ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Fairness at work can affect employees' health
• Long-term survival achieved in metastatic melanoma with personalized vaccine
• Silk stabilizes blood samples for months at high temperatures
• Interventional policies and practices needed to prevent bullying and its harm
• New survey shows that retirement includes work for many older Americans
• Good nutrition positively affects social development, research shows
• Gene mutations shown to cause form of HSP
• Body image strongly linked to overall life satisfaction
• Public reporting measures fail to describe the true safety of hospitals
• Low birthweight linked to higher death rates in infants and adolescents
• Genetic variations that boost PKC enzyme contribute to Alzheimer's disease
• New method to stop the spread of Lyme disease
• What studying hand-washing is teaching about compliance
• Gene mutation leads to poorly understood birth defects
• Math, not skin, may be a better way to help researchers test consumer products, study shows
• Stem cells from diabetic patients coaxed to become insulin-secreting cells
• Three lessons gut microbes have taught us about antibiotics
• Why cancer drugs can't take the pressure
• How to remove a splinter
• New technology is life-saving voice for premature or critically ill infants
• Genetic testing: Bene Israel community in India has Jewish roots
• Stave off cognitive decline with seafood
• Youth sports hazing victims often in denial, research shows
• Early life stress accelerates maturation of key brain region in male mice
• Telemedicine use increases among rural Medicare beneficiaries
• Breast cancer detection rates of mammogram readers don't decline over time
• Personalized virtual heart predicts the risk of sudden cardiac death
• Drug does not reduce digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis
• Increase seen in the BMI associated with lowest risk of death
• With food, similar substitutes are less satisfying
• Study points to challenges, hopes of helping vulnerable patients avoid stroke
• Scientists digitally mimic evolution to create novel proteins
• Fatal road crashes involving marijuana double after state legalizes drug
• Breath test may help diagnose irritable bowel syndrome
• When the physical world is unreliable
• New route of TB transmission identified
• Mechanism found that causes cancer cells to escape from immune system, form tumors
• Pediatric surgery: Conditions that once required surgery can now be treated with outpatient procedures
• Eliminating HIV is possible
• Further clues in the fight against chronic fatigue syndrome
• Researchers use light to control human heart cells, expedite development of new drugs
• Researchers find potential breakthrough in binge-eating disorder treatment
• Common nanoparticle has subtle effects on oxidative stress genes
• Migraine drugs underused, research suggests
• Graphene flakes to calm synapses
• Recurrence of thymic tumors caused by heat-shock proteins
• Potent therapeutic 'warheads' that target cancer cells designed
• Influential factors of the social divide in child obesity rates
• Study suggests new treatment for seizures
• When you take acetaminophen, you don't feel others' pain as much
• Psychology has important role in helping older Americans as they age
• Modeling, simulation help optimize chemotherapy to combat brain tumor
• Gamma-retroviruses preferentially integrate near cancer-associated genes
• Mouse model of autism offers insights to human patients, potential drug targets
• Major global study identifies a safer treatment of acute stroke
• Intraocular therapy prevents or reverses diabetic retinopathy in mice
• New research gives deeper understanding of why some breast cancers are hard to treat
• Junk food causes similar high blood sugar levels as type 2 diabetes
• Mercury in fish affected by both prey type and quality, study finds

Fairness at work can affect employees' health Posted: 10 May 2016 06:33 PM PDT Employees' experiences of fairness at work can impact on their health, according to a new study. The researchers investigated whether perceptions of what they call 'procedural justice', such as the processes in place to decide on rewards, pay, promotion and assignments, are related to employees' health.

Long-term survival achieved in metastatic melanoma with personalized vaccine Posted: 10 May 2016 01:51 PM PDT Two patients with melanoma that had spread to the liver survived for at least 8.5 and 12 years after resection of the hepatic tumor and treatment with patient-specific immunotherapeutic vaccines. The vaccines, designed to activate the immune system against the tumor, were derived from the patients' own dendritic cells loaded with proteins isolated from their tumors.

Silk stabilizes blood samples for months at high temperatures Posted: 10 May 2016 01:51 PM PDT Researchers have stabilized blood samples for long periods of time without refrigeration and at high temperatures by encapsulating them in air-dried silk protein. The technique has broad applications for clinical care and research that rely on accurate analysis of blood and other biofluids.

Interventional policies and practices needed to prevent bullying and its harm Posted: 10 May 2016 01:03 PM PDT Bullying is a serious public health problem, with significant short- and long-term psychological consequences for both the targets and perpetrators of such behavior, and requires a commitment to developing preventive and interventional policies and practices that could make a tangible difference in the lives of many children, says a new report.

