ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Thousands of new cancer cases in Ontario each year due to environmental exposures
• Beneficial role clarified for brain protein associated with mad cow disease
• Economic burden of undiagnosed sleep apnea in US is nearly $150 billion per year
• New drugs hope to fight neglected tropical diseases
• Activating dopamine neurons could turn off binge-like eating behavior
• Researchers propose new treatment to prevent kidney stones
• Study identifies novel treatment resistance mechanism in BRAF-mutant melanoma
• Medicaid expansion under ACA linked with better health care for low-income adults
• Watching cartoons could help children overcome anxiety of dental treatment
• ‘Toxic gases’ as targets for new medicines
• Active hedgehog signalling in connective tissue cells protects against colon cancer
• Olfactory receptors discovered in bronchi
• Autism risk in younger children increases if they have older sibling with disorder
• Asthma pill could reduce symptoms in severe sufferers
• Age-related infertility may be caused by scarred ovaries
• Tall or short? Thick or thin? Many factors affect arm, leg size
• Inspired by evolution: A simple treatment for breathing problem among premature infants
• Self-healing diamond-like carbon
• Discovery of infants' airway microbiomes may help predict lung disease
• Scientists identify marker for myeloid-derived suppressor cells
• Sleep apnea worsens non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese adolescents
• Women appear to be more accepting of their bodies/weight
• From Sci Fi to reality: Unlocking the secret to growing new limbs
• Greater production of 'feeling full' hormone could be responsible for weight loss
• Research to improve treatment for millions of lung disease patients
• Can nature videos help improve prisoner behavior?
• Individualizing weight management program may increase success rate
• Green and sweet: How plant sugars influence malaria transmission
• Complex genetic secrets of cancer risk uncovered
• Gene testing in rare tumor type could uncover 'cancer families'
• Catalysis research could aid drug development
• Malaria and toxoplasmosis have an Achilles heel from plants
• Head Start benefits children with disabilities
• New tool enables researchers to rapidly manipulate protein levels in mammalian cells
• New research points to novel approach to tackling Ascaris roundworm
• Selfless people have more sex, study finds
• Toe-tapping to better health: Fidgeting helps prevent arterial dysfunction from sitting
• Boosting swimming performance with sound data
• How epigenetics regulate vital functions from bacteria to humans
• New 'mega-complex' involved in cell signaling
• Dubious marketing of stem cell therapies revealed
• Botulinum toxin study proves possibility of remote effects
• Sedentary behavior associated with diabetic retinopathy
• Survey: Vision health a priority
• Dangerous chemical eye burns common in young children
• African-American men negatively impacted by hormone therapy for treatment of prostate cancer

Thousands of new cancer cases in Ontario each year due to environmental exposures Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:04 AM PDT The estimated burden of cancer from environmental carcinogens is significant, particularly when compared to other known cancer risk factors. Between 3,540 and 6,510 new cancer cases in Ontario each year result from environmental factors, says a new report.

Beneficial role clarified for brain protein associated with mad cow disease Posted: 08 Aug 2016 08:58 AM PDT Scientists have clarified details in understanding the beneficial function of a type of protein normally associated with prion diseases of the brain, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (commonly known as mad cow disease) and its human counterpart, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Economic burden of undiagnosed sleep apnea in US is nearly $150 billion per year Posted: 08 Aug 2016 08:56 AM PDT A new analysis has been published that reveals the staggering cost of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea. The new work summarizes the results of an online survey completed by patients currently being treated for obstructive sleep apnea.

New drugs hope to fight neglected tropical diseases Posted: 08 Aug 2016 08:56 AM PDT Scientists say they are a step closer to providing effective treatments for three 'neglected' diseases after making a chemical which can kill the parasites that cause the illnesses.

Activating dopamine neurons could turn off binge-like eating behavior Posted: 08 Aug 2016 08:56 AM PDT While binge eating affects about 10 percent of adults in the United States, the neurobiological basis of the disease is unclear. Researchers have found that certain neural circuits have the ability to inhibit binge-like eating behavior in mice.

