ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• In search of neurobiological factors for schizophrenia
• Latin-American, Caribbean health systems need more investment as populations age
• Adaptive pathways: EMA still leaves open questions unanswered
• HIV not a super-spreader of drug-resistant tuberculosis
• Stem cells of worms, humans more similar than expected
• New model sheds light on secondary bacterial pneumonia
• Vaping flavor: Dangerous trends in youth consumption of e-cigarettes
• Financial worries linked to mental health issues among university students
• Scientists identify Down's Syndrome gene
• The importance of being protected: How to choose your sunglasses
• New breakthrough in understanding dystonia
• Cascade of events leading to prion disease described
• Cardinals may be shielding Atlanta residents from West Nile virus, study finds
• Highly curative hep C treatment safe, effective for drug users
• Human brain recordings provide highly sought insights into cause of Parkinson's disease
• Needle biopsies for noninvasive breast cancer: Routine analysis wastes millions
• Scientists pinpoint Ebola's weak spots
• Study finds racial disparity in emergency department opioid prescriptions
• New model recreates early spread of Parkinson's disease in the brain
• Researchers turn to policy to tackle health disparities in an age of personalized medicine
• Discovery could help treatments for sickle cell disease
• In sync: Simultaneous prescription refills boosts medication adherence, study shows
• Thyroid tumor: It takes two to tango
• For the first time in history, high blood pressure is more common in lower-income countries
• Scientists discover potential avenue to treating type 2 diabetes at early stages
• Novel technology may prevent burn scars
• FDA commissioner discusses future of cardiovascular medicine
• Dormant copies of HIV mostly defective, new study shows
• Two classes of medications linked to similar results in peritoneal dialysis patients
• Scientific serendipity yields new neuron type in mouse retina
• Researchers have discovered a mechanism that allows cancer to survive without glucose
• Flu vaccine uptake slightly higher in provinces that allow vaccination by pharmacists
• Mcr-1 gene isolated from human for the first time in Brazil
• Low oxygen, high risk: How tumors adapt to become more aggressive
• Playground zoning increases physical activity during recess
• Assisted-living facilities limit older adults' rights to sexual freedom, study finds
• College students who misuse stimulants more likely to have ADHD, substance-use disorder
• HIV stigma influenced by perceptions of masculinity, study reveals
• Targeting brain cells to alleviate neuropathic pain
• Working, volunteering could reduce disablement in seniors, study finds
• Impact of prion proteins on the nerves revealed for the first time
• Compound shows promise as next-generation prostate cancer therapy
• A single compound could treat Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and sleeping sickness
• Navigating the human genome with Sequins
• Texting a million people in India improves diabetes prevention
• Higher ICU usage led to increased invasive procedures, costs
• Insurance status impacts survival in men with testicular cancer

In search of neurobiological factors for schizophrenia Posted: 09 Aug 2016 09:28 AM PDT It is impossible to predict the onset of schizophrenic psychosis. If factors linked to a risk of psychosis can be identified, however, these may yield significant insights into its underlying mechanisms. Scientists have now established a link between particular genes and the size of important brain structures in individuals with an elevated risk of psychosis.

Latin-American, Caribbean health systems need more investment as populations age Posted: 09 Aug 2016 09:27 AM PDT Though the health systems in Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico and Panama have considerable strengths, citizens still reported gaps in the way primary care is organized, financed and delivered in those countries. Those who had better experiences were less likely to say that their health system needed major reforms, outlines a new report.

Adaptive pathways: EMA still leaves open questions unanswered Posted: 09 Aug 2016 09:20 AM PDT A current report on the pilot project of a new accelerated path for drug approval again documents the perplexity regarding the use of real world data. It appears that even experts lack a conclusive concept, according to a new paper.

HIV not a super-spreader of drug-resistant tuberculosis Posted: 09 Aug 2016 09:14 AM PDT While the human immunodeficiency virus pandemic fuels tuberculosis outbreaks, it does not drive the development and transmission of multidrug-resistance in TB patients as previously suspected, according to a study.

Stem cells of worms, humans more similar than expected Posted: 09 Aug 2016 09:14 AM PDT The transient form of genetic information, the RNA, is processed in a similar manner in the cells of both organisms. These mechanisms seem to be at work throughout the whole animal kingdom. Scientists have shown this in a genome-wide study on flatworms.

