ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Enigmatic molecules maintain equilibrium between fighting infection, inflammatory havoc
• Chew on this: How we believe our meat is raised can influence how it tastes
• Asthma risk increases when child had bronchiolitis
• Smart helmet for football players may help detect concussions
• Scientists track metabolic pathways to find drug combination for pancreatic cancer
• Concussions and brain injury: Can omega-3 intake aid in brain health recovery?
• New research shows impact of Crohn's disease on brain function
• Lymph node stage may have clinical significance among NSCLC patients with stage IV M1a
• Scientists identify spark plug that ignites nerve cell demise in ALS
• How long do you want to live? Your expectations for old age matter
• Calcium channel blockers caught in the act at atomic level
• Scientists use ultrasound to jump-start a man's brain after coma
• How do antidepressants trigger fear and anxiety?
• Breast cancer cells found to switch molecular characteristics
• Graying but grinning: Despite physical ailments, older adults happier
• Diets avoiding dry-cooked foods can protect against diabetes, say researchers
• Barcodes show the blood family tree
• Disruptions to sleep patterns lead to an increased risk of suicides
• Progress in vaccination against vespid venom
• New small molecule compounds could treat Ebola virus infection
• A brain circuit to push past nutritional stress
• Discovery could provide new prevention, treatment option for organ transplant rejection
• Progress in vaccination against vespid venom
• Do the tools to quantify addiction help to define it?
• Direct and active parent involvement key to healthy living for kids
• First randomized trial shows IVF culture media affect the outcomes of embryos and babies
• In some genetic cases of microcephaly, stem cells fail to launch
• A new path for killing pathogenic bacteria
• Simplify, standardize health insurance plans, advise behavioral economists
• Female triathletes at higher risk for pelvic floor disorders
• Surgery that restores hand and elbow function in quadriplegics is underused
• Mechanism that alters neural excitability offers window into neuropsychiatric disease
• Prescriptions more affordable after U.S. policy changes
• Standing desks lower BMI, research shows
• Brain damages caused by Zika virus congenital infection go beyond microcephaly
• Very low transmission of HIV within couples receiving both ART, PrEP
• Shortfalls in laboratory services may limit attainment of worldwide targets for HIV
• Traumatic brain injury associated with long-term psychosocial outcomes
• New study provides important insight into how tumors metastasize
• Researchers predict sudden cardiac death risk
• Recommended blood pressure targets for diabetes are being challenged
• MRI scans may be useful in diagnosing chronic traumatic encephalopathy, study shows
• Researcher takes close look at 'inflamm-aging'
• New Zika clone could be new model for developing vaccine
• Improving food quality by studying the microbial composition of raw milk
• Medical scientists discover potent method for improving drug-free fertility treatment
• Is a messed-up microbiome linked to obesity? New study casts doubt
• Nanoparticle that mimics salmonella counteracts chemotherapy resistance
• Lab-on-a-stick: Miniaturized clinical testing for fast detection of antibiotic resistance

Enigmatic molecules maintain equilibrium between fighting infection, inflammatory havoc Posted: 24 Aug 2016 01:02 PM PDT Special RNA molecules called long non-coding RNAs are key controllers for maintaining immune health when fighting infection or preventing inflammatory disorders. The discovery offers a potential drug target for several inflammatory disorders characterized by an abnormal lifespan in a group of white blood cells, which can lead to organ damage.

Chew on this: How we believe our meat is raised can influence how it tastes Posted: 24 Aug 2016 11:39 AM PDT Our beliefs about how farm animals are raised -- whether on 'factory farms' or in more humane conditions -- can shape our meat-eating experience, from how we think it smells and tastes to how much we'd be willing to pay for it.

Asthma risk increases when child had bronchiolitis Posted: 24 Aug 2016 11:39 AM PDT Asthma risk increased 17 times when children who had bronchiolitis in the first two years of life also had a common variation of the Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene, new research shows.

Smart helmet for football players may help detect concussions Posted: 24 Aug 2016 11:04 AM PDT A smart helmet that can help diagnose concussions in football players is being developed by medical students. Using the smart helmet, the team hopes players of all ages will be taken off the field immediately after a hit, instead of continuing to participate while injured.

Scientists track metabolic pathways to find drug combination for pancreatic cancer Posted: 24 Aug 2016 11:02 AM PDT Cancer researchers have long observed the value of treating patients with combinations of anti-cancer drugs that work better than single drug treatments. Now, in a new study using laboratory-grown cells and mice, scientists report that a method they used to track metabolic pathways heavily favored by cancer cells provides scientific evidence for combining anti-cancer drugs, including one in a nanoparticle format developed at Johns Hopkins, that specifically target those pathways.