Researchers propose new treatment to prevent kidney stones Posted: 08 Aug 2016 08:54 AM PDT Researchers have found evidence that a natural fruit extract is capable of dissolving calcium oxalate crystals, the most common component of human kidney stones. This finding could lead to the first advance in the treatment of calcium oxalate stones in 30 years.

Study identifies novel treatment resistance mechanism in BRAF-mutant melanoma Posted: 08 Aug 2016 08:54 AM PDT A research team has identified an additional mechanism for resistance to targeted treatment for BRAF-mutant melanoma. They report that inactivating mutations in two genes responsible for regulating key aspects of cell division can reactivate the signaling pathway driving tumor growth that had been blocked by BRAF inhibitor drugs.

Medicaid expansion under ACA linked with better health care for low-income adults Posted: 08 Aug 2016 08:53 AM PDT Two years after Medicaid coverage was expanded under the Affordable Care Act in their states, low-income adults in Kentucky and Arkansas received more primary and preventive care, made fewer emergency department visits, and reported higher quality care and improved health compared with low-income adults in Texas, which did not expand Medicaid, a new study has found.

Watching cartoons could help children overcome anxiety of dental treatment Posted: 08 Aug 2016 06:12 AM PDT Watching cartoons through video glasses during dental treatment could help lessen children's anxiety and distress as well as reducing disruptive behavior, according to a randomized controlled trial.

‘Toxic gases’ as targets for new medicines Posted: 08 Aug 2016 06:11 AM PDT Gases once thought of only as environmental pollutants are now known to be produced by the body. They could potentially be used to develop drugs to treat diseases including heart failure and cancer, suggest investigators.

Active hedgehog signalling in connective tissue cells protects against colon cancer Posted: 08 Aug 2016 06:11 AM PDT Many types of cancer are caused by gene mutations in the signalling pathways that control cell growth, such as the hedgehog signalling pathway. A new study now surprisingly shows that in colon cancer hedgehog signalling has a protective function.

Olfactory receptors discovered in bronchi Posted: 08 Aug 2016 06:11 AM PDT Researchers identified two types of olfactory receptors in human muscle cells of bronchi. If those receptors are activated by binding an odorant, bronchi dilate and contract – a potential approach for asthma therapy.

Autism risk in younger children increases if they have older sibling with disorder Posted: 05 Aug 2016 08:01 PM PDT A new study found that the risk of younger siblings developing an autism spectrum disorder is 14 times higher if an older sibling has ASD. The study also found the risk level was consistent across gestational age at birth.

Asthma pill could reduce symptoms in severe sufferers Posted: 05 Aug 2016 08:00 PM PDT The first new asthma pill for nearly 20 years has the power to significantly reduce the severity of the condition, a new study has found.

Age-related infertility may be caused by scarred ovaries Posted: 05 Aug 2016 08:00 PM PDT Women's decreased ability to produce healthy eggs as they become older may be due to excessive scarring and inflammation in their ovaries, reports a new study in mice. This is the first study to show the ovarian environment ages and that aging affects the quality of eggs it produces. These findings could result in new treatments that preserve fertility by delaying ovarian aging.

Tall or short? Thick or thin? Many factors affect arm, leg size Posted: 05 Aug 2016 12:51 PM PDT For over 60 years, scientists have theorized that a person's body shape and size could be influenced by the climate of where they live. Now a new study suggests there's more to the equation. The paper is among the first to document how evolutionary selection has shaped variation in human limbs across the globe.

Inspired by evolution: A simple treatment for breathing problem among premature infants Posted: 05 Aug 2016 12:51 PM PDT As humans evolved over many thousands of years, our bodies developed a system to help us when we start running and suddenly need more oxygen. Now, using that innate reflex as inspiration, researchers have developed a noninvasive way to treat potentially harmful breathing problems in babies who were born prematurely.

Self-healing diamond-like carbon Posted: 05 Aug 2016 12:49 PM PDT A group of tribologists -- scientists who study the effect of friction in machines -- and computational materials scientists recently discovered a revolutionary diamond-like film that is generated by the heat and pressure of an automotive engine.

Discovery of infants' airway microbiomes may help predict lung disease Posted: 05 Aug 2016 12:49 PM PDT In contrast to the general belief that the airways of an infant are sterile until after birth, researchers have found that the infant airway is already colonized with bacteria when a baby is born -- and this is true for infants born as early as 24 weeks gestation. How microbes get into the airways is still unclear, but the pattern of colonization appears to have an important link to later severe neonatal lung disease.

