ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• New, non-invasive method developed to wipe out cancerous tumors
• How the spleen filters blood
• Scientists decode how anthrax toxin proteins might help treat cancerous tumors
• Study explores emotional intelligence and stress in social work
• Huge helium discovery 'a life-saving find'
• Chronic fatigue syndrome is in your gut, not your head
• New software improves ability to catalog bacterial pathogens
• Getting a grip on slippery cell membranes
• Softwares for fMRI yield erroneous results
• Antibodies to dengue may alter course of Zika virus infection
• Teaching an old drug new tricks to fight cytomegalovirus
• Gene hunters find rare inherited mutations linked to bipolar disorder
• Poisoning risk to small children from laundry pods
• Anti-anxiety medication limits empathetic behavior in rats
• Ladykiller: Artificial sweetener proves deadly for female flies
• Virtual tissue technology reveals new drug target in polycystic kidney disease
• Researchers devise tool to improve imaging of neuronal activity in the brain
• Why kid syndrome patients experience different sets of symptoms
• Drug that helps addicts may help treat cancer too, say experts
• Unproven claims run rampant in e-cigarette business
• Benefits of drinking coffee outweigh risks, review suggests
• Political pitfalls in handling ebola may carry over to zika
• Scientists develop nanomachines to diagnose illness
• Food’s transit time through body is a key factor in digestive health
• Researchers discover potential genetic trigger of autoimmune disease
• Link between gut bacteria, MS discovered
• Pain medicine helps preserve vision in model of inherited retinal degeneration
• Disrupted immunity in fetal brain is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders
• New tool for forecasting behavior of the microbiome
• Anthrax capsule vaccine completely protects monkeys from lethal inhalational anthrax
• Diabetes sniffer dogs? 'Scent' of hypos could aid development of new tests
• Building a smart cardiac patch
• Stress contagion possible amongst students, teachers
• Flipping a protein switch to illuminate brain functions
• New cancer drug target found in dual-function protein
• Lower levels of coenzyme Q10 in blood associated with multiple system atrophy
• Consumption of omega-3s linked to lower risk of fatal heart disease
• Global, evolving, and historic make-up of malaria species uncovered
• Epigenetics: New tool for precision medicine
• Global analysis finds unnecessary end-of-life treatment in hospitals is widespread
• Righting the wrongs of misfolded proteins
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy under-appreciated cause of sudden cardiac death in male minority athletes
• Strengthening immune defence may be solution for treating tuberculosis
• E-wheelchair should weigh less
• Newly-discovered signal in the cell sets protein pathways to mitochondria
• Children consuming sports drinks unnecessarily
• How is food represented in our brain?
• When reality bites: Procedures meet practice in community pharmacies
• Prognostic factor indicates risk of cancer recurrence following radical prostatectomy
• Overweight or not, mannose levels may indicate diabetes risk
• Researchers open new path of discovery in Parkinson's disease
• Scientists measure how baby bump changes the way women walk
• Laboratory drug trials could lead to asthma treatment breakthrough
• No association between 'bad cholesterol' and elderly deaths
• Women lack confidence in maternity care providers, study shows
• In first-ever survey, 36 percent of water polo players report concussions
• 3-D printing produces cartilage from strands of bioink
• Heading to the hospital? Even with insurance, it may cost $1,000 or more, study finds
• State medical home initiative slashes healthcare costs for complex Medicaid patients
• Electronic medical practice environment can lead to physician burnout

New, non-invasive method developed to wipe out cancerous tumors Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:44 PM PDT A newly patented method to kill cancer cells has been developed by an American lab. This discovery may tremendously help people with inoperable or hard-to-reach tumors, as well as young children stricken with cancer.

How the spleen filters blood Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:44 PM PDT Engineers have devised a computer model of how slits in the spleen filter blood. The model shows that these slits determine the size, shape, and flexibility of red blood cells.

Scientists decode how anthrax toxin proteins might help treat cancerous tumors Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:44 PM PDT Scientists describe how combining engineered anthrax toxin proteins and existing chemotherapy drugs could potentially yield a therapy to reduce or eliminate cancerous tumors. The findings, they note, are based on testing in mice.

