ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• New drug clears psoriasis in clinical trials
• Researchers watch skin cells 'walk' to wounds
• New insights into mechanism of metabolic disorders: Proteome of an entire family
• Scientists unpack how Toxoplasma infection is linked to neurodegenerative disease
• A new way to nip AIDS in the bud
• How gene activation protein works
• Nerve-insulating cells more diverse than previously thought
• New qPAINT technology gives microscopes 'super-vision'
• Heart monitor implant could save lives in patients with serious immune disease
• New comorbidity tool predicts risk of hospitalization and death in psoriatic arthriti
• Diabetes more frequent in children with chronic rheumatic disease
• Blood test can help predict RA treatment response
• Pulmonary rehabilitation underutilized by physicians, COPD patients, study shows
• Cancer drugs could target autoimmune diseases
• Autism is not just a disorder of the brain, mouse study suggests
• Depression linked to disease activity and disability in adolescents with arthritis
• Obesity and smoking reduces likelihood of treatment success in early rheumatoid arthritis
• Our brain activity could be nudged to make healthier choices
• Lupus confirmed as risk factor for cervical cancer
• Gene profiling can help predict treatment response and could save money in RA
• Biosimilar switching not suitable for all patients
• Early, efficient detection and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis using new delivery system
• Air pollution exposure may worsen lupus in children
• Osteoarthritis just as severe as rheumatoid arthritis
• Test holds potential to diagnose myriad conditions with drop of blood
• Pre-procedure medication regimen could lead to less hospital time for liver cancer patients
• Diet lacking in zinc is detrimental to human, animal health
• New way for prevention of pathogenic protein misfolding
• Putting a brake on leukemia cells
• Concussion outcome predicted using advanced imaging
• High-priced drugs used to treat diabetic macular edema not cost-effective
• Researchers leverage social media to uncover new data on migraine sensory experiences
• Being female increases stroke hospitalization risk by 23% in atrial fibrillation patients
• Researchers map mosquitoes that transmit Zika, Dengue by county
• Mesothelioma surgery improves quality of life, study finds
• Lung cancer breath 'signature' presents promise for earlier diagnosis
• Scientists discover biomarkers that could give cancer patients better survival estimates
• Lung cancer patients who have surgery live longer
• Yuck factor may boost hand hygiene compliance
• Survey finds why most men avoid doctor visits
• More than 75 percent of STD-negative patients receive antibiotics
• Addiction as a disorder of reward learning: New role for glial energy metabolism in addiction
• High-definition imaging to improve early diagnosis of cancer
• Food allergies: Avoiding allergens is best protection
• Standard blood pressure target is sufficient for treating some strokes
• Lighting color affects sleep, wakefulness

New drug clears psoriasis in clinical trials Posted: 09 Jun 2016 02:48 PM PDT About 80 percent of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis saw their disease completely or almost completely cleared with a new drug called ixekizumab, according to three large, long-term clinical trials.

Researchers watch skin cells 'walk' to wounds Posted: 09 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT Skin cells typically spend their entire existence in one place on your body. But researchers have seen how the cells will alter the proteins holding them in place and move to repair a wound. 'And they walk,' said the lead author of a paper.

New insights into mechanism of metabolic disorders: Proteome of an entire family Posted: 09 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT Based on comprehensive protein data on mice, researchers have gained new insights into the mechanism of metabolic disorders. A key factor in their success was the data compiled by the scientists on several different but closely related animals.

Scientists unpack how Toxoplasma infection is linked to neurodegenerative disease Posted: 09 Jun 2016 12:08 PM PDT Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite, infects a third of the world's population. Working on mice, biomedical scientists report that Toxoplasma infection leads to a disruption of neurotransmitters in the brain and postulates that it triggers neurological disease in those already predisposed to such a disease. The researchers note that Toxoplasma infection leads to a significant increase in glutamate -- the primary and most important neurotransmitter in the brain.

A new way to nip AIDS in the bud Posted: 09 Jun 2016 12:08 PM PDT When new HIV particles bud from an infected cell, the enzyme protease activates to help the viruses infect more cells. Modern AIDS drugs control the disease by inhibiting protease. Now researchers found how to turn protease into a double-edged sword: They showed that if they delay the budding of new HIV particles, protease itself will destroy the virus instead of helping it spread. That eventually might lead to new AIDS drugs with fewer side effects.