Scientists identify marker for myeloid-derived suppressor cells Posted: 05 Aug 2016 12:49 PM PDT Scientists have identified a marker that distinguishes PMN-MDSCs from neutrophils in the blood of patients with a variety of cancers. Study also showed that higher numbers of cells positive for the marker were associated with larger tumor size.

Sleep apnea worsens non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese adolescents Posted: 05 Aug 2016 12:49 PM PDT Studies have shown that obstructive sleep apnea and low nighttime oxygen, which result in oxidative stress, are associated with the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adults. Investigators have now established that these factors may also be important triggers in the progression of pediatric NAFLD to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, according to a new report.

Women appear to be more accepting of their bodies/weight Posted: 05 Aug 2016 12:49 PM PDT Despite growing rates of obesity in the United States, and a culture apparently obsessed with selfies, women today appear to be more accepting of their bodies than in the past, at least in regard to weight, according to new research.

From Sci Fi to reality: Unlocking the secret to growing new limbs Posted: 05 Aug 2016 08:52 AM PDT Many lower organisms retain the ability to regenerate tissue after injury. Humans share many genes with these organisms, but our capacity for regeneration is limited. Scientists are studying the genetics of these organisms to find out how regenerative mechanisms might be activated in humans. Researchers have identified common genetic regulators in three regenerative species, suggesting that they have been conserved by nature through evolution.

Greater production of 'feeling full' hormone could be responsible for weight loss Posted: 05 Aug 2016 08:50 AM PDT A study that might hold the key to why octogenarians are prone to losing weight has been conducted.

Research to improve treatment for millions of lung disease patients Posted: 05 Aug 2016 08:50 AM PDT New lung scanning technology has the potential to transform treatment for millions of people with lung disease.

Can nature videos help improve prisoner behavior? Posted: 05 Aug 2016 08:50 AM PDT Researchers have identified a simple intervention that may help reduce levels of violence in maximum security prisons. Inmates who viewed nature videos showed reduced levels of aggression and were less likely to be disciplined than those in similar cellblocks, according to new research.

Individualizing weight management program may increase success rate Posted: 05 Aug 2016 06:17 AM PDT Adapting a weight management program to the client's personality may help improve success rates. This is one of the preliminary findings of a research study to identify factors that help and hinder clients enrolled in the Profile by Sanford weight management program, which has more than 50,000 members at 27 locations in 10 states.

Green and sweet: How plant sugars influence malaria transmission Posted: 05 Aug 2016 05:57 AM PDT Female mosquitoes are well known blood-feeders, but they also consume sugar sources such as nectar, fruits and tree sap. A study suggests that the plant-based part of their diet affects malaria transmission by influencing the host-pathogen interaction between Anopheles mosquitoes and Plasmodium parasites.

Complex genetic secrets of cancer risk uncovered Posted: 04 Aug 2016 06:29 PM PDT In a landmark multi-country study, researchers have transformed our understanding of the genes that affect our risk of cancer. The researchers uncovered numerous new genetic risk factors for the bone and soft-tissue cancer, sarcoma -- and, in a world first for any cancer, they showed that carrying several of these genetic mutations markedly increases an individual's cancer risk. The findings have immediate implications for how sarcomas and other cancers are treated.

Gene testing in rare tumor type could uncover 'cancer families' Posted: 04 Aug 2016 06:29 PM PDT Genetic testing of patients with a rare form of cancer that can affect children and young adults can pick out genetic errors hidden in their family tree which increase the risk of a wide variety of cancer types.

Catalysis research could aid drug development Posted: 04 Aug 2016 02:16 PM PDT Products like pharmaceuticals have to be synthesized to have molecules of only one 'handedness' to match the structure of biomolecules in human proteins. Catalysts currently used to accomplish this are problematic. New research is helping to bring the goal of a solid 'chiral' catalyst that can easily be separated from its products closer to reality.

