ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Electrical synapses in the brain offer new avenue for epilepsy research and possible treatment
• From pollution to caffeine intake: Researcher reveals dementia risks
• First 3-D map of cell-building protein linked to cancer
• Swimming is an effective part of the treatment for fibromyalgia, study suggests
• Vertebroplasty helps reduce acute pain among patients with spinal fractures
• Cloth masks offer poor protection against air pollution
• The first stage of the cascade
• Vaping may lead to fewer respiratory infections for ex-smokers
• How safe are our tattoos and permanent makeup?
• 'Missing evolutionary link' of a widely used natural drug source found
• Researcher provides recommendations to stop violence against clinicians in China
• 'Born to be bad' or 'born to be benign:' Testing cells for esophageal cancer risk
• Majority of parents support HPV vaccination requirements for school, but with opt-outs
• New oral diabetes drugs may also protect patients' kidney health
• Ethnicity of women undergoing fertility treatment can affect outcomes, study finds
• Twins, especially male identical twins, live longer
• Why Russian tuberculosis is the most infectious
• Smoking marijuana provides more pain relief for men than women
• In cells, some oxidants are needed
• Study confirms long-term effects of 'chemobrain' in mice
• Fruit flies could be key to fighting cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus
• Over-the-counter laser pointers a threat to eyesight
• Gallstone disease may increase heart disease risk
• Study supports new strategy to fight cocaine addiction
• Genes responsible for cardiometabolic disease risk identified
• Recording analog memories in human cells
• How norovirus gets inside cells: New clues
• New flu strains and old antibodies: How sinful is 'original antigenic sin'?
• Insecticide treatment of cattle to kill sand flies and combat leishmaniasis
• How genomic sequencing may be widening racial disparities in cancer care
• New strategy to reverse the disease dyskeratosis congenita
• Neural stem cells control their own fate
• Rates of early prostate cancer continue decline after USPSTF recommendation
• Heart muscle made from stem cells aid precision cardiovascular medicine, study shows
• More evidence that 'healthy obesity' may be a myth

Electrical synapses in the brain offer new avenue for epilepsy research and possible treatment Posted: 19 Aug 2016 11:19 AM PDT A child with absence epilepsy may be in the middle of doing something—she could be dancing, studying, talking—when all of a sudden she stares off into space for a few moments. Then, as quickly as she drifted off, the child snaps back into whatever she was doing, unaware that the episode occurred. That brief moment of disconnect from reality is called an absence seizure. Researchers now suggest that electrical signals directly exchanged between brain cells may hold promise as a potential target for absence epilepsy treatments.

From pollution to caffeine intake: Researcher reveals dementia risks Posted: 19 Aug 2016 09:36 AM PDT Dementia strikes 47 million people worldwide. Yet scientists are still urgently trying to find why the disease affects some but not others. Among the findings from the latest research are that eating a large amount of fatty foods and living in a polluted area may increase dementia risk, whereas taking regular exercise and keeping cholesterol at healthy levels may lower risk.

First 3-D map of cell-building protein linked to cancer Posted: 19 Aug 2016 08:46 AM PDT Researchers have revealed, for the first time, the three-dimensional molecular 'map' of a protein that has been pinpointed as a driver of many types of cancers.

Swimming is an effective part of the treatment for fibromyalgia, study suggests Posted: 19 Aug 2016 08:46 AM PDT Swimming is as effective as walking to relieve pain and improve quality of life for patients with fibromyalgia, that experience chronic diffuse non-inflammatory pain in the musculoskeletal system deriving from malfunctioning of the system that transmits and modulates the transmission of nervous stimuli between the periphery of the body and the brain. The study involved 75 sedentary women who had fibromyalgia.

Vertebroplasty helps reduce acute pain among patients with spinal fractures Posted: 19 Aug 2016 08:46 AM PDT Vertebroplasty is a safe and effective procedure to reduce acute pain and disability in patients who have experienced spinal fractures within a 6-week period, according to a new study. In this procedure, a special cement is injected in the fractured vertebra to stabilize the fracture and relieve patients of pressure. The study also found patients' hospital stays reduced by 5.5 days with vertebroplasty.

Cloth masks offer poor protection against air pollution Posted: 19 Aug 2016 08:42 AM PDT Inexpensive cloth masks worn by people who hope to reduce their exposure to air pollution vary widely in effectiveness and could be giving users a false sense of security, especially in highly polluted areas, results of a new study by environmental health scientists suggest.

The first stage of the cascade Posted: 19 Aug 2016 08:42 AM PDT G proteins are molecular switches on the insides of cell membranes. They convey important signals to the inner workings of the cells. The associated receptors are targeted by all kinds of medications. Scientists are now shedding light on precisely how the individual amino acids of the G protein move during the switching process. The discovered mechanism signposts new approaches to the design of new active agents.