How gene activation protein works Posted: 09 Jun 2016 12:08 PM PDT Scientists have discovered the three-dimensional structure of a gene-specific transcription activation complex, providing the first structural and mechanistic description of the process cells use to turn on, or activate, specific genes in response to changes in cell type, developmental state and environment. Transcription is the first in a series of steps cells take to read out genetic information in DNA.

Nerve-insulating cells more diverse than previously thought Posted: 09 Jun 2016 12:08 PM PDT Oligodendrocytes, a type of brain cell that plays a crucial role in diseases such as multiple sclerosis, are more diverse than have previously been thought, according to a new study. The findings will help increase our understanding of diseases in which these cells are affected and possibly provide clues to future treatment strategies.

New qPAINT technology gives microscopes 'super-vision' Posted: 09 Jun 2016 10:48 AM PDT Knowing the exact number of molecules located at specific junctures in cells can be a critical measure of health as well as disease. For example, abnormally high numbers of growth factor receptors on cells can be an indication of cancerous and precancerous states. Now, a simplified method known as qPAINT uses the blinking pattern of the light that marks each molecule, to find, count, and study individual molecules that are just a few nanometers apart.

Heart monitor implant could save lives in patients with serious immune disease Posted: 09 Jun 2016 10:45 AM PDT Heart monitor implant could save lives in patients with serious immune disease.

New comorbidity tool predicts risk of hospitalization and death in psoriatic arthriti Posted: 09 Jun 2016 10:45 AM PDT New comorbidity tool predicts risk of hospitalisation and premature death in psoriatic arthriti.

Diabetes more frequent in children with chronic rheumatic disease Posted: 09 Jun 2016 10:44 AM PDT The results of a study involving more than 9,000 patients showed that Type 1 diabetes occurs significantly more frequently in patients with Juvenile Inflammatory Arthritis (JIA) than in the general population. A better understanding of this link between diabetes and JIA may lead to new preventative and therapeutic interventions in both these diseases.

Blood test can help predict RA treatment response Posted: 09 Jun 2016 10:44 AM PDT

Pulmonary rehabilitation underutilized by physicians, COPD patients, study shows Posted: 09 Jun 2016 10:44 AM PDT A new study investigating trends on the use of pulmonary rehabilitation therapy among older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease found that this therapy was underutilized, despite its health benefits and cost effectiveness. The study is the first to describe use of PR among COPD patients in a large, nationally representative sample of U.S. patients.

Cancer drugs could target autoimmune diseases Posted: 09 Jun 2016 10:44 AM PDT Drugs currently being trialled in cancer patients have been used to successfully target an autoimmune condition in mice , report researchers. Their study involved giving cancer drugs to mice and inducing uveitis, an incurable autoimmune eye condition responsible for 1 in every 10 cases of visual impairment. The condition was significantly less severe in mice given the cancer drugs. Current treatment options are limited and can cause further visual problems including cataracts.

Autism is not just a disorder of the brain, mouse study suggests Posted: 09 Jun 2016 10:42 AM PDT Autism spectrum disorders are generally thought to be caused by deficits in brain development, but a study in mice now suggests that at least some aspects of the disorder -- including how touch is perceived, anxiety, and social abnormalities -- are linked to defects in another area of the nervous system, the peripheral nerves found throughout the limbs, digits, and other parts of the body that communicate sensory information to the brain.

Depression linked to disease activity and disability in adolescents with arthritis Posted: 09 Jun 2016 09:04 AM PDT The results of a study confirmed a clear association between depression symptom severity and the level of disease activity and disability in adolescent patients with juvenile inflammatory arthritis (JIA). These findings highlight the importance of psychological health assessment for adolescents with JIA and underline the need for psychological support to be fully integrated into their routine care.

Obesity and smoking reduces likelihood of treatment success in early rheumatoid arthritis Posted: 09 Jun 2016 09:04 AM PDT The results of a study showed that the likelihood of achieving sustained remission in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is significantly lower in patients who smoke and who are obese. These findings suggest that encouraging patients to stop smoking and to achieve a healthy body weight could significantly improve their chance of becoming symptom-free after adequate treatment.

Our brain activity could be nudged to make healthier choices Posted: 09 Jun 2016 08:55 AM PDT Netflix binge-watching versus a hike in the woods. A cheeseburger versus kale salad. Fentanyl versus Tylenol. New research suggests our brain activity could be influenced to make the healthier choice.

