ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Higher education associated with reduced heart failure risk after myocardial infarction
• Discovery may lead to a treatment to slow Parkinson's disease
• Potential new target identified for treating itch
• Many skin cancer patients still too likely to sunburn
• Juicy news about cranberries: Blocking bacterial infections
• Using urban pigeons to monitor lead pollution
• Mitochondrial dynamics impair nervous system development in Wolfram syndrome
• Protein found to bolster growth of damaged muscle tissue
• Role for enhancers in bursts of gene activity
• New technique uses electrical conductivity to measure blood in dry blood samples
• Abnormalities found in 'insight' areas of the brain in anorexia
• First widely protective vaccine against chlamydia
• By causing cells to cannibalize themselves, researchers prevent lung injury in mice
• Fighting life-threatening bacteria without antibiotics
• On the path to controlled gene therapy
• High fat diet improves cartilage repair in mice
• Risk of low blood sugar differs among similar diabetes drugs
• Social behavior of male mice needs estrogen receptor activation in brain region at puberty
• Ship engine emissions adversely affect macrophages
• Massive diabetic foot disease costs
• Milk works best to extinguish the heat from chile peppers
• Patients with OCD are 10 times more likely to commit suicide
• Is schizophrenia a disorder of the immune system?
• How to increase the fat burned during exercise
• Beware of antioxidant supplements, warns scientific review
• Travelers import superbugs
• Microplastics - a cause for concern
• Rate of new HIV infections increased in 74 countries over past decade
• Same genes could make us prone to both happiness and depression
• Short cycle antiretrovirals: On the road to treatment 4 days a week
• Scientists predict academic acheivement from DNA alone
• Metastatic prostate cancer cases skyrocket: More lax screening rather than more aggressive disease?
• Radiologists do not face elevated risk of radiation-related mortality
• Simple measures reduce risk of death in cancer patients in ICU
• Defective HIV DNA can encode HIV-related proteins
• Size matters: Advance could increase sensitivity of liquid biopsies
• Liver tissue model accurately replicates hepatocyte metabolism, response to toxins
• Toxicological cross-check: New flame retardants
• Automated electronic communication system engages patients in preventing surgical site infections
• Blood management guidelines can reduce blood wastage and save millions of dollars

Higher education associated with reduced heart failure risk after myocardial infarction Posted: 19 Jul 2016 06:48 PM PDT Higher education is associated with a reduced risk of developing heart failure after a heart attack, reports a study in more than 70,000 patients.

Discovery may lead to a treatment to slow Parkinson's disease Posted: 19 Jul 2016 02:34 PM PDT Scientists have shown that the most common genetic cause of Parkinson's disease -- a mutant LRRK2 kinase enzyme -- contributes to the formation of inclusions in neurons, resembling one of the hallmark pathologies seen in Parkinson's disease. These inclusions are made up of aggregated alpha synuclein protein, which -- the research also shows -- can be prevented from forming by using two LRRK2 kinase inhibitor drugs now being developed for clinical use.

Potential new target identified for treating itch Posted: 19 Jul 2016 02:34 PM PDT Researchers have found how sensory nerve cells work together to transmit itch signals from the skin to the spinal cord, where neurons then carry those signals to the brain. Their discovery may explain why some people experience various types of itching, including chronic itching, and help scientists find ways to make some types of itching stop.

Many skin cancer patients still too likely to sunburn Posted: 19 Jul 2016 01:13 PM PDT A recent study concludes that a substantial number of people with a history of the most frequent kind of nonmelanoma skin cancers still get sunburned at the same rate as those without previous history, probably because they are not using sun-protective methods the right way or in the right amounts.

Juicy news about cranberries: Blocking bacterial infections Posted: 19 Jul 2016 12:22 PM PDT Illuminating traditional wisdom with chemistry and biophysics, a research team has characterized the role of compounds in cranberry juice that block the critical first step in bacterial infections, the ability of bacteria to adhere to surfaces and form biofilms. The results open a potential new area of focus for antibiotic drug development, particularly drugs to respond to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

Using urban pigeons to monitor lead pollution Posted: 19 Jul 2016 11:47 AM PDT Tom Lehrer sang about poisoning them, but those pigeons in the park might be a good way to detect lead and other toxic compounds in cities. A new study of pigeons in New York City shows that levels of lead in the birds track with neighborhoods where children show high levels of lead exposure.

Mitochondrial dynamics impair nervous system development in Wolfram syndrome Posted: 19 Jul 2016 11:47 AM PDT Although mitochondria, the tiny capsules that produce energy for the cell, are known to play some role in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, the contribution of mitochondrial dynamics has been less clear. A new study highlights how regulation of mitochondrial turnover is important in the defects of neuronal development that underlie the human genetic disease Wolfram syndrome.

Protein found to bolster growth of damaged muscle tissue Posted: 19 Jul 2016 10:13 AM PDT Biologists have found that a protein that plays a key role in the lives of stem cells can bolster the growth of damaged muscle tissue, a step that could contribute to treatments for muscle degeneration caused by old age or muscular dystrophy.