New survey shows that retirement includes work for many older Americans Posted: 10 May 2016 01:03 PM PDT Departing the workforce entirely and entering retirement at age 65 is no longer a reality for many older people in the United States, according to a recent survey. The study finds that there are large numbers of older Americans who are currently, or who expect to be, working longer. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that they are continuing with the same employment circumstances indefinitely.

Good nutrition positively affects social development, research shows Posted: 10 May 2016 01:03 PM PDT In preschoolers, proper nutrition positively affects social development, researchers have discovered. For this study, the scientists analyzed a sample of 1,795 3-year-old children from Mauritius, an island off the eastern coast of Africa with a population of about 1.3 million people. They focused on four aspects of physical health related to nutrition and four indicators of social development.

Gene mutations shown to cause form of HSP Posted: 10 May 2016 01:03 PM PDT Novel gene mutations that cause hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) have been identified by researchers, a step forward in efforts to treat this debilitating disease.

Body image strongly linked to overall life satisfaction Posted: 10 May 2016 11:37 AM PDT U.S. researchers have just completed a national study on the factors linked to satisfaction with appearance and weight. In a survey of more than 12,000 Americans adults, the questions focused on personality, beliefs about romantic relationships, self-esteem, television viewing, and personal characteristics.

Public reporting measures fail to describe the true safety of hospitals Posted: 10 May 2016 11:37 AM PDT Common measures used by government agencies and public rankings to rate the safety of hospitals do not accurately capture the quality of care provided, new research suggests.

Low birthweight linked to higher death rates in infants and adolescents Posted: 10 May 2016 11:36 AM PDT Babies born with a low birthweight are at an increased risk of death in infancy right through to adolescence compared to babies born at a normal birthweight, according to new research.

Genetic variations that boost PKC enzyme contribute to Alzheimer's disease Posted: 10 May 2016 11:36 AM PDT In Alzheimer's disease, plaques of amyloid beta protein accumulate in the brain, damaging connections between neurons. Now, researchers have found that the enzyme Protein Kinase C (PKC) alpha is necessary for amyloid beta to damage neuronal connections. They also identified genetic variations that enhance PKC alpha activity in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

New method to stop the spread of Lyme disease Posted: 10 May 2016 10:43 AM PDT Medication that is normally used to lower cholesterol could stop the spread of Lyme disease, according to a new study. Statins can reduce the burden in mice and can therefore be exploited to reduce the number of Lyme disease bacteria acquired by the feeding ticks. These investigators believe that this could be one of the many strategies to lower the incidence of Lyme disease by restricting bacterial survival at its source.

What studying hand-washing is teaching about compliance Posted: 10 May 2016 10:43 AM PDT In many workplaces, standard processes are the key to a successful operation, ensuring efficiency and safety. New research shows that motivating compliance with standard processes via electronic monitoring can be a highly effective approach, despite concerns about employee backlash. However, the research also highlights that managers cannot simply 'monitor and forget.'

Gene mutation leads to poorly understood birth defects Posted: 10 May 2016 10:43 AM PDT Scientists have identified genetic mutations that appear to be a key culprit behind a suite of birth defects called ciliopathies, which affect an estimated 1 in 1,000 births.

Math, not skin, may be a better way to help researchers test consumer products, study shows Posted: 10 May 2016 10:28 AM PDT Researchers are presenting collaborative research on the use of mathematical methods for understanding the transportation of chemical compounds in biological tissues, like the skin. This could lead to better ways of testing cosmetic or consumer products without harming humans or animals.

Stem cells from diabetic patients coaxed to become insulin-secreting cells Posted: 10 May 2016 10:28 AM PDT Signaling a potential new approach to treating diabetes, researchers have produced insulin-secreting cells from stem cells derived from patients with type 1 diabetes. The new discovery suggests a personalized treatment approach to diabetes may be on the horizon -- one that relies on the patients' own stem cells to manufacture new cells that make insulin.

Three lessons gut microbes have taught us about antibiotics Posted: 10 May 2016 10:27 AM PDT Antibiotics have proven to be a double-edged sword: capable of killing a range of bacteria that cause infections, but also depleting our gut microbes, impairing our immune system, and increasing vulnerability to infection by superbugs. The lessons learned from how antibiotics impact the body are identifying new approaches to prevent and/or correct the adverse side effects on our 'good' gut bacteria.

