state health officials.

Alcohol-induced blackouts: The last five years of research Posted: 25 Apr 2016 07:04 AM PDT Alcohol-induced blackouts, defined as memory loss of all or a portion of events that occurred during a drinking episode, are reported by approximately 50 percent of drinkers, and are associated with a wide range of negative consequences, including injury and death. Identifying the factors that contribute to and result from alcohol-induced blackouts is critical for developing effective prevention programs. A new manuscript provides an updated review of clinical research that has focused on alcohol-induced blackouts. It outlines practical and clinical implications of these findings and provides recommendations for future research.

Alcohol availability affects local crime patterns Posted: 25 Apr 2016 07:04 AM PDT Restrictions on alcohol availability may be an important crime-control policy, given that alcohol availability appears to influence crime by increasing consumption and alcohol-induced impulsivity. In 2003, Pennsylvania repealed its Sunday alcohol-sales ban for a portion of its state-run liquor stores. This paper investigates whether this change in alcohol policy, which affected alcohol availability, had an impact on crime occurring within the vicinity of liquor stores that opened on Sundays in Philadelphia.

Graduated driver licensing laws need to be expanded throughout the U.S. Posted: 25 Apr 2016 07:04 AM PDT Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are the leading cause of death among U.S. teens. In 2012, 184,000 young drivers were injured in MVCs, and 23 percent of young drivers (15 - 20 years old) involved in fatal MVCs had consumed alcohol. One policy that may reduce alcohol-use behaviors and impaired driving among young people at a population level is graduated driver licensing (GDL), which increases the driving privileges of young novice drivers as they age and gain more driving experience. This research seeks to determine the effects of GDLs on risky driving behaviors of youth and to assess whether GDLs have an unintended effect on underage drinking behaviors.

Using 'heavy drinking days' to measure treatment effectiveness Posted: 25 Apr 2016 07:04 AM PDT One of the challenges in evaluating the effectiveness of alcohol treatment is determining what constitutes a "good" outcome or meaningful improvement. While abstinence at the end of treatment is clearly a good outcome, a focus on abstinence ignores the benefits of patients reducing their drinking to less problematic levels so that they can function better and incur fewer social costs. This study estimates the relationship between drinking practices at the end of a treatment program and subsequent health-care costs, with an emphasis on heavy and non-heavy drinking levels.

Patient attitudes to diabetic foot ulcers have 'significant effect' on survival Posted: 25 Apr 2016 07:02 AM PDT The beliefs and expectations of people with diabetic foot ulcers about their illness have a significant independent effect on their survival, new research by health psychologists has shown.

Do anorexia, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigues share a common cause? Posted: 25 Apr 2016 07:02 AM PDT Irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome and anorexia nervosa may all have a common origin, according to researchers. They speculate that all three disorders may be caused by antibodies to the body's own nerve cells because of a mistake by the immune system following infection.

Videogames against malaria: Learn through playing Posted: 25 Apr 2016 06:55 AM PDT A malaria "Candy Crush" to research new diagnostic tools involving citizen participation has been developed by researchers. Called MalariaSpot Bubbles, the video game not only allows players to learn, but also to participate in the research of new tools for collaborative diagnosis online.

Origami for chemists: Folding molecules into screw-shaped structures Posted: 25 Apr 2016 06:55 AM PDT An international research team describes the methods of winding up molecules into screw-shaped structures. With the aid of artificial molecules, the researchers imitated the principles underlying the assigning a specific function to biomolecules in nature. Giving artificial molecules a specific helical shape has posed a considerable challenge, because it has been difficult to control if a molecule would wind up in the shape of a left-handed or right-handed screw. This is where the team made a breakthrough.

Scientists solve immune system mystery for Type 1 diabetes Posted: 25 Apr 2016 06:55 AM PDT Scientists have solved a decades-old medical mystery by finally identifying a previously unknown molecule which is attacked by the immune system in people with Type 1 diabetes.