New model sheds light on secondary bacterial pneumonia Posted: 09 Aug 2016 09:14 AM PDT For years, researchers have known that the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus can trigger severe, sometimes deadly secondary bacterial pneumonia, in some people who are subsequently infected with influenza A virus, but scientists have not known exactly how this happens. Now, scientists have developed a new model for studying this phenomenon, which could lead to new treatments designed to prevent secondary bacterial infections.

Vaping flavor: Dangerous trends in youth consumption of e-cigarettes Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:58 AM PDT Currently, we are experiencing a new phenomenon with youth consumption of e-cigarettes all around the United States. New flavors appear to be one of the main reasons why teens are getting hooked on this product, say researchers.

Financial worries linked to mental health issues among university students Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:53 AM PDT Experiencing financial difficulties and worrying about debt at university increases the risk of mental health conditions such as depression and alcohol dependency, according to new research. The work found that symptoms of anxiety and alcohol dependence worsened over time for those who were struggling to pay the bills. Those who were more stressed about their debt had worsening levels of stress, anxiety and depression.

Scientists identify Down's Syndrome gene Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:53 AM PDT Geneticists have identified an enzyme that regulates the production of sperm and egg cells in human reproduction, and may be linked to Down's Syndrome, Edward's Syndrome and other chromosomal irregularities.

The importance of being protected: How to choose your sunglasses Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:52 AM PDT Prolonged exposure to the sun increases the chance of developing alterations in the lens by 4%. Choosing the right pair of sunglasses can reduce such complications, say investigators.

New breakthrough in understanding dystonia Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:51 AM PDT Are cellular lipids the missing link between a faulty gene and a neurological disorder? Researchers have managed to get a clearer view on the roots of dystonia, a neurological disorder that causes involuntary twisting movements. The scientists unraveled the mechanism by which DYT1 dystonia -- the disease's most common hereditary form -- causes cellular defects. The findings shed new light on this poorly understood condition -- and may, ultimately, lead to new medical approaches to overcome it.

Cascade of events leading to prion disease described Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:51 AM PDT New experiments in mice now enable researchers to evaluate prion disease progression and potential therapeutic interventions in vivo, according to a new report.

Cardinals may be shielding Atlanta residents from West Nile virus, study finds Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:50 AM PDT A bird species that does a poor job spreading West Nile virus but is particularly likely to get mosquito bites may explain why human infections with the disease are relatively uncommon in Atlanta, Georgia -- despite evidence of high rates of virus circulating in the local bird population, according to a new study.

Highly curative hep C treatment safe, effective for drug users Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:50 AM PDT Hep C patients being treated for opioid addiction achieved high rates of sustained virologic response after 12 weeks of therapy with elbasvir-grazoprevir compared to those taking placebo for 12 weeks before beginning the drug treatment. The patients in the elbasvir-grazoprevir group saw a reduced viral load, regardless of ongoing drug use.

Human brain recordings provide highly sought insights into cause of Parkinson's disease Posted: 08 Aug 2016 02:22 PM PDT A team of researchers is the first to systematically record neural activity in the human striatum, a deep brain structure that plays a major role in cognitive and motor function. These two functions are compromised in Parkinson's disease, which makes the neuron-firing abnormalities the study results revealed key to better understanding the pathophysiology of PD and, ultimately, developing better treatments and preventions.

Needle biopsies for noninvasive breast cancer: Routine analysis wastes millions Posted: 08 Aug 2016 02:22 PM PDT For patients with the most common type of noninvasive breast cancer, routine testing for estrogen and progesterone receptors in tissue taken at the first 'needle' biopsy is both unnecessary and wasteful, according to results of a study.

Scientists pinpoint Ebola's weak spots Posted: 08 Aug 2016 02:22 PM PDT Scientists have now have a high-resolution view of exactly how the experimental therapy ZMapp targets Ebola virus. The new study is also the first to show how an antibody in the ZMapp 'drug cocktail' targets a second Ebola virus protein, called sGP, whose vulnerable spots had previously been unknown.

Study finds racial disparity in emergency department opioid prescriptions Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:36 PM PDT A racial disparity has been found in opioid prescriptions for emergency department visits for non-definitive pain-related conditions, say authors of a new report.

New model recreates early spread of Parkinson's disease in the brain Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:36 PM PDT They're two of the biggest mysteries in Parkinson's disease research -- where does the disease start? And how can it be stopped early in the process?