Why cancer drugs can't take the pressure Posted: 10 May 2016 10:27 AM PDT A major reason why cancer drugs fail is that they cannot penetrate the high-pressure environment of solid tumors. A new study reveals that hyaluronic acid is primarily responsible for generating elevated gel-fluid pressures in tumors. In a mouse model of pancreatic cancer, treatment with an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid normalized fluid pressure in tumors and allowed vessels to re-expand, thereby overcoming a major barrier to drug delivery.

How to remove a splinter Posted: 10 May 2016 09:53 AM PDT Everyone has been there. No sooner did you or your child touch that old wooden bench when a small sliver of wood slides into the skin – causing a surprising amount of pain. Fortunately, say dermatologists, splinters are easy to remove with the proper tools and technique.

New technology is life-saving voice for premature or critically ill infants Posted: 10 May 2016 09:51 AM PDT A new technology in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in a California hospital is able to predict the risk of life-threatening infections up to 24 hours before they appear in severely premature or critically ill infants. Infection is the leading cause of death in this fragile patient population.

Genetic testing: Bene Israel community in India has Jewish roots Posted: 10 May 2016 09:48 AM PDT Genetic evidence has been provided by scientists of the Jewish roots of the Bene Israel community in the western part of India. According to their oral history, the Bene Israel people descended from 14 Jewish survivors of a shipwreck on India's Konkan shore. The exact timing of this event and the origin and identity of the Jewish visitors are unknown. Some date the event to around 2,000 years ago. Others estimate that it took place in 175 BCE. Still others believe their Jewish ancestors arrived as early as the 8th century BCE.

Stave off cognitive decline with seafood Posted: 10 May 2016 09:48 AM PDT Eating a meal of seafood or other foods containing omega-3 fatty acids at least once a week may protect against age-related memory loss and thinking problems in older people, according to a team of researchers.

Youth sports hazing victims often in denial, research shows Posted: 10 May 2016 09:48 AM PDT The true incidence of hazing in youth sports is unknown because victims don't report the mistreatment or fail to recognize it as hazing, according to a review of scientific literature on the subject.

Early life stress accelerates maturation of key brain region in male mice Posted: 10 May 2016 09:48 AM PDT Scientists studying how stress in early childhood affects the brain have new evidence from a study in male mice that a key region, the hippocampus, appears to mature faster.

Telemedicine use increases among rural Medicare beneficiaries Posted: 10 May 2016 09:45 AM PDT Telemedicine use in Medicare has been increasing rapidly, and in 2013 there were over 100,000 telemedicine visits for Medicare beneficiaries. Disabled beneficiaries with mental illness were the most likely to receive a telemedicine visit.

Breast cancer detection rates of mammogram readers don't decline over time Posted: 10 May 2016 09:45 AM PDT There is no decline over time in the accuracy of medical staff who analyze mammogram scans for indications of breast cancer, new research shows. The study investigated whether detection rates dropped towards the end of each batch of mammogram readings.

Personalized virtual heart predicts the risk of sudden cardiac death Posted: 10 May 2016 09:45 AM PDT A research team has developed a non-invasive 3-D virtual heart to help doctors determine who faces the highest risk of a life-threatening arrhythmia and would benefit from a defibrillator implant.

Drug does not reduce digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis Posted: 10 May 2016 09:45 AM PDT Investigators evaluated the efficacy of the drug macitentan in reducing the number of new digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis. Systemic sclerosis is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease and multiorgan disease affecting the connective tissue of the skin and several internal organs. Digital ulcers occur in 35 percent to 68 percent of patients with systemic sclerosis and are associated with pain, disfigurement, poor quality of life, and disability.

Increase seen in the BMI associated with lowest risk of death Posted: 10 May 2016 09:44 AM PDT Investigators examined whether the body mass index (BMI) value that is associated with the lowest all-cause mortality has increased in the general population over a period of 3 decades.

With food, similar substitutes are less satisfying Posted: 10 May 2016 07:34 AM PDT Sometimes the one thing we want isn't available and we have to settle for second best -- instead of picking the closest substitute, new research suggests we'd be better off picking a not-so-similar alternative. Findings from a series of studies indicate that even though people tend to prefer the option that's most similar to the item they can't have, they're likely to be more satisfied with the option that diverges a bit.