Concussions and brain injury: Can omega-3 intake aid in brain health recovery? Posted: 24 Aug 2016 11:01 AM PDT The treatment of concussions and traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a clinical challenge. Clinical studies thus far have failed to identify an effective treatment strategy when a combination of targets controlling aspects of neuroprotection, neuroinflammation, and neuroregeneration is needed. According to emerging science and clinical experience, aggressive intake of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3FA) seems to be beneficial to TBI, concussion, and post-concussion syndrome patients.

New research shows impact of Crohn's disease on brain function Posted: 24 Aug 2016 11:00 AM PDT Crohn's disease sufferers experience slower response times than matched individuals that do not have the disease, new research demonstrates.

Lymph node stage may have clinical significance among NSCLC patients with stage IV M1a Posted: 24 Aug 2016 10:55 AM PDT Analysis of a large non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient cohort with stage IV M1a disease identified lymph node staging as having clinical significance and an impact on prognosis.

Scientists identify spark plug that ignites nerve cell demise in ALS Posted: 24 Aug 2016 10:55 AM PDT Scientists have pinpointed an enzyme that triggers rapid demise of nerve cells in people with ALS. The research team describes a molecular chain of events that culminates in the stripping of the protective coating around axons, the slender projections that carry signals from one neuron to the next.

How long do you want to live? Your expectations for old age matter Posted: 24 Aug 2016 10:53 AM PDT Researchers have investigated how long young and middle-aged adults in the United States say they want to live in relation to a number of personal characteristics. The results showed that more than one out of six people would prefer to die younger than age 80, before reaching average life expectancy. There was no indication that the relationship between preferring a life shorter or longer than average life expectancy depended on age, gender or education.

Calcium channel blockers caught in the act at atomic level Posted: 24 Aug 2016 10:50 AM PDT Atomic level analysis has revealed how two classes of calcium channel blockers, widely prescribed for heart disease patients, produce separate therapeutic effects by acting at different sites on the calcium channel molecule. The study looked at the anti-arrhythmia drug verapamil, and the hypertension and angina drug amlodipine. The study was conducted on bacterial calcium channels, which respond to these cardiovascular medicines. The findings could inform the design of better, safer calcium channel blockers for heart beat irregularities, chest pain, and high blood pressure.

Scientists use ultrasound to jump-start a man's brain after coma Posted: 24 Aug 2016 10:50 AM PDT A 25-year-old man recovering from a coma has made remarkable progress following a treatment to jump-start his brain using ultrasounds, scientists report. This is the first time such an approach to severe brain injury has been tried.

How do antidepressants trigger fear and anxiety? Posted: 24 Aug 2016 10:50 AM PDT Scientists have mapped out a serotonin-driven anxiety circuit that may explain 'anxiety' side effect of antidepressants. More than 100 million people worldwide take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac and Zoloft, to treat depression, anxiety and related conditions.

Breast cancer cells found to switch molecular characteristics Posted: 24 Aug 2016 10:50 AM PDT A new study reveals how spontaneous changes in the molecular characteristics of tumors can lead to tumors with a mixed population of cells requiring treatment with several types of therapeutic drugs.

Graying but grinning: Despite physical ailments, older adults happier Posted: 24 Aug 2016 10:50 AM PDT While even the best wines eventually peak and turn to vinegar, a new study suggests a paradoxical trend in the mental health of aging adults: they seem to consistently get better over time.

Diets avoiding dry-cooked foods can protect against diabetes, say researchers Posted: 24 Aug 2016 08:12 AM PDT Simple changes in how we cook could go a long way towards preventing diabetes, say researchers. A new study found that obese individuals with signs of insulin resistance showed improvement simply by avoiding the intake of advanced glycation endproducts, or AGEs, a byproduct of cooking found most commonly in dry heat-cooked or heat-processed foods.

Barcodes show the blood family tree Posted: 24 Aug 2016 08:11 AM PDT By assigning a barcode to stem cells, researchers have made it possible to monitor large blood cell populations as well as individual blood cells, and study the changes over time. Among other things, they discovered that stem cells go through different stages where their ability to restore immune cells varies. The new findings provide important information for the research and treatment of leukemia and autoimmune diseases.

Disruptions to sleep patterns lead to an increased risk of suicides Posted: 24 Aug 2016 08:11 AM PDT The link between sleep problems and suicidal thoughts and behaviors is made starkly clear in new research.

Progress in vaccination against vespid venom Posted: 24 Aug 2016 08:09 AM PDT Especially in late summer, apprehension about wasp stings increases among allergy sufferers. So-called hyposensibilization therapy can help, but it is linked to a heavy burden on patients and health insurers. Researchers have now presented a new method which facilitates a personalized procedure.

