ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Prevention is key to closing racial disparity gap in stroke
• Brain power: Why do humans have the largest cerebral cortex?
• New mouse models give a boost to the development of cancer immunotherapies
• Reading between the genes
• New CRISPR system for targeting RNA
• Genetic code of red blood cells discovered
• Cell insights shed light on how muscle-wasting disease takes hold
• Use of neighborhood environment can help overweight adolescents increase physical activity
• Dentin nanostructures: A 'super-natural' phenomenon
• How one gene, protein suppresses tumor formation
• Americans need easier access, more affordable options for hearing health care
• Differences in how ALS affects eye, limb muscles act as clue
• Higher BMI, waist circumference are associated with increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer
• How the Great Recession weighed on children
• Frailty among young bone marrow transplant survivors increases risk of death
• New free web service for deep study of cell functions
• International trial changing standard of care for advanced breast cancer
• Commercial weight-loss programs: Evidence of benefits for diabetics still too scarce
• Inflammation of the placenta interferes with fetal development
• New review investigates health benefit of contact with natural environment
• Cancer survivors: A growing population
• Fountain of youth? Dietary supplement may prevent and reverse severe damage to aging brain, research suggests
• No sweet surrender: Glucose actually enhances self-control, study shows
• Brainwaves could be the next health vital sign
• Health concerns about global baby formula boom
• Unusual combo reduces health risk from atypical antipsychotic
• 3D printing of patterned membranes opens door to rapid advances in membrane technology
• Fighting advanced thyroid cancer with immunotherapy
• Cancer cells become more aggressive from fat storage
• Olfactory receptor discovered in pigment cells of the skin
• Mice on wheels show scientists how exercise benefits their brains
• Two-drug immunotherapy deemed safe for lung cancer patients, study shows
• Scientists have created mice with hyper-long telomeres without altering the genes
• Florida drug database and 'Pill Mills' curbed state's top opioid prescribers
• Lack of diagnosis creates added risks for those with dementia
• Could controlling the p73 gene be the key to treating chronic lung disease?
• What will it take to protect hospital patients from UTIs? National effort shows promise
• Deployed US military service members more likely to suffer noncombat bone, joint injuries
• Are drops in estrogen levels more rapid in women with migraine?
• Regulation of semiochemicals in inflammation
• Radar, bed sensors help health providers detect problems early
• Patients prefer dermatologists in professional attire, white coat, survey suggests

Prevention is key to closing racial disparity gap in stroke Posted: 02 Jun 2016 01:29 PM PDT Middle aged African-Americans are more likely to die of stroke than are whites, not because of differences in care after stroke, but because blacks are having more strokes. Researchers suggest greater prevention efforts aimed at younger African-Americans are needed to raise awareness of early stroke risk and contributing factors.

Brain power: Why do humans have the largest cerebral cortex? Posted: 02 Jun 2016 12:20 PM PDT The expansion of the cerebral cortex sets humans apart from the rest of their fellow primates. Yet scientists have long wondered what mechanisms are responsible for this evolutionary development. New research has pinpointed a specific long nocoding ribonucleic acid that regulates neural development.

New mouse models give a boost to the development of cancer immunotherapies Posted: 02 Jun 2016 12:18 PM PDT A new cancer treatment called CD40 inhibitor has yielded disappointing results when tested in clinical trials, failing to mobilize patients' immune system against tumors the way it was expected to. But a recent study offers clues about how this experimental drug might be optimized to fulfill its potential.

Reading between the genes Posted: 02 Jun 2016 12:18 PM PDT For a long time dismissed as 'junk DNA,' we now know that also the regions between the genes fulfill vital functions. Scientists have now developed a method to find regulatory DNA regions which are active and controlling genes.

New CRISPR system for targeting RNA Posted: 02 Jun 2016 12:17 PM PDT Researchers have characterized a new CRISPR system that targets RNA, rather than DNA. The new approach has the potential to open a powerful avenue in cellular manipulation.

Genetic code of red blood cells discovered Posted: 02 Jun 2016 10:26 AM PDT Eight days. That's how long it takes for skin cells to reprogram into red blood cells. Researchers have successfully identified the four genetic keys that unlock the genetic code of skin cells and reprogram them to start producing red blood cells instead.

Cell insights shed light on how muscle-wasting disease takes hold Posted: 02 Jun 2016 10:26 AM PDT Insights into how our cells control muscle development could aid understanding of muscular dystrophy and other inherited diseases, say scientists.

Use of neighborhood environment can help overweight adolescents increase physical activity Posted: 02 Jun 2016 09:20 AM PDT A program encouraging overweight or obese adolescents to increase their physical activity through use of their everyday environment, rather than organized classes or sports programs, produced significant increases in daily physical activity that were sustained for at least three to four months.

Dentin nanostructures: A 'super-natural' phenomenon Posted: 02 Jun 2016 09:20 AM PDT Dentin is one of the most durable biological materials in the human body. Researchers were able to show that the reason for this can be traced to its nanostructures and specifically to the interactions between the organic and inorganic components.