Study explores emotional intelligence and stress in social work Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:42 PM PDT Realistic workloads and ongoing emotional support are essential if social workers are to manage stress and perform their job effectively, according to new research. The study examined the relationship between emotional intelligence -- the ability to identify and manage emotions in oneself and others -- stress, burnout and social work practice. It also assessed whether emotional intelligence training for social workers would reduce their burnout rates over time.

Huge helium discovery 'a life-saving find' Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:42 PM PDT A new approach to gas exploration has discovered a huge helium gas field, which could address the increasingly critical shortage of this vital yet rare element.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is in your gut, not your head Posted: 27 Jun 2016 01:09 PM PDT Physicians have been mystified by chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition where normal exertion leads to debilitating fatigue that isn't alleviated by rest. There are no known triggers, and diagnosis requires lengthy tests administered by an expert. Now, for the first time, researchers report they have identified biological markers of the disease in gut bacteria and inflammatory microbial agents in the blood.

New software improves ability to catalog bacterial pathogens Posted: 27 Jun 2016 01:09 PM PDT A new software tool has been developed that will improve scientists' ability to identify and understand bacterial strains and accelerate vaccine development.

Getting a grip on slippery cell membranes Posted: 27 Jun 2016 01:09 PM PDT Within our cells, myosin-1 motors carry tiny bits of cargo along an inner framework called the cytoskeleton. To do so, they must tug on flexible membranes made of fatty molecules called lipids. Scientists have long wondered how the motors can maintain their grip on these slippery membranes. A new report offers a biophysical explanation.

Softwares for fMRI yield erroneous results Posted: 27 Jun 2016 01:09 PM PDT Common statistical methods used to analyze brain activity through images taken with MRI scanners cannot be trusted, shows a new study.

Antibodies to dengue may alter course of Zika virus infection Posted: 27 Jun 2016 01:01 PM PDT Scientists find cross-reactivity that may influence plans for Zika and dengue vaccine studies.

Teaching an old drug new tricks to fight cytomegalovirus Posted: 27 Jun 2016 11:06 AM PDT An old drug once mostly used to treat amebiasis -- a disease caused by a parasite -- and induce vomiting in cases of poisoning appears to also halt replication of cytomegalovirus (CMV), a herpesvirus that can cause serious disease in immunocompromised individuals, including those with HIV or organ transplant recipients, report researchers.

Gene hunters find rare inherited mutations linked to bipolar disorder Posted: 27 Jun 2016 11:06 AM PDT Using so-called next-generation genome sequencing, researchers have identified 84 potential inherited gene mutations that may contribute to the most severe forms of bipolar disorder. About 5.6 million Americans are estimated to have bipolar disorder, say the authors of a new report.

Poisoning risk to small children from laundry pods Posted: 27 Jun 2016 10:33 AM PDT A new study says laundry pod detergents pose an increased risk of severe injury for young children over nonpod detergents.

Anti-anxiety medication limits empathetic behavior in rats Posted: 27 Jun 2016 10:29 AM PDT Rats given midazolam, an anti-anxiety medication, were less likely to free trapped companions because the drug lessened their empathy, according to a new study.

Ladykiller: Artificial sweetener proves deadly for female flies Posted: 27 Jun 2016 10:29 AM PDT In testing multiple artificial sweeteners, a research team found that one was particularly deadly for female fruit flies -- and left males relatively untouched. D-mannitol is a sweetener typically used to sweeten gum or add a coating to hard candy or dried fruit for those with diabetes.

Virtual tissue technology reveals new drug target in polycystic kidney disease Posted: 27 Jun 2016 10:28 AM PDT Using virtual tissue technology, researchers have identified a potential new drug target in the fight against polycystic kidney disease, an illness with no effective FDA-approved treatment that affects 200,000 people per year in the United States. The study reveals that errors in how cells stick together give rise to two forms of kidney cysts.

Researchers devise tool to improve imaging of neuronal activity in the brain Posted: 27 Jun 2016 10:28 AM PDT In a partnership melding neuroscience and electrical engineering, researchers have developed a new technology that will allow neuroscientists to capture images of the brain almost 10 times larger than previously possible -- helping them better understand the behavior of neurons in the brain.