Study points to challenges, hopes of helping vulnerable patients avoid stroke Posted: 10 May 2016 07:34 AM PDT A new study demonstrates the importance and challenge of treating people at high risk of stroke. However, it did not find that the drug ticagrelor was better than aspirin, the current standard, in reducing the risk of stroke, heart attack, or death in patients presenting with transient ischemic attack or minor stroke

Scientists digitally mimic evolution to create novel proteins Posted: 10 May 2016 07:34 AM PDT For decades, scientists have searched for ways to design new proteins that can serve specific purposes in medicine, research, and industry. Now, researchers have developed a method that creates novel proteins by stitching together pieces of already existing proteins. The technique, called SEWING, is inspired by natural evolutionary mechanisms that also recombine portions of known proteins to produce new structures and functions.

Fatal road crashes involving marijuana double after state legalizes drug Posted: 10 May 2016 07:31 AM PDT Fatal crashes involving drivers who recently used marijuana doubled in Washington after the state legalized the drug, according to the latest research. New research also shows that legal limits for marijuana and driving are arbitrary and unsupported by science, which could result in unsafe motorists going free and others being wrongfully convicted for impaired driving.

Breath test may help diagnose irritable bowel syndrome Posted: 10 May 2016 07:31 AM PDT There is currently no specific diagnostic test for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but now researchers have identified a combination of 16 different substances in the breath that, when measured together, can accurately distinguish IBS patients from people without the condition.

When the physical world is unreliable Posted: 10 May 2016 07:31 AM PDT New study sheds further light on the idea that schizophrenia is a sensory disorder and that individuals with the condition are impaired in their ability to process stimuli from the outside world. The findings may also point to a new way to identify the disease at an early stage and before symptoms become acute.

New route of TB transmission identified Posted: 10 May 2016 07:31 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new species of bacteria, Mycobacterium mungi, that causes tuberculosis (TB) and is transmitted through the skin and nose of banded mongoose in Northern Botswana. The findings radically changes scientists understanding of how tuberculosis can be transmitted.

Mechanism found that causes cancer cells to escape from immune system, form tumors Posted: 10 May 2016 06:42 AM PDT When cancer cells are able to block the function of a gene called NLRC5, they are able to evade the immune system and form tumors, according to research. The discovery indicates NLRC5 as a novel biomarker for cancer patient survival and therapeutic response, as well as a potential target for new treatments.

Pediatric surgery: Conditions that once required surgery can now be treated with outpatient procedures Posted: 10 May 2016 06:42 AM PDT General pediatric surgical care can now be administered at outpatient centers specializing in the care and treatment of children, research indicates.

Eliminating HIV is possible Posted: 10 May 2016 06:39 AM PDT Researchers report that global elimination of HIV is possible, if countries use the strategy planned by the World Health Organization and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. This 'treatment as prevention' approach has brought the HIV epidemic in Denmark to the brink of elimination, the authors said after analyzing two decades of data. However, this approach will only work in other countries if almost all patients adhere to their treatment regimens.

Further clues in the fight against chronic fatigue syndrome Posted: 10 May 2016 06:39 AM PDT New findings regarding the pathology of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) are bringing researchers closer to identifying the cause of this disabling illness. CFS -- sometimes known as ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis) -- is a complex illness characterized by impaired memory and concentration, metabolic, cardiac, gut and immune dysfunction and debilitating muscle pain and fatigue on exertion (also known as neuroimmune exhaustion).

Researchers use light to control human heart cells, expedite development of new drugs Posted: 10 May 2016 06:39 AM PDT A team of researchers has developed a faster method to predict whether potential new drugs will cause heart arrhythmias using optogenetics, a technique that uses light to control cells.

Researchers find potential breakthrough in binge-eating disorder treatment Posted: 10 May 2016 05:57 AM PDT A treatment used for depression, Parkinson's disease and autism shows promise to alleviate obesity in binge-eating disorder patients. tDCS is a type of neuromodulator that delivers constant, low-current electricity to a targeted portion of the brain.

Common nanoparticle has subtle effects on oxidative stress genes Posted: 10 May 2016 05:55 AM PDT A nanoparticle commonly used in food, cosmetics, sunscreen and other products can have subtle effects on the activity of genes expressing enzymes that address oxidative stress inside two types of cells, a new study shows.

Migraine drugs underused, research suggests Posted: 10 May 2016 05:53 AM PDT More migraines could be safely treated with drugs that are known to constrict blood vessels, new research suggests, adding that patients who were given the drugs off-label had no stroke or other cardiovascular side-effects from taking the drugs.