How one gene, protein suppresses tumor formation Posted: 02 Jun 2016 09:20 AM PDT Pten (short for phosphatase and tensin homolog) is a tumor suppressor that is defective in about 20-25 percent of all patients with cancers. Researchers now have discovered that Pten safeguards against tumor formation by keeping chromosome numbers intact when a cell splits into two daughter cells.

Americans need easier access, more affordable options for hearing health care Posted: 02 Jun 2016 09:20 AM PDT Hearing loss is a significant public health concern, and efforts should be made to provide adults with easier access to and more affordable options for hearing health care, especially for those in underserved and vulnerable populations, suggests a new report.

Differences in how ALS affects eye, limb muscles act as clue Posted: 02 Jun 2016 09:18 AM PDT In an effort to better understand what happens during Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), researchers have compared the impact of ALS on the eye and limb muscles. They have focused on specific proteins that are important for muscle-nerve contacts. The eye muscles appear to be better equipped to maintain their muscle-nerve contacts and are thereby less affected.

Higher BMI, waist circumference are associated with increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer Posted: 02 Jun 2016 09:18 AM PDT A study of almost 150,000 men from eight European countries shows that higher body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference are associated with an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

How the Great Recession weighed on children Posted: 02 Jun 2016 09:18 AM PDT Increases in unemployment in California during the Great Recession were associated with an increased risk for weight gain among the state's 1.7 million public school students, suggesting that economic troubles could have long-term health consequences for children.

Frailty among young bone marrow transplant survivors increases risk of death Posted: 02 Jun 2016 09:18 AM PDT The prevalence of frailty in young bone marrow transplant survivors is similar to that seen in the elderly population and frailty is associated with an increased risk of subsequent death, according to a new study.

New free web service for deep study of cell functions Posted: 02 Jun 2016 07:40 AM PDT A simple and effective web service has been developed that enables a better understanding of cell functions by identifying links between changes in metabolism and gene expression. New insights gained by means of the service can be applied to develop treatments for autoimmune diseases and cancer, since metabolic regulation plays a major role in such biological processes.

International trial changing standard of care for advanced breast cancer Posted: 02 Jun 2016 07:39 AM PDT Surgery to remove the primary tumor in women diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, followed by the standard combination of therapies, adds months to the patients' lives, compared with standard therapy alone, an international clinical trial revealed.

Commercial weight-loss programs: Evidence of benefits for diabetics still too scarce Posted: 02 Jun 2016 07:39 AM PDT Scientists who indirectly investigated the blood sugar effects of 10 (out of 32 selected) commercial weight loss programs say a few show promise of benefit for diabetic patients, but far more rigorous research is needed before doctors can wholeheartedly recommend them.

Inflammation of the placenta interferes with fetal development Posted: 02 Jun 2016 07:39 AM PDT Preeclampsia is one of the most common complications to occur during pregnancy, yet its causes are still unknown. A new study involving patients, cell cultures and animal experiments has now shown that those affected by the disease have lower quantities of the placenta's immune protein CD74, and that certain inflammatory factors are higher. These factors disrupt the formation of the placenta and leave the fetus undernourished.

New review investigates health benefit of contact with natural environment Posted: 02 Jun 2016 07:39 AM PDT A new review investigating the health benefit of contact with the natural environment has found that, while the majority of quantitative studies reported no effect on health and well-being, there was limited evidence to suggest positive effects on self-reported health, quality of life and physical activity levels. Small numbers of participants reported increased mental fatigue and greater feelings of anxiety.

Cancer survivors: A growing population Posted: 02 Jun 2016 07:39 AM PDT More than 15.5 million Americans alive with a history of cancer in 2016, a number that is projected to reach more than 20 million by 2026, a new report indicates.

Fountain of youth? Dietary supplement may prevent and reverse severe damage to aging brain, research suggests Posted: 02 Jun 2016 06:52 AM PDT A dietary supplement containing a blend of thirty vitamins and minerals--all natural ingredients widely available in health food stores--has shown remarkable anti-aging properties that can prevent and even reverse massive brain cell loss, according to new research. It's a mixture scientists believe could someday slow the progress of catastrophic neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, ALS and Parkinson's.

No sweet surrender: Glucose actually enhances self-control, study shows Posted: 02 Jun 2016 06:50 AM PDT In the age of the 'sugar tax', good news about glucose is hard to come by. But a scientist has just proposed a new understanding of the established link between the sweet stuff and improved self-control.

Brainwaves could be the next health vital sign Posted: 02 Jun 2016 06:48 AM PDT Researchers hope that a brain vital-sign test becomes as routine during a doctor's check-up as taking a blood pressure or heart rate measurement.

Health concerns about global baby formula boom Posted: 02 Jun 2016 06:48 AM PDT A global boom in the sale of infant and baby formula is underway, especially in China and Southeast Asia, raising concerns about the health of millions of mothers and their babies.

Unusual combo reduces health risk from atypical antipsychotic Posted: 02 Jun 2016 06:48 AM PDT Taking vitamin D ameliorates the risk of developing new-onset diabetes from atypical antipsychotics like quetiapine, a new data mining study shows.