New small molecule compounds could treat Ebola virus infection Posted: 24 Aug 2016 08:09 AM PDT Scientists have found Ebola's Achilles' heel: a new kind of chemical compound can block the protein Ebola uses to break out of cells and infect new cells. The compounds could potentially be used to treat the disease after infection.

A brain circuit to push past nutritional stress Posted: 24 Aug 2016 08:08 AM PDT Nutritional stress is a normal part of life; going hungry on a short-term basis generally does not impair important functions. The brain coordinates the response to nutritional stress but how it does this was, until now, not well understood. Researchers have now discovered a brain circuit that allows fruit flies to take a major developmental step in their lives despite nutritional stress.

Discovery could provide new prevention, treatment option for organ transplant rejection Posted: 24 Aug 2016 06:36 AM PDT Targeting certain donor cells lowered the risk of organ rejection in mice that underwent kidney and heart transplants. Results of this new study could lead to new ways of preventing or treating organ transplant rejection in humans.

Progress in vaccination against vespid venom Posted: 24 Aug 2016 05:46 AM PDT Especially in late summer, apprehension about wasp stings increases amongst allergy sufferers. So-called hyposensibilization therapy can help, but it is linked to a heavy burden on patients and health insurers. Researchers have now presented a method that facilitates a personalized procedure.

Do the tools to quantify addiction help to define it? Posted: 24 Aug 2016 05:46 AM PDT Understanding what counts as an addiction, and what can be done to address it is the work of researchers across many disciplines. But what tools are used to 'measure' addiction, and are these capable of legitimising an addiction or improving our knowledge of it?

Direct and active parent involvement key to healthy living for kids Posted: 24 Aug 2016 05:43 AM PDT Parents who directly and actively engage their children in healthy living behavior -- instead of passively 'supporting' the behavior -- are significantly more likely to see their kids meet guidelines when it comes to physical activity, healthy eating and screen time, new research has found.

First randomized trial shows IVF culture media affect the outcomes of embryos and babies Posted: 24 Aug 2016 05:43 AM PDT Fertility experts are calling on the companies who make the solutions in which embryos are cultured during in vitro fertilization (IVF) to give a clear list of ingredients following publication of a trial that shows that the composition of these laboratory cultures affects the outcomes of the resulting embryos and babies in terms of the number of viable embryos created, the rates of successful implantation in the womb, pregnancy rates and babies' birthweights.

In some genetic cases of microcephaly, stem cells fail to launch Posted: 24 Aug 2016 05:43 AM PDT In a very severe, genetic form of microcephaly, stem cells in the brain fail to divide, according to a new study that may provide important clues to understanding how the Zika virus affects the developing brain.

A new path for killing pathogenic bacteria Posted: 24 Aug 2016 05:42 AM PDT Bacteria that cause tuberculosis, leprosy and other diseases, survive by switching between two different types of metabolism. Scientists have now discovered that this switch is controlled by a mechanism that constantly adapts to meet the bacterium's survival needs, like a home's thermostat reacting to changes in temperature.

Simplify, standardize health insurance plans, advise behavioral economists Posted: 23 Aug 2016 06:29 PM PDT Behavioral economists argue that the best way to address the problems caused by health plan complexity is to simplify and standardize the plans, a new report outlines.

Female triathletes at higher risk for pelvic floor disorders Posted: 23 Aug 2016 01:57 PM PDT Female triathletes are at a higher risk for several health issues, including pelvic floor disorders, new research indicates. Researchers conducted an internet survey of 311 self-identified female triathletes. Results showed a significant prevalence of pelvic floor disorders, with urinary incontinences (37.4 percent) and anal incontinence (28.0 percent) being the most common.

Surgery that restores hand and elbow function in quadriplegics is underused Posted: 23 Aug 2016 01:56 PM PDT A surgery for quadriplegics called tendon transfer can significantly improve hand and elbow function, but the procedure is greatly underused, according to a new article.

Mechanism that alters neural excitability offers window into neuropsychiatric disease Posted: 23 Aug 2016 01:56 PM PDT Researchers show, for the first time, that the well-known mechanism of gene expression control -- dynamic changes in DNA methylation -- is also involved in changes to the excitability of neural cells. This suggests that DNA methylation changes that alter excitability may be a mechanism involved in neuropsychiatric disorders, and that the sites of such changes may offer a potential therapeutic target.

Prescriptions more affordable after U.S. policy changes Posted: 23 Aug 2016 01:56 PM PDT Researchers have seen significant increases in the number of Americans who can afford to fill prescriptions following implementation of the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act and the 2010 Affordable Care Act (also called Obamacare).