Graphene flakes to calm synapses Posted: 10 May 2016 05:46 AM PDT Graphene technology opens up new horizons for treatment of disease, report scientists. Traditional treatments for neurological diseases generally include drugs that act on the brain or neurosurgery. Today however, graphene technology is showing promise for these types of applications, and is receiving increased attention from the scientific community.

Recurrence of thymic tumors caused by heat-shock proteins Posted: 10 May 2016 05:46 AM PDT In most cases, tumors of the thymus gland are removed by surgical resection. However, they recur after a few years in up to one third of patients. A research team has successfully demonstrated that these tumors form heat-shock proteins. The lower the concentration of these proteins, the more quickly tumors recur.

Potent therapeutic 'warheads' that target cancer cells designed Posted: 10 May 2016 05:46 AM PDT In a pair of related studies, chemists have identified and designed dozens of molecular "warheads" that not only can detect a key biomarker of cancer, but also could be developed into a potent new class of drug candidates for a range of diseases.

Influential factors of the social divide in child obesity rates Posted: 10 May 2016 05:43 AM PDT Researchers have identified important early life factors that contribute to childhood obesity rates being different for children from different socio-economic backgrounds.

Study suggests new treatment for seizures Posted: 10 May 2016 05:42 AM PDT A new factor in the escalation of seizures has been discovered: the synthesis, or generation, of estrogens in the brain. This study also suggests that using a drug that inhibits estrogen synthesis, called an aromatase inhibitor, may be an effective approach to controlling seizures.

When you take acetaminophen, you don't feel others' pain as much Posted: 10 May 2016 05:42 AM PDT When you take acetaminophen to reduce your pain, you may also be decreasing your empathy for both the physical and social aches that other people experience, a new study suggests.

Psychology has important role in helping older Americans as they age Posted: 10 May 2016 05:42 AM PDT With more than 13 percent of Americans currently over age 65, and that proportion expected to grow in the coming decades, psychology has played and will continue to play an important part in helping seniors maintain their health, adjust to retirement and prevent cognitive decline, according to a new article.

Modeling, simulation help optimize chemotherapy to combat brain tumor Posted: 10 May 2016 05:42 AM PDT Pharmacologic modeling and simulation has been used for the first time to translate promising laboratory results into a phase I clinical trial for pediatric brain tumor patients.

Gamma-retroviruses preferentially integrate near cancer-associated genes Posted: 10 May 2016 05:42 AM PDT Identifying the sites where gamma-retroviruses commonly insert into the genome may help to identify genes associated with specific cancer types, according to a new stud.

Mouse model of autism offers insights to human patients, potential drug targets Posted: 10 May 2016 05:42 AM PDT A new mouse model of a genetically-linked type of autism reveals more about the role of genes in the disorder and the underlying brain changes associated with autism's social and learning problems. Scientists who developed the new model also discovered that targeting a brain receptor in mice with this type of autism could ease repetitive behaviors and improve learning in some animals.

Major global study identifies a safer treatment of acute stroke Posted: 10 May 2016 05:42 AM PDT A new study has aimed to improve survival rates of stroke victims. It is hoped the findings from the trial of more than 3,000 patients in 100 hospitals worldwide could change the way the most common form of stroke is treated globally.

Intraocular therapy prevents or reverses diabetic retinopathy in mice Posted: 10 May 2016 05:42 AM PDT Pathologic changes of the retina caused by diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in working adults. Diabetic retinopathy has no known cure, treatment options are inadequate, and prevention strategies offer limited protection. In the first of its kind, a report in The American Journal of Pathology describes a potential new intraocular treatment based on manipulating the renin angiotensin system (RAS) that both prevents and reverses some characteristics of diabetic retinopathy in a mouse model.

New research gives deeper understanding of why some breast cancers are hard to treat Posted: 10 May 2016 05:41 AM PDT Scientists have unearthed crucial new genetic information about how breast cancer develops and the genetic changes which can be linked to survival.

Junk food causes similar high blood sugar levels as type 2 diabetes Posted: 10 May 2016 05:41 AM PDT A junk food diet can cause as much damage to the kidney as diabetes, according to a study. In their study, researchers used animal models of diabetes and models of diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance to see how insulin resistance and too much sugar or fat affect glucose transporters in the kidney.

Mercury in fish affected by both prey type and quality, study finds Posted: 09 May 2016 04:18 PM PDT Mercury accumulation in fish poses well-known health risks to humans and wildlife, but fish mercury levels are highly variable and key factors driving this variability remain unclear. Whether fish hunt nearshore or in the open water and what prey they eat affect the amount of mercury that accumulates in them, a new study shows.

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