Lupus confirmed as risk factor for cervical cancer Posted: 09 Jun 2016 08:54 AM PDT The results of a study found a doubled risk of pre-malignant cervical changes, and potentially also an increased risk of cervical cancer, among women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) compared to the general female population. The highest risks were found in women with SLE who were treated with immunosuppressant drugs. These findings highlight the importance of regular cervical screening in all women with SLE, regardless of whether the increased risk is due to disease severity or treatment.

Gene profiling can help predict treatment response and could save money in RA Posted: 09 Jun 2016 08:54 AM PDT Two new studies have shown that the use of gene profiling designed to predict a positive response to treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is following the lead from its use in cancer treatment. Prompt identification of those RA patients not responding to treatment supports timely switching to alternative treatment, reducing the chance of long-term joint damage and avoiding money being wasted on ineffective drugs.

Biosimilar switching not suitable for all patients Posted: 09 Jun 2016 08:54 AM PDT The results of a study showed that when antibodies develop in response to the biological treatment Remicade® (infliximab), they also cross-react with the biosimilar of infliximab (CT-P13: Inflectra® or Remsima®). These findings suggest that antibody-positive patients being treated with Remicade should not be switched to treatment with the biosimilar, since these antibodies will interact with the new drug and potentially lead to a loss of response. ,

Early, efficient detection and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis using new delivery system Posted: 09 Jun 2016 08:54 AM PDT The results of a new study showed that tiny particles made of a biodegradable polymer (BNPs -- biodegradable polymer nanoparticles) have the potential to enable early detection and efficient long-term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with minimal side effects. By coating these particles with a peptide that is only able to target inflamed joint tissue, BNPs may be used to efficiently and selectively deliver drugs and diagnostic probes into arthritic joints.

Air pollution exposure may worsen lupus in children Posted: 09 Jun 2016 08:54 AM PDT The results of a new study show for the first time that an individual's exposure to air pollution may have a direct role in triggering disease activity as well as airway inflammation in children and adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Osteoarthritis just as severe as rheumatoid arthritis Posted: 09 Jun 2016 08:53 AM PDT The results of a new study showed patients with osteoarthritis (OA) are more likely to have the impact of their condition underestimated by rheumatologists than patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).

Test holds potential to diagnose myriad conditions with drop of blood Posted: 09 Jun 2016 08:53 AM PDT Researchers have developed a unique method for detecting antibodies in the blood of patients in a proof-of-principle study that opens the door to development of simple diagnostic tests for diseases for which no microbial cause is known, including auto-immune diseases, cancers and other conditions.

Pre-procedure medication regimen could lead to less hospital time for liver cancer patients Posted: 09 Jun 2016 08:53 AM PDT Putting liver cancer patients on a medication regimen prior to undergoing a certain treatment could lead to shorter hospital stays and less chance for readmission due to complications, say researchers.

Diet lacking in zinc is detrimental to human, animal health Posted: 09 Jun 2016 08:51 AM PDT The trace element zinc has an impact on the essential metabolic functions of most living organisms. New research has found that even minimal zinc deficiency impairs digestion, albeit without any typical symptoms such as skin problems or fatigue. Hence, short-term zinc deficiency in the diet should be avoided.

New way for prevention of pathogenic protein misfolding Posted: 09 Jun 2016 08:49 AM PDT Incorrectly folded proteins can cause a variety of diseases. Now researchers have found a solution for preventing this misfolding.

Putting a brake on leukemia cells Posted: 09 Jun 2016 08:49 AM PDT Cancer cells need a lot of energy in order to divide without limits. Researchers have discovered how leukemia cells cover these extra energy needs, and scientists may be able to use this mechanism to put a brake on leukemia cells.

Concussion outcome predicted using advanced imaging Posted: 09 Jun 2016 08:49 AM PDT Using an advanced imaging technique, researchers have been able to predict which patients who'd recently suffered concussions were likely to fully recover.

High-priced drugs used to treat diabetic macular edema not cost-effective Posted: 09 Jun 2016 08:49 AM PDT The anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs ranibizumab and aflibercept, used to treat vision loss from diabetic macular edema (DME), and approximately 20 to 30 times more expensive than bevacizumab, are not cost-effective for treatment of DME compared to bevacizumab unless their prices decrease substantially, according to a study.

Researchers leverage social media to uncover new data on migraine sensory experiences Posted: 09 Jun 2016 06:36 AM PDT Migraine ranks in the top 20 of the world's most disabling medical illnesses, yet is underreported, say researchers. In a new study, researchers leverage social media to yield important insights on migraine associated-smells and hallucinations.