Why kid syndrome patients experience different sets of symptoms Posted: 27 Jun 2016 10:28 AM PDT A team researchers has compared the effects of two disease-causing mutations, potentially explaining why patients with the rare genetic disorder keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness (KID) syndrome can experience different sets of symptoms.

Drug that helps addicts may help treat cancer too, say experts Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:59 AM PDT The drug naltrexone (LDN), which is used to treat addicts, can have a beneficial impact on cancer patients if it is given in low doses, new research suggests.

Unproven claims run rampant in e-cigarette business Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:59 AM PDT Electronic cigarette makers and sellers are making all kinds of health claims, many of which likely won't stand up to scrutiny under recently announced FDA regulation, a new study has found.

Benefits of drinking coffee outweigh risks, review suggests Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:58 AM PDT Coffee is enjoyed by millions of people every day and the 'coffee experience' has become a staple of our modern life and culture. While the current body of research related to the effects of coffee consumption on human health has been contradictory, a new study found that the potential benefits of moderate coffee drinking outweigh the risks in adult consumers for the majority of major health outcomes considered.

Political pitfalls in handling ebola may carry over to zika Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:56 AM PDT If the United States responds to Zika the way it did to Ebola—and early indications are that in many ways it is—the country can expect missteps brought about by a lack of health care coordination and a lot of political finger pointing, according to a new analysis.

Scientists develop nanomachines to diagnose illness Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:56 AM PDT Tiny machines that build themselves and detect disease? Step inside the nanoscale world of one researcher's lab.

Food’s transit time through body is a key factor in digestive health Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:55 AM PDT The time it takes for ingested food to travel through the human gut – also called transit time – affects the amount of harmful degradation products produced along the way. This means that transit time is a key factor in a healthy digestive system.

Researchers discover potential genetic trigger of autoimmune disease Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:53 AM PDT Researchers have uncovered a potential genetic trigger of systemic autoimmune disease. The study discovered virus-like elements within the human genome linked to the development of two autoimmune diseases: lupus and Sjogren's syndrome.

Link between gut bacteria, MS discovered Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:53 AM PDT Researchers are now saying bad gut bacteria -- or an insufficient amount of good bacteria -- may have a direct link to multiple sclerosis.

Pain medicine helps preserve vision in model of inherited retinal degeneration Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:53 AM PDT A pain medicine that potently activates a receptor vital to a healthy retina appears to help preserve vision in a model of severe retinal degeneration, scientists report.

Disrupted immunity in fetal brain is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:53 AM PDT New research findings in mice may help explain how viral infection during pregnancy raises the risk of autism and schizophrenia in their offspring. The study may explain, among other things, how the mother's infection with the cytomegalovirus (CMV) during pregnancy, which affects her own and her fetus's immune system, increases the risk that her offspring will develop autism or schizophrenia, sometimes years later.

New tool for forecasting behavior of the microbiome Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:53 AM PDT A team of investigators has developed a suite of computer algorithms that can accurately predict the behavior of the microbiome -- the vast collection of microbes living on and inside the human body.

Anthrax capsule vaccine completely protects monkeys from lethal inhalational anthrax Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:53 AM PDT Vaccination with the anthrax capsule -- a naturally occurring component of the bacterium that causes the disease -- completely protected monkeys from lethal anthrax infection, according to a study. These results indicate that anthrax capsule is a highly effective vaccine component that should be considered for incorporation in future generation anthrax vaccines.

Diabetes sniffer dogs? 'Scent' of hypos could aid development of new tests Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:51 AM PDT A chemical found in our breath could provide a flag to warn of dangerously-low blood sugar levels in patients with type 1 diabetes, according to new research. The finding could explain why some dogs can be trained to spot the warning signs in patients.

Building a smart cardiac patch Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:49 AM PDT Researchers have created nanoscale electronic scaffolds that can be seeded with cardiac cells to produce a 'bionic' cardiac patch. Once implanted, the bionic patch could act similarly to a pacemaker -- delivering electrical shocks to correct arrhythmia, but the possibilities don't end there, say researchers.

