ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• Smoke from 2015 Indonesian fires may have caused 100,000 premature deaths
• Targeting fat to treat cancer
• Codeine too risky for kids, experts say, urging restrictions on use
• New clues to cystic fibrosis 'gender gap'
• Potential schizophrenia 'switch' found
• Ensuring transparency in health care provider performance
• Sleep habits, adolescent drug and alcohol use linked, shows research
• Flavorings, higher voltage increase toxicity of e-cigs
• Opioids may affect how we perceive 'cuteness' of babies
• Eggs from small flocks more likely to contain Salmonella enteritidis
• A litmus test of fairness
• Genes influence response to glycemic control as a preventive therapy for cardiovascular complications in type 2 diabetes
• Molecular switch controlling immune suppression may help turn up immunotherapies
• Genes tied to sudden thoracic aortic dissections discovered
• Abaloparatide benefits a wide range of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis
• Risk of another Chernobyl or Fukushima type accident plausible, experts say
• Gardening as a child may lead college students to eat more veggies
• Rare genetic condition may provide insights on Parkinson’s and other late-onset diseases
• ADHD symptoms persistence into adulthood
• Diet and exercise may improve physical function and quality of life in older obese adults
• Binge-eating disorder linked to other health conditions
• More positive words in discharge summaries associated with reduced suicide risk
• Can sertraline prevent depressive disorders following traumatic brain injury?
• Premature or early-onset menopause associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease mortality, all-cause mortality
• Rate of hearing loss increases significantly after age 90
• Zika virus can be detected in eye's conjunctival fluid
• Minimal Residual Disease Status, Outcomes in Patients with Multiple Myeloma
• Clot-busting medication safe for patients who wake up with stroke
• People with epilepsy face increased risks of discrimination and other negative life events
• Scope and characteristics of adverse drug reactions in the general population
• Glutamate plays previously unknown role in neuromuscular development
• Health coverage on the rise for those in the justice system, study finds
• Depression in early pregnancy linked to gestational diabetes
• Artificial intelligence reveals mechanism behind brain tumor
• Relationship, behavioral differences between children, early adolescents who die by suicide
• Let's talk about more than sex: Parents in favor of expanding health education
• Transcranial direct current stimulation raises glutamate levels in humans
• New study compares approaches to prevent malaria in pregnancy
• Targeting dormant HIV
• Neurofeedback: When output becomes part of input
• Medication to prevent heart attacks linked with reduced heart attack severity
• Desalinated sea water linked to iodine deficiency disorders
• Mobile device detects irregular heartbeats, helps to prevent cerebral infarctions
• Parkinson's disease protein plays vital 'marshalling' role in healthy brains
• Role Identified for Key Protein in Regeneration of Damaged Newt Retinas
• Lack of interest in sex successfully treated by exposure to bright light
• Belief that Tourette’s patients are aggressive is a myth
• Judging levels of drunkenness depends on who you are with
• Holographic imaging and deep learning diagnose malaria
• Response to anxiety linked to movement control areas in brain
• Internet addiction may indicate other mental health problems in college-aged students
• How a bacterial virulence factor promotes its own secretion
• Hormone EPO shown to improve brain sharpness in patients with depression and bipolar disorder
• Nanoparticle drug cocktail could help treat lethal cancers
• Study yields new knowledge about materials for ultrasound and other applications
• Scientists enhance ability of antibiotics to defeat resistant types of bacteria using molecules called PPMOs

Smoke from 2015 Indonesian fires may have caused 100,000 premature deaths Posted: 19 Sep 2016 01:28 PM PDT In the fall of 2015, hazardous levels of smoke from agricultural fires blanketed much of Equatorial Asia. Schools and businesses closed, planes were grounded and tens of thousands sought medical treatment for respiratory illness.

Targeting fat to treat cancer Posted: 19 Sep 2016 12:15 PM PDT A novel cancer treatment has been developed that halts fat synthesis in cells, stunting tumors, report researchers. Cells create their own fat molecules to build their plasma membranes and other critical structures. The researchers have found a way to obstruct this instrumental process to stifle cancer's growth. Like halting the delivery of supplies to a construction site, the approach stalls the molecular building blocks cancer needs to grow.

Codeine too risky for kids, experts say, urging restrictions on use Posted: 19 Sep 2016 11:45 AM PDT Experts are urging parents and health providers to stop giving codeine to children, calling for more education about its risks and restrictions on its use in patients under age 18. They say that there is a continued use of the drug in pediatric settings despite growing evidence linking the common painkiller to life-threatening or fatal breathing reactions.