Researchers turn to policy to tackle health disparities in an age of personalized medicine Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:36 PM PDT Genetic research is a valuable tool in understanding diseases and their prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. However, significant obstacles limit the clinical use of this knowledge to all groups. Genetic applications in healthcare must advance in a way that reduces racial and ethnic disparities.

Discovery could help treatments for sickle cell disease Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:36 PM PDT Researchers have found new biophysical markers that could help improve the understanding of treatments for sickle cell disease, a step toward developing better methods for treating the inherited blood disorder that affects an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 Americans each year.

In sync: Simultaneous prescription refills boosts medication adherence, study shows Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:36 PM PDT A refill synchronization program -- in which patients were able to receive all refills at the same time -- increased medication adherence by more than 10 percent in some patient subgroups, new research shows.

Thyroid tumor: It takes two to tango Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:34 PM PDT Autonomous adenomas are the most common benign tumors of the thyroid gland. Mutations in two genes account for around 70 percent of the cases. Scientists have now discovered another key trigger.

For the first time in history, high blood pressure is more common in lower-income countries Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:34 PM PDT Nearly one-third of the adult population worldwide had hypertension in 2010. For the first time in history, high blood pressure is more common in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. Three-quarters of the world's adults with hypertension live in low- and middle-income countries and may lack access to proper care. From 2000 to 2010, high blood pressure prevalence decreased in high-income countries while increasing in low- and middle-income countries.

Scientists discover potential avenue to treating type 2 diabetes at early stages Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:34 PM PDT Researchers have identified a new potential target for drugs to prevent type 2 diabetes. A new paper shows that blocking a cellular glucose sensor in muscle improves insulin responsiveness.

Novel technology may prevent burn scars Posted: 08 Aug 2016 12:19 PM PDT A group of researchers has devised a new non-invasive method to prevent the scarring caused by second- and third-degree burns. Ten percent of all unintentional-injury deaths are the result of fire-related burns, according to the World Health Organization. But even for those who survive the destruction of skin and tissue cells, the road to recovery is never ending. Post-burn scarring creates lifelong physical, psychological and social challenges.

FDA commissioner discusses future of cardiovascular medicine Posted: 08 Aug 2016 12:19 PM PDT Advances in technology coupled with an increased use of social media and personal devices could offer new possibilities for treating patients and improving outcomes, but the new approaches must be rigorously evaluated, according to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D., MACC.

Dormant copies of HIV mostly defective, new study shows Posted: 08 Aug 2016 12:05 PM PDT After fully sequencing the latent HIV 'provirus' genomes from 19 people being treated for HIV, scientists report that even in patients who start treatment very early, the only widely available method to measure the reservoir of dormant HIV in patients is mostly counting defective viruses that won't cause harm, rather than those that can spring back into action and keep infections going.

Two classes of medications linked to similar results in peritoneal dialysis patients Posted: 08 Aug 2016 11:49 AM PDT A new study examined two classes of medications commonly prescribed to prevent cardiovascular events in dialysis patients and found no significant difference in outcomes.

Scientific serendipity yields new neuron type in mouse retina Posted: 08 Aug 2016 11:49 AM PDT In the retina of mice, a new type of neuron that falls outside century-old classifications has been discovered. The new cell acts like one class of neurons but anatomically resembles another. It is not only a new kind of neuron, but it also exhibits a new way of conveying information within the retina of the eye.

Researchers have discovered a mechanism that allows cancer to survive without glucose Posted: 08 Aug 2016 11:48 AM PDT New research provides important clues that might help understand the resistance to drugs that 'starve' tumors, and also how cancer cells manage to survive in the center of the tumor mass, where barely any blood vessels can reach.

Flu vaccine uptake slightly higher in provinces that allow vaccination by pharmacists Posted: 08 Aug 2016 11:48 AM PDT People who live in provinces with policies that allow pharmacists to administer influenza vaccines are more likely to be vaccinated, according to a new Canadian study.

Mcr-1 gene isolated from human for the first time in Brazil Posted: 08 Aug 2016 11:48 AM PDT For the first time in Brazil, a particular antibiotic resistance mechanism conferring resistance to the important antibiotic, colistin, has been detected in a human. It was in a strain of Escherichia coli that was isolated from a diabetic patient's foot infection. The mechanism, called MCR-1, was incorporated into a plasmid, a short piece of DNA that exists independent of the genome, which can jump from one bacterium to another, spreading the resistance.