Role for enhancers in bursts of gene activity Posted: 19 Jul 2016 09:42 AM PDT A new study suggests that sporadic bursts of gene activity may be important features of genetic regulation rather than just occasional mishaps. The researchers found that snippets of DNA called enhancers can boost the frequency of bursts, suggesting that these bursts play a role in gene control.

New technique uses electrical conductivity to measure blood in dry blood samples Posted: 19 Jul 2016 09:39 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated that electrical conductivity can be an effective means to precisely measure the amount of blood present in dry blood spot analysis, providing a new alternative to the current preferred approach of measuring sodium levels.

Abnormalities found in 'insight' areas of the brain in anorexia Posted: 19 Jul 2016 09:38 AM PDT Abnormalities in brain regions involved in forming insight may help explain why some people with anorexia nervosa have trouble recognizing their dangerous, dysfunctional eating habits.

First widely protective vaccine against chlamydia Posted: 19 Jul 2016 08:25 AM PDT The first steps towards developing a vaccine against an insidious sexual transmitted infection (STI) have been accomplished.

By causing cells to cannibalize themselves, researchers prevent lung injury in mice Posted: 19 Jul 2016 08:11 AM PDT Study offers a new solution to prevent Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), the most common chronic lung disease in premature infants.

Fighting life-threatening bacteria without antibiotics Posted: 19 Jul 2016 08:02 AM PDT Patients suffering from liver cirrhosis often die of life-threatening bacterial infections. In these patients the immune cells are unable to eliminate the bacterial infections. Scientist have now discovered that type I IFN released by immune cells due to increased migration of gut bacteria into the cirrhotic liver incapacitate the immune system. Based on their findings, such infections can be contained by strengthening the immune response -- without antibiotics.

On the path to controlled gene therapy Posted: 19 Jul 2016 08:02 AM PDT The ability to switch disease-causing genes on and off remains a dream for many physicians, research scientists and patients. Researchers have now programmed a virus to transport the necessary genetic material to affected tissue and nerve cells inside the body.

High fat diet improves cartilage repair in mice Posted: 19 Jul 2016 08:02 AM PDT Obesity is a well-known risk factor for osteoarthritis, but its effects on cartilage repair are unknown. In a recent study in a mouse model of cartilage repair, a high fat diet and increased body weight did not negatively impair cartilage repair, and it could even accelerate it.

Risk of low blood sugar differs among similar diabetes drugs Posted: 19 Jul 2016 07:58 AM PDT Adding sulphonylureas (SUs) to metformin remains a commonly used strategy for treating type 2 diabetes, but individual SUs differ and may confer different risks of abnormally low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. SUs -- which include newer generation agents such as gliclazide, glipizide, glimepiride, and glibenclamide -- stimulate the production of insulin in the pancreas and increase the effectiveness of insulin in the body.

Social behavior of male mice needs estrogen receptor activation in brain region at puberty Posted: 19 Jul 2016 07:54 AM PDT Testosterone plays a major role in controlling behavior associated with masculinity in many mammals. In early development, testosterone is involved in the formation and organization of "male" neural pathways, on which it then acts to regulate various behaviors in adulthood.

Ship engine emissions adversely affect macrophages Posted: 19 Jul 2016 07:54 AM PDT Ship emissions adversely affect the health of inhabitants of coastal regions. This was the main finding of a study on the influence of ship engine emissions on macrophages in the lungs. Since macrophages also play a key role in lung diseases such as COPD, the study is important for understanding the health risks of ship exhausts.

Massive diabetic foot disease costs Posted: 19 Jul 2016 07:54 AM PDT New research shows preventable hospitalization from diabetic foot disease is costing Australia hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

Milk works best to extinguish the heat from chile peppers Posted: 19 Jul 2016 06:47 AM PDT The next time you bite off more than you can handle in regard to a hot chile pepper, your best bet is to drink some milk, according to new research.

Patients with OCD are 10 times more likely to commit suicide Posted: 19 Jul 2016 06:42 AM PDT Patients with OCD are 10 times more likely to commit suicide, contrary to what was previously thought.A new study shows that the main predictor of suicide in OCD patients is a previous suicide attempt, which offers opportunities for prevention.

Is schizophrenia a disorder of the immune system? Posted: 19 Jul 2016 06:42 AM PDT Using data from the largest ever genetic study of schizophrenia, researchers have shed light on the role of the immune system.

How to increase the fat burned during exercise Posted: 19 Jul 2016 06:42 AM PDT When we exercise, our body's oxidation of fat and carbohydrates depends on the intensity and duration of the activity. A new study analyses the effect of consuming an alkaloid, p-synephrine, on the burning of lipids and refutes the value of "miracle" diets: it is not possible to lose more than a kilogram of fat per month.

Beware of antioxidant supplements, warns scientific review Posted: 19 Jul 2016 06:41 AM PDT The lay press and thousands of nutritional products warn of oxygen radicals or oxidative stress and suggest taking so-called antioxidants to prevent or cure disease. Researchers have analyzed the evidence behind this. The result is a clear warning: do not take these supplements unless a clear deficiency is diagnosed by a healthcare professional.