New clues to cystic fibrosis 'gender gap' Posted: 19 Sep 2016 11:15 AM PDT There is evidence that women with Cystic Fibrosis die on average two to three years earlier than do men with the devastating lung airway disease. A research team has come up with the first detailed molecular explanation for a factor that may contribute to the so-called cystic fibrosis (CF) "gender gap."

Potential schizophrenia 'switch' found Posted: 19 Sep 2016 11:14 AM PDT A key mechanism that explains how compounds they're developing can suppress schizophrenia-like symptoms in mice without side effects has been discovered by researchers. An estimated 3 million Americans have schizophrenia, which is associated with excessive amounts of the neurotransmitter dopamine in a part of the forebrain called the striatum.

Ensuring transparency in health care provider performance Posted: 19 Sep 2016 11:14 AM PDT Patients deserve valid and transparent measures of quality in health care, but a lack of standards and auditing for these measures can misinform consumers rather than guide their health care choices, say researchers.

Sleep habits, adolescent drug and alcohol use linked, shows research Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:34 AM PDT A possible link between adolescent sleep habits and early substance abuse has been identified by researchers. The study found that both sleep duration and sleep quality during late childhood predict alcohol and cannabis use later in adolescence.

Flavorings, higher voltage increase toxicity of e-cigs Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:34 AM PDT Several flavorings added to electronic cigarettes impact the toxicity of the devices, say researchers, adding that, among the tested flavors, strawberry was the most toxic. The researchers also confirmed an earlier finding that increasing the battery output voltage of these devices significantly increases toxicity.

Opioids may affect how we perceive 'cuteness' of babies Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:34 AM PDT Opioid dependence -- which includes dependence on drugs such as heroin -- affects how 'cute' we perceive images of children to be, new research shows. As cuteness can trigger caregiving motivation, this result indicates that the opioid system may have significant effects on our ability to care for others. The implications of this may need to be considered in any consideration of medical or recreational opioid use.

Eggs from small flocks more likely to contain Salmonella enteritidis Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:24 AM PDT Eggs from small flocks of chickens are more likely to be contaminated with Salmonella enteritidis than eggs sold in grocery stores, which typically come from larger flocks that are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to researchers.

A litmus test of fairness Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:22 AM PDT Lay people think that the sickest patients and those on waiting lists should be treated first, while ethicists – and to some degree medical professionals – tend to have a different set of priorities. This is the conclusion of a study investigating the principles that apply to the fair allocation of scarce medical resources.

Genes influence response to glycemic control as a preventive therapy for cardiovascular complications in type 2 diabetes Posted: 19 Sep 2016 10:10 AM PDT Genes play a role in how people with type 2 diabetes at high risk of cardiovascular disease risk respond to intensive glycemic control as an intervention to prevent the disease.

Molecular switch controlling immune suppression may help turn up immunotherapies Posted: 19 Sep 2016 09:19 AM PDT A strategy to maximize the effectiveness of anti-cancer immune therapy has been developed by a group of researchers who have identified a molecular switch that controls immune suppression. This discovery opens the possibility to further improving and refining emerging immunotherapies that boost the body's own abilities to fight diseases ranging from cancer to Alzheimer's and Crohn's disease.

Genes tied to sudden thoracic aortic dissections discovered Posted: 19 Sep 2016 09:19 AM PDT Out of the blue, Tina Wilkins suffered a dissection of her thoracic aorta. From first symptoms to emergency surgery, here is her story, as well as news on the latest genetic discoveries related to the disease.

Abaloparatide benefits a wide range of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis Posted: 19 Sep 2016 09:07 AM PDT A recent analysis of results from a randomized controlled clinical trial indicates that abaloparatide-SC, a novel therapy for osteoporosis, provides consistent protection against bone fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis regardless of their baseline bone density, age, and previous history of fracture.<

Risk of another Chernobyl or Fukushima type accident plausible, experts say Posted: 19 Sep 2016 08:30 AM PDT The biggest-ever statistical analysis of historical accidents suggests that nuclear power is an underappreciated extreme risk and that major changes will be needed to prevent future disasters.

Gardening as a child may lead college students to eat more veggies Posted: 19 Sep 2016 08:03 AM PDT As researchers nationwide try to get college students to eat healthier foods, they're finding that gardening may lead to a lasting habit of eating more fruits and vegetables. That's a recent conclusion from the "Get Fruved" project. "Get Fruved," an acronym for "Get Your Fruits and Vegetables," is a collaborative project among eight American universities.