Low oxygen, high risk: How tumors adapt to become more aggressive Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:40 AM PDT Scientists have identified a novel mechanism that selectively operates in hypoxic tumors to enable tumor cells to thrive and continue to proliferate despite a low oxygen environment. The research team showed how the activation of this pathway leads to an unfavorable prognosis for patients with gliomas – a type of brain tumor – and how the pathway could be a valuable therapeutic target in cancer.

Playground zoning increases physical activity during recess Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:07 AM PDT Most grade school students are likely to claim recess as their favorite period of the day; however, in many cases recess still can be sedentary with students not engaging in enough physical activity. Now researchers have found that zones with specific games can improve physical activity, improving a child's chance of engaging in the recommended 60 minutes of 'play per day,' an effort endorsed by many health organizations as well as the National Football League.

Assisted-living facilities limit older adults' rights to sexual freedom, study finds Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:07 AM PDT Older adults in assisted-living facilities experience limits to their rights to sexual freedom because of a lack of policies regarding the issue and the actions of staff and administrators at these facilities, according to research.

College students who misuse stimulants more likely to have ADHD, substance-use disorder Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:07 AM PDT A new study finds that college students who misuse stimulant drugs are more likely to have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder or substance-use disorder than are students not misusing stimulants.

HIV stigma influenced by perceptions of masculinity, study reveals Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:07 AM PDT Whether an HIV-positive man has met cultural expectations of masculinity might impact how much stigma he experiences, according to a new study.

Targeting brain cells to alleviate neuropathic pain Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:06 AM PDT Chronic neuropathic pain -- caused by nerve damage as a result of an injury, surgery or a debilitating disease like diabetes or cancer -- could be greatly reduced in animals when the injury is treated targeting microglia brain cells within a few days, say scientists. This research will help in the quest to help the more than 1 million Americans afflicted with this chronic pain.

Working, volunteering could reduce disablement in seniors, study finds Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:04 AM PDT Working or volunteering can reduce the chances of chronic health conditions leading to physical disability in older Americans, according to researchers.

Impact of prion proteins on the nerves revealed for the first time Posted: 08 Aug 2016 08:56 AM PDT When prion proteins mutate, they trigger mad cow and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Although they are found in virtually every organism, the function of these proteins remained unclear. Researchers now demonstrate that prion proteins, coupled with a particular receptor, are responsible for nerve health. The discovery could yield novel treatments for chronic nerve diseases.

Compound shows promise as next-generation prostate cancer therapy Posted: 08 Aug 2016 08:56 AM PDT In the search for new ways to attack recurrent prostate cancer, researchers report that a novel compound appears to have a unique way of blocking testosterone from fueling the tumors in mice.

A single compound could treat Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and sleeping sickness Posted: 08 Aug 2016 08:56 AM PDT Scientists have identified a compound that can kill the parasites responsible for three neglected diseases: Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and sleeping sickness.

Navigating the human genome with Sequins Posted: 08 Aug 2016 08:56 AM PDT Australian genomics researchers have announced the development of Sequins -- synthetic 'mirror' DNA sequences that reflect the human genome. This intuitive new technology, which can be used to better map and analyze complexity within the genome, is freely available to the academic research community.

Texting a million people in India improves diabetes prevention Posted: 08 Aug 2016 08:56 AM PDT A study that sent twice-weekly text messages to a million people in India advising them to exercise, eat less fat and eat more fruits and vegetables increased these health behaviors known to prevent diabetes, reports new research. This effort is the first to use the power of mobile phones to change diabetes risk behaviors in a large number of people from different parts of a vast country. About 40 percent more people improved their health behaviors. In India, about 66 million people have diabetes.

Higher ICU usage led to increased invasive procedures, costs Posted: 08 Aug 2016 08:54 AM PDT Patients admitted to ICUs underwent more costly and invasive procedures but didn't have better mortality rates than hospitalized patients with the same medical conditions who weren't admitted to the ICU, suggests a new report.

Insurance status impacts survival in men with testicular cancer Posted: 08 Aug 2016 06:09 AM PDT Men with testicular cancer who were uninsured or on Medicaid had a higher risk of death from what is normally a curable disease than insured patients, a new study found.

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