Stress contagion possible amongst students, teachers Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:49 AM PDT Teacher burnout and student stress may be linked, according to a new study. The work is the first of its kind to examine the connection between teacher burnout and students' cortisol levels, which are a biological indicator of stress.

Flipping a protein switch to illuminate brain functions Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:49 AM PDT Researchers have engineered an artificial switch that could let scientists turn individual neurotransmitter receptors on and off. Shedding light on these receptors' role in memory formation could contribute to the development of new drugs for neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS.

New cancer drug target found in dual-function protein Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:44 AM PDT Scientists have identified a protein that launches cancer growth and appears to contribute to higher mortality in breast cancer patients. The new findings suggest that future therapies might target this protein, called GlyRS, to halt cancer growth.

Lower levels of coenzyme Q10 in blood associated with multiple system atrophy Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:44 AM PDT The neurodegenerative disease known as multiple system atrophy (MSA) affects both movement and involuntary bodily functions. Questions have been raised about the potential role of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) insufficiency in the development of MSA. Little is known about blood levels of CoQ10 in patients carrying either COQ2 mutations or no mutations.

Consumption of omega-3s linked to lower risk of fatal heart disease Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:44 AM PDT A global consortium of researchers banded together to conduct an epidemiological study analyzing specific omega-3 fatty acid biomarkers and heart disease. They found that blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids from seafood and plant-based foods are associated with a lower risk of fatal heart attack.

Global, evolving, and historic make-up of malaria species uncovered Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:44 AM PDT A team of scientists has uncovered the global, evolving, and historic make-up of Plasmodium vivax, one of the five species of malaria that infect humans. The research, which links the spread of the parasite back to colonial seafaring, among other phenomena, underscores the challenges health experts face in controlling the parasite.

Epigenetics: New tool for precision medicine Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:44 AM PDT Four new papers mark the feasibility of epigenetic analysis for clinical diagnostics and precision medicine. Epigenetic analysis addresses key limitations of genetic testing, helping to ensure that patients are accurately diagnosed and treated with the right drug at the right time.

Global analysis finds unnecessary end-of-life treatment in hospitals is widespread Posted: 27 Jun 2016 09:44 AM PDT The largest systematic review of the care of elderly patients hospitalized at the end of their life has found more than one-third received invasive and potentially harmful medical treatments.

Righting the wrongs of misfolded proteins Posted: 27 Jun 2016 07:03 AM PDT Scientists have been studying compounds with anti-prion properties to address rare but fatal diseases. Researchers explain that though the causes of diseases associated with protein misfolding are often hotly debated, it is undeniable that the misfolding of proteins in each creates a cascade-like effect of problems. The scientists are working to get at the root of the problem, right down to the molecular level.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy under-appreciated cause of sudden cardiac death in male minority athletes Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:59 AM PDT Key data from the U.S. National Registry of Sudden Death in Athletes reveal important insights, according to a new report.

Strengthening immune defence may be solution for treating tuberculosis Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:56 AM PDT Researchers have made a discovery that could contribute to developing new vaccines and treatment alternatives for tuberculosis in the future.

E-wheelchair should weigh less Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:56 AM PDT Whilst the advantages of a wheelchair with auxiliary drive are self-evident, they do not always outweigh the disadvantages. The weight of the construction can pose a physical burden on a certain group of wheelchair users, according to new research.

Newly-discovered signal in the cell sets protein pathways to mitochondria Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:56 AM PDT Mitochondria are often described as the powerhouse in the cells of humans, plants and animals; but they also fulfill a number of other vital functions. These "organs" within the cell have an interesting past: They arose more than a billion years ago as a bacterium, which was adopted into a primeval cell. In the course of evolution, nearly all the genes of the original bacterium have become part of the cell nucleus. One result of this is that most of the protein building-blocks in mitochondria are produced in the cell plasma and put in place via complex importation processes.

Children consuming sports drinks unnecessarily Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:56 AM PDT A high proportion of 12-14 year olds are regularly consuming sports drinks socially, increasing their risk of obesity and tooth erosion, concludes a new survey.