Rare genetic condition may provide insights on Parkinson’s and other late-onset diseases Posted: 19 Sep 2016 08:01 AM PDT A new article suggests that an enzyme deficiency seen in the lysosomal storage disorder Krabbe's disease may point to new mechanisms underlying certain late-onset neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Patients with Krabbe's disease lack galactosylceramidase, which is needed to make the protective myelin coating around nerve cells.

ADHD symptoms persistence into adulthood Posted: 19 Sep 2016 08:00 AM PDT Sixty percent of children with ADHD in a recent study demonstrated persistence of symptoms into their mid-20's, and 41 percent had both symptoms and impairment as young adults.

Diet and exercise may improve physical function and quality of life in older obese adults Posted: 19 Sep 2016 08:00 AM PDT A recent review and analysis of published studies since 2005 found low-to-moderate evidence that dietary and exercise interventions can improve physical function and quality of life in older adults with obesity.

Binge-eating disorder linked to other health conditions Posted: 19 Sep 2016 08:00 AM PDT Binge-eating disorder (BED) was linked with a broad range of other illnesses in a recent study, with the strongest associations related to the endocrine and circulatory systems. Individuals with BED had a 2.5-times increased risk of also having an endocrine disorder and a 1.9-times increased risk of having a circulatory system disorder.

More positive words in discharge summaries associated with reduced suicide risk Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:48 AM PDT Words in narrative hospital discharge notes may help to identify patients at high risk for suicide, according to a new article.

Can sertraline prevent depressive disorders following traumatic brain injury? Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:47 AM PDT Depressive disorders are common following traumatic brain injury (TBI). So, can the antidepressant medication sertraline prevent the onset of depressive disorders following TBI?

Premature or early-onset menopause associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease mortality, all-cause mortality Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:46 AM PDT Scientists have evaluated the effect of age at onset of menopause and duration since onset of menopause on certain cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes and all-cause mortality, and have concluded that early onset menopause comes with a handful of health risks.

Rate of hearing loss increases significantly after age 90 Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:45 AM PDT A new study examined if the rate of age-related hearing loss is constant in the older old (80 years and older). Scientists concluded that hearing loss rapidly accelerates over the age of 90. Furthermore, authors suggest that hearing aids are underused in this population.

Zika virus can be detected in eye's conjunctival fluid Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:45 AM PDT Scientists have examined whether Zika virus (ZIKV) could be detected from conjunctival swab samples of laboratory-confirmed ZIKV cases. The clinical symptoms of ZIKV infection are mostly a mild and self-limited rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (also known as pink eye). More than 80 percent of ZIKV infections are asymptomatic. Severe eye damage in infants with microcephaly was associated with ZIKV infection, say authors, however, it has not been clear whether the eye lesions are the result of microcephaly or directly ZIKV infection.

Minimal Residual Disease Status, Outcomes in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:44 AM PDT A new study examines the assessment of minimal residual disease in patients newly treated for multiple myeloma as a factor in survival outcomes.

Clot-busting medication safe for patients who wake up with stroke Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:37 AM PDT Using a clot-busting medication to treat people who wake up with symptoms of stroke was safe and should be studied further to see how effective it might be for a population that otherwise has few treatment options, according to researchers.

People with epilepsy face increased risks of discrimination and other negative life events Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:36 AM PDT In a recent analysis, people with epilepsy were seven-fold more likely to have reported experiencing discrimination due to health problems than the general population. This risk was greater than other chronic health problems such as diabetes, asthma and migraines.

Scope and characteristics of adverse drug reactions in the general population Posted: 19 Sep 2016 07:36 AM PDT In a study of 1000 adult patients with unplanned admission to a tertiary hospital, the prevalence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) at the time of admission was 12.4 percent, and the prevalence of ADRs causing admission to the hospital was 8.1 percent. The most common ADRs were gastrointestinal-related, while the most common drug category causing ADRs were cardiovascular drugs.

Glutamate plays previously unknown role in neuromuscular development Posted: 19 Sep 2016 06:45 AM PDT In mice, glutamate plays a vital role in controlling how muscles and nerves are wired together during development, researchers have discovered. Glutamate is the most common neurotransmitter in the brain.

Health coverage on the rise for those in the justice system, study finds Posted: 19 Sep 2016 06:45 AM PDT During the first years of the Affordable Care Act, a new study finds, the rate of health insurance coverage rose significantly among people who in the past year had been arrested or were on probation or parole, and they were more likely to get treatment for serious mental illness, alcohol use disorders and substance use issues.