Vaping may lead to fewer respiratory infections for ex-smokers Posted: 19 Aug 2016 05:46 AM PDT The majority of smokers who successfully switch to vaping say they have fewer respiratory infections, according to a study. The researchers say that this is because smoking increases susceptibility to respiratory infections and stopping smoking can be expected to have a positive effect. In addition to this, vaping may also provide some antimicrobial protection through the e-liquid ingredient propylene glycol, though further evidence is needed to confirm this.

How safe are our tattoos and permanent makeup? Posted: 19 Aug 2016 05:46 AM PDT Tattoos are becoming ever more popular. In the EU, the number of people with tattoos has increased from 5% in 2003 to 12% in 2016 (60 million people in the EU-28), with at least half of them having more than one tattoo. A new report explores the safety and regulation of the inks used for tattoos and permanent makeup.

'Missing evolutionary link' of a widely used natural drug source found Posted: 19 Aug 2016 05:46 AM PDT A well-known family of natural compounds, called "terpenoids," have a curious evolutionary origin. In particular, one question relevant to future drug discovery has puzzled scientists: exactly how does Nature make these molecules?

Researcher provides recommendations to stop violence against clinicians in China Posted: 19 Aug 2016 05:44 AM PDT Responding to the number of violent attacks on physicians in China, researchers organized an initiative to rebuild patient-physician trust with recommendations published in a new article.

'Born to be bad' or 'born to be benign:' Testing cells for esophageal cancer risk Posted: 19 Aug 2016 05:44 AM PDT Genetically analyzing lesions in the food pipe could provide an early and accurate test for esophageal cancer, according to research. Barrett's Esophagus is a common condition that affects millions of people, although many are undiagnosed. This condition involves normal cells in the esophagus (food pipe) being replaced by an unusual cell type called Barrett's Esophagus, and is thought to be a consequence of chronic reflux (heartburn).

Majority of parents support HPV vaccination requirements for school, but with opt-outs Posted: 19 Aug 2016 05:43 AM PDT Parents were more likely to agree that laws requiring students to be vaccinated against HPV for school entry are a 'good idea' when there is an opt-out clause, new research indicates. However, this opt-out provision could make the laws far less effective. It also means physicians and other health care providers are key to improving HPV vaccination rates.

New oral diabetes drugs may also protect patients' kidney health Posted: 18 Aug 2016 06:29 PM PDT In a clinical trial of patients with type 2 diabetes, canagliflozin (a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor) slowed kidney function decline to a greater extent than glimepiride (a sulfonylurea), while having similar blood sugar–lowering effects, report investigators.

Ethnicity of women undergoing fertility treatment can affect outcomes, study finds Posted: 18 Aug 2016 06:29 PM PDT The ethnicity of women undergoing fertility treatments like IVF can affect the rate of successful live births, according to new research. After adjusting for certain factors including age of patient at time of treatment, cause of female or male infertility, and type of treatment, the study found that White Irish, South Asian Indian, South Asian Bangladeshi, South Asian Pakistani, Black African, and Other Asian women had a significantly lower odds of a live birth than White British women.

Twins, especially male identical twins, live longer Posted: 18 Aug 2016 02:01 PM PDT Analysis of almost 3,000 pairs of Danish twins shows that they live longer than the general population. The authors believe it reflects the benefits of lifelong social support.

Why Russian tuberculosis is the most infectious Posted: 18 Aug 2016 01:59 PM PDT Scientists conducted a large-scale analysis of the proteins and genomes of mycobacterium tuberculosis strains that are common in Russia and countries of the former Soviet Union and found features that provide a possible explanation for their epidemiological success.

Smoking marijuana provides more pain relief for men than women Posted: 18 Aug 2016 01:59 PM PDT Men had greater pain relief than women after smoking marijuana, a new study has found. Despite differences in pain relief, men and women did not report differences in how intoxicated they felt or how much they liked the effect of the active cannabis.

In cells, some oxidants are needed Posted: 18 Aug 2016 01:59 PM PDT Some studies are showing that reactive oxygen species (ROS) molecules sometimes can aid in maintaining health -- findings now boosted by a surprising discovery from the researchers.

Study confirms long-term effects of 'chemobrain' in mice Posted: 18 Aug 2016 01:59 PM PDT Women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer have long complained of lingering cognitive impairments after treatment. These effects are referred to as 'chemobrain,' a feeling of mental fogginess. A new study reports long-lasting cognitive impairments in mice when they are administered a chemotherapy regimen used to treat breast cancer in humans.

Fruit flies could be key to fighting cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus Posted: 18 Aug 2016 01:59 PM PDT HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the US and has been identified as a cause of cancer in women. A team of researchers has completed studies on fruit flies with a condition that mimics a form of HPV-induced cancer. The fly models they developed may help scientists understand the underlying mechanism by which HPV can cause cancer.