How is food represented in our brain? Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:56 AM PDT Despite the central role of food in our lives, research has done little to discover how food concepts are organized in our brain. A new review sorts out the knowledge gained so far, relating it to the current theories of semantic categorization. This in-depth analysis provides a useful conceptual framework for future research and for putting the different theories to the test.

When reality bites: Procedures meet practice in community pharmacies Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:53 AM PDT High workload, rigid rules, and conflicting pressures from their employers are all leading to community pharmacy staff deviating from standard procedures at times to ensure patients receive the tailored care they require, a new study has found.

Prognostic factor indicates risk of cancer recurrence following radical prostatectomy Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:53 AM PDT Slightly more than 10% of all patients who undergo successful surgery for prostate cancer have an elevated risk of tumor recurrence afterwards – especially as metastases. Under the microscope, it is possible to identify invasion of the tumor into the lymph and blood vessels, this being the tumor behavior responsible for the formation of metastases, so that it can be used as a prognostic factor, report researchers.

Overweight or not, mannose levels may indicate diabetes risk Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:53 AM PDT Even if you are not overweight, your mannose levels may indicate whether you're at risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) or insulin resistance (IR), a new study shows.

Researchers open new path of discovery in Parkinson's disease Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:50 AM PDT Two genes associated with Parkinson's disease are key regulators of the immune system, providing direct evidence linking Parkinson's to autoimmune disease, a new study indicates.

Scientists measure how baby bump changes the way women walk Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:50 AM PDT Movie sets are normally the home of three-dimensional motion caption systems, but researchers used the same video recording system in a lab to measure the way pregnant women walk. This is the first research study to use 3-D motion capture to create a biomechanical model of pregnant women. The results verify the existence of the 'pregnancy waddle' and should enable future studies on how to make everyday tasks safer and more comfortable for pregnant women.

Laboratory drug trials could lead to asthma treatment breakthrough Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:50 AM PDT A new drug with the potential to reverse or slow the development of asthma is being tested by researchers.

No association between 'bad cholesterol' and elderly deaths Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:50 AM PDT An international team of experts has found that older people with high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) live as long, and often longer, than their peers with low levels of LDL-C. The findings, resulting from an analysis of past studies involving more than 68,000 participants over 60 years of age, call into question the 'cholesterol hypothesis' which suggests people with high cholesterol are at risk of dying and need statin drugs to lower their cholesterol.

Women lack confidence in maternity care providers, study shows Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:48 AM PDT Every woman who has ever had a baby shower has had to sit through the gruesome war stories about labor and childbirth. A new study shows that women are even more afraid of childbirth than previously thought--and are as concerned about their health care providers and their place of birth as they are about pain or complications.

In first-ever survey, 36 percent of water polo players report concussions Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:48 AM PDT A first-of-its-kind survey has confirmed what some water polo players -- especially goalies -- have long suspected: concussions seem to be prevalent in the sport.

3-D printing produces cartilage from strands of bioink Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:48 AM PDT Strands of cow cartilage substitute for ink in a 3-D bioprinting process that may one day create cartilage patches for worn out joints, according to engineers.

Heading to the hospital? Even with insurance, it may cost $1,000 or more, study finds Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:48 AM PDT Even people who have what they might think of as good health insurance, may find that their next hospital stay could cost more than $1,000 out of their own pocket. And that amount has gone up sharply in recent years -- a rise of more than 37 percent just for straightforward hospital stays for common conditions.

State medical home initiative slashes healthcare costs for complex Medicaid patients Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:48 AM PDT Providing Medicaid patients with a primary care 'medical home' cut costs of their care by as much as $4,100 a year and lowered their number of doctors visits and hospitalizations, according to a new study. The research analyzed claims from Pennsylvania Medicaid patients who had both a chronic illness and a substance abuse or psychiatric condition.

Electronic medical practice environment can lead to physician burnout Posted: 27 Jun 2016 06:48 AM PDT The growth and evolution of the electronic environment in health care is taking a toll on US physicians. That's according to a national study of physicians that shows the use of electronic health records and computerized physician order entry leads to lower physician satisfaction and higher rates of professional burnout.

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