Depression in early pregnancy linked to gestational diabetes Posted: 19 Sep 2016 06:44 AM PDT A two-way link between depression and gestational diabetes has been uncovered by researchers. Women who reported feeling depressed during the first two trimesters of pregnancy were nearly twice as likely to develop gestational diabetes, according to an analysis of pregnancy records. Conversely, a separate analysis found that women who developed gestational diabetes were more likely to report postpartum depression six weeks after giving birth, compared to a similar group of women who did not develop gestational diabetes.

Artificial intelligence reveals mechanism behind brain tumor Posted: 19 Sep 2016 06:39 AM PDT Researchers have used computer modelling to study how brain tumors arise. The study illustrated how researchers in the future will be able to use large-scale data to find new disease mechanisms and identify new treatment targets.

Relationship, behavioral differences between children, early adolescents who die by suicide Posted: 19 Sep 2016 05:48 AM PDT Some individual characteristics and precipitating circumstances may be more prominent in children who die by suicide compared with early adolescents who die by suicide. It is the first study to exclusively focus on precipitating circumstances of suicide in children and early adolescents, defined as ages 5 to 14.

Let's talk about more than sex: Parents in favor of expanding health education Posted: 19 Sep 2016 05:48 AM PDT Teaching kids about drugs, alcohol and sex appears to be less controversial than ever before but parents want to see health education classes cover more topics.

Transcranial direct current stimulation raises glutamate levels in humans Posted: 19 Sep 2016 05:47 AM PDT The notion that low levels of electrical stimulation applied to the scalp, barely enough to create a mild tingling sensation, could activate the brain is a relatively new and somewhat controversial idea. The technique, called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been reported to modify mood, emotion, and cognition, yet researchers lack any evidence for how -- or even if -- it directly modulates brain activity. Still, some researchers see its potential for a new strategy to treat psychiatric disorders.

New study compares approaches to prevent malaria in pregnancy Posted: 19 Sep 2016 05:47 AM PDT A screen and treat strategy for pregnant women in sub Saharan African does not reduce adverse outcomes compared with standard preventative treatment for malaria, say researchers.

Targeting dormant HIV Posted: 19 Sep 2016 05:46 AM PDT The discovery of a novel, advanced technique to identify the rare cells where human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) hides in patients taking antiretroviral therapy (ART). This is an important step forward in the search for a HIV/AIDS cure.

Neurofeedback: When output becomes part of input Posted: 19 Sep 2016 05:46 AM PDT Neurofeedback is a technique used for the treatment of clinical disorders (like depression, anxiety, chronic pain, ADHD and schizophrenia etc.) and enhancement of brain performance. It is based on the "self-regulation" of brain activations underpinned by the principles of feedback control systems. Feedback systems can be found in areas such as cybernetics, industrial automation, quality control, optimization and so on. A new study has reviewed the literature on feedback control systems and neurofeedback in order to provide some insights into how the basic principles of feedback control systems are the building blocks of the advanced brain-computer interfacing technique popularly dubbed "neurofeedback."

Medication to prevent heart attacks linked with reduced heart attack severity Posted: 19 Sep 2016 05:46 AM PDT Medications prescribed to prevent heart attacks such as statins and aspirin are also associated with reduced heart attack severity, according to research. The observational study in nearly 15,000 patients provides further evidence of the benefit of taking these medications.

Desalinated sea water linked to iodine deficiency disorders Posted: 19 Sep 2016 05:46 AM PDT Desalination can dramatically increase the prevalence of inadequate iodine intake, new research suggests. An estimated 300 million people worldwide rely on over 17,000 desalination plants in 150 countries for water, and the numbers are likely to grow.

Mobile device detects irregular heartbeats, helps to prevent cerebral infarctions Posted: 19 Sep 2016 05:46 AM PDT A research team has developed a mobile app and thumb-size device that help to prevent cerebral infarctions at an early stage, during asymptomatic atrial fibrillation. The mobile device detects arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) has been tested with excellent results for around two years in real-life conditions. An irregular heartbeat tends to remain undiagnosed, if no symptoms are detected during Holter monitoring of heart activity.

Parkinson's disease protein plays vital 'marshalling' role in healthy brains Posted: 19 Sep 2016 05:46 AM PDT Researchers have established how a protein called alpha-synuclein, which is closely associated with Parkinson's Disease, functions in healthy human brains. By showing how the protein works in healthy patients, the study offers important clues about what may be happening when people develop the disease itself. Parkinson's disease is one of a group of conditions known as "protein misfolding diseases," because they are characterized by specific proteins becoming distorted and malfunctioning. These proteins then cluster into thread-like chains, which are toxic to other cells.