Videogame addiction linked to ADHD Posted: 25 Apr 2016 06:55 AM PDT Young and single men are at risk of being addicted to video games. The addiction indicates an escape from ADHD and psychiatric disorder, suggests a new study.

Infection alert in catheters could tackle hospital superbugs Posted: 25 Apr 2016 06:55 AM PDT A new infection alert system in catheters could prevent serious infections in millions of hospital patients worldwide. The system changes the color of the urine so patients and carers can see easily if bacteria are starting to block the catheter.

Could a combined dietary supplement help ward off heart disease? Posted: 25 Apr 2016 06:53 AM PDT Fish oil, cocoa extract and phytosterols could offer new hope in fight against heart disease, suggest scientists. Current therapies against atherosclerosis are not fully effective and there have been numerous recent disappointments on promising agents that have been identified through various drug discovery programs.

How researchers teach bacteria new behaviors Posted: 25 Apr 2016 06:53 AM PDT Researchers working in the field of synthetic biology use components that occur in nature and combine them in a new way. This is how bacteria acquire functions that they hadn't previously possessed, they report, adding that their method offers great potential for biotechnology.

New test for early detection of Lyme disease developed Posted: 25 Apr 2016 06:53 AM PDT As part of the EU "ID Lyme" project, an infection immunology team is working on developing of a new test for early detection of Lyme disease (borreliosis). This will improve the ability to detect an active infection more easily than before so that healthy people with Lyme disease antibodies in their blood do not receive unnecessary antibiotic treatment and so that appropriate treatments can be initiated at an early stage. The antibody tests that are currently available only provide a reliable result 3 – 4 weeks after infection has occurred.

How vibrio cholera is attracted by bile revealed Posted: 25 Apr 2016 06:53 AM PDT A group of researchers has revealed their finding that the molecular mechanism that Vibrio cholerae, the etiological agent of cholera, is attracted by bile. This group has also successfully detected the ligand binding to the bacteria chemoreceptor in vivo for the first time. These results may significantly advance research on mechanism and control of V. cholerae.

'Mediterranean' diet linked to lower risk of heart attacks, strokes in heart patients Posted: 25 Apr 2016 06:51 AM PDT A 'Mediterranean' diet, high in fruit, vegetables, fish and unrefined foods, is linked to a lower risk of heart attack and stroke in people who already have heart disease, according to a study of over 15,000 people in 39 countries around the world. The research also showed that eating greater amounts of healthy food was more important for these people than avoiding unhealthy foods -- a 'Western' diet.

Novel anti-biofilm nano coating developed Posted: 25 Apr 2016 06:51 AM PDT A new anti-biofilm nano coating has been developed by a team of researchers. Their solution addresses a pervasive need to design environmentally friendly materials to impede dangerous surface bacteria growth, they say, holding potential for averting biofilm formed by surface-anchored bacteria.

New study finds laundry detergent packets more dangerous than other types of detergent Posted: 25 Apr 2016 06:51 AM PDT Exposure to laundry detergent packets is more dangerous to young children than exposure to other types of laundry and dishwasher detergent, new research indicates. The study found that from January 2013 through December 2014 Poison Control Centers in the US received 62,254 calls related to laundry and dishwasher detergent exposures among children younger than 6 years old.

Research opens new treatment strategies for specific form of psoriasis Posted: 25 Apr 2016 06:51 AM PDT Psoriasis is a long-lasting autoimmune disease that is characterized by patches of abnormal and inflamed skin. It is generally thought to have a genetic origin, which can be further triggered by environmental factors. People with specific mutations in the CARD14 gene have a high probability of developing psoriasis. A research team now reveals the molecular signaling mechanism by which mutations in CARD14 lead to increased inflammation in patients with psoriasis.

Top tobacco control experts to FDA: Studies of e-cigs suggest more benefit than harm Posted: 25 Apr 2016 06:51 AM PDT Seven top international tobacco control experts are prompting regulators at the US Food and Drug Administration to have a broad 'open-minded' perspective when it comes to regulating vaporized nicotine products, especially e-cigarettes.

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