Travelers import superbugs Posted: 19 Jul 2016 06:41 AM PDT Many tourists returning from India were found colonized with multidrug-resistant 'superbugs'. Microbiologists also isolated a strain possessing a gene which can make these life-threatening bacteria resistant to the last active antibiotic option.

Microplastics - a cause for concern Posted: 19 Jul 2016 06:38 AM PDT Plastics became widespread after the second World War, and as a material, plastic is still relatively young. Microscopic plastic particles, or microplastics, have caught the eye of researchers only quite recently. Microplastics come with plenty of questions, but for the time being, only few answers are available. "Microplastics are a Pandora's Box of a kind, or at least an infinite source of research questions. However, research evidence relating to microplastics and their effects remains scarce," says Researcher Samuel Hartikainen from the University of Eastern Finland. His research focuses on the chemical properties of microplastics.

Rate of new HIV infections increased in 74 countries over past decade Posted: 19 Jul 2016 06:16 AM PDT A new study found that 74 countries saw increases in age-standardized rates of new infections between 2005 and 2015.

Same genes could make us prone to both happiness and depression Posted: 19 Jul 2016 06:16 AM PDT Researchers suggest that while no gene 'causes' mental ill health, some genes can make people more sensitive to the effects of their environment -- for better and for worse -- leading to both mental ill health and enhanced mental resilience.

Short cycle antiretrovirals: On the road to treatment 4 days a week Posted: 19 Jul 2016 06:16 AM PDT Triple antiretroviral therapy taken just 4 days a week, instead of daily, kept plasma viral load below 50 copies/mL in 96 of 100 patients in the study ANRS 162-4D.

Scientists predict academic acheivement from DNA alone Posted: 19 Jul 2016 06:16 AM PDT Scientists have used a new genetic scoring technique to predict academic achievement from DNA alone. This is the strongest prediction from DNA of a behavioral measure to date.

Metastatic prostate cancer cases skyrocket: More lax screening rather than more aggressive disease? Posted: 19 Jul 2016 06:16 AM PDT The number of new cases of metastatic prostate cancer climbed 72 percent in the past decade from 2004 to 2013, reports a new study. The report considers whether a recent trend of fewer men being screened may be contributing to the rise, or whether the disease has become more aggressive -- or both. The highest increase is among men ages 55 to 69, who could benefit the most from screening and early treatment.

Radiologists do not face elevated risk of radiation-related mortality Posted: 19 Jul 2016 06:16 AM PDT Radiologists who graduated from medical school after 1940 do not face an increased risk of dying from radiation-related causes like cancer, according to a new study. Researchers said the findings point to the success of efforts to reduce occupational radiation doses over the past several decades.

Simple measures reduce risk of death in cancer patients in ICU Posted: 18 Jul 2016 04:41 PM PDT Daily meetings between physicians, implementation of care protocols and the presence of pharmacists are associated with increase in survival rates in ICUs.

Defective HIV DNA can encode HIV-related proteins Posted: 18 Jul 2016 01:09 PM PDT Investigators have discovered that cells from HIV-infected people whose virus is suppressed with treatment harbor defective HIV DNA that can nevertheless be transcribed into a template for producing HIV-related proteins. This finding may affect scientists' understanding of the long-term effects of HIV infection and what a cure would require.

Size matters: Advance could increase sensitivity of liquid biopsies Posted: 18 Jul 2016 12:33 PM PDT A new study reports an advance that could increase the accuracy of liquid biopsies. The blood test monitors cancer progression by detecting pieces of circulating tumor DNA, but results can be obscured by abundant DNA from healthy cells. The research shows that the two types of DNA fragments are typically differently sized in cancer patients, a property that can be exploited to enhance the test's sensitivity.

Liver tissue model accurately replicates hepatocyte metabolism, response to toxins Posted: 18 Jul 2016 11:22 AM PDT A team of researchers have created a 'liver on a chip,' a model of liver tissue that replicates the metabolic variations found throughout the organ and more accurately reflects the distinctive patterns of liver damage caused by exposure to environmental toxins, including pharmaceutical overdose.

Toxicological cross-check: New flame retardants Posted: 18 Jul 2016 08:16 AM PDT Flame retardants are invisible assistants in car seats, gasket sealants, furniture and even in airplanes. However, their ingredients are not always harmless. Researchers developed three innovative flame retardants and tested them for toxicity; not all of them passed the test.

Automated electronic communication system engages patients in preventing surgical site infections Posted: 18 Jul 2016 06:35 AM PDT In its first test among orthopedic surgery patients as a feasible tool for enhancing care and reducing surgical site infections (SSIs), an automated text and voice messaging system improved communication about the preventive steps patients should take a week prior to their operations and the early signs of infection they need to report in the two weeks afterward.

Blood management guidelines can reduce blood wastage and save millions of dollars Posted: 18 Jul 2016 06:34 AM PDT Improving the processes of ordering, transporting, and storing blood can save millions of dollars and drastically reduce blood wastage, reported a research team from one academic medical center after implementing institutional initiatives to address blood management.

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