Role Identified for Key Protein in Regeneration of Damaged Newt Retinas Posted: 19 Sep 2016 05:46 AM PDT At the back of the retina in adult vertebrate eyes is a highly differentiated layer of cells known as the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). These cells do not normally multiply or migrate in adults, but in humans they do so in response to retinal trauma. They then pass through a transitional state of multipotency, with the potential to become more than one cell type, eventually transforming into cells that heal the wound, but with a resulting loss of vision. This causes a retinal disorder such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). In the adult newt, a similar process is seen but with a key difference: it results in the regeneration of a fully functional retina and RPE, even if the retina has been surgically removed from the eye.

Lack of interest in sex successfully treated by exposure to bright light Posted: 18 Sep 2016 06:44 PM PDT Exposure to bright light increases testosterone levels and leads to greater sexual satisfaction in men with low sexual desire. These are the results of a pilot randomised placebo-controlled trial.

Belief that Tourette’s patients are aggressive is a myth Posted: 18 Sep 2016 06:44 PM PDT It is commonly believed that people with Tourette's syndrome tend to be aggressive. Now a new study shows that people with Tourette's are no more aggressive than anyone else.

Judging levels of drunkenness depends on who you are with Posted: 18 Sep 2016 03:01 PM PDT When drunk and surrounded by other drinkers, people's judgements of their own levels of intoxication and the associated risks are related to the drunkenness of their peers, not on the objective amount of alcohol they have actually consumed.

Holographic imaging and deep learning diagnose malaria Posted: 18 Sep 2016 03:00 PM PDT A computerized method has been devised to autonomously and quickly diagnose malaria with clinically relevant accuracy -- a crucial step to successfully treating the disease and halting its spread. In 2015 alone, malaria infected 214 million people worldwide, killing an estimated 438,000.

Response to anxiety linked to movement control areas in brain Posted: 18 Sep 2016 03:00 PM PDT Researchers have discovered that the response to anxiety in teenagers may include not only the parts of the brain which deal with emotions (the limbic system), as has been long understood, but also movement control centres in the brain, which may be associated with movement inhibition when stressed ("freezing").

Internet addiction may indicate other mental health problems in college-aged students Posted: 18 Sep 2016 03:00 PM PDT A new survey of internet users suggests that people who use the internet excessively may have more mental health problems. Using two scales to evaluate internet use, researchers have found high rates of problematic internet use in a group of primarily college-aged students.  The researchers evaluated internet addiction using the Internet Addiction Test, as well as newer scale of their own design, based on updated addiction criteria. This work may have implications for how psychiatrists approach excessive internet use.

How a bacterial virulence factor promotes its own secretion Posted: 18 Sep 2016 02:59 PM PDT Many bacteria depend on their ability to attach, or adhere, to our cells for the ability to cause disease. When their survival means disease for us, we often turn to antibiotics, but his miracle medicine is now under threat of becoming useless because of bacteria's increasing resistance. Therefore scientists have turned to look at other strategies.

Hormone EPO shown to improve brain sharpness in patients with depression and bipolar disorder Posted: 18 Sep 2016 02:59 PM PDT A study has found that EPO (erythropoietin) – best known as a performance-enhancing drug in sport – may improve cognitive functioning in patients suffering from bipolar disorder or depression. This raises hope for the first long-term treatment for this problem, which affects hundreds of millions of patients throughout the world.

Nanoparticle drug cocktail could help treat lethal cancers Posted: 17 Sep 2016 10:23 AM PDT An ingenious way to spur checkpoint blockade cancer immunotherapy into more potent action has been developed by a group of researchers. The therapy offers the hope of an effective treatment for intractable metastatic cancers including those of the colon and lung.

Study yields new knowledge about materials for ultrasound and other applications Posted: 17 Sep 2016 10:23 AM PDT Scientists have used neutron scattering to discover the key to piezoelectric excellence in newer materials for ultrasound and other applications.

Scientists enhance ability of antibiotics to defeat resistant types of bacteria using molecules called PPMOs Posted: 17 Sep 2016 10:23 AM PDT Researchers have developed a strategy to overcome a key defense that drug-resistant bacteria use to fend off antibiotic attack. Antibiotic resistance has become a major public health problem; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 2 million illnesses are caused in the U.S. each year by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, resulting in 23,000 deaths.

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