3D printing of patterned membranes opens door to rapid advances in membrane technology Posted: 02 Jun 2016 05:39 AM PDT A new type of 3D printing will make it possible for the first time to rapidly prototype and test polymer membranes that are patterned for improved performance.

Fighting advanced thyroid cancer with immunotherapy Posted: 02 Jun 2016 05:39 AM PDT As the chance of being diagnosed with thyroid cancer has risen in recent years, investigators are exploring the impact of the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab on advanced disease.

Cancer cells become more aggressive from fat storage Posted: 02 Jun 2016 05:35 AM PDT It has been established that not all cancer cells are equally aggressive. Most can be neutralized with radiation and chemotherapy. Researchers have now discovered that some cancer cells can accumulate fat droplets, which appear to make them more aggressive and increase their ability to spread.

Olfactory receptor discovered in pigment cells of the skin Posted: 02 Jun 2016 05:35 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated the existence of an olfactory receptor in pigment-producing cells in human skin, the so-called melanocytes. They have shown that the violet-like scent Beta-Ionone can activate the receptor.

Mice on wheels show scientists how exercise benefits their brains Posted: 02 Jun 2016 05:32 AM PDT The relentless desire by mice to run on cage 'exercise' wheels has helped explain at a molecular level how exercise benefits a mammal's brain.

Two-drug immunotherapy deemed safe for lung cancer patients, study shows Posted: 02 Jun 2016 05:32 AM PDT Utilizing the immunotherapeutic agents nivolumab and ipilimumab could lead to more effective treatment options for non-small cell lung cancer patients who fail initial therapy, report scientists.

Scientists have created mice with hyper-long telomeres without altering the genes Posted: 02 Jun 2016 05:32 AM PDT A research team has succeeded in creating mice in the laboratory with hyper-long telomeres and with reduced molecular ageing, avoiding the use of genetic manipulation. This new technique based on epigenetic changes avoids the manipulation of genes in order to delay molecular ageing. The study also underlines the importance of this new strategy in generating embryonic stem cells and iPS cells with long telomeres for use in regenerative medicine.

Florida drug database and 'Pill Mills' curbed state's top opioid prescribers Posted: 02 Jun 2016 05:32 AM PDT In the first year that two Florida laws aimed at curbing opioid prescriptions were in effect, the state's top opioid prescribers wrote significantly fewer prescriptions of this type of pain medication, a new analysis finds.

Lack of diagnosis creates added risks for those with dementia Posted: 02 Jun 2016 05:32 AM PDT A study on data from more than 7,000 older Americans has found that those who show signs of probable dementia but are not yet formally diagnosed are nearly twice as likely as those with such a diagnosis to engage in potentially unsafe activities, such as driving, cooking, and managing finances and medications.

Could controlling the p73 gene be the key to treating chronic lung disease? Posted: 01 Jun 2016 05:46 PM PDT The key to discovering better treatments for chronic lung diseases sits with the p73 gene, scientists believe. They found that this gene is the master regulator of a cell type that is responsible for constantly cleaning our airways from inhaled pollutants, pathogens and dust.

What will it take to protect hospital patients from UTIs? National effort shows promise Posted: 01 Jun 2016 05:46 PM PDT Right now, about one in five hospital patients has a catheter collecting their urine -- and putting them at risk of a painful and potentially dangerous urinary tract infection, or UTI. New results from a large American national effort show that it may be possible for hospitals to both reduce catheter use and UTIs at the same time, saving money and suffering.

Deployed US military service members more likely to suffer noncombat bone, joint injuries Posted: 01 Jun 2016 01:35 PM PDT Since Sept. 11, 2001, an estimated 60,000 US military service members have been injured in combat during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Nearly 45,000 (75 percent) of all combat injuries are caused by improvised explosive devices, also known as IEDs. Approximately two out of five service members with combat injuries (40 percent) have suffered fractures, traumatic amputations, and injuries to the spine.

Are drops in estrogen levels more rapid in women with migraine? Posted: 01 Jun 2016 01:35 PM PDT Researchers have long known that sex hormones such as estrogen play a role in migraine. But there's been little research on how that works. Do women with migraine have higher estrogen levels in general? Higher levels at the peak of the monthly cycle?

Regulation of semiochemicals in inflammation Posted: 01 Jun 2016 10:26 AM PDT A team of researchers has discovered a fundamental new mechanism. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-?) is a central signalling substance of the immune system and involved in many inflammatory processes. Blocking this molecule is the foundation of modern treatment against inflammatory diseases such as rheumatism, psoriasis or chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.

Radar, bed sensors help health providers detect problems early Posted: 01 Jun 2016 10:23 AM PDT Developing and evaluating motion-capture technology to help older adults 'age in place' has been the focus of researchers for more than a decade. Previous research has utilized video game technology and various web-cameras to detect health changes in Tiger Place residents. Now, two new studies demonstrate how monitoring walking speed using radar and heart health by utilizing bed sensors help maintain older adults' health and warn of impeding issues.

Patients prefer dermatologists in professional attire, white coat, survey suggests Posted: 01 Jun 2016 10:21 AM PDT The majority of patients prefer their dermatologists to be dressed in professional attire with a white coat, according to a new article.

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