Being female increases stroke hospitalization risk by 23% in atrial fibrillation patients Posted: 09 Jun 2016 06:35 AM PDT A 15 year study in 1.1 million patients with atrial fibrillation has found that women are 23% more likely to be hospitalized for acute ischemic stroke than men.

Researchers map mosquitoes that transmit Zika, Dengue by county Posted: 09 Jun 2016 06:35 AM PDT A new article features maps of counties in the United States where the mosquitoes known as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus have been recorded.

Mesothelioma surgery improves quality of life, study finds Posted: 09 Jun 2016 03:47 AM PDT Many mesothelioma patients avoid surgery for fear it will degrade their quality of life. But a study has found just the opposite: Patients who underwent an operation called pleurectomy and decortication (PD) generally reported their quality of life improved after surgery.

Lung cancer breath 'signature' presents promise for earlier diagnosis Posted: 09 Jun 2016 03:47 AM PDT Being able to identify lung cancer "signature" through a simple breath test has emerged as one of the most promising ways to diagnose the disease. Now the test is being used to monitor for disease recurrence.

Scientists discover biomarkers that could give cancer patients better survival estimates Posted: 09 Jun 2016 03:47 AM PDT Cancer patients often ask doctors how long they have to live, but how precise are doctors' answers? A new statistical method applied to six types of cancer is likely to result not only in more accurate survival estimates, but also to enable scientists to determine which genetic sequences can be lethal and which are harmless.

Lung cancer patients who have surgery live longer Posted: 09 Jun 2016 03:45 AM PDT Patients with late-stage, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have surgery have better survival rates than those who don't, but fewer of these patients are undergoing surgery, researchers have found.

Yuck factor may boost hand hygiene compliance Posted: 09 Jun 2016 03:45 AM PDT The yuck factor may be an effective tool for boosting hand hygiene compliance among health care workers, according to a study. Infection Prevention and Control specialists observed that showing magnified images of bacteria found on things common in the health care environment like a mouse pad or work station, even a person's hand, swayed workers in four patient care units to do a better job of cleaning their hands. Compliance rates improved on average by nearly 24 percent.

Survey finds why most men avoid doctor visits Posted: 09 Jun 2016 03:45 AM PDT You may not be surprised to know that men tend to visit the doctor less than women. But the reasons men give for avoiding check ups are raising a few eyebrows. A new national survey is out listing the top excuses men make, but two doctors in particular aren't buying them.

More than 75 percent of STD-negative patients receive antibiotics Posted: 09 Jun 2016 03:45 AM PDT A study of emergency department patients with symptoms of gonorrhea or chlamydia found that three in four patients who were treated with antibiotics actually tested negative for these sexually transmitted diseases, according to a new study.

Addiction as a disorder of reward learning: New role for glial energy metabolism in addiction Posted: 09 Jun 2016 03:43 AM PDT Addiction may be viewed as a disorder of reward learning. To date, addiction research has focused on the molecular adaptations through which memories of exposure to abused substances are encoded and maintained by nerve cells. However, glia, the non-neuronal supporting cells of the brain, have now been implicated in the consolidation of cocaine-related memories.

High-definition imaging to improve early diagnosis of cancer Posted: 09 Jun 2016 03:43 AM PDT Researchers are involved in a European network to develop an endoscopic scanner for early detection of certain types of cancers that have a high mortality rate today.

Food allergies: Avoiding allergens is best protection Posted: 09 Jun 2016 03:43 AM PDT Many people are allergic to birch pollen and have associated food allergies, particularly to apples, peaches, hazelnuts, carrots and celery, and many have a primary food allergy that starts in childhood. As yet there are still no approved immunotherapy treatments for food allergies and so the best approach is still to avoid the allergen responsible, say experts.

Standard blood pressure target is sufficient for treating some strokes Posted: 08 Jun 2016 02:42 PM PDT Standard and intensive blood pressure treatments were equally effective in the emergency treatment of acute intracerebral hemorrhage, a type of stroke caused by bleeding into the brain, an international stroke study has found.

Lighting color affects sleep, wakefulness Posted: 08 Jun 2016 12:42 PM PDT A research team has shown how different colors of light could affect our ability to sleep. At the same time they have established that the light-sensitive pigment melanopsin is necessary for the substantial wavelength-dependent effects of light on sleep. The results point to a need to understand the effects of artificial lighting's different color balances.

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