Malaria and toxoplasmosis have an Achilles heel from plants Posted: 04 Aug 2016 12:30 PM PDT To survive, the parasites responsible for malaria and toxoplasmosis depend on mechanisms inherited from the plant world, a new study has found. The discovery is a major advance for the development of new therapeutic targets for these parasites, which have such substantial public health consequences.

Head Start benefits children with disabilities Posted: 04 Aug 2016 12:28 PM PDT Young children with multiple disabilities who are enrolled in Head Start have better literacy, reading and math scores than children who aren't in the federally funded program, indicates a new study.

New tool enables researchers to rapidly manipulate protein levels in mammalian cells Posted: 04 Aug 2016 12:27 PM PDT A research team has developed a tool that allows scientists to quickly manipulate levels of two proteins in the same cell. They say the method, dubbed a "dual molecular tuner," offers an easy way to perform in-depth analyses in mammalian cells in general, and stem cells in particular.

New research points to novel approach to tackling Ascaris roundworm Posted: 04 Aug 2016 12:27 PM PDT Scientists have shed new light on Ascaris infection, which affects 1 billion people worldwide. Targeting specific liver proteins may offer new preventative options against an infection that kills around 60.000 people each year.

Selfless people have more sex, study finds Posted: 04 Aug 2016 11:16 AM PDT New research shows that people who help others are more desirable to the opposite sex, have more sexual partners and more frequent sex.

Toe-tapping to better health: Fidgeting helps prevent arterial dysfunction from sitting Posted: 04 Aug 2016 11:12 AM PDT Previous research has shown that sitting for an extended period of time at a computer or during a long airline flight reduces blood flow to the legs, which may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. Now, researchers have found that fidgeting while sitting can protect the arteries in legs and potentially help prevent arterial disease.

Boosting swimming performance with sound data Posted: 04 Aug 2016 11:12 AM PDT Since 1896, swimming has been an event in the Olympic games. Researchers have now developed a 'Swimming Sonification' system that professional swimmers can use to optimize their swimming technique. The system expands the athlete's perception by enabling them to hear, how the pressure of the water flows created by the swimmer changes with their movements.

How epigenetics regulate vital functions from bacteria to humans Posted: 04 Aug 2016 11:12 AM PDT A new study provides a comparative analysis of the evolution of epigenetic mechanisms from prokaryotes (bacteria) to simple eukaryotes (multi-cellular) to more complex eukaryotes (humans).

New 'mega-complex' involved in cell signaling Posted: 04 Aug 2016 11:12 AM PDT Researchers have discovered new information about the signaling mechanism of cells that could one day help guide development of more specific drug therapies.

Dubious marketing of stem cell therapies revealed Posted: 04 Aug 2016 11:05 AM PDT Advanced economy nations led by Ireland, Singapore, Australia, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States have the highest per capita number of clinics engaging in direct-to-consumer marketing of stem cell therapies, according to the world's largest-ever study of such clinics.

Botulinum toxin study proves possibility of remote effects Posted: 04 Aug 2016 11:05 AM PDT The botulinum toxins are among the deadliest substances on Earth, and two specific toxins -- including the popular drug Botox -- have multiple uses for treating many neuromuscular conditions, including frown lines, disabling muscle spasms and migraine headaches.

Sedentary behavior associated with diabetic retinopathy Posted: 04 Aug 2016 11:05 AM PDT Scientists evaluated the association of sedentary behavior with diabetic retinopathy using data from the 2005 to 2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Survey: Vision health a priority Posted: 04 Aug 2016 11:05 AM PDT Most respondents across all ethnic and racial groups surveyed described loss of eyesight as the worst ailment that could happen to them when ranked against other conditions including loss of limb, memory, hearing, or speech, and indicated high support for ongoing research for vision and eye health, according to a new study.

Dangerous chemical eye burns common in young children Posted: 04 Aug 2016 11:05 AM PDT One- and two-year-old children are at the highest risk of burning their eyes with chemicals, despite the long held belief that working-age adults were the most at risk from this type of severe eye injury, new research suggests.

African-American men negatively impacted by hormone therapy for treatment of prostate cancer Posted: 04 Aug 2016 11:05 AM PDT In a retrospective study analyzing patients' medical records, researchers found that patients' race significantly affected their longevity by increasing the likelihood of death after receiving androgen deprivation therapy.

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