Over-the-counter laser pointers a threat to eyesight Posted: 18 Aug 2016 01:59 PM PDT Some laser pointers that can be bought over the counter are unsafe to the point that they can cause blindness, report researchers. Now they are calling on government to consider banning green lasers. In the meantime, they are recommending authorities to implement stringent testing and quality control.

Gallstone disease may increase heart disease risk Posted: 18 Aug 2016 01:59 PM PDT A history of gallstone disease was linked to a 23 percent increased risk of developing coronary heart disease. Preventing gallstone disease may also benefit heart health, say researchers.

Study supports new strategy to fight cocaine addiction Posted: 18 Aug 2016 12:02 PM PDT Strong evidence supporting a new strategy against drug addiction has been revealed by research. The researchers showed that a compound that inhibits the activity of certain brain-cell receptors can reverse signs of cocaine dependency in rodents.

Genes responsible for cardiometabolic disease risk identified Posted: 18 Aug 2016 12:02 PM PDT A profound new level of complexity and interaction among genes within specific tissues responsible for mediating the inherited risk for cardiometabolic diseases have been identified by researchers, including processes that lead to heart attack and stroke.

Recording analog memories in human cells Posted: 18 Aug 2016 12:00 PM PDT Biological engineers have devised a way to record complex histories in the DNA of human cells, allowing them to store and retrieve memories of past events. This system could help scientists study how cells differentiate during embryonic development; experience environmental conditions; and undergo genetic changes that lead to disease.

How norovirus gets inside cells: New clues Posted: 18 Aug 2016 12:00 PM PDT Researchers have identified the protein that norovirus uses to invade cells. Norovirus is the most common viral cause of diarrhea worldwide, but scientists still know little about how it infects people and causes disease because the virus grows poorly in the lab. The discovery, in mice, provides new ways to study a virus notoriously hard to work with and may lead to treatments or a vaccine.

New flu strains and old antibodies: How sinful is 'original antigenic sin'? Posted: 18 Aug 2016 11:59 AM PDT Immune memory ensures a quick, specific response to previously encountered pathogens. However, for rapidly evolving pathogens like influenza virus, there is concern that recalled ('old') antibodies dominate and compromise the response against a changed ('new') infectious strain. A mouse study reports that while influenza exposure history does influence the antibody response to a circulating flu virus, this does not appear to compromise the defense against the new strain.

Insecticide treatment of cattle to kill sand flies and combat leishmaniasis Posted: 18 Aug 2016 11:59 AM PDT With an estimated 500,000 human infections and 50,000 deaths annually, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the second most prevalent parasitic killer, behind malaria. Leishmania parasites are transmitted through the bite of phlebotomine sand flies. A study makes the case that fighting the insects by treating cattle with the long-lasting insecticide, fipronil, could substantially reduce VL in areas where people and cattle live in close proximity.

How genomic sequencing may be widening racial disparities in cancer care Posted: 18 Aug 2016 10:15 AM PDT As scientists learn more about which genetic mutations are driving different types of cancer, they're targeting treatments to small numbers of patients with the potential for big payoffs in improved outcomes. But even as we learn more about these driver mutations, a new study suggests the science might be leaving racial and ethnic minorities behind.

New strategy to reverse the disease dyskeratosis congenita Posted: 18 Aug 2016 10:15 AM PDT A link between telomeres and a molecular signaling cascade called the Wnt pathway has been identified by researchers, which may point to a treatment option for dyskeratosis congenita patients. Dyskeratosis congenita, or DC, is a rare, inherited disease for which there are limited treatment options and no cure.

Neural stem cells control their own fate Posted: 18 Aug 2016 10:11 AM PDT To date, it has been assumed that the differentiation of stem cells depends on the environment they are embedded in. A research group now describes for the first time a mechanism by which hippocampal neural stem cells regulate their own cell fate via the protein Drosha.

Rates of early prostate cancer continue decline after USPSTF recommendation Posted: 18 Aug 2016 10:11 AM PDT Rates of early prostate cancer have continued to drop since the US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation against routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in all men, according to an article.

Heart muscle made from stem cells aid precision cardiovascular medicine, study shows Posted: 18 Aug 2016 10:11 AM PDT Heart muscle cells made from induced pluripotent stem cells faithfully mirror the expression patterns of key genes in the donor's native heart tissue, according to researchers. As a result, the cells can be used as a proxy to predict whether a patient is likely to experience drug-related heart damage.

More evidence that 'healthy obesity' may be a myth Posted: 18 Aug 2016 10:11 AM PDT The term 'healthy obesity' has gained traction over the past 15 years, but scientists have recently questioned its very existence. A new study provides further evidence against the notion of a healthy obese state, revealing that white fat tissue samples from obese individuals classified as either metabolically healthy or unhealthy actually show nearly identical, abnormal changes in gene expression in response to insulin stimulation.

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