Standing desks lower BMI, research shows Posted: 23 Aug 2016 01:55 PM PDT Standing desks lower the BMI trajectory in elementary-aged children over a two-year span--by an average of 5.24 percentile points, a landmark study has found.

Brain damages caused by Zika virus congenital infection go beyond microcephaly Posted: 23 Aug 2016 12:32 PM PDT A recent study published by Brazilian researchers indicates brain malformations induced by Zika virus congenital infection. More than microcephaly, the research indicates other neurological changes such as reduction in brain volume, cortical development abnormalities and ventriculomegaly.

Very low transmission of HIV within couples receiving both ART, PrEP Posted: 23 Aug 2016 12:32 PM PDT Providing HIV medication to both members of a couple may substantially reduce the risk of transmission within that couple, according to a new study.

Shortfalls in laboratory services may limit attainment of worldwide targets for HIV Posted: 23 Aug 2016 12:32 PM PDT Insufficient capacity to perform laboratory tests used in monitoring HIV infection, and underutilization of existing testing capacity, are limiting the ability to meet the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS 90-90-90 targets, suggests a new study.

Traumatic brain injury associated with long-term psychosocial outcomes Posted: 23 Aug 2016 12:32 PM PDT Traumatic brain injury (TBI) during youth is associated with elevated risks of impaired adult functioning, according to a longitudinal study. The study demonstrates that children and adolescents experiencing even milder forms of TBI (including concussion) may have reduced longevity and significant psychosocial problems in adulthood.

New study provides important insight into how tumors metastasize Posted: 23 Aug 2016 11:16 AM PDT The growth of cancerous tumors is affected by the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in the body's cells; TGF-beta both suppresses and stimulates tumor development, but it has not been understood how this happens. A new study reveals important details behind this process.

Researchers predict sudden cardiac death risk Posted: 23 Aug 2016 10:51 AM PDT For the first time, a team of researchers has developed and validated a prediction model to determine sudden cardiac death risk in adults without a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Recommended blood pressure targets for diabetes are being challenged Posted: 23 Aug 2016 09:52 AM PDT The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare recently raised the recommended target blood pressure for patients with diabetes. This may lead to more patients suffering from stroke or heart attack, according to a new study. The new study is the world's largest on the subject and is based on data from the National Diabetes Register.

MRI scans may be useful in diagnosing chronic traumatic encephalopathy, study shows Posted: 23 Aug 2016 09:49 AM PDT Doctors have used an MRI-based technique to detect shrinkage in brain consistent with CTE, which, they say, could lead to diagnosis in the living.

Researcher takes close look at 'inflamm-aging' Posted: 23 Aug 2016 07:32 AM PDT Scientists have investigated the role of the ghrelin receptor, growth hormone secretagogue receptor, or GHSR, in age associated adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance in mice.

New Zika clone could be new model for developing vaccine Posted: 23 Aug 2016 07:31 AM PDT Stopping the explosive spread of Zika virus -- which can lead to birth defects in babies born to infected mothers -- depends on genetic insights gleaned through new tools and models. Researchers recently cloned an epidemic strain of the virus, creating a model that can help biologists develop and test strategies for stopping the pandemic.

Improving food quality by studying the microbial composition of raw milk Posted: 23 Aug 2016 07:31 AM PDT Findings from a new study may help food companies improve the quality of dairy products. The researchers have discovered that bacteria in raw milk arriving at dairy processing facilities are highly diverse and differ according to season, but still contain a core microbiota.

Medical scientists discover potent method for improving drug-free fertility treatment Posted: 23 Aug 2016 07:31 AM PDT For those facing infertility, IVF has long been the established option to have a baby. Now medical scientists have discovered how to improve a woman's chances of becoming pregnant using a less invasive and cheaper alternative.

Is a messed-up microbiome linked to obesity? New study casts doubt Posted: 23 Aug 2016 07:31 AM PDT A new study, done by pooling data from previous studies, throws cold water on the idea that extra pounds may stem from an imbalance of the bacteria inside us.

Nanoparticle that mimics salmonella counteracts chemotherapy resistance Posted: 23 Aug 2016 07:20 AM PDT Researchers have designed a nanoparticle that mimics the bacterium Salmonella and may help to counteract a major mechanism of chemotherapy resistance.

Lab-on-a-stick: Miniaturized clinical testing for fast detection of antibiotic resistance Posted: 23 Aug 2016 07:18 AM PDT A portable power-free test for the rapid detection of bacterial resistance to antibiotics has been developed .

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